For an industry that is constantly prematurely declaring their own demise, the music business in 2008 was looking pretty swell. While you still had your ringtone one-hit wonders like Flo-Rida’s “Low,” (a song made 1,000 times better in Tropic Thunder ), and more prefabricated pop by the likes of Danity Kane and the Pussycat Dolls, 2008 was a pretty awesome year for music lovers, and a soothing antidote to the madness of an election year.
Some great things, as always, had to come to an end: legendary guitarist and rock n’ roll pioneer Bo Diddley died, as did funk founder Isaac Hayes aka “Shaft,” while bands the Long Blondes, Ministry, Junior Senior and (no!) the Spice Girls called it quits. 2008 also showed that all hope was not lost in the music world: Hootie and the Blowfish disbanded, Scott Weiland continued his band-disrupting ways, iTunes finally topped Wal-Mart’s global music sales and Flea enrolled at USC. Up-and-coming bands such as Vampire Weekend, MGMT and Ra Ra Riot proved that it was possible for groups lacking major label muscle to put themselves out there and let their music speak for themselves, garnering untold numbers of fans through the Internet and becoming blog sensations practically overnight.
Old rock standbys such as AC/DC, Metallica, the Offspring and the Verve finally got around to releasing new material, with even Guns ‘N Roses (minus, uh, everyone — except Axl Rose) finally releasing their long-awaited Chinese Democracy, a milestone most expected to arrive after actual Chinese democracy.
It’s safe to conclude that 2008 was a success in more than one respect, although it’s possible the best is yet to come. While a number of bands released albums that were above and beyond the standard fare of the mainstream, the below 10 best — likely to withstand the test of time and be looked back upon as defining moments in each band’s history, as well as of 2008 in music. So without further ado…
1. Conor Oberst —
Conor Oberst
Merge Records
Released: Aug. 5
Bright Eyes’ frontman and songwriter continues to make his case as our generation’s Bob Dylan with his first “solo” record, an album written and recorded in a scenic Mexican town and featuring country-rock and guitar-driven folk similar to Bright Eyes’ 2007 release Cassadaga. Lyrically, Oberst is in top form as usual, singing about cancer-stricken children, road trip adventures and life in the barrios with the ease of a poet. Never has Oberst sounded so relaxed and carefree; while some of the songs are necessarily serious, Conor Oberst is at its core a fun and relentlessly entertaining album. When you hear an unidentified female voice suddenly come in early before the chorus on “Souled Out!!!” and Conor laughs in response before launching into the chorus himself, you can’t help but to smile.
Key Tracks: “Lenders in the Temple,” “Souled Out!!!”
2. Everest — Ghost Notes
Vapor Records
Released: May 6
Everest’s debut Ghost Notes is as timeless as the influences it clearly draws from, namely 70s-era Neil Young, 60s pop and contemporary guitar-rock bands such as My Morning Jacket. Vocalist/guitarist Russell Pollard’s yearning vocals are perfectly suited to the band’s music, and their seemingly effortless playing belies a strict adherence to the tenets of solid melodic songwriting and hooks that latch on and refuse to let go. It’s usually easy to find fault somewhere on a band’s debut release, but Ghost Notes is a nearly flawless indie rock/country/pop record, perhaps a result of the members’ long time spent in other L.A.-area bands. Just as amazing live as it is on record, Ghost Notes is appealing, honest and, above all, refreshing. Everest has made the debut of the year.
Key Tracks: “Rebels In The Roses,” “Reloader”
3. The Walkmen —You & Me
Gigantic
Released: Aug. 19
Few bands can produce a studio record of such vintage sound and with such vivid feeling as the Walkmen.
You & Me is a veritable kaleidoscope of sounds, from the Walkmen’s signature upright piano to swelling brass to the clattering drum work on any number of songs.
It’s an album, above all else, that strives to create a genuine mood in the listener for each piece. And singer Hamilton Leithauser is one of a kind; his whiskey-soaked howl is at times affecting and at others grating, but for the most part, it fits in perfectly as another emotive instrument in painting the band’s canvas.
Key Tracks: “Canadian Girl,” “The Blue Route”
4. Thrice — The Alchemy Index, Vol. 3 & 4: Air and Earth
Vagrant Records
Released: April 15
Former hardcore punks Thrice have come a long way from their screamo days, and the promise shown in their early albums comes to full fruition on the second half of their Alchemy Index project, a two-disc magnum opus that takes Thrice out of post-hardcore territory and firmly establishes them as art-rock auteurs. Air is some of Thrice’s most uplifting, musically accomplished work, and vocalist Dustin Kensrue’s voice has never sounded finer. Earth, meanwhile, is an out-of-left-field experiment into acoustic folk that sounds almost like an entirely different band. Both, however, show the best of a band that is progressing well beyond the abilities of many of their peers.
Key Tracks: “A Song For Milly Michaelson,” “The Earth Isn’t Humming”
5. The Roots — Rising Down
Def Jam
Released: April 29
The Roots retain the throne of alternative hip-hop with their eighth studio album, a record that continues this collective’s remarkable run of intelligent and socially conscious rap. ?uestlove’s beats and production are polished and stimulating as ever, but Rising Down modifies their traditional jazzy sound with murkier synths and more digital techniques that embrace a fairly dark mood. It’s appropriate for the often-political and critical lyrics of MC Black Thought, and the album as a whole comes off as a logical evolution in the sound of a band that is constantly growing.
Key Tracks: “Criminal ft. Truck North and Saigon,” “Rising Up ft. Wale and Chrisette Michele”
6. The Raconteurs — Consolers of the Lonely
Warner Brothers
Released: March 25
Consolers of the Lonely takes the Raconteurs’ power-pop promise shown on their sub par debut and blows it up in every direction imaginable.
The title track is a bluesy, pulsating piece of blazing guitar work, while single “Salute Your Solution” is an up-tempo rocker with an unrelenting bass line and a solo that would put White’s work with the Stripes to shame. From Americana to rustic country-rock to theatrical Southern-rock operas to good old-fashioned blues, Consolers has something for everyone.
Key Tracks: “Salute Your Solution,” “The Switch And The Spur.”
7. Taylor Swift — Fearless
Big Machine Records
Released: Nov. 11
My guilty pleasure of 2008: country-pop prodigy Taylor Swift’s sophomore effort, is a well-written group of songs that deal with what Swift knows best — teenage heartache and high school life.
Nostalgic, romantic and endlessly catchy, Swift never indulges into (too much) power balladry and the earnest songwriting goes well with the assured, always-in-the-right-place production. Mainstream and commercialized to the extreme, but give her a chance; Swift is a talent that can’t be ignored.
Key Tracks: “Love Story,” “You Belong With Me”
8. British Sea Power — Do You Like Rock Music
Rough Trade
Released: Feb. 12
A simple question that British Sea Power answer in a suitably grand 12 tracks and 55 minutes. Intensely atmospheric art-rock that sounds more like the work of an orchestra than a band, Do You Like Rock Music? travels from guitar heroics to Britpop to U2-esque anthems to punk rave-ups to oddball instrumental works.
The synchrony between the album’s beginning and ending tracks, meanwhile, is simply beautiful.
Key Tracks: “Lights Out For Darker Skies,” “Atom”
9. Coldplay — Viva la Vida
Capitol
Released: June 17
Chris Martin and company were in danger of treading into soft-rock and piano drudgery on 2005’s X&Y, but Viva La Vida proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that Coldplay wasn’t content to sit on its laurels for their fourth record.
Incorporating world music styles, multi-movement epics and some of Martin’s best lyrics, Viva might be Coldplay’s best album yet, and is certainly their most original and experimental.
Key Tracks: “Yes,” “Violet Hill”
10. Death Cab for Cutie — Narrow Stairs
Atlantic
Released: May 13
When I first reviewed this album, I thought it was disjointed, uneven and lacking the sort of overall melodic pop sensibilities and good songwriting that Death Cab had been founded on. Undoubtedly, however, Narrow Stairs is a grower for the ages, and one that has only continued to improve with every listen. A record that is certainly challenging for those expecting a retread of Plans, but one that rewards its fans with a collection of Death Cab’s most thoughtful and innovative songs yet.
Key Tracks: “Bixby Canyon Bridge,” “Grapevine Fires”
Best of 2008: Albums that Rocked
Tumultuous 2008 had its fair share of hits and misses. Here’s a collection of the top 10 music album
Published: Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Updated: Wednesday, December 3, 2008
9 comments
Your name
Taylor Swift?FAIL
sarah
the daily trojan hasn't put out a decent lifestyle article related to music this entire semester. it's really pitiful
Your name
Wow, I actually laughed out loud, while in class, when i read this list. Do you actually listen to these albms. Because it seems your about 2 albums behind on most of the artists you picked.
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yes
Nick
Is this list some kind of joke?
Your name
hahahah agreed, terrible list...
Brian
I concur. This is easily the most terrible list I've seen this year.
Brian
I concur. This is easily the most terrible list I've seen this year.
Sarah
Wow, this is by far one of the worst top 10 lists of 2008. Really?
