LPTJ Best of 2008 Thread

[RavingLunatic]

How many edits will it take for me to get this mammoth list in working order? We shall see.

EDIT: This top list here should be used for tallying purposes, as I continue editing my old list. I'm not gonna try to rearrange all the other with the write-ups and mp3's and all.

1 – Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
2 – Tallest Man On Earth – Shallow Grave
3 – Winona – Rosebud
4 – Four Tet – Ringer EP
5 – Blitzen Trapper – Furr
6 – Ready Fire Aim – This Changes Nothing
7 – Peter Broderick – Home
8 – Tyler Ramsey – A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea
9 – Sun Kil Moon – April 
10 – Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
11 – Photographic – Pictures of a Changing World
12 – Ladyhawk – Shots
13 – Horse Feathers – House with No Home
14 – Anthony Da Costa & Abbie Gardner – Bad Nights Better Days
15 – Pete Greenwood – Sirens
16 – Anthony Da Costa – Typical American Tragedy
17 – Elliott Brood – Mountain Meadows
18 – Colm Mac Con Iomaire – The Hare’s Dream
19 – Caroline Herring – Lantana
20 – Strugglers – The Latest Rights
21 – Great Outdoors – Summer/Spring EPs
22 – Haley Bonar – Big Star
23 – Grand Salvo – Death
24 – Langhorne Slim – Langhorne Slim
25 – Counting Crows – Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
26 – Throw Me the Statue – Moonbeams
27 – Rickolus – Winter’s Daughter
28 – Plants & Animals – Parc Avenue
29 – Jon Foreman – Fall & Winter Eps
30 – South San Gabriel/Centro-matic – Dual Hawks
31 – Karine Polwart – This Earthly Spell
32 – Nels Andrews – Off Track Betting
33 – Elephant Micah –Exiled Magicians
34 – Tim Grimm – Holding Up the World
35 – Blaudzun – Blaudzun
36 – Eef Barzelay – Lose Big
37 – Balmorhea – River Arms
38 – Fern Knight – Fern Knight
39 – Adam Singer – Lifeforce
40 – Magnetic Fields – Distortion

1 – Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns
 I’ve said it elsewhere, but I think this is the best indie-rock album since The Meadowlands. It’s catchy, but not in a get-up-and-dance kind of way, more like a god-damn-I-feel you kind of way. It’s that rare album where the guy just straight up yelps and shouts his unvarnished pain, anguish, and joy and it doesn’t come off as corny or contrived in the least.   Rural Alberta Advantage – Don’t Haunt This Place


2 – Tallest Man On Earth – Shallow Grave 
I absolutely love the guitar work on this one, and like my #1, it brims with unbridled enthusiasm. Voice annoyed me at first but I got used to it. Tallest Man On Earth - Pistol Dreams (courtesy of Muzzle of Bees)



3 – Winona – Rosebud 
Man, this is a kicking, dark dance album. And I don’t mean gothic dark. More like bad-ass dark. At least that’s how it seems to me. Pretty much pure electronics and vocals. Winona - Celebrity



4 – Four Tet – Ringer EP   
A major return to form for him. It’s basically minimal techno, a genre I have almost no interest in, but the dude somehow stamps it with his inimitable trademark mesmerizing atmospheres.



5 – Sun Kil Moon – April   
Koz does it again. Not much else to say. Dude puts out classic records in his sleep these days. Can’t wait for the new covers record. I pre-ordered it a couple weeks back.



6 – Blitzen Trapper – Furr 
It’s been talked about a lot elsewhere.



7 – Ready Fire Aim – This Changes Nothing 
An awesome mellow, electronic-pop record, much like the Junior Boys. Comes with some kick-ass insert art as well. Ready Fire Aim – As If It Were That Easy

8 – Peter Broderick – Home 
Just a gorgeous album of atmospheric guitar and vocals. They’re the kind of songs that you fall in love with in the first 5 seconds. He’s also the violinist for Horse Feathers and Efterklang and 500 other bands. And he’s 21. Peter Broderick – And It’s Alright


9 – Tyler Ramsey – A Long Dream About Swimming Across the Sea 
Another amazing record of melancholy folk music. I don’t care much for Band of Horses, so I almost didn’t even listen to this one. Some awesome acoustic guitar work here as well. Tyler Ramsey - Ships

10 – Okkervil River – The Stand Ins 
They are awesome.


11 – Photographic – Pictures of a Changing World
Great post-rock album in EITS/Mogwai vein, though a lot heavier than those bands have been of late. Just supremely well done.
Photographic – They Fed Us Poisoned Bread

12 – Ladyhawk – Shots
Raw Americana rock. With their second stellar album in a row, they’re quickly becoming on of my favorite active bands. Ladyhawk – I Don’t Always Know What You’re Saying

13 – Horse Feathers – House with No Home
Often subtle and entrancing folk music. The singer has a peculiarly expressive voice and the copious violin further sets this one apart from the pack.Horse Feathers – This Is What
 
14 – Anthony Da Costa & Abbie Gardner – Bad Nights Better Days
Just a tone of great folk ballads, mostly duets. Anthoy da Costa & Abbie Gardner - Note

15 – Pete Greenwood – Sirens
Tremendous finger-picked folk album. I love complex finger-picking patterns with great melodies sung over them. It’s weird, but not that many people actually do it. Greenwood does it very well.Pete Greenwood – Wine & Rye

16 – Anthony Da Costa – Typical American Tragedy
Has some amazing high points but is a bit inconsistent and has occasional corny/awkward lyrics. The good songs are awesome though. Like this catchy-as-hell one. Anthony da Costa – Back of My Mind

17 – Elliott Brood – Mountain Meadows
Kick-ass, boot-stomping alt-country album that lives up to the potential they demonstrated on the Tin Type EP. Elliott Brood – Miss You Now

18 – Colm Mac Con Iomaire – The Hare’s Dream
Really eclectic and varied instrumental folk album. A violin often plays the part a vocal melody would play, and the melodies here are fabulous. I believe this is the violinist from the Frames.Colm Mac Con Iomaire – Emer’s Dream

19 – Caroline Herring – Lantana
Just an awesome straight-up alt-country album. She’s got a husky voice that I love. Made me think for a long time she was old, but she’s actually really young (and really hot).Caroline Herring – Stone Cold World

20 – Haley Bonar – Big Star
This one’s fallen a bit, but it is still a great album with some awesome tracks. I actually prefer her previous two albums, one of which she must’ve released when she was 17. A great talent, obviously. Haley Bonar – Better Half

21 – Grand Salvo – Death
Concept album about a bunch of forest critters. A rat, rabbit, bird, bear, and hunter named Schaelem. A very touching and unique story. Best album lyrically of the year. Grand Salvo - Bear

22 – Langhorne Slim – Langhorne Slim
Upbeat Americana. Very good. Not much else to say. Langhorne Slim – She’s Gone

23 – Counting Crows – Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
I really anticipated this sucking, but it’s very good.

24 – Throw Me the Statue – Moonbeams
A great indie-pop record. Somewhat lo-fi. A bit like Casiotone For the Painfully Alone at times. Throw me the Statue – Take It Or Leave It

25 – Rickolus – Winter’s Daughter
Great classical-sounding album that’s mostly piano-based. Often sounds Radiohead-ish. Album is available for free download at his website. Rickolus - Maryn

26 – Plants & Animals – Parc Avenue
27 – Jon Foreman – Fall & Winter Eps
28 – Karine Polwart – This Earthly Spell
29 – Nels Andrews – Off Track Betting
30 – Strugglers – The Latest Rights
31 – Tim Grimm – Holding Up the World
32 – Blaudzun – Blaudzun
33 – Eef Barzelay – Lose Big
34 – Balmorhea – River Arms
35 – Fern Knight – Fern Knight

[dieblucasdie]

goddamn it RL you totally just tricked me into listening to a Counting Crows album

[RavingLunatic]

Well, I can't deny it, I love Duritz and co. Actually, what I love is their 1st, 4th, and 5th albums. The Shrek songs are abominations, no doubt. And "Hanginaround" gets annoying after a while.

I actually need to listen to Recovering the Satellites, 'cause I'm not sure I've listened to the whole thing before, and other people say good things about it.

[davy]

Here's hoping Plants & Animals finds a way to sneak into your top 20, RL. Just listen to "New Kind of Love" until it happens.

As for the Silver Jews, I reluctantly agree with Narlus that it's doubtful he will ever top American Water (though I personally prefer The Natural Bridge). That said, if he can manage to release a few more Bright Flights, I'll be overjoyed. Tanglewood Numbers was a pretty decisive move away from that kind of sound, though.

[ellaguru]

Ryan you totally got to hit up that Entire Cities album, man.

[RavingLunatic]

Ryan you totally got to hit up that Entire Cities album, man.

Oh, yeah! I've actually give that one a few listens and it definitely should be on the list. I just haven't put it on there yet. For some reason, I feel like I can't put an album on my list until I've listened to it in my car, and I don't have that one on CD yet. It is pretty awesome, and I forgot to thank you for turning me on to that one.

[RavingLunatic]

Here's hoping Plants & Animals finds a way to sneak into your top 20, RL. Just listen to "New Kind of Love" until it happens.

That album very well could be in the top 20 by the end. There are just a surplus of albums that I really like from about 16-30, and it's hard for me to put them in order. Parc Avenue actually has one of my favorite moments of the year. It's on "Sea Shanty," from 1:47-2:47. That song has this cool vibe to it, with the rapid but light drum beats and guitar lines. I sort of feel like its the soundtrack to some kind of hurried midnight trek. But then at 1:47 there's this exquisite laid back alt-country jam that they do for just one verse. It's like this burst of golden sunshine, like as some guy was running through backyards in the cold and dark suddenly caught the scent of someone cooking fresh doughnuts, and it conjured this vivid memory of making delicious cinnamon-sugar doughnuts with his grandma. But only for a few moments, before he is brought back to reality and continues running through the cold rain. I love it.

[Black Amnesia of Heaven]

Still say it's a pretty shitty year. I can't remember the last time I had a hard time filling a top 10 with albums I absolutely loved.

I must've just had a different experience.  My list is absent of filler.  I pretty much love all of the albums on it unconditionally.  Except for Tha Carter III which has grown somewhat stale with overplay.

[Ignatius]

You've just made me want to listen to that song right now, RL... Good job.

[Antero]

Tronic should be on everyone's lists.

Also, I rather love Dear Science.

[davy]

You've just made me want to listen to that song right now, RL... Good job.

Ditto, as soon as I finish listening to this Walkmen album (2nd time today...it'll place higher than I thought at first). I hope the song lives up to that analogy!

Perhaps my favorite moment from that album is right before the bridge explodes in "New Kind of Love," when the singer screams, "LIKE A CHILD, WE GET HUNGRY AND RESTLESS AND WICKED AND WIIIIIIIILD!"

[Andrew_TSKS]

I actually need to listen to Recovering the Satellites, 'cause I'm not sure I've listened to the whole thing before, and other people say good things about it.

It's their best one.

[dieblucasdie]

Goddamn it I'll see you renounce that heresy yet

[ellaguru]

I actually need to listen to Recovering the Satellites, 'cause I'm not sure I've listened to the whole thing before, and other people say good things about it.

Me too. On my list of things that ought to have been done a long time ago and for no good reason hasn't. I only know August and Everything After, which I love, but that somehow never inspired me to follow up with them. To be rectified.

[El_Josharino]

Order not entirely particular but close enough.
1. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash
2. Times New Viking - Rip It Off
3. Chauchat - Upon Thousands
4. Mount Eerie - Dawn
5. McCarthy Trenching - Calamity Drenching
6. UUVVWWZ - UUVVWWZ
7. Destroyer - Trouble In Dreams
8. Kaki King - Dreaming of Revenge

Some things that I like a lot but I dunno yet if I'm ready to put them in the top 10, though for all intents and purposes you can probably just go ahead and call them 9-14:
Neva Dinova - You May Already Be Dreaming
Boo and Boo Too - No Tempo
Baby Birds Don't Drink Milk - Eek Shriek Beak
Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Grave
Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling
A Silver Mt. Zion - whatever long ass album title that thing had which probably involved beams of light and flying horses and armor clad knights and shit.

I still need to get that Capstan Shafts album.

[El_Josharino]

Oh wait, never mind, that Silver Mt. Zion thing was just called Thirteen Blues for Thirteen Moons, which isn't that long after all. Although my guess still wasn't that far off.

[andronicus]

I liked that Malkmus a ton, but it hasn't stuck with me throughout the year quite as I feel it should have.

[davy]

I liked that Malkmus a ton, but it hasn't stuck with me throughout the year quite as I feel it should have.

I thought that same thing until about a month ago, when I started listening to it again on a regular basis. It's a blast. That's cool that Josh has it in the top slot; I didn't think there would be too much support for it this late in the year. It'll crack my top 5, I think.

[dieblucasdie]

Part of the problem is just how mellow that album is.  It's ridiculously good, but in a pleasant, waves-crashing-over-you way that's easy to forget about in the face of more dynamic albums, even if they aren't as good. 

[ellaguru]

Hadn't listened to it at all, but the track posted in this thread is pretty great.

[dieblucasdie]

That isn't even close to the best song on the record, either; I just picked it because it's the best one under 5 minutes. 

[El_Josharino]

I liked that Malkmus a ton, but it hasn't stuck with me throughout the year quite as I feel it should have.

This has happened to me with the rest of his stuff, where I'll listen and be like, "Hey, this is pretty good" and then never listen to it again. The new one, however, I've definitely listened to more than any other 2008 release this year.

[edison]

I, for one, love that Silver Jews record and still listen to it on a regular basis. I am keeping a nice spot warm for it on my list (and their live show was one of the top 3 or 5 of the year, too).

[Andrew_TSKS]

Goddamn it I'll see you renounce that heresy yet

Are you saying "August and Everything After" is superior? That's definitely debatable, and I really like it, but I gotta go for "Recovering" over it. Because, dude. "Angels of the Silences".

[dieblucasdie]

I think we've had this exact discussion like 20 times, but yeah, "Angels of the Silences" is far and away my favorite Counting Crows song, but August and Everything After is much, much stronger as a whole.  I'm biased though, since it was one of the first albums I owned (ha, don't you feel old now)