Best Album of 2008

[starfish]

unfortunately for me, i have not had a chance to check out that many new albums this year, so my choice falls upon sune rose wagner, who is one part of the raveonettes. he just released his first solo album, and sings in danish.

(want to give it a listen? go here: http://www.myspace.com/sunerosewagner)

what do you think were the absolute best album of the year? (it's okay to mention a few)

 

[shirleebee]

Well the Raves are a huge favorite of mine, and Sune's album is also terrific.
Overall, my favorite album of 2008 is a tie between Portishead's THIRD and The Kills' MIDNIGHT BOOM. I have dozens of albums I plan to rank shortly.

 

[lunabella]

my favorite was the kills' "midnight boom." but the only other one i listened to completely was the kings of leon "only by the night."

 

[MulletProof]

Nice thread, starfish.

I really loved Jack Rose's Dr Ragtime and Pals, I bought ninja it only a few weeks ago but it's unlike anything I've heard in the entire year, the rhythm is beautiful and so.. uh, picturesque?, I don't know what the word is, but it's the kind of music that's very relaxing and evokes images and fake memories, definitely something that must fuel some creativity.
that was probably my favorite, just because it's quite amazing but still challenging somehow.. it's not the kind of record you can't stop playing and I like that, sane enough for someone that's capable of playing the same song nonstop for more than 3 weeks.

Murcof's Versailles Sessions is also a very late release of 2008 that was pretty astonishing. I could be biased as he's some sort of hometown hero but I just can't get tired of his work, it's so elegant and precise...

Also..
Nimrod Workman - I want to go where things are beautiful.
The Dead Science - Villanaire.
Violens EP.
Zoe - Reptilectric.
Sebastien Tellier - Sexuality.
Silver Summit - self-titled.
Lau Nau - Nukkuu.


and finally, Kings of Leon's Only by the night was admittedly addicting, so there must be something really good or dangerously bad in it, I guess. either way, it seems outstanding for its.. genre.

 

[Scott]

Portishead-Third
Ladytron-Velocifero
Goldfrapp-Seventh Tree
Grace Jones-Hurricane
HK119-Fast,Cheap and Out of Control
MGMT-Oracular Spectacular


also,the best single releases of the year:
bjork-nattura
bat for lashes-a forest(cure cover)
goldfrapp-winter wonderland(best x-mas cover)

 

[Scott]

^oh yes....and hot chip-made in the dark

 

[tew/stroke]

The Bedlam in Goliath - The Mars Volta
Only by the Night - Kings of Leon

....2008 wasn't a good year for music in my opinion

 

[Chaky]

In no order:

Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Ladytron - Velocifero
Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
The Kills - Midnight Boom
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

There's probably others but I can't think. Fleet Foxes is good but I've not listened to it properly all the way through.

 

[stolemybicycle]

Thank you for sharing sune rose wagner - didn't realise there was a solo album but I'm definitely going to have to go buy it now

One of my top albums has to be 'You and Me' by The Walkmen

Plus the new Sigur Ros and the new Tv on the radio and Elbow ones.
And others that have already been mentioned above.

 

[Diamond Star]

Noah and the Whale - Peaceful the world lays me down. I've actually gone off this album but it came out at a time when I needed it
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazuras, Dig!!!
Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness - someone who I think will just get better
Jeremy Warmsley - How We Became
Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit - A Larum
Mystery Jets - Twenty One
And as already mentioned Vampire Weekend and Laura Marling

Disappointments of the year: Bloc Party and The Long Blondes - could not get into their new albums at all

 

[visconti]

Murcof's Versailles Sessions is also a very late release of 2008 that was pretty astonishing. I could be biased as he's some sort of hometown hero but I just can't get tired of his work, it's so elegant and precise...

I need to check this out. I quite enjoy Cosmos and Martes, but I haven't heard the rest of his catalog.

I listened to these albums frequently in 2008. I'd say that Prurient and Portishead were my favorites of the year.

2562: Ariel
Antony and the Johnsons: EP
Basic Channel: BCD2
Bohren & der Club of Gore: Dolores
Coffins: Buried Death
Crystal Castles: S/T
Deerhunter: Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
DJ/Rupture: Uproot
Distance: Repercussions
Fennesz: Black Sea
Flying Lotus: Los Angles
Gang Gang Dance: Saint Dymphana
Genghis Tron: Board Up the House
Grouper: Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
M83: Saturdays= Youth
Marcin Czubala: Chronicles of Never
Paavoharju: Laulu Laakson Kukista
Portishead: Third
Prurient: And Still, Wanting
Leviathan: Massive Conspiracy Against All Life
Nachtmystium: Assassins : Black Meddle Pt. 1

I just picked up Bruno Pronsato, Scuba, and Quiet Village (thanks to the RA year end poll). They seem strong, but haven't had the required listens to make such a list.

I was really bored with many of the year's hyped albums. TVoR seems to have lost their scratchy, worn quality and all sense of their doo wopish past. None of those (presumably) bearded folk singers interest me. Kanye's album suited me for about two weeks, but I'm already sick of it.

 

[starfish]

....2008 wasn't a good year for music in my opinion

yeah, that's my excuse... i'm definitely checking out albums mentioned here, though. i know i'll for the M83 album for sure.

 

[MulletProof]

I listened to these albums frequently in 2008. I'd say that Prurient and Portishead were my favorites of the year.

I just picked up Bruno Pronsato, Scuba, and Quiet Village (thanks to the RA year end poll). They seem strong, but haven't had the required listens to make such a list.

I was really bored with many of the year's hyped albums. TVoR seems to have lost their scratchy, worn quality and all sense of their doo wopish past. None of those (presumably) bearded folk singers interest me. Kanye's album suited me for about two weeks, but I'm already sick of it.

Wonderful list, Visconti. it makes me wish I had dedicated more time to Prurient as the little I heard from them was quite intriguing..
and I feel the same way about Bruno.. though I never got the whole thing, I checked it out vaguely but didn't feel motivated to immerse myself into it... it might as well be the hype, there are just too many adjectives attached to his music at the moment, I feel like I couldn't relate to it in anyway.
and thanks for reminding me of Fennesz, yet another potentially great album that I didn't get this year.

and one last thing, Jack Rose doesn't have a beard, just give him a chance.

 

[Scott]

completely forgot!!

spiritualized-Songs in A&E

 

[visconti]

Wonderful list, Visconti. it makes me wish I had dedicated more time to Prurient as the little I heard from them was quite intriguing..
and I feel the same way about Bruno.. though I never got the whole thing, I checked it out vaguely but didn't feel motivated to immerse myself into it... it might as well be the hype, there are just too many adjectives attached to his music at the moment, I feel like I couldn't relate to it in anyway.
and thanks for reminding me of Fennesz, yet another potentially great album that I didn't get this year.

and one last thing, Jack Rose doesn't have a beard, just give him a chance.

Most of the older Prurient releases are more difficult to listen to because he relies heavily on a high pitched screech and lengthy (8-12 minute) track lengths. And Still, Wanting is closer to standard song structure. Shorter tracks, distorted vocals, a clearer focus. He also released albums called Cocaine Death and The Black Post Society which are similar, but not quite as striking. Additionally, there is an EP called Arrowhead, but that's similar to the old screechy material, so I didn't listen to it much.

Thankfully Amazon had the new Murcof for ~$6, so I'll be listening to it soon.

I'll see what I can do with Jack Rose too. . .

 

[titania]

top albums/eps

- bloc party intimacy
- cut copy in ghost colours
- le kingste self titled ep
- mercy arms self titled
- pivot o soundtrack my heart
- portishead third
- santogold self titled
- schvendes sweet talk your enemies
- the silents things to learn
- vampire weekend self titled

top live shows
- air in march at v-festival
- bloc party in november at hordern
- futureheads in october at the gaelic
- interpol in february at hordern
- pivot in january at field day
- rage against the machine in january at big day out
- ratatat in april at essential festival
- smashing pumpkins in march at v-festival
- the rakes in march at v-festival
- vampire weekend in august at the metro

 

[stellina]

ryan adams & the cardinals - cardinology
jenny lewis - acid tongue

all i can think of currently...

 

[nijuyanah]

^ titania your top-album list is quite identical with mine though, Santogold was my personal fav this year

 

[miwa]

I didn't really listen to these new artists, or any of these albums that are always picked by other people but my favorite albums of 2008 are:
Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and all His Friends
The Killlers - Day & Age
A Fine Frenzy - One Cell In The Sea
The Hush Sound - Goodbye Blues
Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Suns
Empires - Howl
Muse - HAARP (live CD but still great)

That's all I can think of.