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Popular record emporium HMV rounded up the nation’s jabbering critics, threw them in an emptied swimming pool, left them to rot in the sun ‘til their mouths and brains cooled, and then got them to stick charred hands in the air.

Then there was this, HMV’s round-up of the critics top choices from 2007, albums-wise:

1. LCD Soundsystem: Sound of Silver
2. M.I.A.: Kala
3. Radiohead: In Rainbows
4. Klaxons: Myths of the Near Future
5. Battles: Mirrored
6. Arcade Fire: Neon Bible
7. Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare
8. Panda Bear: Person Pitch
9. Justice: Cross
10. Burial: Untrue
11. Robert Wyatt: Comicopera
12. Grinderman: Grinderman
13. PJ Harvey: White Chalk
14. Kings of Leon: Because of the Times
15. Hold Steady: Boys and Girls in America
16. Les Savy Sav: Let's Stay Friends
17. Robert Plant & Alison Krauss: Raising Sand
18. The Good, the Bad & the Queen: The Good, the Bad & the Queen
19. White Stripes; Icky Thump
20. Feist: The Remainder
21. Bjork: Volta
22. Jamie T: Panic Prevention
23. The National: Boxer
24. Beirut: The Flying Club Cup
25. Bruce Springsteen: Magic
26. The Shins: Wincing the Night Away
27. Simian Mobile Disco: Attack Decay Sustain Release
28. Dizzee Rascal: Maths & English
29. Kanye West: Graduation
30. Roisin Murphy: Overpowered
31. Bloc Party: Weekend in the City
32. Common: Finding Forever
33. Interpol: Our Love to Admire
34. High on Fire: Death is this Communion
35. Mark Ronson: Version
36. Liars: Liars
37. Electric Wizard: Witchcult Today
38. The Chemical Brothers: We Are the Night
39. Modeselektor: Happy Birthday
40. Dillinger Escape Plan: Ire Works
41. Matthew Dear: Asa Breed
42. Rufus Wainwright: Release the stars
43. Down: Over the Under
44. Future of the Left: Curses
45. Britney Spears: Blackout
46. Neil Young: Chrome Dream II
47. Fall Out Boy: Infinity on High
48. Cribs: Men's Needs, Women's Needs, Whatever
49. Bright Eyes: Cassadaga
50. Black Lips: Good Bad Not Evil

What?