Post by rachel on Jan 28, 2009 22:57:37 GMT -5
Top 10 Albums of 2008
10. Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads
Must Haves: “Never Miss A Beat”, “Good Days Bad Days”, “Half the Truth”
9. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
Must Haves: “Call It A Ritual”, “Bang Your Drum”, “The Grey Estates”
8. Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
Must Haves: “Partie Traumatic”, “Hurricane Jane”, “I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)”
7. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Must Haves: “Lover’s Day”, “Dancing Choose”. “Halfway Home”
6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Must Haves: “A-Punk”, “Mansard Roof”, “Oxford Comma”
5. Duffy - Rockferry
Hailed as the new Amy Winehouse, minus all the tabloid drama, Duffy hit the states by storm in 2008. Her retro soulful voice won over countless hearts and soon her songs were featured in countless television shows and films. The majority of the songs are slow and reminiscent of 60s Motown with talk of failed relationships and
lovers that all can relate to. “Mercy” provides us with a more upbeat track that you can’t help but sing along to. Her performance at Lollapalooza last year was simple but memorable with the songs broken up with Duffy telling stories and joking with her band. Let’s hope she keeps her endearing innocence and brings us another great album soon.
Must Haves: “Mercy”, “Warwick Avenue”, “Breaking my own Heart”
4. Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
The fourth album release from the band of Tennessee brothers (and cousin) Kings of Leon is more toned down and thoughtful than the previously albums but not to their disadvantage and they still give us plenty of uniquely great vocals and beats that fans have come to recognize andlove. The first single, “Sex on Fire” is still the biggest
hit by far from the album but far from the only gem. Long time fans should be happy to add this album to their collection and hopefully the album also won over lots of new fans as well.
Must Haves: “Sex on Fire”, “Use Somebody”, “Manhattan”
3. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Jenny Lewis, lead singer of Rilo Kiley, gave us her second album away from the band in 2008. In the album, Lewis brings together an assortment of friends and family to complete the sound. Her father
and sister lend their harmonica and vocal skills, respectively, to several tracks, Elvis Costello duets with her on the standout track “Carpetbagger”, and Zooey Deschanel of She & Him provides backup vocals on many of the tracks. The songs that stay closer to the folk-rock that we have come to expect, such as the three songs in
one ode to her father “The Next Messiah”, are definitely a head above some of the slower tracks, but this still makes it as one of the best of the year.
Must Haves: “Acid Tongue”, “Carpetbagger”, “The Next Messiah”
2. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
The eagerliy awaited seventh album from the indie music gods Death Cab for Cutie did not disappoint. It seems that album after album Ben Gibbard can do no wrong. The album stays mostly true
to the bands sound that keeps fans coming back for more along with the beautifully written lyrics that can always be counted on. The eight and a half minute track “I Will Possess Your Heart” says that
the potential of you and me is like “a book elegantly bound/ but in a language you can’t read just yet.” This album proves that no matter how good and well-recieved their previous albums have been, they have
potential that still has not been reached.
Must Haves: “I Will Possess Your Heart”, “You can Do Better Than Me”, “Grapevine Fires”
1. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
One of the breakout groups of 2008, Oracular Spectacular makes it to the top of my list and appears on countless others. MGMT (”the management”) is Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden based out of Brooklyn, NY, and their debut full-length album is practically flawless. With a sound that is frecquently psychedlic-rock and at times hints at blues and disco, the album is addictive and can be played from beginning to end and over and over.
Must Haves: “Time to Pretend”, “Weekend Wars”, “Love Always Remains”
Other Notable Albums:
Nada Surf - Lucky
The Black Keys - Attack and Release
Bloc Party - Intimacy
Guilty Pleasure of the Year:
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing
(once it stops annoying you, you love it)
I know Meghan thinks it’s awful that I left Coldplay and Jack’s Mannequin off, but while they were both good albums, they didn’t make me want to listen to them over and over again. Disagree? Did I leave off your favourite albums too? Feel free to comment.
10. Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads
Must Haves: “Never Miss A Beat”, “Good Days Bad Days”, “Half the Truth”
9. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
Must Haves: “Call It A Ritual”, “Bang Your Drum”, “The Grey Estates”
8. Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
Must Haves: “Partie Traumatic”, “Hurricane Jane”, “I’ve Underestimated My Charm (Again)”
7. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Must Haves: “Lover’s Day”, “Dancing Choose”. “Halfway Home”
6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Must Haves: “A-Punk”, “Mansard Roof”, “Oxford Comma”
5. Duffy - Rockferry
Hailed as the new Amy Winehouse, minus all the tabloid drama, Duffy hit the states by storm in 2008. Her retro soulful voice won over countless hearts and soon her songs were featured in countless television shows and films. The majority of the songs are slow and reminiscent of 60s Motown with talk of failed relationships and
lovers that all can relate to. “Mercy” provides us with a more upbeat track that you can’t help but sing along to. Her performance at Lollapalooza last year was simple but memorable with the songs broken up with Duffy telling stories and joking with her band. Let’s hope she keeps her endearing innocence and brings us another great album soon.
Must Haves: “Mercy”, “Warwick Avenue”, “Breaking my own Heart”
4. Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
The fourth album release from the band of Tennessee brothers (and cousin) Kings of Leon is more toned down and thoughtful than the previously albums but not to their disadvantage and they still give us plenty of uniquely great vocals and beats that fans have come to recognize andlove. The first single, “Sex on Fire” is still the biggest
hit by far from the album but far from the only gem. Long time fans should be happy to add this album to their collection and hopefully the album also won over lots of new fans as well.
Must Haves: “Sex on Fire”, “Use Somebody”, “Manhattan”
3. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Jenny Lewis, lead singer of Rilo Kiley, gave us her second album away from the band in 2008. In the album, Lewis brings together an assortment of friends and family to complete the sound. Her father
and sister lend their harmonica and vocal skills, respectively, to several tracks, Elvis Costello duets with her on the standout track “Carpetbagger”, and Zooey Deschanel of She & Him provides backup vocals on many of the tracks. The songs that stay closer to the folk-rock that we have come to expect, such as the three songs in
one ode to her father “The Next Messiah”, are definitely a head above some of the slower tracks, but this still makes it as one of the best of the year.
Must Haves: “Acid Tongue”, “Carpetbagger”, “The Next Messiah”
2. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
The eagerliy awaited seventh album from the indie music gods Death Cab for Cutie did not disappoint. It seems that album after album Ben Gibbard can do no wrong. The album stays mostly true
to the bands sound that keeps fans coming back for more along with the beautifully written lyrics that can always be counted on. The eight and a half minute track “I Will Possess Your Heart” says that
the potential of you and me is like “a book elegantly bound/ but in a language you can’t read just yet.” This album proves that no matter how good and well-recieved their previous albums have been, they have
potential that still has not been reached.
Must Haves: “I Will Possess Your Heart”, “You can Do Better Than Me”, “Grapevine Fires”
1. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
One of the breakout groups of 2008, Oracular Spectacular makes it to the top of my list and appears on countless others. MGMT (”the management”) is Ben Goldwasser and Andrew VanWyngarden based out of Brooklyn, NY, and their debut full-length album is practically flawless. With a sound that is frecquently psychedlic-rock and at times hints at blues and disco, the album is addictive and can be played from beginning to end and over and over.
Must Haves: “Time to Pretend”, “Weekend Wars”, “Love Always Remains”
Other Notable Albums:
Nada Surf - Lucky
The Black Keys - Attack and Release
Bloc Party - Intimacy
Guilty Pleasure of the Year:
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing
(once it stops annoying you, you love it)
I know Meghan thinks it’s awful that I left Coldplay and Jack’s Mannequin off, but while they were both good albums, they didn’t make me want to listen to them over and over again. Disagree? Did I leave off your favourite albums too? Feel free to comment.