Best Albums of 2008

Did you really think this was going to come on time? Are you not starting to pick up on the trend here?

“I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.”

I feel like someone important once said that, and it’s true, so you might as well get used to the fact that the arrival of these babies is always going to be absolutely unpredictable. I mean, who said you can’t come out with an Album’s of the Year list for 2008 after 2009 has already arrived? I had to let that shit gestate. And, with the utmost consideration and deliberation, it humbles me to say I think I might have come up with the definitive list. So without further ado, (and lord knows we’ve had our fair share of ado) here she be:

1)Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes/Sun Giant EP


2)TV on The Radio – Dear Science


3)My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges


4)MGMT – Oracular Spectacular


5)Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago


6)Dr. Dog – Fate


7)The Raconteurs – Consolers of The Lonely


8)The Felice Brothers – The Felice Brothers


9)Department of Eagles – In Ear Park


10)Islands – Arm’s Way


11) Deerhunter - Microcastle


12)The Black Keys – Attack and Release


13)Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer


14)Delta Spirit – Ode To Sunshine


15)Deer Tick - War Elephant


16) Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend


Once again, much like last year, I couldn’t quite narrow it down to just ten albums. Although you will notice I was able to actually give them a numerical breakdown, as opposed to just alphabetical order and a number one like 2007; and even though this is my own personal list, I was able to take enough of an objective approach to not give the number one slot to my favourite band, MMJ, (another example of the sacrifices I'm willing to make to ensure that this is the definitive list).

Once you've had a chance to devour those delectable delights, here are the rest of the albums worth checking out from 2008:

Black Mountain - In The Future
Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
She & Him – Volume One
The Walkmen – You & Me
Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Dead Confederate – Wrecking Ball
Hacienda – Loud Is the Night
Earth – The Bees Made Honey in the Lion’s Skull
The Dodos – Visitor
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Vivian Girls – Vivian Girls
Cold War Kids – Loyalty to Loyalty
Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
Little Joy – Little Joy
Drive-By Truckers – Brighter Than Creations Dark
Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds – Dig! Lazarus Dig!
Plants And Animals – Parc Avenue
White Denim – Workout Holiday
Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
The Whigs – Mission Control
Cat Power – Jukebox
DeVotchka – A Mad & Faithful Telling
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
Tapes ‘n Tapes – Walk It Off
Human Highway – Moody Motorcycle
Why? – Alopecia
Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
M83 – Saturdays=Youth
Black Kids – Partie Traumatic
Old Crow Medicine Show – Tennessee Pusher
Ladyhawk – Shots
Conor Oberst And The Mystic Valley Band – Conor Oberst
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Eagles of Death Metal – Heart On
Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
Beck – Modern Guilt
The Black Angels – Directions to See a Ghost
Buffalo Killers – Let It Ride
Raveonettes – Lust Lust Lust
Hercules and Love Affair – Hercules and Love Affair
No Age – Nouns
Passion Pit – Chuck of Change EP
Hey Rosetta! – Into Your Lungs
Shearwater - Rook
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War)
Women - Women
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
Fucked Up - Chemistry of Common Life
Seasick Steve – I Started Out With Nothing and I Still Got Most of It Left