Best Music of 2008

The best albums of 2008, per nate, can be found below. In my fifth annual listing very little has changed: short, inane blurbs written on my train ride back to Detroit space out what is otherwise a concise selection. The difference between me and real music blogs is the ascending order, which I'll continue to do until a CSS standard is in place to count reverse in an <ol> tag. If you think James Blunt should be on this list, go soak your head. If you have any other opinion, leave a comment!

Albums

1. Bon Iver "For Emma, Forever Ago"
   Folk-rock that is passionate and intimate is something I treasure, and treasure this album I did. At times I was frustrated with the production, especially after hearing Justin Vernon and his band live, but the powerful songs shine through. What drove this album to the top was the staying power in my rotation. For 10 months I kept this going and I don't see stopping anytime soon... as long as it keeps snowing in Chicago.
   Skinny Love, Stacks


2. Ra Ra Riot "The Rhumb Line"
   This album wouldn't be much different than most other indie-pop records if it weren't for the amazing choice of having a full-time cellist and violinist as members. So unlike most bands who's four-piece live show can't think to bring their studio strings, Ra Ra Riot keeps it real. This album has sustained energy in every track and has yet to bore me.
   Winter '05, Run My Mouth


3. Coldplay "Viva La Vida (or Death and All His Friends)"
   Rumor has it, Brian Eno told Chris Martin and troupe, "your songs all sound the same." This album is evident of Eno's production skill, with varied sound and energy... for a Coldplay album. Honestly, though, after the second listen I was hooked.
   Lovers in Japan / Reign of Love, 42


4. Vampire Weekend "Vampire Weekend" I put "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" on some of my Best of 2007 mixes last year, and like so many others was excited for the release of the full-length album. However, as the release neared, the sheer numbers of anticipating people created a buzz that quickly created it's own backlash... especially after MTV featured the band. The story didn't end here, however, because the album turned out to be quite good, and even though main-stream was listening, those who feed off of rejecting mainstream couldn't help but listen along. Of course, the band never asked for this strange setup and shouldn't have it held against them. M89, Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa


5. She & Him "Volume One"
   M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel team up and make music? It was a dream come true. I loved the 60s throw-back sound and want to make a Super-8 film for every track. This disc has a broad appeal and I would recommend it to almost anybody.
   Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?, Sweet Darlin'


6. Crooked Still "Still Crooked"
   I don't know how I would have been turned onto a bluegrass band if it weren't for some internet boredom, but I couldn't stop listening to this album. I caught them perform at the newly-renovated Morse Theater this fall and it was the most beautiful-sounding show I saw this year (well, next to my first time seeing Bon Iver).
   Undone in Sorrow, Did You Sleep Well?


7. MGMT "Oracular Spectacular" Technically a 2007 release, but since I hadn't found the album until this year (and everybody else seems to be including it in their list) it needs a mention. This is a brilliant rock record with lyrics of heavy nostalgia that I often enjoyed on a lazy Saturday morning. Kids, Electric Feel


8. Death Cab for Cutie "Narrow Stairs" In my book it's hard for Ben Gibbard to do wrong, and he doesn't here. However, my listening records will reveal I still spent more time listening to The Photo Album this year. Narrow Stairs has some great tracks, and it was definitely more rock-y than Plans, but it still doesn't have the coherence of a great album for me yet. Give Chris Walla his production props, though: This is the most polished-sounding Death Cab record yet. Cath..., Bixby Canyon Bridge


9. Fleet Foxes "Fleet Foxes" Soft, beautiful folk of the type that I tend to overly enjoy is supplemented by choral, multi-part harmonies. This is calming, iPod-friendly music I found myself retreating to often. Ragged Wood, White Winter Hymnal


10. Jenny Lewis "Acid Tongue" I loved 2006's "Rabbit Fur Coat", and was really excited for this release. Jenny broadens her scope on this effort to include a bigger rock sound and includes some amazing guests including Elvis Costello and M. Ward. Trying My Best, Fernando


11. The Submarines "Honeysuckle Weeks" You will rarely find a better album to listen to on your way to work. The first track opens with, "If you live in the city / And you want it to burn," and the painfully famous iPhone commercial selection a few tracks later continues with "Everyday I wake up, I choose Love, I choose Light; And I try, it's too easy just to fall apart." Stop ruining my favorite finds for me, Apple. You Me and the Bourgeoisie, Swimming Pool


12. Mates of State "Re-arrange Us" I can't turn down great pop, especially with strings. Mates of State have put out good records in the past, but the formula really worked for me with this one. The Re-arranger, Get Better


13. Sigur Rós "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust" In an unexpected move, slow-moving moody Sigur Rós puts out a fast-paced energetic record with a page from the Polyphonic Spree. Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur, Gobbledigook


14. The Ting-Tings "We Started Nothing"
    This duo isn't the first or the last indie dance-rock group with catchy tunes and female vocals, but they did it best this year for me.
    The Underdog, The Ghost of You Lingers


15. Neil Halstead "Oh! Mighty Engine"
    Excellent whisper-rock releases like this make me wish that mediocre guys like Joshua Radin and Jack Johnson didn't get all the attention. I can't hate too much on Jack Johnson, though, as his label put this record out.
    Queen Bee, Paint a Face


16. The Gaslight Anthem "The '59 Sound" Poetic anthem-rock that will certainly draw similarities to The Hold Steady. And since I never got around to listening to the new Hold Steady record, I never got to compare it to this one and maybe I've rated this one higher than I should. I would give The Hold Steady the upper-hand on lyrics, especially because I'm not sure how I feel about how the track "High Lonesome" includes words from The Counting Crows' "Round Here", one of my all-time favorite songs. The '59 Sound, Here's Lookin' At You, Kid


17. Nada Surf "Lucky"
    Some solid pop-rock from a band who has finally shed the radio-hit "Popular" from their tour set list. Chris Walla had a hand in the recording here, which increases the chances for a positive review.
    Weightless, I Like What You Say


18. The Weepies "Hideaway"
    The first-full length from this now-married duo was my #1 pick in 2006, but the follow-up was more of the same... and I had grown tired of the same. This is not to say it isn't as good as the first; it's maybe even a bit better.
    Orbiting, Lighting Candles


19. Cut Copy "In Ghost Colours"
    Electro-dance pop that doesn't become over-bearing. Not as good as MGMT, but few things are.
    Lights & Music, So Haunted


20. Lemuria "Get Better"
    There was this song by this band called "Jail" in the early 90s that I loved. Lemuria reminded me of them in such a way few others never even tried. It's a very garage-rock sound with a female front.
    Pants, Yesterday's Lunch

And More

• Girl Talk "Feed The Animals"
  Mash-ups are nothing new, but this release screams genius - the tracks are interwoven from up to 30 different songs. It's fun to sit down and analyze once or twice, but I found myself listening to it much more with little thought of where the samples came from. These are unique, self-standing creations.
  Still Here, In Step


• Colin Meloy "Colin Meloy Sings Live!"
  Decemberists front-man invites the world to experience his awesome, intimate solo show. "Wonder" is a beautiful, unreleased track about his son and is worth the price of the entire album.
  Wonder, Devil's Elbow


• Lisa Hannigan "Sea Sew"
  I always loved Lisa Hannigan's voice, and my high expectations for this album (officially releasing in 2009) led to a little disappointment when I finally heard it after picking it up at a show recently. I'll re-evaluate after some more listens and we'll see where I stand. Maybe it'll reappear on this list next year.
  I Don't Know, Ocean and a Rock


• Rosie Thomas "A Very Rosie Christmas"
  Rosie Thomas gets my Christmas record nod this year (though, Steven Colbert, you were a consideration). Sufjan Stevens, where are you?


• Cat Power "Jukebox" Pretty much another "Covers Record". You can't go wrong with her voice. Aretha, Sing One For Me (George Jackson), Woman Left Lonely (Janis Joplin)


• Chris Walla "Field Manual" Chris Walla is a genius producer, and he shares his talent with himself here in a long-anticipated solo album. His touch usually is pretty apparent in my yearly lists (The Crane Wife, The Con) but I didn't find his songwriting isn't spectacular, and the lyrics are maybe a little too political (in true Walla fashion), but I spun it through a few times. Geometry &c., Everyone Needs A Home


• "Juno (Music From the Motion Picture)" Okay, I didn't like this album. Kimya Dawson deserves too much credit for these songs. (Though I do recommend checking out some of her material... try "12/26"). I loved the movie, however, and the use of the music within that environment. Just don't play me the record.

Discussion

So where did I find new music this year? My mainstays haven't changed much:
Podcasts. NPR's All Songs Considered and KCRW's Morning Becomes Eclectic regularly provide me with great new music which iTunes is downloading and syncing to my phone: all I have to do is find time to push play, which is admittedly not always easy to do.
Blogs. I have found myself relying even more upon The Fire Note. With sometimes-daily reviews and helpful "bands with similar fire" I can quickly decide whether or not I'll put it in my "to listen" pile. Chicagoist has a great "Rocking our Turntable" feature which has some good introductions as well.
Radio. As far as internet radio goes, I just don't have time to succumb to the Pandora gods. The time I do have to listen to music, I want to decide what it is, and also the desire to stream to my Airport Express when I'm home limits the web-based options.
I do use last.fm not for their radio but their listening data. For the extra-geeky, there's lastgraph, with which I made the chart at the top of this entry.
Buy. Once music moves from the "to listen" pile to the "to buy" pile, my first choice is emusic. My monthly subscription is equivalent to $0.24/song but is limited to only small or specialty labels. This is rarely a problem - the majority of my "best of" list is available.
If it's not, I now turn to Amazon MP3. With good-quality DRM-free downloads often a few cents cheaper than the iTunes store, I've eliminated my need for that tempting retailer altogether.
Library. It's been iTunes for 5 years now, and I can't imagine it'll be anything else. I rely on the ratings data to help me make this list every year, and to quickly find my favorite tracks for transfer to my limited-storage phone. I would love a subscription model like the Zunepass, which also gets you 10 "keep" downloads a month, but I wouldn't dare use that second-rate hardware.

Related links

• Albums of 2007


• Albums of 2006


• Albums of 2005


• Albums of 2004