10 Favorite Albums of 2008

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Posted In: Music

Kay Kay and His Weathered UndergroundIts time for those year-end-lists. The only one I ever end up reading is the top music. 2008 had some interesting developments in music. For example, NIN, among others, continued to toy with a new model for distribution of music. All the while I, and many of my friends, have stopped buying CDs and have gotten far too interested in finding albums on vinyl. Looking back on 2008, I have to say the music industry still does not understand their audience (probably will not say this until American Idol does not exist), but plenty of great music graced my ear drums nonetheless. Here is some of the music that has helped me through hours of coding at work and running at the gym.

  1. Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground – Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground – February 19, 2008
  2. Q-Tip – the Renaissance – November 4, 2008
  3. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes – June 3, 2008
  4. Mates of State – Re-Arrange Us – May 20, 2008
  5. Islands – Arm’s Way – May 20, 2008
  6. Al Green – Lay It Down – May 27, 2008
  7. 31knots – Worried Well – August 19, 2008
  8. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night – September 23, 2008
  9. The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath – January 29, 2008
  10. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular – January 22, 2008

Honorable Mention

  1. Man Man – Rabbit Habits – April 8, 2008
  2. Apollo Sunshine – Shall Noise Upon – August 5, 2008
  3. Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping – October 21, 2008

More Sources:

Although Pitchfork and I seldom agree, here is what they enjoyed this year: The 50 Best Albums of 2008 according to Pitchfork.
Rolling Stone certainly has the time each year to let you know what they got down to: The 50 Best Albums of 2008 as told by Rolling Stone

What Shook Your Booty In 2008?

I am sure I missed a few albums this year, but I am always interested in what my friends are listening to. Enter your top ten, fifteen, whatever below. And, if you have another source to list, link that as well. Thanks.


  • 1. Beach House – Devotion
    2. Islands – Arm’s Way
    3. Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
    4. The Walkmen – You & Me
    5. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
    6. Vampire Weekend – Self Titled
    7. Fleet Foxes – Self Titled
    8. This Will Destroy You – Self Titled
    9. Conor Oberst – Self Titled
    10. Human Highway – Moody Motorcycle

  • You’re only getting 8 out of me.

    1. Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos – Not Animal
    2. Beck – Modern Guilt
    3. Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins
    4. Neva Dinova – You May Already Be Dreaming
    5. Connor Oberst – Self Titled
    6. Fleet Foxes – Self Titled
    7. Q-Tip – The Rennaisance
    8. She & Him – Volume 1

  • Ah hell, I’ll conform…

    9. Apollo Sunshine – Shall Noise Upon
    10. Margot & the Nuclear So and Sos – Animal

  • Here’s mine. If you haven’t already heard them, I think you’d dig White Denim and Chairlift.

    1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
    2. Hot Chip – Made in the Dark
    3. TV on the radio – Dear Science
    4. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
    5. White Denim – Workout holiday
    6. Man Man – Rabbit Habbits
    7. Chairlift – Does you inspire you
    8. Beck – Modern Guilt
    9. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
    10. Of montreal – skeletal lamping
    11. Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line
    12. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
    13. Islands – Arm’s Way
    14. Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight
    15. Stars – Sad Robots

    This is good too:
    http://austinist.com/2008/12/23/our_year_in_listening_austinists_to.php

  • Well, I don’t think I can drum up 10 but

    Deerhoof – Offend Maggie
    Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Lie Down in the Light
    Man Man – Rabbit Habbits
    MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
    Islands – Arm’s Way
    Human Highway – Moody Motorcycle
    Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
    Apollo Sunshine – Shall Noise Upon
    Beach House – Devotion

    I do have a few extra awards to hand out:

    Worst Album of the Year I’ve heard: Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

    Worst Album of the Year I will never hear (hopefully): Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak

    Worst Album Title of the Year: Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak

    Worst ‘Can’t wear skinny jeans cuz my nots don’t fit’ : Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak

    Worst Attempt at Being a Credible Musician: Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreak

    Best Album of the Year that sounds like an instructional metal drum demo that might contain other instruments if you listen hard enough: The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath

    Best Album of the Year by snot nosed ex-emocore kids who finally got to listening to their parents’ Beatles collection last year: Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

    Hardest Color of Vinyl to Make: Kay Kay and his Weathered Underground

    I really would like to put Brian Wilson – That Lucky Old Sun on here but since I’ve only played it once I think I will pass.

  • Sam secretly listens to my Kay Kay vinyl when I’m not home. I guess I’ll get the live DVD and leave it around the house for his secret viewing as well.

  • 10. Hot Chip – Made in the Dark
    9. Beach House – Devotion
    8. Old Crow Medicine Show – Tennessee Pusher
    7. M83 – Saturdays=Youth
    6. Magnetic Fields – Distortion
    5. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down – We Brave Bee Stings and All
    4. The Slackers – Self Medication
    3. City and Colour – Bring Me Your Love
    2. Wakey!Wakey! – Silent as a Movie
    1. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

    Honorable Mention:
    Fleet Foxes – Self-Titled
    Noah and the Whale – Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down
    The Presets – Apocalypso

  • 1. As I Am – Alicia Keys
    2. Noel – Josh Groban
    3. Tha Carter III – Lil Wayne
    4. Long Road Out of Eden – Eagles
    5. S/T – Taylor Swift
    6. Rock N Roll Jesus – Kid Rock
    7. Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends – Coldplay
    8. NOW 26 – Various Artists
    9. Carnival Ride – Carrie Underwood
    10. The Ultimate Hits – Garth Brooks

    Honorables:

    1. Faith Hill – Joy to the World
    2. Sheryl Crow – Home for Christmas
    3. Enya – And Winter Came…
    4. Elliott Yamin – My Kind of Holiday
    5. Melissa Etheridge – A New Thought for Christmas
    6. Sarah Brightman – A Winter Symphony
    7. Kritin Chenoweth – A Lovely Way to Spend Christmas
    8. Sixpence None the Richer – Dawn of Grace (Christmas)
    9. Elvis Presley – Christmas Duets
    10. Mary-Chapin Carpenter – Come Darkness Come Light: Twelve Songs of Christmas

  • Okay, here is my real list of music in 2008.

    1. The Beach Boys – Pet Sounds
    2. Jonny Greenwood – Bodysong
    3. Brian Wilson – SMiLE
    4. Saves the Day – Under the Boards
    5. Animal Collective – Merriweather Post Pavilion
    6. Jonny Greenwood – “Popcorn Superhet Receiver” Symphony
    7. The Beach Boys – Friends
    8. Beirut – Gulag Orkestar
    9. Charlie Parker and Miles Davis – Bird and Miles
    10. The Kinks Are the Village Green Preservation Society

    Honorables:

    1. Blaque Spurm – Spurmacidal Tendencies
    2. Wild Thing – Eric the Midget

  • I wasn’t even aware that more than 10 albums were released in 2008. Here’s what I’ve got:

    Brian Wilson – That Lucky Old Sun
    AC/DC – Black Ice
    Mudcrutch – Self-Titled
    Vampire Weekend – Self-Titled

  • Since Kyle only contributed 4, ill add 6 to his that i wish i could have put in my top 10…

    Jason Collett – Here’s To Being Here
    Little Joy – Self Titled
    Girls – Lust For Life/Morning Light 7″
    Goddamn Electric Bill – Topics For Gossip
    Man Man – Rabbit Habits
    Girl Talk – Feed The Animals

    and only 7 days into the new year, Merriweather Post Pavilion has already claimed my #1 for 2009. It’s all downhill from here – unless Panda Bear decides to release another solo record as well (amirite, Sam?).

  • Not in order…and i couldn’t come up with 10.

    The Dedringers – Sweetheart of the Neighborhood
    The Tallest man on Earth – Shallow Grave
    Hayes Carll- Trouble in Mind
    Kathleen Edwards- Asking for Flowers
    Reckless Kelly- Bulletproof
    Old 97’s -Blame it on Gravity
    Justin Townes Earle- The Good Life
    Todd Snider- Peace Queer

  • No Order

    Deerhunter – Microcastle (I actually bought this album!)
    Frightened Rabbit – Midnight Organ Fight
    Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant [EP]
    MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
    Beck – Modern Guilt

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