Top 10 Albums of the Year:
10. Blizten Trapper, Furr: eclectism will get you a long way with me. so will being on sub-pop.
9. The Copyrights, Learn The Hard Way: rock fucking solid pop punk from one of the few guys doing it right, catchy as all hell and better than whatever ambient trash you're dancing to right this second. speaking of which......
8. No Age, Nouns: A few years ago, I wouldn't have liked this. I would have said it was boring, and where was the fun punk guitars? In my Age I have grown to appreciate the fuzzy synth fragments these boners are offering up.
7. Bon Iver, For Emma Forever Ago: one of the many beautiful breakup albums on this list, I'm sure you've heard the story: guy goes into secluded wisconsin cabin to lo fi record a breakup album. it's not breaking any ground here people but it's beautiful and Justin's Neil Young-esque voice is powerful
6. Jay Reatard, Matador Singles 2008: if you haven't yet jumped on the Jay Reatard bandwagon, check him out, he's exquisitely catchy and hilarious and kinda gross.....
5. Okkervil River, The Stand Ins: although clearly inferior to The Stage Names or Black Sheep Boy, OR manage to make an evolved album that goes someplace new but still sounds like OR. seeing a lot of this album performed live didn't hurt either. two thumbs up for energy! will remains one of indie's best poets.
4. Frightened Rabbit, Midnight Organ Fight: another album introduced to me by Mark, I read about these blokes but never heard them until Mark and I's second date. guess they've been selling out joints in nyc, and the brother kite was able to get in on the ground floor with the sweet FR action. the most lyrically perfect relationship album of 2008. the kind of album you want someone to write about you, only slightly better was......
3. The Walkmen, You and Me: I first heard this album with Mark, and I agreed immediately that it was something special. the most romantic record I heard all year, which became a sort of soundtrack to my own love affair (listening to tracks in the parking lot after bob and jackie's wedding, oh c'mon...). fuzzy and crooning and sexy and longing. plus featuring art by one of my fave bloggers, elizabeth of white lightning. +5
2. Fucked Up, The Chemistry of Common Life : political commentary + a bazillion 7inches + surprising influences + contemptous of church + vivian girls guesting + bananas production = best hard release of the year, fools
1. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes : oh hey, we are a sexy group of bearded flannelled dudes who are your age or younger that are going to make a totally sincere album that culls from a variety of amazing influences yet still manages to sound original and refreshing in the cynical musical atmosphere of 2008. fuck off with your pretty music (loves it.) swirly.
there you have it. keep in mind this was an odd list for me because it's the first one in like 4 years there hasn't been something by Tim Kasher on there. I had to choke down vom when I put Help Wanted Nights on my Top 10 last year, purely out of respect. that bearded genius better be cooking up something great to whet my whistle, although I'd put a recording of him burping the ABC's on my list. ah, sexual obsession is a wonderful thing.
Best Album Honorable Mentions aka better luck next year My Morning Jacket:
Born Ruffians, Red, Yellow & Blue
Calexico, Carried to Dust
Portishead, Third
REM, Accelerate
Deerhunter, Microcastle
Why?, Alopecia
Wetnurse, Invisible City
Notwist, Devil, You + Me
Vivian Girls, Vivian Girls
The Dodos, Visiter
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