Let's start getting serious about compiling what are the best of these types of album from the year. I really need to expand into this genre and I'm sure a lot of other people have the same basic animal need.

I took one rec from crazed and got me: Seun Kuti And Egypt 80 - Many Things. It sounds pretty fantastic so far.

Five great Afro-beat albums I'll mention here-

Nomo Ghost Rock
Akoya Afrobeat Ensemble PDP
Seun Kuti And Egypt 80 Many Things
Kaleta & Zozo Afrobeat Country Of Guns
Kasai All Stars In the 7th Moon, The Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by Magic

Too early to rank these and I need to update my tied-for-top-ten list as all these are going to appear.

Haven't heard much reggae & ska this year, or rather much new recordings.

Are we counting Cambodian psych pop band, Dengue Fever? If so, Venus on Earth ranks high on my list.

Scottish Gaelic folk anyone? Cuilidh from Julie Fowlis was in my last years' top ten but that was an import copy. Now it's being released domestically this week along with '05's Mar a tha Mo Chridhe. I highly recommend Cuilidh for the adventurous soul who wants to take time to dig something different. It was the 3rd listen, on my car cd player that had me hooked- especially when I had to pull over to the side of the road once Julie's voice started givin' me goosebumps of pleasure. Can't understand a damn word she sings but music's an international language anyway so I could feel what she was singing, and it felt fantastic.

Great thread. I know I'll be adding more.

quote:

Originally posted by crazed:
Five great Afro-beat albums I'll mention here-

Nomo Ghost Rock
Seun Kuti And Egypt 80 Many Things

I have those two and like them quite a bit, I'll check out the other three sometime soon.

I just got this and after first listen it's pretty cool.

this year i've gotten only comps from the label Soundway but they've been solid gold

Nigeria Rock Special

Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Nigerian Blues

Nigeria Disco Funk Special

I liked the Jackson Conti. Thanks!

quote:

Originally posted by brainofp:
this year i've gotten only comps from the label Soundway but they've been solid gold

Nigeria Rock Special

Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Nigerian Blues

Nigeria Disco Funk Special

These are all fantastic. I forgot about adding comps to the list. There have been quite a few amazing sets released this year. I'll toss in my favorites soon.

Great African comp I picked up a few months ago, definitely one of top favorites of the year, is Black Stars: Ghana's Hiplife Generation. Hiplife sounds like a fun mix of hip-hop, reggae, highlife and funk. The end result is musically more global than Ghanaian or African.

Black Stars cd myspace

Roots Manuva - Slime & Reason is a nice mash of reggae, dub and hip-hop. Fun(ky), heavy, head nodding stuff.

www.myspace.com/rootsmanuva

Toumani Diabate - The Mandé Variations has got to be in any list of best albums of 2008. Just listen to this track, extraordinary music : http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=0DEKQjj6Ga0 .

Can I add to that one Douga Mansa by another Malian kora player Mamadou Diabaté. Here's a track : http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=37048950 .

New Amadou & Mariam just leaked and it's awesome! Great energy to this record!

The NPR's Best African Music of 2008 is a great guide for those who enjoy music from that continent... They picked 10 albums, I haven't listed to all yet, but I usually trust their taste.