TOP ALBUMS OF ’08!
December 8, 2008 5 Comments
Disclaimer: I didn’t listen to everything that came out this year (I know, it’s a shocker). There are albums that I know are good but that I didn’t listen to till way later than I should have (i.e. Fleet Foxes, She & Him), so I can’t really justify putting them on this list. Also, I can’t get the freakin’ apostrophe in the ’08 to go the other way and it’s really bothering me. Anyway:
15. Mates of State – Re-Arrange Us (Barsuk)
14. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar)
13. Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
12. Adele – 19 (Sony)
11. Hercules and Love Affair – s/t (Mute)
10. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular (Sony)
9. Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge (Velour)
8. Santogold – s/t (Downtown)
7. Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer (Roadrunner)
6. Noah and The Whale – Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down (Cherry Tree)
5. Blitzen Trapper – Furr (Sub Pop)
I was a little late catching on to Blitzen Trapper (this is their fourth album, but first for Sub Pop), but Furr is f’ing incredible. It’s a twangy, feel-good, Americana rock album and I’ve listened to it almost nonstop for the past couple of months.
“Sleepytime in the Western World” (sound/video aren’t that great but it’s my favorite song and all I could find …)
4. Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster (Arts & Crafts)
They did have two albums out this year (We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed was just released Nov. 25), but, at least so far, I like the first better. Los Campesinos!’s lyrics are clever and witty, and they also put on one of my favorite live shows this summer. Best (and longest) song title ever: “This Is How You Spell “HAHAHA, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux Romantics”
“My Year In Lists”
3. Adron – s/t (New Street)
Adron’s (aka 21-year-old Adrienne McCann) debut album seems to have gone almost completely under the radar, but it’s one of my favorites. Her music is part tropicalia, part jazz, and lots of classical-style guitar. And she makes reeeally impressive bird sounds.
“Never Leave My Room Again” (be patient, vocals don’t start till about two minutes in)
Adron’s MySpace
Adron feature on venuszine.com
2. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)
Dear Justin Vernon: Never stop making beautiful music. Please.
“Lump Sum” (via La Blogotheque)
Bon Iver’s MySpace
Bon Iver live photos
1. Lykke Li – Youth Novels (LL Recordings)
This was kind of a no-brainer — I’ve been practically wearing out Lykke Li’s Youth Novels since I’m not even really sure when, mid-summer maybe? Even though Lykke Li herself isn’t the sweetest person I’ve ever interviewed, her album is still incredible.
“Breaking It Up”
“Dance Dance Dance” (with Bon Iver as the backing band)
To get the appropriate apostrophe for ’08, type an apostrophe at the end of a word, hit space bar between said word and a apostrophe, then add the year behind the apostrophe. Correct apostrophe usage for ’09 and beyond!
Balls, it didn’t work here. Funk this site.
yeah, i tried to fix it when i made the post and it didn’t work … so frustrating! trust me, i am a big fan of correct apostrophe usage! haha.
Since your apostrophe looks fixed ’09 is gonna rock! Your picks are awesome btw..
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