So far, it’s a toss-up between M83’s – “Saturday = Youth” & Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – “Cardinoligy”.
M83 takes the 80’s revival sound and makes it sound soooo fresh.
The Cardinals follow up last years quiet, low key “Easy Tiger” with a full on rock album with a tinge of country.
I would highly recommend both.
school of seven bells/“alpinisims”…a masterpiece
Zach Hill’s “Astrological Straits.”
Los Campesinos! – Hold on now, youngster
I agree with Liam, that Saturday = Youth is awesome and would certainly make my top ten list.
The Melvins – Nude in Boots
mgmt!
and los campesinos
and i do love some lil wayne.
This has been a good year for new music, in spite of all the industry panic over cd sales, etc.
TV on the Radio’s “Dear Science” is just phenomenal. I’ve been cool to them for a long time, but I instantly fell in love with this one. The new Jenny Lewis, “Acid Tongue,” is as good as pop music got for me this year. I especially loved the title track and “Carpetbaggers” with Elvis Costello. GZA’s “Pro Tools” was every bit the equal of “Liquid Swords,” I adored Dylan’s latest Bootleg Series release, and my favorite roots rock record of the year was “Brighter Than Creation’s Dark” by the Drive-By Truckers. I suspect that I’ll be living with all these records for years to come.
Might be a little too soon, but I’m loving Kanye’s “808’s And Heartbreak.” “Dear Science” was great, as was Girl Talk’s “Feed The Animals,” which I have to love because we share a city.
Biggest disappointment I still loved – My Morning Jacket “Evil Urges.” Not quite the follow up to “Z” I was expecting, but I still gave it several spins.
Every year I have a weird custom of listing either my top 10 or my top 20 favorite records. It gives me a chance to be selective and to rule out the records that haven’t truly spoken to me in the end.
This year I’ll do the same but with a little twist. I’ll be listing ONLY the ones that I actually bought and that were considered a new release within’ the year. I mean if I bought them and kept them then they are simply my favorites!
Those who truly know me will notice how I haven’t bought that many CDs this time around. Normally I’d have a list of at least 60-80 records to choose from. Yes, this year it’s only been 30. Oh how life changes no? ;)
Here’s my list for 2008 in no order of preference:
1) Seventh Tree by Goldfrapp
2) Hurricane by Grace Jones
3) Alegranza by El Guincho
4) Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends by Coldplay
5) Soul by Seal
6) Hard Candy by Madonna
7) Discipline by Janet Jackson
8) Lunada by Thalia
9) Hellville De Luxe by Bunbury
10) Who Killed Amanda Palmer by Amanda Palmer
11) Detours by Sheryl Crow
12) Rio by Aterciopelados
13) Amores Dificiles by Cabas
14) Pebble To A Pearl by Nikka Costa
15) Pequeno Pionero by M. (I know! I know! I’m so vain! BUT I REALLY like this one so it goes on my list HAHA!)
16) Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart by Rachael Yamagata
17) Snowflake Midnight by Mercury Rev
18) We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things by Jason Mraz
19) Guilty Guilty Guilty by Diamanda Galas
20) The Holy Pictures by David Holmes
21) Mothertongue by Nico Muhly
22) Knowle West Boy by Tricky
23) Jim by Jamie Lidell
24) As Onasis 1 & 2 by Richard Swift
25) Third by Portishead
26) Happy In Galoshes by Scott Weiland
27) Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie
28) En Una Noche Tan Linda Como Esta by Los Amigos Invisibles
29) Radio Retaliation by Thievery Corporation
30) Tarantula by Monica Naranjo
AND
Who Killed Harry Houdini? by I’m From Barcelona
AND…
The Flaming Lips’ Christmas On Mars!
AND!!!
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah Part One
Ayreon – 01011001
Tyr – Land
Cynic – Traced in Air
KORPIKLAANI – Korven Kuningas
Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God
I was let down by the new Iced Earth but greatfull for the return of Barlow. I also think that Ben Folds new album while OK does not hold up as well as his back catolog.
“The Odd Couple” by Gnarles Barkley; “Death Magnetic” by Metallica; “Parallel Play” by Sloan; and “GNV, FLA” by Less Than Jake, just to name a few personal favorites.
Wild Beasts- Limbo Panto
Although Girl Talk’s Feed the Animals and Fleet Foxes s/t are also very very good.
Portishead – Third
Scary, scary, scary. Different enough from their previous efforts to make it worth the wait.
The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath
80 straight minutes of throat-punching prog-ness.
Opeth – Watershed
Quite possibly the best example of the whole game Opeth has offer.
Renaissance by Q-Tip is a fun one. Lately, my tastes have traveled backward in time…
Demarest, I’m ashamed I forgot about GZA’s new one! As good as Liquid Swords?! Must d/l now…
Amelia – I don’t think you’ll regret downloading the new GZA. Good to see another Wu Tang fan on the board! Also, I’m glad to read that you liked the new Q-Tip record. The Low End Theory is one of my all time favorites, but I’ve been shameful with keeping up with his solo material. Shameful!
1). Deerhunter- Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
2). Department of Eagles- In Ear Park
Here are some of the records from 2008 that I think are tops:
Fleet Foxes- self-titled
Portishead – Third
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins
Shearwater – Rook
Why? – Alopecia
The Hold Stead – Stay Positive
Bob Dylan – Telltale Signs
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
Jenny Lewis “Acid Tongue”
Emiliana Torrini “Me and Armini”
Damn! I forgot to mention The Stand-Ins! I love that record.
Sigur Ros is the absolute master of my IPod. Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust is my choice for top album of the year.
Exiting Arm by Subtle was their best effort yet, in my opinion. Pocahaunted’s new LP is fantastic (if you’re into drone music), and Wavves’ new cassette is pure fun.
Torche- “Meanderthal”
Fleet Foxes
Beach House
Deerhunter
Dr Dog
Okkervil River
I really want to check out that wild beast
Girl Talk- Feed The Animals
Dear and The Headlights- Drunk Like Bible Times
Why?- Alopecia
Wale- Mixtape About Nothing
Girl Talk isn’t bad, but I think it is the zenith of overrated music.
Get Better – Lemuria
Civil War – Dillinger Four
Asking For Flowers – Kathleen Edwards
Stay Positive – Hold Steady (their worst album, but “Celebrated Summer” is one of their best songs)
Brighter Than Creation’s Dark – Drive-By Truckers
Fearless – Taylor Swift
We Have You Surrounded – Dirtbombs
Vivian Girls – Vivian Girls
Real Animal – Alejandro Escovedo
I dunno. Those come to mind. I don’t think this was a great year for music, though. Not like last year. Same with movies for that matter.
Very nice job everyone! Thanks for responding! Now if my math is correct…The Fleet Foxes self titled album has recieved the most votes thus far. I wonder if another challenger will rise up?
Atmosphere – When Life Gives You Lemons, Paint That Shit Gold
Beach House – Devotion
Blueprint – Blueprint vs. Funkadelic
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
Brendan Canning – Something for All of Us…
Cat Power – Jukebox
Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
Diplo & Santogold – Top Ranking
DJ Shadow & Cut Chemist – The Hard Sell
Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
The Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Ahead
K-The-I??? – Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
The Mars Volta – The Bedlam in Goliath
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
M.I.A. – Paper Planes (Homeland Security Remixes)
Nas – Untitled
Portishead – Third
Santogold – Santogold
Sia – Some People Have Real Problems (though I had a leak since 2007, it officially came out in 2008)
Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
A Silver Mt. Zion – 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons
Tobacco – Fucked Up Friends
Van She – V
Kijen
Music and movie go together and much in the way many have their favorites of films released this year, there are many great albums that have also came out in the last 365(+/-). Here are five albums that I really liked this year (thus far)
Opeth “Watershed” = great metal record from the guys that make exciting dour metal both accessible for fans and new listeners
NAS “Untitled” = social statements in rap music? The whole album is a exam on one very bad word and American culture itself as well.
In Flames “Sense of Purpose” = fast and loud, this record is only added to by the excellent making of DVD that shipped along with it.
Brian Wilson “That Lucky Old Sun” = what? He actually puts out music and you don’t have to wait thirty years? Wow on both accounts.
Rihanna “Good Girl Gone Bad” = yes, pop/r&b is addictive and this is full of drill your teeth goodness.