It's unanimous on Nas, Arcade Fire and Ryan Adams ...

... but from there, our pop critics' lists of the best concerts in 2007 go their separate ways. Together, they add up to a great year onstage.

Last update: December 27, 2007 - 10:18 AM

Pay what you want for a CD. Get a free disc in your Sunday paper. See your favorite artist signed to a recording deal -- by a concert promoters. The times are indeed a-changing. Or are they?

The most talked about concerts of 2007 were the one-night stand in London by the dinosaur of all rock dinosaurs, Led Zeppelin, and the most-desired-ticket-ever tour by Miley Cyrus, 14, star of the Disney Channel's smash "Hannah Montana."

Well, we didn't make it to London for Zeppelin, but we did catch ballyhooed reunions by the Police (very unexpected) and Van Halen with David Lee Roth (very longed for). We also witnessed the moms-remortgage-the-house phenomenon of Miley/Hannah in concert as well as Prince's three-shows-in-one-day marathon on 7/7/07.

Like Eddie Van Halen and DLR, our critics agree to disagree. So here are their lists of the best concerts of 2007.

From Chris Riemenschneider:

1. Wilco (Sept. 4, Duluth's Bayfront Festival Park) -- Rock's best live band of the past three years (yep, quote me on it) could have phoned it in after the windchill dropped into the 40s and mist poured in off the lake. Instead, the resilient Chicagoans donned wool caps for a warm and downright transcendent 2½-hour outdoor set. Every rock show should have giant ore carriers floating by. Wilco's September concert in Duluth is reviewed here, and the band's October concert in Minneapolis is reviewed here.

2. Van Halen (Oct. 24, Target Center) -- I, of all fans, doubted the reunion once Michael Anthony got the boot. They counterpunched with many of their grittiest, grindingest early tunes, and Eddie absolutely shredded all doubt. Read a review by Jon Bream and Chris Riemenschneider of Van Halen's Target Center concert here.

3. Ryan Adams (June 18, Cedar Cultural Center) -- The notoriously erratic country-rocker had never sung better (an arm injury kept him off guitar) nor been more into the music and less into himself (dimming the stage lights probably helped). Read the review here.

4. Arcade Fire and LCD Soundsystem (Sept. 30, Roy Wilkins Auditorium) -- No surprise that the Fire, which came off like an orchestra on an all-night Bowie-and-uppers bender, was able to overcome the wretched Wilkins acoustics. What was a surprise: LCDS nearly stole the show. Read a review of this show.

5. Nas (April 22, Myth) -- Many hotter rappers performed at Myth this year. But none came close to the verve and pure skills Mr. Jones showed in a breathlessly paced 90-minute set promoting his "Hip-Hop Is Dead" album. No need to point out the title's irony.

6. M.I.A. (Nov. 20, First Ave) -- Extra marks for most improved performer and most fearless. The British-Sri Lankan rapper matched her music's energy by literally bouncing around the club, from the staircase by the stage to the top of a speaker tower to the audience's surf.

7. Kings of Leon (Aug. 3, First Ave) -- Tight jeans. Tighter band.

8. Paid Dues Festival (July 31, First Ave) -- With partylike sets by Sage Francis, Mr. Lif, Living Legends and Felt, this fest succeeded as indie-rap's first all-star tour. But best of all, it confirmed who the real star was, at least this year in this town. To quote the crowd: Ali! Ali! Ali!

9. Dinosaur Jr. (May 29, Triple Rock) -- After an uncomfortable Quest gig two years earlier, the reunited alt-rock heroes were more at home and way more into it. A strong new album always helps, too.

10. Amy Winehouse (May 2, Varsity Theater) -- It was hit or miss, sure, but at least she seemed sober. That's better than most cities got.

Least favorite: Rush at Xcel Energy Center Sept. 9, followed closely by "American Idols Live" at the X on Aug. 4. Both felt waaayyy too long (more than three hours) and had the exact opposite problems: too much virtuosity and no personality at Rush, compared with a lack of virtuosity and an overdose of personality at the "Idol" pep fest.

chrisr@startribune.com • 612-673-4658

From Jon Bream:

1. Arcade Fire (Sept. 30, Roy Wilkins Auditorium) -- Visionary, original, arty, intense, passionate, dynamic, exciting, fun. Arguably the best rock show ever at Wilkins. Read a review of this show.

2. Bob Feldman tribute concert (Sept. 9, Fitzgerald Theater) -- More than a dozen of Red House's acts honored the label's late president in a theater filled with too much emotion. The event was part memorial, part celebration and part tribute -- to Feldman and to the rich Twin Cities music community. Read a review of this concert.

3. Ryan Adams (June 18, Cedar Cultural Center) -- His voice was gorgeous, his songs painful and precious, and his stage manner affected and bizarre (in a good way) as he kicked off a tour for his "Easy Tiger" album. A truly special show, especially with Adams literally dancing in the dark in his chair.

4. Keith Urban (Nov. 12, Xcel Energy Center) -- Coming on like a one-man Bon Jovi, the good-time country stud combined the good looks, passionate vocals, irresistible smile and rock-star moves of Jon Bon Jovi with better-than-Richie Sambora guitar prowess. The wonderful HD big-screen live video work added a wow factor. Jon Bream's review of the Keith Urban concert is here.

5. Roger Waters (June 30, Xcel) -- Pink Floyd's guiding light put on an unforgettable show: spectacular visuals, terrific band, great passion, unbeatable classics and headphone-worthy quadraphonic sound -- the best I've ever heard in an arena.

6. Prince (July 7, Macy's, Target Center and First Avenue) -- Three shows in three venues over 12 hours featured 245 minutes of music (54 songs) and an amazing amount of goodwill. This magnificent marathon provided a fascinating perspective on the many sides of Prince -- and, of course, a damn good time and some too-sweet perfume, too.

7. Nas (April 22, Myth) -- With his DJ working atop a coffin, Nas tried to convince us that hip-hop is dead and George Bush's head should be served on a silver platter. The rapper galvanized the room for a generous 90 minutes. It was the best Twin Cities club show by a major hip-hop star in memory.

8. Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings (Nov. 16, First Avenue) -- Good gawd, she is the goddaughter of soul -- a masterful R&B singer and hyper-energetic show-woman.

9. Arctic Monkeys (May 7, First Avenue) -- An unexpectedly unpretentious treat of garage rock by 20- and 21-year-old Brits.

10. Booker T & the MGs (Aug. 8, Dakota) -- Great grooves, great guitar (Steve Cropper) and great substitute (local drummer Gordy Knudtson) that made this a one-of-a-kind performance by the 1960s instrumental combo.

Least favorite: Fergie at the Fair (Aug. 25) was an overpriced ($52), low-budget production by a cheesy, overpaid hitmaker. Similarly, paying as much as $125 to see KDWB's low-rent, overlong, underperforming Jingle Ball (Dec. 7, Target Center) after Kanye West canceled was a ripoff; I want my time back.

popmusic@startribune.com • 612-673-1719