Let's start it:

All your favorite bands suck.

There.

Everyone keeps loving the TVotR release, but I found it to be really bland and boring for them. They're not that good that even their mediocre efforts are better than legit releases from other bands.

Of course it's bad form to submit without offering a solution, so here's mine:

10 The Dirtbombs - We Have You Surrounded
9 Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinology
8 The Whigs - Mission Control
7 Dr. Dog - Fate
6 Black Crowes - War Paint
5 Railroad Earth - Amen Corner
4 Blitzen Trapper- Furr
3 My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
2 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
1 Hold Steady - Stay Positive

El Chode: 1 Hold Steady - Stay Positive

What's that about bands that aren't so good that even their mediocre efforts are better than legit releases from other groups?

1: Protest the Hero - Fortress

2: Nas - Untitled

3: Rise Against - Appeal to Reason

4: The Black Keys - Attack and Release

5: Tom Gabel - Heart Burns

6: The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound

7: Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

8: R.E.M. - Accelerate

9: Alkaline Trio - Agony and Irony

10: Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell

headlessparrot: What's that about bands that aren't so good that even their mediocre efforts are better than legit releases from other groups?

It's not better than Boys and Girls, but I think it's got more diversity and craftmanship than the TVotR, which fell into the trap most indie artists seem to get snagged in - songs that build but never deliver or go anyhwere.

headlessparrot: What's that about bands that aren't so good that even their mediocre efforts are better than legit releases from other groups?

Also, this is why the MMJ release is not #1 on my list despite my being an obsessive fan. I was very underwhelmed by Evil Urges. At first I thought it was great but I grew tired of it real quick.

El Chode: It's not better than Boys and Girls, but I think it's got more diversity and craftmanship than the TVotR, which fell into the trap most indie artists seem to get snagged in - songs that build but never deliver or go anyhwere.

Fair enough--I was mostly joking (I like the Hold Steady, but I do think Stay Positive is a pretty mixed bag), but I'm satisfied that you can articulate a defence of your stance. All I know is that, for me, Dear Science was the one album of 2008 that just absolutely blew me completely out of the water on my very first listen, start-to-finish, and that it's remained in heavy rotation since. And I actually say that as someone who's not an enormous fan of Return to Cookie Mountain. Despite the fact that I write about music for a couple of online rags, it was one of those rare cases where I was left completely unable to articulate why I loved it so much.

Also, War Paint is a complete disaster, and that one I won't budge on.

My own list (not finalized), for what it's worth:

10. Brian Wilson - That Lucky Old Sun
9. Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak
8. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
7. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
6. Grand Archives - Grand Archives
5. Drive-By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark
4. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
3. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
2. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colour
1. TV on the Radio - Dear Science

El Chode:

...but I think it's got more diversity and craftmanship than the TVotR, which fell into the trap most indie artists seem to get snagged in - songs that build but never deliver or go anyhwere.

I'm going to disagree, therefore making your opinion moot. It's really a shame so many people don't like TVotR. Personally I think your taste in rather generic, which leads me to understand why don't like them.

Also, this has to be the worst "best of" list I've seen this year and those "obscure band" jokes are really worn out and lame.

TrancePort - Paul Oakenfold.

Best CD ever Hands Down.

Shiat, ignore what I said; headlessparrot said it better. Except the part about the crappy list, blah blah blah.

headlessparrot: Also, War Paint is a complete disaster, and that one I won't budge on.

I thought the songs were catchy. I am most likely biased from the fact that I've seen the Crowes more times than I can count and grew up with them.

Overall, I found that there was not one real stand out album this year. Last year at least had Ween and Wilco putting out solid albums, before that you had Boys and Girls in America and Beyond, and the year before that (2005) was Z and Aha Shake Heartbreak, which I think are two of the best albums of the decade so far.

"You see you are no MLK, you are no Jesse Jackson. You a nobody, to me, you're just another Don King with a perm, just a little more political. And that just means you're a little unhuman than us humans. And now, let me be human by sayin' fark Al Sharpton!"

Guess who

G.C.C.C.: I'm going to disagree, therefore making your opinion moot.

Maybe I'm just not hearing something, but it's the trap that bands like Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend also fall into. They blue ball me. I'm grooving and waiting for the songs to pick up and go somewhere and they don't.

I'd say maybe I should start smoking again, but I can still listen to my stoner music unstoned and still like it.

El Chode: G.C.C.C.: I'm going to disagree, therefore making your opinion moot.

Maybe I'm just not hearing something, but it's the trap that bands like Arcade Fire and Vampire Weekend also fall into. They blue ball me. I'm grooving and waiting for the songs to pick up and go somewhere and they don't.

I'd say maybe I should start smoking again, but I can still listen to my stoner music unstoned and still like it.

I understand that. Personally I think that's one of my favorite parts of music. I enjoy that challenge and why I think my tastes have grown so much.

Also, sorry for coming off like a jackass. Still new and all.

Volbeat should be #1.

El Chode: I thought the songs were catchy. I am most likely biased from the fact that I've seen the Crowes more times than I can count and grew up with them.

I used to be a big fan of them, too--when I was fourteen, Shake Your Moneymaker would have been on any list of my favourite records. But the more time passes, the more they just... cease to interest me. I'm not sure if they've changed or I've changed (more likely), but it seems like they've gone from being a classic blues-rock tribute band to being a tribute band for the classic blues-rock tribute band they once were. They're still technically proficient, I guess, but they just can't write a song that competes with the great tracks of actual classic rock bands. And if you can hear anything on War Paint, it's that.

They are--or they've become--the tangible embodiment of Stillwater, the quasi-fictional group in Almost Famous: a mid-level band struggling with their own limitations, who just aren't, ultimately, that good.

G.C.C.C.: Also, sorry for coming off like a jackass. Still new and all.

Oh I just figured you were trying to ruffle the music snob feathers by telling them their opinions are wrong. If I'm belligerent, that's what I do.

My favorite songs typically fall apart into disorganized chaos and bring about some sort of order from it. Broken Social Scene is great at this, as are a lot of Wilco songs and Phish interludes.

headlessparrot: But the more time passes, the more they just... cease to interest me. I'm not sure if they've changed or I've changed (more likely), but it seems like they've gone from being a classic blues-rock tribute band to being a tribute band for the classic blues-rock tribute band they once were.

No I thikn you're dead on that point. However I think since I grew up listening to that style of music, I just appreciate a constant in the arena from time to time. I think it's why I like Phish too. It's nothing innovative, it's actually trite and overplayed. Sort of like a pint of Sam Adams. It's not crappy miller light, but it's not some heady craft brew that took a lot of care and cultivation. But it's pretty reliable no matter where you find yourself drinking.

Queens of the Stone Age is another band that I used to be all about and just outgrew. Same with Foo Fighters.

This list is such a disaster I wouldnt even know where to begin. Li'l Wayne? Really?...Really?

Raconteurs and Gutter Twins were great.
Can't speak for most of the others.

Wow. Spin is still around?

Who would have guess that?

Just trying to pull pull girls talking on their cells
Saying "boys, cowboys keep your gene pool to yourselves" (new window)

Edward The Great by Iron Maiden is the best album of this year, and any year since its release.

1. TV on the Radio -- Dear Science
2. Torche -- Meanderthal

Those two switch sometimes.

I'm done!

Death Magnetic is the only album on that list that I've even heard... Spin's obviously not big on metal.

Not a bad list. #1 is absolutely spot on.

1. Secret Chiefs 3: Xaphan

I don't think a list of 10 decent albums has been released since '87.

Why the fark do all these top album lists always have boring-ass indie shiat on it for the most part?

I bought a handful of discs this year. New Sevendust, new Disturbed, new KMFDM, new Guns N Roses and the new Extreme album. I'm not saying they're the best albums of the year but at least they rock a little bit.

/yes, I said Extreme
//the new album's not all that bad

Completely stolen from Nabb1 awhile back:

It's not the music that bothers me. I think unknown artists should get more airplay. I just can't stand the smug, pretentious, hipper-than-thou DJs who broadcast indie music telling me what a philistine I am because I haven't heard the latest track from "Bucket of Smegma" that was recorded on a four track last Thursday during rehearsal in the lead singer's parents' basement.

The Glass Dragon: Why the fark do all these top album lists always have boring-ass indie shiat on it for the most part?

I bought a handful of discs this year. New Sevendust, new Disturbed, new KMFDM, new Guns N Roses and the new Extreme album. I'm not saying they're the best albums of the year but at least they rock a little bit.

/yes, I said Extreme
//the new album's not all that bad

Disturbed huh? I'm amazed you were able to type and breathe at the same time. Listen to some Black Mountain for some real rock not made by neanderthals.

84Charlie: Completely stolen from Nabb1 awhile back:

It's not the music that bothers me. I think unknown artists should get more airplay. I just can't stand the smug, pretentious, hipper-than-thou DJs who broadcast indie music telling me what a philistine I am because I haven't heard the latest track from "Bucket of Smegma" that was recorded on a four track last Thursday during rehearsal in the lead singer's parents' basement.

Yeah but the thing is you should have heard it because odds are that basement is the head of the subsidiary owned by a major label that loves the fact that the hipsters buy into the whole "indie" label since it doesn't say Sony or Warner in the credits. The most frustrating thing about the hipsters is that they do not know their roots. They'll like a band like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and not even know who the hell Tom Verlaine is.

yeah, I figured TV on the Radio would be their number one pick.

**cough**"Coldplayblows"**cough**

The fact that Lil' Wayne has been at or near the top of every "Best of '08" list I've seen so far is...baffling. I'm waiting for these people to come out and say "Just kidding! We know this is total bullshiat!" But sadly, they're serious.

Mr. Chainsaw: The fact that Lil' Wayne has been at or near the top of every "Best of '08" list I've seen so far is...baffling. I'm waiting for these people to come out and say "Just kidding! We know this is total bullshiat!" But sadly, they're serious.

this, and I'm still confused why Chinese Democracy is making some of these Top 50 Lists. Did only 50 albums come out this year or something?

Man, that's 3 (Rolling Stone, AV Club being the others) "major" picks for "Dear Science" being the album of the year. I just don't get it. Like a poster above said, it's boring and bland for them. Don't get me wrong, it's quite the cohesive collection of songs for TVotR, but that doesn't make it exciting, or worthy of best album status at least based on their past body of work.

Top 5 that will completely betray what I just typed.

5. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
3. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
2. Metallica - Death Magnetic
1. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs

stuff i enjoyed this year:

new stuff:farked Up - Chemistry of Common Life
Gaslight Anthem - '59 Sound
Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
Silver Mount Zion - 13 Blues For Thirteen Moons
Russian Circles - Station
Torche - Meanderthal
Al Green - Lay It Down
Balmorrhea - Rivers Arms
Sigur Ros - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
Daturah - Reverie
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Dianogah - Qhnnnl
Portishead - Third
Mogwai - Batcat EP
Jay Reatard single series
Notwist - The Devil, You + Me
Eli "Paperboy" Reed - Roll With You
The Sword - Gods Of The Earth
This Will Destroy You - This Will Destroy You
World Burns To Death - Graveyard Of Utopia
Hammock - Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow
Willits + Sakamoto - Ocean Fire

Other

Replacements - Tim resissue
Mission of Burma - Signals Calls & Marches reissue
Herbie Hancock - Hear, O Israel reissue
Marked Men - Marked Men reissue
Various - The Nigerian Special series
Various - 1970s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground
Portraits Of Past - Discography
Hot Water Music - Till The Wheels Fall Off
Roky Erickson & The Explosives - Halloween
Nerves - One Way Ticket
Mogwai - Young Team reissue

just my two cents.

I read this and tried to think of the last album I waited for and bought on the first day it came out. And then I was unbelievably sad, because it was a kids' album (new window)

wastedhate: Man, that's 3 (Rolling Stone, AV Club being the others) "major" picks for "Dear Science" being the album of the year. I just don't get it. Like a poster above said, it's boring and bland for them. Don't get me wrong, it's quite the cohesive collection of songs for TVotR, but that doesn't make it exciting, or worthy of best album status at least based on their past body of work.

I liked it better than Return to Cookie Mountain. The vocals on RtCM didn't sound like they belong with most of the songs and half the songs just kind of fell on their ass.



vitustinnitus: Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust

this was terrible. Sounds like Suicide and Jesus and Mary Chain combined? I'm all over it. Too bad the awful highpitched vocals completely ruined it.


best reissues, hands down: Loop - Heaven's End and Fade Out. Hopefully they'll finally get their due now that (half, so far) their discography is back in print and sounding a farkload of a lot better.

At first, I wasn't a huge fan of the TV on the Radio album, but each time I listen to it, it just keeps getting better and better. Death Cab for Cutie's "Narrow Stairs" was probably my most listened to. Tokyo Police Club is another of my top of the year. Raconteurs was very very good as well.

Another I've liked is the new Bloc Party but not many people have liked it. Most say it's a let down from the previous 2 albums.

any body have that Wolf Parade album from the list?
how is it?

I have "apologies..." on vinyl...
it took a while to grow on me, but it did
[yup... one of those 'growers']

oh, btw... in that last top album thread, i saw a lot of entries for "evil urges" by MMJ...
but on the metacritic site it got mixed reviews...

and the two songs they played on snl didn't impress me much...
too simple and lame and r & b / lite funk - ish.

vitustinnitus: Gaslight Anthem - '59 Sound

A wise Farker once told me "If you weren't a man, I'd sex you."

Watershed by Opeth.

pvd021: TrancePort - Paul Oakenfold.

Best CD ever Hands Down.

That's not even the best trance album. Heck, it's not even Oakenfold's best. Go check out Perfecto Presents Another World or Great Wall or GU004 Oslo.

mfaby: Wow. Spin is still around?

Who would have guess that?

They're about the only mainstream media outlet left that actually still focuses on music and live performances. I know that's not saying much but in comparison to Rolling Stone and MTV it's alot.

I don't who the #1 band is, but all I know is that that once I hear the word disco describe a song of theirs, I can safely assume the list is BS.

Did everyone just gloss over the fact that the guy that all the art rock kids owe everything to released an album with Brian Eno this year?

Not a bad list, gotta admit I'm not that big of a Lil' Wayne fan until I heard a few of his tracks from Da Drought 3 or whatever last year. Pretty good stuff.

Anyway, I have no desire to rank these in any order except alphabetical, so here's the list of albums I picked up in 2008:

The B-52s - Funplex
Beck - Modern Guilt
The Black Keys - Attack and Release
Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago 9 37:15
Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue
Carl Craig - Sessions
Cat Power - Jukebox
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Counting Crows - Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
CSS - Donkey
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Duffy - Rockferry
Fischerspooner - The Best Revenge
Flight Of The Conchords - Flight Of The Conchords
Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop And Roll!!!
The Fratellis - Here We Stand
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
Gym Class Heroes - The Quilt
Hercules And Love Affair - Hercules And Love Affair
Hilary Hahn, Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra... Schoenberg & Sibelius: Violin Concertos
Hot Chip - Made In The Dark
Islands - Arm's Way
Jack Johnson - Sleep Through The Static
Junkie XL - Booming Back At You
Kid Sister - Pro Nails: Super High Shine - EP
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night
Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off The Lavender Bridge
Lindstrøm - Where You Go I Go Too
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Matthew Sweet - Sunshine Lies (Deluxe)
Metallica - Death Magnetic
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Miss Kittin - BatBox
The Morning Benders - Talking Through Tin Cans
The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds
Nik Freitas - Sun Down
Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Panic At The Disco - Pretty. Odd.
Portishead - Third
R.E.M. - Accelerate
Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
Rev Theory - Light It Up
Santogold - Santogold
Sheryl Crow - Detours
Sia Some People - Have Real Problems
T.I. - Paper Trail
These New Puritans - Beat Pyramid
Thievery Corporation - Radio Retaliation
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing 10 37:52
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Weezer - Weezer (Red Album)
Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer