Top 10 albums of 2008.
After a run of unsaved documents being erased by a constantly updating and restarting computer, and meticulous cuts and saves - I think I'm finally able to deliver a top ten list for the year. There were 26 records that I listened to this year. Some were easy to cut, others not so much.
10. Q Tip - The Renaissance
Q's last solo album was back in 2001. He's back with a new one and it's really good. Polished, and it doesn't lose that old school feel of an old Tribe Called Quest album. Could it have been better if Busta was on it? Nah, not necessary.
09. The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
It's a familiar story. First album great. Second one not so much. Third one brings a new album and a refocused sound. By sticking to such a tired and true formula is probably what put the Stills in at number nine but the songs on "Oceans Will Rise" are a step above its predecessor in every way. Single "Being Here" is the epitome of radio friendly, but tracks like "Snow In California" reassert that this is a band worth listening to. And there's a skull on the cover. That helps sometimes.
08. Ladyhawke - S/T
For some people, the 80's are pretty painful. But others, they like to relive it. This little lady from New Zealand made her own little homage. The sounds on each track are so spot on that it sounds like she had the almanac (Ok, that was sports but stay with me) from Back to the Future 2 and knew exactly how to make them. Listening to this album I started thinking of obscure scenes in movies like the Goonies or Real Genius that you could have effortlessly put one of these new songs. In fact, if you're going to throw an 80's party, just throw this on instead. You might be surprised to see who's impressed. Definitely check out the hooks on "Paris Is Burning."
07. The Roots - Rising Down
Who pissed off the Roots? Their label. Turn up the first track and you'll a hear phone conversation between a label rep explaining why this band isn't moving units and Black Thought who is not trying to hear a word he's saying. There's a lot of yelling and some cussing, and then Questlove gets involved. It's the perfect opener to an album full of vitriol but it's tight. They're very angry. The band is in top form, especially Black Thought who rattles off "75 Bars" with no break, and the most use of the N-word I've heard in some time. Mos Def & Common also turn in some good verses later on.
06. She & Him - Volume One
Few actors make it good into music. That goes for you, Keanu. Zooey Deschanel knew she could sing, but nobody else did - except for M. Ward. They put together an album that works for me as a sendup of 60's and 70's radio; from the harmonies of "This Is Not A Test" to the gentle cover of the Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better." All the lyrics were penned by Zooey herself, and this album more than redeems any involvement in "The Happening" this year.
05. Beck - Modern Guilt
Yeah, it's short. But it's good where it counts - in substance. Beck & Danger Mouse. How could it have gone wrong? Beck has some things to say about the future, but Danger Mouse is determined to go out partying if we're all gonna die. The album leaves you a little confused. Why is the host of this party so sullen? But the music is so good that I really don't want to leave.
04. Black Mountain - In The Future
I recently discovered this band on e-music's top 80 something list for the year. I try to stray far from any kind of prog metal hybrids, but this album is killer. Take the psychedelic sounds that the Anniversary was experimenting with on "Your Majesty" and inject it with a dose of Black Sabbath. Most rocking album of the year. I can't wait to put this on with some quality headphones.
03. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Pure cabin music. Literally. Justin Vernon retreated to a cabin in the woods for the winter with only an acoustic guitar and some recording gear. It's emotional, and every moment is beautiful. His voice is amazingly powerful. Like a mish mash of Jim James & Sam Beam, trading up the reverb for a nice dose of falsetto.
02. Vampire Weekend - S/T
It seemed this was gonna be the record of the year for me early on. From the moment I heard A-Punk on MTV, I was skeptical but the album really appealed to me on the first listen. I think it works because it feels so minimal. The songs pass by fast, and before you know it - the record is over, but there is a replay value inherent that most artists can't deliver. It certainly doesn't hurt to have afrobeat drum rhythms throughout as well. This album, from "Wolcott" to "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" is a snapshot of what college is like up in New England without you. I've never wanted to go back to school so bad after hearing this.
01. Wye Oak - If Children
So what if Andy & Jenn released this album as Monarch last year? I was so far removed from the local scene that I didn't know that Knox Harrington wasn't around anymore. When I read on Pitchfork last year that they had signed to Merge Records and released an album, I got super excited. What they delivered was an album teaming with Yo La Tengo sensibilities & pop stylings of Maria Taylor (I put the first review up on e-music with that comparison - only to have the official reviewer say the same things at a later date) of Azure Ray. Feedback heavily layered. Even after a "Sugarcube"-esque rocker like "Warning", it flows effortlessly into my two favorite tracks on the record: "Regret" and "Archaic Smile", which is a soundscape all to itself. Definitely my record of the year. I'm so proud of my Baltimore kids.
Close but no cigar props to:
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
It's good, but not great. I saw a good portion of these songs live before, and "See Fernando" tends to make me wince pretty hard. "Carpetbaggers" feels like a novelty with the addition of Elvis Costello and a few other tracks are moot. It starts out good, but it loses some fizzle after a while.
Cool Kids - The Bake Sale
They said it themselves - they're the black Beastie Boys. It's a dope album to blast on a ghettoblaster on a hot day. It's taking hip hop back to what it used to be - a few guys and some home made beats. Definite points for originality.
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
With the exception of the line "love is a time machine on the silver screen", the band delivers a very psychedelic album that's adventurous by Oasis standards. Then after the laid back cool of Noel's "Get Off Your High Horse Lady", it falls apart. Unfortunately that's halfway through the album. Would have made an awesome EP though.
Big Disappointment of the Year:
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
"It Still Moves" made Southern Rock cool again. "Z" took us to another world. But this album just doesn't take me anywhere. This was the album they were saying in reviews that would be the one to really break through. My hat is off for trying to go in a different direction, but this album fails for me. Track 1 feels like a bite off of Radiohead's "Airbag", and the rest of the album (except for track 3) feels fairly run of the mill boring. Now, "Evil Urges" (track 3) was the dealbreaker. If you could make it past that song, you might have enjoyed the whole thing. But Jim James channeling Prince and singing about "peanut butter pudding surprise" is not my cup of tea.
Ok that's enough bullshit music journalism for one night. Thanks for reading.
10. Q Tip - The Renaissance
Q's last solo album was back in 2001. He's back with a new one and it's really good. Polished, and it doesn't lose that old school feel of an old Tribe Called Quest album. Could it have been better if Busta was on it? Nah, not necessary.
09. The Stills - Oceans Will Rise
It's a familiar story. First album great. Second one not so much. Third one brings a new album and a refocused sound. By sticking to such a tired and true formula is probably what put the Stills in at number nine but the songs on "Oceans Will Rise" are a step above its predecessor in every way. Single "Being Here" is the epitome of radio friendly, but tracks like "Snow In California" reassert that this is a band worth listening to. And there's a skull on the cover. That helps sometimes.
08. Ladyhawke - S/T
For some people, the 80's are pretty painful. But others, they like to relive it. This little lady from New Zealand made her own little homage. The sounds on each track are so spot on that it sounds like she had the almanac (Ok, that was sports but stay with me) from Back to the Future 2 and knew exactly how to make them. Listening to this album I started thinking of obscure scenes in movies like the Goonies or Real Genius that you could have effortlessly put one of these new songs. In fact, if you're going to throw an 80's party, just throw this on instead. You might be surprised to see who's impressed. Definitely check out the hooks on "Paris Is Burning."
07. The Roots - Rising Down
Who pissed off the Roots? Their label. Turn up the first track and you'll a hear phone conversation between a label rep explaining why this band isn't moving units and Black Thought who is not trying to hear a word he's saying. There's a lot of yelling and some cussing, and then Questlove gets involved. It's the perfect opener to an album full of vitriol but it's tight. They're very angry. The band is in top form, especially Black Thought who rattles off "75 Bars" with no break, and the most use of the N-word I've heard in some time. Mos Def & Common also turn in some good verses later on.
06. She & Him - Volume One
Few actors make it good into music. That goes for you, Keanu. Zooey Deschanel knew she could sing, but nobody else did - except for M. Ward. They put together an album that works for me as a sendup of 60's and 70's radio; from the harmonies of "This Is Not A Test" to the gentle cover of the Beatles' "I Should Have Known Better." All the lyrics were penned by Zooey herself, and this album more than redeems any involvement in "The Happening" this year.
05. Beck - Modern Guilt
Yeah, it's short. But it's good where it counts - in substance. Beck & Danger Mouse. How could it have gone wrong? Beck has some things to say about the future, but Danger Mouse is determined to go out partying if we're all gonna die. The album leaves you a little confused. Why is the host of this party so sullen? But the music is so good that I really don't want to leave.
04. Black Mountain - In The Future
I recently discovered this band on e-music's top 80 something list for the year. I try to stray far from any kind of prog metal hybrids, but this album is killer. Take the psychedelic sounds that the Anniversary was experimenting with on "Your Majesty" and inject it with a dose of Black Sabbath. Most rocking album of the year. I can't wait to put this on with some quality headphones.
03. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Pure cabin music. Literally. Justin Vernon retreated to a cabin in the woods for the winter with only an acoustic guitar and some recording gear. It's emotional, and every moment is beautiful. His voice is amazingly powerful. Like a mish mash of Jim James & Sam Beam, trading up the reverb for a nice dose of falsetto.
02. Vampire Weekend - S/T
It seemed this was gonna be the record of the year for me early on. From the moment I heard A-Punk on MTV, I was skeptical but the album really appealed to me on the first listen. I think it works because it feels so minimal. The songs pass by fast, and before you know it - the record is over, but there is a replay value inherent that most artists can't deliver. It certainly doesn't hurt to have afrobeat drum rhythms throughout as well. This album, from "Wolcott" to "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" is a snapshot of what college is like up in New England without you. I've never wanted to go back to school so bad after hearing this.
01. Wye Oak - If Children
So what if Andy & Jenn released this album as Monarch last year? I was so far removed from the local scene that I didn't know that Knox Harrington wasn't around anymore. When I read on Pitchfork last year that they had signed to Merge Records and released an album, I got super excited. What they delivered was an album teaming with Yo La Tengo sensibilities & pop stylings of Maria Taylor (I put the first review up on e-music with that comparison - only to have the official reviewer say the same things at a later date) of Azure Ray. Feedback heavily layered. Even after a "Sugarcube"-esque rocker like "Warning", it flows effortlessly into my two favorite tracks on the record: "Regret" and "Archaic Smile", which is a soundscape all to itself. Definitely my record of the year. I'm so proud of my Baltimore kids.
Close but no cigar props to:
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
It's good, but not great. I saw a good portion of these songs live before, and "See Fernando" tends to make me wince pretty hard. "Carpetbaggers" feels like a novelty with the addition of Elvis Costello and a few other tracks are moot. It starts out good, but it loses some fizzle after a while.
Cool Kids - The Bake Sale
They said it themselves - they're the black Beastie Boys. It's a dope album to blast on a ghettoblaster on a hot day. It's taking hip hop back to what it used to be - a few guys and some home made beats. Definite points for originality.
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
With the exception of the line "love is a time machine on the silver screen", the band delivers a very psychedelic album that's adventurous by Oasis standards. Then after the laid back cool of Noel's "Get Off Your High Horse Lady", it falls apart. Unfortunately that's halfway through the album. Would have made an awesome EP though.
Big Disappointment of the Year:
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
"It Still Moves" made Southern Rock cool again. "Z" took us to another world. But this album just doesn't take me anywhere. This was the album they were saying in reviews that would be the one to really break through. My hat is off for trying to go in a different direction, but this album fails for me. Track 1 feels like a bite off of Radiohead's "Airbag", and the rest of the album (except for track 3) feels fairly run of the mill boring. Now, "Evil Urges" (track 3) was the dealbreaker. If you could make it past that song, you might have enjoyed the whole thing. But Jim James channeling Prince and singing about "peanut butter pudding surprise" is not my cup of tea.
Ok that's enough bullshit music journalism for one night. Thanks for reading.