Favorite Albums of 2008, Part 4: Wrap it up B.
The previous 3 posts have included albums that could be easily switched into various orders based whatever mood I'm in. I try to minimize this, but I tend to change my mind on these things a lot. While ironing out the order for the last 4 spots was rough, I like to think this post is less likely to change then the others.
04) Gnarls Barkley "The Odd Couple"
[stream not available]
There is probably no getting around this... these guys are probably destined to be one-hit-wonders. "Crazy" was popular in a way not seen in a long time, and will completely overshadow everything else they will ever do. This is unfortunate, as their follow-up to "St. Elsewhere" is just as solid, if not better. While there is no song on it that will hit the level of popularity of "Crazy", overall the music is better throughout. The music is (once again) all over the place, but in a good way... and features a handful of my favorite tracks of the year. It does seem to drag towards the middle, but it's forgivable since a drag for these guys is better than most peoples' best stuff.
Key Tracks: Going On - Who's Gonna Save My Soul - Run - A Little Better
03) The Raconteurs "Consolers of the Lonely"
[stream not available]
The public and press knew about the existence of this album for about a week before it was actually released, with the goal that people would listen to it without hearing the opinions of critics on it first. This is a method commonly used when you're expecting the worst in terms of critical consensus, which had me worried when I picked this up. If you happened to catch their first release, "Broken Boy Soldiers", you'll be glad to hear this release is better in every way. It's as if the first record was trying something new, and this is where we get to see them truly realize their potential. It rocks harder, is solid all the way through, and ends on a the great story track "Carolina Drama".
Key Tracks: Consoler of the Lonely - Old Enough - Many Shades of Black - Carolina Drama
02) TV on the Radio "Dear Science,"
[stream the album]
The first thing I thought when I heard this beautiful album was "if there is a TV on the Radio album that anyone can get into, this is it". This is as close to mainstream as you will ever see these guys, as most of the album is rather upbeat (as long as you don't read the lyrics, which are anything but) and features less of the "artsy flourishes" that made their last record "Return to Cookie Mountain" so amazing. The work contained here is still awesome though, and hopefully now I can find at least one other person out there that likes these guys.
Key Tracks: Halfway Home - Dancing Choose - Golden Age - Family Tree
01) The Black Keys "Attack & Release"
[stream not available]
I had never heard of The Black Keys before this album, in fact the only reason I even gave the album a shot was because I heard it was produced by Danger Mouse. But I was hooked on the first listen, once "All You Ever Wanted" finally kicked in, that was it... the equivalent of "you had me at hello". Their older stuff tends to be more lo-fi and fast, this album has them doing a lot more interesting things... most notably adding instruments other than guitar and drums, allowing the songs to be much more rich and pack more of a punch.
The top slot could've easily gone to the previous two, but I chose this record because it simply wowed me on the first listen, something that almost never happens anymore... and after listening to it for the past 9 months off and on, my opinion on it never really changed. If there is one album I could recommend to you for you to try, it would be this one.
Key Tracks: All You Ever Wanted - I Got Mine - Strange Times - Remember When (Side B)
Thoughts? Suggestions? Flames?
04) Gnarls Barkley "The Odd Couple"
[stream not available]
There is probably no getting around this... these guys are probably destined to be one-hit-wonders. "Crazy" was popular in a way not seen in a long time, and will completely overshadow everything else they will ever do. This is unfortunate, as their follow-up to "St. Elsewhere" is just as solid, if not better. While there is no song on it that will hit the level of popularity of "Crazy", overall the music is better throughout. The music is (once again) all over the place, but in a good way... and features a handful of my favorite tracks of the year. It does seem to drag towards the middle, but it's forgivable since a drag for these guys is better than most peoples' best stuff.
Key Tracks: Going On - Who's Gonna Save My Soul - Run - A Little Better
03) The Raconteurs "Consolers of the Lonely"
[stream not available]
The public and press knew about the existence of this album for about a week before it was actually released, with the goal that people would listen to it without hearing the opinions of critics on it first. This is a method commonly used when you're expecting the worst in terms of critical consensus, which had me worried when I picked this up. If you happened to catch their first release, "Broken Boy Soldiers", you'll be glad to hear this release is better in every way. It's as if the first record was trying something new, and this is where we get to see them truly realize their potential. It rocks harder, is solid all the way through, and ends on a the great story track "Carolina Drama".
Key Tracks: Consoler of the Lonely - Old Enough - Many Shades of Black - Carolina Drama
02) TV on the Radio "Dear Science,"
[stream the album]
The first thing I thought when I heard this beautiful album was "if there is a TV on the Radio album that anyone can get into, this is it". This is as close to mainstream as you will ever see these guys, as most of the album is rather upbeat (as long as you don't read the lyrics, which are anything but) and features less of the "artsy flourishes" that made their last record "Return to Cookie Mountain" so amazing. The work contained here is still awesome though, and hopefully now I can find at least one other person out there that likes these guys.
Key Tracks: Halfway Home - Dancing Choose - Golden Age - Family Tree
01) The Black Keys "Attack & Release"
[stream not available]
I had never heard of The Black Keys before this album, in fact the only reason I even gave the album a shot was because I heard it was produced by Danger Mouse. But I was hooked on the first listen, once "All You Ever Wanted" finally kicked in, that was it... the equivalent of "you had me at hello". Their older stuff tends to be more lo-fi and fast, this album has them doing a lot more interesting things... most notably adding instruments other than guitar and drums, allowing the songs to be much more rich and pack more of a punch.
The top slot could've easily gone to the previous two, but I chose this record because it simply wowed me on the first listen, something that almost never happens anymore... and after listening to it for the past 9 months off and on, my opinion on it never really changed. If there is one album I could recommend to you for you to try, it would be this one.
Key Tracks: All You Ever Wanted - I Got Mine - Strange Times - Remember When (Side B)
Thoughts? Suggestions? Flames?