12.14.2008
Cameron's Note: You would think that by being GM of a radio station, I would be fairly opinionated about music. It shouldn't be hard to compose my own "BEST OF 2008" album list, right? Not so fast on that assumption my friends, because I don't think I could ever know enough about music to actually judge it accurately. Even if I did compile my own list, it would only consist of bands like Fall Out Boy, Metro Station, and All Time Low. You know, bands that only pre-teen girls and Cameron Banga care about. Luckily, my roommate Chris knows quite a bit about music and is much better at putting together a top album list. I tend to agree with most of Chris's top 20 (although I do think Oracular Spectacular should be higher), so I asked if he would guest post the list on my blog. I hope you enjoy Chris's top 20 albums of 2008 and definitely suggest you check out these bands as well.
Chris Zaplatosch's Top 20 Albums of 2008
By Chris Zaplatosch
2008 was certainly an interesting year for music. Where 2007 was "all my favorite artists are releasing awesome new records," this year was all about new bands. Sure there' s plenty of returners, but the fact that 8 or 9 out of these 20 are debut albums certainly says something. Anyway, enough chatting, I'll just let the list speak for itself:
20. We Started Nothing
The Ting Tings
20. We Started Nothing
The Ting Tings
I’ll be honest: half of the songs on this London duet’s debut album “We Started Nothing” are great, and half are mediocre. The thing is that the half that are great are really good pop songs. And that’s really all I have to say about that.
Standout Tracks: Great DJ, That’s Not My Name, Shut Up and Let Me Go
19. Oracular Spectacular
MGMT
MGMT came out of nowhere this year and released one of the most popular albums of the internet world. And it’s a solid album. It’s probably the one on this list that I’ve spent the least time with, but I’m fairly confident it belongs here. The only question/concern I have with MGMT is if they can keep this up. They’ve got potential, and I’d like to see what they can do from here. But it’s a great first album from more young talent.
Standout Tracks: Time to Pretend, Kids, Electric Feel
18. We Brave Bee Stings and All
Thao Nguyen & The Get Down Stay Down
This record probably would have earned more praise this year if it weren’t for an already overwhelming amount of admiration for other bands. Thao’s second album finds her with a full sized backing band. And while it sounds like this concept is still somewhat new to her, she handles it well with a variety of compositions. And, she’s got a voice similar to Feist, and everyone loves Feist, right?
Standout Tracks: Bag of Hammers, Big Kid Table, Feet Asleep
17. Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes were one of the most hyped up bands of this year, with some good reason. They’re one of those “well, this is good, but I’m not sure it’s blowing my mind” kinds of things. I see it as a combination of something like Band of Horses with Bon Iver and some serious influence from Simon and Garfunkel. People wouldn’t stop calling this chamber music. I’m still not really sure why though. To me, its lo-fi folk rock that’s very good at what it tries to be. Its enjoyable, but doesn’t really scream “talent” or “fun” to me.
Standout Tracks: White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood, He Doesn’t Know Why
16. God is an Astronaut
God is an Astronaut
2008 wasn’t the best year for post-rock. There weren’t a ton of great releases, but towards the end, God is an Astronaut pulled through with their self-titled, fourth LP. For those that really can’t get into post-rock, one of the things I think is great about this album is its accessibility. Most of the complaints about post-rock genre is that it’s boring. With pretty heavy guitar driven songs, this album certainly isn’t very boring. Given that, it’s not quite as relaxing as most post-rock, but it certainly makes for some great music.
Standout Tracks: Echoes, Shadows, No Return
15. Narrow Stairs
Death Cab for Cutie
Oh Death Cab. Some love you. Others will hate you eternally because you “sold out” on Plans by signing to a major label. Me? I think Narrow Stairs is pretty good. This album is still pretty different from breakthroughs like Transatlanticism, and still probably sounds similar to Plans, but with a little more of their earlier album feel. As such, I feel like it should make many fans of Death Cab pretty pleased. I thought it was solid.
Standout Tracks: No Sunlight, Grapevine Fires, You Can Do Better Than Me
14. Voyager
Walter Meego
Hey, ever wonder what it might sound like if Daft Punk and Of Montreal collaborated? This is probably what that would sound like. It’s a surprisingly good release from a couple of recent graduates from the University of Illinois. And my goodness, when the song Keyhole breaks down, its literally as good as most things Daft Punk have done. Great debut album from a promising electronic group.
Standout Tracks: Forever, Keyhole, Girls
13. The Stand-Ins
Okkervil River
I wanted The Stand-Ins to be as good as The Stage Names. And while the two are companion albums (The Stand-Ins is what would have been the second disc of The Stages Names had it remained a double album), this one just isn’t quite as good. However, that in no way means it still isn’t a good album. It’s a little short, coming in at only 8 real tracks. But man, quality of those tracks is good. Lost Coastlines rivals Unless Its Kicks as an album anthem. Starry Stairs is literally a sequel to a song on last year’s album, which is quite crafty. This album still retains most of the qualities we all love about Okkervil River.
Standout Tracks: Calling and Not Calling My Ex, Lost Coastlines, Starry Stairs
12. Skeletal Lamping
Of Montreal
I get the feeling that maybe this should be a little higher on the list. Either way, it is what it is, regardless of if I’ll regret it 6 months from now. Of Montreal are back this year, and just as weird as ever. Shifting from the tensions of drugs and depression from last year’s album, this one seems to focus on more sexual themes. So the interesting lyrics are certainly there. Kevin Barnes’s vocals are as fascinating as ever as he reaches high notes that make many people feel uncomfortable. I’ve got a little bit of trouble with a few songs on the second half of the album being a little lackluster, but overall, its an impressive feat to follow up a great album with another very good album in a period of just one year.
Standout Tracks: For Our Elegant Caste, An Eluardian Instance, Gallery Piece
11. Trouble in Dreams
Destroyer
As far as I can tell (and I’m not incredibly familiar with Destroyer’s back catalogue), this sounds very similar to other Destroyer records, except that maybe it uses less midi elements. And I think that’s perfectly okay for him. Some songs are very laid back, easy going folk songs. Other’s add in a more rushed feeling using electric guitars. I’m not sure what else to say other than that this is another very solid record from Destroyer.
Standout Tracks: My Favourite Year, Dark Leaves from a Thread, Libby’s First Sunrise
10. Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down
Noah and the Whale
Did you love the Juno soundtrack? Of course you did. Well, this folk rock London quintet should be right up your alley. They simply craft well written pop songs. Like, 5 Years Time might be one of the best pop songs of the year. For the most part, there’s nothing too extravagant about any of these songs. They’re simple, but good. They prove that sometimes a ukulele and handclaps are all you really need to have fun in a song.
Standout Tracks: 5 Years Time, Give a Little Love, Rocks and Daggers
9. Hold On Now, Youngster…
Los Campesinos!
First off, great job Los Campesinos! for releasing not one, but two full length albums in 2008. That being said, Hold on Now, Youngster… was by far the better of the two. It came hot off the heels of the Sticking Fingers Into Sockets EP from last year, and was relentless with the indie pop, xylophone carried anthems. Death to Los Campesinos! might just be the best intro song on an album this year. It starts off the pace of the album at a furious pace, and while it does let up at times, there’s still an underlying theme of anxious youth throughout. You get the feeling that they’re thinking “we’re young, this probably won’t last long, so lets just give it our all,” and they play their hearts out.
Standout Tracks: Death to Los Campesinos!, You! Me! Dancing!, Sweet Dreams Sweet Cheeks
8. Starfucker
Starfucker
If you would have told me at the beginning of this year that a band named “Starfucker” would be in my top ten, I probably would have laughed at you. Sure enough though, here it is. Also, this is probably the album you’re most likely to read about and never have heard of before. Honestly though, check it out. Its electric pop music. Like, take Ratatat and combine it with Fujiya and Miyagi’s good music, maybe throw in a little low tempo Go! Team, and who knows what else. It really boggles my mind how awesome this record is. I’m a fan, and it hasn’t worn off. Go listen to it now. Seriously though dude, think about changing your name…
Standout Tracks: Myke Ptyson, Rawnald Gregory Erickson the Second, German Love
7. Re-arrange Us
Mates of State
For some reason, lots people just did not get into this album. It’s a shame too, because it’s a perfectly good Mates of State record. It’s more of what we love from Mates of State: cutesy lyrics from a husband and wife duo who play drums and piano (respectively, of course). The difference here from past albums is that they’ve abandoned the shrill, obnoxious organ sound that made some of their earlier work a little harsh on the ears at times. The result is a nice, smooth, and accessible album.
Standout Tracks: My Only Offer, Jigsaw, Get Better
6. Visiter
Dodos
Yet another new band that broke out this year with a fantastic debut. Dodos pretty much is two dudes. Guitar and drums. Doesn’t sounds like a whole lot, but that’s where Dodos wants to prove you wrong. Instead of having the drums just keep a rhythm, they decide to do a lot more with them. Its refreshing. They took the alternative folk deal and did something different with it. Also, seeing them live is quite an experience. Their drummer sweats a ton during live shows because he’s so intense. Also, there’s something very pleasing in having found them at WVUR before Pitchfork got a hold of them.
Standout Tracks: Red and Purple, Fools, Winter
5. Feed the Animals
Girl Talk
Is it wrong to put an album that technically has no original material in my top 5? Maybe. But does Feed the Animals deserve the spot? You bet. Greg Gillis’s second album after ditching the noise/static gig has him really finding his style. The album still has over 300 samples from other musicians mashed together, but there’s still a big development from his previous album. Individual songs last longer together. Like, a minute long Jay-Z vs. Radiohead mash up. It’s the most fun album of the year. Short and simple, this album is a dance party (which, similarly, is what basically composes Girl Talk’s live show). Its fun to listen to multiple times over and over because each time, you find a song you hadn’t heard in there before. It only took one listen to hear “Come on Eileen,” but it took 15 to hear “Never Gonna Give You Up” by Rick Astley.
Standout Tracks: Set it Off, Here’s the Thing, Hands in the Air
4. með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Sigur Rós
When track one, Gobbledigook, starts the CD off, you pretty much say to yourself “Wait, is this really Sigur Rós?” The answer is yes. Fortunately the album isn’t all like that upbeat song, but it does show the band adventuring off into unfamiliar territory. For all extensive purposes, this is the first pop song from them. And it works out really well. Following that, there are two more short, upbeat songs. The album balances off towards the end with some more typical Sigur Rós songs: epic, long, and beautiful. The equilibrium works out well though. Sigur Rós wouldn’t be Sigur Rós without a few magnificent 9 minute long songs, but the shorter, practically pop songs are a refreshing change of pace for the band, and still retain their grandeur.
Standout Tracks: Gobbledigook, Vid Spilum Endalaust, Inni Mer Syngur Vitleysingur
3. Saturdays = Youth
M83
How can your band not be epic when you name yourself after an entire galaxy? Anthony Gonzalez, the main composer, doesn’t disappoint. Saturdays=Youth is one of those albums that you need to listen to many times to appreciate. It took me multiple listens to realize “Woah, their drummer is really, really good.” And between that, heavy electronic noise, layered vocals, guitars that often have so many effects on them you can’t even tell they’re guitars, it shapes up to be one deep album. It’s great to have an album that is great not just because it sounds fun or is catchy. Because it’s more than that. It’s actually very profound.
Standout Tracks: Graveyard Girl, Highway of Endless Dreams, We Own the Sky
2. Heretic Pride
The Mountain Goats
For the second year in a row, my #2 album is from an artist who’s been around for forever but I just discovered this year. This was the album that introduced me to The Mountain Goats. It combines the rushed, anxious vocals of Destroyer with the catchy literate folk rock of Okkervil River. The lyrics are clever and usually tell some kind of story, and the folky music makes me envision summer, even now in the beginning of winter. I don’t know how band leader John Darnielle does it, but for how simple this music is, it still manages to grab the #2 spot because of how brilliant it is.
Standout Tracks: Sax Rohmer #1, Tianchi Lake, How to Embrace a Swamp Creature
1. Vampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
2008 was indisputably the year of Vampire Weekend. Their debut album took the quintet from Columbia University all the way to MTV in a very short amount of time. The thing is: they deserve it all. This album is flawless. It is a fantastic, straightforward indie-rock album. And one of the best things about it is its replay value. After having listened to it at least 30 times this year and having seen the band live twice, it just doesn’t get old.
Standout Tracks: A-Punk, M79, Oxford Comma
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