Here’s the second half of my list so if you missed the first part, it’s right here. What you’ve got here are my favorite albums of 2008. Honestly, I was actually surprised how the list ended up but I don’t care how much street cred I lose for these picks, they are the records that I just couldn’t stop playing.
25. Okkervil River – The Stand Ins (Jagjaguwar)
I’m pretty much convinced that any record that Will Sheff puts out (until whenever) will automatically have a spot reserved on my year end list. Really. His songs are that good.
MP3 | Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines
24. .357 String Band – Fire & Hail (Self-Released)
High-octane punk bluegrass that sounds something like Bill Monroe & The Blue Grass Boys covering Minor Threat. It’s a raucous and twangy chickin’ pickin’ good time that makes me wanna get wicked drunk. Read more…
MP3 | .357 String Band – Fire & Hail
23. The Loved Ones – Build And Burn (Fat Wreck)
Build And Burn is a fantastic slab of melodic punk rock that is peppered with Americana. It is biting and brash, but not bratty. The kids might love it but I’ll probably love it more. Read more…
MP3 | The Loved Ones – Sarah’s Game
22. Ben Nichols – Last Pale Light In The West (Liberty & Lament)
Less raucous than what Lucero generally does, Ben’s gritty vocals mingle with his lonesome acoustic guitar strums, Todd Beene’s pedal steel, piano, and accordion in a way that always feels spacious and open. Read more…
MP3 | Ben Nichols – Toadvine
21. Two Cow Garage – Speaking In Cursive (Suburban Home)
This is an awesome album that will have fans of Lucero, Drive-By Truckers, and Springsteen jizzin’ in their pants, singing loudly, and spillin’ whiskey all over themselves. Read more…
MP3 | Two Cow Garage – Brass Ring
20. Smoking Popes – Stay Down (Appeal)
The first new studio album in 10 years from one of my favorite bands ever. Really? Do I need to say anything else?Read more…
MP3 | Smoking Popes – If You Don’t Care
19. Good Luck – Into Lake Griffy (Self-Released)
Ramshackle and spontaneous pop punk that bounces off the walls and into your brain. It’s catchy and spastic. It’s fast without being aggressive. Basically, it’s fucking awesome. Read more…
MP3 | Good Luck – Stars Were Exploding
18. Chuck Ragan & Austin Lucas – Bristle Ridge (Ten Four)
Bristle Ridge contains three new Chuck Ragan songs, three new Austin Lucas songs, three Ragan/Lucas tunes, a song written by Austin’s dad Bob Lucas, and two standards. Fuck yeah! Read more…
MP3 | Chuck Ragan & Austin Lucas – Bloody Shells
17. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend (XL)
This one is making you cringe, I know, but the melodies are instantly hummable and easy to love. Even my Dad likes this album. Read more…
MP3 | Vampire Weekend – Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
16. Left Lane Cruiser – Bring Yo’ Ass To The Table (Alive Naturalsound)
This shit is greasy, gritty, grimy, Mississippi ghetto electric blues where the slide guitar is blistering and the sweat just drips off the record thick like motor oil. Read more…
MP3 | Left Lane Cruiser – Set Me Down
15. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)
The stunning debut from Justin Vernon and company that is stripped-down, low-key, and amazingly beautiful. A masterful folk album that is hushed yet fervently soulful. Read more…
MP3 | Bon Iver – Skinny Love
14. Cheap Girls – Find Me A Drink Home (Quote Unquote)
Straightforward power-pop that is raw but not exactly lo-fi, energetic yet relaxed, loud as fuck but catchy as hell, and punkish without being punk at all. Confused yet? Read more…
MP3 | Cheap Girls – Kind Of On Purpose
13. Ida – Lovers Prayers (Polyvinyl)
A hauntingly gorgeous and achingly delicate record that showcase Ida’s uniquely modern brand of folk music where crystalline vocal harmonies are juxtaposed with trickles of subtle dissonance. Read more…
MP3 | Ida – The Killers 1964
12. Torche – Meanderthal (Hydra Head)
My favorite metal album of 2008. Torche fuses sludgey American power metal with technical-yet-heavy hardcore punk and a melodic sensibility that wouldn’t sound out of place on a Smashing Pumpkins import single from 1994.
MP3 | Torche – Grenades
11. The State Lottery – Cities We’re Not From (Salinas)
Intense without being overly abrasive and melodic without being overly catchy. It’s where raspy and raw punk rock meets alt-country with zero hipster pretense. Read more…
MP3 | The State Lottery – Tired Songs
10. Vietnam Werewolf – Ohio’s City (Self-Released)
I grew up listening to cruddy and jumbled up punk that was raw, abrasive, and so damn awesome. RIYL: CBDS, D4, Fifteen, Tricky Dick, etc… Read more…
MP3 | Vietnam Werewolf – Greetings From W. 44th St.
09. Ninja Gun – Restless Rubes (Suburban Home)
It’s not quite alt-country or southern rock, but not quite full-on radio friendly power-pop either. Instead you get the best of both worlds; something understated but spectacular. Read more…
MP3 | Ninja Gun – Eight Miles Out
08. Old Crow Medicine Show – Tennessee Pusher (Nettwerk)
More restrained and “produced” than previous OCMS records, there’s a little more country-pop and a little less bluegrass twang here but worthy nonetheless. Sometimes different is good.
MP3 | Old Crow Medicine Show – Methamphetamine
07. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive (Vagrant)
The Hold Steady stokes a slow-burning barroom rock n’roll fire that just begs for clanking glasses and drunken conversations but also acknowledges that one day soon (or now) “the kids at the shows will have kids of their own.” Read more…
MP3 | The Hold Steady – Sequestered In Memphis
06. The Tallest Man On Earth – Shallow Grave (Gravitation)
This is a vibrant record full of Dylan-esque folk-based Americana. It unwinds more and more with each listen as Kristian Matsson’s melodies and skinny poetry bang about inside your head Read more…
MP3 | The Tallest Man On Earth – Pistol Dreams
05. Lemuria – Get Better (Asian Man)
Get Better takes pop-punk and washes it with a little bit of indie rock into something catchy, sappy, and believable. Unrefined and unpolished, this shouldn’t work but it does. Man does it work well. Read more…
MP3 | Lemuria – Yesterday’s Lunch
04. The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound (Side One Dummy)
I’ve (unexpectedly) seen this on a number of year end lists. Nostalgic punk-inspired American rock from the mean streets of New Jersey with a ragged edge that you’re bound to fall head-over-heels for. Read more…
MP3 | The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound
03. Banner Pilot – Resignation Day (Go Kart)
This is a little slice of heaven on a spinning plastic disc. Like photocopied fliers on your bedroom wall, tattered Chuck Taylors on the floor, and the crackle of a Crimpshrine 7” on the stereo. Read more…
MP3 | Banner Pilot – Speed Trap
02. Mates Of State – Re-Arange Us (Barsuk)
The duo’s ridiculously catchy, breezy, ultra-melodic keys-and-drums indie pop is simply incredible plus they’re a married couple who tours with their kids and a full diaper bag. Read more…
MP3 | Mates Of State – The Re-Arranger
01. Tim Barry – Manchester (Suburban Home)
Never in a million years would I have predicted this record woult top my 2008 year end list. Southern-fried country-folk with the heart of a wandering punk. Tim Barry is a storyteller whose true-to-life tales are told with such sincerity that even amidst the the cacophony of life these songs are inspiring and just grab hold and won’t shake you loose. Read more…
MP3 | Tim Barry – This November
Testing the removal of image verification for comments. That sucked ass.
alot of cool records. Also my friend plays drums for The State Lottery and I had no idea they even had a record out. I need to check that out and maybe a few others listed.