So its that time of the year when bloggers and writers find that they have to somehow quantify the last 12 months by making thoughtful and carefully crafted lists of things. Being that I'm a little bit lazy, I've shortened my Top Albums list to only ten, but with a few honorable mentions thrown in there at the end.
Just as another preface, I have to say that all of these albums are phenomenal, and ten albums is only about one every 5.2 weeks, so go ahead and listen to these if you haven't already.
1 Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever
Just recently got into this album, and boy did I. It's a great album that stands up to repeat listenings. Its haunting and distant, but it still feels like you're being shown something private and secretive. Gonna find this on vinyl.
2 Beck - Modern Guilt
If you had told me in 2007 that an album by Beck would be on my list for 2008, I wouldn't have believed you. I've had a love / hate relationship with Beck's music, and didn't have plan on returning to his catalog, ever. Then I heard the first 4 tracks of Modern Guilt at a bar, while eating a burrito, and knew that I had to get it and listen to it.
3 MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Fun is the optimum word to describe MGMT's sophomore effort, because its practically bursting from every synth-y hook and catchy chorus. You should be running to the nearest where-ever-it-is-you-get-music to listen to this.
4 Lil Wayne - Tha Carter 3
Lil Wayne is the best rapper alive. After downloading mixtape after mixtape that were being billed as the lead up to this album, and the itunes only ep The Leak last December, I'd have to say the hype leading up to Tha Carter 3 has just as big of an impression in my mind that the release did. The album turned out to be a grower, to-boot. Wayne is in true form on nearly every track, and the skits are kept to a minimum, making for somewhat of an anomalous mainstream rap album: one that's listenable start to finish. Up there with The Chronic in terms of genre changing releases. I own it on vinyl.
5 David Byrne and Brian Eno - Everything that will happen will happen today.
Surprisingly good album. Not really though, considering how good their first collaboration was (-thanks, mom, for the vinyl), but it really showcases these two unique musicians. And it proves that its possible to still be cool and super relevant when your old, even if it is easier to slip into moments of poignance. Only available online, which sweetens the deal.
6 She & Him - Volume I
Who knew Zoey Deschanel had such a great voice and kept such good company? I guess it makes sense when you sit down and think about it, but the indie actress's collaboration with M. Ward produced a classic country-ish record defined by great songwriting and an even better voice behind it all.
7 Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Modern Life
Couldn't get more different that She & Him, but Fucked Up has fueled most of my skateboarding sessions for the past few months. Aggressive, yet contemplative and thorough post-post-hardcore. That's the only way I can describe this without shouting.
8 Department of Eagles - In Ear Park
A really solid first outing for this band. It's great how diverse folk and alt-country-ish influences hav become so prevalent. Reminds me of a more laid back Band of Horses.
9 Man Man - Rabbit Habbits
Another album on this list that I had a lot of expectations about before it even came out, which is usually a good formula for a letdown (read: Of Montreal), but Man Man gave the world a great, albeit a little bit distracted, album.
10 Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
I'd feel bad if I left this one off the list, even if 2008 marks the year I stopped listening to Girl Talk. The problem is, that's it's way to good to stay obscure and ignored, like it really should be. Maybe its because I'm selfish with things that I've been into since they first showed up like little unknown presents of wonderfulness that I could bump incessantly and tell all my friends about. That's how I felt about Girl Talk, even though I had started to feel that itch of burgeoning popularity as soon as 2007. Now it just seems like he's everywhere, and everyone's really into it--which is cool, minus the fact that I feel robbed from in a little despicable way. So listen to / don't listen to Girl Talk.
Honorable Mention:
Colin Meloy - Colin Meloy Sings Sam Cooke & Colin Meloy Sings Live!
The debut solo album for The Decemberists frontman, and the tour only EP where two great listens this year. Great gifts for fans of The Decemberists.
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
A little bit too hit-or-miss to make my top 10, but Of Montreal keeps surprising just about everyone with each successive release. Had I been blogging, 2007's Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer would have topped my list, easily.
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
I hate this album. Deep, real, seething hatred. I hate how its played at Urban Outfitter on an endless loop, I hate how it was automatically enshrined as the "cool, hip new album of 2008" when it came out. I also hate how god damn good it is.
The Replacements Rhino Re-Releases (esp. on vinyl)
Thank you, record company gods for realizing that there's a huge niche market for stuff like this! I've only been able to find Pleased To Meet Me at my record store, but there are rumors that Let It Be, aka my favorite record of all time is going to get a nice 180g pressing too. And that's The Replacements, not the Beatles.
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