This is musics I liked in 2008 and how much I liked them
I listened to about 415 or so new albums this year which is why it took me so long to narrow my list down to my top ten. Here it finally is, I know you have all been waiting so long for it.
1. Akimbo - Jersey Shores. Akimbo doing 8+ minute post-metal songs about shark attacks in New Jersey, how can this not be the best album of the year?!
2. Sam Amidon - All is Well. #1 is a metal album so naturally #2 has to be a folk album, right? This is one of the best folk records I have heard in years and has a couple of the most gorgeous and heartbreaking songs on it. This also has one of the best album covers of the year.
3. Grails - Take Refuge in Clean Living + Doomsdayer’s Holiday. Two great records from my current favorite band.
4. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash. Not his best solo album, but leagues beyond his previous effort.
5. Sun Kil Moon - April + Mark Kozelek - Finally. Makes me completely forget about Kozeleks poor Modest Mouse cover album. Gorgeous records, both of them, as always.
6. Russian Circles - Station. These guys steal from every post-rock band out there, but they do it so damn well! They are the Brian DePalma of music.
7. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight. So I guess you can be Irish and make good music! Take that U2!!! EDIT: These guys are actually Scottish, sorry Ireland.
8. These Arms are Snakes - Tail Swallower and Dove. Aside from the terrible title, this is the best record These Arms are Snakes have ever put out.
9. M83 - Saturdays = Youth. I was so so on this album at first but it grew on me like a fungus. A delightful fungus that serenaded me about its adolescence with catchy hooks and beautiful anthems. So less of a fungus and more of a fun guy! Get it? Me neither.
10. Wilderness - (k)no(w)here. Another stupid album title for a great album. This is probably the least accessible wilderness album, but after a few listens I was hooked. I wouldn’t start with this album if you’re new to them, but definitely give it a listen after you get accustomed to their sound.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow and The Crow. This barely barely missed my top ten. One of the better singer/songwriter albums from the past year. Gorgeous voice, gorgeous arrangements. He also has one of the best beards in music.
The Mae Shi - HLLYH. The only reason this one wasn’t in my top ten was because of the terrible 11 minute techno song in the middle of the album. The rest of the songs are pretty solid.
TV on the Radio - There are a couple of really big clunkers on here, but the good songs on here are reeeaaally good.
The Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Grave. I’ll be god damned if he doesn’t sound exactly like Bob Dylan! Great album, but a little repetitive.
Zozobra - Bird of Prey. I never thought I would ever say this, but Aaron Harris’ drums on this album ruined it for me. This is such a hard-hitting metal album and all it needed was Santos’s solid and thundering drumming. It is still a good album, but I think this album could have been great with Santos.
Headlights - Some Racing, Some Stopping. I don’t listen to too much indie pop, but this album was so sweet it gave me a toothache!(yesssssssssss!)
Fleet Foxes - Self Titled. Three fourths of this album was beautiful. One fourth of this album was poop. If you do the math, that is still a solid, if somewhat stinky, album.
Arborea - - Self Titled. Really really great old timey sounding folk record. I listened to this album too many times though.
Cult of Luna - Eternal Kingdom. I don’t know why it took me forever to get into this album, it is pretty much on par with every great release they have had.
Made Out of Babies - The Ruiner. They get a spot on here just for having the best band name ever! I never really liked these guys till I heard Battle of Mice and started to appreciate Julie Christmas’ voice. Really interesting metal record.
Intronaut - Prehistorcisms. They kinda went in the opposite direction that I wanted them to go with this record, but they made one hell of a weird metal album.
Let me know if any of you want any copies of any of the albums and I'll see what I can do about getting them to you. Also, let me know if you want a framed, and personally autographed copy of my 2008 best music of the year list. It will include a 8x10 glossy headshot of me and a small bag of flaming hot cheetos.
1. Akimbo - Jersey Shores. Akimbo doing 8+ minute post-metal songs about shark attacks in New Jersey, how can this not be the best album of the year?!
2. Sam Amidon - All is Well. #1 is a metal album so naturally #2 has to be a folk album, right? This is one of the best folk records I have heard in years and has a couple of the most gorgeous and heartbreaking songs on it. This also has one of the best album covers of the year.
3. Grails - Take Refuge in Clean Living + Doomsdayer’s Holiday. Two great records from my current favorite band.
4. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash. Not his best solo album, but leagues beyond his previous effort.
5. Sun Kil Moon - April + Mark Kozelek - Finally. Makes me completely forget about Kozeleks poor Modest Mouse cover album. Gorgeous records, both of them, as always.
6. Russian Circles - Station. These guys steal from every post-rock band out there, but they do it so damn well! They are the Brian DePalma of music.
7. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight. So I guess you can be Irish and make good music! Take that U2!!! EDIT: These guys are actually Scottish, sorry Ireland.
8. These Arms are Snakes - Tail Swallower and Dove. Aside from the terrible title, this is the best record These Arms are Snakes have ever put out.
9. M83 - Saturdays = Youth. I was so so on this album at first but it grew on me like a fungus. A delightful fungus that serenaded me about its adolescence with catchy hooks and beautiful anthems. So less of a fungus and more of a fun guy! Get it? Me neither.
10. Wilderness - (k)no(w)here. Another stupid album title for a great album. This is probably the least accessible wilderness album, but after a few listens I was hooked. I wouldn’t start with this album if you’re new to them, but definitely give it a listen after you get accustomed to their sound.
HONORABLE MENTIONS
William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow and The Crow. This barely barely missed my top ten. One of the better singer/songwriter albums from the past year. Gorgeous voice, gorgeous arrangements. He also has one of the best beards in music.
The Mae Shi - HLLYH. The only reason this one wasn’t in my top ten was because of the terrible 11 minute techno song in the middle of the album. The rest of the songs are pretty solid.
TV on the Radio - There are a couple of really big clunkers on here, but the good songs on here are reeeaaally good.
The Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Grave. I’ll be god damned if he doesn’t sound exactly like Bob Dylan! Great album, but a little repetitive.
Zozobra - Bird of Prey. I never thought I would ever say this, but Aaron Harris’ drums on this album ruined it for me. This is such a hard-hitting metal album and all it needed was Santos’s solid and thundering drumming. It is still a good album, but I think this album could have been great with Santos.
Headlights - Some Racing, Some Stopping. I don’t listen to too much indie pop, but this album was so sweet it gave me a toothache!(yesssssssssss!)
Fleet Foxes - Self Titled. Three fourths of this album was beautiful. One fourth of this album was poop. If you do the math, that is still a solid, if somewhat stinky, album.
Arborea - - Self Titled. Really really great old timey sounding folk record. I listened to this album too many times though.
Cult of Luna - Eternal Kingdom. I don’t know why it took me forever to get into this album, it is pretty much on par with every great release they have had.
Made Out of Babies - The Ruiner. They get a spot on here just for having the best band name ever! I never really liked these guys till I heard Battle of Mice and started to appreciate Julie Christmas’ voice. Really interesting metal record.
Intronaut - Prehistorcisms. They kinda went in the opposite direction that I wanted them to go with this record, but they made one hell of a weird metal album.
Let me know if any of you want any copies of any of the albums and I'll see what I can do about getting them to you. Also, let me know if you want a framed, and personally autographed copy of my 2008 best music of the year list. It will include a 8x10 glossy headshot of me and a small bag of flaming hot cheetos.