top 10 albums of 2008
It should really be a top 5, but Hype Machine wants a top 10. A few albums this year blew me away, but it’s a bit of a stretch to get 10 of them together. Here’s what I got:
1. Why? - Alopecia
I had a garage sale in May where I sat on my front porch drinking Lost Lake and listening to this album. My friend stopped by and asked who I was playing. When I told her, she asked “Well then Why are you listening to such terrible music?” I don’t understand why people don’t like this record. I listen to it at least once a day and I haven’t gotten sick of it yet.
2. Callupsie - Callupsie
I’m not putting them on the list just because they’re my friends. Their self-titled LP is really fucking good. They do a great job at borrowing from several genres and combining the eclectic sounds into well-crafted catchy songs. If you live in the midwest, you should try to catch them should they ever be playing in your town.
3. Unwed Sailor - Little Wars
On a related note, Aaron (Callupsie) played on this record. Jonathon Ford has never let me down (except for that time I lent him $20 and he never paid me back…the bastard). Even if you don’t really like instrumental music, you should give this a listen because it’s not the typical loosely-structured “jam band post rock” that most instrumental bands play these days.
4. Brendan Canning - Something for All of Us
Man, Brendan Canning is on point. I like this album for the same reason I like every Broken Social Scene album. I would call it “shoegaze dance pop” but that label sucks. I can see these songs in a Toyota commercial in the future. [say what you want, but did you ever think you’d hear Aqueduct in a Jaguar commercial?]
5. This Will Destroy You - This Will Destroy You
My boss and I take turns playing music in the office. One day he said to me “Alright, Johnny, play me something I haven’t heard before.” Knowing he’s appreciated Unwed Sailor and Explosions in the Sky, I put this album on and he loved it. Loved it so much that he bought it in iTunes. And plays it frequently. For that reason (and the fact that it’s still a damn fine piece of work) it’s among my most listened-to albums of the year.
6. Dosh - Wolves & Wishes
This is the kind of stuff you’d like to have in the background at your Christmas party. Especially if the people at your party are wearing glasses and scarves. It’s also the kind of music you’d like to have in the background while you’re getting baked and staring at a wall.
7. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
Forget for a minute that all their songs sound the same. Actually, do that for a half an hour and you’ll really like this album. This is the kind of stuff you’d like to have in the background at your Christmas party where your guests are 17-year-old girls who tell your friends they’re 22.
8. Russian Circles - Station
I didn’t like this as much as I liked Enter. I mean, it’s still pretty good (good enough to be in the top 10, mind you), but I wasn’t as excited about it as I thought I’d be. But who knows…it might grow on me next year.
9. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
I’m only putting this in here because of “Cath.” The rest of the songs are just alright. A let-down if you’re expecting the same Death Cab who wrote “We Have The Facts…” but a pleasant surprise if you’re expecting something from people who’ve been hanging out with John Mayer. Ben Gibbard’s voice is still rad.
10. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
No list is complete without a hipster-flavor-of-the-year album. There’s more to it, but Haley just made me some food that’s more interesting than talking about this album. [alfredo pasta, sauteed mushrooms and fish sticks, if you’re curious]