I have gone back and forth about my #1. It really should be a 1a. and a 1b. scenario. Just saying.
OK, the year in review is done. I’m out. I will see you guys and gals next year. Yolo!
#10 – The Daylight Hours “How To Make A Mess Of Things” (Self-Released)
- For as much as I ended up listening to this album I thought it deserved to be in my top ten. Local singer/songwriter David Adedokun writes beautiful tales.
#9 – The Gaslight Anthem “The ‘59 Sound” (Side One Dummy)
- While not as instantly gratifying or commanding as their debut, The ‘59 Sound expands The Gaslight Anthem’s sound leaps and bounds. These guys could end up being really big before it’s over.
#8 – Dillinger Four “C I V I L W A R” (Fat Wreck Chords)
- Maturity is a bitch. Instead of Dillinger Four returning to their roots on their first album in six years, D4 made their most polished record yet. Career suicide? Perhaps if the songs weren’t so fucking good!
#7 – Pomegranates “Everything Is Alive” (Lujo)
- I had begun to hate anything labeled as “indie pop” but Pomegranates reaffirm my belief in the genre. Everything Is Alive is the sound of a band discovering who they are and therein lies its brilliance.
#6 – Algernon Cadwallader “Some Kind Of Cadwallader” (Be Happy)
- The little band that could keeps on going with a killer debut that delivered on the promises of the band’s demo.
#5 – Antlers “Self-Titled” (Rorschach)
- Amazing debut from this Richmond band. Mathy, eclectic, melodic and intricate…Antlers got it all.
#4 – Tigers Jaw “Self-Titled” (Prison Jazz)
- Insanely catchy pop/punk with addictive vocals. Try playing this album only once. I dare you.
#3 – The State Lottery “Cities We’re Not From” (Salinas)
- The music is powerful but it is The State Lottery’s lyrics that will slice you wide open.
#2 – Cheap Girls “Find Me A Drink Home” (Bermuda Mohawk)
- By far my most played album of 2008. Poetically frustrated lyrics set to power pop…fans of Lemonheads and Smoking Popes should fall in love just as I did many times over. Definitely honored to have worked with the band for Beartrap. Watch out for these guys. Bigger and brighter things are on the horizon!
#1 – Sun Kil Moon “April” (Caldo Verde)
- Perhaps the best album of Mark Kozelek’s career and that is an incredible statement. If April doesn’t deserve top spot, I’m not sure what does.
Kinda funny that although in way different spots, we managed to have a ton of the same albums on our lists. Awesome lists though.
will– i’ve enjoyed reading your site for a long time and really love Mark Kozolek, but April has been a big disappointment to me — too meandering, unfoucussed, repetitive. Maybe i’m missing something, i’ve tried listenting to it again and again and keep hoping for something to grab hold.
I had meant to send my top 10 (i don’t finalize till after my birthday in Feb when i get some $ to get the last records i need to evaluate
but for now it’s looking like:
1. East/West – Bridge & Tunnel
2. Navasota – Will Quinian & the Diviners
3. It’s Gonna Get Ugly – Shorebirds
4. American Hearts – AA Bondy
5. Find Me a Drink Home – Cheap Girls
6. Build & Burn – The Loved Ones
7. Revival Road – Chuck Ragan, Tim Barry & Ben Nichols
8. Volume 1 – In the Red
9. The Gleam II – The Avett Brothers
10. The Odd Couple – Gnarls Barkley
11. Comfort Road – How Dare You
12. Sometimes Things Just Disapper – Polar Bear Club
13. State of Grace – Street Dogs
14. Manchester – Tim Barry
15. Kensington Heights – The Constantines
able baker fox might nudge up into the top 15….
mark
gainesville, fl
Yeah, Eric, I definitely noticed a lot of similarities in our lists. Just means we have good tastes brother!
Mark, I don’t know, it’s difficult to say in regards to Kozelek. I can see how somebody could say none of his work is really “focused” necessarily. But, I got into April a lot easier and a lot more than I did Ghosts of The Great Highway. Oddly, I think his covers records in a lot of ways are his most focused work. And then you have to throw in the Red House Painters stuff for comparison’s sake. Either way, the man has an impressive discography to say the least.
Good list! That AA Bondy album is awesome and would have made my list but I think it’s technically a 2007 album.
Excellent list. Can’t wait to hear some of this. I found you by way of Can you See the Sunset.
My top ten list is at: http://septenary.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008s-top-10.html
Here’s hoping the new year brings us some great stuff.
Will,
It’s a shame that I didn’t come across this site earlier in the year, although I guess it’s never too late. This is my first introduction to Mark Kozolek, and it clearly stands apart. I’m hearing maybe Jason Molina without the affectation? It’s really terrific.
I guess I’ve just been asleep to new music this year. I haven’t heard any of these records.
That might be a nice twist on the year end list – a “rip van winkle” list for those who slept through a year. So instead of a best of the year, a “this is what you missed” list. Eh I don’t know.
Mark – I like seeing the Avett Brothers on your list. My introduction to them was from a band I played with this year called “Bombadil” who are on the same label.(last track on their new record is fantastic ps) They were really enthusiastic about them and I got a chance to hear some of their tracks, but haven’t really delved into the Gleam records. I agree about the Odd Couple record too – for some reason I forgot that was this year. I thought that was a great album and I’m surprised it hasn’t been really showing up on any lists. Awesome videos too.
our lists are at odds, but i’ll share since i’m in columbia, sc: http://biomusicosophy.blogspot.com/2008/12/best-albums-of-2008.html
will — good point, but i put AA Bondy on since it was re-released by Fat Possum this year and I was finally able to get my hands on it (lots of other folks have Bon Iver on their lists for the same reason).
matt — the Avetts are probably my favorite band these days. The are an amazing live band if you ever get the chance. The Gleam records are acoustic “side” records. Their real great stuff is on their full-lengths — start with Emotionalism and Mignonette.