Top Albums of 2008
January 9, 2009
2008 was a bit underwhelming for music. A number of solid albums were released, but none that really caught my ear. It was a struggle putting together this list because I generally feel indifferent to most of the music I heard from the year. Overall it felt like the albums were either consistently good (not great) or had a few great songs along with a few not-so-great songs. So, with that onward we go…
- No. 10
- The Slip
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Maybe it's the freedom of not being on a label, or maybe not, but this is the first Nine Inch Nails album I've enjoyed in quite a while (probably the best since 1994's The Downward Spiral). Nothing ground breaking, but solid throughout.
Highlights: Demon Seed, 1,000,000, Lights In the Sky
- No. 9
- Oracular Spectacular
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It took a while for me to warm up to MGMT, but it was so nice to hear those thick , fuzzy guitars that I kept coming back for more. Some parts sound a bit over-the-top and potentially ridiculous, but as the songs come together everything seems to fit.
Highlights: Time To Pretend, The Youth, Electric Feel
- No. 8
- Microcastle
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Deerhunter provides a very lo-fi rock feel that is very reminiscent of Sonic Youth. As such, it's taken a number of listens for the music to grow on me. The layers of guitar often provide a slow build to a climax that'll catch you off guard.
Highlights: Nothing Ever Happened, Agoraphobia, Twilight at Carbon Lake
- No. 7
- Only By the Night
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This feels like a bit of a step backwards from their last effort, Because of the Times. Only By the Night is a decent album with few low points and, disappointingly, no real high points.
Highlights: Closer, Cold Desert, Sex On Fire
- No. 6
- Modern Guilt
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I was pleasantly surprised by Modern Guilt. Nothing on it is ground breaking for Beck, but there's not a bad song in the bunch. What you'll find here is more mature songwriting and more restrained production. The music benefits from both.
Highlights: Chemtrails, Walls, Modern Guilt
- No. 5
- Rockferry
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A 60's soul album with a few really great songs and not a single bad one. The album features strong songwriting, production, and arrangement, but what really makes this album is Duffy's singing.
Highlights: Rockferry, Mercy, Distant Dreamer
- No. 4
- Attack & Release
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Here The Black Keys add a touch of the bayou into their blues/rock formula. Attack & Release lacks some of the consistency found on all of their previous efforts, but it's nice to hear a slight shift in direction.
Highlights: Lies, All You Ever Wanted, Psychotic Girl
- No. 3
- Third
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After a decade of waiting, Portishead returns with an album that sounds nothing like their previous albums (outside of Beth Gibbons' trademark vocals). They did a great job of making good music that sounds distinctly Portishead while achieving relevance in 2008.
Highlights: The Rip, We Carry On, Silence
- No. 2
- In Ear Park
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A nice collection of concise songs oozing with subtlety. Many of the songs seem to find their way to an unexpected peak. In Ear Park is a deep album that takes a number of listens before it fully reveals itself.
Highlights: In Ear Park, No One Does It Like You, Floating on the Lehigh
- No. 1
- For Emma, Forever Ago
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Simple music. Simple production. Simply beautiful.
Highlights: Flume, re: stacks, Skinny Love
Posted at 11:39pm in Favorites, Music
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