All Songs Considered – "Our No. 1 Songs: 2007"

September 1, 2025
Hosts: Robin Hilton, Stephen Thompson

Episode Overview

This episode celebrates the 25th anniversary of NPR’s flagship music podcast, All Songs Considered, by focusing on the landmark songs of 2007. Hosts Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson reminisce about the year’s best tracks, their personal favorites, and the musical zeitgeist of that period, with an emphasis on the indie pop and rock that defined the era.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Soundtrack of 2007

• Indie Pop/Rock Peak:
  Robin sets the scene for 2007 as a heyday for indie pop and rock, describing it as “kinda in its heyday” (00:25).
• Choosing the No. 1 Song:
  Stephen introduces his top 2007 pick as “the sound of so much of what was around,” citing its representative nature of the era (00:48).

2. Feist – "I Feel It All"

[01:01 – 03:10]

• Emotional Resonance:
  The opening pick is Feist’s "I Feel It All." Robin gets “a little choked up” and calls it “just so perfect” (02:09).
• Feist’s Output:
  Stephen bemoans Feist’s sporadic album releases:

  “There are some artists you wish they put out records a little more often … Feist springs immediately to mind.” (02:20)

• Quality Over Quantity:
  Both discuss how Feist’s consistently flawless releases are worth the wait.
• Notable Quote:

  Robin: “It’s flawless. Absolutely flawless.” (02:42)

3. MGMT – "Time to Pretend"

[03:25 – 06:29]

• A Defining Track:
  Robin shifts to MGMT's "Time to Pretend," calling it “one of those songs … it's got such a hooky little synth line. The beat's killer.” (05:38)
• Underlying Sadness:
  Despite its upbeat sound, both hosts note how heartbreakingly sad the song is:

  Robin: “It's such a sad story … chasing fame and your life falling apart.” (05:38)

• Generational Nostalgia:
  Robin highlights the lyric about missing childhood innocence (06:06), and Stephen considers the song the soundtrack to a 2007 period piece:

  “If you were making a movie … this is your opening credits, right?” (06:29)

• Trends in Indie Pop:
  Stephen connects MGMT to the wave of “busy pop” bands like Matt & Kim and Peter, Bjorn and John, songs “engineered … maximally enjoyable.” (06:29)

4. Scandinavian Music’s Big Moment

[09:35 – 12:18]

• Peter Bjorn and John – "Young Folks":
  Robin “cheats” by including this 2006 release due to its continued popularity:

  "I listened to this album non stop all through 2007." (09:43)

• Sweden’s Musical Exports:
  The hosts marvel at the surge of Swedish talent:

  Robin: “There was so much incredible music coming out of Sweden… So many.” (11:49)

• Band Roll Call:
  They mention The Concretes, The Knife, and Loney Dear, reflecting on the country’s indie boom.

5. Canadian Gems

[12:32 – 14:02]

• The Weakerthans – "Tournament of Hearts": Stephen: “One of the most Canadian songs outside of Bob and Doug McKenzie.” (12:36)
  • Robin and Stephen reminisce about the band’s ability to convey a sense of place.
  • Stephen praises songwriter John K. Samson:

    “One of the great unheralded songwriters of the 21st century.” (13:23)

  • For Stephen, this track transports him “to a bar in Canada,” evoking both nostalgia and comfort.

6. Panda Bear – "Comfy in Nautica"

[14:55 – 16:23]

• Iconic Experimentation:
  Robin calls this “absolutely incredible” (16:01) and notes how Panda Bear had been around for a while, but this was a breakout moment.
• The Essence of NPR Music:
  Stephen:

  “This particular song is just weapons grade All Songs Considered … distilled to its essence in 2007.” (16:14)

7. Yearly Trends & Reflections

• 2007 marked “such a big time for indie pop and rock on the show and in general,” Robin concludes (16:23).

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Robin, on Feist:

  “I wonder how much more gas is left.” (02:42)

• Stephen, on Feist never phoning it in:

  “Does not start phoning it in on Multitude.” (03:05)

• Robin, on MGMT’s bittersweetness:

  “It just crushes me.” (06:25)

• Stephen, on 2007 sound:

  “Songs that are extremely fussed over and engineered in such a way that they are maximally enjoyable.” (06:29)

• About Swedish indie:

  Robin: “That was like a gold [rush] … so many great bands from Canada and from Sweden.” (11:49)

• Stephen, on The Weakerthans:

  “John K. Samson is one of the great unheralded songwriters of the 21st century.” (13:23)

• Stephen, on “Comfy in Nautica”:

  “This is just All Songs Considered, distilled to its essence in 2007.” (16:14)

Timestamps for Key Songs & Segments

• Feist – "I Feel It All": [01:01 – 03:10]
• MGMT – "Time to Pretend": [03:25 – 07:10]
• Peter Bjorn and John – "Young Folks": [10:35 – 11:11]
• Loney Dear – "Sinister in a State of Hope": [11:18 – 11:49]
• The Weakerthans – "Tournament of Hearts": [12:40 – 14:18]
• Panda Bear – "Comfy in Nautica": [14:55 – 16:23]

Closing

The hosts wrap up with reflections on the importance of 2007 in shaping indie pop culture and tease their next episode, which will focus on 2008.

Episode Flow:
Warm, insightful, and conversational, this episode is packed with nostalgia, music recommendations, and inside stories about All Songs Considered’s enduring love affair with indie pop and rock.