What’re your Top 10 albums of 2008?
We are only into the second day of 2009. We are all nostalgic for everything 2008! We are looking back on a cracker of a 2008 - business-wise and music-wise!
We encourage you to post your top 10 albums of 2008 in the comments section! Here are our favourites in the office!
MARNIE’S TOP TEN OF 2008
| 1. The Bronx - The Bronx (III) | http://www.myspace.com/thebronx |
| 2. Kings Of Leon - Only By the Night | http://www.myspace.com/kingsofleon |
| 3. Adele - 19 | http://www.myspace.com/adelelondon |
| 4. William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow and The Crow | http://www.myspace.com/williamfitzsimmons |
| 5. Tim Fite - Fair Ain’t Fair | http://www.myspace.com/timfite |
| 6. Birds of Tokyo - Universes | http://www.myspace.com/birdsoftokyo |
| 7. Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony | http://www.myspace.com/alkalinetrio |
| 8. Geoffrey Gurrumul Yunupingu - Gurrumul | http://www.myspace.com/gurrumul |
| 9. Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On | http://www.myspace.com/eaglesofdeathmetal |
| 10. Kanye West - 808’s and Heartbreak | http://www.myspace.com/kanyewest |
SARAH’S TOP TEN OF 2008
| 1. Lykke Li - Youth Novels | Something about this lady is just too cool. Her tunes are put together in such an interesting way, and I just can’t get enough of them. Lykke Li is my crack. |
| 2. Santogold - Santogold | Another very cool lady who has had lots of comparisons to Tegan and Sara and M.I.A. - and yes, she sounds like the love child of these musical masterminds but with a sharper tongue and tendency to spew golden glitter. |
| 3. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend | This album was so new and fresh when it landed it reminded me of clean laundry. Loved the Graceland style drumming and nerdy college sweaters. |
| 4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes | A slow burner for me - at first was a little too ‘parenty’ but as I gradually listened to the bearded men, I was blown away with their sweet harmonies and bearded goodness. |
| 5. Custom Kings - At Sea | Put this album on when in a car, driving to the beach. This is exactly what I did, and so whenever I listen to it I’m taken back to that lazy Sunday of barbecues and beers. |
| 6. Sparkadia - Postcards | ‘Too Much to Do’ was one of those songs that I could not get out of my head and subsequently sang to everyone around me. Constantly. |
| 7. Hungry Kids of Hungary - Hungry Kids of Hungary | These local boys really came out with a great EP and I would have listened to it hundreds of times over. One of the best parts of my job - finding and listening to phenomenal music. |
| 8. Black Kids - Party Traumatic | A Party album! Put it on in a darkened room with a disco light and twirl like you are Patience from the Grates. |
| 9. The Presets - Apocalypso | Indie elitists, clubbing maestros, music industry big wigs and nova-listening fluro kids can finally agree on something. The Presets make kickass music. |
| 10. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular | Yes they may be over-hyped and accused of being over-rated but man they are cute. And their music makes me happy. For some reason I picture midgets dancing in rainbows? Might want to look into that. |
Honorable mentions: Birds of Toyko - Universes, Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago, Kings of Leon - Only by the Night.
TIM’S TOP TEN OF 2008 (In no particular order)
| John Steel Singers - In Colour | Before I moved to Brisbane, I had heard whisperings of this John Steel Singers mob. I had heard people talking about how they were the next big thing. I brushed it off at the time, thinking that it would be nothing but hot air. By chance, I was the assistant stage manager at the annual Q-Song awards at the marvellous Tivoli theatre in Brisbane, where I witnessed John Steel Singers bust out some tunes (including my personal favourites of theirs, Evolution and Rainbow Kraut). I fell in love with their infectious attitude, their catchy-as-hell songs and their vibe on stage. Since then, I then saw them again, stage managing their showcase for Q-Music’s Big Sound conference and then as a punter at the Sounds of Spring Festival. They have become an integral part of my soundtrack to Brisbane. |
| Cog - Sharing Space | I was a fan of Cog before this album, but this album broke down my preconceptions of song structure. The use of repetitive hooks and an explosive shift in tempo, perhaps even time signature, to finish some of the tracks blew my mind and made me want to be a better drummer. |
| The Butterfly Effect - Final Conversations of Kings | The Butterfly Effect have come up with their most-produced album yet, but I think it needed to be, to incorporate the epic scope of what they intended it to be. With strings, pianos, trumpets and more showing up at various times throughout the album, as well as the expected massive guitar, bass and drum sounds, it needed to be produced by the best - Forrester Savell excels here again. Clint’s voice is great here, too. |
| The Paper and The Plane - One Year, Two Months, Sixteen Days and Counting | From the moment I heard Dan from TPATP’s voice, I couldn’t stop - I needed to hear more. I fell in love with their first EP and this one steps it up a notch. The creativity, the breaking down of musical walls, the notion of a melodic band that hardcore kids can love…it all adds up to a very atmospheric, love-soaked delirious mix of an album. |
| Dead Letter Circus - Next in Line Single/4-track | My favourite band in the world, these guys could not NOT be on this list. Even though this is only a single release, I love all 12 or so minutes of it. Delay-soaked guitars, amazing vocals and some of the best drumming in Australian rock music ever. |
| The Getaway Plan - Other Voices, Other Rooms | I don’t know how I missed these guy’s first EP, but this album is great from start to finish. Some of the best hardcore put out in Australia this year, mixed with some great melodic vocals and screaming. Some of the nicest guys I have ever met. |
| One Day as a Lion - Wild International | The return of Zach De La Rocha - I had grave fears for this. I feared it would pale in comparison to his incendiary Rage output of years gone by. I was wrong! Still relevant, still angry, still spitting great vocals and backed by a great band, Zach rocks. |
| Birds of Tokyo - Universes | Birds’ first album was one I picked up, unheard prior, and loved every second. This album takes that and trumps it. It would be easy to say that Birds are a limp version of Karnivool, simply because Ian Kenny is the vocalist for both, but this album proves otherwise. Creative, slick, amazing and provocative, I love every second of it from opening strains to the final guitar chord. |
| Gyroscope - Breed Obsession | This album exploded onto the scene in Australia and went straight to number one at a time in the year where prior to that, had been held exclusively by american r’n'b artists such as Timbaland, Nelly Furtado and The Pussycat Dolls. It proved that Aussie rock is still respected and loved. This album is an absolute ball-tearer and the boys are the best people to party with - first on the scene and last to leave. Awesome. |
| Grafton Primary - Eon | This album just makes me want to dance. Full Stop. Infectious, enthusiastic and catchy. Nuff Said. |
Honorable Mentions:The Presets - Apocalypso, Kings of Leon - Only By the Night, Here Come the Birds - Here Come the Birds, Melodyssey - The Two Windows.
January 2nd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
Top 5 albums:
The Presets - Apocalypso
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
The Paper and The Plane - A Year, Two Months etc
William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow and The Crow
Melodyssey - The Two Windows
Top 5 singles:
Beyonce - Single Ladies
MGMT - Electric Feel
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
One Day As A Lion - Wild International
The Gin Club - 10 Paces Away
January 5th, 2009 at 7:57 am
(In no particular order)
ALBUMS:
The Cure “4.13 Dream”
Jakob “Solace” - came out in 2006, but I only discovered this band this year. Beautiful stuff
Secret Machines “Secret Machines”
A Place To Bury Strangers “A Place To Bury Strangers” -again, this one came out in 2007. But it’s been punishing my eardrums throughout most of ‘08, so it qualifies in my eyes.
Mogwai “The Hawk Is Howling” - looking forward to the March ‘09 tour.
Magnetic Morning “A.M.” - Adam Franklin of Swervedriver hooks up with Interpol drummer Sam F to make an album thats exactly like the sum of its parts, but in a great way.
Mercury Rev “Snowflake Midnight” and “Strange Attractor” - the Rev throw out the song structure handbook and go weird with stunning results.
Nine Inch Nails “The Slip” & “Ghosts”
Portishead “Third” - frighteningly stunning album
School Of Seven Bells “Alpinisms” - all the hype is justified
Steve Kilbey “Painkiller” - The Church frontman cranks out a awesome solo set
(thats 11 in my Top 10)
EPs
Jesu “Why Are We Not Perfect”
This Will Destroy You & Lymbyc Systym “Field Studies” split ep
Smashing Pumpkins “Superchrist” - one of the best things they have ever done
Laura “Yes Maybe No”
Jeniferever “Nangijala”
No Anchor “Fire Flood and Acid Mud” - maybe the band themselves call this an album, but I need to sneak it onto my list somehow. Brisbane drone merchants taste like red wine…