Because fuzzed out, spastic yet melodic guitar lines will always have a welcome place in my heart. As will most bands with only two members. This is No Age's first full-length for Sub Pop--how could I have not loved this record?!
9. Diplo/Santogold :: Top Ranking
Everybody went crazy for Santi White's self-titled debut album in mid-2008, and rightfully so--"L.E.S. Artistes," "Creator," "Lights Out," and "Say Aha" were phenomenal tracks. But, to paraphrase Will Ferrell's version of Robert Goulet: 'when a professional gets his mits on a song, that's when it really takes off.' Diplo does his star-polishing job well here, just as he did for MIA so many moons ago. And, just to make myself clear, this record is superior to Santogold's self-titled.
8. Erykah Badu :: New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
Intelligent, politically conscious, progressive-thinking soul/funk/hip-hop fusion featuring Madlib, 9th Wonder, Sa Ra, and others. "Amerykahn Promise," "Soldier," "The Cell," and "Twinkle" are all fantastic tracks.
7. Girl Talk :: Feed the Animals
Not Greg's best work (that'd be 2006's Night Ripper) but still an amazing journey down hipster-memory lane. The year's best party album.
6. MGMT :: Oracular Spectacular
Listening to the perfect pop hooks on tracks like "Time to Pretend," "Kids," and "Electric Feel," it's easy to forget that there are only two members in this band, making all their shiny ruckus. I saw them live almost a year ago on the backstage at the Black Cat, opening up for Yeasayer, and they were fantastic. They've come a long way in the past year; I don't think they'll be playing anywhere nearly as small for a good while.
5. Frank Turner :: Love, Ire & Song
I saw Frank Turner perform at the Black Cat last fall, and was able to shake his hand and take a few pictures after his set ended. Wonderful chap, and the heir apparent to Billy Bragg's British folk throne.
4. Bonnie "Prince" Billy :: Lie Down in the Light
Bonnie "Prince" Billy (a.k.a. Kentucky's own Will Oldham) is such a prolific musician that it's easy to overlook his work--Lie Down in the Light isn't even the only album he released in 2008, and is his 4th since 2007. My favorite lines: "and I wander and lay in whatever old bed / with good earthly music singin' into my head" (Easy Does It), and "you remind me of something, a song that I am / and you sing me back into myself" (You Remind Me of Something).
3. Fucked Up :: The Chemistry of Common Life
After the predictably HARDCORE antics they pulled on this live MTV clip--eww, MTV? what?!--I kind of hate myself for liking this band as much as I do. But good music's good music, and all that scenester-y bullshit is for middle schoolers anyway.
2. Fleet Foxes :: Fleet Foxes
This album is flawless and I won't even waste what could be valuable listening time trying to explain why. If you haven't heard it yet, do your soul a favor and get it immediately.
My number one album from 2008 will be the subject of its own post. If you know me, you'll be probably be able to figure out my pick through process of elimination, but I want to give this one its proper due.
Til then...
12 comments:
I like your choices thus far, and the ones I don't have, I will acquire presently. As always, a good mix of stuff I know and love (thus giving me reason to buy into your list) and stuff I don't know (but have reason to believe I'll love).
That said, if #1 isn't Evangelicals, then you'd better adjust your list to accomodate Evangelicals somewhere before #6, because any list of 5 or more "top" albums of 2008 that excludes The Evening Descends is a waste of everyone's time.
I have faith in you, rAdam.
so i've acquired the albums by fucked up, fleet foxes and diplo/santogold. i will let you know what i think as soon as i know what i think.
also, i neglected to mention this earlier: i was immensely disappointed with the MGMT album. i guess it's the risk they ran putting "Time to Pretend" as the lead-off track, but it was all downhill from there. maybe i should see them live, but the album is a one-trick (track?) pony.
Evening Descends was definitely a great album...I admit I've only heard it straight through a couple times, and that was late-spring/early-summerish, when you were still local and it first came out. I do remember being impressed that it was better than their first album; I should go back and re-listen some more.
As for MGMT, they're a three-trick pony! "Kids" and "Electric Feel" round out the perfecta trifecta.
i like your best-of lists more than pitchfork, or any other blogger, for that matter (even if this year is only top TEN), but i must say i'm not feeling this one.
i generally expect that you'll list more sad/americana/singer-songwriter (SASS!) types than i would, and usually one or two soul/rap/r&b albums that i simply don't relate to... but this list includes enough near-misses* that i can only assume you don't think much of this year's music releases.
MY review of your review:
10) No Age - Great album, deserves to be higher.
9) Diplo/Santogold - Haven't listened to more than just LES Artistes, but I have a feeling this belongs on the list.
8) Erykah Badu - Can't relate, "agree to disagree."
7) Girl Talk's Feed the Animals is "Not Greg's best work." That is true. Off the list! To be fair, I've never been a huge fan of his, even live at Coachella.
6) MGMT's album is pretty clearly 1 masterpiece song, 2-3 strong efforts, and a bunch of filler. MAAAAAYBE it sneaks in near #9 or 10, but only on the strength of its single (Time to Pretend deserves a place on a "Best Songs of 2008" top-10 list, however)
5) SASS, your prerogative.
4) SASS, your prerogative.
3) I bought the Fucked Up album, and I like it, but... well, it's equal parts less-talented-foo-fighters and less-fun-butthole-surfers. That actually makes a pretty cool mix, but I would rather just pick a favorite from their songs, skip the rest, and save myself some time. They mostly sound the same, anyway.
2) Fleet Foxes - Haven't listened yet, will reserve judgment.
1) Bon Iver - I like what I've heard, which isn't much, but I'll reserve judgment.
while The Evening Descends isn't like a Person Pitch in its "importance," i would place it right up there in terms of re-listenability, originality, and even quality. it's my #1 of the year, easily. in addition to giving the whole album another listen-through, i would suggest listening to track 3, "Skeleton Man," *LOUD* in the theater with the lights out. soooooo good.
I've been floating in Fleet Foxes and Bon Iver all day. Thanks.
Please tell me you're aware of Right Away, Great Captain! (The exclamation point is in the name. Lord knows it's not mine.) Both albums are fucking amazing.
Ok Jake, I have to come to the defense of MGMT for a second here. I agree that Kids, Time to Pretend and Electric Feel are the best tracks on the album and the rest is sorta fillerish, BUT, I got the Time to Pretend EP a few months ago and there are 2 songs on there, Destrokk and Indie Rokkers which I think are excellent. Really not too sure why they did not make it on the album because I think they are a lot better than some of the stuff that did. Also, they put out this 13 minute single called Metanoia not too long ago and I really like that too. When you have time check those out and let me know if it changes you opinion at all.
so..no in rainbows?
Steph--really glad you enjoyed those two...such good stuff!
Anon--I counted In Rainbows as a 2007 record because it was released online in its "pay what you will" format in October of that year. It was my #4 then.
Oh, and Steph--I hadn't heard of that band; I'll check it out...
This was a weak year for new music methinks. If an album with "3 good tracks" can get to no.6 then there is no need for a top 10 albums, just put up your favorite tracks of the year(which you should definitely do).
You also killed like 80% of your best of 2008-halfway point.
yea Yiz, I know I cut a ton of my mid-year picks between then and this. A few of them (Sigur Ros, Paavoharju, British Sea Power, M83...) were bands I would automatically thrust to the top of any given year's list, but eventually they became stale to me, especially compared to their own, respective, prior albums. The She & Him record, though, was shit the whole time; I was--like a ton of like-hearted folks, I reckon--blinded by my (forever and ever) love of M. Ward and my deep, abiding boner for Zooey Deschanel...but that album, specifically, is boring as muzak after a couple repeat listens.
As for MGMT--agree to disagree; I love that whole album...I'm just saying it has 3 perfect songss.
Seriously, I can't believe I initially denied Bon Iver. Where would I be without him now? Jesus.
I hope you've purchased The Bitter End and The Eventually Home by RAGC by now. You and I share an affinity for the quiet melodic sad, and I can't stop listening to these two albums. I will say it took me a minute to warm up to the first album, but my god. So good.
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