If there was a central theme/trend this year in music, it spun right past me. But by no means do I feel outta the loop this time around – but I’ve realized in the past few weeks how many albums I entirely missed. Obviously, it’s not realistic to aspire to hear all the records on your favorite website’s end-of-year-list, right? Back in January, I began to compile an Excel spreadsheet of new records I was listening to in 2008 – that lasted maybe a month, maybe even less. To me, this year was full of an overabundance of full-length LPs at my disposal; at times, the queue was too deep to even bother with many records. What lies after the jump, are the records that didn’t end up in my digital trash can and received a lost count of spins…
I’m doing this in a condensed form. Most of these albums garnered a post or two throughout the year on this very same blog and when possible, I have linked my banter.
10. Rhymefest – Man in the Mirror
This was one of the first albums experienced in ‘08 and the production, humor, use of the King of Pop, and upbeat tracks made me continuously return to it. Plus, “something like this has never been done before”.
9. Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Ahead
The duo’s more melodic formula this time around was definitely the right mixture to earn endless repeats around these parts. The light electronic effects add the perfect touch to all 10 tracks.
8. Hawksley Workman – Between the Beautifuls/ Los Manlicious
Canada produced many wonderful albums this year and these two LPs further prove this. One was gentle and uplifting, while the other was a high energy rock extravaganza with some of the better songs formulated all year.
7. The Presets – Apocalypso
It was dubbed “Mortal Kombat music” – which didn’t deter me; it made me gravitate towards it even more. This one begins hard and the intensity doesn’t stop – at all.
6. Jamie Lidell – Jim
Let’s take it back to a more simpler time and this white boy did just that. The slow numbers are timeless; tracks like “Hurricane” are whirlwinds full of endless energy and exuberance. Jim has the best of both worlds.
5. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Pulsing pop music. Shimmering tracks that make you move. Cut Copy proved Australia continues to concoct some amazing music.
4. Foals – Antidotes
The guitar work and high energy on this album are what instantly hooked me. And then I saw this quintet in a club setting…
3. M83 – Saturdays=Youth
If music could be beautiful and hip at the same time, M83 surely found a way with this monster. Anthony Gonzalez can give a nod to the 80’s whenever he damn well pleases.
2. Features – Some Kind of Salvation
This record produced a first for me: Buying every possible form of media for Some Kind of Salvation – CD, MP3, and even vinyl. Why? Their widely known live energy has finally been transferred to a recorded form. Tennessee is still nothing to fuck with.
1. Local H – 12 Angry Months
It was the sincerity that most likely went into this record that made me keep coming back for more. You can sense in every lyric, chord, strum of the guitar/bass, and hit of the drums that this breakup record can go toe-to-toe with any of the so-called classics. Their typical formula is still here, as are a power ballad or two, but it was the epic week back in May that secured this album’s prestigious spot. If it wasn’t for 12 Angry Months, could I have experienced albums performed live in their entirety? Continue to be bitter, Scott.
It seems you bought many more physical albums this year than you have in some time. Not only a commendable move coming from someone who discussed throwing in the towel on the CD, but maybe it goes to show our tendencies to support a band/artist/album by purchasing a tangible product.
Solid list. You’ve talked about all of these albums quite a bit this year. Was it relatively easy for you to compile this? I reckon it wasn’t as difficult as it might have been in year’s past.