auditory discourse

25 Favorite Records of 2008

After much self debating, a few close calls, and endless headphone confinement, my list has finally been cast in iron. I’ll be revealing 5 at a time till we get down to one [I'll be refreshing this single post]. Also, I’ll be revealing a couple late albums I’ve come across since making the list that have great potential. And finally, a few music videos, tracks, eps, and disappointments down the road at some point. For the time being, I hope you enjoy the list, or at least find something new. Hope 2009 will be as bountiful as this year. See you then.

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01. Fleet Foxes
by Fleet Foxes

It’s really a damn shame that Robin Pecknold sounds so much like Jim James. Most people I’ve talked to about this record slip that little paper cut into the conversation somehow. Here’s the thing: Fleet Foxes’ music sounds nothing like My Morning Jacket. On their stunning self titled debut (not to mention their small wonder, Sun Giant EP), Fleet Foxes channel what they call “baroque pop”. It’s a fitting title; One that seems to fly out from the Bruegel painting on the cover. Perfectly molded harmonies, the almost familiar antiqueness of their sound. It all comes together into an album that can require your full attention, or a casual listen. Over and over and over.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal {From Fleet Foxes}

Fleet Foxes – He Doesn’t Know Why {From Fleet Foxes}


02. Kensington Heights
by Constantines

This is, without a doubt in my mind, one of the best group of gents making records these days. Their breadth of work is not enormous by any means, but makes up for in bountiful quality. Lyrically, Bryan Webb can be just as abstractedly versed as he can with the most literal interpretations. Kensington Heights is the Constantines most mature record to date. Songs like Our Age and Time Can Be Overcome has Webb pondering thoughts outside of immortality, unlike some past adolecent anthems, Young Lions and Some Party. I can agree with those that say the fiery persona of young Constantines is by far the most successful. But here, I think I can safely say they’re showing their age without losing much of that young spirit.

Constantines – I Will Not Sing A Hateful Song {From Kensington Heights}

Constantines – Our Age {From Kensington Heights}

03. Furr
by Blitzen Trapper

04. Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
by Drive-By Truckers

With a track listing long enough to cover a double album, The Drive-By Truckers’ new album contains no filler. There are dreary thoughts about death in the stunning Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife, a man haunted by a crime in That Man I Shot, and self realizations and redemption on The Righteous Path. Basically, if you are having trouble in your life at the moment, pop this in and get humbled really quick.

Drive-By Truckers – Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife {From Brighter Than Creation’s Dark}

05. Fate
by Dr. Dog

06. Dear Science
by TV On The Radio

07. You & Me
by The Walkmen

They haven’t let shows like The OC drag them down to levels of popular music stardom. Instead these guys still make records the way they want, in a style that is no one elses but their own.

The Walkmen – I Lost You {From You & Me}

08. For Emma, Forever Ago
by Bon Iver

Justin Vernon traveled to a cabin in northern Wisconsin, spending 4 months in isolation. And out came For Emma, Forever Ago. This is a collection of some outstanding, heart–wreching shit. It’s a concentrated cathartic coronary of music. In other words, don’t put these songs on your next party mix.

Bon Iver – Flume {From For Emma, Forever Ago}

09. Feed The Animals
by Girl Talk

I’m not the biggest radio rap fan. And while most of Girl Talk’s samples are indeed just that, it makes the top 40 crap listenable. So now, when I’m at a store/bar and hear someone like Yung Joc come on, I’m actually reminded of Stil Here on Feed the Animals where The Band has Yung Joc’s back. And I prefer it that way.

Girl Talk – Shut The Club Down {From Feed The Animals}

10. Keep Your Eyes Ahead
by The Helio Sequence

Really tight wound pop sounds with shards of digital accents. The Helio Sequence balance the two really well. On the song You Can Come To Me, I swear that’s the sound of Mario haulting to a stop, but here, it’s those small decorations that add to a well sculptured whole.

The Helio Sequence – You Can Come To Me {From Keep Your Eyes Ahead}

11. In Ear Park
by Department of Eagles

Well, while Grizzly Bear is in the studio, Daniel Rossen decided that being in one outstanding troupe just wasn’t enough. The sprawling strings in opener, In Ear Park, are like a rug being pulled out from under you, and there are intricacies in the album that require a look at every nook and cranny.

Department of Eagles – No One Does It Like You {From In Ear Park}

12. April
by Sun Kil Moon

Nevermind the nearly hour and half of music on this beast, Mark Kozelek slowly builds each song on April, as if he doesn’t want you to take any note or lyric for granted.

Sun Kil Moon – The Light {From April}

13. The Stand-Ins
by Okkervil River

Not to undermined anything Okkervil River has done with The Stage Names or The Stand-Ins, because they are both excellent in their own regard. But, I can’t help but think they would have made one of the best double albums we’ve had in some time. I guess I can go ahead and think of them that way, because they work seamlessly as a duo. The story progresses. The band shows off their endless supply of influences and Will Sheff’s vast lexicon shines to the surface.

Okkervil River – Singer Songwriter {From The Stand-Ins}

14. Real Emotional Trash
by Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks

There’s the sweet smelling aroma of Gardeina, The incendiary guitar work on Baltimore that spirals in and out of control, and the slow burn of Out Of Reaches. Ole Steve pulls out all the stops with his counterpart Jicks. I mean, of course he used to make great music with Pavement in the early 90′s, but shit people, this is 2008.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks – Out Of Reaches {From Real Emotional Trash}

15. Attack & Release
by The Black Keys

These guys used to make records in their basement. You can hear the grit on The Big Come Up and Thickfreakness. Here, the boys gloss it up a bit with some new textures, a new producer, and an Ike Turner inspired determination. The finished product is their most ambitious record to date.

The Black Keys – Same Old Thing {From Attack & Release}

16. Oh! Mighty Engine
by Neil Halstead

After listening to this record, you might find it a little unbelievable that it’s under the same label as 08 summer festival “gotta have” Jack Johnson. But Neil Halstead’s voice is like a sheath over his sharp folk influence that ventures into the fields of people like Nike Drake and Elliott Smith.

Neil Halstead – Elevenses {From Oh! Mighty Engine}

17. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
by Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

I sometimes wonder how guys like this, who’ve been under the wings of such people as TV on the Radio, Grizzly Bear, and others, not be more recognized. Especially when their debut album is so damn good. Miles Benjamin Anothny Robinson’s self titled impressiveness plays off of folky guitar with light bits of punk. It’s one of the best first impressions you’ll have all year.

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson – Woodfriend {From Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson}

18. Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
by Silver Jews

Since it’s inception way back when, Silver Jews has name dropped quite a few high music rollers. One of those, Stephen Malkmus has gone on to bigger and better things. But, David Berman has kept this sheep from straying with his signature off–the–cuff, devil–may–care baritone, and relentless ernestness.

Silver Jews – Party Barge {From Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea}

19. Accelerate
by R.E.M.

After a couple failed somber attempts to bring back the Athenian local sound that R.E.M. coined, Accelerate makes a bold statement of ferocious guitars and political firestorms. The lyrics are smart, and Michael Stipe proves once again that he’s one of most intrigingt front–men in the industry.

R.E.M. – Until The Day Is Done {From Accelerate}

20. The Midnight Organ Fight
by Frightened Rabbit

Scott Hutchinson’s selkirk–laced lyrics are the undeniable force on this record. One night stands. Soured relationships. It’s worn on his sleeve on this record. And it’s delightfully contradictory to the music that backs these stories. on Keep Yourself Warm, they make words to a sexaholic sound galvanizing.

Frightened Rabbit – I Feel Better {From The Midnight Organ Fight}

21. Little Joy
by Little Joy

This kinda came out of nowhere. Strokes drummer Fabrizio Moretti has put together a small side project with a big agenda. Little Joy is one of those rare occasions when a band members’ side project actually can survive without the resperator of big brother. Songs like Brand New Start reveal a playful side, while slower tracks like With Strangers chug along with a prideful maturity. Welcome from out of the shadow fellas.

Little Joy – The Next Time Around {From Little Joy}

22. Devotion
by Beach House

I described this record earlier on my previous blog, saying that it was probably the best record to hear when the sun is coming up after a night of heavy drinking. It’s one of those that isn’t an immediate favorite, but one that builds over time. Victoria Legrand’s voice just melts over the solemn guitar and synth work of Alex Scally. And if it wasn’t such a mood piece, it would probably be further up the list.

Beach House – Gila {From Devotion}

23. Trouble In Dreams
by Destroyer

In my opinion, he writes the better New Pornographer tunes. But, he also has tremendous solo material to brag about. He, Dan Bejar/Destroyer , has followed up 2006′s outstanding Destroyer’s Rubies with a record that ventures in numerous artistic directions. While most of his lyrics are still outrageously abstract. Like some Dylan tunes, Dan can make words effortlessly roll off the tongue, whether the idea is tangible or not. And it also doesn’t hurt that the melodies are infectious as this years’ flu season.

Destroyer – Dark Leaves Form a Thread {From Trouble In Dreams}

24. Ode To Sunshine
by Delta Spirit

Whether it’s the unbelievably precision paced drum tracks, the pop bulion gold of Trashcan, or the vivid storytelling of Matt Vasquez. Either way, the recent small cult following of Delta Spirit is rightly justified, and Ode to Sunshine is a testament to that.

Delta Spirit – Trashcan {From Ode To Sunshine}

25. In The Future
by Black Mountain

Besides having one of the best albums covers of the year, this early riser of 2008 contains some of the best psychedelic rock since their last venture in 2005. The multi–structural influence of Zeppelin, and the guitar crunch of Sabbath meld into this dark creation of moody epics.

Black Mountain – Angels {From In The Future}