Top 20 Albums of 2008 (So Far…)
Since the year is halfway over, now seems as good of a time as any to compile Hypeful’s Top 20 Albums of 2008 (So Far…). Why engage in such trifling ranking you ask? First of all, I have an OCD-love of ranking things. Second, this year has seen some really stupendous releases in its first half. With plenty of new discs on the horizon, I thought this would be a good chance to spotlight releases that may or may not make it onto my final 20 at year’s end.
The following list isn’t ranked, it’s just arranged in alphabetical order. Also, I left off Vampire Weekend’s disc, because I included the group’s Blue CD-R in my Best of 2007 list. Let me know if I overlooked any tasty albums in the comments! Now, on to to the list…
Albert Hammond Jr. - ¿Cómo Te Llama?
MP3:
Albert Hammond Jr. - “GfC”
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
MP3:
British Sea Power - “Waving Flags”
Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
MP3:
Coldplay - “Viva La Vida”
MP3:
Conor Oberst - “Danny Callahan”
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
MP3:
Death Cab For Cutie - “Cath…”
MP3s:
Dr. Dog - “The Ark”
Dr. Dog - “The Old Days”
MP3:
Fleet Foxes - “White Winter Hymnal”
Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
MP3:
Frightened Rabbit - “The Modern Leper”
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
MP3:
Gnarls Barkley - “Who’s Gonna Save My Soul”
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
MP3:
The Hold Steady - “Sequestered In Memphis”
The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
MP3:
The Last Shadow Puppets - “The Age Of The Understatement”
Mates of State - Re-Arrange Us
MP3:
Mates of State - “My Only Offer”
The Morning Benders - Talking Through Tin Cans
MP3:
The Morning Benders - “Waiting For A War”
Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins
MP3:
Okkervil River - “Pop Lie”
MP3:
Old 97’s - “Dance With Me”
MP3:
R.E.M. - “Man-Sized Wreath”
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaus
MP3:
Sigur Rós - “Gobbledigook”
MP3:
The Walkmen - “In The New Year”
MP3:
Wolf Parade - “Language City”
Couldn’t agree more with The Walkmen record & The Sigur Ros, Frightened Rabbit, Coldplay, ……the others are good records not sure about top of the year though.. What about Laura Marling and Noah and the Whale (both brilliant records), vampire Weekend, Ra Ra Riot, and Rufus Wainwright. In my humble opinion all of those are better than the DCFC and the Conor records (although both are great records).
Regards,
Ken
Gosh I’m so in love with The Ugly Suit right now and of course Sigur Ros’s latest gift to us…. but I’m equally smitten with The Duke Spirit’s “Neptune.” It deserves space on that list!
Nice list. Mine would include the following:
No Age - Nouns
Evangelicals - The Evening Descends
Beachhouse - Devotion
The DoDo’s - Visiter
I still need to get my hands on a copy of that Ugly Suit album.
it was nice of jake to mention a bunch of records no one has heard of. nice job jake. thanks for that…
@ Christoper White:
It’s not my fault i’m too cool for school!!
Also, I bet you’ve heard of The Evangelicals. In fact I bet you’ve seen them live.
I feel bad for anyone who hasn’t heard of The Dodos. Everyone should check them out; their new album is definitely on my top of 2008 list, too.
Great list. The one I would add is Bon Iver.
im going to steal that vinyl copy of the soft bulletin you have perched on your wall!! JAKE im talking to you!!
Nowhere on this list do I see Nick Cave’s “Dig!! Lazarus Digg!!”, The Black Keys’ “Attack & Release”, or even NIN’s “The Slip” (it was free, dagummit!!! Hipster cred be damned).
I call Shenanigans.
My fav. of the year comes from the one and only Bon Iver!
fuck buttons
@ Christopher White
Fuck the Fuck Buttons. Worst band ever!!!
jake is right on. that no age record is fukin great. wolf parade is a solid #1, but im afraid the walkmen might overtake them the more i listen to it. coldplay shouldn’t be higher than #58. sigur ros - YES. fleet foxes is ranked too low.
i would add ‘the gang’ - zero hits
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The uglysuit does an amazing live show, the CD is beyond words, the boys rock hard to their very souls!!!
How can anyone not put Crystal Castles on their “Top, So Far” ……?