Another year, another list. 2008 was a good year for music -- here's my top ten favorites (in no particular order):
Glasvegas - Glasvegas - While they may have been overhyped by the UK press, Glasvegas deliver the musical goods. They are heavily indebted to the cool, detached sound of the Jesus & Mary Chain, but with their heartfelt songs and widescreen production values, the end result is more epic than insular. James Allan's thick Scottish accent takes some getting used to, and his lyrics are sometimes simplistic, but there's no doubting his passion. And ultimately the album is successful because the majority of the songs are very, very good.
TV On The Radio - Dear Science - TVOTR have always been critics darlings. But this time around, they've nailed the balance between the "art" and "pop", and the result is amazing. By injecting brittle funk grooves into the mix, they've made their music danceable and appealing to both head and heart.
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound - In a nutshell they're like Bruce Springsteen fronting a muscular punk band (think Social Distortion, not Blink-182). The well-written songs are full of covert and overt references to not only the Boss, but everyone from Tom Petty to The Clash. What makes the album great is that the songs sound genuine, lived-in, and absolutely perfect on the car radio.
The Airborne Toxic Event - The Airborne Toxic Event - Talk about your diverse influences -- 80's alternative, SoCal punk, dance-rock, and garage-rock stylings are all featured within the first half of the album! But many of the songs work so well that watching the band try on different styles is quite entertaining. And when the styles blend into an ace track like "Sometime Around Midnight" you know the album is a keeper.
Black Kids - Partie Traumatic - Hands down, the most fun and danceable indie-pop album of the year. They sound like Robert Smith fronting the B-52s, with frothy, hook-filled songs and touch of wacky soul. It's a heady brew that can still be enjoyed as pure pop.
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive - Another in a string of amazing albums. If you haven't warmed to Craig Finn's speak-singing yet, you're missing out on another stunning batch of carefully observed character sketches and short stories masquerading as songs. And the music, informed by punk/alternative, but distilled from classic rock sounds is more powerful than ever. There's so many great songs it's hard to pick standouts, but I've got to mention "Lord, I'm Discouraged" where Finn's matter-of-fact lyrics about watching the woman he's in love with sink into drug addiction are countered by the finest, most emotive guitar solo I've heard in years. It's as if the guitar is expressing all the emotion that Finn's narrator can't.
The Virgins - The Virgins - Ten sharp, punchy, and well-produced tunes that bring to mind the catchiest, classic "new wave" artists (The Cars, Elvis Costello, Talking Heads) as well as their more recent offspring (Strokes, Marvelous 3). I'm still confused as to why they didn't get more promotion. They're as radio-ready as they come. Nearly every song sounds like a top ten hit (in my mind, anyway).
M83 - Saturdays = Youth - Compared to previous albums, the shoegaze-y fuzz has been toned down, but the swirling synths, cinematic feel, and pop hooks are intact. The result comes off as an affectionate tribute to the 80s. To their credit, it never sounds like pastiche and yet several of the songs could fit seamlessly in a John Hughes film.
Santogold - Santogold - She was compared to M.I.A. at first, and while that comparison is somewhat valid (especially on "Creator"), Santogold's sound is a lot more varied. Elements of reggae/dub ("Unstoppable"), R&B ("My Superman"), and straight-ahead pop/rock ("Lights Out") shine through on different tracks. Others, including the brilliant "L.E.S. Artistes", are difficult to categorize. Nearly all are excellent, making this a superb debut.
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours - Adding a touch of 60s pop melodies to their signature sound yields fantastic results. The strong singles "Hearts On Fire", "Lights & Music", and "So Haunted" are the high points, but the rest of the album is very nearly as good. They've successfully expanded their sound from the 80s-retro fixation of their well-received debut.
Honorable Mention (a.k.a. The Next Ten)
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
The Bell - Make Some Quiet
Killers - Day & Age
Bloc Party - Intimacy
CSS - Donkey
Kooks - Konk
Pride Tiger - The Lucky Ones
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Gentleman Jesse - Introducing Gentleman Jesse & His Men
Reissues/Live/etc.
Adorable - Footnotes 92-94
The Smiths - The Sound Of The Smiths
Pavement - Brighten The Corners: Nicene Creedence Edition
The Clash - Live At Shea Stadium
Final Solution - Brotherman (soundtrack)
The Replacements - Let It Be/Tim/Pleased To Meet Me
U2 - Boy/October/War/Under A Blood Red Sky