A selection of 25 years of music from World Circuit, a double CD of outstanding variety and quality, and an excellent introduction to World music. This album has music from all over the globe (except Asia) and there's not a weak cut on it.

Two albums this year by the North African Rai star. The Collection is accompanied by a DVD. Diwan 2 is his second tribute to the North African stars that preceded him on the Rai stage.

Rough Guide pulled out all the stops this year in Latin music with six CDs covering various styles and traditions.

This rocks! Some great covers and the usual knockout Lemvo originals - smooth, sweet, and sexy.

The Rough Guide to World Music book is coming out in three parts, with accompanying CDs for each part. This is the first.  A lot of territory to cover on one disc, but it's hard to argue with the choices.

World music crossover hits from the last 40 years by Santana, Peter Tosh, Mariam Makeba, etc. A few odd choices (Lambada?), a few glaring omissions (Desmond Dekker, Millie Small, Hugh Masakela), a little short; nevertheless you will recognize most of these songs and will be happy to have them all on one CD.

The previously unheard of son of Ali Farka Toure was this year's breakout star in African music, and deservedly so. If you were lucky, you caught at least one of his 3 (!) shows in CNY during 2007. The self-entitled CD is more electric, more upbeat than his father's recordings, but strongly rooted in Malian tradition. "UFOs" is an album of remixes of some of the same songs.

Highly listenable, mostly danceable, very entertaining music with a gypsy flavor from Germany, the Netherlands, Hungary, and other places you might not expect. "In a Bucavina Dance Hall stylee".

Remixes of (mostly) late period Bob Marley songs.

Last year we got an introduction to Garifuna culture with the fine album (and performance at Grassroots) by Aurelio Martinez. This year a really strong album by Andy Palacio on a more accessible label brings this unique  Central American musical legacy to the world.

An overlooked gem. Deeply rootsy and very contemporary, this Italian outfit has a wonderful lead singer and strong songwriting.

Very much in the samba tradition, with outstanding support from guitarist Celso Fonseca.

Irresistible. This one squeaked in under the wire, so you'll be hearing it a lot in the coming weeks. Good liner notes explain the origins and controversy of the music. The music, however, speaks for itself.

This year's hot/cool Brazilian item. Rooted in samba, but surprisingly varied, with a very Six Degrees sound.

Atmospheric and modern, but still rooted in Argentinian traditional styles. Lovely.

He's been around for a long time, but Koite's music still sounds fresh - very listener-friendly, but not too pop. Koite's music is less bluesy than many of his Malian contemporaries, but with equal integrity.

Some recommended music that did not quite make the top 20:

Actually released in 2006, but we played it a lot this year. A dynamic blend of hip-hop and Ethiopian music, it perfectly maintains the balance between a contemporary sound and the very distinctive Ethiopian groove.

We originally got this CD on Nation Beats' own label. Modiba picked them up and remastered and re-released it. They're big fun live, too.

Local Latin flavored rock band. Catch 'em live.

Some personnel changes from "Ammasakoul", the great Tinarawen CD from 2 years ago, but still an exciting take on desert blues.