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Jesus Christ, Chinese Democracy was actually released. It's nowhere near my top ten for this year (it doesn't appear anywhere in my list, as a matter of fact) but let's just take a moment to reflect on that fact. Centuries from now scholars in their spaceships will harken back and think '2008 was the year that everyone got to hear the sounds of Axl Rose trying with all his might to fellate himself.'

Yes, it's been a big year - My Bloody Valentine reunited, Brian Eno and David Byrne reunited, Coldplay put out an album that... wasn't horrible, and, well, we got a bunch of decent music. A lot of releases this year seem to sort of reconcile old and new styles, with popular new bands like Fleet Foxes, Department of Eagles and Vampire Weekend integrating the sounds of 70s folk/rock, the baroque side of 60s pop and, well, Paul Simon's Graceland into their music.

So what's grabbed you in 2008? In this topic last year, I did a top ten countdown, and I'm going to do it again!


10. Animal Collective - Water Curses EP
It's easy to look at Animal Collective's discography and see a definite progression towards accessibility - perhaps not mainstream accessibility, but the group seem to be working towards experimentation within decidedly pop parameters. Bouncy tropical pop, a warbling epic that bustles like an Indian marketplace - throughout the EP, AC exhibit their simultaneously modern and primitive pop sensibilities with, arguably, greater effect than ever before.
Key track - Water Curses

9. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
This has to be the ultimate party album. On holiday in Gran Canaria this summer, we were playing it almost constantly, and there were shrieks of delight from virtually everyone when they recognised this or that. This guy's so much more than a mash-up artist - he has a real ear for the best 15 seconds of a song. It's a frantic ADHD whizz around the history of pop music in a neon shopping cart! My favourite moment on this album has to be the Lil Mama - 'Lipgloss'/Metallica - 'One' mashup that closes 'Like This.'
Key track - Play Your Part, Pt. 1

8. Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
One of my favourite things about this album is just how damn uncool it is. Flashy prog pompousity, extended jamming - within the indie scene, who else is doing that nowadays? I've never been fan of Malkmus's old band Pavement, oddly, but there's something about this release that really appeals to me, and I think it might be the addition of Janet Weiss on drums. The woman is a powerhouse, and contributes the solid backbone that keeps the wandering jams of Real Emotional Trash engaging.
Key track - Baltimore

7. Mt. Eerie - Black Wooden Ceiling Opening EP
Two EPs in my top ten this year, oddly. This one really appeals to the old Metallica/Iron Maiden fan that still (apparently) dwells within me. Phil Elverum is generally more known for lo-fi songs that sound like a sudden gust of wind could blow them apart, and even when he's bringing the noise, it all seems to be teetering on the edge of a cliff. Here, though, he puts out a really great hardcore EP (is it hardcore? Paging Dragon Fire to the thread) full of killer riffs. The drummer, again, is a goddamn monster, and the lo-fi aesthetic makes the EP a nice counterpoint to the studio-polished sheen of all the modern metal I hear (which, admittedly, is very little) and adds a lot of charm. The EP's two lighter (almost Weezer-esque) tracks are equally stellar. I've never felt compelled to headbang before now, but here I am!
Key track - it's tied between 'In Moonlight' and 'Don't Smoke' for me.

6. No Age - Nouns
I wrote this one off when I first heard it. They're just causing a ruckus! It's strange - it took their cover of Bjork's 'It's Oh So Quiet' to turn me around, the way they mixed their scrappy punk with that undeniably gorgeous melody. They're a punk band through and through, but their songs seem underpinned by a knack for a great melody. Sure it's a ruckus, but it's a beautiful, art-damaged ruckus.
Key track - another tie! Sleeper Hold or Things I Did When I Was Dead.

5. Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
Bradford Cox is a productive guy. This year, he's put out a solo album and enough blog tracks to comprise a second, and then, when Microcastle leaked way early, he threw another album out with it to compensate. And Weird Era Cont. isn't just a collection of off-cuts and alternate takes, but a great album in its own right! Microcastle, Cox claims, was inspired by 50s pop and vocal groups, and, it's true, you can hear the band fully realising the pop tendencies that on their earlier work had been swathed in shoegaze fuzz or mutated into swirling, hypnotic 7-minute freakouts. That isn't to say that those elements are missing - far from it (listen to the krautrock mid-section of Nothing Ever Happened) - but they work perfectly within the more conventional parameters. Weird Era Cont., if you couldn't guess by the title, is more a continuation of the earlier sound, and a more diverse listen, with Ronettes references and shoegaze haze and a scrappier sound more apt given the genre the band have adopted (and, arguably, are the sole inhabitants of) - 'ambient punk.'
Key track - Cavalry Scars II/Aux Out (from Weird Era Cont.)

4. Evangelicals - the Evening Descends
I'm worried this album, being released so early in the year, is going to be forgotten when it comes around to year-end lists. It's not one I can listen to every day, but it's an immensely pleasurable experience whenever I do. It just *sounds* amazing! It flows so well, too - admittedly, it's all a bit structurally similar, which makes it easy to want to click about and pass up some lesser tracks for the better ones, but, listened to as a whole, each song's individual strengths really shine. There are just so many of those 'Oh, YEAH!' moments, and I love the guitar tone on the record. I don't think anyone's put out an indie pop record this year as strong as this, it's like Arcade Fire trapped in a B-movie.
Key track - Skeleton Man


3. The Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Graves.
Such a great record - the whole 'guy with a guitar' thing is seldom done so well nowadays. His playing's so expressive and the production (if you could really call it that) is so intimate. I read a wonderful line in a review regarding all the Dylan comparisons that this guy's bound to get - that he's most like Dylan in that he "can express beauty without the trappings of prettiness." It's one of those rare albums you can either lay there and immerse yourself in, or just let it wash over you in a warm, organic kinda way.
Key track - The Gardener.

2. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park
This one took a while to grow on me, but what really won me round was their knack for chord progressions. An odd thing, I know, but the melodies of these songs shift from the minor to major key so perfectly. At first, it seemed to me a 'little' album - woodsy, warm, delicate, but now, I can't think of a more muscular, powerful release this year. It's an extremely well put-together album that's greater than the sum of its parts, in which each little flourish becomes immensely forceful and adds so much to the song. I'm struck by how bluesy it can be, as well. There's a great deal of what we might call 'new-folk' around lately, but rarely is it done so well.
Key track - Floating on the Lehigh.

1. Samamidon - All is Well
All is Well is a really sublime album, a collection of covers of applachian folk songs (some might be familiar with O Death from O Brother, Where Art Thou?) by a young guy called Sam Amidon with a voice far older than he is. Nico Muhly (who has orchestrated work by Bjork and Bonnie 'Prince' Billy among others) contributes innovative orchestral arrangements that in no way detract from the intimacy of the record - rather, they embellish vocals and flesh out sonic atmosphere. All is Well can truly be described as beautiful, and, in many ways, though the songs are virtually unrecongisable from their traditional counterparts, the fact that it is an album of covers of traditional songs makes it a grander statement than it would otherwise be - when Amidon sings 'I came to this country/Eighteen and forty-nine/I thought myself lucky/For to be alive,' it recontextualises songs which might otherwise float over us, the gravity and timelessness of their message obscured by the outdatedness of traditional folk. His delivery is heartfelt, his voice is delicate, and the arrangements shimmer beautifully. It's an incredibly well-crafted record.
This wasn't going to be my number one, really, but in writing about it, I came to remember all the things that made it so moving when I first heard it early this year.
Key track - It's a tie! Saro and O Death are both incredible.


Well, that's me done! Now it's your turn! I may post later regarding some older artists I've discovered for the first time this year, and some disappointments, so feel free to do that - but I've been writing for over an hour and need to pee.

This post has been edited by Mimic on 4th December 2008 01:51

I was dreading this topic's inevitable creation more than you could know, Mimic. We've had this conversation many times throughout the year, but 2008 just wasn't 2007 when it comes to significant musical releases. That being said, there was still a ton of great stuff made available and I've spent a good hour pulling out my hair trying to decide what goes where and who exactly would make the cut of being in my top 10 for this year.

Before I begin, I want to answer your question. Mt. Eerie's ep is a post-hardcore release.

How about that Chinese Democracy? I never thought Axl would actually let it out, and now that he has I'm sort of wishing he hadn't. It's receiving an insane amount of positive reviews and that confuses me terribly.

Anyways, on to the list!

10. Dance Gavin Dance - Self Titled
I never had thought much of this band until they dropped their self-titled album near the start of 2008. I've reached a point where many hardcore acts, especially new ones, rarely impress me as much of it has been done before and done to death. What sets this album apart is the way they blend in pop sensibility and catchy, harmonic guitar lines with pounding, relentless drum fills. Vocally, they toned down the screaming considerably, opting to only use it at key moments in the song for emphasis. It really works, giving an album that I would recommend to anyone coming into the genre. The low-production quality of the recordings actually helps add to the album as well, as it feels and sounds very much like a live recording, capturing all the energy of the band. That the album was produced by Chino Moreno is also worth mentioning.
Key Tracks: Alex English and, my favorite, Caviar (featuring Chino Moreno of Deftones.)

9. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
Honestly, when I first listened to this album in it's entirety, I wasn't all that impressed. There were a few tracks that stood out, mainly Standing Next to You and the album's self-titled track. I enjoyed the 60's influence that was apparent in their music, but was slightly disappointed as I had higher hopes for the side-project formed of frontmen from The Arctic Monkies and The Rascals. Regardless, I stuck it on my iPod and didn't give it a second thought until weeks later. It started playing one night while I was riding the bus home and I began to really listen to the album. Lo and behold, my toes were tapping and my head was swaying. There's something simplistic and innocent about the music they've put out. It isn't quite a complete throwback to Beatles-era rock, but the influence is unquestionable. I can't stop listening to it now, and I imagine I will be for some time.
Key tracks: Standing Next to Me, Only The Truth, Separate and Ever Deadly

8. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Ben Gibbard has always been, in my eyes, the master of writing cheesy songs about broken hearts and ex-girlfriends and still making them enjoyable. Narrow Stairs is nothing new in that regard, but done on a much bigger scale. This has easily become my favorite Death Cab album to date. The lyrics are clever and poetic, the music is fluid and strangely peaceful, all the while taking you on a rather intimate emotional ride. In terms of production, a lot of thought was put into this album. Each note is clear and vivid, even the walls of feedback and dissonance sound layered and articulated.
Key tracks: I Will Possess Your Heart, Cath... and Grapevine Fires.

7. Protest the Hero - Fortress
My love for metal isn't quite what it used to be, but this album is by far the best metal album to drop this year, period. I dare anyone to listen to the opening track, "Bloodmeat" and not have their face melt by the sheer raw power of their shred-work. What always sells PtH for me is that as heavy as they go, their songs are still approachable. In a lot of cases, metal music has the bad habit of being too heavy for the sake of heaviness, rendering them utterly unlistenable. You don't need 5 minutes of blast-beats and shrieking to be metal, kids. Rody displays why he's considered a vocal powerhouse on this album, singing (yes, singing!) his lungs out. There isn't a whole lot I can say about this album other than it being brilliant.
Key tracks: Bloodmeat, Sequoia Throne, and Limb From Limb.

6. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
See Mimic's post. I couldn't have said it better than he did. Really, this album is the party soundtrack of the year. There are so many memorable moments on here that I'd never be able to list them all. It works you up and keeps you in a dancing frenzy. You can't hear a track from here and -not- want to lift your beer (or mojito) and shake your ass. I go wild any time I hear it played in a club here.
Key tracks: In Step, Hands in the Air.

5. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
I am completely blown away that this album is not in Elliot's top 10. These southern boys know how to put together an album and have yet to disappoint me. I had fairly high hopes going into this album and, as always, they've all been met. The progression of this band is clear on this album, stepping away from their "dirtier", more southern rock inspired roots and branching off into something new. This album is absolutely vocally driven, which is an interesting change since the guitars and drum play have always been the dominant musical force in KoL albums. Still, it sounds gorgeous.
Key tracks: Sex on Fire, Closer, Cold Desert.

4. Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont
Again, see Elliot's post. The variety between the albums is what makes this collection work for me. Microcastle is a strange departure from what I'd expect on a Deerhunter album. Simply put, it wasn't "strange" enough! There was something very "old school" about the song structures here, and the pop influence is certainly to blame for that. It was actually a bit off-putting for me at first, but as it sometimes happens, I gave this album a full listen soon after my initial response and found so much more worth loving. It quickly became one of my favorite albums of the year. All the same, I was more than glad to welcome the wackiness back when Weird Era dropped.
Key tracks: Agoraphobia, Never Stops.

3. City and Colour - Bring Me Your Love
Dallas Green, also known for his guitar work in hardcore act Alexisonfire, is a brilliant songwriter. His first solo album was a collection of love songs and acoustic tracks written in the back of a van during a very long tour. This album is a bit more polished, a bit warmer and certainly a more mature release by the artist. The sound is very simple, never more than a set of great guitar riffs, a laid back drum beat on occasion and the sparse piano accenting choruses.
That's to say nothing of his voice, which is, quite frankly, angelic. I get goosebumps whenever I hear his voice.
Key tracks: Waiting, The Death of Me

2. Misery Signals - Controller
Misery Signals are, by large and wide, what I consider to be the ultimate hardcore band. They are constantly reinventing themselves within the genre and this album is nothing different. Simply put, this album is beautiful. There are long, melodic, almost symphonic sections that feature entire an entire orchestra that quickly turn into off-time, cuttingly brutal breakdowns and unbelievable heavy riffs, all held together by the guttural and power vocals that hit like a jackhammer every single time.
Key Tracks: Ebb and Flow, Reset and Homecoming.

1. Thrice - The Alchemy Index Volume III&IV
Thrice has, over the last few albums and years, made their way further from their post-hardcore, punk-rock roots and closer to a much more indie mentality for song-writing. This double album, more than any other work, is the perfect balance of both worlds. The songs are complex and yet sound simple, are moving and in many cases, quite emotional in a very raw sense true to their punk roots. The fact that there is almost to no distortion used on this album at all and that the vocals were placed on the album without being mixed or mastered adds to that rawness, but the high-quality of the instruments blends to make something new and stunning. Their goal was to be as pretentiously artful as possible in an ironic fashion, and yet it works even were it not a comment on the current state of music. I'm going to be enjoying this double-album for a long, long time.
Key tracks: Daedalus, The Lion and the Wolf, and Digging My Own Grave.


Well, there you have it! My top 10 of 2008! This took forever to write up, wow. Honorable mention goes to Blood Red Shoes, Bella, Owl City, Lights, Stephen Malkmus, Secret Lives of the Freemasons, Nine Inch Nails, TV on the Radio, Bring me the Horizon and Dr. Acula.





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Okay, but there was a goat!

2008 really wasn't as spectacular a year for new music. In fact, just to make a list longer than 2 items, I have to include some albums that were released in late 2007. But here's my painfully short list.

Local H - 12 Angry Months

The H maintain to be one of my favorite bands that are still alive and very much kicking. This album, a long four years removed from their last venture, sees the duo of incredulous genius Scott Lucas and maniacal drum smasher Brian St. Clair picking up right where they left off. But this album is different; almost a concept album of sorts. Each song, represented by a month of the year, shows every single mood swing of a messy breakup from a long relationship. From the initial breakdown of the title-appropriate "24 Hour Breakup Session", to the 'god, what an effing sl*t' rage of "White Belt Boys", and the awkward meeting of her new boy toy on "BMW Man", it's all covered. An amazing CD, encompassing some of Scott's greatest lyric writing to date while keeping up with the H's notorious raucous swagger. Hopefully it wont' take another 4 years to follow up.
Bobbo suggests... "The One With 'Kid' ", "Jesus Christ! Did You See the Size of That Sperm Whale?!"*, "White Belt Boys", "Summer of Boats"

*-by far, greatest song title of the year.

AC/DC - Black Ice

The often imitated, never duplicated AC/DC came back from an 8 year hiatus with this one. I was encouraged, yet skeptical. I mean, how much more could they do with their brand of sound? While true, it doesn't tread much away from their normal sound, isn't that what you expect from AC/DC? You listen to them when you want to rock and freaking roll. And they surprisingly deliver again. Angus and Malcolm did interviews claiming they wanted to go in a slightly different direction, with a little more blues influence. I can definitely hear it in the new stuff. "Skies on Fire" and "Stormy May Day" are definite blues-rock. But the traditional AC/DC sound is here, and it does not disappoint. Over 35 years into their illustrious career, it's hard to think that they can have any more classics. Yet they have two on here that I automatically label as instant AC/DC classics. The most publicized single, and most rollicking on the album, "Rock and Roll Train", as well as the bass and drum action snarl of "War Machine". They sound like they were plucked straight from back in the day. Its safe to say they have not lost their niche in life... and thank god for that.
Bobbo suggests... "Rock and Roll Train", "War Machine", "Money Spent", "Black Ice"

Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga

Again, technically released last year. But I got acquainted with it more this year than last. Spoon is rapidly becoming the go-to band in the unpretentious acoustic-rock genre. They hit with the feel good sound they've been known for. From the guitar flicks on the intro of "Don't Make Me a Target" all the way through the album there are great tracks easy on the years and sing-a-long-able. They have a unique style that is undeniably good.
Bobbo suggests... "Eddie's Raga", "Rhythm and Soul", "Don't Make Me a Target"

The Exies - A Modern Way of Living With the Truth

Also released last year, though late, it was the first album I picked up in 2008. So let's not split hairs here so I can include it with this review. Truth be told, the Exies are not a very special band. Not to say they blend in with others in the genre, as they do have a noticeable sound. There's just nothing extraordinary about them. But you don't have to be extraordinary... you just have to be good and have a plethora of rockable tracks. The Exies pass the test with their third release. Their sound is definitely post-grunge, but the vocals of Scott Stevens sets them apart. Several times on the album, he saves the song from being mundane. But being a fan of the band since their inception, there's a softer side to the band not seen until now. It's a sadder, more regrettable style. They pull it off well, which is a dangerous route to take if it can't be done right. All in all, this album is definitely worthy of a spot in my collection.
Bobbo suggests... "This is the Sound", "Stray", "A Modern Way...", "Lay Your Money Down"



Four albums ... that's it? Seriously. Here's hoping 2009 delivers the goods in droves.

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"When I turn the page
The corner bends into the perfect dog ear
As if the words knew I'd need them again
But at the time, I didn't see it."

~"This Ain't a Surfin' Movie" - Minus the Bear

Quote (Sabin @ 5th December 2008 03:37)

AC/DC - Black Ice

The often imitated, never duplicated AC/DC came back from an 8 year hiatus with this one. I was encouraged, yet skeptical. I mean, how much more could they do with their brand of sound? While true, it doesn't tread much away from their normal sound, isn't that what you expect from AC/DC? You listen to them when you want to rock and freaking roll. And they surprisingly deliver again. Angus and Malcolm did interviews claiming they wanted to go in a slightly different direction, with a little more blues influence. I can definitely hear it in the new stuff. "Skies on Fire" and "Stormy May Day" are definite blues-rock. But the traditional AC/DC sound is here, and it does not disappoint. Over 35 years into their illustrious career, it's hard to think that they can have any more classics. Yet they have two on here that I automatically label as instant AC/DC classics. The most publicized single, and most rollicking on the album, "Rock and Roll Train", as well as the bass and drum action snarl of "War Machine". They sound like they were plucked straight from back in the day. Its safe to say they have not lost their niche in life... and thank god for that.
Bobbo suggests... "Rock and Roll Train", "War Machine", "Money Spent", "Black Ice"

I really have to agree with this one the most, I actually liked this album alot. It still sounded alot like old ACDC but somehow to me even better. Other than that I havent really heard much amazing new music this year, but then again I havent really listened to new music.

Except, yeah! Bloody hell Chinese Democracy is actually out?? Havent heard it, and even if its terrible that is a miracle.

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*Sigh*....Times are tough

Maybe it proves that I'm a 45-year-old man in a 22-year-old body, but I thought that Al Green's Lay it Down and Randy Newman's Harps and Angels are each among their respective artists' finest works, and both are in my best five albums of the year.

Black Ice is really great. AC/DC isn't doing much in the way of innovation or evolution of their own sound, but they definitely made their first album after a long hiatus something special. Very, very well done.

And even though I've heard barely ten minutes of it, the album that piqued my curiosity the most this year was probably Girl Talk. It's a party album that's basically nonstop clever and well-produced DJ work. The human brain craves irregularity and grows bored with change; Girl Talk is incredibly intriguing and never boring. This will probably be the next album I purchase.

Oh, and I like Buckcherry's new album. So sue me. Radio rock can do it for me, sometimes.

EDIT: Also, props to The Roots, REM, and The Eagles for being past-their-prime artists putting out solid, not-embarrassing albums this year. Especially since The Roots are totally embarrassing themselves by deciding to tour no longer and instead be the late-night band for Jimmy Fallon. Srsly?

This post has been edited by laszlow on 8th December 2008 16:41

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
END SPOILER

I feel like in 2008 I really missed the boat on a lot of great new albums. Something about this year always put something in the way of me trying out new music; I'm going to guess it's that I spent most of the year working from home, and it always seemed like I had something else (like soccer on TV, or UT) taking up my ears when I was working that way. Now that I'm back in an office, though, I'm trying to catch up a bit; so, here, have a somewhat truncated list of what I loved this year, in no particular order.

Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
I know I know I know that a lot of people who have been Sigur Ros fans for a long time (as I have, truth be told) didn't go wild for this album, and it is in fact a pretty big departure from albums like ( ) or Agaetis Byrjun. It is, however, an excellent example of where the band has been going since the release of Takk..., and it retains the blend of epic and beautiful and a little more approachable that made Takk... such a huge favorite of mine. This is a band that, if you have any capacity to be into them in the first place, can just simply not put out a bad record.
Drooling for: "Festival", "Inni mer syngur vitleysingur"

Aimee Mann - @#%&*! Smilers
Aimee Mann might just be one of the best songwriters of our generation, with a wit that goes to the sardonic, dark, and both. Her entire career has been a streak of well-written songs and inventive indiepop musical form, especially when combined with her unique voice. Smilers keeps her streak of brilliant albums alive, and while it's not her best work yet, it is uniquely Aimee. And now that I've missed her play live twice this year, my primary goal musically for 2009 is to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Drooling for: "Phoenix", "Looking for Nothing"

The Airborne Toxic Event - Self-titled
This is a band that more or less didn't exist on anyone's radar a year ago, with an EP and no full release under their belts. However, now they have an LP, and it is quite simply fantastic rock music. I wasn't really expecting that much from these guys based on the couple times I'd heard their first single, "Sometime Around Midnight," on the radio; however, hearing them live this past Saturday changed my mind, and the album is already making this list after just a couple listens. I like to think of them as a bit of a "The Strokes meets Arcade Fire" sort of sound, with a shade of rockabilly thrown in from time to time, built around really strong vocals and good string work.
Drooling for: "Gasoline", "Sometime Around Midnight"

Coldplay - Viva La Vida
No, this album isn't as good as their first two. Get down off your high horse, eh? It doesn't matter - Brian Eno's arrival as producer completely revitalized this band. The overall sound can still sometimes grate as as the musical phrases repeat in song after song, but I prefer to think of that as a bit of what this band does well: they come up with really skilled musical hooks and stick with them. Eno's method of taking a band's range and extending it with new instruments and overall production changes makes this album sound both familiar and completely, deliciously different from all other Coldplay albums all at once.
Drooling for: "Lovers in Japan", "Lost!"

Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Again, a lot of people will malign this album out of hand, just as with its predecessor Plans, for being too commercial and too polished as a major-label release. Again, though, complain all you want, because this album is just excellent. Dragon_Fire puts it extremely well above, so there's no need for me to go much further into it than that. Heck, I'm even drooling for the same songs he picked out, so this is a very easy paragraph to write.

And since I'm still catching up, I have several albums that I think might make the list if I was writing this in a few weeks, but I really have no intention of coming back to revisit the post, so a list is all you get:

Fleet Foxes - Self-titled
Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer
Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
Portishead - Third
Beck - Modern Guilt
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Keane - Perfect Symmetry

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

AC/DC and Metallica's new releases are the only things that really caught my attention this year. Both really sounded great to me, even if everyone criticized Metallica. Loved it anyway, especially All Nightmare Long, the Judas Kiss, and Cyanide

It seems like I say this every year during this thread, but 2008 was not a great year for hip-hop. I was waiting for Common's Universal Mind Control, which was released today, so I'll start with that.

Common- Universal Mind Control

I remember saying that Finding Forever was a little bit like Be's less talented little brother. It's not a bad album, but it's so similar stylistically to Be that it doesn't stack up by comparison. I was skeptical about UMC after hearing the first singles, which sound much more radio-friendly than I'm used to from Common (not that radio-friendly is always a bad thing, but it doesn't really suit Common's style.)

But after hearing the whole album, I was pleasantly surprised. He definitely didn't make another Finding Forever, UMC is all over the place musically. Common is not afraid of taking risks (Electric Circus), but almost all of his albums have a similar sound throughout the album, which UMC doesn't have. But it does have some nice songs with pretty unique beats, and it's definitely going to stay in rotation on my ipod.

Best Songs- "Gladiator", "What a World", "Everywhere"

Kanye West-808s and Heartbreak

I'm hoping this album is eventually stricken from the Kanye West record, kind of like Jay-Z and Roc La Familia. I don't object to the whole auto-tune concept, or even the dark, depressing subject matter of almost every song (a lot of it was recorded after Kanye's mom passed.) The reason I'm mad I spent $10 on it is that it is exceptionally boring. I finished listening to it and thought "Man, there isn't a single song there I feel like hearing again." I've tried to give it more of a chance, but it hasn't grown on me at all.

If I have to choose a song to listen to- "Streetlights"

The Roots- Rising Down

Roots albums tend to be better when they spend more time on them. Rising Down to me feels like half of a good album. I understand what they were trying to do with the darker tone of the album (hip-hop really is in a dark place, huh?) but only about half of the songs are up the standard I expect from them. It reminds me a lot of the last time they released an album less than 2 years apart, The Tipping Point. Tipping Point has some good songs, including one of the best I think they've ever recorded (Star), but it's so inconsistent you can tell it was a little rushed. Rising Down is the same way. I love about 4-5 songs, and skip the rest.

Best Songs- "Rising Down", "Criminal", "I Will Not Apoligize"

Q-Tip- The Renaissance

I had to be talked into this one, since I had visions of Amplified in my head. Finally enough people told me it didn't suck that I gave it a shot. It's not bad, but Tip definitely misses Phife. It sounds a lot like Beats, Rhymes, and Life if you took out all of Phife's verses. So it's OK, but I wouldn't put it in before any Tribe album.

Best Songs- "Gettin Up", "Move", "ManWomanBoogie"

Nas-untitled

Like all Nas albums in the post-Stillmatic era, it's good but inconsistent. For as good a lyricist as Nas is, his songs are only as good as his producers. I love the stic.man songs on this album, while some of the songs are pretty skippable.

Best Songs- "Hero", "Sly Fox", "Black President"

Madlib- Beat Konducta Vol.5- Dil Cosby Suite

I listen to most of my music in the car on the way home from work, and I'm usually tired enough that listening to instumental albums isn't enough to help keep me awake, but Madlib's albums are usually the exception to the rule, especially this one (his tribute to J-Dilla.) Smooth all the way through.

John Robinson- Who Is This Man?

MF Doom produced the whole album, and recycled a lot of beats, but Robinson is a nice enough emcee that it doesn't feel stale. There aren't a lot of new emcees with Robinson's talent, so hopefully he stays around long enough to record an album with original beats.

Best Songs- "Shrink Rap", "Outta Control"

These two albums were from last year after the thread was made, so I'll include them anyway (since they're both brilliant.)

Lupe Fiasco- The Cool

I raved a little bit about The Cool last year, but feel the need to say more about it. The only albums since Black Star in 1998 I can listen to all the way through and enjoy every single song are this and Be. The Cool is actually the only CD in my car, so if my ipod dies, I don't really care since I can just put it on. And I don't know if I can come up with an album at all that has a 5 song stretch like Gold Watch through Little Weapon. I really hope Lupe is bluffing about LUPend being his last album.

Best Songs- "Gold Watch", "Intruder Alert", "Little Weapon", "Hip-Hop Saved My Life", "Gotta Eat", "Streets on Fire", "Put You On Game"

Blu & Exile- Below the Heavens

My guy put me up on Blu last year, and he's been slowly making a run at Lupe for the title of my favorite new emcee. He reminds me of Phontae in that I catch something new every time I hear the album. Exile is a decent producer as well, but this album is really all about the lyrics. Think Kweli in his prime when his songs were both fun and deep at the same time.

Best Songs- "Juice N Dranks", "Dancin In the Rain", "First Things First"

This post has been edited by Gears on 10th December 2008 20:51

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Hip-Hop QOTW:

"Yeah, where I'ma start it at, look I'ma part of that
Downtown Philly where it's realer than a heart attack
It wasn't really that ill until the start of crack
Now it's a body caught every night on the Almanac"

"Game Theory"
The Roots

I have to post about this album - I'm just listening to it for the first time now, but I might have to revise my top 10 in light of hearing it. It's by Jacob Borshard, and it's called A Glow in the Dark, and it's just great. You can get it for free on his site: http://www.creebobby.com/

I'm a sucker for ukulele, and for lighthearted, humourous, summery pop. This guy reminds me of Jonathan Richman, with his knack for tongue-in-cheek delivery and clever, friendly pastiche - check out the homage to 'Let's Twist Again' on 'In Love Again Again.' If terms like 'twee' and 'bubblegum' and songs considering the personal qualities of the custom colours of Fender guitars ("Inca Silver won't return your calls") make you gag, then this might not be for you, but it's a fun little album that doesn't ask anything of you as a listener - it's so cute and intimate!

I checked out bits and pieces of the new Kanye album, and like Gears, I wasn't overly impressed. I really loved Graduation because of its pop-history-assimilating, sample-heavy, maximalist, ostentatious aesthetic. 808s and Heartbreak sounds too lean and minimal for my tastes.

I know this thread is about albums you've heard from 2008, but I just want to say that albums that I really want from this year are Fleet Foxes debut and Deerhoof's Offend Maggie.

The Ting Tings We Started Nothing - at first, I fell in love with "Shut up and let me go'"'s video. Then when the song caught on to me, and after hearing a couple others, I bought the album. Yeah, many of the songs have an 80's vibe, but many of the songs are simpler than that. Most of the songs are a drum kit, a non-complex synth sound and a guitar. And they sound good. I would definitely recommend the songs "We Walk" and "Great DJ". The only thing I didn't like was that it was too short.

Beck Modern Guilt- Just a cool, psychedelic album. All the songs are good and none can be ignored. The track "Chemtrails" uses a favorite song technique of mine; the one where it seems like the song ends but has a random instrumental intro that gradually fades, which is worth mentioning because I've only heard it in one other song. "Gamma Ray" and "Chemtrails" are songs worthy to check out.

Death Cab for Cutie Narrow Stairs- I agree with all of the things said about the album, except I like the album Transatlanticism a little bit better. This album has songs with different moods unlike Transatlanticism, and Narrow Stairs kind reminds me of the last album the Foo Fighters put out. Not because these two bands sound alike, but because both albums have sad songs, hard songs, mostly instrumental songs, and mellow songs. I especially liked "Cath...", "Long Division", and "Bixby Canyon Bridge".

The Hush Sound Goodbye Blues- For those who care, I really like this band. They're kind of like a modern Supertramp, but more poppy. When I listened to this album, I was pretty surprised to hear their female singer got singing lessons that made her voice stronger, but in the end I decided it was good because it changed things up a little (luckily, it wasn't like a drastic Panic at the Disco change and don't get me started about their mostly crappy Beatles ripoff album). It's a solid album, (although their two older albums are better) and I like "Love You Much Better" and "Medicine Man" a lot.

The Academy Is... Fast Times at Barrington High- A concept album about high school is a little weird, and this one is a little disappointing. One thing I really liked about this band is that they have distinct (and good) guitar sounds and ideas, unlike their peers that are mostly repetitive Fall Out Boy type bands. This album is decent enough, but it's really lacking those things that drew me to them. None of the tracks screamed awesome like some on their last album Santi, but I liked "After the Last Midtown Show", "Rumored Nights", and "About a Girl".


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I say what I wanna say, I play how I wanna play.

Gears you hit a ton of amazing albums from this past year =) nice. Nas and Lupe Fiasco absolutely owned with Untitled and The Cool. I'm currently checking out Kanye West's knew album, doesn't seem bad at all considering the auto-tune on every track.

Aside from those, this one has been my favorite from the past year:

Chamillionaire - Mixtape Messiah 4
I keep getting the feeling that Koopa is trying to prove himself since the Sound of Revenge. Although I loved his 2nd album, it didn't sell all that well. His Mixtape has an AMAZING Roll Call track where he imitates Young Jeezy, Jim Jones, Lil Wayne, Jay-Z, and The-Dream among other famous rapper and R&B artists. I highly recommend this to any hip-hop fan.

This post has been edited by baralai888 on 15th December 2008 20:25

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"The answer is, of course, that it would be best to be both loved and feared. But since the two rarely come together, anyone compelled to choose will find greater security in being feared than in being loved."
- Niccolo Machiavelli, The Prince

the only two albums i picked up this year both came from the same group.

1) Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold
since their first official album release in 1997(Overcast), Atmosphere has been consistently one of the strongest and most under-appreciated hip-hop groups ever. When Life Gives You Lemons does not disappoint. the album is a journey through the minds and lives of people we all know. the alcoholic who drinks to forget, the waitress just trying to make ends meet, the single-mother living paycheck-to-paycheck, the wash-up rock star, and many others. this album is a departure from what atmosphere usually does. these tracks aren't meant to be "fun" or upbeat. this album is dark and somewhat depressing. lyrically and musically, amazing. Slug, the front-man, is a wordsmith of the highest caliber. Ant, the DJ, is experimental with his beats. speaking of beats, they alone deserve their own mention. you wont find any thumping bass or ear-shattering treble here, folks. what you will find is jazz piano, Spanish guitar, and even a bit of muted sax. any fan of hip-hop, and even people who dont usually give hip-hop a listen, will almost certainly enjoy this album. give it a listen.

2)Atmosphere - Strictly Leakage
this album was originally slated to be the next in the group's long-running Sad Clown series. however, during production a few of the tracks made their way onto the internet. so, they decided to beat whoever was leaking their tracks to the punch and released the entire album free of charge for download on their site. the tracks here are a lot more upbeat than those of When Life Gives You Lemons. mostly just "playing around" tracks about society and hip-hop in general. definitely worth a listen.

This post has been edited by Malevolence on 16th December 2008 04:46

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moé in the streets, senpai in the sheets

Upon having actually given it a proper listen, I hereby retract all stupid, negative comments about the new Kanye. It's amazing, his boldest artistic statement and his most aesthetically pleasing record. Dude's arrogance is totally justified when he can write adventurous, dynamic pop songs like these. 'Love Lockdown/Paranoid/RoboCop' is the best three-song run of the year. 808s might be my favourite Kanye record, even if the high points are so great that they kinda cast a shadow over some of the lesser tracks.

Quote (Mimic @ 16th December 2008 23:26)

Upon having actually given it a proper listen, I hereby retract all stupid, negative comments about the new Kanye. It's amazing, his boldest artistic statement and his most aesthetically pleasing record. Dude's arrogance is totally justified when he can write adventurous, dynamic pop songs like these. 'Love Lockdown/Paranoid/RoboCop' is the best three-song run of the year. 808s might be my favourite Kanye record, even if the high points are so great that they kinda cast a shadow over some of the lesser tracks.

I was waiting for you to come around to my way of thinking! I don't think it would breach into my Top 10 for this year like Graduation did in 2007, but 808s is a brilliant work.

The drum-line on Love Lockdown is intense and moving, especially the way it picks up in the chorus. Robocop definitely is my favorite overall track on the album just for the heavy synth work and Kanye's timeless arrogance. Sure, his voice is completely filtered through a vocoder and auto-tuned to a pretty fair degree, but honestly? I think all that only works in favor of the album. It solidifies that sound he was aiming for.

In the long run, I don't know if this eclipses Graduation, but it certainly is on the same level.

I have to add another album to my list, as I was sure it came out in 2007 but was recently proved to be wrong. This album takes the place of my number 2 pick and is honestly one of the best musical works I've heard in a while.

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
This band is comprised of two members who mix together all sorts of different influences into a style that is uniquely their own and unlike most of what is being passed for music these days. The album itself is a psychedelic adventure designed to get you both to dance and to appreciate the beauty of the here and now. The style is a mix of psychedelic rock taken straight from the late 60's and modern day synth-pop, indie. The result is an album full of unforgettable tracks. I can't even begin to describe the way these songs stay in your head, nor explain how intense it was when I first heard the track, 'The Youth" and got goosebumps. I think everyone needs to give this album a try.

Recommended picks: Weekend Wars, The Youth, Electric Feel

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Okay, but there was a goat!

You know, I am going to put an update here real quick, but it's actually about music that didn't make my top list. Two of my favorite bands of all time, Oasis and Counting Crows, both put out new albums this year, and neither one of them got close to making my list. Oasis put on a better show than they did in their last album, but Counting Crows seems to just be continuing the slide they've been on since they released their Greatest Hits album.

This makes me a very sad panda, enough so that I posted this for no other reason.

Edit

But then I found another reason! NPR listeners nation/worldwide have their list posted now too; not really very many surprises, but I definitely want to check out She & Him. I'd never heard of this group at all, but liked the sample I heard, and the fact that it's Zooey Deschanel on vocals made me just a bit out of hand.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.p...toryId=98092448

This post has been edited by Rangers51 on 17th December 2008 15:07

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"To create something great, you need the means to make a lot of really bad crap." - Kevin Kelly

Why aren't you shopping AmaCoN?

Well I'm not active or intelligent enough to write descriptions for each album, but I will just give a straight up list for you all here.

1. Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
2. The Hawk is Howling - Mogwai
3. Dear Science - TV on the Radio
4. Phantom on the Horizon (EP) - The Fall of Troy (surprised this wasn't on DF's list)
5. Dig Out Your Soul - Oasis
6. We Started Nothing - The Ting Tings
7. Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust - Sigur Ros
8. Consolers of the Lonely - Raconteurs
9. You Have No Idea What You're Getting Yourself Into - Does it Offend You, Yeah?
10. Heart On - Eagles of Death Metal

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"We're not tools of the government or anyone else. Fighting... fighting was the only thing I was ever good at, but at least I always fought for what I believed in." - Frank Yeager (a.k.a. Grey Fox)

Quote (Dragon_Fire @ 17th December 2008 09:43)

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
This band is comprised of two members who mix together all sorts of different influences into a style that is uniquely their own and unlike most of what is being passed for music these days. The album itself is a psychedelic adventure designed to get you both to dance and to appreciate the beauty of the here and now. The style is a mix of psychedelic rock taken straight from the late 60's and modern day synth-pop, indie. The result is an album full of unforgettable tracks. I can't even begin to describe the way these songs stay in your head, nor explain how intense it was when I first heard the track, 'The Youth" and got goosebumps. I think everyone needs to give this album a try.

Recommended picks: Weekend Wars, The Youth, Electric Feel

OH SON OF A BITCH, HOW COULD I FORGET!?

jav aint lying, folks. this album is amazing! the music mix is out there, without being too weird and hard to get into. the lyrics are great, but i still think the music itself outshines them. also, the song Electric Feel has given a new reason to hate Jim Jones. look it up. he remixed it.

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moé in the streets, senpai in the sheets

I've never actually listed my favorite new music before, because usually I don't get all that into new stuff. I don't really keep up with bands very well, and most of the stuff I like is classic rock anyhow. But here's a few CDs that I wanted to mention.

Walter Becker - Circus Money
I'm a helpless Steely Dan fan. While I've always prefered Donald Fagen's half, Walter Becker's newest CD wasn't half bad. It was a very relaxing, with some reggae influences. The rich chords and Becker's own bass line, of course, are still there. The album may be dwarfed by Fagen's masterpiece Kamakiriad (actually my favorite album ever), but it's still good stuff.

Shoeless Revolution - Speak Up
These guys are actually from my area, which is how I heard about them. Boy am I glad I did. This CD is nothing short of amazing. The beats are amazing, and the band has an amazing horns section. "Dance", "Repeat" and "Simplify" are fast paced, high energy and a ton of fun to listen to. "Used", on the other hand, slows everything down, and does a great job at it too. It's a funky, jazzy, awesome album.

Phat Phunktion - You and Me
Ok, so it's not from this year. Actually, it's from 2004. Seeing as I just found it this year, though, I'm gonna include it here. Phat Phunktion has an awesome phunk (forgive me ) feel to it, complete with horns and an interesting split of rap and singing. Great stuff, lots of energy.

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Currently Playing : Final Fantasy V
Most Recently Beat : Elder Scrolls: Skyrim
Favorite Game : Final Fantasy X

The newest CoNcast is up! Have a listen!

I'm not sure if this song was first dropped this year or last year, but I've been obsessed with it for the past two weeks or so. It's by a pop called Chester French.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOTTnhsOEr0

Normally I *hate* indie bull****, but I just can't stop listening to this.

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this is a blog mostly about comics and videogames
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