top 10 list of glory
now that the most wretched year in the history of years is officially over, i present to you my top 10 albums of 2008.
1. Fleet Foxes // S/T
this is one of the greatest albums i've heard in a while. it has a rustic feel that's not easy to achieve in this fast paced world. it's even more wonderful on vinyl.
favorite track: "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"
2. Shugo Tokumaru // Exit
you can't go wrong with japanese indie twee. you just can't.
favorite track: "Button"
3. Bon Iver // For Emma, Forever Ago
Justin Vernon is the modern Henry David Thoreau. he escapes to northern Wisconsin for a while, living in a cabin and taking in nature, which eventually yields this raw sounding album. also great on vinyl.
favorite track: "Flume"
4. Sigur Rós // með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
yeah, this isn't the album cover. Photobucket has deemed it "too inappropriate" since it has naked man butt on it. jerks.
other Sigur Rós albums are more night time-esque, soothe you to sleep type affairs. this album gives you more a day time feel. as always, it's like sex for your ears.
favorite track: "Góðan daginn"
5. M83 // Saturdays = Youth
in this album, M83 does the 80s. brilliant? absolutely.
favorite track: "You, Appearing"
6. Jenny Lewis // Acid Tongue
i think i like this album so much because i'm just relieved that it's good. after the wreck that was Under the Blacklight, i had my doubts, but J Lew pulled it off. the entire album uses different music styles, ranging from alternative country to lounge to bluegrass, yet it all remains cohesive. that's not easy to pull off.
seeing her live a few months ago definitely bumps this album up a few places. i'm biased and i don't give a fuck. i love her.
favorite track: "The Next Messiah"
7. Fujiya & Miyagi // Lightbulbs
this album is chicka-chicka-chicka-chicka-uhhhhhh levels of great.
favorite track: "Pussyfooting"
8. Beach House // Devotion
if you're ever galavanting around in a field catching fireflies under a starry night sky, this would be the album playing in the background. it's just lovely.
favorite track: "Gila"
9. Mirah // The Old Days Feeling
this album is mostly (if not all) old material. and i'm ok with that. Mirah is wonderful and therefore can put out a new album and have it all be old jams.
favorite track: "Don't!"
10. Rupa & the April Fishes // Extraordinary Rendition
french gypsyness is always great. thank you Barnes and Noble for making me listen to this for like 2 months.
favorite track: "Yaad"
Honorable Mentions (no particular order)
Vampire Weekend // S/T
i've had this CD since last year, so i don't really considerate a 2008 release. their recent overexposure is kind of a turn off, but whatever. this is a great album. if i ever own some sort of boating device someday, this is what will be playing as i cruise around on the open seas.
favorite track: "Boston"
Juno Soundtrack
so the movie got raped by the public and i refuse to own it unless i find it in a $5 DVD bargain bin. despite that, it has an amazing soundtrack, and i'm happy that Kimya Dawson finally got the recognition she deserves, even if it means watching Barbara Walters rocking out to "Anyone But You."
favorite track: impossible. it's a compilation.
MGMT // Oracular Spectacular
this was intriguing on the first few listens. it's still fun in small doses, but for the most part i'm done with this album.
favorite track: "Time to Pretend"
Dr. Dog // Fate
favorite track: "The Old Days"
Miniature Tigers // Tell it to the Volcano
it's nothing spectacular. it's just fun.
favorite track: "Hot Venom"
Bloc Party // Intimacy
favorite track: "Signs"
Tilly and the Wall // O
i didn't like this album at first, but it grew on me.
the album art is amazing. it's just black with a circle (or O) cut out in the middle, and filling the circle is a different piece of art from random artists, ranging from sketches to photography. every CD is unique. pretty cool.
favorite track: "Cacophony"
Conor Oberst // S/T
i wasn't going to put this in here, but it needs some love. everyone is completely snubbing it; Under the Radar even left it out of their top 50 of 2008. seriously, Coldplay comes in at #27 and Conor Oberst doesn't even make the list? come the fuck on.
as far as the album goes, it seems that Conor has completely transformed into Bob Dylan. good for him i guess. it's lacking lyrically and quality wise. however, it's the perfect next step from Casadega and just makes sense. i'm curious to see what will follow.
favorite track: "Danny Callahan"
if you're interested in any of these, let me know and i'll upload them for you.
1. Fleet Foxes // S/T
this is one of the greatest albums i've heard in a while. it has a rustic feel that's not easy to achieve in this fast paced world. it's even more wonderful on vinyl.
favorite track: "Tiger Mountain Peasant Song"
2. Shugo Tokumaru // Exit
you can't go wrong with japanese indie twee. you just can't.
favorite track: "Button"
3. Bon Iver // For Emma, Forever Ago
Justin Vernon is the modern Henry David Thoreau. he escapes to northern Wisconsin for a while, living in a cabin and taking in nature, which eventually yields this raw sounding album. also great on vinyl.
favorite track: "Flume"
4. Sigur Rós // með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
yeah, this isn't the album cover. Photobucket has deemed it "too inappropriate" since it has naked man butt on it. jerks.
other Sigur Rós albums are more night time-esque, soothe you to sleep type affairs. this album gives you more a day time feel. as always, it's like sex for your ears.
favorite track: "Góðan daginn"
5. M83 // Saturdays = Youth
in this album, M83 does the 80s. brilliant? absolutely.
favorite track: "You, Appearing"
6. Jenny Lewis // Acid Tongue
i think i like this album so much because i'm just relieved that it's good. after the wreck that was Under the Blacklight, i had my doubts, but J Lew pulled it off. the entire album uses different music styles, ranging from alternative country to lounge to bluegrass, yet it all remains cohesive. that's not easy to pull off.
seeing her live a few months ago definitely bumps this album up a few places. i'm biased and i don't give a fuck. i love her.
favorite track: "The Next Messiah"
7. Fujiya & Miyagi // Lightbulbs
this album is chicka-chicka-chicka-chicka-uhhhhhh levels of great.
favorite track: "Pussyfooting"
8. Beach House // Devotion
if you're ever galavanting around in a field catching fireflies under a starry night sky, this would be the album playing in the background. it's just lovely.
favorite track: "Gila"
9. Mirah // The Old Days Feeling
this album is mostly (if not all) old material. and i'm ok with that. Mirah is wonderful and therefore can put out a new album and have it all be old jams.
favorite track: "Don't!"
10. Rupa & the April Fishes // Extraordinary Rendition
french gypsyness is always great. thank you Barnes and Noble for making me listen to this for like 2 months.
favorite track: "Yaad"
Honorable Mentions (no particular order)
Vampire Weekend // S/T
i've had this CD since last year, so i don't really considerate a 2008 release. their recent overexposure is kind of a turn off, but whatever. this is a great album. if i ever own some sort of boating device someday, this is what will be playing as i cruise around on the open seas.
favorite track: "Boston"
Juno Soundtrack
so the movie got raped by the public and i refuse to own it unless i find it in a $5 DVD bargain bin. despite that, it has an amazing soundtrack, and i'm happy that Kimya Dawson finally got the recognition she deserves, even if it means watching Barbara Walters rocking out to "Anyone But You."
favorite track: impossible. it's a compilation.
MGMT // Oracular Spectacular
this was intriguing on the first few listens. it's still fun in small doses, but for the most part i'm done with this album.
favorite track: "Time to Pretend"
Dr. Dog // Fate
favorite track: "The Old Days"
Miniature Tigers // Tell it to the Volcano
it's nothing spectacular. it's just fun.
favorite track: "Hot Venom"
Bloc Party // Intimacy
favorite track: "Signs"
Tilly and the Wall // O
i didn't like this album at first, but it grew on me.
the album art is amazing. it's just black with a circle (or O) cut out in the middle, and filling the circle is a different piece of art from random artists, ranging from sketches to photography. every CD is unique. pretty cool.
favorite track: "Cacophony"
Conor Oberst // S/T
i wasn't going to put this in here, but it needs some love. everyone is completely snubbing it; Under the Radar even left it out of their top 50 of 2008. seriously, Coldplay comes in at #27 and Conor Oberst doesn't even make the list? come the fuck on.
as far as the album goes, it seems that Conor has completely transformed into Bob Dylan. good for him i guess. it's lacking lyrically and quality wise. however, it's the perfect next step from Casadega and just makes sense. i'm curious to see what will follow.
favorite track: "Danny Callahan"
if you're interested in any of these, let me know and i'll upload them for you.