#25 The Coolest Thing About Love -
The Smittens
The best return of an old favorite ever. They even mention my home town in a song of theirs! The Smittens are the perfect twee band with the happiest songs all the while still retaining a certain heaviness to the lyrics. And most certainly are one of the funnest bands around.
#24 At Mount Zoomer -
Wolf Parade
I was waiting for this album for so long. The side projects of Handsome Furs and Sunset Rubdown were excellent fodder and both made it on my list last year. This follow up to the first album is so different from what I was expecting. It is a mixture of the side influences into this conglomeration, which definitely isn't bad. I just miss the instant success of Apologies. Still, it is one crazy ride with some fantastic lyrics.
#23 Who Killed Harry Houdini? -
I'm From Barcelona
What is this? The year of experimentation? I'm From Barcelona really changed it up with their second effort. At first I didn't know what to think. It threw away all the cheery-easy to sing along to-three sentence lyrics for actual attempts at deeper and longer songs, it's also much darker. And after a few listens I realized they pulled it off fantastically. I love the cheery bits: Paper Planes and Mingus, but the slower stuff is really great too like: Headphones and Ophelia. Nice job everyone!
#22 O My Heart -
Mother Mother
Mother Mother is fucking weird. And fucking good. Nuff said.
#21 Rearrange Us -
Mates of State
I didn't even know they released an album this year till my friend told me she listened to it. And Damn! How good was it when I got it! They've successfully made their continuing "epic" songs with Get Better (Amazing video too) and The Rearranger, and then the expected wonky upbeat tunes. The first half of this is stellar, the second half leaves me wanting to hear the first half again.
#20 Santogold -
Santogold
Fuck the hype. She really made a name for herself this year. The album is something original and familiar at the same time and has some amazing beats. Lights Out and I'm A Lady were stand outs for me but the whole thing is solid. Plus all the remixes kept me interested each month. They just keep coming.
#19 Do You Like Rock Music? -
British Sea Power
YES!! Goddamn this was a good album. And it came out so early in 2008 I almost forgot about it by years end. The opening and ending to the album are perfect to all degrees. It has some real amazing stuff in the middle too. It has this really big feeling to it without being over produced.
#18 Who Killed Amanda Palmer -
Amanda Palmer
I never listened to the Dresden Dolls, but this fell into my show's rotation one day on the radio. And I instantly loved the whole thing. The album is extremely smart and tells fantastically played out stories with fucked up characters. Their is just so many levels to the whole album, it's really something. Who knew cabaret could sound so good?
#17 Volume One -
She & Him
I was excited for this ever since I heard their demo's. The album delivered even more than I expected. Zooey Deschanel has a really memorable voice that is unlike any I've heard in recent years, and M. Ward is always good. This collaboration is fantastic and has a nostalgic feel to it reminiscent of the old doo-wop 50's stuff.
#16 Voyager -
Walter Meego
I decided to listen to this simply because of the album cover. At the beginning there was nothing about them really, now they blew up on the blogosphere, and with good reason. This is damn funky. I love the beats and the trendiness to this, it feels so fresh despite the obvious look back to the 80's.
#15 Pershing -
Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin
Listening back to all the albums of '08 this one always put a smile on my face. It's simple and easy going, almost twee-like but a little more functionality to it. A perfect middle of an album, not fantastic, not terrible, just right and just in time.
#14 In Ghost Colours -
Cut Copy
Australia really made a name for itself this year with electronic. This was definitely my favorite, Van She being a close second. The album just feels like a better version of New Wave from the 80's than anything that decade could produce. I was never a fan of that era until the revisiting that 2008 artists did. This album in particular is just top notch all around. Feel the Love!
#13 Crystal Castles -
Crystal Castles
8-bit has been awesome since it's entrance to the scene. And Crystal Castles really made it blow up. This shit is just bad ass and makes you want to take drugs.
#12 Pop-up -
Yelle
I don't understand a word and I don't care. Ce Jeu is stuck in my head constantly. Je Veux Te Voir is slamming. Amour du Sol is just too cool. It has that exotic foreign appeal, the trendy 80's style, and infectious pop mixed with electronic.
#11 Who Are We Missing? -
Listening Party
Made this discovery from the live show with Wolf Parade. They opened, and it twas amazing. Canada apparently has other places besides Montreal where good music comes from! This album has awesome instrumental experimentation backed by unique vocals. Really something great.
#10 First Frost -
The Lucksmiths
They can do no wrong. I was so happy to hear that a new album was coming out of fear that they stopped making music. And this is no disappointment. It has the fantastic twee feeling I fell in love and their amazing lyrics that are seriously some of the most effective use of words ever sung.
#9 Wake Up Thunderbabe -
The Battle Royale
Grungy garage electronic mixed with folk!? Awesome! The two styles are split from the beginning of the album and the later half but still mix quite well. It's their folk songs that are really amazing. Theirs so much fun between guy-girl vocals and a lot of great harmonies.
#8 Teeth Lost, Hearts Won -
The Grates
More from Australia! Super catchy stuff! This whole album is fantastic in it's own right, each track could stand alone as the best track on the album. It has this really exciting feel to it that makes you happy.
#7 We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed -
Los Campesinos!
Los Campesinos! released two albums this year! Oh wait, this is a record. Whatever. This one was my favorite of the two. It is not as nice and cheeky as the first, its a lot meaner and more emotional. Post apocalyptic clamor with pretentious lyrics and high pitched vocals!
#6 Skeletal Lamping -
of Montreal
How fucking weird and fucking fantastic!? There is so much going on and really about 50 different songs in this what with all the changes in each track. The Noise and the experimentation is something to revel in. Nonpareil of Favor, An Eluardian Instance, Gallery Piece they all have something that makes you go "hot damn!"
#5 Made In The Dark -
Hot Chip
Some of the hottest and smoothest singles around. It's got it all, funk leveled with sad and slow jams behind bad ass lyrics and nice beats.
#4 Starfucker -
Starfucker
This is the perfect album through and through for sleep, laying back, studying, cool down or just whatever. It's got great tracks that are both memorable yet forgettable which for some reason actually works for this band. You're all "god that was good, how did it go again?" and you put it on repeat. Plus good on them for the tits name.
#3 Arm's Way -
Islands
This is a fantastic follow up to Return To The Sea. It's completely alien from The Unicorns, and good riddance for shedding the image because this is something to be proud of. It has that type of staying power with you that hooks you in stays with you. And there is such a range, from the simple and catchy Creeper to the murderous story of I Feel Evil Creeping In. Plus just look at the album cover!
#2 Glistening Pleasure -
Natalie Portman's Shaved Head
Simply awesome! They have fun and make bitching music and could care less about anything else. It's super fun, humorous, smart, and original. Bedroom Costume and L.A. Noir and Holding Hands In the Shower are just pure gems in any library.
#1 Red Yellow & Blue -
Born Ruffains
Simply a perfect album. Every track is gold. It never gets old and has something different for each track. This is the perfect summer day, sunny afternoon, winter night, rainy week. It's everything.
Walter Meego
In Our Eyes (3:56)
