John's Top 30 Records of 2008
IN PROGRESS
OK, so my top 30 records for the year…I thought about keeping it at 40, as I did last year, but records 31-40 didn’t feel as though they deserved a spot on the “best of” list (See: MGMT-Oracular Spectacular). Also, last year I tried writing reviews for each of the 40 records; that got old fast, so I’ll stick with reviews for the top ten and limit myself to 5 words or less for the remaining 20. I’d love to see your lists. Post them in the comments section, if there’s anyone out there that still updates this thing.
1. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
2. Vampire Weekend- S/T
People tend to seem bitter because these guys are young, smart, and have money. They're a bunch of kids who went to Columbia and ended up making a really good pop record. What's wrong with that? I have no problem with unabashedly white, Paul Simon-influenced indie-rock. Great vocal melodies, great instrumentation, and great arrangements. The album is great from beginning to end. Enough said.
3. Frightened Rabbit- Midnight Organ Fight
4. The Raveonnettes- Lust, Lust, Lust
5. Fleet Foxes- S/T
6. Coldplay- Viva La Vida
7. Sigur Ros- Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
8. Elbow- The Seldom Seen Kid
9. Born Ruffians- Red Yellow Blue
10. Portishead- Third
11. Santogold- S/T
Consistently eclectic, consistently good
12. Magnetic Fields- Distortion
solid, sonic return to form
13. Lil Wayne- Tha Carter III
Best hip-hop record this year
14. TV on the Radio- Dear Science
No "Cookie Mountain," but good
15. Santogold and Diplo- Top Ranking
Holy shit, this is great!
16. Deerhunter- Microcastle
Awesome; sounds like Starflyer 59
17. M83- Saturdays=Youth
This guy loves the 80's
18. Evangelicals- The Evening Descends
Flaming Lips-style craziness
19. Mountain Goats- Heretic Pride
Energetic and surprisingly consistent
20. Lykke Li- Youth Novels
Minimal sexy pop; sexy voice
21. Okkervil River- The Stand-Ins
They've definitely hit their stride
22. Shearwater- Rook
Dramatic, sounds like Mark Hollis
23. Sun Kil Moon- April
Sad-sacks are my weakness
24. The War on Drugs- Wagonwheel Blues
Dude loves drugs and Dylan
25. Conor Oberst- S/T
Better than recent Bright Eyes
26. Hot Chip- Made In The Dark
Catchy, dancy, nerdy...hipsters rejoice
27. The Gaslight Anthem- The ’59 Sound
Springsteen+Replacements Jersey Rock
28. Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
these guys are rarely boring
29. Apollo Sunshine- Shall Noise Upon
Solid psych-folk record
30. El Guincho- Alegranza!
Spanish version of Panda Bear
OK, so my top 30 records for the year…I thought about keeping it at 40, as I did last year, but records 31-40 didn’t feel as though they deserved a spot on the “best of” list (See: MGMT-Oracular Spectacular). Also, last year I tried writing reviews for each of the 40 records; that got old fast, so I’ll stick with reviews for the top ten and limit myself to 5 words or less for the remaining 20. I’d love to see your lists. Post them in the comments section, if there’s anyone out there that still updates this thing.
1. Cut Copy- In Ghost Colours
2. Vampire Weekend- S/T
People tend to seem bitter because these guys are young, smart, and have money. They're a bunch of kids who went to Columbia and ended up making a really good pop record. What's wrong with that? I have no problem with unabashedly white, Paul Simon-influenced indie-rock. Great vocal melodies, great instrumentation, and great arrangements. The album is great from beginning to end. Enough said.
3. Frightened Rabbit- Midnight Organ Fight
4. The Raveonnettes- Lust, Lust, Lust
5. Fleet Foxes- S/T
6. Coldplay- Viva La Vida
7. Sigur Ros- Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
8. Elbow- The Seldom Seen Kid
9. Born Ruffians- Red Yellow Blue
10. Portishead- Third
11. Santogold- S/T
Consistently eclectic, consistently good
12. Magnetic Fields- Distortion
solid, sonic return to form
13. Lil Wayne- Tha Carter III
Best hip-hop record this year
14. TV on the Radio- Dear Science
No "Cookie Mountain," but good
15. Santogold and Diplo- Top Ranking
Holy shit, this is great!
16. Deerhunter- Microcastle
Awesome; sounds like Starflyer 59
17. M83- Saturdays=Youth
This guy loves the 80's
18. Evangelicals- The Evening Descends
Flaming Lips-style craziness
19. Mountain Goats- Heretic Pride
Energetic and surprisingly consistent
20. Lykke Li- Youth Novels
Minimal sexy pop; sexy voice
21. Okkervil River- The Stand-Ins
They've definitely hit their stride
22. Shearwater- Rook
Dramatic, sounds like Mark Hollis
23. Sun Kil Moon- April
Sad-sacks are my weakness
24. The War on Drugs- Wagonwheel Blues
Dude loves drugs and Dylan
25. Conor Oberst- S/T
Better than recent Bright Eyes
26. Hot Chip- Made In The Dark
Catchy, dancy, nerdy...hipsters rejoice
27. The Gaslight Anthem- The ’59 Sound
Springsteen+Replacements Jersey Rock
28. Of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
these guys are rarely boring
29. Apollo Sunshine- Shall Noise Upon
Solid psych-folk record
30. El Guincho- Alegranza!
Spanish version of Panda Bear