The Tape

Tristan’s Top 10 Albums of 2008

Written by pistachionut on Wednesday, 10 of December , 2008 at 8:18 pm

Below are my top ten albums of 2008, from 10 to 1. This will be the first part in a six part series (one list for each of us), culminating in a Tape’s Top Albums of ’08 post.

10. Noah and the Whale – Peaceful the World Lays Me Down
I didn’t think this album would be top 10 of 2008 when I first listened to it. But then I found myself listening to it again. And again. And again. Combining elements of folk, twee, indiepop and happiness, Peaceful the World Lays Me Down is a bright and joyous album. “5 Years Time” is simultaneously the happiest and the saddest song of the year, while “2 Atoms in a Molecule” is adorable in a Juno MacGuff kind of way. It’s a good album. Really.

9. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Most certainly the most hyped album of the year, asides from perhaps MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular. MGMT’s major label (in the eyes of most, if not all of the Tape) fell far short of the expectations and standards set by their EP. Vampire Weekend’s did not. Granted all three songs from the EP made their way onto the full length, Ezra Koenig and co. deliver their Paul Simon-esque, African tribal music influenced take on indie rock. Quality stuff.

8. Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
The catchiest album of the year, Tokyo Police Club’s full length debut contains a bunch of fast paced power pop. Short songs are the band’s speciality, and they have been ever since their 2007 debut EP, A Lesson In Crime. Dave Monk’s voice has matured quite a bit since then, perhaps turning a bit more “emo” and the band has gone from the noisier end of the spectrum to the cleaner end, but there are no complaints on my part. Really well put together pop songs like “Your English is Good” and “Tessellate” carry the album to a high place on the power pop pedestal.

7. The Mae Shi – HLLLYH
The Mae Shi are the first band ever (I’m pretty sure) to have a 11 minute techno breakdown with parts of all the songs on the album smack dab in the middle  (it’s track 7 of 14). It’s somewhat fitting that HLLLYH falls at #7 in between No Age and Tokyo Police Club, as I’d say their sound is 3/4 of the former, 1/4 of the latter.

6. No Age – Nouns
The second album (following 2007′s EP collection, Weirdo Rippers) finds Dean Spunt and Randy Randall coming into their own. A spastic, yet oddly organized noise rock freakout, Nouns winds its way through crunched guitars and yelped vocals. Highlights are “Eraser” (strangely the cleanest sounding song on the album) “Teen Creeps” and “Things I Did When I Was Dead.” No Age also puts on one hell of a show.

5. Deerhunter – Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
Bradford Cox’s brainchild, self described as “ambient punk” is brilliant. The albums, pretty much range from happy indiepop to deep rock ballads. Either way, they’re elegant and fine tuned. My personal favorite is “Nothing Ever Happened” off Microcastle. It takes some of the best elements from influences as diverse as My Bloody Valentine, Brian Eno and Liars.

4. Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Yet another trip into Kevin Barnes’ mind, Of Montreal’s Skeletal Lamping is written from the point of Georgie Fruit, a black shemale. Barnes does what he does best on the Athens group’s third studio effort–tell a ridiculous story. See Asher’s review for further details. Of Montreal also put on one of the great live shows of the year, giving Justin Vernon and the Bon Iver boys a run for their money.

3. Department of Eagles – In Ear Park
This album starts off with the strongest first three songs of the year, rivaled only maybe by Why?’s Alopecia. “In Ear Park” has hauntingly beautiful strings and “No One Does It LIke You” has the Grizzly Bearish slap bass that’s so recognizable. On the whole, the side project’s debut is a fantastically strong one, putting it up at #3 of 2008.

2. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
TV on the Radio’s followup to 2006′s massively successful Return to Cookie Mountain. “Halfway Home” is a beautiful album starter, truly kicking into gear at around 4:30. The album is long, 50 minutes in total (Cookie Mountain was 56) but it certainly covers its length gloriously. “Dancing Choose” is the big single off the album, with a (i’m pretty sure intentionally) annoying verse and a glorious chorus. The real gem of the album, however, is “Family Tree,” easily the most beautiful song of 2008, and maybe the pinnacle of the band’s work (to be debated; “Staring at the Sun”).

1. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
The most beautiful album of the year, bar none. Justin Vernon’s melodic harmonies and harmonic melodies sift into your ears and go down smoother than fine sand. “The Wolves (Acts I and II)” and “Creature Fear” are some of the standouts here. The Bon Iver live show was also one of the greatest of the year–it brought me to near tears. The recently released “Blood Bank” is also a gorgeous and stunning track, only pushing my opinions of this pristine album higher.

Honorable Mention: Mitch Hedberg – Do You Believe in Gosh
He’s a legend, you can’t even begin to doubt it. Mitch Hedberg’s posthumously released CD was recorded a month before his tragic death. The material was being workshopped for his next album. There’s some rough spots, sure, but for what it is, Mitch is a riot. RIP.

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Category: Miscellaneous

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