2008 Top 10 Albums?

[shoreman1782]

Looking over some recent year-end lists (notably, NPR's), I realized I've paid little to no attention to new music this year. Anyone have any recommendations or top 10s of their own? I got nothin.

It's times like this I wonder where jonglover went.

 

[edmorel]

jonglover would mention 10 albums that not even the record labels they are on would know about them.

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

I don't know, haven't really bought anything from 2008, really.
The Nick Cave is going to be mentioned by somebody, unless I do it first.
I picked up the Helena Espvall/Masaki Batoh record this year and I liked it, though I have only listened to it once all the way through so far...
I had a brief, but intense, obsession with the Coldplay record, and then I got bored.

 

[James Bond]

I'm drawing a complete blank on what came out this year. Last year was a fantastic one for new releases.

 

[Nouveau Pauvre]

A really good album in the sense of cohesion and artistic vision is "Sea of Refuge" From the Castanets.

 

[shoreman1782]

^Kopped. I'll give it a shot. I did not listen widely this year.

edmorel, you won't like any of this.

I liked the 2008 SM + the Jicks album more Face the Truth.
I liked the 2008 Elbow album more than their last one.
I like the new Hold Steady way less than any of their other stuff.
She & Him was cute.
Portishead was real good.
Cut Copy was fun.
M83 provided me with a ringtone.
Fleet Foxes was something of a letdown, but then I had high expectations.
Okkervil River put out another good album.
MGMT won me over, but then I got bored.
Los Campesinos! and I had a brief affair.
The Spinto Band took a step back from their last album, IMO.
Jay Reatard put out rockin stuff, but all singles, I think.
Why? made me listen real close.

I haven't listened enough to the new Nick Cave, or Walkmen, or Mr. Oberst, or Bon Iver, or Ra Ra Riot, or other stuff to make judgment.

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

Thank you.


Was portishead and M83 this year? Aw, both good!!!

 

[Dedalus]

Don't forget Fucked Up and **** Buttons.

 

[chronoaug]

Jonathan Ricman- Because Her Beauty is Raw and Wild so so so so so so good There was another album or two but i can't remember. Also, there was a thread like this a month ago for more ideas edit: found it http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=84474

 

[Brian278]

I think Bon Iver is the only album that came out in 2008 that I really listened to this year (which I thought was stellar). I was pretty lazy about finding new stuff.

 

[shoreman1782]

Originally Posted by chronoaug

Also, there was a thread like this a month ago for more ideas


edit: found it http://www.styleforum.net/showthread.php?t=84474

Damn, I was beaten to the punch by more than a month. Who posts their best ofs before December anyway?

Don't forget Fucked Up and **** Buttons.

Haven't actually listened.

 

[breakz]

Originally Posted by shoreman1782

I haven't listened enough to the new...Walkmen.

Solid album. Don't know if I'd call it a "best."

Also: agreed on Cut Copy and Portishead. I was really, really into the M83 album for a while, but I'm off of their (his?) sound for now.

 

[denimdestroyedmylife]

Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs is good. The 90s tracks, stripped down, makes them that much more approachable.

Beck's latest is his best in years. I borrowed it from the library, and liked it a lot, but I am not exactly strongly compelled to buy it.

I am still trying to catch up to all the good **** that was put out in the 1980s.

 

[caphill]

Originally Posted by shoreman1782

^Kopped. I'll give it a shot. I did not listen widely this year.

edmorel, you won't like any of this.

I liked the 2008 SM + the Jicks album more Face the Truth.
I liked the 2008 Elbow album more than their last one.
I like the new Hold Steady way less than any of their other stuff.
She & Him was cute.
Portishead was real good.
Cut Copy was fun.
M83 provided me with a ringtone.
Fleet Foxes was something of a letdown, but then I had high expectations.
Okkervil River put out another good album.
MGMT won me over, but then I got bored.
Los Campesinos! and I had a brief affair.
The Spinto Band took a step back from their last album, IMO.
Jay Reatard put out rockin stuff, but all singles, I think.
Why? made me listen real close.

I haven't listened enough to the new Nick Cave, or Walkmen, or Mr. Oberst, or Bon Iver, or Ra Ra Riot, or other stuff to make judgment.

This is a good list. Mine would look similar, except I thought the Hold Steady's newest was among their best, especially with the addition of the three "bonus tracks." I'd also add Frightened Rabbit's latest album to the list. Really good.

 

[King Francis]

Vampire Weekend's debut was fantastic for what it was: a warm and very listenable pop record. Titus Andronicus released a great debut album of working-class angst and rock pyrotechnics. Amanda Palmer of Dresden Dolls fame sent her solo effort out into the world with good result. Xiu Xiu's Women as Lovers is very good if you like the music of Jamie Stewart. (I like it if for no other reason than the ragged, desperate cover of "Under Pressure," complete with supporting vocals from Michael Gira, formerly of Swans.) Fleet Foxes put out a more-than-solid record. There were other releases which I'm sure will be mentioned. 2008 wasn't a banner year but it wasn't terrible by any means.