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2008 has been a pretty good year. Music-wise, its had good moments as well, like honorably mentionable of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping and the over-hyped Oracular Spectacular brought forth by MGMT. I'd even add Cajun Dance Party's The Colourful Life. My picks for the year's best albums:
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Bloc Party – Intimacy
When “Mercury” surfaced as Bloc Party’s newest single during the summer and received mixed reviews, I was excited to hear that they announced a new album. I’m not adding Intimacy because of my bias concerning my fangirlyness for this band. I’ll admit that this isn’t Bloc Party’s best, but it works really well. I still think that this album is exceptional, with some really great songs like “Halo” and “Trojan Horse.” For me, Intimacy shows me what Bloc Party is capable of, and how their willing to change their sound here and there. And I have to add that “Ion Square” is a perfectly captured moment in pop dipped in some electro-rock sound.
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colors
This is fun, and it’s poppy, and it’s dance-worthy, and it’s pretty good, too. Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colors is crafted well and a lot of its material is catchy. The band sounds a lot more confident than their debut, Bright Like Neon Love, but that’s understandable, this record is solid.
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of the Understatement
I think The Last Shadow Puppets were my favorite rising band in 2008. The Hollywood-esque, 60’s retro sounds that Miles Kane and Alex Turner bring forth is impressive. You don’t need to be a fan of either Arctic Monkeys or The Rascals to be obliged to listen to this. This is what you’d call ambitious.
Deerhunter – Microcastles
Microcastles sounds like summer. Deerhunter deserves all praise necessary to offer for this effort. The album is a pleasing winner. I absolutely love “Never Stops.”
Little Joy – Little Joy
Sounding like The Strokes some times and other times, not, Little Joy has ventured on something great. This debut is bold and it’s consistent. The vocals are swell, the melodies are perfect, and the album as a whole is awesome.
Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
I have no idea what’s being sung about when I listen to Sigur Ros, but I still thought this album was remarkable. In some parts, the record is fun and summery, and in others, the songs slow down a bit, but you’re still able to embrace what’s coming at you.
Beck – Modern Guilt
Bloc Party – Intimacy
When “Mercury” surfaced as Bloc Party’s newest single during the summer and received mixed reviews, I was excited to hear that they announced a new album. I’m not adding Intimacy because of my bias concerning my fangirlyness for this band. I’ll admit that this isn’t Bloc Party’s best, but it works really well. I still think that this album is exceptional, with some really great songs like “Halo” and “Trojan Horse.” For me, Intimacy shows me what Bloc Party is capable of, and how their willing to change their sound here and there. And I have to add that “Ion Square” is a perfectly captured moment in pop dipped in some electro-rock sound.
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colors
This is fun, and it’s poppy, and it’s dance-worthy, and it’s pretty good, too. Cut Copy’s In Ghost Colors is crafted well and a lot of its material is catchy. The band sounds a lot more confident than their debut, Bright Like Neon Love, but that’s understandable, this record is solid.
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of the Understatement
I think The Last Shadow Puppets were my favorite rising band in 2008. The Hollywood-esque, 60’s retro sounds that Miles Kane and Alex Turner bring forth is impressive. You don’t need to be a fan of either Arctic Monkeys or The Rascals to be obliged to listen to this. This is what you’d call ambitious.
Deerhunter – Microcastles
Microcastles sounds like summer. Deerhunter deserves all praise necessary to offer for this effort. The album is a pleasing winner. I absolutely love “Never Stops.”
Little Joy – Little Joy
Sounding like The Strokes some times and other times, not, Little Joy has ventured on something great. This debut is bold and it’s consistent. The vocals are swell, the melodies are perfect, and the album as a whole is awesome.
Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Beck – Modern Guilt
I really love Beck. I think he’s one of the greatest artists out there. If not already, Beck is becoming a staple in music. Despite how many times “Girl” might have been played on MTV a few years ago, he’s the guy indie snobs will love listening to, and the guy people who tune into the radio will be able to like because he’s not so hard to listen to. Modern Guilt might be Beck’s easiest album, but it’s just great.
The Dodos – Visiter
“Undeclared” is my favorite song of 2008 because it’s simple folk-pop at its best. This could be said for a lot of Visiter’s content. The Dodo’s have come up with a strong, highly exceptional release. It’s one of those albums that you don’t exactly seek, but comes to you instead. Visiter is easy to like instantly, but with each listen, your ‘like’ turns to ‘love.’ It’s your summertime record; it’s for all those times you’d like to just lie back on the cold, wet grass, and run around in circles under the sprinklers for those hot, lazy days.
Foals – Antidotes
I mentioned this when I first wrote about Foals, but this band is like a combination of Los Campesinos! and Bloc Party. The chanting and energy with seriousness and confidence. Antidotes is surely bold. Foals were over-hyped, but now under-appreciated. This debut is worth the heavy rotation, especially with gems like “Electric Bloom” and “Red Sock Pugie.”
Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
The Dodos – Visiter
“Undeclared” is my favorite song of 2008 because it’s simple folk-pop at its best. This could be said for a lot of Visiter’s content. The Dodo’s have come up with a strong, highly exceptional release. It’s one of those albums that you don’t exactly seek, but comes to you instead. Visiter is easy to like instantly, but with each listen, your ‘like’ turns to ‘love.’ It’s your summertime record; it’s for all those times you’d like to just lie back on the cold, wet grass, and run around in circles under the sprinklers for those hot, lazy days.
Foals – Antidotes
I mentioned this when I first wrote about Foals, but this band is like a combination of Los Campesinos! and Bloc Party. The chanting and energy with seriousness and confidence. Antidotes is surely bold. Foals were over-hyped, but now under-appreciated. This debut is worth the heavy rotation, especially with gems like “Electric Bloom” and “Red Sock Pugie.”
Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
When Elephant Shell first came out, I listened to it over and over again. On my review, I offered Tokyo Police Club a lot of praise, I realize, but I still think even now that they deserve it. I just liked Elephant Shell more and more each time I gave it a listen. Sometimes it was all I wanted to hear. I cannot stop raving about this band, simply put. Sure, their songs are pretty short, but they’re insanely catchy. Tokyo Police Club not only offers you words that might be randomly chosen from a dictionary, but a collection of quality, feel-good songs that you can play when you’re sitting on the bus all alone heading to school, or when you’re heading over to the library, and you can still listen to it and appreciate it when you’re on a train at night and during awkward moments you’d rather avoid. Elephant Shell, on the other hand, is one long moment you shouldn’t miss.
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