Thursday, December 11, 2008

Best Albums of 2008

I'll post the rest of the list in a while. I'm just doing a top 10 for now so I can submit it to HypeMachine.com

2008 was okay for music, not the best year. Sadly, last year was much more impressive. None of the albums released in 2008 were as good as the top 4 from last year: In Rainbows by Radiohead, Sound of Silver by LCD Soundsystem, Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga by Spoon, and Raising Sand by Robert Plant & Alison Krauss. However, there were still many releases that were very impressive and worth checking out. Here are the top 25.



1 Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Key Tracks: A-Punk, *Oxford Comma, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

There was no clear-cut #1 album this year, much unlike last year, when Radiohead’s In Rainbows was #1 without question in my mind. At first, I was reluctant to put the brilliant Vampire Weekend debut at #1. It didn’t feel “weighty” enough to be #1. I’ve seen many music lists this year putting it in the top 10, but never at #1. But in order to make my decision, I tried to remove myself from 2008 and put myself in 2018. I thought to myself, “Ten years down the road, what’s the one album I will remember from 2008? What’s the one album that will leave the deepest impression?” The answer to those questions was Vampire Weekend, without a doubt. Before the album was released, Vampire Weekend was hyped on the blogosphere to a point that backlash was inevitable. People label them as pretentious East-Coast Columbia grads with collared shirts and a subtle sneering self-confidence. Whether any of those characterizations are true or not, it doesn’t take away from the fact that their album is top-notch. It’s fun, catchy, and original. There isn’t a bad song on the whole record. So relax, don’t worry about what people say, and just enjoy the pure pop genius that is Vampire Weekend.




2 Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Key Tracks: Skinny Love, Re: Stacks, The Wolves (Act I and II)

When I listen to this album, vivid images swirl in my mind of a cold, wintry scene in the Wisconsin wilderness, occupied by a single cabin and a man strumming along on his guitar. Well guess what, that’s exactly how this album was made. Bon Iver retreated to a Wisconsin cabin and recorded one of the most beautiful albums I’ve ever heard. The album’s approach is nothing new (songs of heartbreak, complete with acoustic guitar and harmonies), but rarely is it ever this effective.




3 TV On the Radio - Dear Science
Key Tracks: Golden Age, Dancing Choose

Indie bands are good at crafting interesting, frenetic compositions that cause marvel at their creativity. While most of these said songs/albums may be good, they’re usually hard to connect with. What sets Dear Science apart is TVOTR’s exquisite use of melody. No matter how challenging the instrumentation is on a particular song on this album, it still gets stuck in your head for hours because of its infectious melody.




4 Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Key Tracks: I Will Possess Your Heart, Grapevine Fires, Cath...

I recently realized how awesome Death Cab For Cutie was, substance mixed with an innate pop sensibility. Narrow Stairs easily lives up to what people have come to expect from, arguably, the leading indie band of our time. "I Will Possess Your Heart" starts off with a 4-minute intro; some think the song is too long, but you need to feel the groove. It is a perfect song, sparse yet engaging. The song characterizes the whole feel the album: beautiful melodies mixed with lyrics full of heartache. Narrow Stairs is probably DCFC's most ambitious, guitar-fueled album yet.




5 Beck - Modern Guilt
Key Tracks: Gamma Ray, Modern Guilt, Youthless

Beck has become one of my favorite modern artists by constantly switching it up. You never know what genre of music will dominate his next album. Well this time, it's swirling, yet depressed, 60's psychedelia, aided by the production of Danger Mouse. While I admit that the end of the album isn't too strong, the first 6 songs alone are amazing enough to catapult it to the #5 spot, characterized by woozy bass-lines, prominent drums, ornamental flourishes, and Beck's deep, sad voice




6 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Key Tracks: White Winter Hymnal, Blue Ridge Mountains, Tiger Mountain Peasant Song

Take the Shins, infuse them with the earthiness and mind-blowing harmonies of Crosby, Stills & Nash, and you get Fleet Foxes. But don't be fooled by my comparisons: Fleet Foxes are in no way derivative of any bands that have come before them. They have their own unique sound, due in part to the impeccable production of their debut album. The record is fueled by harmonies that you just don't hear in most modern music, but when lead singer Robin Pecknold sings alone, the result is just as beautiful and natural. Lead single "White Winter Hymnal" is the definition of the subtle beauty that Fleet Foxes evokes throughout the whole record. It is a flawless album.




7 Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
Key Tracks: *Here's the Thing, *In Step, *Play Your Part (Pt. 2)

This is one of the most fun albums I've ever heard. Girl Talk, the master of mashups, has created a masterpiece. Feed the Animals is one big hour-long dance party containing all your favorite hits, and I mean all of them. You can hear components of songs across the musical map, including Sinead O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U," Kanye West's "Flashing Lights," Radiohead's "15 Step," Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody," Soulja Boy's "Crank That," Britney Spears' "Gimme More," Of Montreal's "Gronlandic Edit," Flo Rida's "Low," and The Beach Boys' "God Only Knows." And that's just a tiny fraction. I don't think I've ever gotten as much pure enjoyment from an album as I have from this one.




8 Sun Kil Moon - April
Key Tracks: Lost Verses, Tonight the Sky, Unlit Hallway

You may not be aware, but you've probably already been exposed to Mark Kozelek, the brains behind Sun Kil Moon. He portrayed the bassist of the fictional band Stillwater in the movie Almost Famous, funnily enough. Who would have thought that guy had such musical prowess? Serving as a cross between Nick Drake and Neil Young, Kozelek presents an album full of both beautiful acoustic and rocking electric jams. I'm surprised he's gotten such little coverage, because this is really something.




9 Sigur Rós - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Key Tracks: Inní mér syngur vitleysingur, Gobbledigook, Við spilum endalaust

I've never heard a Sigur Rós song that didn't move me in some way. The album opens with pure joyful exuberance, and then levels off to the melancholy crescendos and decrescendos that they're known for. It's a perfect album to study to, which means it's been on repeat a lot recently. These guys can do no wrong, as far as I'm concerned.




10 Q-Tip - The Renaissance
Key Tracks: Gettin' Up, Move, Life is Better (feat. Norah Jones)

Q-Tip, the former leader of A Tribe Called Quest, came out with the #1 rap album of the year, complete with the #1 song of the year of any genre. Q-Tip knows how to make a hook and a beat. In the world of dumbed down beats and lyrics (see "Crank That" by Soulja Boy), Q-Tip is the antithesis. His beats are smooth soul grooves with smart lyrics to match.

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