michael david

My Top 10 Albums of 2008

I’m a little late to the party this year with a top albums of the year list, but, whatever…I can still remember what I did on New Year’s Eve so it hasn’t been THAT long.

10. Santogold, Santogold

Santogold is a softer-around-the-edges version of M.I.A.  There are 5 or 6 songs on this album that are incredibly catchy and memorable.  There are a few others that don’t do it for me, but the good songs are good enough to put this album in my top 10.

9. The Whigs, Mission Control

Okay, so technically Mission Control is from 2007 but I didn’t really get into the album until this past year, so I’m keeping it in there.  The Whigs sound is still a bit young sounding and rough around the edges.  Part of that youth and energy is what makes them so great to see live.  I suspect they will continue to get better as song writers and will put out better and better records.

I stand corrected.  After more careful searching, it appears that Mission Control was released in January, 2008.  So it rightfully belongs on this list.

8. m83, Saturdays = Youth

The opening song is killer and sets the tone for the whole record.  I wasn’t familiar with m83 prior to this record but I plan to go back and listen to some of their earlier albums.  It’s a great album to listen to on a Sunday afternoon hanging about the house.

7. Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III

A lot of people aren’t into Lil Wayne’s sound, but they can’t deny he’s talented.  His name appears everywhere these days as a collaborator on seemingly every hit song.  It’s hard to describe Lil Wayne’s sound as he’s got some songs that are pure R&B (I typically don’t like those as much), and others that are straight Rap.  Lil Wayne is intriguing (check out this article in GQ), and his music is equally worthy of attention.

6. Kings of Leon, Only By The Night

To be honest, I was pretty disappointed with KOL’s latest album.  After three successive amazing albums in a row, Only By The Night ranks well below their first three.  It didn’t get too many listens by me until I saw them in concert on Halloween.  After hearing many of the songs live, I went back and was able to enjoy the record.  It still ranks below their others in my mind, but KOL is one of my favorite bands today (only behind Arcade Fire and Radiohead).

5. Jason Collett, Here’s To Being Here

Collett’s first album, Idols of Exile, had a few good tracks but the sound was to folksy and happy for me.  On Here’s To Being Here, the songs have a lot more depth to them.  But the real reason this is my number 5 album of the year is that it was the perfect companion on Kate and my Pacific Coast Highway trip last fall.  Some of my best memories of last year are driving down the highway with ocean on the left, mountains on the right, the top down and “Through The Night These Days” playing.

4. Beck, Modern Guilt

I wouldn’t say Beck makes a great leap with this album but practically every song is enjoyable, with a few great ones.  The Danger Mouse influence is evident too, and a nice twist on Beck’s past albums.

3. MGMT, Oracular Spectacular

This album is probably the most like-able of the top 10.  Everyone I played MGMT for ended up loving it.  It’s a great party album.  MGMT was VERY disappointing live, when we saw them open for Beck.  Hopefully they can improve in that area as they mature as a band.

2. The Black Keys, Attack & Release

The Black Keys are the best not-so-unknown-anymore-band playing.  The sound that they can produce with just a drum set and a guitar is amazing.  I hope they are able to keep their garage-sound as they continue to gain popularity.  A great tribute to old school, bluesy-rock.

1. TV on the Radio, Dear Science

Great album from front to back.  I liked it from the first listen since.  TVOTR is one of the most original bands out today but are able to make their original sound appealing to many.  A great follow-up album to Return from Cookie Mountain and proof that TVOTR is a talented band that will be around for a while.

There are a few albums that didn’t make the list but were close: Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs; Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer; Girl Talk, Feed the Animals; No Age, Nouns; The Walkmen, You & Me; Okkervil River, The Stand Ins (The Stand Ins would likely have made the top 10 had I listened to it earlier.  I just started listening to it a few weeks ago.  Okkervil River is another of the great new bands…amazing live, with two great records in a row).