PHOTOS BY HADAS

Whether it was the music, the fact that the stressful holidays were finally over, or just the free booze a-flowin', something was in the air at the Highline Ballroom last night (Jan. 15), slapping smiles on everyone at Spin's Year in Music 2007 party. Once inside and out of the cold temps and lengthy line, which stretched down the block, good spirits were well in order. The party, presented by Oakley and Slacker, included complimentary beverages courtesy of Heineken and Bushmills to warm revelers up while the Virgins and the Raveonettes' Sune Rose Wagner manned the decks in between sets with stylish selections of rock and dance tunes. Recognizable faces mingling in the tight crowd included MTV's John Norris, English-born model Agyness Deyn, rock photographer Mick Rock, vocalist Kristeen Young, and Sixx A.M.'s DJ Ashba, but most everyone's attention was focused up front -- and for good reason.

The sharp wordplay of Minneapolis' "modern urban Norman Rockwell" Brother Ali broke in the stage, his deft flow equally smooth and imposing throughout the impressive set, highlighted by fan favorite "Room With a View." A short break preceded the arrival of the nicest indie rocker around, Ted Leo, who, alongside his Pharmacists, blazed through songs heavily drawn from last year's Living With the Living, though nicely spiked with heated oldie "The Ballad of the Sin Eater." Donning a black winter hat, the Cult's Ian Astbury gave a hearty introduction to the evening's headliners, Eagles of Death Metal, who pounded out their gritty Camaro hard rock (aviator sunglasses included) well past the midnight hour, throwing in swagger-filled covers of the Rolling Stones' "Brown Sugar," Ramones' "Beat on the Brat," and the fitting Steelers Wheel hit "Stuck in the Middle with You."

We asked: Looking back on music in 2007, what album got you through last year and why?

Name: Carla Carstens / Becca Brennan
Age: 22 / 21
Hometown: California / Toronto
Occupation: PR assistant / student
"Kate Nash's Made of Bricks / Arcade Fire's Neon Bible."

Name: Ted Leo
Age: 37
Hometown: Bloomfield, NJ
Occupation: Musician
"Kristeen Young's The Orphans. Why? Why not!"

Name: Corey Kahn
Age: 25
Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
Occupation: Editor
"Battles' Mirrored because it massages my brain."

Name: DJ Ashba
Age: 32
Hometown: Monticello, IN
Occupation: Recording artist / CEO of graphic design agency
"The Heroin Diaries Soundtrack. It was just very therapeutic for me."

Name: Pavla Mikola
Age: 24
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Marketing coordinator at Rykodisc
"Against Me!'s New Wave. It's refreshing to hear that there are still bands around with something substantial to say."

Name: Christine Huang / Shallon Lester
Age: Both 25
Hometown: Irvine, CA
Occupation: Trend hunter / Gossip columnist at NY Daily News
"Radiohead's In Rainbows / Mayday Parade's A Lesson in Romantics."

Name: John Hamel
Age: 21
Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Occupation: Intern extraordinaire
"Justice's †; because it makes me wanna party."

Name: Leo Campos
Age: 25
Hometown: South Plainfield, NJ
Occupation: Student
"The Hush Sound's Like Vines. I could listen to it everyday, it's just so good."

Hughes hearts the Cult / Photo by Hadas

The Eagles of Death Metal take over the Highline Ballroom / Photo by Hadas

Hughes taking his electric boots for a walk / Photo by Hadas

Ted Leo / Photo by Hadas

Toki Wright and Brother Ali break it down / Photo by Hadas

The Virgins' Nick Zarin-Ackerman / Photo by Hadas

The Raveonettes' Sune Rose Wagner / Photo by Hadas