Yet Another 2008 Music List

Although I download a lot of music through emusic.com, I don't actually take the time to really listen to all of it. Therefore I don't feel qualified to make a top ten of 2008 list. Instead, here is a list of albums of 2008 that I enjoyed. Although most of these albums are on many best of 2008 lists, hopefully you'll still make a new discovery. In no particular order:

She & Him Volume One
Everyone went giddy over this album. She & Him consist of Matt Ward and Zooey Deschanel, (previously known for her acting in movies such as, Elf) and have been praised for their combination of Zooey's voice and Matt's arrangements. Paste Magazine (who rated it as their #1 of 2008) sums it up better than I can:

"...Produced with touches of girl-group splendor and arranged with a dreamy, old-fashioned vibe. She & Him's debut couldn't be more adorable."

What adds a little emotional value to this album is that two of the songs remind me of my love life 2008. The first, temporally speaking, being the cover of, "You Really Got a Hold on Me," (a song really about self-abuse; video) and more recently the song She & Him are most known for, "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?"


Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? by She & Him

The Hold Steady Stay Positive
A friend of mine really loves this band and tried talking me into downloading it and I refused. Later I decided to take a chance on it and I really enjoyed it.


Lord I'm Discouraged by The Hold Steady

Of Montreal Skeletal Lamping
I love Of Montreal, an experimental, silly, goofball band with extremely catchy melodies. Like past albums this album has odd song titles, but more so than past albums, this one also has a lot of very sexually connotative lyrics. For example the song,
"For Our Elegant Caste" includes the refrain, "We can do it soft core if you want, but you should know that I go both ways." This is only to be outdone by, "Ladies, I’m screaming out to you from the depths of this phallocentric tyranny/ My self-concept is awaiting your invasion/ Clumsy penetration punishment, oh yeah!/ When the hope of another wet nightmare is all we have to live for," of "Id Engager."


Id Engager by Of Montreal

Bon Iver For Emma, Forever Ago
Hauntingly beautiful. Listening to this takes me to another emotional world.

Flume by Bon Iver

Sleeping in the Aviary Expensive Vomit in a Cheap Hotel
I previously wrote about "Write On" (song here), a song I discovered through Paste Magazine. I was so enamored of "Write On" that I pre-ordered the album directly from the band's site. I absolutely loved it. In contrast, to their previous album, This Old Thing? which is strictly cute college punk band, EVIACH really branches out. It encompasses a lot of different genres so it is hard to pin down. Listen to more SITA songs here.

Thao We Brave Bee Stings and All
I am shocked I haven't seen more about this album, but perhaps it is because it came out almost a year ago. I found it on an emusic list of albums "you may have overlooked," and I suppose they were right. This album combines a light playfulness with underlying deep yet ethereal emotion.


Bag of Hammers by Thao

Okkervil River The Stand Ins
Another group I discussed in a previous post, I initially wasn't sold on this band. That is until I heard "Lost Coastlines" on a Paste Magazine sampler. Here is another sample song from this album (the title of which I adore).


Calling and Not Calling My Ex

British Sea Power Do You Like Rock Music

Jason and Will of the podcast Will and Iris and described the album as "anthem" like. They weren't quite sure if that was the word or not. I would say dramatic and orchestral. There is definitely a shoegazish "wall of sound" to it, and just the right amount of noise.


Waving Flags by British Sea Power

Albums I downloaded that I wish I had spent more time listening to before tonight:
Frightened Rabbit Midnight Organ Fight
Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
The Ravonettes Lust Lust Lust
Tokyo Police Club Elephant Shell

For more music ideas I also recommend Will and Iris's Best Albums of 2008 , and Will and Iris's Best Songs of 2008. Here you can hear atheist lefty dad Will discuss with his well-musically-read son (about 12-years-old by now), Jason their favorites of 2008. Jason not only has amazing taste, but he really knows how to talk about music. The complementary commentary of the middle-aged hipster dad and the pre-pubescent, future alternateen is not to be missed.

Now I'd like to hear what's on your favorites list.