Best Albums of 2008

WE ARE ENDING THE YEAR OFF WITH A BUNCH OF BEST OF LISTZ!


To get things started we have Hunk’s picks for the best albums of 2008.

10. Cut Copy [In Ghost Colours]

2008 was a big year for Australian music. In Ghost Colours was the highly anticipated, follow up to the groups 2003 debut which rescued electronic music from the death grips of the sub-genred, drugged-out route it was going in.  The album proved the wait was worthwhile, it’s a pleasurable listen from beginning to end.  The album also added fuel to the disco resurgence as well as keeping the retro 80’s vibe alive.

Cut Copy – Feel The Love


9. MGMT [Oracular Spectacular]

MGMT were easily one, if not the most remixed group of 2008.  This album really grew on me and i think others as well as its now, as of recent being played on mainstream radio.  The band was easily one of the most up hyped groups and deservingly so, although id say they are bordering on overplay and in definite need of some new tracks to add to the fire.

MGMT – Kids

8. Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit [The Very Best]

Diplo & Santogold [Top Ranking] &

Girl Talk [Feed The Animals]

3-Way Tie

disclaimer: I couldn’t decide between these and decided that they’re all similar being “mixes”, made up of bits of already composed music.

2008 was the year of the promotional, internet distributed mix tape.  Diplo followed up his 2005 MIA mix tape effort, Piracy Funds Terrorism and reminded everyone that he’s still a major player in the game with this 35 track 80 minute journey through reggae, electro, hip hop and the kitchen sink.  Top Ranking is truly an enjoyable listen, featuring the ebs and flow, peaks and valley missing from lesser mixes.  Alongwith showcasing Santogold work, the remix work takes this album beyond a simple collection of songs into something worthy of a top spot amongst albums of original content.

Diplo vs Santogold – Top Ranking – I’m a Lady (Diplo Mix ft Amanda Blank)

2008 introduced Esau Mwamwaya and his take on African music to the mainstream music world.   Teaming up with Radioclit, the pair have created something completely unique by adding an African element to more traditional sampling . There upcoming debut release is high up on the albums to look forward to in 2009 list. Oh and did I mention, this and the above we’re released for free via the net. (search the archives for them)

The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) – Hide & Seek

Dj’s of the world take note, nobody rocked a party quite as hard as Greg Gillis did in 2008.  Laptop djing once looked down upon is looking to be the future.  Nobody has ever mixed as many genres as successfully as “Feed The Animals” does and everyone from frat boys to discerning music snobs have seemed to take notice to the mass appeal of it all.   My only complaint is that the album is so ADD and party that you really have to be ready to go if your putting this album on, but is that really a bad thing?

Girl Talk – Still Here


7. The Dodos [Visiteur]

Slightly lesser knowns, The Dodos have put together an excellent solid debut showcasing their art folk sound.  The drumming on the album alone is worthy of a spot on my list.  Pitchfork drew warranted comparison to Led Zepplin – III.  All they need to do now is come back and play Vancouver again.  Please…

The Dodos – Jodi


6. Chad VanGaalen [Soft Airplane]

This album has replaced the spot once held by VanGaalen’s 2004 debut “Infiniheart” as one of my all time favorite albums.  CVG is often compared to Neil Young with his peicingly soft falsetto voice, with this album I think he has surpassed those comparisons by making this remarkable piece of art.  His home-made basement aesthetic provides an unmatched intimacy.  My only complaint is that he always pushes the experimental envelope a little too far on one or two songs, without those tracks the album would play out better, and would be number one on my list.  However, there’s no way CVG could of ever gotten to the place he is now without constantly experimenting and pushing the boundaries to his unique sound.

Chad VanGaalen – Molten Light


5. Fleet Foxes [self titled]

I don’t think there was a single person in the room that didn’t feel a shiver pass through them, with the opening notes of their live show here in Vancouver, this album is like that.  Their musicianship is excellent, their debut self titled album is a breath of fresh air to the sometimes stale indie rock sound where a lot of bands end up sounding the same.  Almost a re visitation to the folk sound of the 60’s but with a unique twist on things as if the group has existed in a void, isolated from everything else going on in music.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal


4.Born Ruffians – [Red, Yellow & Blue]

People are still sleeping on this little Toronto band. Their live act will blow you away.  Their album Red, Yellow and Blue is stocked full of indie barn funk jams and their call and answer style is dancey as fuck, what ever that means?  Go and listen to them for yourself and then we can discuss this in further detail.

Born Ruffians – Foxes Mate For Life


3. Bon Iver [For Emma, Forever Ago]

The internet is finally going nuts on Bon Iver (pronounced EEVUR) as they are currently at the top of the Hype Machines most blogged artists.  This album fills the void when it’s been a long day and you need something soothing to get you back home.  For Emma, Forever might be my most listened to album as well (blogging is really hard on the soul).  

Bon Iver – For Emma


2.Crystal Castles [Self Titled]

Easily the best thing to happen to electronic music as of recent saw it being fused with elements of hardcore and, dare I say, goth-rave meets the video arcade on acid.  The group’s minimalist sound with the cut up vocals of lead Alice Glass charted new territory sampling everything from what sounds like he-man cartoons to the 8 bit sounds of a nintendo gameboy, the album found a perfect fit with me in 2008.  While the biggest hit of the album, Crimewave got a lot of people’s attention, the other album tracks provide greater depth into all that is CC and are just as good, if not better.  The enigmatic group’s explosive live performances led by vocalist Alice Glass (Maybe the hottest “indie Cindy” of 2008) also helped.

Crystal Castles – Vanished


1.Vampire Weekend [Self Titled]

Definitely one of the most loved and hated groups of 2008, it’s almost as if some people hold having an ivy league education and their listenability against them??  Their influences are diverse, a little bit of Africa, a lot of New York and something that’s reminiscent of a feel good 80’s movie about girls.  I think they made a lot of new fans with their their live act as they are truly talented musicians both when playing live and in the orchestration on the album.  Their self titled debut took top spot for me as there isn’t a bad song on it, their sound is distinct, enjoyable and survivable of intense multiple listenings.  If I could time travel to the future and bring back any album it would be their next output. 

Vampire Weekend – I Stand Corrected


Honorable mentions to:

Yo! Majesty – Futuristically Speaking: Never Be Afraid for helping to usher out the 50 cent era, bringing life back to hip hop and showing that they’re here to stay. Radiohead – In Rainbows, definately could of been on my list but they’re Radiohead everything they do is great, you don’t need me to tell you that.  The Ting Tings -We Started Nothing, because there is nothing like getting slapped around a bit by a rocker chick even if they do get a little too poppy.  Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell for being Canadian, Lykke Li – Youth Novels if only for her unique voice and lyrics. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III for making me actually like something Lil and for his improvisational rapping style n lyrics.  Hot Chip – Made In The Dark for continuing to be Hot Chip and making me wish I needed glasses so that i could wear some like, Alexis Taylor’s. I must say also Tv on the Radio’s Dear Science and Portishead’s Third as I have to admit that I still havn’t listened to them but have heard they probably could of made the list as well as a few others i might of missed but there’s only so many hours in a day and far too much good music to listen to.