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Post by City on Dec 14, 2008 7:29:12 GMT -5
Hey guys. 2008 is coming to a close in 2 and a half weeks. As always, many music lovers all over the world are compiling their list of their favorite records of the year. I always found these type of list to be fun and it gives me a chance to see what other people are listening to and also a chance for me to find out what I may have missed. If you disagree with the following Music Critic publications: MetacriticAcclaimed MusicThe A.V. Club's Top 30Associated Press's Top 10AllMusic’s Favorite Albums of 2008Amazon's Editors' Top 100Billboard Critics' Top 10Christian Music Today's Top 12Drowned in Sound's Top 50eMusic's Top 88FACT's Top 20Glide Magazine's Top 20Jesus Freak Hideout's Staff PicksMusic Emissions Editor's Top 10musicOMH's Top 50NME's Top 10The Guardian's Top 50Paste's Top 50Popmatters: The Best Music of 2008The Quietus's Top 14Q Magazine's Top 50Rolling Stone's Top 50Rough Trade's Top 50Spin's Top 40State's Top 25Stereogum's top 50Stephen King's Top 10 Albums of 2008Threadtrend's Top 50-will add more when they come out- Here's your chance to speak out (at least in our small community). A few clarification. EPs, Re-Releases, Live albums, Compilation albums, Greatest Hits all count as 2008 albums. Albums that clearly came out in another year don't count. I urged you not to use a 'off the top of my head' appoach, unless you know for sure you got less than 10..then it's fine. But if you got a lot, try to ordered it somehow, or at least highlight the ones you feel the most strong towards so people can have a starting point. So yeah, post away. You could be converting a fellow Lifehouse fan onto another band. And then they'll convert their friends and their friends will tell their friends who may or may not tell their friends. And oh my god, word of mouth music is so much better than radio.
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Post by gogonutz on Dec 14, 2008 12:32:58 GMT -5
I will add my reasons later, and perhaps some more additions to the honorable mentions (and then i'll make the top10 - top20)
1. Carried To Dust Calexico Calexico has been one of my favorite musical acts for a number of years now, and though they might not be the most catchy, or most accessible band, they know how to make f'n great music. They draw from so many influences and incorporate all that together with such ease and talent that it makes you wonder how. On their latest effort Carried To Dust, they have done it yet again, and with masterpieces like 'Man Made Lake' they really take the #1 spot this year 2. Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings Counting Crows Counting Crows have been one of the best alternative pop acts of the last decade - 15 years. Adam Duritz' melancholic, sometimes depressing moods used to overwhelm the songs but sometimes the pop sensibility takes over and we got to see how good of a songwriter he actually is. While the general theme on this new album is dreary, there's an underlying message of hope & light at the end of the tunnel. The way the band sets the music to the mood is simply impressive and the songs are as strong as Counting Crows have ever written them. 3. Satellite State EP Satellite State Probably my #1 discovery of the year. With a cool indie/pop sound in between Athlete, Snow Patrol, Coldplay, Fools & Horses & OneRepublic, this band is ready to break big, and they do it just as convincing, or maybe even more convincing than the bands I just listed. 4. Wake Chad Perrone For a long time, I thought this Boston-based songwriter would repeat his 2006 effort to take the top spot in my year's top-independent releases, but this year he comes in 2nd on that list and 4th overall. The catchy songs and great musical arrangements are just passionately and energetically brought to life by this excellent musician. It's a miracle he hasn't been worshipped all over the world, cause his music surely is suited for that. 5. Electric Arguments Fireman Paul McCartney and his partner in crime are back, this time WITH lyrics. While I was really cautious before the album came out, I must admit that this musical genius surprised me yet again. The arrangements, sometimes subtle and simple, sometimes more complex are so well-thought and well-composed that they shine in whatever incarnation they appear. 6. As Your Shoulders Turn On You The Cast Before The Break Especially for a debut album, this is one of the most impressive albums I've listened to this year. There's a musical spectacle here that is undeniable, especially on 'From The Earth, At A Crossroad' & 'Understanding The Universe'. 7. Get Up EP The Craze After their great debut in 2005, The Craze now returns with an impressive EP that gets your feet off the ground, and your mood in high spirits. It's fun, it's good and it's rocking 8. Lights In The Attic Lazyeye One of the best and most underrated alternative rock bands I know of. Their pure and honest rock arrangements are strong and performed with passion and on this live/acoustic album it becomes obviously clear 9. Snowflake Midnight Mercury Rev Mercury Rev, an interesting and kind of a weird band, but their introspective music has a very emotive outlet. For this band, with its enigmatic frontman, it's all in the deliverance and performance. And they are masters in doing that with perfection. Snowflake Midnight is another highlight in this band's career. 10. Day & Nightdriving Seven Mary Three Seven Mary Three has reinvented themselves and became a rootsy rock & roll band with catchy tunes and lyrically profound songs. Day&nightdriving is the crown on their work.
Honorable mentions Where Are You, Bambi Woods? a balladeer First Rodeo HoneyHoney Where It Ends 16 Frames Heights Of The Heavens We The Living In Direct Communication Unknown Component Sad Robots EP Stars Cinematica Sounds Under Radio Before We Part Solo Duo Richard Marx & Matt Scannell Before You Leave Racoon Storylines Negative Space How To Call A Bluff My Favorite Highway Coming Of Age Milow A Perfect Reality Mike Montrey Summer EP Jon Foreman Everything We Are EP John Taglieri Black & White Matinee EP JJ Appleton Seeing Things Jakob Dylan Incredible Ilse deLange Beta Hotspur New Gem Starting Over Ernie Halter Narrow Stairs Death Cab For Cutie Earth To The Dandy Warhols Dandy Warhols Cavashawn EP Cavashawn Sycamore Meadows Butch Walker Hope For The Hopeless Brett Dennen Can't Love, Can't Hurt Augustana New Surrender Anberlin Mystery Keeps You Amy Petty Agony & Irony Alkaline Trio
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Post by gogonutz on Dec 15, 2008 17:44:47 GMT -5
i added my reasons for choosing my top10
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Post by City on Dec 19, 2008 1:16:23 GMT -5
Christopher's Top 25 Albums of the Year
25. Dakota Suite - The End of Trying For the person obsessed with being depressed, this album just hits all those spots. It's a minimalist album that relies on the softness of the piano, but the sadness just rings out with each stroke. Favorite Song: Hands Swollen With Grace
24. She & Him - Volume One Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward teaming up to make this retro album that feels like a bunch of cover songs from the 50s, but Zooey wrote them all except for three. Please don't confuse her with Katy Perry. Favorite Song: This is Not a Test
23. YUI - I LOVED YESTERDAY Jpop, lol. I mainly like her because her music is pop/rock and she doesn't sound like a bimbo. Favorite Song: Daydreamer
22. Jukebox the Ghost - Let Live and Let Ghosts A band from DC that plays Piano Pop that's just really bouncy. At times, they remind me of Queen and The Mountain Goats. As a whole, the album felt like a rock opera. Favorite Song: Hold It In
21. Taylor Swift - Fearless I always been aware of her singles, but Fearless surprised me in how there were no filler tracks. The album is mostly about boys, but she has all the hooks making this album irresistible. Favorite Song: You Belong With Me
20. Tamas Wells - Two Years In April Another singer-songwriter type, but his voice is so floaty that it makes the album a pleasant listen. I could hear his music being the soundtrack for the next Juno. Favorite Song: The Day that She Drowned, Her Body Was Found
19. Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer? Solo album from The Dresden Dolls. I don't really think of them as songs as she breaks away from the mold. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow, but the ballads are amazing in how intense her feelings reach. Favorite Song: Ampersand
18. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend 11 fun songs that vary, but remain solid. Favorite Song: M79
17. The Rural Alberta Advantage - Hometowns A straight forward indie rock album. At first listen, it might sound like a rip off of "In the Aeroplane over the Sea," but this band took that sound and scattered more spontaneous energy. Favorite Song: Drain The Blood
16. Maybeshewill - Not For Want Of Trying Post-rock with some electronics. They don't make you search for those precious moments. "He Films The Clouds Pt. 2" and "Not For Want Of Trying" is the best 1-2 punch of the year. Favorite Song: He Films The Clouds Pt. 2
15. Horse Feathers - House With No Home His voice is weathered. The music is folksy. And when it happens together, it's cool, but the parts where it's separated feel the most detailed. Favorite Song: Helen
14. Wale - The Mixtape About Nothing This mixtape kinda blew my mind. I love his usage of the Seinfeld clips and everything just flowed extremely well. Favorite Song: The Kramer
13. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes If you haven't heard this album yet, where have you been? This band is the biggest breakthrough artist of the year. The harmonies are so smooth. Favorite Song: Your Protector
12. Lost in the Trees - All Alone in an Empty House Why so short dang it. The vocals are kind of what you expect with indie bands, but the music and lyrics caught my attention. Favorite Song: Song for the Painter
11. Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too Awesome house music. Brilliant stuff. I don't know how to write about it, but I remember having my mind blown. Favorite Song: Where You Go I Go Too
10. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster... Male/female vocals that bursts with shouts and screams, but can be highly sentimental as well. The album is filled with great moments of joy. Favorite Song: Knee Deep At ATP
9. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust Other than The Beatles, Sigur Rós is the only other band that amazes me when I hear someone disliking them. Their music is headphone magic. This album showcases a new direction, but remains epic. Favorite Song: Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
8. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Lie Down In The Light This album helped me grow musically towards Folk music. At first, I just wanted to see what the hype was, but the hooks started to reveal itself and with more listens, the deeper it got into me. Favorite Song: Missing One
7. The Cast Before The Break - As Your Shoulder Turns on You All of their songs are cool, but the way they finish a song is ridiculous. This band simply rocks harder than what you paid for. Favorite Song: Understanding the Universe
6. TV on the Radio - Dear Science, Their past 2 albums were overrated. This album is their most consistent. Favorite Song: Dancing Choose
5. Laura Marling - Alas, I Cannot Swim Her music is mostly acoustic folk and her technique alternatives between the bass string with the lower 3 strings. Still, it's her old soul voice with her self-directed lyrics that makes her so enchanting. Favorite Song: Failure
4. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound Is Punk Rock even the right words? It's more like nostalgic catchy blues-rock. Favorite Song: Here's Looking At You, Kid
3. Girl Talk - Feed the Animal Gregg Gillis is the man. 53 minutes and not once does it get boring. Favorite Song: N/A
2. Moving Mountains - Foreword Did anyone read Liza's cheesy comment regrading "Lights & Shapes." That killed the album for me. Favorite Song: Lights & Shapes
1. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight Every album released this year either had to grow on me or they faded away. Except this one. Literally each song on this album took a turn at being my favorite. Favorite Song: Fast Blood
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