Thursday, December 25, 2008
Also, this template sucks.
Because gamespot sucks sometimes
Anywho, for backup purposes, it's kinda sad this will be my first post. :S
So it begins again! I can't believe 2008 went so quickly, but it really did. I'm still pretty unorganized in terms f this list. I have 197 tracks to narrow down, so somewhere around the middle point of the list, I'll break and either post a big list of the best tracks, or I'll link you to some site of music awesomeness carrying all the tracks.
Earlier this year I really felt 2008 was a disappointment for music but lately it's just done a 180 and it's been almost as good as 2007. Not as much high-end content, but HUGE depth of great releases. You'll see what I mean when this list gets going.
Anywho, I may as well start with some Honourable Mentions!
HM1: HEALTH - HEALTH//DISCO
This album was really, really fun. If not for it being a remix album, I would have had it in the album countdown. Instead, since it was a huge remix album, I really didn't feel like it would have been fair to include it. Excellent dance music though.
HM2: Scarlett Johansson - Anywhere I Lay My Head
Because coming out with a Tom Waits cover album and not making me feel like tearing her face off is a sincerely remarkable accomplishment. Heck, I found the album to be pretty enjoyable. Her hired help was a HUGE benefit to her throughout the creation of te album, and in the end it didn't stray from her comfort zone, but also didn't try to be too ambitious. Thus, success. Again another cover album that was denied access to the countdown.
HM3: Mark Kozelek - The Finally LP
Another (mostly) covers album, done masterfully by the Red house painters and Sun Kil Moon dude. Great folksy stuff to be found here.
HM4: British Sea Power - Do you Like Rock Music?
Fun band, just missed the cut. It's probably just me, but I found their music to be a ways inconsistent in quality, but you can hear the talent and prowess oozing out of these guys. One of these days they'll knock my socks off, and I'm more than happy to wait.
HM5: Andrei Machado - Lacuna
Andrei is a dude who revels in minimalistic piano music like Hauschka and Max Richter, but he isn't quite oon that level yet. That said, this album shows some potential, and I hope he continues to work his way up.
HM6: Pineapple Thief - Tightly Unwound
Just missed the cut as well. Fun enough band, and like BSP they are also pretty inconsistent. The first track on their album impressed me but it was sincerely downhill from there. Not to say the album was bad. It's a good album, but I can't help but agonize that they were capable of much more.
Well, now that the Honourable Mentions are done, I guess I may as well start on the main course!
I now present to you, THE BEST ALBUMS OF 2008!
75. Pyramids - Pyramids
Pyramids is a brutal band. I'll quote my friend on what he thinks of them: "Imagine first-time anal without lube and that is Pyramids. It's bloody painful, but holy hell it's ecstasy when it gets going."
The first three tracks are the action before the initial insertion, with the third track "The Echo of Something Lovely" acting as the calm before the storm. This album has grown on me over the last weeks, but right now it's too brutal to be placed any higher right now. Great, but brutal to the Nth degree.
74. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
Girl Talk's newest effort is a crowd pleasing dance-master of an album. If you don't care for rap, you probably won't like much of the album, and may in turn be disgusted with the mashups. However, I've grown accustomed to hearing rap due to some friends of mine and years of my brother shuttling me to school while blaring T.I or Ludacris or Chingy. I'm used to it, and I can grasp the humour embedded in the tracks, and I can understand the end result. It's a success, even if some songs plod along compared to some others.
73. High Places - High Places
Highly hyped initially, it kind of fell off the map post-release. Too bad, it's a great album. Not as great as many expected, maybe, but very solid nonetheless. It's wispy, airy, while the electronic quirks and the contrasting percussion really set this group apart. The vocals fit the vibe of the album very well, even if they're not as clear as I'd like them to be. Still, great album. Go listen to "Storm" and get caught in that infectious beat.
72. Snowdrift - Snowdrift
What's with all these self-titled albums? jeez. Anywho, Snowdrift indeed; it sounds much like the dreary winter days I'm viewing daily outside my window. Good atmospheric vibe, with drums, guitar, bass and keys all contributing to the excellent songwriting. Heck, much like numerous other albums this year, the first track 'September" is excellent, and the final minute or so of the song is absolutely great use of distortion. Down-tempo and dreary, it's an entertaining listen. I've heard conflicting reports on whether this is a 2007 or 2008 release, so I'll just say 2008 right now because I feel like it. 
71. Declan de Barra - A Fire To Scare The Sun
Who? I have no real clue. Dude has a great voice though, and while his songwriting doesn't match it, it's done quite well. It's a quaint acoustic album, but he doesn't stick to one sound. There's some quirky songs(On and On, ghetto 101), love songs(Beautiful one, diamonds), quick energetic songs(brightest star, 57 years) and his voice is recognizeable throughout it all, even if he evolves it from track to track. His ensemble of musicians who helped him craft the album don't stick out, but instead provide stunning support to his melodies.
70. Alaska in Winter - Holiday
Alaska in Winter's debut last year was excellent, and I felt it was among the best of last year. This album was a sincere step away from that sound that got him off to a good start, and I've mixed opinions on it. I like that he's being adventurous, and that he's shown himself to be great as writing pop music, but I despair that nothing on this album really stands out as excellent. All the tracks are at least consistently good, and I had high hopes after tracks 2 and 3(Berlin, Speedboat to Heaven) which are great, but it was downhill from there. It maintained pace and coated to this 70th spot, but he was capable of more. I almost wish he'd kill that vocoder for his voice sometimes, because on some tracks, it just makes things sound much too artificial, instead of providing a key accent to the more organic themed debut album.
69. Metronomy - Nights Out
Indie led me to notice these dudes with their "Heartbreaker" single, which is far and away the best track on the album. It's a solid album with numerous hooks, but none of the tracks except for "heartbreaker" and "A Thing For Me"(and maybe "Back on the Motorway") really take flight. Fun album for a party though, I'd imagine.
68. The Accident That Led Me To The World - The Island Gospel
Long name is loooooong. This folky-bluegrassy-americana trio uses upright bass, guitar(all three swap duties), banjo, clarinet, vocals(all three contibute here as well). The resulting sound? A low-fi haunting folk music with a flair of its own. None of them sound all too professional, and remind me of these two people from my college who used to play their music in the caf here and there. I really don't know what makes this album so good, but...I don't know. It's just very honest, and I know that helps. In a year of americana-folk music(like it has been) this is one of the better releases in that category.
67. Ratatat - LP3
I started off not a fan of this but I eventually warmed up to it over a randomizedmusic session walking to the bank, where three tracks off this album happened to pop up, and I enjoyed them. Same deal happened with The Magnetic Fields' album this year, where I started off cool to it, but then turned it around. Solid electronic album. Nothing much more to say than that. Worthy of purchase, although I had to track it down online for buying puroses because it was a cool $30 at both my local music shops.
66. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
They definitely made progress here with Viva la Vida, and Brian Eno at the helm of production. It's better than A Rush of Blood to the Head, and eons better than X&Y, but not yet near their pinnacle debut Parachutes. They DID takestrides to becoming decent musicians again, though, and I can't fault them for that. There's a good number of quality songs on the album, and I hope this becomes a trend for them to improve and finally topple Parachutes. They're capable of it.
65. The Calm Blue Sea - The Calm Blue Sea
Post-rock had a pretty solid 2008, and while I missed out on numerous high;y regarded post-rock albums, I happened to catch this one and I was very pleased upon hearing it. It's nothing earth-shattering,and they seem like a semi-offshoot of Explosions in the Sky, but their music shows their own identity. They do follow the quiet-loud-quiet kind of formula, but their progressions aren't so linear, and they mix it up on each track with interesting peaks and valleys. It's a fairly raw album in terms of the ability they show, but I can't wait to see where they go from here. Rock solid debut from these Austin post-rockers.
64. Sons and Daughters - This Gift
Anyone looking for a pure rock album this year should take a gander at this. You like edgy rock music, you'll enjoy This Gift. It's a fun listen with nary an average track on it. Not much else to say. You like rock, you'll like this.
63. BB King - One Kind of Favor
BB King still has it. I don't know for how long, but he still has it. This album sounds like a history lesson on him IMHO. He delves into familiar territory far too often here for his own good, but it comes out sounding excellent, so what the heck can I do but say "This is a great, if unoriginal, album"? He's channeling his music from 20-30 years ago, and at his age that's no small feat. Do yourself a favour and take a listen.
62. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Glasvegas came onto the scene with some hefty praise, and while much of it has seemingly washed away, they're still around kicking it up with their debut release. If you can stand the singer's crooning(50/50 odds), you'll find a rewarding listen that deservedly has it getting praise and comparisons to Oasis and the like. Unfortunately, the vocals are polarizing, so you'll either like them or hate them. Still, I liked them, and I found this album to be really good.
61. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...
Fun band. A bit hectic with their pace, and the accents are pretty funny at times. If only they could develop a consistency, because they really had a couple of excellent songs on this album,while the rest were merely good. I know they just released a new album, but I haven't heard it. I'm eager though. If they've got another "You! Me! Dancing!" up their sleeve...
60. Woodpigeon - Treasury Library Canada
A friend of mine out west pointed me in their direction, and their album stunned me. A band from Calgary being any good is always a shocker(heck, they had two this year if you include WOMEN). Anywho, they're *gasp* a folky alt-pop band that reminds me of Rogue Wave a little bit. It's a very relaxing listen that really has no weakness.
59. Spiritualized - Songs in A&E
Spiritualized has had a storied past and I fully expected this album to be excellent, but it's merely great. So many tracks, yet so many sub-par efforts(in terms of the standard I hold their music to). It's an enjoyable album for sure, but I excpect much more from a band that has made some truly beautiful music in the past. "Sweet Talk", "Soul on Fire", "You Lie You Cheat", "Don't Hold Me Close", and "Goodnight Goodnight" are what I'm taking away from this album. The rest are either average or a little worse than average.
58. Okay - Huggable Dust
Probably the 2nd most heartfelt album this year. The vocals are amateurish, but the backing music combined with those vocals give it a solid sound. Besides, those amateurish vocals are pumping out lyrics so simple and beautiful that they'd make Mark Kozelek blush. If the first two tracks don't grab a hold of you, then whatever. This music isn't for you. XD
57. Beach House - Devotion
Beach House was an enigma to me earlier. I hadn't heard their music and was wary of the kind of praise they were getting. So when I finally checked them out I realized they deserved some of it, and didn't deserve the other half of it. The album is dreamy, and spans a good range of sound while the vocals keep their ship afloat. Honestly, it's a wonderful album to listen to, but it's very mood-driven for me. I have to be in the mood to listen to it, and when I do, it's quite nice, but it just doesn't click for me when I'm not "there". Otherwise, this is surefire top 30.
56. Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Lykke Li is probably the epitome of cute and quirky. Her live collaboration with Bon Iver on her track "Dance Dance Dance" outshines the album version by miles. Her voice is unique, and her album is full of hooks (especially "I'm Good, I'm Gone"). It's a very fun, quirky pop album with a bit of an edge at times.
55. Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts
The album opens up with a nice short number called "No One Said It Would Be Easy", and to be honest, it wasn't easy for this album to work its way into my good books. I got it at the same time as a number of really high quality releases andit paled in comparison, even if such comparisons were fair or not. Luckily, when I finally got around to giving this album a chance, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the album in a new light. "Everybody here Is a Cloud" is a very fun track that has moments where they channel Tunng's last effort, and makes me feel foolish about how little of a chance I gave this album initially. The album keeps pace with the first two songs and reaches its peak at track 10(of 13) "Hurricane And Fire Survival Guide", which begins with a lengthy instrumental, and finishes with a full band effort. To be honest, this would have been a better finisher than "Love You All" but whatever. Both are solid in that regard. Very good album.
54. This Will Destroy You -This Will Destroy You
This Will Destroy You's album This Will Destroy You will destroy you.
Heh. See what I did thar? Anyways, great post-rock album. Anyone into that genre should pick it up. Anyone who doesn't like post-rock can brush this one aside because it doesn't bring anything new to the table, just a consistent, great effort at perfecting their craft.
53. Sam Roberts - Love At The End of the World
Canada's new golden boy's 2008 release is pretty spiffy at times, giving people flashbacks of the 60s and 70s rock scene, but sometimes it just tries too hard and stumbles a bit. "Them Kids" is a bonafide fun song, "Lions Of The Kalahari" is standard Sam Roberts, the title track is a great rock song that perfectly fuses 60's rock and modern rock, and "Fixed to Ruin" is probably the best song on the album. He stumbles on the final track "Detroit '67" which just sounds way too forced. All in all a very very good album that any rock listener should try their hand at.
52. Max Richter - 24 Postcards In Full Colour
I love me some minimalisticmusic, and Max Richter hasreturned to give me 24 post-card lengthtracks that leave me oozing for more. This album would have been higher if those tracks had lasted longer. Most are under 1:30 and just when the songs seem to be hitting their stride, they end. It's so disappointing, but hey. Max Richter does that. He's left me wanting more, but I'm smacking him in the face for not giving me near enough.
51. Paavoharju - Laulu Laakson Kukista
I heard this album was amazing from one of my friends, and it definitely has its moments. "Tyttö Tanssii" is a very, very beautiful song, for instance. Yet, some of the other tracks...while GOOD...aren't so 'put together'. With a little more refinement and consistency, this album could have been So much more. Instead, it's merely great, and is left falling outside of the top 50 despite their best efforts. Still, a very quirky, odd, pop-folk album sung in a foreign language that makes me think of naked swedes in a forest while these dudes play their music behind some shrubs. Recommended if you're into folk, and you're not scared off my Animal Collective kind of oddness. I'm absolutely sure this is a grower.
50. Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom
Phil Elvrum's transition into the "Mount Eerie" has been pretty smooth. Even without c|assics like "The Glow pt 2" he's still reeling out great music consistently. This album is no different, with him taking Julie Doiron and Fred Squire on-board this recent venture, and compiling an album that's really full of excellent low-fi recordings. Doiron's voice is put at the forefront of the tracks, and that focus pays off for the most part, especially with the gorgeous "What?" and the pinnacle of the album "If We Knew...". An intimate collaboration album that does nothing to detract from Elvrum'sstandard, and does a bit to add to it.
49. Brian Wilson - That Lucky Old Sun
Chances are, Brian Wilson will not replicate his SMILE sessions, but That Lucky Old Sun is a pretty great album. In fact, there's not much wrong wrong with it. Van Dyke Park's spoken word is often awkwardly thrust in, and while it doesn't sound out of place, it comes far too frequent and ruins the seamlessness of the album. Wilson's parts are pretty great, and while he pushes no boundaries with this record, he re-creates a vibe thatmakes me reminisce about a time I didn't exist in. I consider that a success.
48. The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
This was an album that took me a while, and a couple of random instances of listening, to begin to like. Many of the tracks are strong, but The Magnetic Fields have always been one of those mood bands for me, and it's hard to develop a consistent listening process when my reaction to the music is never consistent. Some days I'm really into it, other days I find it dull and boring. "ThreeWay", however, if a great 1st track. Fun! "California Girls" is a pretty solid song, "Old Fools" is one of the best songs of the year, "Xavier Says" is decent, "Mr. Mistletoe" is one of those mood songs that's either awesome or boring. "Please Stop Dancing" is a solid song, that I sometimes get a real kick out of. "Drive on, Driver" is a good enough song."Too Drunk To Dream" is another mood song, because of the dull and annoying first 36 seconds, even if the rest of the song is good. "Till the Bitter End"is a mood song, although it's often a great listen. "I'll Dream Alone" is fantastic. "The Nun's Litany" is pretty stellar, even if it drags on(which is saying a lot for a track under 3 minutes long). "Zombie Boy" is meh. "Courtesans" is a great finisher to the album. Yet, the songs are better than the whole of the album, IMO, and maybe that's a fault on the track order. Who knows. Solid release, definitely, but I feel it could have been better, especially with what these guys have done in the past.
47. Gonzales - Soft Power
Anyone loking for an album with some infectious pop, some vintage TV-intro-esque music(complete with sax solo and soulful piano), vintage....heck, vintage everything. This dude know how to take the past and successfully emulate it and adapt it to today's sty|e Honestly, "Let's Ride" is a fun, fun listen. "Modalisa" and 'C Major" are stellar instrumental pieces. heck, there's even some humour thrown in with "Apology" sounding like what a good many people have thought while uttering apologies. "Singing Something" is a pretty cheeky song as well. "Fortunately, Unfortunately" is a pretty interesting track to say the least. It ends with a remix of 'Slow Down", and an instrumental piece called "Home Movies"...both of whichh are very solid. THis album goes from one sty|e to the next like nothing, but it's never really jarring. Fun listen.
46. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
The Hold Steady gained my interest with "Boys and Girls in America" after they had repeatedly gained my "I'd like them if they ever had a decent producer/mixer at the helm" because more often than not Finn's vocals would drown out the rest of the music, and the result would be his off-beat(literally, his singing sty|e is very much like spoken word that's not to any rhythm) vocals clashing with the rest causing everything to sound very arrhythmic, and thus bad. Not unlike Complete's "Hoogie Boogie Land". So when Boys and Girls in America came along, and they learned how to use his vocals as an accent while giving it proper amounts of spotlight, they really took off. Whaddayaknow, standard, generic mixing prodecures CAN be useful. Even if, you know, production quality was a bit too polished for itsown good on some tracks.
ANYWHO this isn't B&GiA I want to talk about, nor is it the band's history. It's their new album 'Stay Positive', which begins on a great note with "Constructive Summer", one of the better tracks this year. The first three tracks are all quite great, and while "Navy Sheets" is a good song, I wouldn't put it in the others' level. Anywho, it starts off strong, and then hits "Lord, I'm Discouraged". It's a great track, aside from the chorus, and has me feeling pretty good about the album. It even breaks out a late 80's or early 90's sty|e guitar solo, which was nifty. Then it hits "Yeah, Sapphire" and suddenly I'm lured into a fairly mediocre track. "Both Crosses" makes some ground back to the prior tracks' level, the title track is pretty decent, "Magazines" is only slightly better, but "Joke About Jamaica" is pretty mediocre. Heck, "Slapped Actress, while quite good" is not the kind of ending I was hoping for. So half the album was really great, and the second half faltered, even if most of the stuff is still better than good.
45. Santogold - Santogold
Santogold. Funny album cover, with all that gold coming out her mouth. Looks like while Bruce Dickinson makes gold records(or gold plated diapers), Santogold eats them up(eww on the diapers front). From the stellar opening track "L.E.S. Artistes", it sets a tone for the rest of the album that screams success. Some tracks stumble a bit, but she's a storied songwriter, and she turns that stumble into a rolling motion and punches a Ninja in the crotch while she's down there. Great hip-pop album.
44. Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Orchestra & Tra-La-La Band - 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
Can their name be any longer? Jeez. Jerks. Essentially 4 tracks on the album, and while none of which are groundbreaking for the group, they're very solid and above-par for them. A definite refining of the craft on the album. "1,000,000 Died To Make This Sound" is a pretty awesome track. Not much more to say. If you like Godspeed and A Silver Mount Zion's other stuff, you'll like this.
43. God is an Astronaut - God is an Astronaut
Great, great post-rock album. If it weren't for the other excellent post-rock releases ths year, it would be much more noticed methinks. Anywho, Not a heck of a lt to say that's not cliche.If you're into post-rock don't be stingy. Hear this album, it's worth it. If you're not into post-rock, then why are you even reading this? It's one of those genres many people have a hard time describing and talking about unless it involves a lot of "mang, it friggin speaks to my soul", and "the peaks of *track* really make my heart feel at the back of my throat." kind of cheese.
42. Portishead - Third
You may be surprised by the placement of this album, especially considering this album has grown on me substantially. Two months ago this was top 20 material, and it's only gotten better since then. Except, I've been doing a lot of music listening over that time period, and holy crap have I stumbled on som great stuff.
Anywho, I'm not fan of Portishead. I can say honestly that Dummy is merely a decent album, and their self-titled does absolutely nothing for me. I think I got that right. Might be getting the two mixed up(I don't own either, for obvious reasons). This album started off with infinitely more appeal, even if it was a bit raw, and repeated listenings have ground that down to a fine-tuned, very enjoyable listen. I'm pretty impressed with them. ESPECIALLY the track 'Machine Gun". Holy crapola, that song is FIERCE.
As Gandalf stated once, "I now come to you at the turn of the tide." This is it. Well, technically I put a lot of space between 43 and 44. The rest of the albums on the list are very very great as opposed to merely taking part in the good -> great spectrum.
41. The Evpatoria Report - Maar
Post-rock. Just edged out Third because it's freaking awesome. Freaking awesome. From start to finish, it's an absolutely wonderful sixty or so minutes.
40. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Might be a grower,andif it is, watch out, me. It's definitely an album with its own swagger. I came into this with next to no listening experience with Nick Cave, aside from a small handful of tracks. The album's sole disappointing track is "More News From Nowhere" which drags and drags and drags, but it's a finale, so I cut it some slack. The rest of the album is rock solid and I've been returning to it regularly since I first heard it. No track stands out, but they're all consistently great.
39. Jackie Greene - Giving Up The Ghost
Jackie Greene is another new face to me. Apparently he's been around for a few years. Whatever, this album is pretty great. He's like Gonzales in the way he's evolved a vintage sound. With "Don't Let the Devil Take Your Mind" there are times where the c|assic tune "Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Condition Was In)" pops into my head for some odd reason(which also gets me thinking of The Big Lebowski ). It just has that vibe to it. That vibe applies to all his music, in how it sounds old, but the production and some of the songwriting destroy that illusion. Whatever. Really great album.
38. The Dodos - Visiter
Folk folk folk folk. This is folk revved up with some very, very impressive percussion. "Walking" is a very, very good choice for the opening track, as it really sets a great first impression. Is it the best idea for a band to put their best foot forward like this? Only if theyhave confidence the rest of the album won't lower that standard. Fortunately, it doesn't, and this is a very complete album by this band that I hadn't heard of prior to a few months ago. Honestly, the percussion in the album blows me away. The percussive transition from the previously mentioned track to "Red and Purple" is seamless as a gradient, and the rest of the song is lifted up by it. There's a new beginning on the next track, but it starts incredibly well, and that's really the story here. Great folky-pop writing carried by excellent percussion. I recommend this to anyone looking to mix their drumming up.
37. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
This was my debut with Elbow as well(so many new artists for me to hear this year, even if some aren't so new), and I came away impressed. They're a bit unorthodox, and they tend to have slower songs than most(not Low kind of slow though). Their singer's voice is distinct, and can offer a a nice range. There are some nice hooks on the album, the best found on "Grounds For Divorce". "One Day Like This"is among the better songs of the year as well. A very solid effort that doesn't leave me skeptical of its Mercury prize victory.
36. Lindstrom - Where You Go I Got Too
Do you like electronic music? Huh? You'll enjoy this if you do. I'm tired of writing such huge album descriptions on this list and I'll skimp on this one. It's a fantastic listen. Put it in a car and you & your passengers will be grooving hardcore.
35. Gregor Samsa - Rest
Post-rock. Fantastic album. Lucky me for having two relatively difficult albums to describe in a row. i didn't do it on purpose, I swear. Anyways, this album takes reaches into ambience, and it's really quite a beautiful venture. One of the tracks even sounds like one of my homemade pieces I cooked up once in Reason, so it's kind of a confidence booster for me as well. XD
Awesome album though. Honestly, there were some "awe" moments.
34. Beck - Modern Guilt
I didn't like Guero much, I don't care for Odelay. I liked Sea Change and Mellow Gold though.The Information was meh. So I was iffy about Modern Guilt, yet many said it was worth it and I picked it up. I'm not disappointed. His best work since Sea Change, easy. There's tons of great hooks on this album: "Gamma Ray", 'Chemtrails", and 'Modern Guilt' are three very very addictive songs(funny since Chemtrails is dazey and not that kind of song), and an immediate rush of blood into this album as tracks 2, 3 and 4."Youthless" follows, and it's got a nice hook but the song as a whole isn't all that great. "Walls" follows that and it's pretty solid. "Replica" has some frantic percussion and the song as a whole is pretty bi-polar, although it works quite well and it's a strong song. "Soul of a Man" is a really good song that's in the league of tracks 2-4. "Profanity Prayers" could very well be the best song on the album, as track 9 of 10. The finale, "Volcano" is a solid finisher. Overall, a very recommendable rock album. Even if it's Beck.
33. Starflyer 59 - Dial M
Can you say WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. Honestly, what the hay? I came into this expecting a rock record, not a dance record. Ok, it's not a dance record, ad it's still more rock, but I recall his shoegaze days and in comparison this is a 180. Things are very clean and crisp, although some songs retain a bit of a cloudy accent. This is definitely his most radio-friendly album, even though he'll never get on radio stations or MTV or whatever. "Concentrate" is pure, unfiltered awesome. Yeah, on their myspace they have the "Indie/Rock/Christian" label, but whatever. Music is music and he's never praised Jesus or god in his music to my knowledge.Check it out, it's a fantastic album.
32. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
Their EPs were stellar, and unfortunately overshadowed this release. There was much discontent with the quality of the songs when this was released, but I retain this album is full of very fun, accessible rock. It's a disservice to hold it to the standards of "Nature of the Experiment" and such. I don't know what else to say. Each track is very well done, and I've never skipped past any of their tracks when they come up on random shuffle. Give it a try.
31. Hauschka - Ferndorf
He one upped max Richter this year by releasing a CD with FULL TRACKS instead of beautiful but stifled 1 minute blurbs. This german really, really knows his craft, and this release proves it. Some of the best non-threatening background music around. Fun to listen to. Not much else to say other than it's a minimalistic masterpiece and hauschka is still exploring his boundaries.
30. Grails - Doomsdayer's Holiday
Post rock. VERY excellent post-rock. People who like guitar should listen to the first two tracks because the guitarwork is very enjoyable. At least I've been told so repeatedly by a friend of mine whom I've wooed to the album. See that name? It can be very doom and gloom and menacing at times(most tracks). It can also be the opposite(Acid Rain). Post rock though. Great stuff to me, maybe not for others.
29. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
Jack White isbest within the Raconteurs where he stops f-ing around, and starts doing what he does best: exploring non-psychedelic blues guitar music. Icky Thump was a terrible chore to get through. The other White Stripes albums had a handful of good songs surrounded by some miserable stuff. The Raconteurs haven't created a bad song on either of their albums. Maybe it's because jack is surrounded by talent. Who knows?
Either way, this albums rocks hard, and the finale is a stunning song.
28. Natural Snow Buildings - The Snowbringer Cult
An odd album. A Double-album effort from Natural Snow Buildings: the first album a split offering 8 tracks from each of the band members' solo-projects(Isengrind and Twinsistermoon). The second offering their main band's meat and potatoes.
The first CD offers listeners 8 tracks from each act, both rife with excellent tracks. Atmospheric, jangly, drone-filled music from Isengrind, while Twinsistermoon delves into vocals and more glittery atmospheric drone music.When combined on the second CD, they really hit their stride(even if Twinsistermoon's music is absolutely beautiful for the most part)with gems like "bear hunting", "Ongon's Rattle", "Inuk's Song", "Gone", "The desert has eyes" and the epic finale "They do not come knocking there anymore".
27. Elf Power - In A Cave
This album sounds older than it is, and it's more fun than it initially seems. My dad said it sounded like a poppier Peter Frampton when I asked him wha it sounded like. I don't know if it's accurate, as I don't listen to enough Frampton to make an accurate analysis, but I'll take his word for it. He grew up in those days. Whatever. Fun album with a lot of variety. I'm getting tired. Sorry for the really crappy descriptions. it's past 4AM and I''ve been working on this for over 3 hours. One more after this, I'll put some serious effort to close it.
Anywho, this album is awesome. "Spiral Stairs" for the win.
26. Grand Salvo - Death
One of the only concept albums on the list this year. It's definitely a doozie. I've fought myself for 5 nights trying to find words to describe this album, and I've failed that battle. I've dropped back and surrendered that territory. There are narrative tracks, gorgeous instrumental tracks, goofy folky-pop tracks, and a general story about animals and a hunter. It's definitely an album that will open up to me over time, but even then, my initial response to this is incredibly positive. I only got my hands on it 3 weeks ago, so it's still quite fresh, but man. What a beautiful, well thought out album. Absolutely Pristine.
25. Sigur Ros - Med Sud...
I had heard a few songs off the newalbum before I got my hands on it, and my initial reaction was that Sigur Ros took Takk...'s wistfulness and morphed it into glee and joy. I was iffy on that thought but the music was great, so there were no complaints on my behalf. When I got the album and ran through it, I was stunned to hear such a dramatic shift from light-hearted fun to some of the most intimately sad(and beautiful) songs from their entire catalogue. Definitely a bipolar sound to this one, and it's pulled off very, very well.
24. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Fun album, and not what I expected. "Electric Feel" is badass, but prior to getting my hands on the album that's all I'd known from them(they've since had other singles). So when I heard songs like "Kids", "Time To Pretend", "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters", and "Weekend Wars", I was pretty surprised. The rest of the album is solid stuff, but those 5 tracks really, really stand out here. I'm hoping their next effort builds on this tremendous effort.
23. Parenthetical Girls - Entanglements
Some really, really catchy songs on this album. It gets off to a very strong start with "Four Words" and "Avenue of Trees"(a very, very good song), while "A Song For Ellie Greenwich"(one of the best of the year...honestly, that horn!), "Young Eucharists", "Abandoning", "The Former"(another of the year's better tracks) keep pace, and "This Regrettable End" does an impeccable job closing the album out. Wonderful album.
22. Moscow Olympics - Cut The World
Shoegaze? Check. Awesome hooks? Check. Check. Check check check check! This album isn't the re-birth of shoegaze, but if it's not one of the best shoegaze *slash* post-punk albums this decade, I must have missed out on a lot. Whether it's "No Winter, No Autumn", "Second Trace", "Ocean Sign" or "Safe" that's making sweet sweet love to your ears, you're in for a treat with this album.
21. The High Dials - Moon Country
Another band from Montreal making noise in the Canada music scene. They do psychedelic pop very, very well. This album is absolutely jam packed with great tracks. Heck, the opener is evidence enough of their talent. They just go song after song with great material, and I kept wondering "Ok, that track was great, when is this going to level off?" and it never happened. Probably one of the most well-rounded and consistent albums this year.
20. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Fun, fun album. Starts off a bit awkwardly with "Feel The Love" but then the hook hits and the song takes off, andthe album keeps in flight. Then "Out There on The ice" came and blew me away. Then "Lights And Music" punched me in the face really hard. "We Fight for Diamonds" gave me a bit of a recovery period before "Unforgettable Season" came lumbering along. Man, this album makes it painfully obvious that it's just that good. heck, track 9 through 15 is enough to give someone nosebleed, it's so good.
19. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
At first I really liked Vampire Weekend. Then it got to that "ultimate exposure" period in time and I felt exhausted and overwhelmed from hearing them all the time. Then came the reality that this album is just really good and I forgave them for being way overexposed. This album made me grin a lot; even if those moments were often silly lyrics, or them talking about cape cod, it was just a fun and casual album.
18. Sun Kil Moon - April
Mark Kozelek is a nifty fellow. This album does not detract from that sentiment. It's literally filled with slowish guitar-based tracks that either relax you or lure you into his dangerous web of ....hrm. Well, he's not all that dangerous. I don't know where I was going with that. Anywho, great album. Probably his best since Red House Painters.
17. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park
There came a time on this album where Ihad to stop telling myself this was Grizzly Bear. It's just his vocal sty|e is very much the same, and in spots on this album("Phantom Other", for one) he repeats words(yes, words) sung in previous(and future) Grizzly Bear efforts that confuse my brain over which song I'm hearing. It took a bit but I just got used to it and heard this album for what it was...a completely different product than the Grizz. It's varied, it's stunning at times, and overall an incredible record just edged out by a cold nose in their discography.
16. Mount Eerie - Dawn
Because Phil sounds better alone. Honestly, it's a very, very introspective album with a LOT of really, really riveting tracks. The first track "It Wasn't The Hunting" is absolutely spectacular. All the tracks are laid out in order of which he wrote them while on a "vacation" of sorts to Norway."Moon Sequel" is very familiar sounding 
and is well done. One thing that caught my ear for a secon was the opening bit of 'Moon, I Already Know" sounding a lot like the intro to one of my favourite songs ever, "Everlong" by Foo Fighters. Yet the rest of the song rebounds past that mental hurdle and nukes it with impeccable songwriting. F yeah! The pinnacle of the album, "Who?" is so, so much more intimate than the version found on "Lost Wisdom" that I literally can't listen to the LW version anymore. It sounds much too crowded and dishonest. That's really what this album is: Phil Elvrum's writings, with full sincerity on his part, with an introspective look at life itself in its full scope. If you're willing to brave the low-fi folk sound found in this lovely album, and give it an honest chance, I can say you'll be rewarded.
15. School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms
Whoever these girls are with ex-Secret Machines' Ben Curtis, they've got beautiful voices. Truly, these girls are ethereal. Go listen to "Half Asleep" off this album, or "For Kalaja Mari". Heck, I'll link you. Done. There's some very good music to be had here. Wonderful texturing by Curtis, with those angelic voices overlapping it,....no wonder it places so highly here. 
14. Pg. Lost - It's Not Me, It's You!
Best Post-rock album of the year? Probably. It reaches across numerous aisles of sounds and crafts songs that work independently of each other, telling a story with each of them, yet the album flows so incredibly well. If you like Post-rock, do yourself a favour and get it. if you don't like post-rock, do yourself a favour and give this a chance.
13. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
I read the other day about some band calling these guys the American radiohead, because of their experimentalism, and I can totally understand that, even if I don't think it's necessarily true. Some are miffed they've somewhat abandoned parts of their original sound, however, I don't think they've drastically altered their sound to the point where they can be compared like that. Maybe their next album if they continue this exponential shift in sound, but not quite yet. Could this be MMJ's OK Computer?
It's sure as heck a great album. "Highly Suspicious" is one heck of a song, and the "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream" tracks are equally as excellent. There's one or two iffy tracks on the album in comparison with the rest of them, but those tracks are still pretty solid tracks. They pull out a lot of stops on this album, and the listener is rewarded with a plethora of variety to listen to. Awesome album.
12. Nadja - The Bungled & The Botched
Thanks to Indie for tipping me off to this one. I'd heard their other effort this year "Desire in Uneasiness"(which barely missed the cut, although I must say all nadja albums for me have been growers)but didn't know they had another. Indie was all over this, so I figured it could be good. I got a hold of it and BAM.
BAM. Up until that point, I'd thought Nadja's 'Radiance of Shadows' was their best. This blows it out of the water. Those first 30 minutes are just....SO good. 11:36 = BAM.
It's a gritty, dramatic adventure in my ear canals.
11. Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
Best dance album of the year? Yep. I was miffed I couldn't find a video for "Raise Me Up" on Youtube, because that song is easily the best on the album. When Blind wavered and eventually began to bore me, that song stood the test of time. "Hercules' Theme" is still so fresh. The entire album is still incredibly fresh, except "Blind", which is stellar but overexposed for the moment. Too much fun for one play. I always have to run through it twice.
10. Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins
Weak spots? "Pop Lie" and "Calling And Not Calling My Ex" I guess, but even then, they're good songs. I came into this album not knowing an Okkervil River song, however. I did a marathon listening session, running through "Black Sheep Boy", "The Stage Names", and finally "The Stand-Ins", and while it MIGHT pale in comparison to a couple of songs off both the older albums, I feel it's a more consistent album. Better? Maybe not, but it's a great album nonetheless.
9. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
M83 is so fun to listen to. Some say ever since Nicolas Fromageau left the band, Anthony Gonzales has gone wild chasing his cheesy 80's obsession. I kind of agree, as the music he's made since then is substantially cheesier than "Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts". However, that's not to say it isn't as good. I feel that while the complexity and intricacies have gone by the wayside, Gonzales has created increasingly atmospheric and powerful music on his own within M83. Now, I'm a new-wave nerd, so my bias plays out like that...I LOVE this album. "Kim & Jessie" is one of the better pop songs over the past decade IMHO.
8. TV on the Radio - Dear, Science
OMG it's not #1. Blame it on Crying, Love Dog, and Lover's Day not holding up their part of the bargain. Honestly, all three of the aforementioned songs are great, but they're the "A Method" and "Tonight" from Return to Cookie Mountain...except you notice there's 3 of them compared to the two from their past effort. Weak links. Nothing to be ashamed of, most albums have them, but "Crying" takes away the momentum the opener builds, "Lover's Day" hurts the finale, and "Love Dog" is just wrong place at the wrong time. I blame it on the one who decided the tracklist. I mean, I talked in my last post about how I don't like some of Beck's stuff, even if there's awesome guitar. "Crying" is a key example. Awesome hook, even has some great percussion, but the rest of the song is sub-par and it's kind of depressing.
Anywho, I'm writing about imperfections in the album, and not the best parts. Yet, that's what I have to do when the rest of the album is so excellent there's no need to write about it. It speaks for itself.
7. of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
What do you do when your brain is all sexed up and you need some kind of release? You write an album about a middle-aged black gender-confused person who used to be in a funk-rock band in the 70's.
Honestly, there aren't any real tracks so much as there are pieces to a puzzle floating about within the existence of the tracks. Some tracks have 3 or 4 different parts to it where the song shifts into something completely different than before. It's like they took all their bits and bytes of ideas they've had all their lives, recorded them, and then flung them into one big neon mess. It's frustrating at times to hear something to utterly catchy, only to never hear it in traditional repetition like I'm used to in music. This happens all throughout the album and while it IS frustrating, it's also very fun. The entire album is so sexed up and fun...it's almost mimicking Prince's catalogue in spots, but it's definitely a funky-fresh album that's very different than what most are used to. better to listen to in one go, and best that you ignore tracks except for archiving purposes of knowing where certain parts take place.
6. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Best folk album of the year? Eh. Close. Best Americana album of the year? yep. Honestly, this album reminds me of the drive through Vermont, New hampshire and Connecticut my family and I did once in a rental van heading down to Cape Cod. So scenic, and itdoes everything it sets out to accomplish. I haven't heard their EP that came out prior to this, but I can't imagine it's as polished as this debut is. Honestly,I can smell the mountains from my computer chair whenever I put the album on. I can smell the pine and cedar, and I can feel the cool autumn breeze.
5. Shearwater - Rook
I just wrote a huge essay on of Montreal and i'm still winded after Fleet Foxes, so I'll be concise. This album doesn't stray from its sound. Shearwater's previous album "Palo Santo" sounds a bit different than "Rook" but not a whole lot. This band does what it does very well. The difference between Palo Santo and Rook is that Rook is just a lot more...intense. Palo Santo sounds like musicians making a bunch of really nice music that's sincere enough, but Rook sounds like music that's being made to convince you of something. To win you over, and to assure you of something, and that intensity in the writing really gives this album wings."Leviathan Bound", 'The Snow leopard", 'Lost Boys", and "Home life" are all wonderful tracks that I can't help but listen to over and over again. Is the album technically great? Not really, although it's very well composed. Is the singing excellent? His falsetto is ok, and his voice is steady enough to carry his message, but it's nothing noteworthy. Kind of like Feist, he makes a very average voice sound very well through vocal techniques and very likely studio editing(I wouldn't doubt it if I heard Shearwater is a studio band...they do sound like one). Nothing is technically impressive on this album, but the composition is simple and well crafted to produce the mood it wants to intice, and to promote the atmosphere it builds across all its ten tracks. Its message is sung in a precise, calculated way that accents the music perfectly.
This is a band at the top of their game, and this album is the product of that.
4. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
How does Wolf Parade beat Shearwater? By a hair. Literally, this was a coin toss. I tossed a coin, and Searwater won, and then when my brain said 'that's not right', and placed Wolf Parade on top, I went with Wolf Parade. Ever use that technique? it really helps me be not as indecisive.
Anywho, Wolf Parade's first album was a monster of a record. It's among my favourites of all-time, and this album had a tough hurdle to overcome. Well, the bad news is that At Mount Zoomer isn't as good as their debut. The good news is that it's still an incredibly good album much like The Arcade Fire's Neon Bible was an incredibly good album. Wolf parade just lakes the immense hype and media bias towards the debut that they made it through relatively unpunished by critics for making an album that sounds quite different.
Dan Boeckner's presence on this album is even more gigantic than on the debut, where I felt Spencer Krug's efforts were head and shoulders better for the most part. On this album, it's the opposite, with Boeckner letting out stellar track after stellar track(Grey Estates, Language City,Fine Young Cannibals, Soldier's Grin) until their true collaboration track "Kissing the beehive" which is one of the strongest songs to come out this year. Not to Say Krug's are bad by any stretch. I'd say his are only slightly behind Boeckner's, if only because "Bang your Drum" is the weakest song on the album.
Anyone doubting this band's ability to fuse two immense creative minds needs to jst sit down because Wolf Parade doesn't look like a band that's anything but unified, even though their writing is mostly split between the two core members, and seemingly fleshed out by the entire band after the foundations are set. Whether it's Dan or Spencer at the helm, this band has a dynamic duo in place, and their future is incredibly bright.
3. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
It's an intimate release, for sure, and offers some of the most heartfelt recordings I've heard in the past couple of years. It's been a steady listen since late January, gaining ground with each month up until about May(by then it really had no more to grow). Not to mention Mr. Justin Vernon's escapades covering Okkervil River and helping out Lykke Li. Yes I just copy pasta'd that from an earlier blog. Dig it. Snap into a Slim Jim.
It was close but this takes third prize because all of its intimate songwriting and honesty can't win the top spot.
2. Have A Nice Life - Deathconsciousness
Go and buy this album for $5 here. It's only five dollars, don't be a cheapskate.
This blew my mind. And my face. While compiling my prelim Top songs of 2008 list, I stopped adding their songs after I'd added 7, because I started feeling guilty of stacking the list full of their songs. I'm completely serious that it comes really close to dethroning the #1, that it's not funny. It's not #1 because Black Mountain created a beast, and because I have only had this album for about 2 and a half months, and that's hardly enough length to give it lasting-power.
So go buy it right now so you can get a head-start on your laundry. You'll need that extra-underwear and pants. I mean, it might not be music for EVERYONE, but if you like the least bit of shoegaze, or really gritty rock, then you'd better get this or someone will Hacksaw Jim Duggan all over you.
So yeah, go get it. I'm not even going to spoil it for anyone by saying which tracks are the best. You go listen and then come back and tell me.
1. Black Mountain - In The Future
It's been close to a year since I first heard Black Mountain's 'In The Future' back in January. I did a huge favourite albums list and put it really, really high up along with of Montreal's album, because I was really into those albums at the time. Well, I can tell you the of Montreal album is still pretty fresh, even if it would probably slip a bit in the rankings.
In The Future, though? Well, while it's lost the gloss of new, fresh listening sessions, it's a certified, weathered veteran of my playlists. My prediction was right, this won't die on me. It might slip a few spots, but nothing substantial at all.
I still think this is among the top albums of the decade. I still think it's a fresh take on an old sound, and I still think it's absolutely stunning to listen to in full. Stormy High still gives me shivers when I hear it start up, and that's the important thing.
All year long I've been challenging the music world to topple this giant(not as if they've been listening), but don't let that fool you into thinking it's been a rigged contest. I have the ability to forget about an album through a listening session of other music. It's easy. Anywho, this album is top-caliber, and I'm happy to place it where it's sitting on the list. It deserves the top spot.
