Best Music of 2008

Best Albums Of 2008*
*well the best of what I had during 2008


Ryan Adams & The Cardinals- Cardinology

(October 28, 2008)

I reviewed this album earlier, in more detail: http://owlmylove.blogspot.com/2008/10/cardionology.html and love it even more now. Cardinology is the first record I've bought in sometime. (And the first brand new record I have ever owned) This album is beautifully tragic. That is the most simplistic explanation for it. Ryan is vulnerable and gives us all a sneak peek into his world.
Stand out songs: Natural Ghost, Crossed Out Name, Magick



Conor Oberst-Conor Oberst

(August 5, 2008)

This album recorded in Mexico first unravels like a steady heart beat that leaks into a more mature and haunting voice from Conor, not the way he sounds but the writing voice that I believe will help to truly define him. In my opinion his self titled release from Merge is his most well thought collection of songs to date. Not to mention it is his first solo in over a decade Conor is beginning to earn the badge of 'Dylan of his generation'.
Stand out songs: Danny Callahan, Milk Thistle, Cape Canaveral, I Don't Want to Die (in a hospital)




Cat Power-Jukebox

(January 22, 2008)

Slow and winding songs bleed out on Jukebox, Chan Marshall creates yet another soul wrenching collection of songs. Her 80-proof whiskey vocals spin stories of lost love, wandering around searching for something unattainable, and at the end of it all you find that she has yet again laid it all out on the table for all to see her emotions, deepest fears and feelings.
I love this gorgeous collection of songs compiled into one fantastic album. I think it is her best to date.
Stand out song: Silver Stallion






The Walkmen-You & Me

(August 19, 2008)

A collection of fourteen really strong and compelling songs. Hamilton Leithuaser's unique voice echos of searching for something from the past. Paired with unexpected organs and whistling, the mood set is both with a eerie and beautiful gracefulness. I highly recommend everyone listen to You & Me.
Stand out songs: Dónde Está la Playa and On The Water




Kathleen Edwards-Asking For Flowers

(March 4, 2008)

Haunting vocals, heartfelt lyrics that really transcend all personal barriers. I have never been one that really clung to any female singer-songwriters on a deeper level where I was able to make an actual connection to the music but then again I hadn't had much contact with Kathleen Edwards. The opening track "Buffalo" is rattling and eerie with her voice wobbling over a painful memory. After reading that she taught herself to play piano for this album-it puts it into perspective of how impressive these songs really are. Not all songs are such soul shakers, the next track "The Cheapest Key" tells a tale of Edwards as a scorned lover: "A is for all the times I bit my tongue B is for the bullshit and you fed me some C is for charity and now you're mine..." "Alicia Ross" is a real story about a young woman kidnapped and murdered in Canada by her neighbor. Tom Petty's Heartbreakers lend themselves to Asking For Flowers to add another layer or richness without overwhelming Kathleen's voice.
Stand out songs: Buffalo and The Cheapest Key

Kings of Leon- Only By The Night

(September 23, 2008)

A more polished sound appears on Only By The Night. The KOL are still the same group of southern rockers with Caleb Followill's distinguishable howls and guttural raw vocals. OBTN has a more 'arena rock' persona to it. After reading one horrible review after another I wasn't sure what to expect. I really like it. Its the same ol' KOL when you strip it down to the core: horny rockers singing about their encounters with the opposite sex with catchy riffs and great hooks. I'm not sure what people expected...have they heard the other KOL albums? Its all within the same vein. I think this is another great addition to their already great catalogue.
Stand out songs: Use Somebody, Sex on Fire, Be Somebody




De Novo Dahl-Move Every Muscle, Make Every Sound

(March 25, 2008)

The second album from De Novo Dahl is contagiously energetic. I bought MEM, MES blindly without knowing anything about them. The first song is electric in every way possible, an entourage of back up singers and wild instruments setting the tempo for the rest of the tracks sprinkled of disco but throughout is very strong.
Stand out songs: Shout and Heartbreaker






The Black Keys-Attack & Release

(April 1, 2008)

In my eyes I don't really believe that Dan and Patrick can put out a bad album. Attack & Release is a calmer and more tame version of The Black Keys. In one light, it seems like this might be a 'relief' album, and I only say that in the most respectful way possible. After seeing them numerous times and seeing the raw passion and heart that they unleash with every song they play, it would seem that they needed a reprieve from their heavy hitting songs for live performances. After all is said and done this is still a great bluesy delta album.
Stand out song: Strange Times


The Kooks-Konk

(April 15, 2008)

Brit rockers that spin fun and catchy hooks on their second release named after the studio where it was recorded. Konk offers up stripped down acoustic, power ballads, pop driven beats and references to Franz Ferdinand. And interesting fact, they named themselves after a David Bowie song. (Song 17-A song for his daughter-on disc one of the two disc Bowie At The Beeb collection-which is fantastic) Which was funny because when I heard of them the first thing I thought was, "Hey that's a David Bowie song..." So that there is enough for me to give them a thumbs up.
Stand out songs: Tick of Time and Sway


The Ting Tings- We Started Nothing

(June 3, 2008)

Callie turned me onto The Ting Tings. She had a couple of their songs on her iPod. After that I was hooked. I couldn't wait for WSN to come out. I was counting down the days. Every song on We Started Nothing is catchy as hell. I don't care who you are, you will like this collection of sugary songs. I find myself tapping my feet involuntarily every time I hear them. This duo has it down, they are fun and incredibly enjoyable to listen to. I just hope that they don't get overexposed with airplay.
Stand out songs: That's Not My Name, Keep Your Head, We Started Nothing


Kate Nash-Made of Bricks

(Jan 8 2008)

Made of Bricks is a rushed glossy version of what made Kate a web phenomenon, but still a fun and wildly enjoyable. Playful lyrics with sometimes bitter overtones laced with snappy piano tapping and clapping...Very fluffy but a guilty pleasure for sure. Her lyrics are reminiscent of a high school diary, here is a snippet of "Foundations":
"And every time we fight I know it's not right, every time that you're upset and I smile.
I know I should forget, but I can't. You said I must eat so many lemons 'cause i am so bitter. I said "I'd rather be with your friends mate 'cause they are much fitter." Yes, it was childish and you got aggressive, and I must admit that I was a bit scared, but it gives me thrills to wind you up."
Stand out songs: Skeleton Song, Mouthwash (the last bit is great...the first half is ehh....)

Joy Division-
Unknown Pleasures

[IMPORT] (January 13, 2008) Original Release Date: June 1979

I know I know, its not really a release of 2008-but I am counting it. I discovered them this year and with the re-release it barely makes it within my guidelines....

I read quite a bit about Joy Division and Ian when I first stumbled onto them. A truly tragic story.
PITCHFORK MEDIA: Rock history is jammed with messy, stupid, and tragic ends to promising starts-- plane crashes, overdoses, gunshots-- but Ian Curtis' death is still striking. Sometime early on the morning of May 18, 1980, Ian Curtis, at the age of 23, watched Werner Herzog's Stroszek, played Iggy Pop's The Idiot, and hung himself in the kitchen.
My take on Joy Division is that Ian's reveals a powerful depiction of heavy hearted, gloom-filled despair and paranoia that is apparent throughout his body of work and Unknown Pleasures is no exception. It is just another example of Ian's fragility, and a look at the fact that everyone at one time or another shades of this running through all of us. It's somewhat unsettling to hear someones emotions and confusion sprawl out on the floor, knowing what became of him. But maybe that is one of the magnetic qualities about Joy Division. A window of time opened from their music that still seems relevant today.