Top 12 Albums of 2008 - With Explanations

Here are my top 12 albums of 2008 with my explanation for each one. I'll preface my post by saying that I chose these albums with a few various criteria in mind. Firstly, I will admit rather readily that I listen to most music for the sound, not the lyrics. This isn't to say that I just toss aside the meaning of the song, but I really, really like a good melody, or riff or what have you. Secondly, I chose these albums because of their importance to me, and not purely on what musical merits they may have. Lastly, my list may seem to be a who's who of independent music, but that's not how I view them. I listen to music that sounds good, is made with purpose, and has something to say. So, let's get this thing started.


12. NIN - Ghosts
Trent Reznor released Ghosts while I was studying abroad in France. I remember frantically spending close to two days on my ex-girlfriend's laptop downloading the collection. There were server issues, payment issues, a myriad of problems, but I eventually was able to snag myself a copy from the website. I lived close enough to the university that I would walk to and from class. It was about a 15 minute stroll, and I made it almost every day for 4 months. Often times when I was going home it was dark and cold. The streetlights cast long shadows on the wet pavement, the trees hung heavy with water, and everything had a very surreal feel about it. Putting on the Ghosts tracks while I was walking home during those nights offered up a very ethereal experience. The haunting tracks floated between my ears as I walked on the uneven sidewalks. The cold, wet air cleansed my lungs with every breath. The Ghosts tracks provided a veritable soundtrack to my adventures in France.

11. Modwheelmood - Pearls to Pigs Vol. 2
I started listening to Modwheelmood last year when the Year Zero Remix album was dropped. I liked the simplicity of Alessandro Cortini's drum and synth tracks. So when Pearls to Pigs Vol. 2 was released, I nabbed it immediately. It did not disappoint me in the least. The driving guitar of "Sunday Morning" struck me deep with each listen. I really just like the way Cortini throws down simple beats and catchy synth hooks. Not much more to say about this other than that it's a short, sweet album of goodness.

10. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
I had heard of Girl Talk in passing, reading various music blogs, reviews and other bits of news. I knew what the mashup genre was, but had never taken a listen. Hip-hop isn't a musical styling that I listen to often, so I didn't really think that I'd enjoy the music. Then "Feed the Animals" was released with a 'pay as much as you want' scheme, and I decided to give it a try for the grand total of $0.00. After my first listen through, I immediately found a copy of "Night Ripper" and listened to that as well. In my opinion, "Feed the Animals" is a much more cohesive, thought out album. While "Night Ripper" is a balls to the wall jam fest of danceable awesomeness, "Feed the Animals" feels a little more matured and even more catchy. Gillis can take music I ordinarily wouldn't listen to and gives it a fresh spin and a groovy rhythm. I find myself throwing "Feed the Animals" on whenever I get the need to feel gangster.

9. Stars - Sad Robot EP
Stars is by far one of my favorite bands, so when the Sad Robot EP was announced, I made an embarrassing squealing noise. Stars' album, "Your Ex-Lover is Dead" is a very important album to me, and the rest of their discography is just as enjoyable, so it was with much glee that I downloaded the Sad Robot EP. It's a short, sweet EP that does exactly what Stars does best - make delicious, calming tunes. I will be a faithful fan of Stars for a long time.

8. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
The Mountain Goats front man John Darnielle is prolific for his soulful lyrics and acoustic plucking. If I'm jonesing for acoustic songs, The Mountain Goats are an instant go to. I won't say anymore than I highly recommend going through their discography and listening to a sampling of their music. It's good music.

7. Owl City - Maybe I'm Dreaming
I hadn't heard of Owl City until a few months ago, and I immediately bought both of his albums. Owl City has a very heavy handed feeling of a continuation of The Postal Service, and that's not a bad thing. Adam creates sugary melodies and synthy beats that reflect a style all of his own. The lyrics may seem a little cliche or generic, but that doesn't stop the overwhelming power of the music. He has created simple pop goodness that I quite like, even if it is cheesy. It reminds me of the long drives I had to make when I was finishing up my last year in high school in Reno. I would drive from Reno to Elko, a 4 hour trip, maybe once or twice a month. A lot of the times The Postal Service would be played because it was singable, enjoyable and catchy. That year was very important to me, and Owl City brings back a lot of good memories.

6. Alias - Resurgam
I don't listen to a whole lot of music off of the Anticon Record label, but Alias' "Resurgam" is something that instantly caught my ear. After being recommended it by a friend, I listened to the whole album in a single listen. Then I got in my car and drove around, listening to it again. It's that good. I don't have much to say on the album, because it's just really good, catchy and very accessible.

5. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
I've always loved M83. Their music has given me a lot of enjoyment whenever I'm driving at night, or just need really good tunes. Seriously, it's hard for me not to gush on and on about M83. There's just something so...powerful about the soaring landscapes of music they create. I love synths, and M83 knows how to use them. So, when Saturdays=Youth dropped, I was overjoyed. Many did not like it because of the overly 80s feel, but I love that sound. M83 takes that supposedly old sound and gives it a fresh coat of paint. It's undeniably catchy and the whole album really means a lot to me. During my first few listens through the album, I was at a place where the music of M83 was precisely what I needed. It's upbeat and amazing.

4. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
The Hold Steady is a band that is essentially what rock music is. Nothing more, nothing less. It defines and redefines the genre. I discovered The Hold Steady a few years back and would literally listen to the album "Separation Sunday" on repeat for weeks at a time. It was so good. Craig Finn's deceivingly perfect lyrics and the heavy hitting hammer of the guitars made for an essentially perfect album. So, when "Stay Positive" was released, I was more than exited. I loved "Boys and Girls in America." I loved everything The Hold Steady did. "Stay Positive" is a reflection album. They look back and go over everything that makes them great. They took on a slightly new style, cleaning up their sound and diverting their energy into moving their music forward, rather than staying the same and becoming stale. Each album is a perfect progression of their sound. The song, "Stay Positive" is the quintessential Hold Steady song. It references everything, it doesn't hide behind subtlety, and it's an all out rock ballad that proves the power of The Hold Steady.

3. She and Him - Vol. 1
Oh, Zooey Deschanel. You are the light of my life. I won't deny that "She and Him" are in my #3 spot because of her. But it's also something else. The collaboration between Zooey D. and M. Ward is a musical stroke of genius. There's nothing wrong with this album. It is classy perfection on a record. Zooey's voice is a throwback to when singing was regarded as very important, and the musical varieties that M. Ward throws down truly is amazing. I absolutely love this album. It's light, it's summer, it's everything that delicious sugar pop should be. This is like listening to iced tea and sitting on the porch. This is like sailing a white sailboat on a lake on a blue-sky day. This is what life should be.

2. Crystal Castles - S/T
Crystal Castles was a surprise for me. I hadn't heard of them until only a few months ago. Listening to their album, I instantly fell in love with their chiptunes and remixes, the raw power of gritty synths and impassioned singing. They were good, but I wasn't blown away.
Until I saw them live. That's what sold Crystal Castles to me. I had the chance to catch their live show at the Fabulous Festival, and it was bar none one of the best shows I have ever seen in my life. To see so much energy, stage presence and sheer insanity in a single show was mind blowing. The live drummer absolutely made the concert. Alice's performance was beyond mental. She was out there. She was in the crowd. She got right in front of my face and sang at me. I could smell the Jack Daniels on her breath. It was crazy. The heavy hitting drums, the grimy synth spewing out dirty melodies and hooks, Alice's absolutely stunning performance...it all came together and I realized the sheer awesomeness of Crystal Castles.

1. This Will Destroy You - S/T
This Will Destroy You's S/T as my #1 will probably throw a few of you off. It's completely understandable. It's out of left field, and may not make much sense. But this is my list, and that's all the matters.
I'm a post-rock fiend. There's nothing like a soaring, sweeping guitar line, or a driving bass hook that pleases me more. Post-rock is a genre that defies the need for lyrics. I don't need lyrics that often. This Will Destroy You tells their story with their music, and that's all they need. And damn, do they do it well. Long tracks that create a veritable landscape of pure sound absolutely stuns me. This album is nothing short of perfection. It's a brilliant move forward from "Young Mountain" and perfectly encapsulates everything I love about the genre. I listened to this album almost every day this summer while driving to and from work. It never got old, and it really defined for me what I'm doing with myself. It sounds lame, but really, This Will Destroy You are a band that touches me in a way that music rarely does.

So, there you have it. My reasons and choices for this year's music.
Here are the runner ups:
NIN - The Slip
Russian Circles - Station
The National - Virginia EP
Her Space Holiday - XOXO Panda and the New Kid Revival