This is what I have with three quarters of the year over:

1. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar)
2. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop)
3. Portishead – Third (Mercury)
4. TV on the Radio – Dear Science, (Geffen)
5. No Age – Nouns (Sub Pop)
6. Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP (Sub Pop)
7. Drive-By Truckers – Brighter than Creation's Dark (New West)
8. The Walkmen – You & Me (Gigantic)
9. Blitzen Trapper – Furr (Sub Pop)
10. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges (ATO)
11. Shearwater – Rook (Matador)
12. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Vagrant)
13. The Dutchess and the Duke – She's the Dutchess and He's the Duke (Hardly Art)
14. The Black Keys – Attack & Release (Nonesuch)
15. The Dodos – Visiter (Frenchkiss)
16. Dosh – Wolves and Wishes (Anticon)
17. The Kills – Midnight Boom (Domino)
18. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night (RCA)
19. The Tallest Man on Earth – Shallow Grave (Gravitation)
20. Beck – Modern Guilt (Geffen)

Stellar list as usually, FKA. I miss Bon Iver (2007 in your book, suppose) and Elbow and Heretic Pride and Anne Brun and Microcastle. Didn't like that much to rich top 20 or even dislike?
And beside many similarities with my list there is one switch - Stand Ins are my nr. 16 and Visiter my nr. 1.We know your love for Okkervil River and I can respect that loyalty. Anyway, great choices, FKA.

My TOP 40 so far this year:

1. Visiter (The Dodos) 9.7
2. Third (Portishead)
3. Sun Giant EP (Fleet Foxes)
4. You & Me (The Walkmen)
5. The Seldom Seen Kid (Elbow)
6. Changing Of The Seasons (Ane Brun)
7. Heretic Pride (The Mountain Goats)
8. For Emma, Forever Ago (Bon Iver)
9. Alas I Cannot Swim (Laura Marling)
10. Fleet Foxes (Fleet Foxes) 8.8
11. Dear Science, (TV on The Radio)
12. Microcastle (Deerhunter)
13. Nouns (No Age)
14. At Mount Zoomer (Wolf Parade)
15. Rook (Shearwater)
16. The Stand Ins (Okkervil River)
17. Wampire Weekend (Wampire Weekend)
18. Intimacy (Bloc Party)
19. Trouble In Dreams (Destroyer)
20. The Devil, You + Me (The Notwist) 8.2
21. Evil Urges (My Morning Jacket)
22. Hey Venus! (Super Furry Animals)
23. Stay Positive (The Hold Steady)
24. No Way Down EP (Air France)
25. Spring/Summer/Autumn/Winter (Jon Foreman)
26. April (Sun Kil Moon)
27. Water Curses (Animal Collective)
28. Alopecia (Why?)
29. Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (Sigur Ros)
30. The Mande Variations (Toumani Diabate) 8.0
31. The Midnight Organ Fight (Frightened Rabbit)
32. Lie Down In The Light (Bonnie Prince Billy)
33. Love At The End Of The World (Sam Roberts)
34. Hercules and Love Affair (Hercules and Love Affair )
35. Street Horrrsing (Fuck Buttons)
36. Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel (Atlas Sound)
37. Songs In A&E (Spiritualized)
38. Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
39. London ZOO (The Bug)
40. Saturday=Youth (M83) 7.5

To suggest my view on the quality of the year I put ratings to nrs. 1, 10, 20, 30 and 40.

quote:

Originally posted by Neon Boxer:

15. Rook (Shearwater)
16. The Stand Ins (Okkervil River)

I think it's interesting, and significant, to point out how often these albums are listed directly back to back.

They are two completely different albums, but they really are equal in quality in so many ways.

If only Shearwater hadn't included "South Col". It could have been much higher on my list.

quote:

Originally posted by Neon Boxer:
Wampire Weekend (Wampire Weekend)

Heh.

quote:

Originally posted by Neon Boxer:
Stellar list as usually, FKA. I miss Bon Iver (2007 in your book, suppose) and Elbow and Heretic Pride and Anne Brun and Microcastle. Didn't like that much to rich top 20 or even dislike?
And beside many similarities with my list there is one switch - Stand Ins are my nr. 16 and Visiter my nr. 1.We know your love for Okkervil River and I can respect that loyalty. Anyway, great choices, FKA.

Thanks for the response and kind words, NB. You are right that Bon Iver was 2007 for me and although I love that album to pieces, I won't re-count it.

Of the ones you listed, I have heard all but the Anne Brun and Deeerhunter ones. Elbow and The Mountain Goats did very little to move me and the Deerhunter album is one I am highly anticipating but am awaiting it's physical release. What does the Brun album sound like?

I do have a deep loyalty for Okkervil River but even besides that, I feel that they have made another magnificent album. As for The Dodos, don't get me wrong, I like it a lot. It was in my top five for much of the year but has only moved down because I really haven't listened to it in a while. By the end, I always carefully listen to albums before my final list so it may just jump back up.

1. Alas I Cannot Swim - Laura Marling
2. Love At The End Of The World - Sam Roberts
3. Heretic Pride - The Mountain Goats
4. For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
5. To Serve With Love - Black Spade

6. The Midnight Organ Fight - Frightened Rabbit
7. Stay Positive - The Hold Steady
8. Fleets Foxes - Fleet Foxes
9. Visitor - The Dodos
10. 3 Rounds And A Sound - Blind Pilot

11. Brighter Then Creation’s Dark - Drive-By Truckers
12. Moi et Mon Camion - Merz
13. April - Sun Kil Moon
14. Standing On The Shoulders Of Giants - Metaform
15. Just A Souvenir - Squarepusher

16. No Longer At Ease - Nneka
17. The Stand-Ins - Okkervil River
18. Louder - Ayatollah
19. Fordlandia - Johann Johannsson
20. The Hollow Of The Morning - Gemma Hayes

quote:

Originally posted by Turenne:
3. Heretic Pride - The Mountain Goats

Nice to see this one so high, especially since it's been out so long now.

1. Wild Beasts – Limbo, Panto
Fabulously executed indie rock with dramatic Kate Bush-esque vocals (from a male). They're English and it's released in the US in Nov.
2. Silver Jews – Lookout mountain, lookout sea
Awesome from start to finish. I love the lack of posturing on this album, Berman tells it likes it is.
3. Shugo Tokumaru - Exit
This album is pure pop confection. Seriously, if the lyrics were in English this would be topping everyone's list.
4. Deerhunter - Microcastle
I'm all about the first three songs. Can't think of a better opening 3 to an album.
5. Of Montreal - Skeletal LampingThere's so much to hear in this album. Just when you think a song is a clunker, it'll change into something beautiful.
6. Why? - Alopecia
Best lyrics album of the year.
7. Fleet Foxes – S/T
8. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
9. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
10. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
I agree with those that think Boeckner's songs rule this album. Soldier's Grin, Language City and The Grey Estates are my favourites.
11. Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
12. Hold Steady – Stay positive
13. No Age - Nouns
14. The Ruby Suns – Sea Lion
15. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash
16. Sun Kil Moon - April
17. Atlas Sound – Let the Blind…
18. Man Man – Rabbit Habits
19. Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Graves
20. Islands - Arm’s Way

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Thisheregiraffe,

Updated List With A New Number 1:

1. TV On The Radio – Dear Science A
2. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago A
3. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive A
4. The Kills – Midnight Boom A
5. Shearwater – Rook A-
6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend A-
7. Sons & Daughters – This Gift B+
8. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins B+
9. Neon Neon – Stainless Style B+
10. Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line B+
11. Nick Cave – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! B+
12. Laura Marling – Alas, I Cannot Swim B+
13. Amanda Palmer – Who Killed Amanda Palmer? B+
14. Drive by Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark B+
15. The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely B+
16. The Walkmen – You And Me B+
17. Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now, Youngster B+
18. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter 3 B+
19. Titus Andronicus – Titus Andronicus B+
20. Girl Talk – Feed The Animals B+
21. The Duke Spirit – Neptune B+
22. Aimee Mann – @#%&*! Smilers B
23. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid B
24. The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound B
25. Die! Die! Die! – Promises, Promises B
26. Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree B
27. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark B
28. The National – The Virginia EP B
29. Black Kids – Partie Traumatic B
30. Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell B-
31. The Dresden Dolls – No, Virginia… B-
32. British Sea Power – DYLRM? B-
33. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular B-
34. The Last Shadow Puppets B-
35. The Raveonettes – Lust Lust Lust C+
36. Be Your Own Pet – Get Awkward C+
37. Counting Crows – Saturday Nights C+
38. These New Puritans – Beat Pyramid C-

Got, Not Heard Enough To Grade:
Abe Vigoda - Skeleton
Beck – Modern Guilt
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow & Blue
Blood On The Wall - Liferz
Brazilian Girls – New York City
Coldplay – Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip - Angles
Duffy - Rockferry
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
Hercules And Love Affair – Hercules And Love Affair
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
Murs – Murs For President
Oxford Collapse - Bits
Santogold - Santogold
Spiritualized – Songs In A And E
Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
The Cool Kids – The Bake Sale
The Dodos – Visiter
The Fratellis – Here We Stand
The Wombats – A Guide To Love Loss And Desperation
We Are Scientists – Brain Thrust Mastery

quote:

Originally posted by bonzob:
Updated List With A New Number 1:


3. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive A
B+
10. Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line B+

14. Drive by Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark B+

15. The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely B+

24. The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound B

Love your list, particularly the albums listed above.

The Raconteurs album has been unfairly panned by critics and on these boards. I hope more people go back and give that one another shot.

I hope that you give The Gaslight Anthem some more listens and it moves up your list. I've been listening to it almost constantly for the past two weeks.

quote:

Originally posted by FragileKidA:

What does the Brun album sound like?

Highly recommended, since I think you've liked Joanna Newsom. Changing Of The Seasons maybe lacks some orchestral complexity of Ys, but Brun's voice has similar power.

Man, Turenne, I just feel like Ayatollah is one of the weakest of the good hip hop I've heard this year. Flylo, BSBD, Metaform, and now Dela all poop on it. Why so much love? I want to get the appeal.

Personally, I found it easy to listen to soulful straighforward Hip-Hop with memorable melodies. My opinion at least, but if you are looking for something leftfield or experimental (like Flying Lotus) then its likely to disapoint. I appreciate its simplicity and soul however, and I've heard much worse music this year.

Check out Black Spade's album?

The new Devin has leaked for anyone interested.

Personally I don't really get Turenee's list the kid has posted more hip-hop albums from 08 in the private thread than the rest of us combined and yet only like 4 make onto his top list.

I'm sure I already explained this to Brainofp elsewhere. To summise:

I've been listening to Hip-Hop constantly for the last half decade and so other genre's that I'm less exposed to sound fresher and more appealing to me right now, and I make the list largely on instinct.

A lot of the Hip-Hop (and electronic) I listen to is instrumental, and I find instrumental stuff harder to love no matter how good it is. For example, the Metaform album is truly incredible, but it doesn't connect with me like Laura Marling.

Finally, I write shit reviews on Hip-Hop albums so I feel obliged to listen to that genre more then the rest.

Beyond that, its my list so stop your bitching.

Wow, it's been ages since I've posted on here! I guess this just goes to show that sitting at your computer being bored with studying makes you look for other ways to be entertained...

Anyways, I've been keeping track of albums this year with kind of a makeshift list - at this point the albums are basically categorized into groups, and I'll worry about any actual order later.

Voila!

So Good That My Brain Exploded:
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
TV on the Radio – Dear Science
Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer

Pretty Darn Spanking Good:
Plant and Animals – Parc Avenue
Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim
Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins

Good Good Good:
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP
Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight
Sam Roberts – Love at the End of the World
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely
Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
Hilotrons – Happymatic
The Rural Alberta Advantage – Hometowns

Not Bad, Not Bad at All:
Hercules and Love Affair – Hercules and Love Affair
Jamie Lidell – Jim
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
3 Rounds and a Sound – Blind Pilot
Nat Baldwin – Most Valuable Player

Haven’t Listened to For Awhile, But I Think You Were Decent:
Destroyer – Trouble in Dreams
The Dodos – Visiter
British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music?
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
The Tallest Man on Earth – Shallow Grave
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of the Understatement
Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs

Why Have You Disappointed Me So?
The Constantines – Kensington Heights
My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

I’m Not Sure What to Do With You:
Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords

Needs More Listens:
Deerhunter – Microcastle
Department of Eagles – In Ear Park
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line
Shearwater – Rook
The Walkmen – You and Me

Was anyone else here disappointed by Kensington Heights? To me, this album just sounded like they were trying to get some songs on the radio... which, as far as I know, they haven't been particularly successful with. It's too bad - I really like Tournament of Hearts, and they might have actually been able to get radio play (at least in Canada) if they'd written some songs as good as the ones on that album.

Oh yeah: I think most of those albums are fairly familiar on these boards, but if anyone wants more info on any of them, just let me know!

It's sad, at HMV the Sun Giant EP, by Fleet Foxes, costs more than their debut album.

Now with scores:

1. Dear Science - TV On The Radio A+
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes A
3. Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne A
4. Third - Portishead A
5. Stay Positive - The Hold Steady A-
6. Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair A-
7. Nouns - No Age A-
8. Microcastle - Deerhunter A-
9. Sun Giant EP - Fleet Foxes A-
10. Hold On Now, Youngster - Los Campesinos! B+
11. In Ghost Colours - Cut Copy B+
12. Modern Guilt - Beck B
13. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend B
14. Visiter - Dodos B
15. In The Future - Black Mountain B
16. London Zoo - The Bug B
17. Feed The Animals - Girl Talk B
18. April - Sun Kil Moon B-
19. No Way Down EP - Air France B-
20. At Mount Zoomer - Wolf Parade B-

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
Now with scores:

1. Dear Science - TV On The Radio A+
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes A
3. Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne A
4. Third - Portishead A
5. Stay Positive - The Hold Steady A-
6. Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair A-
7. Nouns - No Age A-
8. Microcastle - Deerhunter A-
9. Sun Giant EP - Fleet Foxes A-
10. Hold On Now, Youngster - Los Campesinos! B+
11. In Ghost Colours - Cut Copy B+
12. Modern Guilt - Beck B
13. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend B
14. Visiter - Dodos B
15. In The Future - Black Mountain B
16. London Zoo - The Bug B
17. Feed The Animals - Girl Talk B
18. April - Sun Kil Moon B-
19. No Way Down EP - Air France B-
20. At Mount Zoomer - Wolf Parade B-

I came on here to post my list and noticed that it is very similar to yours in a few ways.

Anyway, my list is starting to have some stability, so it is time for a top-20.

1. Microcastle -- Deerhunter
2. Third -- Portishead
3. Dear Science -- TV on the Radio
4. Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust -- Sigur Rós
5. Stay Positive -- The Hold Steady
6. Fleet Foxes / Sun Giant EP -- Fleet Foxes
7. Skeletal Lamping -- Of Montreal
8. Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel -- Atlas Sound
9. April -- Sun Kil Moon
10. For Emma, Forever Ago -- Bon Iver
11. In Ghost Colours -- Cut Copy
12. The Evening Descends -- Evangelicals
13. Something for All of Us -- Broken Social Scene Presents: Brendan Canning
14. Offend Maggie -- Deerhoof
15. Hercules and Love Affair -- Hercules and Love Affair
16. Nouns -- No Age
17. Saturdays=Youth -- M83
18. Vampire Weekend -- Vampire Weekend
19. The Devil, You + Me -- The Notwist
20. At Mount Zoomer -- Wolf Parade