I wanted to come back to 2008, even while everyone is starting their 2009 lists (don’t worry mine will be out soon enough), because I think it is worth seeing what a year might do to the “Best albums of 2008″. Of course, it helps me share some truly amazing music, once again. Remember, it’s ordered by my favourites.
Even after nearly two years, Vampire Weekend’s debut stands up as strong as ever. The melodies are still catchy, the variety of sounds and instruments never fails to please, the album is, simply put, a wonderful pop gem. Pretty Much Amazing recently showed me a quote from Pitchfork which is good at explaining what gives this album so much universal praise:
People spend a lot of time poking around for the edgy new underground thing, convinced that plain old pop songs have been done to death. But Vampire Weekend come along like Belle & Sebastian and the Strokes each did, sounding refreshingly laidback and uncomplicated, and with simple set-ups that make good songs sound exceedingly easy.
Unlike Vampire Weekend, Foals‘ Antidotes grew on me even more over the last year. The weaker tracks have proven themselves to me (yes, especially you Heavy Water). The album is a perfect combination of experimental sound dynamics and bass lines, melodies, riffs and lyrics which will get stuck in your body, as well as your head. I’m not exaggerating, I’m sure I’ve caught myself tapping Two, Steps Twice’s breakdown rhythm or Olympic Airways‘ bass riff far too many times.
Late of the Pier’s debut is a mutated beast of genres, contained within the bars of electronic music. There are so many weird sounds that initially I was drawn away from, but now suck me back any time I’m shuffling through my libary and I hit one of the tracks from this album. Fantasy Black Channel’s diverse use of synths brilliantly blended together by the traditional rock setup of bass, guitar and drums, generates some of the most interesting sounds around.
I think it’s Noah and the Whale’s second album, full of its slow somber songs, which helped me appreciate this one more. The music is just so perfect, which contrasts Charlie’s wobbly, but captivating, vocals. Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down is a collection of sharp lyrics and beautiful instrumentation that forms a magical, emotional and, above all, fun album.
Devonte Hynes (aka Lightspeed Champion) writes amazing lyrics about his emotions, sexuality and racism. Hynes writes gorgeous melodies combined with perfect harmonies that will have you in ecstasy. Most importantly, Hynes can arrange like no other and therefore, putting these attributes together forms a debut, which is far too underheard.
Everyone I Know Is Listening To Crunk
Back to the 1960s, as Alex Turner proves he isn’t a one trick pony with his side project The Last Shadow Puppets. A dark, twisted album, The Age of Understatement, boasts an amazing orchestral backing. The lyrics are great (not quite as good as Arctic Monkeys’ ingenious wit) and the acoustic tracks still manage to hold my attention, in fact standing out as some of the best moments of the album.
Los Campesinos‘ debut is an album made up of ferocious indie pop, with raw punk attributes; an interesting contrast to say the least. There are the aggressive riffs pulled off by the guitarist, fighting high octave keyboards and violins. The let’s-talk-really-really-fast-for-vocals from Gareth weaves in and out of sickly sweet girl vocals. The lyrics are well worth noting; fantastic monologues using the previously mentioned rapid fire anecdotes.
Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats
Tokyo Police Club’s Elephant Shell is made up of fast tempos, hard synths and intimidating bass lines. It’s a slow start, but still a solid one. It’s not until Tessalte that you really start to understand these guys, and what makes their debut so awesome. Unexpectantly, they slow it down to something they’ve never done before, and even then they achieve something great. The Harrowing Adventures Of… is an ode to childhood with a glockenspiel, supported by a bass drum, hand claps and violins. The rest of the album keeps up the 5 star ratings, with the blistering fast Your English Is Good, another slow plodder Listen to The Math and the finale, The Baskervilles, returns full circle with more distorted bass riffs. The album cover is my best way of describing this album; a never-ending, aggressive, solid album which will keep spinning for a long time in your record collection.
This album is pure, organic and beautiful. It’s difficult to describe how. Fleet Foxes is just a collection extremely stunning music. Fleet Foxes have created something which is perfect; all the arrangements are so perfect. Sit back, relax and let your mind be blown softly.
Born Ruffians is bouncy indie rock you can’t help but smile to. It’s loud, boisterous in a charmingly childish way. The cover depicts a toy cowboy, a symbol of the boyish youth that the record pushes into the listeners ear. Apart from Red, Yellow & Blue (which soothingly sings vocal harmonies to the quiet march of drums), the album never let’s up it’s continues energy of jaunty rhythms and joyful vocals.
Flight of the Conchords has been a bit of an addiction since I discovered their TV series. I basically downloaded anything I could find from their rather huge collection of music. Of course, I decided to buy their debut. It’s just a shame how it’s not very different from their TV show material. They are at their best when they perform live and since the album is mainly ripped straight from the TV show or studio versons, I didn’t put it any higher on the list. Still, their material is both funny and really good musically. Mimicking styles ranging from David Bowie to Shaggie, Flight of the Conchords’ album is well worth listening to.
MGMT don’t prove the formula ”quality of quantity”. With ten tracks on the album, only three proved to be amazingly epic (Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Kids). The rest is just not very interesting. You can argue it’s all experimental, which is fine, but don’t put it on the album then. It’s a shame, because if they had kept up the standard of those three, MGMT’s debut would be the best album of the year.
Dark and strange, Alex Turner’s side project, The Last Shadow Puppets, did not really spark my interest initially. But after a couple of months, I can really appreciate it. Age Of The Understatement sounds like an album made of Bond theme songs, but with a lot more depth It manages to keep all the grandness even with the slow, acoustic songs. I can’t wait to see what Alex Turner will do next.
The Blood Red Shoes’ album is short, but ferocious, simple, but still fascinating. With just a guitarist and a drummer, it seems like their music might be basic, but this is where you start listening to their impressive debut. Hard and fast drumming, relentless guitar strumming and the interwoven vocals from Laura and Steven create a great rock record.
Lightspeed Champion’s first album is stunning to listen to. With it’s incredibly beautiful melodies, violent and open lyrics, Dev Hynes has created an album where every song is a masterfully created sensation. I don’t need to describe it anyway, because you should already be rushing to get this from the shops or be downloading it right now.
it’s just a barrage of incredible songs. And with a completely different sound, to anything right now, they have a winning formula. From the opening bangs of Mansford Roof, to the simple melody of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, to the final clash of Walcott, Vampire Weekend’s debut, is a thrill to listen to. You’ve got it anyway, haven’t you?
