The hidden pleasures of 2007: saints and sinners

The Blood Brothers: The Seattle quintet's recent breakup is a sad reminder of the ambitions that the Bros had for hardcore. Their larynx-ripping dual-vocal attack sometimes overshadowed their Wagnerian approach to post-punk songwriting, which was the most intelligent take on the idea of 'aggressive music' since Refused's heyday. They were campy enough to call a song "F*ing's Greatest Hits," but scary enough to make the Fueled By Ramen set hide behind their bangs and damn one of the genre's most riveting bands to the shoulda-been-more-famous rack. --August Brown

Rilo Kiley: The big yawn that greeted Rilo Kiley’s 2007 release “Under the Blacklight,” shows how quickly indie rock fans will turn on their fave raves. What sin did the L.A. darlings commit? Trying something new – specifically, sophisticated pop that wasn’t crunk enough for Britney Spears apologists, nor bookishly twee enough for Decemberists fans. But even if she’s using fewer words per line, Jenny Lewis is still the best young lyricist in rock. Don’t give up on her, hipsters!! --Ann Powers

(Pictured: Lewis in flight. Credit: Ricardo DeAratanha /LAT)