Best Albums of 2008 (40-21)

It begins. The caveats have been stated. Here we have 40-21 :

 

         40. The Dodos- Visiter

         (young band with lots of energy and great potential)

   

39. Los Campesinos- Hold on Now, Youngster

(fresh, playful. It is like Arcade Fire channeled through Green Day)

  

38. The War on Drugs-

  Wagonwheel Blues

 (Americana/ Alt Country template but

 expansive)

 

 

37. Oracular Spectular- MGMT

 (lots of fluff, but 

the good songs are very good. It mixes 

a number of genres in a mind b

lowing fashion at times)

 

 36. Heretic Pride- The Mountain Goats

 (an aquired taste. I have aquired enough to put it here, but not enough to make it higher. Great lyrics)

  

35. Ten Stones- Woven Hand

 (one of the only relevant "Gospel" musicians out there. If you like fire and brimstone mixed with acoustic goth, check it out)

34. In Ear Park- Department of Eagles

(if you liked Panda bear, you will like this)

33. Rockferry- Duffy

(it started higher and has slowly dropped, but there are some good songs on this and she has tons of potential)

32. The Way I See It- Raphael Saadiq (Good to hear him after creating neo soul for other artists. If you like traditional R&B with modern flourishes, this is good stuff)

31. Rook- Shearwater

 (great voice, good songs. Not as good as some say)

30. Third- Porstishead

(its about time. I am not sure the album is that good, but it sounds like a long lost friend)

 

29. Do You Like Rock Music?- British Sea Power

(the band with the best name. Will remind you of Elbow with a bit of Mogwai)

28. Lay It Down- Al Green

(the greatest voice in the world. This album makes me smile and sounds like songs from his classic era I never heard before)

27. Microcastle- Deerhunter

(still warming to it, but much better than the first album)

26. Don't Do Anything- Sam Phillips

(sorry about the divorce, but glad you are putting the pain to good use. One of the best singer/ songwriters in existence, she is aging gracefully)

25. The Renaissance- Q-Tip

(finally! not as good as the best of a Tribe Called Quest, but the way hip hop should sound. Much better and less trendy than his previous work)

24. Parc Avenue- Plants & Animals

(the first 2 songs made me think this would be a Top 10 album. Not quite, but very good. As I said, Queen meets Phish)

23. Remind Me In 3 Days- The Knux

(hard edged, smart rap mixing rock with great lyrical content)

22. Saturdays = Youth- M83

(a bit different than previous albums, More song oriented, with more vocals, but great ambiance)

21. Dear Science,- TV on the Radio

(like I said, a slight disappointment. But, it is fresher than most anything out there. Plus, I do like David Bowie)