Top Albums of 2008: # 1 Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Ago

What can I say about this album that hasn't been said already? If you've listened to it, you know -- if you haven't, quit being a moron and click this handy download. For real.

Honorable Mentions:


Johnson&Jonson -- Blu and Mainframe are Johnson&Jonson
Some of the dopest hip-hop out this year. Kinda like a more hood version of Madvillainy. Blu is emerging as LA's best emcee.


Q-Tip -- The Renaissance
The venerable Q-Tip...This is an amazing solo effort (FINALLY!) that didn't disappoint. He's really evolved as a producer, I think...

Well, that was fun. It's always nice showboating your musical taste. Here's the list again, in bullet form! YEAH!

10. Vivian Girls -- Vivian Girls (HM: Ty Segall, TVOTR)
9. The Dodos -- Visiter (HM: The Gaslight Anthem, O'Death)
8. No Age -- Nouns (HM: KiD CuDi, Born Ruffians)
7. Wale -- The Mixtape About Nothing (HM: Little Joy, Why?)
6. The Hold Steady -- Stay Positive (HM: Bonnie 'Prince' Billy, Kanye West)
5. Beach House -- Devotion (HM: Gang Gang Dance, Centro-Matic/South San Gabriel)
4. Okkervil River -- The Stand Ins (HM: Times New Viking, Abe Vigoda)
3. Blitzen Trapper -- Furr (HM: The Donkeys, Frightened Rabbit)
2. Fleet Foxes -- Fleet Foxes (HM: Santogold, Beck)
1. Bon Iver -- For Emma, Forever Ago (HM: Johnson&Jonson, Q-Tip)

Awesome. Maybe I'll do a Top 25 Songs list or a Best Video list before I leave for Oregon for two weeks...

Top Albums of 2008: #5 Beach House -- Devotion

Beach House -- Devotion

When people get pop music right, it's a beautiful thing. Especially the dreamy, atmospheric brand that the Baltimore duo Beach House dole out with ease on their second album, Devotion. Each track is cohesive and seamless, each chord wonderfully complimentary to the next. It's crafted amazingly -- something that seems effortless but is anything but. Good shit.

Honorable Mentions:

Gang Gang Dance -- Saint Dymphna:
Don't let the ridiculous cover fool you -- the tracks within are experimental-dandies that have a traditional structure somewhere below the surface. At first brash and confusing, it soaks in over time. Completely enjoyable.


Centro-Matic/South San Gabriel -- Dual Hawks
I'm a big Will Johnson fan. Both of his respective projects have been churning out quality guitar-rock tunes for years, and this double-album is no exception. Fantastic tuneage.

Top Albums of 2008: #7 Wale -- The Mixtape About Nothing

Wale -- The Mixtape About Nothing

Does anybody else find it weird that the best hip-hop album of the year wasn't even technically an album? Regardless, Wale is one of the best young emcees in hip-hop right now -- lyrics, flow, style: everything about him is different and amazing. He's certainly the freshest breath of air since Kanye West earned Jay-Z five mics. Hopefully he'll put out an album proper next year -- although, any collection of tracks in any format this stellar would be welcome.

Honorable Mentions





Little Joy -- Little Joy
Little Joy are a rock band from LA -- although I think they relocated from Brazil. They have an amazing pop sensibility and their self-titled record is a really great listen. "Shoulder to Shoulder" is definitely one of the best songs I've heard all year.



Why? -- Alopecia

Unconventional and conventional at the same time -- Why? is the brain child of Jonathon "Yoni" Wolf, a sort-of hip-hop artist with a knack for witty lyrics. Definitely not his strongest effort, but it's certainly enjoyable and worthy of a listen...A listen you'll have to seek on your own, as I couldn't find a download. Lame.

Top Albums of 2008: #8 No Age -- Nouns

No Age -- Nouns

I was hesitant to add this album to my list as I was not entirely convinced that it was truly a great record. But I've listened to it on and on for the past few months and I've come around -- blogs be damned, it's a really good record. Loud and noisy and poppy and awesome. I love the song "Things I Did When I Was Dead".

Honorable Mentions:


Kid Cudi -- A Kid Named Cudi
This oft-brilliant mixtape shows some glaring promise. Cudi's approach is different than any of other emcee out now. Plus he's from Cleveland. No one's from Cleveland...The song he does with Wale is amazing.



Born Ruffians -- Red, Yellow and Blue
These guys are like Tokyo Police Club -- but a shit load better. It's a poppy, dancey effort with some generally great rock tunes. If it didn't taper off towards the end it would have placed very highly in my list...but alas, there's some filler. But it's a debut, so they have a long ways to go.

Top Albums of 2008: #9 The Dodos -- Visiter

This album kinda snuck up on me a few months ago -- I don't know how I went most of the year without hearing it, but I did. It's a really good folk album, that's both experimental and poppy at the same time -- more on the pop side than anything. Some great melodies and some great lyrics here, as well. There's a shit ton to like about this album and about this band. Good, good stuff.

The Dodos -- Visiter

Honorable Mentions:

The Gaslight Anthem -- The '59 Sound
This is an album I actually came across very recently (as in five days ago) but it's a really solid effort. The Gaslight Anthem blend punk, soul, blues and country into a very enjoyable experience. If Bruce Springsteen made an album with Social Distortion, it would be The '59 Sound.

O'Death -- Broken Limbs, Hymns & Skin
This album is dark and noisy and a lot of fun. O'Death are just about the most out-there folk band I've heard in a while, and if you think this album is chaotic, their live show is ten times more than you can imagine. It's hard to imagine songs about murder and deceit being fun, but this is it.

Top Albums of 2008: #10 Vivian Girls -- Vivian Girls

K, here's how we'll do this. I'll post the album I picked for the particular spot(plus a download, just in case you haven't heard it), and also share one or two honorable mentions -- albums I really enjoyed but couldn't bring myself to include in the Top 10. After this list, I'll do films. So coming in at number 10, we have...



Vivan Girls -- Vivian Girls

Vivian Girls are a rad little punk/garage/shoegaze band from Brooklyn who's self-titled album is also their debut. The album is everything you'd expect from a riot grrl inspired outfit, but it's never boring. The low-fi production is very much appealing, as are the melodic tunes: they're short, sorta sweet, and always on point. This might sound cliche, but I see a lot of potential in this act. This is an extremely appealing first album, and they'll probably only get bigger from here.

Key Tracks: "Such a Joke", "Going Insane", and "Tell The World"

Honorable Mentions:

Ty Segall -- Ty Segall
Another self-titled debut from a promising garage act -- this Mr. Segall plays a mean, buzzsaw guitar that, when paired with the fuzzbox vocals, create an altogether raw sound. This album fucking rocks.

TV on the Radio -- Dear Science
Another solid release from the venerable TVOTR. I enjoy this album quite a bit -- not nearly as enough their debut, but I think it tops Cookie Mountain. No matter what, though, an album from these guys will always be worthwhile.

So fucking good...

Right Away, Great Captain! -- "The Eventually Home"

Anni Rossi

Chicago-area singer-songwriter Anni Rossi. She's good -- plays a mean viola. Here's her EP. Download it.



Anni Rossi -- Afton

The Dodos -- Visiter

This shit is rad. I love it when good bands make good music. Download now, fools.

The Dodos -- Visiter [2008]