My Favorite Albums of 2008

Well, I’m officially later than everyone I know on this, but I still had to put it together. This is probably pretty *yawn* for most of you who have heard all of these albums a million times and are much more up on what’s going on than I am, but hopefully a few of you will get some good ideas. And of course this is not meant to be a “best of,” but merely a collection of a few of the albums that created the soundtrack of Emily’s life this year. And the more music criticism I read, the less I want to write it, so forgive the somewhat personal summaries. They’re all I felt up to at the end of this quite rocky but interesting year.

I have an mp3 mix of one track from each of these albums, so email me if you’d like it. And here they are – in no particular order. Local SF Bay Area bands are marked with a *. Enjoy!

Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes ( June 3, 2008 )

Here’s one of the *yawn* ones that’s on everyone’s list, but I LOVE this album. There’s something about five grown men singing in falsetto harmonies…call me old-fashioned. Robin Pecknold (lead vocals) is only 22 and has won my heart. This album has an old-timey feel but there’s something so modern about it. The theme of the album is built around a trip Pecknold took with his brother throughout the U.S. and the nature theme pops up everywhere. I also chose this album because it is home to my favorite song of the year – “Blue Ridge Mountains,” which in my mind is a masterpiece and has the best energy build of any song I’ve heard in a long time.

Okay* – Huggable Dust ( May 20, 2008 )

This is an album many people got sick of me talking about. It got to the point where I was to shy to actually talk to Marty (the mastermind of Okay) when I came face-to-face with him. Pretty pathetic, but this album affected me like no other this year, and it felt personal. Then Christian and Ben humored me and let me review the album for KQED Arts. Marty’s scratchy and pained voice is just the icing on the cake of these optimistic and beautiful songs. The band played a few shows with Deerhoof this year and came to the studio with The Bay Bridged to appear on The Bay Bridged Volume 2.

Fionn Regan – The End of History ( July 10, 2007 )

I’m totally cheating with the date on this one because I’m a late bloomer. This album was probably on everyone’s 2007 lists, but I discovered it in January of 2008 and listened to it clean through the summer and fall. This album is quintessential 2008 for me – breathtaking acoustic fingerstyle guitar, a clean and somewhat impassive voice and totally vague, sometimes silly lyrics. I missed him play at Hardly Strictly Bluegrass last year. I just hope he creates something new soon — something just as incredible.

The Dodos* – Visitor ( March 18, 2008 )

This one is also gracing the lists of many local and national music blogs, and for good reason. This was a breakout year for The Dodos, who are worthy of every piece of praise they receive. My claim to fame will soon be interviewing Meric Long last year for The Deli SF. This band’s live show is unparalleled in energy and they did a pretty darn good job of it on the album as well. This is one of the only purely indie albums that I have yet to get sick of (see Ra Ra Riot). I hope these guys go far.

The Botticellis* – Old Home Movies ( May 13, 2008 )

I started by seeing these guys live at Cafe du Nord, which was a good show but they had FAR too much reverb on their entire band, and it was hard to even hear the songs. Then, live show #2 was at The Bay Bridged’s Rooftop Podcast (where they played in a living room…explanation in linked post), where they just completely blew me away. They did an absolutely beautiful cover of a George Harrison tune, and their acoustic arrangements were just breathtaking. Upon buying the album, it did not disappoint. It’s quite reminiscent, but they do it well.

Portishead – Third ( April 29, 2008 )

Who knew after 12 years Portishead still had it in them. It’s as if nothing has changed. Or, I take that back, they’re even more risky and edgy now, and it’s so refreshing. This album still has the classic Portishead breathy vocals and synth sounds that we’ve all grown to love, with the addition of a bit more distorted guitar and some of the most raw electronic sounds that are still accepted by the mainstream. It’s a true opus, and it was such a welcome reunion.

Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line ( Aug. 19, 2008 )

My premier memory of this band is forever going to be seeing them live at the Rickshaw and having the time of my life. Their live show is incredible – fantastic energy, very clean and tons of fun. The audience danced, which you SFers know just never happens. With their (slightly trendy) brand of string indie (traditional guitar-bass-drums with violin and cello), the sound of each instrument really works together, with the violin and cello often taking a more prominent role than the guitar. And vocalist Wes Miles has a voice that translates immaculately to the live setting. They’re coming to the Independent on Feb. 27 for Noise Pop, so don’t miss it.

Deerhoof* – Offend Maggie ( Oct. 7, 2008 )

This is another album I reviewed for KQED and fell in love with in the process. I’m a long-time Deerhoof fan (a self-indulgent aside – I was introduced to Deerhoof by Michael Azerrad when I was interviewing him a few years ago. He said to watch out for them, and indeed he was right), I was excited about this album but wondered what they could possibly do to change their sound without making anyone angry. Well, I don’t doubt this album will make some of the more hard-core fans a little p.o.’ed, but I think it’s even better than some of their previous efforts. There are some incredibly tender songs on this album – a mood they hadn’t quite mastered before this.

Geographer* – Innocent Ghosts ( Aug. 17, 2008 )

This was quite the year for this awesome local band, and much deserved. This awesome three-piece has incorporated the cello into their music in a much subtler and more graceful way than many indie bands are doing these days. And not that all local bands aren’t nice people, but these guys are just stand-up folks. Combined with fantastic male and female vocals and a polished and energetic live show, I would say Geographer is a band to embrace while they’re still a local band.

The French Kicks – Swimming ( May 20, 2008 )

This album has so much soul it makes me crazy. There isn’t much else I can say about it than that. If you’re a long-time fan of the French Kicks (which I’m not…another late-bloomer situation), it seems that this album displays a certain maturity that some of their earlier projects lacked, but the energy and fun is still there, if not stronger. This band has an uncanny ability to create super catchy guitar riffs and make them even more striking by piling on expertly crafted melodies and very indie (in a good way) harmonies. But generally…it’s just the mood of this album that is impossible to miss.

Tallest Man on Earth – Shallow Grave ( April 15, 2008 )

Added as the obligatory 11th album on the list because even though it’s fresh to my ears, it’s too good not to mention. This man (says he’s from Sweden, but his accent sounds American) is an incredible songwriter. Most of the songs are just him and his guitar, with elaborate fingerstyle guitar and raspy, emotional vocals. There’s the occasional appearance of banjo, which he plays just as well as the guitar. And I finish with this album also because “Where do my Bluebird Fly” is quickly replacing the good old Fleet Foxes’ “Blue Ridge Mountains” (sorry guys) as my favorite song.

Other albums I loved:

Basia Bulat – Oh, My Darling ( Feb. 5, 2008 )

Radiohead – In Rainbows ( Jan. 1, 2008 ) – I paid $20 for this album. It was worth it.

Sigur Ros – Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust ( June 24, 2008 ) – No question this was the best show I saw this year. They played at the Greek Theatre in October, where it began to pour at the exact moment of the climax of their encore. I wasn’t on drugs, but I felt like I was. I swear they’re wizards.

Lykke Li – Youth Novels ( Aug. 19, 2008 )

The Raveonettes – Lust Lust Lust ( Feb. 19, 2008 )

Port O’Brien* – I Woke Up Today ( Nov. 25, 2008 – that’s what amazon.com says…I think they’re wrong, but maybe I just got a super-advance copy)

Chairlift – Does You Inspire You? ( Sept. 30, 2008 ) – Not in my top picks because it has absolutely no cohesion. But each individual song is very fun.

Moller* – House of Ghosts ( April 15, 2008 ) – Great new local band to look out for!

Jesca Hoop – Kismet ( Sept. 18, 2007 )

Some individual songs I loved:

“Dreams Before People” – Sholi*
“El Jefe” – Elephone* (kind of dislike the rest of this album, to be honest, but this song is amazing)
“Good Intentions” – Two Sheds*, from The Bay Bridged Volume 2

Happy Holidays everyone! And may 2009 bring an awesome new America and much happiness to all of you. Cheers.

Tags: Basia Bulat, Chairlift, deerhoof, Elephone, Fionn Regan, fleet foxes, French Kicks, Geographer, Huggable Dust, Innocent Ghosts, Jesca Hoop, KQED, Lykke Li, Moller, Offend Maggie, Okay, Old Home Movies, Port O'Brien, Portishead, ra ra riot, Radiohead, Shallow Grave, Sholi, sigur ros, Swimming, Tallest Man on Earth, The Bay Bridged, The Botticellis, The Dodos, The End of History, The Raveonettes, The Rhumb Line, Third, Two Sheds, Visitor