2008 was an epic year for music. Both my digital and physical music collections saw frequent additions.
8. Oracular Spectacular by MGMT “Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel,” and the whole cd for that matter make this an especially catchy electronic album.
7. Made in the Dark by Hot Chip This techno album consists of 13 songs of amusingly varying tempo. Fun little details in Made in the Dark range from the “Sounds of the Studio” game inside their best song to the British technopop band’s pronounciation of “privacy.”
6. In Ghost Colors by Cut Copy Not quite techno and not quite alternative. Cut Copy’s latest album screams awesome 80’s dance music.
5. Consolers of the Lonely by The Raconteurs The Raconteurs’ second album is a perfect follow up to the classic Broken Boy Soldiers. There is something undeniably natural about The Raconteurs’ classic rock and blues influenced style despite the big hooks and complicated solos.
4. Conor Oberst by Conor Oberst It’s been entertaining watching Conor’s music mature. This album, which I now see as a necessary departure from Bright Eyes, reminds us of his talent and rank as the best contemporary American songwriter.
3. Chunk of Change by Passion Pit The six songs of Passion Pit’s premier EP sent me on a trip down BitTorrent lane looking for similar music. Unfortunately, I still haven’t found anything that resembles their solid electronic and rhythmic flavor. In the last month, each track has been caught in my head for at least a day.
2. Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes Gregorian plainchant, both clean electric and classical guitar, echo and slur make this the “sophisticated” disc I like to leave playing when people come over. This disc is nearly unparalleled in the indie rock scene.
1. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend One of the rare “pop” bands that has some talent. “A-Punk” and “Mansfard Roof” easily made Vampire Weekend the catchiest album of the year, while the powerful arrangement of guitars, orchestral strings and arpeggios throughout the rest of the disc make it the year’s most perfect album.
The Spinto Band’s Moonwink is worth mentioning too. Since I just downloaded it, I still haven’t had a good listen. But if Moonwink is anything like Nice and Nicely Done it is another happening indie rock album.
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