Best of 2008: Part I

So its come to this, the end of a year that will be remembered for Barack Obama and pretty much nothing else. In fact, just to make his election seem more important to future generations, all news not related to the election or his collectible coins will be destroyed. So it is up to us to document the top 10 albums of 2008 so that our children might know what the kids were listening to back in the day.

Its numbers 10 through 6 today, 5 through 1 tomorrow and at the end there will be my list of massive disappointments and one mild success. Can you guess which? I'd say email your answers to win something, but there's nothing to win. We need sponsors for that. But feel free to guess anyway and win nothing.

Anyway, on with it...

10. Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On

This is really just a collection of dirty grooves, and that's awesome. I think raunchy is probably the best word for the 12 tracks on Heart On, even though I hate that word. But EODM accomplished everything they set out to do with this album because it serves as a great tribute to rock the way they think its supposed to be done. They sound like James Gang would if they decided to make a record full of dance music.

Not to say Heart On is dance music at all, even if Tight Pants(track 3) sounds an awful lot like LCD Soundsystem. Its basically dance music you'd never see anyone dancing to, which I'm pretty sure is my favorite musical genre(I'll be touching on that again later).

Best Track(s): Anything 'cept the Truth, Heart On

9. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple

Along with having one of the best band names of all time, Gnarls Barkley are good at what they do. There isn't exactly a soul revival going on right now, but if there is, they're leading the charge. The Odd Couple's second single, and best track, Going On, barely charted in the US and I have no idea why. It made it to 88 on the Billboard Hot 100(Crazy made it to 2).

This album is just so solid from top to bottom and offers something so much different than what everyone else is doing. As I'm writing this I keep thinking I'm not ranking it high enough but everything from here on is equally deserving.

Best Track(s): Going On, Charity Case

8. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

I can't believe I like this album as much as I do. Kristen told me about it a while ago, I listened to about two songs and decided I was bored. But I gave it another try and have loved it since. I don't know how folk music became the new cool thing but Fleet Foxes do it so well. Its all mellow acoustic stuff but the songs sound so big, and the harmonies are outstanding.

I've been called gay for this once before, but I said they sound like a sunrise. If you can find a better comparison I would like to hear it. (after writing that I realized its very uncreative as the first song is called "Sun It Rises." Oh well.)

Best Tracks(s): White Winter Hymnal

7. Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster...

More dance music you don't dance to, and the best thing out of Wales since King Henry V. Los Campesinos easily take the award for best album artwork on this years list. They sound a bit like Arctic Monkeys but not quite as polished, if that's possible. They definitely sound a little rough(the count in on Broken Heatbeats Sound Like Breakbeats is epic) but it works in their favor. Its like if early Against Me! were playing Arctic Monkeys songs.

This album is really just fun to listen to. It goes a million miles per hour and the vocal back and forth between Gareth and Aleksanda Campesions(they all took the name, it translates to 'the peasants') is worth looking into it alone.

Best Track(s): Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats, You! Me! Dancing!

6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

The first time I heard A-Punk on the radio I thought it was the best song I'd ever heard. I've backed off on that a bit, but its still awesome. This also is an album that's just a great time. Some songs (Boston, most notably) are basically ska. Another thing about it is that its all electric guitars and at no point does anyone hit a distortion pedal which is rare to say the least.

Their talent hasn't gone unnoticed as MTV have used them for basically everything, or so it seems, including safe sex commercials. What can't they do?

Best Track(s): A-Punk, Oxford Comma

So there you have it, get everything you don't have from this list, listen, and then call me an asshole in the comments. Its that easy to become an enlightened pundit.

The eagerly anticipated 5-1 tomorrow!