Last year’s list was a major success for us, despite being a tiny blog at the time. I’ve had a chance to listen to many more albums this year though I’ve still missed a few that I’ve yet to listen to (it really is impossible).
With a brand new name in hand this week, it’s time to release our yearly top albums of ’08 list though we may be late to the game.
#20 Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
I think this album warrants any argument you want to give it (or any price you want to pay for it would be fair). Honestly for me, it contains some of the worst songs ever but remixed in entertaining fashion that makes it enjoyable for both actual fans of the music included and people like me who enjoys the older tracks. Honestly it’s really just a random DJ mix but done incredibly well for 14 tracks at 4 minutes each
Set It Off by Girl Talk
Hands In The Air by Girl Talk
#19 Portishead – Third
Original Rating: 4.25 out of 5
I probably would’ve left this off my top 20 but the other writers have spoken. I was unsure about this album, I think it was going to an album I would forget and not listen to and that’s exactly what happened. Beth Gibbons has an amazing voice and Machine Gun will be on the best tracks of the year. I still feel like this album is a bit hit or miss, it’s definitely unique and stands on its own so there is merit to having it included in the top albums of the year discussion, I just happen to be one who disagrees that some of the music doesn’t work quite as well.
Machine Gun by Portishead
#18 Cut Copy – In Ghosts Colours
Rating: 4 out of 5
If you looked at previous scores, you’ll realize that 4 out of 5 is on the low side compared to other albums. I’ve got a good explanation. At first I wasn’t as impressed as many of my fellow bloggers and various other critics. I think this album takes time to grow and reach it’s full potential and this was 4 months or so after the initial review. It’s kind of hard to believe an electro album as a grower but In Ghost Colours is exactly that, there’s much to absorb in the initial listens and attention is diverted from the great moments at first. Top to bottom though this is a great album and I’m willing to admit my mistake.
Far Away by Cut Copy
Unforgettable Season by Cut Copy
#17 Pomegranates – Everything Is Alive
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
In my original review, I went on a rant on how people are scared of the word “Emo” and are willing to dismiss it off the bat. The Pomegranates aren’t full on emo but emotive indie rock would be a proper term to classify their music. With two lead singers they have arguably one of the better balances in indie, despite not many people hearing as much about them. I’ve seen some of the WORST reviews given to this band (not exactly bad reviews but actually poorly written ones). With a mix of keys and awesome guitar work, this album is definitely deserving of whatever praise its given despite being under the radar. This album is just way too good not to include it on this list.
In The Kitchen by Pomegranates
Appreciations by Pomegranates
With/Whom by Pomegranates
#16 She & Him – Volume One
Original Rating: 4.5 out of 5
At first, I felt like I was overrating this album but perseverance prevailed after writing the initial review and I’ve become a big fan of Zooey Deschanel’s songwriting and singing talent (not that’s she not hot or anything). While pop country/folk isn’t the most immediate genre that I would recall to liking Zooey makes the genre likable with romantic ballads about the various men in her life. It’s almost surprising at first how good this record actually is but it has won over quite a few people and if you’ve seen her live, you’ll see exactly how genuine her talent is. (She’s got a voice that rivals many established female vocalists).
Sentimental Heart by She and Him
Why Don’t You Let Me Stay Here by She and Him
#15 Those Dancing Days – In Our Space Hero Suits
Original Rating: 4.75 out of 5
I always have a spot for pure pop and usually one or two albums sneak into the end of the year lists but this all-girl group out of Sweden has released a solid album top to bottom with great singing from Linnea Jonsson. She really steals the show on tracks like Hitten and Home Sweet Home which features some singing in her foreign language. I’d actually like to hear what she could offer in a non-English song. Some pop albums are just undeniably good though I guess with indie records it’s customary to disregard these types of albums, it seems not as many people are finding out about this album due to this shyness. I do go back and forth on where this album belongs but I absolutely love it.
Hitten by Those Dancing Days
Space Hero Suits by Those Dancing Days
#14 Walkmen – You & Me
Original Rating: 4.75 out of 5
This was my first exposure to the Walkmen, which while difficult to admit, I’m glad I finally gave them a shot. The problem with this album (hardly any) is that I keep forgetting how good it really is. It’s an amazing subtle album that has its emotions wrapped into tiny crevices. I almost forgot to include it in my top 20 and sometimes I find it difficult to go back to which is why they may be lower on the list then you’d list. There are more then a few amazing tracks though but no real stand outs.
Canadian Girl by The Walkmen
In The New Year by The Walkmen
#13 Chad Van Gaalen – Soft Airplane
Original Rating: 4.25 out of 5
I’ll admit that the album score for this album is a little low but the album still has some flaws. However, I would qualify them a good flaws since it had to do with VanGaalen over experimenting in some sections of this album, so there really is no argument that this album isn’t great (I’m looking at you Now Magazine). VanGaalen experiments with a variety methods using some electronic elements in TMNT and his singing and writing is top notch. You probably wouldn’t know it but VanGaalen records this in his basement and he makes it sound like he’s in some expensive recording studio. Maybe he’s just super talented? He also creates the artwork to his own videos in addition to to the artwork on his album, showing us just how inhuman he actually is.
Bare Feet on Wet Grip Tape by Chad VanGaalen
Rabid Bits of Time by Chad VanGaalen
#12 Wolf Parade – At Mt. Zoomer
Original Rating: 4.75 out of 5
The best duo vocalists in indie rock, period. A Wolf Parade record is always a schizophrenic affair with Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner, they teamed up on super track Kissing The Beehive, however the lead up to grand finale is as good as you’ll find anywhere. I think the main problem with this record is that their first record was out of this world amazing that any album would be hard to top it. I am lamenting the fact that I was still on crutches when they came into town… The album itself is much less accessible then their predecessor but it explores more elements that the band didn’t show off on Apologies to the Queen Marry but bringing more of what they brought on their great side projects (Sunset Rubdow, Handsome Furs etc).
Fine Young Cannibals by Wolf Parade
Call It A Ritual by Wolf Parade
#11 Thao With the Get Down Stay Down – We Brave Bee Stings And All
Original Rating: 5 out of 5
When I first heard Beat (Health, Life and Fire), I instantly fell in love with Thao Nguyen and her backing band the Get Down Stay Down and it’s hard not to. She’s has an instant charm where she sings about kid and being an adult finding herself. I may have been overly too excited at first about this album but it does hold up strongly as Thao becomes one of my favorite singer-song writers. I really can’t say enough about her, she conveys duel emotions strong/weak, assertive/hesistant, strong and confidence and weak and shy all at the same moment. It really gives her an edge over many artists within the same genre.
Beat (Health, Life and Fire) by Thao Nguyen With The Get Down Stay Down
Geography by Thao Nguyen With The Get Down Stay Down
