Overdue - My Best Albums of 2008
Wednesday, January 7, 2009 18:132008 was in interesting music year for me. I had less time than ever to discover new music (which has lead to a lot of familiar names on my best of list).
The year for me featured a lot of new albums from old (as well as recent) favorites. In addition to those in my list, solid return albums that I enjoyed included REM - Accelerate, Weezer (Red Album), and Coldplay - Viva La Vida. The year also saw a number of acclaimed albums that I just couldn’t get in to (Girl Talk, Dr. Dog, Blitzen Trapper).
Anyway, here’s where I landed…
10. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
No, this isn’t here to prove that I do like some lighter stuff. It’s an excellent album from an extremely talented group…even if they fall outside of my usual tastes. And by the way, their performance at The Terrace this summer was fantastic.
9. Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
It isn’t quite up to the high standard set by “Because of the Times”, but it is a solid follow-up from a group that has become one of my favorites.
8. The Toadies - No Deliverance
Speaking of favorites, one of my high school favorites is back! Nostalgia contributed, but I thoroughly enjoyed this album. And to see them close-up at The Annex the night before Lollapalooza (along with The Whigs) was an unbelievable start to 72 hours of nearly non-stop shows.
7. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
This band doesn’t seem to get much love. Perhaps it’s the “supergroup” label…with some folks still preferring the original works of The White Stripes, The Greenhornes, and Brendan Benson solo. However, I have thoroughly enjoyed two albums and two Lollapalooza performance from these guys.
6. Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha
Maybe I’m missing it, but why is nobody else talking about this album? OK, maybe it doesn’t have anything musically “revolutionary”…but this is just an all-around “fun” album.
5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Now well-known, catch stuff. And how could the whitest band on the planet (hilarious) not make my list?
4. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Just another all-around good album. If you like Death Cab, you like this album.
3. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
I am staying positive…that these guys are still the best live band on the planet! Ok…sorry about that. Stay Positive contains more trademark Hold Steady songs about partying, drugs, and girls. It’s such a simple recipe, but they’ve absolutely mastered it. Like The Kings of Leon effort, The Hold Steady wasn’t quite able to live up to the extremely high standard set by the last album (Boys and Girls in America), but this is still one of my favs of the year.
2. The Whigs - Mission Control
I realize that these guys have been around a little bit, but The Whigs were definitely MY new band of the year. After seeing them live a couple times (and never hearing the album), I found myself humming songs like “Hot Bed,” “Right Hand on My Heart,” and “Mission Control.” The album still grows on me each time I listen to it.
1. The Black Keys - Attack & Release
If The Hold Steady weren’t around, these guys would certainly be my favorite live band. No doubt. They were fantastic at Lollapalooza again this year, and they were the definitely the highlight of Madison’s SoCo Music Experience. Regarding their albums, I’ve enjoyed nearly all of their stuff. I didn’t really think they’d ever top Thickfreakness (my previous fav), but Attack & Release has done just that.
