2008 Roundup: Best Albums of 2008

My yearly disclaimer: This list doesn’t try to out-do any other list out there with my extensive knowledge of obscure choices that no one has heard of… mostly because I rarely have enough time to hear everything. This is just a list of my favorites that I frequently listened to during the last year… anyway, let’s dig in.

Top Albums of 2008:

1) Bon Iver — For Emma, Forever Ago

I got an early copy this album around this time last year (and even included it on my best of 2007 list by mistake) and it is quite a testament to this music that it has rarely left my headphones during the course of the year. The haunting and evocative sounds of Justin Vernon — the creaky, yet warm guitar strums, the soulful and ghostly vocal harmonies and the loose, almost unfinished arrangements — allows this record perhaps the most intimate and personal performance of the year. Songs like “Flume” and “Skinny Love” and “The Wolves (Act I & II) are instant classics. This is perhaps one of the few albums of 2008 that I will still be returning to in ten years time.

2) Thao — We Brave Bee Stings And All

I would imagine I played Thao’s music more than almost any other artist this year, outside of Radiohead’s In Rainbows (which I would almost call this year’s best album of the year, had I not named it that last year). After all this time I have written about Thao countless times here and on NPR, I booked her for a Tiny Desk Concert, I saw her a few times in concert, I pushed her on almost anyone who would listen, and I lived with this record for over 12 months. It’s raw, energetic, and honest and distinctively Thao and no one else. I am glad that people are really starting to pay attention to her music because this strong debut shows much promise for in coming years. Can’t wait to hear the next batch of songs.

3) Sigur Rós — Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

For some reason, all everyone talked about when it came to this album, was how they didn’t sound depressed and dreary any more. While I agree, this album has a few songs that are as about energetic and joyful as any song Sigur Ros has ever done, I never quite got why everyone thought previous works (especially tracks off Agaetis Byrjun and Takk…) did not have the same celebratory feel. Either way, there is an otherworldly beauty and ethereal quality in all of Sigur Ros’ music, and this album captures that plus an almost tribal feel. When the Jedi finally defeat the Empire in Return of the Jedi, I think the first track, “Gobbledigook” would be an appropriate choice of music to put on when you ask the Ewoks to dance.

4) Fleet Foxes — Fleet Foxes

Sometimes you hear and album for the first time and it reminds you of so many different bands you love that you feel you already know the songs intimately. Such is the case with Fleet Foxes who immediately conjure allusions to Crosby Still & Nash, Neil Young, The Band, Band of Horses, My Morning Jacket and the British folk of the late 60s and 70s… and probably much more. But this is not a slight to the band at all; they are able capture the rural country folk, the stunning lilting harmonies and rich ambiance of the past while creating a unique spin to call their own.

5) Gnarls Barkley — The Odd Couple

Forget about those who say this album was a let down because there was no monster hit like “Crazy” here. In fact in some ways, forget about Danger Mouse and Cee Lo’s last album St. Elsewhere completely, because outside that huge freakshow of a hit, it to me falls so much flatter compared to The Odd Couple. With songs that seamlessly fuse Spaghetti Western, spy movie soundtracks, Latin, gospel, hip hop, psychedelia and much more, Gnarls has created a low key and cohesive classic album. Plus their costume still rule.

6) Department of Eagles — In Ear Park

This was a late addition because I only got ahold of this album last month. But in that time, Department of Eagles’ brand of chamber indie rock is incredibly catchy and made a push well into my top ten. This band is the work of Daniel Rossen, who before this band got a chance to get noticed, performed in his other band Grizzly Bear. Much of that same instrumental mentality from Grizzly Bear carries over in this collection of songs, but I think they sound much more comfortable and less fussy. A definite must-listen.

7) Shearwater — Rook

It’s safe to say at this point that Shearwater is no longer simply a spin-off side project from Okkervil River, not that that was even all that debated for most. But Jonathan Meiburg and company’s latest, Rook, is one of the most inspired and original rock albums I’ve heard in a long time. Meiburg’s voice is full and operatic and simply amazing, while the arrangements and songs are inventive and off kilter enough to be interesting while also incredibly emotional. If you have not seen them perform, make sure to check out the wealth of coverage on NPR (including a great Tiny Desk Concert), because these songs take on a whole new personality live.

8) The Walkmen — You & Me

Before this record, I had always dismissed The Walkmen as a band that sounded the same as many other bands I didn’t like. I don’t know if something changed with my tastes or something just clicked with You & Me, but the Walkmen seem to have perfected that boozy, washed out, yet athemic rafters-shaking sound. But its songs like “On the Water” and “Canadian Girl” display a depth of songwriting and more subtle approach perhaps showing that after the band’s long woozy night, they’ve found a delicate moment of clarity.

9) Girl Talk — Feed The Animals

Holy crap, this is the dance music I’ve waited for my entire life and didn’t even know I was waiting for it. I think if more clubs had DJs that mashed up this many songs I love (and many I NEVER thought I’d ever even listen to in the first place), into such a seamless segue of music, I think I would’ve been out on the floor much more often. Half the fun of Gregg Gillis’ music is knowing that he used to be a biomedical engineer before quitting to pursue music, and the other half is spent trying to decipher all the songs and samples he uses to create such a glorious production patchwork.

10) The Lord Dog Bird — The Lord Dog Bird

I think when I first heard this record, I was struck by the intimacy of it. Reportedly recorded on antiquated tape machines alone in a bedroom and it really sounds like a dude laying down take after take of tinny guitars and quiet howling vocals that are just loud enough to be picked up by the crappy microphone and quiet enough not to disturb the neighbors. This album is full of repetitive and intricately interlocking guitar melodies and the occasional thump of a bass drum… and that’s about it. But the songs are dark, meandering and thoroughly satisfying.

11) Beach House — Devotion (read my write up on NPR’s Song of the Day)

12) Sun Kil Moon — April

13) Conor Oberst — Conor Oberst

14) Ghosty — Answers (read my write up on NPR’s Second Stage)

15) Beck — Modern Guilt

Seven Strong Runners Up:

Sam Phillips — Don’t Do Anything
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks — Real Emotional Trash (read my write up on NPR’s Song of the Day)
Okkervil River — The Stand Ins
David Bryne & Brian Eno– Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Nada Surf — Lucky
Portishead — Third
Evangelicals — The Evening Descends (read my write up on NPR’s Song of the Day)

Six Promising Debuts:

Little Joy — Little Joy (read my write up on NPR’s Song of the Day)
Crystal Stilts — Alight of Night
Sera Cahoone — Only As The Day Is Long
School of Seven Bells — Alpinisms
Plants and Animals — Parc Avenue
She & Him — Volume One

Five Disapointments (based on my enjoyment of previous albums):
I know many people have either My Morning Jacket or TV on the Radio in their top albums of the year lists, but there was something about both of those that as a full album just didn’t do it for me. Each definitely have some stand out songs (a couple amazing tracks even), but the overall flow, the overproduction, the muddied direction and cohesiveness of the albums just fell flat compared to previous albums.

My Morning Jacket — Evil Urges
TV on the Radio — Dear Science,
Wolf Parade — At Mount Zoomer
Ryan Adams — Cardinology
Brendan Canning — Something For All Of Us…

Four Honorable Mentions (or things I liked but not amazing):

Black Keys — Attack & Release
Mates of State — Re-Arrange Us
Death Cab for Cutie — Narrow Stairs
These United States — A Picture Of The Three Of Us At The Gate To The Garden Of Eden

Three Jazz Releases Worth Hearing:

Medeski Martin & Wood — Radiolarians 1
Brad Mehldau Trio — Brad Mehldau Trio Live (read my write up on NPR’s Song of the Day)
Dave Holland Sextet — Pass It On

Two Albums I Just Got Around To Listening To (But think I will like once I spend some more time with them):

The Acorn — Glory Hope Mountain
MGMT — Oracular Spectacular

One Band That I Still Just Don’t Get The Appeal:

Vampire Weekend

Well thats it for now. Let us know here what you think. If you have a favourite or feel we’ve left something off…write to us at [email protected] or right here in the blog comments.

You can check out some of our picks for 2007 here: Greg’s list. Mike’s list.