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