Top Sellers of 2008
-
TV on the Radio continue to top themselves, and they manage to do it by breaking ground every time. After the gritty, distorted, fuzzy sounds of Return to Cookie Mountain, the band defies expectati...read more
-
Every so often a ray of light emerges, rising above the strummy-strum of the indie-folk ghettos and crystallizing everything pure about simple American roots music with an approach that works perfe...read more
-
After a much-publicized original digital release, the seventh album by Oxford’s art-rock maestros has finally hit record stores’ shelves. Upon first listen, the first single, “Jig...read more
-
There’s something inherently compelling about a chorus of voices joined in song. Seattle’s Fleet Foxes join that sensibility — virtually everyone in the band lends a sizable vocal contributio...read more
-
No one but Portishead could pull something like this off. Think about it; one of the three or four definitive trip-hop groups in the 90’s puts out two albums that not only set up the genre bu...read more
-
A band as hyped-up and blogged-out as Vampire Weekend has a lot to live up to when it comes to actually making a record. This self-titled debut sweeps the hype machine into the corner and gets down...read more
-
So how did this become one of our most beloved records of 2008? It doesn’t hurt that the opening notes of “Time to Pretend” recall American Analog Set’s “The Postman.&...read more
-
No longer giving their albums such terse and phonetic titles as Takk and Von, Sigur Ros has thrown us a nice little curve with its latest, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (that’s the las...read more
-
The near-annual release of a superb Will Oldham record never gets boring. Like 2006’s The Letting Go, Oldham¹s most recent effort as Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy is a slow, spare ramble...read more
-
In a way, we’re really naming Bradford Cox Artist of the Year, because the mad genius behind Deerhunter in effect pulled off a hat trick – three great albums in one year. After all, 2008 began ...read more
-
In an ambitious career move, Chan Marshall has decided to release her second covers album, this time paying homage to some of America’s most revered musical heroes, including Janis Joplin, Jo...read more
-
With a first track that thunders in like a surf rock/Jesus and Mary Chain mashup, it’s clear from the start that Distortion represents a new aesthetic wrinkle for Stephin Merritt’s motley Magne...read more
-
The thing that makes No Age’s music so exciting is there’s really no precedent for it. Sure, from a distance they look like a two-piece punk band, playing fast music to hordes of excita...read more
-
The third studio album by London-based musical postmodern hipsters Hot Chip is another soaring triumph, a surefire dancefloor hit that more than manages to live up to the great promise of their 200...read more
-
Since the release of Apologies to the Queen Mary in 2005, Wolf Parade fans have had plenty of albums from Dan Boeckner and Spencer Krug’s other projects to keep us occupied (Sunset Rubdown, H...read more
-
Hard to believe that not too long ago, some people were writing off the Walkmen. After some recent misfires, many wondered if the Walkmen could recapture the brilliance of 2004’s Bows & A...read more
-
LP3, the third album (duh) from the visionary upstate New York duo Ratatat, is another sublime and delightful romp. Once again the group ingeniously creates an album that sounds fresh and retro all...read more
-
It’s been far too long since the Breeders gave us a new album, but Mountain Battles sure was worth the wait. Far from the ultra-catchy and inspired pop of The Last Splash, Mountain Battles ca...read more
-
After a series of rather tepid and uninspired records, Beck triumphantly returns to his rock roots with Modern Guilt, a fruitful collaboration with the ever-prolific Danger Mouse. Mr. Mouse brings ...read more
-
An immensely likable record featuring the odd pairing of actress Zooey Deschanel and indie god M. Ward. The two met on the set of a film in which she starred and Ward was brought in to help out wit...read more
-
We all did a double-take of sorts when we heard that Antony (of Johnsons fame, of course) was making a dance album, but damn if he hasn’t pulled it off. Here Mr. Hegarty assumes a new identit...read more
-
After seven years and four albums of basement-recorded trashcan blues rock, Akron Ohio’s favorite sons The Black Keys return with Attack & Release. The big deal being made about the new r...read more
-
This one was a finalist for Album of the Year. M83’s move towards more vocals increases considerably and successfully thanks to new vocalist/keyboardist Morgan Kibby, not only because her bre...read more
-
Yes, this has been a good year for Bradford Cox, the frontman for Deerhunter and their heavy Krautrock-meets-shoegaze webs of sound. Let the Blind… is the official first offering from Atlas S...read more
-
Who knew? Once considered nothing more than a Grizzly Bear side project, Department of Eagles prove they are a great band in their own right with the wondrous In Ear Park. Led by Daniel Rossen of G...read more
-
No quickie throwaway, Water Curses is a welcome addendum to last year’s spectacular Strawberry Jam, combining the band’s recent penchant for strong melodies with plenty of experimental ...read more
-
Fresh on the heels of The Stage Names, one of the best albums of 2007, Will Sheff and Co. are back with a sequel that is every bit as satisfying. The Stand-Ins delivers another set of the rollickin...read more
-
There’s nothing groundbreaking about Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us, the latest from Joel Thibodeau’s Death Vessel – it’s just a beautiful and strange collection of songs...read more
-
We were a little alarmed that Zach Condon, a.k.a. Beirut, returned so quickly with a follow-up to last year’s monumentally successful Gulag Orkestar. He’s still a baby, after all (he st...read more
-
The cover of the psychedelic Canadian quintet Black Mountain’s second LP looks like it was designed by English artist Roger Dean (of Yes and Uriah Heep fame) with its organic yet precise rows...read more
-
It’s a sure thing, peeps: Olga Bell is a star in the making. This delightful collection of six songs hover somewhere between the breathing bombast of St. Vincent and the laptop electro-twirls...read more
-
The Silver Jews have been releasing charmingly askewed country-tinged records for some time now. Thankfully, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea is no exception. For the Silver Jews’ sixth record, ...read more
-
It’s been a while since we’ve heard from Jason Pierce’s storied Spiritualized, but he had a good excuse: a near-fatal encounter with pneumonia in 2005, which not only took its tol...read more
-
Bay-area folkie collective Vetiver has returned from a prolonged silence with this stunning covers record. Bandleader Andy Cabic picked 12 songs by his favorite and most influential artists, includ...read more
-
We knew Baltimore’s Beach House was going places after their excellent debut from two years ago, but nothing prepared us for this. Expanding on the skeletal feel of their first record, Beach ...read more
-
The adorable little indie film that garnered all those Oscar nominations also has a winning soundtrack featuring the likes of Kimya Dawson and the Moldy Peaches (tons of that stuff) as well as Bell...read more
-
Do you like your riffs searing, your guitar solos chunky, your lyrics abstruse but perfectly rhymed and your vocals dotted with reaching falsetto? If so, you’re probably already a fan of Pavement...read more
-
Stereolab has been releasing some of the most forward-thinking records for the last 20 years, and Chemical Chords is no exception. Instead of moving further into the lounge-jazz territory they̵...read more
-
No joke: This got strong consideration for Album of the Year. To be sure, it’s the best debut of 2008. I know little about this band – four dudes from Canada, they recorded it in Chad V...read more
-
How can you not love Santogold? Seriously, we know how subjective music can be, but here’s an album that not only bends genres unlike just about any other we can think of, but she brings enou...read more
-
The Dodos have put together such a unique combination of genres and sounds here that it’s pretty much impossible to dismiss them, with or without all of the hype. With a propulsive (almost tr...read more
-
Finally, Gang Gang Dance gives us the album that unites lovers of electro, rock, hip-hop and prog – no easy thing. Brooklyn’s Gang Gang Dance has always been an enigma, and that can be ...read more
-
It’s only fitting that Yeasayer should be at the bottom of this list, given that the year has ended with this delightful album sweeping our hearts. All Hour Cymbals has one of the freshest so...read more
-
Bright Eyes’ songwriter Conor Oberst recorded this self-titled album while rambling through Mexico. Far from home, the Omaha native still delivers introspective, witty lyrics with a country t...read more
-
The sophomore release from heavy-hitting supergroup The Raconteurs was a marketing experiment in getting the music straight to the people. Released a week after it was announced to the public, ther...read more
-
Feel free to chalk it up to the fact that I’m a Seattle native, but I’m telling you right now that this is your new favorite band. Hailing from the aforementioned city, the Fleet Foxes...read more
-
This Minneapolis-based indie band’s sophomore album comes two years after their well-received release of The Loon, which left critics comparing them to Pavement. Backed by melodies of epic h...read more
-
Finally, the long-awaited full-length debut from local faves Ra Ra Riot. The Rhumb Line is a sheer triumph, with wonderful hooks and melodies spanning 10 tight songs in a little over 35 minutes. Th...read more
-
Damn, this guy’s good. Tom Fec of the fabulous Black Moth Super Rainbow (a.k.a., Tobacco) releases his first solo album, and it’s a gas from start to finish. The music certainly dabbles...read more
-
How many bands can still deliver on their 14th album (and a studio album at that, not even including live albums or collections)? Not many. Nick Cave continues his icon status with Bad Seeds in tow...read more
Tags:
