After I do my end of the year list I always seem to find songs or albums that I would have included. Obviously, I could go through the Best Records and Best Songs of 2008 and download and buy them all, but there's just too much. So I was hoping that in this thread people could just post 1 album and 3 songs that they would like people to consider for their end of the year lists. I'll start:

Album: Parc Avenue by Plants and Animals

Songs: Fisherman's Son by Port O'Brien
Weekend Wars by MGMT
The Clockwise Witness by Devotchka

Album: Balmorhea - River Arms
Post-rock / classical / acoustic
Instrumental music featuring mainly acoustic guitar, piano and some other strings... most beautiful album of the year.

You know, after a lot of people reply in this thread, it's going to be just as overwhelming as those year-end lists from music sites.

I'll add mine once I'm at home (I'm at work).

quote:

You know, after a lot of people reply in this thread, it's going to be just as overwhelming as those year-end lists from music sites.

totally. anyway, here are my recommandations:

album: seeing the unpopularity on MC of the new Notwist, i suggest you to re-listen it. Give it another chance.

3 tracks that i love and that you probably didnt heard:
Pia Frauss - Mute the birds (Ulrich Schnauss remix)
Kaki King - 2 O'clock
Pop Levi - You don't gonna run

Album:

The Horse, the Rat and the Swan, Snowman

Songs:

"Kingdome Come" by The Mae Shi
"Sabali" by Amadou and Mariam
"No Excuses" by Air France

I feel like people will just put whatever their own personal favorite unknown album is on this thread, which almost hurts the premise of the thread. Usually on the year end list thread I look at people's lists and if I like what I see or respect somebody's opinion, I'll give a chance to some of the albums on their list that I've never heard before.

So instead, I'll choose something that has seen some popularity with the users on this site but not the kind I would have hoped for...

The Hold Steady - Stay Positive


As far as songs go...my 3 favorites from 3 of my favorite albums (not including the album mentioned above)

1.) Lover's Day - TV on the Radio
2.) Your Protector - Fleet Foxes
3.) Flume - Bon Iver

I would like to encourage you to listen to In The Future by Black Mountain. Its a pretty fantastic album.

As for my songs:

Like The Rest Of Us - Atmosphere
Raise Me Up - Hercules and Love Affair
Modern Guilt - Beck

I think it would be nice if people included a genre description at the very least next to their recommended album, at least for albums people aren't likely to be familiar with. Like Snowman.

The Snowman album is an album that the Liars would be proud to have made. I like it.

For me so far:
The Dodos - Visiter (what would this be categorized as? freak folk)

Top 3 songs not on favorite album:
"Sweet Love for Planet Earth" - Fuck Buttons
"Lost Coastlines" - Okkervil River
"Nothing Ever Happened" - Deerhunter

By November, these songs will probably change. Haha.

quote:

Originally posted by Lawrence_Of_Suburbia:
I would like to encourage you to listen to In The Future by Black Mountain. Its a pretty fantastic album.

I second that.

Children 18:3 - s/t (hooky, energetic & enjoyable rock. amg has it under 'post-punk' but I don't know if that seems accurate)

Songs:
Three-Way - The Magnetic Fields
Buriedfed - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson
While You Wait on the Others - Grizzly Bear (I don't even like Grizzly Bear that much usually, but damn it if this isn't the best song of the year)

quote:

Originally posted by Nibbish:
While You Wait on the Others - Grizzly Bear (I don't even like Grizzly Bear that much usually, but damn it if this isn't the best song of the year)

You should check out The Department of Eagles then.

quote:

Originally posted by Nibbish:
While You Wait on the Others - Grizzly Bear (I don't even like Grizzly Bear that much usually, but damn it if this isn't the best song of the year)

Yes!! "While You Wait For the Others" is amazing. I'm just worried that they'll release the studio version of it and I'll be disappointed because I got so used to this version.

If you haven't heard it, you can listen to it here.

Album You Must Hear: Hometowns by the Rural Alberta Advantage This is the best indie-rock album to come out in years. Catchy and with an intense spirit.

Songs: Haley Bonar - "Better Half"
Anthony da Costa - "Back of My Mind"
Tallest Man On Earth - "Pistol Dreams"

All are folk/Americana songs. The last two are upbeat and insanely catchy, while the first one is achingly intense and has excellent lyrics.

I still can't believe that O'Death's "Broken Hymns, Limbs and Skin" has gotten no mention on these boards. Simply outstanding, if you can get past the kitsch, this is a serious band.

As far as EPs go, I'm glad a few others have stumbled upon Passion Pit...also consider Ketch Harbour Wolves' "Dead Calm Horizon," a Canadian band that sounds more National than BSS. You can download it free (and legally, for those old/sorry souls who pretend that matters) at their website.

Album:

Chunk of Change [EP], Passion Pit

Songs:

"Just for the Night" by Laura Burhenn [Black Moth Super Rainbow Remix]
"You'll Need Those Fingers for Crossing" by Los Campesinos!
"Orphaned" by Max Tundra

quote:

Originally posted by BAfé:

"You'll Need Those Fingers for Crossing" by Los Campesinos!

You got me! You pushed me over the edge and got me to finally check this band out. Very nice. There slightly out of tune chaotic melodies remind me of old Archers of Loaf. But the poppy synths and looping fuzz is very Wolf Parade. And the singers accent, and delivery is very Shout Out Louds.

Fun.

quote:

Originally posted by Nibbish:
Children 18:3 - s/t (hooky, energetic & enjoyable rock. amg has it under 'post-punk' but I don't know if that seems accurate)

i gave this a listen because of you. Great album.

Album: Mother Mother O My Heart
I've been mentioning this album on numerous threads, I really really think that it's been underrated. Definitely has the potential to be extremely disliked by a lot of listeners, but I think that as many people will love it.

Songs:
Ron Sexsmith Brandy Alexander
Way better than the Feist version from one of the most underrated songwriters ever.

Alejandro EscovedoAlways A Friend
Hardly the best song of the year, but a great Springsteenish pop song that is hard not to enjoy.

The ConstantinesTime Can Be Overcome
A song from another album that has been sadly overlooked by a band that has not gotten the attention throughout their career that they deserve. This song is slower than their Shine a Light era stuff, but no less intense.

alright. I tried searching, but no results.

The Indelicates - American Demo

A nice cutesy band from the UK with both male and female vocals. The girl was a former member of the Pipettes. She has that 'indie high pitch' voice while the guy has that breathy male voice. I wanna compare them to Los Campesinos, but they aren't as crazy. The melodies are really fun. That's why I can't ignore them.