Your Top Ten Albums of 2008

[therealjohng]

So we're getting pretty much to the end of the year, let's start seeing some top tens. If you can, I know 2008 has been the worst year for music in many a year. Let's see what you guys throw together. I'm gonna go find all the albums I heard and put my list together. Brb.

[Sigur509]

Devotion by Beach House
Viva la Vida by Coldplay
Conor Oberst by Conor Oberst
Home Waters by Velveteen
Third by Portishead
Cardinology by Ryan Adams and the Cardinals
808's and Heartbreak by Kanye West
Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie
Volume 1 by She & Him
4:13 Dream by The Cure

Jukebox by Cat Power
Dear Science by TV on the Radio
Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust by Sigur Ros
Prospekt's March [EP] by Coldplay
Saturdays=Youth by M83
The Hawk is Howling by Mogwai
Acid Tongue by Jenny Lewis
Modern Guilt by Beck
Intimacy by Bloc Party


Some excellent stuff came out, but there were only about 4 amazing albums I heard this year. Makes me long for 05, or 07 again for music.

[athf1980]

1. Metallica-Death Magentic
2. Dragonforce-Ultra Beatdown
3. Hans Zimmer/James Newton Howard-TDK soundtrack
4. Black Ice-AC/DC

*my fav. album of this year that I got is Darkness on the edge of town by Bruce. Because it was original released in 1978 I can't have it as my number one of this year.

[DrJellyfingers]

1. Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
2. Tom Gabel - Heart Burns
3. No Use For A Name - Feel Good Record of the Year
4. Lagwagon - I Think My Older Brother Used To Listen to Lagwagon
5. Anti Flag - The Bright Lights of America
6. Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony
7. Millencolin - Machine 15

[SAI]

I can only manage four, though one of those sits head and shoulders above the others

4: The Duke Spirit: Neptune
http://www.new-noise.net/media/24576bcd/Duke%20Spirit.jpg
A real step on from their debut, which nailed the rockers but became a bit dull on the quieter tracks. Here the Spirit again master bluesy rock (Lassoo, The Step and the Walk, Send a Little Love Token), but they also demonstrate that their repetoire has been extended with the sea shanty like Dog Roses and the sweet balladry of Wooden Heart. Still, the real story remains Leila Moss big soul voice, and the surprising ease with which it fits this rock band.

3: The Raconteurs: Consolers of the Lonely
http://i255.photobucket.com/albums/hh153/megamp3n/SUB%201/TheRaconteurs-ConsolersoftheLonely.jpg
Announced just a week before its release The Raconteurs second effort was a very pleasent surprise early in the year. Building on the promise of Broken Boy Soldiers Jack White, Brendan Benson, Patrick Keeler and Jack Lawrence here produced a more cohesive set of songs. As ever they wear their influences on their sleeves, but aren't bound by them, making this album sound fresh and individual even though it could have come out 35 years ago.

2: Lykke Li: Youth Novels
http://www.urb.com/uploads/reviews/cd_reviews/Lykke_Li_Youth_Novels_LL_Recordings.jpg
Eschewing the digital sound of much scando-pop this 22 year old Swede's debut was a rather sparse sounding , and often rather melancholy, affair. Fortunately Youth Novels, an ambitious proposition at 14 tracks and over 50 minutes in length, is also packed to the gills with finely crafted pop.
Li's lyrics are beautifully written, with Let it Fall impressing in particular. Her breathy voice may be a little thin for some, but her tone suits the songs beautifully and, like the music's many hooks, soon takes up residence in your head.

1: Sons and Daughters: This Gift
http://homepage.mac.com/juliezryan/.Public/thisgiftcover.jpg
The album of the year came out in January. Challengers came and went, some faster than others, but throughout 2008 This Gift was all but welded to my CD player. It's the Glasgow quartet's most accessible album, moulded into such from its original dark concept by producer Bernard Butler, and while it does whittle away at the sharp edges their sound had on Love the Cup and The Repulsion Box its many charms only grow with rpeated listens.
This Gift is a more diverse album than either of the bands previous efforts. Influences range from a girl group sound that nods to motown on Darling and Chains to Ken Loach, whose Cathy Come Home provided the impetus for the outstanding The Nest. Elsewhere the caustic, fuzzy opener Gilt Complex provides a rush of energy, while Split Lips is what all 90's guitar pop wishes it had sounded like. While Adele Bethel's vocals and Scott Pattersons guitar are still powerful it becomes clear on This Gift that the rhythym section of drummer David Gow and bassist Alidh Lennon are the engine room of Sons and Daughters, never more so than on the pounding The Nest. This Gift also happens to close with one of the best last tracks I've heard in an age, the rattling Goodbye Service, which makes it all too tempting to just put this great album on ONCE more.
Split Lips (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lySuX3PxSbk)
Live on KEXP (http://kexp.org/aspnet_client/KEXPViewMediaGroup.aspx?rID=26236&pID=528&fID=1080)

[Frank the Tank]

Here's ten of my faves in no order:

TV On The Radio - Dear, Science
Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
Nachtmystium - Assassins: Black Meddle Part 1
Cynic - Traced In Air
Man Man - Rabbit Habits
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (I figured I wouldn't like this all that much, but it's a beautiful album)
Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of Common Life
Girltalk - Feed The Animals
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

I still have to go back and listen to the many hip hop albums from this year I have missed.

[Sidebot]

So far..

10. Avantasia - The Scarecrow
9. Benedictum - Seasons of Tragedy
8. Týr - Land
7. Falconer - Among Beggars And Thieves
6. Evergrey - Torn
5. Battlelore - The Last Alliance
4. Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown
3. Draconian - Turning Season Within
2. Testament - The Formation of Damnation
1. Jon Oliva's Pain - Global Warning

[lukeisevil]

10. Made out of Babies - The Ruiner
9. MGMT - Oraclur Spectacular
8. Santogold - Self Titled
7. Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
6. Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
5. Matt Costa - Unfamilar Faces
4. Seeing Sounds - N.E.R.D.
3. Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV
2. The Presets - Apocalypso
1. Kanye West - 808's and Heartbreaks

[Kevin Smith fan]

1.Red of Tooth and Claw- Murder By Death
2.Consolers of the Lonely- Raconteurs
3.Death Magnetic- Metalica
4.Heart Burns- Tom Gabel
5.Shades- Knights of the Abyss
6.The '59 Sound- Gaslight Anthem
7.Civil War- Dillinger Four
8.The Red Album- Weezer
9.Until We're Dead- Star Fucking Hipsters

[therealjohng]

10. The Killers - Day and Age
9. TV on the Radio - Dear Science,
8. Made Out of Babies - The Ruiner
7. Deerhunter - Microcastles
6. Metallica - Death Magnetic
5. Kanye West - 808's and Heartbreak
4. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
3. A Place to Bury Strangers - A Place to Bury Strangers
2. Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
1. Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies

[notchreturns]

1. Portishead - Third
2. Beck - Modern Guilt
3. Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling
4. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
5. No Age - Nouns
6. Spiritualized - Songs in A & E
7. TV on the Radio - Dear Science,
8. Deerhunter - Microcastle
9. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
10. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing

11. Beach House - Devotion
12. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig
13. British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
14. The Constantines - Kensington Heights
15. The Walkmen - You & Me

[QUENTIN]

Oracular Spectacular -MGMT
Vampire Weekend -Vampire Weekend
The 3rd World -Immortal Technique
Feed The Animals -Girl Talk
Attack and Release -The Black Keys
Loaded -The Wood Brothers
When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold -Atmosphere
Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust -Sigur Ros
Only By The Night -Kings of Leon
Gossip in The Grain -Ray Lamontagne

Also really enjoyed:
Capes and Umbrellas -Joppa
Elements of Life: Remixed -Tiesto
The Odd Couple -Gnarls Barkley
Nigger -Nas
Consolers of The Lonely -The Raconteurs
A History of Violence -Jedi Mind Tricks
Tha Carter III -Lil Wayne

[speedbeaver]

1. Death Cab for Cutie-Narrow Stairs
2. Kanye West-808's and Heartbreak
3. Guns N' Roses-Chinese Democracy
4. Nine Inch Nails-the Slip
5. Coldplay-Viva La Vida
6. Ray LaMontagne-Gossip in the Grain
7. Nine Inch Nails-Ghosts I-IV
8. Panic! At The Disco- Pretty. Odd.
9. Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend
10. T.I.-Paper Trail

[jaw2929]

I don't know about 10, but here're the albums I've enjoyed this year:

Death Magnetic - Metallica

Rise & Fall, Rage & Grace - Offspring

The New Game (minus 3 songs) - Mudvayne

Ultra Beatdown - DragonForce

The Hunter's Lullaby - Raine Maida


I think that's it.

[echo_bravo]

Havent had a chance to listen to a lot of indie stuff this year so most of my picks are "commerical" but here is my Top Ten...

1. TV on the Radio- Dear, Science
2. The Mars Volta- The Bedlam in Goliath
3. GZA- Pro Tools
4. The Raconteurs- Consolers of the Lonely
5. Beck- Modern Guilt
6. The Black Keys- Attack and Release
7. Gnarles Barkley- The Odd Couple
8. Q-Tip- The Renaissance
9. The Game- LAX
10. The Killers- Day and Age

[Gallafck]

10. You can't spell Slaughter without Laughter -Set your friends on Fire
09. Life is not a waiting room - Senses Failed
08. Paper Trail - T.I.
07. The Quilt - Gym Class Heroes
06. Folie a Dux - Fall Out Boy
05. Agony and Irony - Alkaline Trio
04. The Moment - Framing Hanley
03. A day to remember - A day to remember
02. retox - Turbonegro
01. HALF GATOR HALF HORSE - AN AIRBAG SAVED MY LIFE

[Ayestrain]

My 10 in no preferential order..

1 The Gutter Twins / Saturnalia
2 Retribution Gospel Choir / s/t
3 Magnetic Morning / A.M.
4 Dungen / 4
5 TV on The Radio / Dear Science
6 Torche / Meanderthal
7 Darker My Love / 2
8 Beck / Modern Guilt
9 Nine Inch Nails / The Slip
10 Dead Meadow / Old Growth

[a7xfan]

1. panic at the disco- pretty.odd (massive change from their debut album. fantastic album)
2. folie a deux- fall out boy (a nice suprise, since their last album was shite)
3. day and age- the killers (not their biggest fan, but i like this album alot)


haha my 2000th post! yay. :p

[MistAh BlistAh]

1- Kanye West - 808's and Heartbreak
2- Tech N9ne - Killer
3- T.I. - Paper Trail
4- Kutt Calhoun - Feature Presentation
5- G-Unit - T.O.S. Terminate On Sight
6- Ill Bill - The Hour of Reprisal
7- Ace Hood - Gutta
8- Mr.Hyde - Chronicles of the Beast Man
9- The Game - LAX
10- Akon - Freedom

[Tayzlor]

01. Gang Gang Dance – Saint Dymphna
02. Titus Andronicus – The Airing of Grievances
03. El Guincho – Alegranza!
04. Max Tundra – Parallax Error Beheads You
05. Deerhunter – Microcastle
06. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
07. Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
08. Portishead – Third
09. Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
10. Beach House – Devotion

Special mention: Hot Chip, Vampire Weekend, Atlas Sound, Girl Talk, Bonnie "Prince" Billy

[Jon Lyrik]

TV On The Radio
Calle 13
Mars Volta


Spiritualized
Fireman
Portishead





Nas
Beck
Lil Wayne

Yeah, that's all I've heard that I liked.

[detective mills]

In no order:

Coldplay - Viva La Vida
T.I. - Paper Trail
Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak
The Killers - Day and Age
Metallica - Death Magnetic
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds
Lil' Wayne - Tha Carter 3
Nas - Untitled

That's all I can really think of, although I still need to give Q-Tip a good listen to, and I'd like to listen to Vampire Weekend and Ray Lamontagne's cds before the end of the year.

[LordSimen]

10. Into Eternity - The Incurable Tragedy
9. The Sword - Gods of the Earth
8. Gojira - The Way of the Flesh
7. Meshuggah - ObZen
6. Ayreon - 01011001
5. Unleashed - Hammer Battalion
4. Zimmer's Hole - While You Were Shouting At The Devil...
3. Children of Bodom - Blooddrunk
2. Opeth - Watershed
1. Metallica - Death Magnetic

[dennisv]

Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
Janelle Monae - Metropolis
AC/DC - Black Ice

[moviemaniac8210]

My favs of 2008:

1. Metallica- Death Magnetic
2. 5 Finger Death Punch- The Way Of The Fist
3. Motley Crue- Saints Of Los Angeles
4. Seether- Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces
5. Slipknot- All Hope Is Gone
6. Alice Cooper- Along Came A Spider
7. AC/DC- Black Ice
8. The Foo Fighters- Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
9. The Offspring- Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace
10. Weezer- (The Red Album)

:D

[dennisv]

8. The Foo Fighters- Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace



2007

[HannibalGuy]

Jeremy Wallace - Suicide Suitcase
Hank Williams III - Damn Right, Rebel Proud
R.E.M. - Accelerate
AC/DC - Black Ice
Alice Cooper - Along Came a Spider
Ahmad Jamal - It's Magic
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Dig! Lazarus Dig!
Deerhoof - Offend Maggie

[redorblue01]

10. April - Sun Kil Moon
9. Rising Down - The Roots
8. Dear Science, - TV On The Radio
7. Feed The Animals - Girl Talk
6. The Renaissance - Q-Tip
5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
4. Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
3. Brighter Than Creation's Dark - Drive-By Truckers
2. Third - Portishead
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

[The Postmaster General]

(in no order)

The Last of the Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
Albert Hammond Jr. - ¿Como Te Llama?
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
UNKLE - End Titles...Stories for Film
Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
MGMT - Oracluar Spectacular
Ladytron - Velocifero
The Young Knives - Superabundance


Also of note - Doomtree, Atmosphere, Beach House and The Hold Steady

[JCPhoenix]

I don't really listen to anywhere near as many albums as most schmoes here (and I still have a ton on my computer I haven't listened to yet) but my favorites of the year are (in no order):

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Why? - Alopecia
Drive-by Truckers - Brighter than Creation's Dark
Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
The Killers - Day & Age
Okkervil RIver - The Stand Ins
Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV
M83 - Saturdays = Youth

[Tree0404]

There's just soooo many indie-alternative bands that get love that I just do not "get" for the life of me...

Fleet Foxes, Deerhoof, Vampire Weekend, Of Montreal, Wolf Parade, etc. etc. (and that goes for bands that didn't release albums this year either like Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists, Spoon, and the like).........I found none of their albums interesting in the least.....

My Morning Jacket's new album wasn't even one of their OWN 3 best albums.....

TV on the Radio's album was OK, but it wasn't amazing....


and that's not to say I enjoy mainstream radio and shite like Nickelback, Hinder and the like either.....I just find most of the above predictable and rather boring.....hmmm...to each their own I guess....I've tried time and time again hoping to "get" this new brand of indie rock, but I guess I shall remain lost

[JCPhoenix]

I think this is just one of those things where it's going to be to each their own. I listen to a lot of indie rock and I find most of it musically interesting. But I haven't really warmed to most of the bands you mentioned that I've heard (Fleet Foxes, Of Montreal, The Decemberists, I like Spoon but I don't love them, Sufjan has some great stuff but I'm only so-so as a whole on him, etc).

TV on the Radio's album this year was refreshing, it was more of a pop album than previously but sonically I thought there was a ton going on in each song. I also thought it was one of the best produced albums this year by far.

As for Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer is an album that takes a lot of time to grow, just like their first album. I had Apologies to the Queen Mary on my computer for over a year before songs started to catch for me. At Mount Zoomer didn't catch for me at first - it took a live show where they played every single song from the new album (and every single one was awesome) to change my mind.

I haven't heard My Morning Jacket's new album but I dig Z.

[Sigur509]

The new MMJ album really let me down after how amazing Z was.

[fervors]

http://super45.cl/images/2008/12/bon_iver-for_emma_forever_ago-new.jpg

http://cdn.stereogum.com/img/tv_on_the_radio-dear_science-cover.jpg

http://i30.tinypic.com/nbugqu.png

http://www.independent.co.uk/multimedia/archive/00031/6_31849t.jpg

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j188/sirens_rising/The_Kills-Midnight_Boom-2008.jpg

http://i288.photobucket.com/albums/ll177/chicoflood/NickCaveTheBadSeeds-DigLazarusDig.jpg

http://www.plong.com/MusicCatalog/H/Hercules%20&%20Love%20Affair%20-%20Hercules%20&%20Love%20Affair/Hercules%20&%20Love%20Affair%20-%20Hercules%20&%20Love%20Affair.jpg

http://www.soundstagedirect.com/media/beck_modern_guilt.jpg

http://www.new-noise.net/media/24576bcd/Duke%20Spirit.jpg

http://4.music.bigpond-images.com/images/AlbumCoverArt/286/XXL/Saturdays-Youth.jpg