The Tape

Gabo’s Top 10 Albums of 2008

Written by gzabriel on Wednesday, 17 of December , 2008 at 12:38 pm

10. James Pants – Welcome

James Pants is a Spokane artist signed to Stones Throw and on his album Welcome he delivers spaced out, vocoded, groovy tunes that remind me of Hot Chip if they got locked in a time machine that only played 70s funk and soul. The album wanders from percussive jams to odd vocoded raps but hits its high point with songs like I Choose You, Ka$H and especially We’re Through which is one of my favorite songs of the year. No one did anything quite like James did this year and for that, I applaud him.

James Pants – We’re Through

9. Friendly Fires – S/T

The album starts off strong with Jump In The Pool, a dramatic and crashing electro pop song that can’t make up its mind between being incredibly cool or surprisingly beautiful. The album continues similarly with swagger in its step, funky and disco when it needs to be, electro and hip at other times, and oddly romantic and gorgeous when you least expect it. The perfect soundtrack to a night out even down to the photobooth.

Friendly Fires – Jump In The Pool

8. Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill

Quiet, subtle, haunting, and enchanting describe the swirling and dissonant songs on Grouper’s album. The songs sound like they were recorded in a forest and have the habit of making you drift into that dream like space that they occupy. It’s almost a female counterpart to For Emma, Forever Ago if all of the instruments were played by ghosts and you were listening to the songs via a seance.

Grouper – Heavy Water/I‘d Rather Be Sleeping

7. Metronomy – Nights Out

Building from the electronic quirks of Pip Paine and adding 2 additional members to the band (that makes 3), Metronomy has constructed a sound and atmosphere that is like no other. Incorporating the unconventional and seemingly out of place into what is basically a dance album is something a lot of bands strive to do and succeed. However, when you hear the slightly demented use of woodwinds and synths that squeal along with the almost childlike harmonies there’s only one band that comes to mind.

6. The Mae Shi – Hlllyh

From the first plucks of Lamb and the Lion you know The Mae Shi are about to do something crazy and something good. Biblical, shouting, sugar rushed, and glorious are not words that should ever appear in conjunction with one another except in the case of The Mae Shi. From the cheers delivered atop a mountain in Lamb and the Lion, to the sermon of Pwnd, the mangled pop song that is The Melody, the techno breakdown of Kingdom Come, and the quirky single of Run To Your Grave, it all works. I hope I don’t have to use those words to describe anyone but The Mae Shi ever again.

5. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colors

Glamorous synth rock from the wonder of Australia Cut Copy’s second album leaves off where the first one left off. There are so many songs to win you over it’s almost impossible not to like In Ghost Colors. The persuasive “ooh-oooohs” on Feel The Love and the pulsing disco of Lights and Music all the way to Far Away, which can’t be played loud enough. Cut Copy just seems to do so right throughout the whole album and the result is absolutely delightful to listen to again and again.

Cut Copy – Far Away

4. Department of Eagles – In Ear Park

Carefully crafted portraits of winter nights and eerie views of the sea characterize the elegant and powerful songs of In Ear Park. The harmonies and instrumentation comprise such a gorgeous album that is so perfect for winter. When you hear “I laughed so hard I fell down” supported by the ghostlike choir on No One Does It Like You moments before the chorus kicks in you’ll realize the genius of the song craft on In Ear Park.

3. Starfucker – S/T

Starfucker’s self titled debut brings such a good vibe and even though a lot of the songs draw elements from each other, they’re the best elements. German Love sets the pace for the album with sparse lyrics, a driving beat, strange electronics, and charming backing vocals. Every song is fucking good. As the album progresses you’ll start to notice that every song is a strong point and that you never feel let down. The ethereal way in which Starfucker can deliver such a perfect album so effortlessly shocks me. As the album closes with Isabella of Castille you’ll get the urge to listen to it all again.

Starfucker – Isabella Of Castille

2. TV On The Radio – Dear Science

TV On The Radio can clearly do no wrong after Return To Cookie Mountain and now this. All the components you expect are here and all of them are welcome. Even the danciest songs (Dancing Choose, Golden Age) somehow transcend the ordinary and drift into the celestial. If the fast pace of the aforementioned songs don’t move you, Family Tree will.

1. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago

Dis wuz da best albm of teh yeer, hanz down.

Honorable Mention: Sascha Funke – Mango. I felt my list was missing minimal German techno and I really like this album. Check it out if you get excited at the words BPitch and Kompakt.

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Category: Albums

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