Ok Ok Here is My List

2008 wasn't an amazing year in music, especially when compared to 2007. So being in agreement with Jason and others it wasn't a great year for a lot of things... music being one of them. That said there has been some great music and here are my top albums.

10. Beach House- Devotion.





9. She and Him-Volume 1





8. Frightened Rabbit- Midnight Organ Fight





7. The Raconteurs- Consolers of the Lonely





6. TV on the Radio- Dear Science





5. Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend





4. Department of Eagles- In Ear Park





3. The Welcome Wagon- The Welcome Wagon





2. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes





1. Fleet Foxes- Sun Giant EP






I know that you are all thinking that I am totally lame with my top two. But I think that they are the best of 2008. I put Sun Giant as my #1 because I am obsessed with the song Mykonos. They are both amazing though. I agree with Pitchfork that they both deserve to be #1.

Well that's it... like Jason I am lazy and didn't put up any tracks.
Bobert

my small list

In no particular order:

[Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago] I know that this is from 2007, but we all know in our hearts that For Emma, Forever Ago is an album that helped define 2008. Also, Bon Iver was the best show I saw all year, so I'm putting it here.



[Delta Spirit- Ode to Sunshine] Delta Spirit is a newer one to me, but I'm a firm believer that you can never have enough happy beach music in your life.



[Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping] I love these guys. Skeletal Lamping is more experimental than Hissing Fauna, and the complete lack of song structure was a bit off putting. But the pure gold nuggets of mini songs hidden in the tracks keep you coming back.



[Beck- Modern Guilt] I'm a child of the 90s, so Beck insured with Odelay that I would buy every album of his for the rest of my life. Modern Guilt isn't his best, but it gets better with every listen.



[Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend] I'm surprised how much of a guilty pleasure this is on the end of the year album lists. Everybody is a little ashamed to like them, but Vampire Weekend is too good to ignore. I got through some tough days this year building the house with Oxford Comma keeping me upbeat.

stan's list '08

2008. what a year. actually, it hasn't been the most amazing year for music. in fact, most of the truly great albums i listen to came out in '07. i had to take a look at my itunes "most played" list to see what i was listening to from '08, nothing really stood our for me. that said, these are the tracks that spent the most time in my head from this year. out of laziness, i'm not taking the time to put them in any particular order.

a.a. bondy, american hearts

a friend saw him open a show in knoxville and directed me to a live show of his on npr. great folk music, with plenty of religious overtones and dylan-style rebellion.

okkervil river, the stand ins

this is the follow up to last years stage names, making the two into one big, amazing album. i guess they are technically alt-country and rock, but they are one of those bands that you find it hard to classify to a friend because the genre is not what stands out when you listen to them (if that makes any sense).

ra ra riot, the rhumb line

classic indie pop music, plus strings.

vampire weekend, vampire weekend

i know, i know, i'm tired of the album at this point as well. but let's face it, it was damn good.

destroyer, trouble in dreams

while the album is not nearly as good as destroyer's rubies, this is a classic. i love his weird poetry.

nick cave & the bad seeds, dig, lazarus, dig!!!

i didn't start listening to nick cave until last year. now i'm obsessed. solid crazy rock. just listen to the creepy lyrics on "today's lesson." each song is like a short story.

beach house, devotion

kind of like a slightly depressed soundtrack for your dreams. not a nightmare, but not a sunny day either.

department of eagles, in ear park

i like grant's description of dept. except it doesn't give the right impression to say they resemble the beach boys...maybe the beach boys on crack...i like "teenagers" as well, but i included my other favorite "no one does it like you."

girl talk, feed the animals

i don't really have anything to add to my post on this guy. this album rocks.

fleet foxes, fleet foxes

a solid album. the renaissance, simon & garfunkle, my morning jacket and band of horses rolled together in a compact disc. again, read grant's description.

i made a little playlist of some of my favorite tracks from all these albums. i also tacked on songs from deerhunter and frightened rabbit. these guys would go on there if i were including more than ten.

08

Top albums of 2008

Okay, i loved reading grantly and will's top albums of 2008 so i felt compelled to share my own. It was tough and there were many albums such as Bon Iver and MGMT which i felt should be on here but realized they were released in late 2007. Will, sorry to disappoint you excluding the Emo Beattles, Panic at the Disc Player!

10. Ratatat - LP3.
I just love me some ratatatechno. Its ideal for when you need to read a book pretty fast and your eyes are heavy.









9. Coldplay - Viva La Vida.
The songs on this album just flowed together so tastefully. These brits may be slightly over rated but they have evolved so well and created a great album here. Enjoy the piano version of lost i posted below

Lost? - Coldplay







8. Kings of Leon- Only By The Night.
I really loved this album. This may not have been there best album yet. Call me gay but I love his scratchy voice.









7. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals.
This albums rocks so hard. It may be the best road trip album EVER! It bumps, raps, rocks and its a good game to try to see who can guess the different tracks layered in each song.






6. The Whigs- Mission Control.
Ever since i saw this band play in Nashville, TN at the basement I have been hooked. This is their second album and it still is as raw as their first. If these guys had been around during the early 90's grunge scene they would have been ridiculous. Then again so might anybody now if they came pre beattles.

Right Hand On My Heart - The Whigs







5. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely.
The versatility of this album makes me so happy.










4. TV On the Radio - Dear Science.
This album is ridiculous. I have to agree with all the critics, its great. So intricate, creative and fun to listen to.









3. Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend.
Confession. I really didn't want to like this album after hearing all the greatest band ever hipe. I was weaseled into my first listens and still didn't like it. Finally, after being forced to purchase it up by a man with an indie gun, it really grew on me. Now, I love it. It makes me feel like i am on the beach everytime i hear it which must be why its number 3 on my list.





2. Sigur Ros- Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
This album was much more poppy and I loved it.










1. Jon Foreman- Fall, Spring, Summer, Winter.
This is actually 4 EPs, 3 of which were released this year. Jon (try to ignore the fact he is the lead singer of switchfoot), writes with unflinching honesty about human nature, struggle, beauty and faith with amazing melody. Most of the songs if not all are acoustic driven. I love the idea of writing music to create a mood and with each EP he creates a unique mood to each season. He just released "Limbs and Branches" which is a quasi greatest hits of these 4 EPs, if your interested.

The Cure for Pain - Jon Foreman