BK’s Top 50 (100) Albums Of 2008!

Ah! The wait is over!
The moment you and I have both been waiting for since Jan. 1, 2008 has finally arrived!
As I’ve mentioned a few times, the bottom half of this list has already been posted on the sidebar aaand the top 50 (reviews and all) starts right this moment. This is my biggest yearly list undertaking yet, and I figured it was necessary since I’ve listened to an ungodly number of records this year..like 300something..and I couldn’t give props to all the things I wanted to give props to without expanding the list..but I’m still too lazy to type out 100 reviews. Maybe next year. Anyway..on with the show!

#50
The Cure – 4:13 Dream
Geffen Records
Released October 28, 2008

You’ll never hear me claiming to be anything more than a casual Cure fan..I obviously dig all of their ‘hits’ from over the years and I have a few of their cds, but it’s pretty rare that I get the urge to listen to Robert Smith and his goth moodiness. When I heard they were droppin a joint this year, I was intrigued however, because I found their last record terribly blah and was curious to see how they’d come back this time. This record had quite the build to it as well; I think they released like 4 singles (starting back in the summer), before this thing even got close to being released..and one of them, entitled ‘The Only One’, really got me stoked for the disc due to it’s classic Cureyness and quality. Once the disc was released, I was pleased to find that this was actually a pretty darn solid cd with some pretty well written and catchy tunes that WILL get stuck in your head and overall it’s a bit brighter..i guess..than some of their other recent stuff. Here’s the thing though, because I’ve seen a ton of negative reviews about this record – you can’t go into a record by a band like this..whose best days are probably behind them..expecting them to reinvent the wheel or recreate a classic record like Disintegration or whatever. Generally, they are what they are, and that’s def. the case with Smith & Co on this record. Overall, I enjoy this thing a lot..it has a couple clunkers songwise, but the good stuff more than makes up for it for me. A really good record from a rather timeless sorta band.
Standout Songs: ‘The Only One’, ‘The Perfect Boy’, and ‘Underneath The Stars’

#49
Matt Bauer – ‘The Island Moved In The Storm’
Southern Records
Released September 9, 2008

Greenpoint, Brooklyn represent! I liked Greenpoint, I have a Polaroid picture of a flowery tree thing that I took there on my fridge right now. But on to the music. Sure didn’t take long for a singer-songwriter to show up on this here list. If you remember back to my list last year, there was a band on it called The National Lights who had a cd that was a collection of folk tunes about murder and death and such pleasantries and really this isn’t THAT different. This cd is apparently based on a story from Kentucky where an unidentified girl was found dead back in the 60s along the side of the road wrapped in a canvas tent bag or something of the sort. Wacky. I suppose he was pretty intrigued by the story, because he has written quite a good record here. Granted, I’m a bit partial to all things acoustic/folk with a country and bluegrass twang to it..and if there’s a banjo and slide guitar somewhere along the way..fuhgetaboutit..I’m usually all in. But that doesn’t take away from the quality. Bauer keeps things soo subtle and simple (almost to the point of being mysterious), he has a really calm almost whisperlike vocal delivery (think Iron & Wine) and most songs are very simple musically, but yet manage to be impressively powerful in their execution.  This is a great album, and I’m not really sure how I came across it..but I’m quite glad I did.
Standout Songs: ‘Florida Rain’, ‘Rose and Vine’ and ‘Sheltering Dark’

#48
July Skies – ‘The Weather Clock’
Make Mine Music
Released May 19, 2008

Sometimes, when I’m feeling lazy, I like to copy and paste reviews that I wrote in some old edition of From My Ears To Your Eyes into this year end list thingy, and that is exactly what I plan to do right now because everything I said there still stands true to this day. So hurr we gizzoooo.. I think I’ve decided this is what Explosions in the Sky would sound like if they expanded their sound repertoire, did more with acoustic things, made shorter songs, and added some vocals to the mix. This record never really allows you to a firm grasp on what it is classificationally (haha) speaking. Sometimes it sounds like post-rock record, sometimes it’s shoegaze, sometimes it’s just a nice little mellow, ambient thing, sometimes it sounds like British acoustic indie stuff..it’s as all over the place as a record whose songs basically all have the same feel can be. The best way to describe this music is dreamlike and peaceful. Airy. Wistful. Relaxing. Ya know how sometimes you’re watching a movie and there’s a really cute or dramatic or peaceful scene and you’re all like ‘dude what is this song? it’s great!’ WELLLLL, this is where that song came from. It’s the perfect soundtrack for watching the sunset over a big lake or whilst romping through a meadow at dusk with a youth-like innocence.
Standout Songs: ‘See Britain By Train’, ‘Distant Showers Sweep Across Norfolk Schools’, and ‘One Morning In May’

#47
The Gaslight Anthem – ‘The ‘59 Sound’
Side One Dummy Records
Released August 25, 2008

If you know me, and you know this band, then you’re well aware that this is an odd band to be showing up here on the list. Admittedly, I don’t understand why I like it as much as I do..I mean, I know the songs are all pretty awesome, but the whole sound of the band shouldn’t be THAT appealing to me.  Amazon classifies this as ‘Punk Revival’, and I can hear some similarities to modern day punkish bands like Against Me or even more old school stuff like the Replacements or The Clash…a sound that I usually don’t care much for. BUUUT when combined with a thick helping of NJ Spingsteen-like flair and hint of the Killers and Tom Petty hangin out in there too..what can I say? It really really works for me.  I only got around to listening to this band about a month ago (otherwise it’d likely be much higher) after hearing and seeing all kiiinds of hype and praise from around the world and I’m quite glad I gave it a shot, because it’s a damn good album. It rocks in a ‘we’re not really trying to blow you away but here’s some rock & roll stuff you might enjoy’ kinda way, and the storytelling through the lyrics is on point. They’re like one of those random bands you see in a bar and you turn to your friend and say ‘Ya know, these dudes are actually pretty good’ as you tap your foot along with the beat while you drink your Stella and your buddy just nods in agreement which annoys you because you don’t think he appreciates them as much as he should but whatever, his musical taste sucks anyway.
Standout Songs – ‘Great Expectations’, ‘Old White Lincoln’ and ‘Meet Me By The River’s Edge’

#46
Goldmund – ‘The Malady Of Elegance’
Type Records
Released July 8, 2008

That’s kind of a creepy album cover isn’t it? Anyway. Goldmund is an alias of composer Keith Kenniff, who has appeared on my lists before (and just might again very soon WINK WINK) under his other moniker..Helios.  There really isn’t all that much to say about this record..the bottom line is it is beautiful. Haunting, simple, lonely, and beautiful. It’s basically comprised entirely of piano compositions, and it’s kind of incredible to hear the power and emotions that those keys possess. I challenge you to listen to this record and not be thrust deep into thought or be lulled to sleep..you can’t..not..do it. This is one of those cds that would be fantastic to listen to while sitting alone in a room lit only by a gentle fire burning in the fireplace, feeling the hint of warmth it provides and getting lost in the crackles of the flames and the melody of the ivory. Thinking. Dreaming. Remembering. Hoping.
I wish I could play piano.  Sigh.
Standout Songs: ‘Apalachee’, ‘Finding It There’, and ‘Evelyn’

#45
Telescreen – ‘The Solar Sea’
The Burn Collective
Released 2008

So even though this was digitally released back in 07, it wasn’t released on an actual cd until this year aaand I didn’t hear it until this year either, so in my book, it still counts.  Telescreen is awesome for me because I was a big, big fan of Codeseven and I dug on Classic Case a bit, and this is the new band made up of them dudes. Musically, they basically sound like a continuation of the direction Codeseven was heading at the time of their demise which is great. I love the spacey, airy kinda guitar sounds and vox a ton. A couple intersting tidbits about these dudes..first off, when they perform live, they apparently do so behind a big translucent screen with neato images playing on it..sorta like Sigur Ros does sometimes I suppose..only these guys play the whole show that way so as to take the attention of themselves and focus it on the tunes. Alllso, if you buy this EP from them digitally, you’re able to sell it to your friends or whoever for a set price and keep all the profits for yourself. Interesting concept. ANNNYhoo, this cd is short but great and I sure hope they drop a full length next year..and go see ‘em with dredg if they come to your town, I bet it’s a killer show.
Standout Songs: ‘True’, ‘The Solar Sea’, and ‘Rumors’

#44
Joshua Radin – ‘Simple Times’
Mom & Pop Music
Released Sept 30, 2008

Another day, another singer songwriter. This is the sophmore record for Radin, and while I dug his first record, I havta say this new one is a step up for him.  I can’t put my finger on what it is exactly, but the tunes just seem to have more of a dynamic to them and I find myself enjoying them quite a bit. And with the new season of Scrubs starting soon, I’m sure the world shall follow suit, as this dude’s music seems to be on half the episodes due to him being LIKE TOTAL BBFS OMG with quirky doctor heart throb Zach Braff.  I need some famous friends to  promote BEP.com on tv shows and movies and shit. Maybe I can get my addy plastered on the ring gear of some boxer or get a logo on some dude in the ‘09 World Series of Poker.  Screw fulltiltpoker.com, they don’t need the promotion like I do. Cmon. I have bills to pay people. Hook it up. Anyone?  So Josh Radin. This cd is really good stuff, it manages to be a fairly upbeat record without losing it’s mellow edge and the production helps add warmth to the music..it’s like a big acoustical puffy coat, perfect for the chilly winter ahead.
Standout Songs: ‘Sky’, ‘Brand New Day’, ‘No Envy No Fear’

#43
Unearth – ‘The March’
Metal Blade Records
Released October 14, 2008

Alright, so I know that I reviewed this record on here a few months back and only gave it a 3 outta 5. Hey, I had my reasons. I said it was the same cd Unearth has been releasing for years now..that it had a few badass tunes and the rest were basically filler. And in some respects, I still feel that way. But one thing that I underestimated was the staying power of the songs I did like and their ability to act as a gateway drug to get me into the rest of the cd. So while this is the same old cd these guys release each time, I find myself really digging it the way I did back with the last cd of theirs I enjoyed, ‘The Oncoming Storm’. Seriously, most of the songs on this cd are rockin’ as all hell.. there’s tons of heavy, there are a ton of solos, there are breakdowns..it’s an Unearth cd, but it’s an Unearth cd that’s a return to form after the very disappointing ‘In The Eyes Of Fire’. Is it a bit bland and cookie cutter? Sure. But it’s really grown on me and become a go to disc when I’m wantin to RAWWWWK. And dudes, I cannot emphasize the awesomeness of the first song ‘My Will Be Done’ enough. So rad. It’s even my ringtone right now! Yay!
Standout Songs: ‘My Will Be Done’, ‘We Are Not Anonymous’, and ‘Cutman’

#42
The Tallest Man On Earth – ‘Shallow Grave’
Gravitation Records
Released March 5, 2008

Before you even say anything, no I have no idea how tall this dude is.  He’s Scandinavian..how tall do those people get over there? Hmm. I dunno.  It seems like every single singer songwriter that comes out these days gets compared to Bob Dylan. Conor from Bright Eyes has been labeled ‘this generation’s Dylan’ many times, as have countless other folks, heck, even Josh Radin up above has been called that by Rolling Stone magazine.  But Tallest Man does all those guys one better, he doesn’t just write Dylany songs, dude sounds a lot like a Bob Dylan. Not cause he’s trying to, because I certainly don’t get that vibe..he just..does.  And believe you me, that has nothing to do with my enjoyment of this cd, cause I don’t even like Bobby D’s music much. Honestly, this record sounds like the guy walked into the studio with just his guitar, was all like ‘alright, let’s do this’, and an hour later went home feeling accomplished because he just recorded this gem of a record. It sounds really effortless, really natural, and above all, really good.

Standout songs: ‘Pistol Dreams’, ‘Honey Won’t You Let Me In’, and ‘Where Do My Bluebirds Fly’

#41
The Battle Of Land And Sea – s/t
Mis Ojos Discos
Released January 16, 2008

I’ve never been to Portland, Oregon..or anywhere near there really..but if this is what kinda music comes out of there, count me in. This Northwestern duo have created a record that’s about as sparse as a record can be, with nothing but the quiet strumming of an acoustic guitar, a few reverby swells of said guitar’s plugged in counterpart, and the lovely, honest voice of Sara O’Shura filling up what would otherwise be, well, silence I suppose.  The Battle Of Land And Sea kinda sounds like a mix of a sullen-Cat Power and Mazzy Star and is chill to the max, thus making it a fantasmo listen on a slow rainy day or a primo addition to my iPod’s sleep playlist. They even have a cover of that 80’s tune ‘Harden My Heart’ by whoever sang that song..most likely some one hit wonder type group..and turn it into something a lot more interesting and intimate than the original version ever hoped to be. Great stuff here, dudes.
Standout Songs: ‘Saltwater Queen’, ‘Lady’, ‘The Beautiful Ones’

#40
Blind Pilot – ‘3 Rounds and a Sound’
Expunged Records
Released July 15, 2008

Hey wouldn’t ya know it..it’s another folky duo from Portland! I first checked out this record because I saw it described somewhere as The Shins with a folk style not all that different from Iron & Wine. I’m all about both of those bands, so I had high hopes for Blind Pilot and as it turns out, I was totally not let down. The Shins with acoustics comparisons are totally on the money here, especially with the similarities the two acts share in the vocal department. 3 Rounds and a Sound is a great little record with heartfelt and slightly melancholy songs about life and love and is the kind of music that just sorta affixes to me as soon as I listen. It’s something that I put aside a few different times over the months but was never able to forget about it. I kept have an urge to come back and listen to it again because on some level, it made me feel happy when it hit my ears. I really wouldn’t be surprised if this band got relatively big at some point in the near future. They’re totally that band whose songs should have a prominant spot in some kinda Juno or Garden State type movie. If that happens, you heard it here first. I’m like Nostradamus and shit.
Standout Songs: ‘Poor Boy’, ‘Oviedo’, and ‘Things I Cannot Recall’

#39
Bitcrush – ‘Epilogue In Waves’
n5MD Records
Released February 26, 2008

This label has become one of my favorites in the past couple years as they’ve released a ton of awesome music. Artists like Last Days, Lights Out Asia, and Near The Parenthesis call n5md their home..and as far as I’m concerned, that’s a pretty solid stable of artists..and actually, Bitcrush guy is the reason for that. Mike Cadoo (that’s a silly name, isn’t it? cadooooooooooooo!) is the man behind Bitcrush as well as the operator of said label. So nice work Mikey. They deal mostly with electronic and post-rock stuff, and ‘Epilogue in Waves’ follows right along in that mold. God, I just love this type of music. There’s so much beauty in the subtle soundscapes found in electronic and ambient music, don’t you think? Yes you do. I also love that so many of these artists seem to search for inspiration in the ocean and so many of these type cds are incredible to listen to while just sitting back and watching the waves and thinking. If you know me, you’re well aware of my love affair with the beach at night and how nothing is really more perfect to me..well even though I don’t live in an area that allows me experience it, I also love the idea of the beach in the winter. Think Eternal Sunshine’s Montauk. This is the type of record I wanna be listening to if I’m sitting on a freezing cold beach wearing a huge puffy coat and just watching the water and thinking. Ahhh, I’m all fuzzy just thinking about it.
Standout Songs: ‘An Island, A Penninsula’, ‘Pearl’, and ‘A False Movement, True’

#38
Ours – ‘Mercy (Dancing For The Death Of An Imaginary Enemy)’
American Records
Released March 18, 2008

I waited for this record FOR-EV-ER. Back in ‘01 when Ours released ‘Distorted Lullabies’, I remember being blown away by singer dude Jimmy Gnecco’s ridiculously powerful voice that reminded me of Bono at times and the overall coolness of the cd. In ‘02 came the really lackluster ‘Precious’ and the band seemed to fall off the face of the earth due to label issues and whatnot but now it’s the Oh Eight and Ours is back in top form and have once again released a cd that’s up to speed with Lullabies.  There really aren’t any week points here on this record guys. The record kicks off with the incredible title track (‘Mercy’, duh) and chugs along with killer tunes like ‘Ran Away To Tell The World’, ‘Live Again’, and ‘Murder’ and has really served to make me fall in love with this band all over again.  I’d be hard pressed to name a better all around vocalist in rock music than Gnecco..maybe Muse guy..but this dude’s voice is just so powerful and brings these songs to life in a way that I don’t think many other people would be able to.   Awesome disc and I hope I don’t havta wait like 6 years for another one.
Standout Songs: I just told you. See? Right Up There.

#37
Near The Parenthesis – ‘L’Eixample’
n5MD Records
Released August 19, 2008

After getting name dropped two cds ago, NTP appears on their own right here at 37. This guy does the whole ambient, atmospheric, glitchy electronica thing and boy it’s a great listen. As I sit here, it’s an overcast/rainy, coldish morning here in Atlanta and that’s the perfect storm for music like this, as I kind of alluded to back with Bitcrush.  It’s hard to talk about music like this though, because there isn’t all that much to say. All the stuff I’ve read about this record, because I do my research, talk about how dude went to Barcelona and this whole thing is inspired by that experience but I don’t know nothin about that, because I’m not exactly reminded of Spain when I hear it. Cause like, there isn’t a mariachi band on it. Get it? Spain? Mariachi? Sigh. Yes so I dunno nothin about that, all I know is that good music is good music annd that the whole ambient/modern classical genre has been kicking some ass over the past couple of years and it’s really some of the most inspiring and moving music out there, for my money at least.  It’s so great for chillaxing, so great to just have on in the background. Calm is good.
Standout Songs: ‘Modernisme’, ‘Guell’, and ‘Paral.lel’

#36
The Myriad – ‘With Arrows, With Poise’
Koch Records
Released May 13, 2008

A long time ago, I posted the video for the track ‘A Clean Shot’ on this here bloggy because I thought it to be quite an enjoyable tune. Well not long after, this record dropped and I was able to check out the whole thang. At first, I was kinda thrown off by the lyrics because they seem kinda random and vague. I know these guys have the whole  Christian thing going, and you can pick that up evvvvery once in a while from a verse or two so I decided that the lyrics as a whole are maybe supposed to be representative of something more than they just are on the surface and open to the listener’s intrepretation. I’m cool with that, so I moved on.  Back to the music. These guys are a really good band..if I had to compare them to anyone I’d probably  throw out names like Lovedrug or  maybe even Mutemath or Muse, but they def have the legs to stand alone.  These are some well written, well rounded and rich sounding songs annnnnnnnd the hooks are undeniable to the point that they’re hard to not enjoy even if you don’t care all that much for this genre of music.  I had the damn ‘you waste time like a grandfather clock’ melody stuck in my head for like two weeks after I first heard the record and I mean that in the least obnoxious way possible. Point is, I think it’s a top-quality cd with great catchy tunes and fierce staying power and thaaaat, my friends, is why it made the uber-exclusive list.
Standout Songs: ‘Get On The Plane’, ‘A Clean Shot’, and ‘A Thousand Winters Melting’

#35
Gregor Samsa – ‘Rest’
Kora Records
Released May 13, 2008

In the past, I’d always thought of Gregor Samsa as more of a post rock band than they appear to be with this record. Where once there were guitars, now there seems to be piano..at least at more piano that I seem to remember from their past releases.  I love me some piano, so that’s fine by me. Here’s the deal with GS..really chill atmospheric music with a shoegaze feel to it, lots of strings, pianos, synths, vibraphones, and soft male & female vocals that don’t take anything away from the beauty of the compositions.  Gone seem to be the epic post rock swells and in their place are beautiful and understated melodies that still serve to be every bit as powerful as a sweeping guitar and drum infused crescendo.  It goes without saying that I highly recommend this record for many of the same reasons that I recommended some of the other quiet-ish cds on this list already..it’s a great, calming listen.  Oh oh, and I’m pretty sure there’s an ocean theme happening with this disc too..because the ocean rools.
Standout Songs: ‘The Adolescent’, ‘Jerone Van Aken’, and ‘Ain Leuh’

#34
Gregory & The Hawk – ‘Moenie And Kitchi’
Fatcat Records
Released October 7, 2008

If I remember correctly, and I’m sure I do because I have a memory like a steel trap when it comes to altogether pointless things – Gregory & The Hawk (or Meredith Godreau) was a bit of a Myspace star before she got a big boy record deal. Or at least her popularity on the website helped her get label attention. Or something like that. I dunno.  Point is I remember GATH being big on Myspace a bunch of years ago and lots of girls posting bulletins saying like ‘OMG I LOVE GREGORY & THE HAWK’ or going to people’s profile pages and seeing that they had one of her songs as their profile songs. Heck, I may have had one of them as myyy profile song at some point..and I probably did because I have an ear for great music if do say so myself. I love this girl’s voice, it sounds so sweet. She’s probably cute.  Often times, female singer songwriters fall victim to the record blahs for whatever reason. Maybe I’m just being sexist.  ‘What’s wrong with being sexy?’ Ah Spinal Tap. Boy I’m all over the place.  This chick has skills though, she’s made a great record and will only improve over time. I wonder how many times she’s been asked who Gregory is and what instrument the Hawk plays. Things that make you go ‘hmmm’.
Standout Songs: ‘Oats We Sow’, ‘August Moon’, and ‘Stone Wall Stone Fence’

#33
November 5, 1955 – ‘Bears Of The Sea’
Metal Blade Records
Released February 19, 2008

Back in the summer, I said this about the 11/5/55 cd…’Besides having a ridiculously favorable album title for this blog, this record all packs a ton of awesomeness as well. Our buddy Fool Of Gold brought these guys to my attention a little while back and I’ve only recent gotten around to checking them out. Boy I’m glad I did. These guys bring to mind Circle Takes The Square, Glassjaw, ATDI, maybe a little Dillinger Escape Plan, with a few other flavors added to the pot for good measure. Musically creative & interesting and seemingly pretty solid lyrically, this cd might be the best metal cd I’ve heard all year and so far probably has the best chance of staying in my heavy music rotation as the year goes on.’  Six months later and I still feel pretty much the same about this record..as far as metal goes, it’s one of the highest ranked cds on my list this year. The songs are technically sound and are just all over the place enough to never get dull and not to just become a mangled mess of noise at the same time. That is a very good thing. More bands should take it upon themselves to jump outside the realm of cookie cutter metal and do something interesting. Just a thought.
Standout Songs: ‘We Are (Rainbow Bridge), ‘A Farewell Waltz’, and ‘March On’

#32
Helios – ‘Caesura’
Type Records
Released November 11, 2008

So this is the other project of Goldmund dude Keith Kenniff that I talked about a bunch of cds ago. Helios has a lot more musical substance than Goldmund does..it goes the route of  ambient/electronica/with a hint of post rock the likes of which has appeared more than a few times already here on this list. What can I say, I enjoy the genre.  On the EP Helios released last year, Ayres, for some reason he decided that the addition of vocals would be a positive thing for his music..buut the results were rather ehh..so luckily he’s given them the boot again for the full length. On my initial listens to this cd, the main issue I had with it was that it didn’t have anything that stood out to me like his last LP, Eingya, did. But upon further listening, I found that the songs kinda flowed more like a complete album moreso than some of his other work did and that really gave it new legs for me.  It sounds like there was a total effort made to make this  record more consistant all the way through, and I can appreciate that. All the songs kinda run together, and I say that in the least insulting way possible..it really helps this record achieve a dreamlike vibe, perfect for escaping the world for 49 minutes or so. Good stuff.
Standout Songs: ‘Come With Nothings’, ‘The Red Truth’, and ‘Hope Valley Hill’

#31
Brown Bird – ‘The Bottom Of The Sea’
Peapod Records
Released July 1, 2008

With all of the folk song writing singer songwriters I put on these year end lists of mine lately, you’d think I’d just go learn how to play guitar and record an album of my own. Afterall, I know what makes for good listening. There generally have to be several factors present included certain levels of: melancholy, vulnerablity, peacefulness, and a twinge of hope.  Throw in an open-for-interpretation moody album cover, some strings or piano in the background, maybe some soft female guest vox on a song or two, and boom goes the dynamite, you’ve got a hit.  I can’t really sing either though, and that would present a bit of a roadblock for me as well. Oh well. Heck, all that rambling and I’m not even positive if Brown Bird is technically just one dude or if it’s a group. I seem to think it’s just one dude, but whatever.  This is a great cd, now I’m gonna go make myself a sandwich.
Standout Songs: ‘My Daddy’s A Preacher’, ‘Lioness’, and ‘A Ghost Of Myself’

#30
Ra Ra Riot – ‘The Rhumb Line’
Barsuk Records
Released August 19, 2008

This record is kind of this year’s happy little accident for me. I initally downloaded this record to send to a friend of mine who happens to be friends with these dudes up in NY. Buuut then I listened to it, and was all like ‘hey this is really good’. People compare this band to Vampire Weekend all the time, but eff that. I strongly dislike VW and not these guys, so that’s prooobbbbably enough to put the kibosh on any and all comparisons due to me having the final say in all things music-related.  I must say that I am a big supporter of this latest trend of indie bands having violinists and cellists and whatever other random instrumentation in tunes (see the Decemberists, The Arcade Fire, et al), and Ra Ra Riot implements them perfectly..dare I say their inclusion is probably what helped make me like this record so darn much.  While the band themselves are somewhat shrouded in tragedy (their drummer died last year) and the lyrics have a darkness to them, the songs themselves contrast nicely, many having a nice upbeat, energetic, and engaging feel. The opening, and perhaps most fantastic song on the record, ‘Ghost Under Rocks’, reminds me a bit of the Rosebuds..while other songs bring hints of the Shins and older Death Cab stuff..but The Rhumb Line totally has a musical mind and life of it’s own. This is, hands down, my favorite ‘indie’ record of the year. It’s fun and sounds happy even if it technically isn’t all the time and it’s something I highly recommend to all of my 20 or so readers, ha. Word of warning to our own fool of gold though: there are some ‘oh oh ohhhs’.
Standout Songs: ‘Ghost Under Rocks’, ‘Winter ‘05′, ‘Dying Is Fine’

#29
StoneRider – ‘Three Legs OF Trouble’
Trustkill Records
Released January 29, 2008

From a personal standpoint, I’m slightly obligated to give all kinds of props to this band and this record. This is, after all, my brother’s band, and I have known these dudes forever and a day. That being said, in order to show up on this list, your record had better kick ass; I don’t care who you are. Luckily for all involved then that this album has no shortage of ass kicking shoved into it’s 10 tracks.  This record is like the defibrillator for the mostly boring rock scene these days, doing everything it can to bring rock back to the life it once enjoyed in days gone by.  This is southern rock the way it oughta be done..packed with huge hooks, dirty riffs, and just innuendo to fuel a small nation. Hey ladies – ya know how you gather up all your girlfriends and go to the bar for a night of drinks and gossip? Well, once you have a few drinks in you and all you wanna do is dance, this is the band you’re searchin for in the jukebox, because when push comes to shove, these guys know how to make you move. It kinda baffles me how these guys haven’t blown up yet, but I think it’ll come. All it takes is one set of ears, ya dig?  Anyway. It’s saturday night. Go grab yourself a PBR or a Jack & Coke, throw on this record, and let the good times roll.
Standout Songs: ‘Wild Child’, ‘Hair Of The Dog’, and ‘Juice Man’

#28
Rachael Yamagata – ‘Elephants…Teeth Sinking Into Heart’
Warner Bros. Records
Released October 7, 2008

A handful of years ago, this young lady released a cd called ‘Happenstance’, and fueled by killer songs like ‘Be Be Your Love’ and ‘Worn Me Down’, it was an instant fav of mine. Fast forward a few years, and the sultry songtress has returned with this double lp of new stuff (the first disc full of slower, quieter songs and the second with more uptempo, rock-oriented songs) and I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I wanna say that those songs I mentioned off her first record were hits of song sort, so I sort of assumed that she might take that route for this one, capitalizing on her past successes and leaning towards a more ‘marketable’ product. What this is, however, is a record of slow, mostly piano and strings driven songs about heartache and similar things that it sounds like she was born to make.  She has such a sexy, powerful, sultry voice..think sort of along the lines of a female Ray LaMontagne (who, incidentally, she has a duet with on this disc on a song called….wait for it………..’Duet’)..that’s it impossible for me to deny her or her music.  Just to be clear, I don’t care much for the disc of rock tunes, they do nothing for me. But the slow songs are totally gorgeous, the arrangements are wonderful, and all in all I really love this cd.
Standout Songs: ‘Sunday Afternoon’, ‘Duet’, and ‘Elephants’

#27
Goldfrapp – ‘Seventh Tree’
Mute Records
Released February 26, 2008

This ain’t yo daddy’s Goldfrapp. But really, is any Goldfrapp cd all that comparible to the one that came before it? If you popped this record in hoping for a repeat of the past two records by Allison & Co with their glam electro dance beats and synths all over the place, you surely walked away disappointed because this is really nothing like that. If anything, it’s closer to their debut ‘Felt Mountain’ record but I kinda feel like this is better. To me, this cd has a very fresh and organic sorta sound to it. Lush is a word I see used a lot in music reviews, and lush is a word that I think might fit this cd rather nicely. Smooth, airy vocals, some acoustic geetars and a lingering synth track or two among other things, and a few mildly trip-hop sounding beats a boppin in the background add up a really impressive cd…boy it’s kinda funny how many of these cds are the same sorta style of music this year..but I digress.  If you listen to no other song on this album, plllease listen to ‘A&E’. It’s one of my favorite songs of the entire year, the melody is so perfect it gives me chills. Do it. Do it now. Did you do it? Cmon, please, for me. You shant be disappointed.
Standout Songs: ‘A&E’, ‘Road To Somewhere’, and ‘Monster Love’

#26
The Killers – ‘Day and Age’
Island Records
Released November 24, 2008

Wow, I must think pretty highly of this cd if it was able to jump into basically the top quarter of my list after only a week or 2 of release/leakage.  The Killers are absolutely incredible at catchy as hell poprock songs. You can’t deny that. ‘Hot Fuss’ had like 38 singles, and even the disappointing ‘hey let’s write Springsteen songs’ ‘Sam’s Town’ had three kick ass singles that I remember.  ‘Human’ was the first taste the world got of this album, and it is a fantastic song as well despite it’s awkward ‘are we human or are we dancer’ line that’s alledgedly a nod to Hunter S. Thompson or something and does a great job of letting you know what to expect here on this record. Sounding like the offspring of the band’s first two cds with the addition of more Cure and Queen influence than I could shake a stick at, Day & Age might be their best record yet. Every song has it’s own identity (‘Joy Ride’ even makes me think of Madonna’s ‘Like A Prayer’), and is as good as the one that came before it.  After the success of  ‘Somebody Told Me’ and ‘Mr. Brightside’, these guys could have very easily started to rehash hoping lightning would strike twice or fallen off the face of the earth. Instead, they flipped the script, changed up their sound, and have proven to have the ability and the songwriting chops to remain fresh and relavant in an industry that’s as cutthroat and fickle as can be. Nice going dudes, I have a feeling you’re gonna be around for a long time to come.
Standout Songs: ‘Human’, ‘Spaceman’, and ‘A Dustland Fairytale’

#25
iliketrains – ‘The Christmas Tree Ship’ EP
Fantastic Plastic Records
Released November 24, 2008

Heeey wouldya look at that. We’ve finally reached the top 25, and that means just one review a day! Bad for you, good for me.
Don’t be fooled by the title of this EP. This thing really has nothing to do with the joys of Christmas and there are no bells a-jinglin and red nosed reindeer mentions. Instead this is a dark, atmospheric instrumental..and yes, post rock, record that is, from what I gather, a soundtrack to some old tale about a Captain and his logging boat who were lost mysteriously at..lake I guess..while trying to deliver Christmas trees to Chicago. Ah, that really warms the heart.  But that’s what these guys do..they write music as a s/t to tragic historical events. They have songs about a deadly 1912 expedition to the South Pole and former chess-guy-turned-loon Bobby Fischer on past releases, so a depressing Christmas cd is right up their alley. This is a top notch record, it really is. It’s broken into 5 songs, but it’s really one long piece of music, that ebbs and flows with the emotion and power that any quality post-rock cd should. It starts slow and song by song builds up to what is undoubtedly the punch in the face climax of the record during the final track, ‘Friday – Everybody Goodbye’. I can almost visualize a ship being torn about by some killer storm on Lake Michigan right now as I close my eyes while listening to it.  Awesome.  I’ve always thought this band was a bit underrated and off the radar, but at the same time have often been less than enthusiastic about the Morrissey-like vocals most of their songs have had in the past. But have no fear, no vocals here! Just pure, unadulterated musical refreshment.  If you like your guitars with an echo and your music unabashedly dark and moving, ‘The Christmas Tree Ship’ EP might be for you.
Standout Songs: ‘South Shore’, ‘Friday – Everybody Goodbye’, and ‘Three Sisters’

#24
Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez – ‘Why Is Bear Billowing?’
Carpark Records
Released September 9, 2008

Today is one of those day’s that I’m feeling really lazy, and when that happens during the month of December, that means that you get a fun copied & pasted review that I crafted months ago for this here site.
When you download..er..um..listen to..as many records as I do, it’s hard for things to stand out. Often times, If it’s something I’ve never heard of, I’ll give it a first listen..maybe a second, and if it doesn’t catch my ear I send it off to pasture. This is one of those times where I think I may have found a bit of a gem. Lesser Gonzalez Alvarez is, if you couldn’t tell just by looking at the album art, a folky singer songwriter who manages to really stand out in a genre where it’s kiiiiinda tough to really stand out. Some people will criticize LGA as nothing more than a Devendra Banhart ripoff, and hey, I can see where those people are coming from. There are some similarities (art, weird name, semi-quirky lyrics, etc) but I think they’re a bit off base. If anything, he is an easier to consume Devendra meets Nick Drake, Sufjan Stevens, or Donovan. The bottom line here though is this guy has skills and this cd is really good. The songs are all so simple, warm, and honest that they will  melt your cold, black heart upon first listen and you’ll be better for it.
Standout Songs: ‘Pinecone Eyes’, ‘The Letter B’, and ‘All With Golden Locks’