So obviously, it's that time of year: "Best of" lists! As much fun as they are to read, they're actually a bitch to write, so I apologize for the time it took to construct these bad boys. Today I post the 30 best albums of the year, and I plan to post the 50 best songs, along with some select mp3s and miscellanious honors before the week is out.
2008 was a great year for music, but a truly great year for dance music. Whether folks just got sick of gloom and doom, or simply wanted to turn their brains off, there was no shortage of action on the dancefloor. That's not to say slower stuff didn't have its place, as you'll see below, but the sharpest tools in the shed managed to merge head-nodding beats and intelligent songwriting. As a result, we had less truly great "albums" this year, and more strung-together songs masquerading as albums, but any way you slice it, several artists delivered for our ears in a big way. Several new artists broke through this year, making many splashy, highly-buzzed debuts, but the real stories of the year belonged to comebacks and evolution, as several favorites took their music to strange new places, or simply matured their sounds. As many of these formerly fringe acts opened up a tad to the mainstream, underground purists looked to wild new trends in order to stay too cool for school. Some of these acts actually have potential, while others were just making noise. I've sorted them all out, and present the best of the lot below. Get your gift cards ready, because here's my picks for the albums you need to hear before '09 gets underway:
1. TV On the Radio - Dear Science, (October)
Deerhunter may have released the most creative album of the year, and Kanye may have released the bravest, but TV On The Radio simply released, for lack of a better term, the best. Each song stands on its own, but is immeasurably strengthened by its context, the mark of a great album. There's no one track on par with Return to Cookie Mountain stand-out (and my favorite track of '06) "Wolf Like Me", but there's also not a single dud on display, and unlike Mountain, the whole of Science is far greater than the sum of its parts. After listening straight through, from doo-wop-gone-gonzo opener "Halfway House" all the way to the sexually graphic finale "Lovers' Day", the listener is left swirling in righteous anger, bleak humor, and tongue-in-cheek regret. Weighed down by the dying breaths of the Bush Age, the album suggests that as a people, we've finally fallen off the edge ("This is beginning to feel like the start of the news of forever" wails frontman Tunde Adebimpe on the prophetic "DLZ", written well before any recent headlines), but if we're indeed headed for devastation, there's some joy to be found in suffering with the ones you love. In 30 years (hopefully we'll all survive that long), whether the world is a war-torn wasteland, or finally rebounding from a trying age, it's easy to see folks looking back and agreeing that an album like this could only have been made in 2008. Dark, funny, and ultimately tinged with more hope than tragedy, Dear Science isn't just the definitive album of the year, it's one of the definitive statements of this generation. And yes, you can also dance to it.
Notable Tracks: "Dancing Choose", "Golden Age", "Shout Me Out"
2. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer (June)
Before writing anything else, let me just admit that Apologies to the Queen Mary might be my favorite album of all time. As a result, I may be a pretty easy sell when it comes to anything this band releases, but I still feel pretty unbiased ranking their sophomore effort as high as I have. At Mount Zoomer may lack the inspired urgency of Apologies, but it's nearly as rich, rewarding repeat listens better than anything else released this year (even the daunting "California Dreamer" eventually unfolds with a surprising beauty). It's also an album built to be performed, as witnessed by the live show that I saw at the Fonda: the old songs were a lot of fun to see onstage, but the new ones stole the show, especially Spencer Krug's weird and blistering ballad, "An Animal In Your Care". The big story for many on Zoomer seemed to be Dan Boeckner's emergence as a songwriter on par with Krug, which is partially true (Boeckner's always been in Krug's league, as evidenced by songs like "Shine a Light", he's just tended to drift slightly poppier), but the real beauty is watching the two frontmen finally share the spotlight on a single track - the epic, album-closing "Kissing the Beehive", which clocks in at over ten minutes long), without turning the affair into a bloated mess. As a whole, the album may be abbrasive and even dense to some on a first listen, but make no mistake: what's at work here is a band on top of its game and evolving into something timeless. Where they go from here is a journey not to be missed.
Notable Tracks: "Language City", "The Grey Estates", "An Animal In Your Care"
3. Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak (November)
I post this one not just on the strength of its music, but for its context as well. Not in terms of the personal tragedies that inspired the music, but for the risks involved in releasing it to the public. Despite pushing some modest boundaries with 2007's smash, Daft Punk-sampling "Stronger", Kanye's always been an artist comfortable operating inside of a hip-pop bubble of soul samples and faux-arrogant rhymes. But as everyone knows by now, he decided to go a slightly different route this time out. Drenching the entire album in the now-infamous AutoTune (then feigning outrage at critics who "outted" the "insider term" by referring to it on such a wide scale), and eschewing any and all rapping, West painted a giant target on his back and invited the whole world to archery class. The catch is, despite the gimmickry, he's released the strongest album of his career, and written a mission statement for himself as an artist. All signs point to 808s being a concept album, which despite its quality, is obviously for the best. But once the Phil Collins-style detachment (the artistic reasoning for the vocoder) and melancholy themes subside, Kanye should undoubtedly return to the mainstream all the wiser for this strange, stunning detour.
Notable tracks: "Welcome to Heartbreak", "Paranoid", "Street Lights"
4.The Walkmen - You & Me (August)
At the beginning of this decade, when rock finally had its rebirth, there was a battle between The Strokes and The Walkmen to determine whose garage rock would be the biggest. Obviously, the former won, and went on to become the hipster icons of a new music movement. Lucky for the Walkmen, since while The Strokes were busy having their subsequent albums massacred by their fickle admirers, they were busy getting much better. "The Rat", off the band's beloved second album, Bows + Arrows, is, for my money, the best pure "rawk" song of the new milennium, and their third LP, A Hundred Miles Off, showed the band evolving in ways that other New York band seemed incapable of. With You & Me, the band hasn't so much evolved further as it has mutated. The Walkmen heard here have never been heard before, both figuratively and literally (frontman Hamilton Leithauser has turned downed the reverb so that we can finally hear his beautiful lyrics). If reports are to be believed, the band's famous live act is just as electric as ever (I'll find out for myself in January at the Fonda, with Beach House opening to boot. To my knowledge, it's not yet sold out), and with You & Me, they've got a thrilling new batch of songs to work with. It may be beside the point to say that The Walkmen eventually won the New Garage war: by this point they've broken away and become their own band, which is perhaps the best compliment of all.
Notable Tracks: "Dónde Está la Playa", "In the New Year", "Postcards From Tiny Islands"
5.Jukebox the Ghost - Live and Let Ghosts (April)
2008's been a hell of a year for debuts, with three new bands cracking the top ten, not to mention all the others who made a huge splash. But my favorite of the bunch has to be the one that's gone quietest under the radar: Washington, DC's Jukebox the Ghost. Most often compared to Ben Folds Five, but more aptly described as young Billy Joel & They Might Be Giants' lovechild, the band's talent for hummable melodies is matched only by frontman Ben Thornewill's talent for inspired lyrics (the epic, three-song closer about how satelites cause the Apocalypse is almost too clever for its own good). They also happen to be one of the funnest live acts I've seen in years, matching LA's Deadly Syndrome in manic, small-stage energy, with Thornewill single-handidly besting them in charisma to boot. If you haven't seen them yet, they return to the West Coast in February for a special show with The Bird & The Bee, at the Natural History Musuem. And if you don't live in LA, buy the album. Don't be surprised if it's your favorite purchase of the year.
Notable Tracks: "Good Day", "Hold It In", "Lighting Myself On Fire"
6.Deerhunter - Microcastle (physical release in October)
No Age got all the Noise Rock attention this year, and found themselves the marquee stars, but Atlanta's Bradford Cox walks away from 2008 as the experimental genre's top scientist. Of course, it might just be because he's been the most prolific: between his band, Deerhunter, and his side solo project, Atlas Sound, he's released three LPs, and a whopping SIX EPs, not counting compilation appearances. Among everything released, there were hits, and there were definite misses, but nothing shined brighter than Microcastle, Deerhunter's first and most newsworthy release of the year, thanks to its accidental leak by Cox's own hand. Jammed with the kind of foggy genius that might make Jesus & Mary Chain jealous, Microcastle is a bizarre journey that, for an avant-garde album, is shockingly comfortable, even on a first listen. It doesn't push the boundaries that the band's later-leaked album (and physically released companion) Weird Era Cont. does, but the notes it hits, it hits hard. If you're looking to wet your foot in this strange new branch of underground rock, this might well be the best place to start.
Notable Tracks: "Never Stops", "Little Kids", "Nothing Ever Happened"
7. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (June)
There's not much to say about these guys that hasn't been said: they're a fucking awesome band, and the promise of their out-of-left field debut EP was succesfully fulfilled with their debut LP. Sounding fresh, yet thoroughly timeless, the band has created a sound that truly anyone can enjoy. All the praise that's been heaped is well deserved.
Notable Tracks - "Ragged Wood", "He Doesn't Know Why", "Your Protector"
8. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (January)
Almost everything I wrote about this band came to pass in 2008.....all in the first two months. The inevitable backlash that resulted seems to have subsided a bit, as folks have realized that despite a pile of hype, what lies underneath has always been a very talented band. The new tracks featured on the LP are as good as, if not better than, the ones released last year, and the insane amount of influence these guys already have on other bands has to be noted: if a single night goes by at Arlene's Grocery without at least one cardigan being flashed onstage, I'd be surprised.
Notable Tracks - "A-Punk", "I Stand Corrected", "Walcott"
9. No Age - Nouns (May)
Yes, Los Angeles is a "scene" again, thanks to these guys and their Smell-playing downtown compatriots. Whether or not that's a good thing is your call, but in the meantime, ponder Nouns. It's an oddity, to be sure, but an oddly accessible one, at least compared to releases by the likes of Ponytail or Xiu Xiu. The noise in "noise rock" is certainly there: songs are awash in lo-fi buzz that could sink a battleship. But there's also a shoegaze element at work that undermines the scattershot nature of the songs: while 90% of the album sounds like it was recorded by ten year olds in a basement, the other 10% shows the band's true nature, and informs how you percieve the whole shabang.
Notable Tracks - "Eraser", "Cappo", "Sleeper Hold"
10. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (April)
If Air scored a John Hughes film, it'd sound like what this band has evolved into over three LPs. Awash in synth and self-consciously cheesy, it's not the coolest album of the year, but it's certainly one of the most vivid. French technophile Anthony Gonzales crafts a story that starts with a whimper and ends with a scream. The nostalgia conjured is painful, but also beautiful in a way most albums are scared to be these days.
Notable Tracks - "Kim and Jessie", "Colours", "We Own The Sky"
11. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals (physical release in September)
Girl Talk's been making the best (and most ADD-riddled) mash-ups for a while now, and Feed the Animals is his best exhibition to date. Put this sucker on & you won't need a party playlist for at least an hour.
Notable Moments: Crossing Eminem with Yael Naim, Radiohead with Jay-Z and Tag Team with Big Country are all awesome.
12. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (physical release in January)
Undoubtedly packed with the best singles of the year, but too front-loaded and disconnected to qualify as a full album, Oracular is still 2008's most influential release. Expect a score of neo-hippie imitators to follow, but it'd be tough to top these guys' wits: even as they ascend to the level of World's Hottest Rock Stars, they subvert every stereotype along the way.
Notable Tracks - "Time to Pretend", "Weekend Wars", "Electric Feel"
13. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (March)
Pound for pound, this Australian debut is the year's best pure dance album, effortlessly drifting between new wave, pop and electro, without ever sounding derivative. It's a nifty trick from one of the year's few foreign buzz bands to actually deliver.
Notable Tracks - "So Haunted", "Hearts on Fire", "Far Away"
14.Abe Vigoda - Skeleton (July)
No Age certainly emerged as downtown LA's hottest act this year, and while Nouns is a consistent, nuanced success, Skeleton has moments of brilliance that eclipse it completely. There's some meandering here too (thus its placement behind No Age's album), but the moments that work are some of the most thrilling heard all year. And it goes without saying that if you get the chance, see them live. But maybe bring earplugs.
Notable Tracks - "Animal Ghosts", "Live-Long", "Hyacinth Girls"
15.Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (October)
Indie Rock doesn't always have to take itself seriously, even if violins are involved. That's one thing these hard-working, yet hard-playing Brits got right. The other thing they got right, of course, was making kick-ass party music, across two full albums. Both were great, but I give the edge to the latter effort, partially just for the pro wrestling terminology they casually throw around.
Notable Tracks - "Miserablilia", "We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed", "All Your Kayfabe Friends"
16.Frightened Rabbit - "The Midnight Organ Fight" (April)
Scottish folk rock that puts the emphasis on "rock", especially as the album progresses. Along with fellow countrymen The Twilight Sad, they're establishing a distinct, exciting sound that'll hopefully catch on across the pond.
Notable Tracks: "The Modern Leper", "Good Arms vs. Bad Arms", "Fast Blood"
17.Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III (August)
Just because it's the most overrated album of the year doesn't mean it's not good; it's just not the masterpiece that, for the rap industry's sake, everyone wants to pretend it is, no matter the sales figures. That being said, for every generic single like "Lollipop" or "Make Money", there's two brilliant deep cuts to prop it up. Oh, and that second single was actually pretty decent, too....
Notable Tracks: "A Milli", "Dr. Carter", "Tie My Hands"
18.The Dodos - Visiter (March)
The band's sophomore LP finds them taking their game to the next level, crossing into some of the same territory as Frightened Rabbit and even Vampire Weekend, without coming off as derivative in the slightest. And no, that title's not a typo. And no, I don't get it either, but whatever.
Notable Tracks - "Fools", "Joe's Waltz", "Paint the Rust"
19.The Grand Archives - The Grand Archives
Sometimes break-ups are for the best: When former Band of Horses guitarist Mat Brooke left the band, we got 2007's spectacular Cease to Begin, made entirely without him. In 2008, we get Brooke's equally impressive album, made with his new outfit, The Grand Archives. While it doesn't escape sounding like the other side of a Band of Horses coin, the self-titled debut is a great listen in its own right, and honestly, there could be worse things than two versions of a great band.
Notable Tracks - "Torn Blue Foam Couch", "Sleepdriving", "Orange Juice"
20.Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends (June)
Just to clarify: yes, Chris Martin is quickly becoming one of the least tolerable frontmen in music (if you don't believe me, just YouTube the band's last SNL performances), but that doesn't mean he can't write a damn good album. Producer Brian Eno's hand is felt here in a big way, and the band is pushed to some genuinely unpredictable places. At this point in their careers, it's cool to see them try such a bold new direction: whatever criticisms you may have about the album, at least you can't say that it's boring.
Notable Tracks - "Lost!", "42", "Reign of Love"
21.Deerhoof- Offend Maggie (September)
The art rockers from San Francisco return with their finest and yet, most accesible album yet (that seems to be a running trend for 2008). Satomi Matsuzaki's vocals are as scattershot as ever, but with the rest of the band more self-assured than ever, a newfound balance has been struck in their music.
Notable Tracks- "Offend Maggie", "Basket Ball Get Your Groove Back", "Fresh Born"
22.Neon Neon - Stainless Style (March)
It's a concept album from Gruff Rhys about the rise and fall of the dude who created the DeLorian! What's not to like?!!
Notable Tracks - "Dream Cars", "Trick for Treat", "Sweat Shop"
23.Lykke Li - Youth Novels (June)
Tried and true concept: Hot, blonde Swedish pop tart invades the US and makes highly danceable music. Lykke Li breaks the mold, however, by offering a surprising amount of substance beneath the glitter, offering solid evidence that she might outlast her It Girl status.
Notable Tracks - "Dance, Dance, Dance", "I'm Good, I'm Gone", "Little Bit"
24.Hot Chip - Made In The Dark (February)
The year's first big dance album heralded what would be another trend of '08: music with tempo and a brain, that pushed boundaries while also being comfortable enough to put on at a party. Hot Chip's been doing this since their first EPs, but their second full LP showcased just how much they've further improved. As good as the album is, however, one can't help but feel like it's just a warm-up to a mind-blowing third act.
Notable Tracks - "Out at the Pictures", "Shake a Fist", "One Pure Thought"
25.Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords (April)
For the most part, it's nothing we haven't heard before, but it's a much more convenient way to get all your favorites in one place than DVR-ing the whole series. And no matter how many times you hear these songs, they're still fucking hilarious.
Notable Tracks - "The Most Beautiful Girl (In the Room)", "Business Time", "Bowie"
26.Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles (March)
The year's most dangerous dance album, literally: co-vocalist Alice Glass has injured herself in too many ways to count while performing these tracks live, and the band's mosh pits have already become notorious. The best compliment I can give is that it earns this reckless response with flying colors; it's music to smash your NES to.
Notable Tracks - "Courtship Dating", "Vanished", "Knights"
27.Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (February)
This year, Bon Iver became yet another artist to produce earnest, folksy anthems without a hint of weeniness. Even if the album's been pillaged by a few too many primetime soaps, it remains one of the most beautiful things heard all year.
Notable Tracks - "Lump Sum", "Skinny Love", "Re: Stacks"
28.Santogold - Santogold (April)
A crush of hype announced her, and for good reason. MIA's former hype woman, and a veteran songwriter in her own right, Santogold's collaborations with the likes of Diplo, Switch and XXXchange produced a wonderfully schitzophrenic debut that put her on the map in a big way. Now that she's finally got the spotlight, it looks doubtful she'll dissapoint.
Notable Tracks - "LES Artistes", "Lights Out", "Creator"
29.Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty (September)
Certainly one of the most controversial releases of '08, it's tough to argue that the Kids' sophomore effort isn't dense and abbrasive. Guilty on both counts, but if you've got the gumption to take it on, the treasures reaped are immense. The narratives here are twisted and bleak, but if you stick with them, you'll have a darkly satisfying blast. Oh yeah, and it also contains the best drums heard all year.
Notable Tracks - "Mexican Dogs", "Something is Not Right With Me", "Every Man I Fall For"
30.Beach House - Devotion (September)
Certainly not the record to put on while trying to start a party, Devotion is nontheless worthy of your time. Dreamlike soundscapes and Victoria Legrand's hypnotic vocals put you in a trance without putting you to sleep.
Notable Tracks - "Wedding Bell", "Gila", "Holy Dances"
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