Matt (StarkNY)'s Top 50 Albums of 2008
2008 was a year of amazing debut records. Not only did these new artists make statements with their music, they found their way into the lexicon of popular music. Their debuts made it hard to remember a time without Vampire Weekend, Santogold, Bon Iver or Fleet Foxes. 2008 also saw notable resurgences. David Byrne reunited with long-time producer Brian Eno, while Nick Cave put out the rock record many have been waiting a long time for.
Yet, most notable this year were those artists who have been around for a bit, working hard, touring and refining their sound. The Drive-By Truckers made an expansive and full blooded record. While maybe a few songs too-long, Brighter was ambitious and career defining. TV On the Radio, Deerhunter, Beach House and Blitzen Trapper are in the prime of their music making careers -- putting out genre-defying music that hits you on first listen, but keeps you reaching for their records again and again. The Gaslight Anthem and Thao made records that were too fantastic and listenable to ignore, while mix tapes from The Very Best and Diplo/Santogold found their way on to many top 20 lists of the year.
2008 did more than satisfy. But from what we have already heard, there are some great things coming down the line in 2009. As always, we hope to be there with you to enjoy it all.
Yet, most notable this year were those artists who have been around for a bit, working hard, touring and refining their sound. The Drive-By Truckers made an expansive and full blooded record. While maybe a few songs too-long, Brighter was ambitious and career defining. TV On the Radio, Deerhunter, Beach House and Blitzen Trapper are in the prime of their music making careers -- putting out genre-defying music that hits you on first listen, but keeps you reaching for their records again and again. The Gaslight Anthem and Thao made records that were too fantastic and listenable to ignore, while mix tapes from The Very Best and Diplo/Santogold found their way on to many top 20 lists of the year.
2008 did more than satisfy. But from what we have already heard, there are some great things coming down the line in 2009. As always, we hope to be there with you to enjoy it all.
Read Matt's list after the jump.
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
2. Drive-by Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark (New West)
3. Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)
4. Thao & The Get Down Stay Down - We Brave Bee Stings and All (Kill Rock Stars)
5. Blitzen Trapper - Furr (Sub Pop)
6. TV on the Radio Dear Science, (Touch and Go)
7. David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens will Happen Today (Todomundo Records)
8. Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (Side One Dummy)
9. Beach House - Devotion (Carpark)
10. Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Grave (Gravitation)
11. Sun Kil Moon - April (Caldo Verde)
12. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (Anti) -
13. Deerhunter - Microcastle (Kranky)
14. Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit are the Very Best The Very Best
15. White Denim - Exposion
16. SamAmidon - All is Well (Bedroom Community)
17. No Age - Nouns (Sub Pop)
18. Walkmen - You & Me (Gigantic)
19. Ezra Furman - Inside the Human Body (Minty Fresh)
20. Paavoharju - Laulu Laakson Kukista (Fonal)
21. Spiritualized - Songs in A&E (Sanctuary)
22. Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievences (XL)
23. Flying Lotus - Los Angeles (Warp)
24. Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill (Type)
25. Diplo & Santogold -Top Ranking
26. Department of Eagles - In Ear Park (4AD)
27. Dodos - Visiter (Frenchkiss)
28. Santogold Santogold - (Downtown)
29. Hercules & Love Affair Hercules & Love Affair (Mute)
30. Al Green - Lay It Down (Blue Note)
31. M83 - Saturdays = Youth (Mute)
32. Lykke Li - Youth Novels (LL)
33. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL)
34. King Khan & The Shrines - The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines (Vice)
35. War on Drugs - Wagonwheel Blues (Secretly Canadian)
36. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie (Kill Rock Stars)
37. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna (Social Registry)
38. Sigur Ros - med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust (XL)
39. Little Joy Little Joy (Rough Trade)
40. Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim (Astralwerks)
41. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Lay Down in the Light (Drag City)
42. Quiet Village - Silent Movie (!K7)
43. Fight Bite - Emerald Eyes (Fight Bite)
44. Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires (XL)
45. Neon Neon - Stainless Style (Lex)
46. Black Kids - Partie Traumatic (Columbia)
47. Vetiver - Thing of the Past (Gnomonsong)
48. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid (Polydor)
49. Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off Lavender Bridge (Domino)
50. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar)
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