Top Albums of 2008: #6 The Hold Steady -- Stay Positive

The Hold Steady -- Stay Positive

When you talk about the progression of a band, from album to album, one must question whether or not they've actually made a progression. When the Hold Steady released Separation Sunday, they earned the label "Best Bar Band in The Country". After the release of Boys and Girls in America and this year's Stay Positive, they’ve become one of the best bands in the country, period.


Honorable Mentions:

Kanye West -- 808's and Heartbreak
I'm a huge, huge Kanye West fan and I really like the way he stepped out here. This is a dark and ambitious pop album that sees the outspoken emcee truly baring it all. It's been a great accompanying album to the new found falling snow here in Chicago.



Bonnie 'Prince' Billy -- Lie Down In The Light
Always the veritable folksman, Will Oldham has crafted a collection of somber, melodic tunes on par with anything else he's released over the years. It's an album for any mood or any situation -- good shit.

I love coke rap...

Ghostface Killah -- Kilo (Remix) feat. Raekwon and Malice of Clipse

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.

Two of my all-time favorites...

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.

I'm so pissed I missed this movies run in Chicago...

I know I'm late, but wow!

Great video.