General notes:
There's no getting around it. 2008 was a serious step-down from 2007. So much so that I spent most of the year still engaged with my favorite albums from that year. There is nothing on this list that gets close to "Magic," "Sky Blue Sky," or "Neon Bible." Frankly, some of the albums listed below might be Palins (looks good at first, curdles into unspeakable horror in the fullness of time). Them's the breaks, I guess. And Q1 2009 looks insane.
Still, there were some pleasures to be found. I didn't do singles here, but if I did, Beyonce would win. On with the ranked in obscure order known only to the author albums!
12 Albums:
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Momofuku
His best album in a dog's year.
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
The 70s fetishisms are a bit overdone, but it's hard to ignore the power of the songs and the earthy, organic arrangements.
The Fireman - Electric Argument
I don't know what's more unlikely: the fact that McCartney is continuing one of the hottest streaks of his career, or the fact that he's made an album that doesn't sound anything like he's ever done before.
Neil Diamond - Home Before Dark
It's easy to make fun of Neil Diamond, but I wonder how people would react if the exact same album was released by Neil Young (to pick another Neil) instead. Hipsters and Grammy voters would line up 10 deep for the parade, I'm sure. But, alas, many would not be able to take this dark and haunting album on its own terms and it is their loss. If you want to know what songcraft means, this guy will take you to school.
David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Unexpectedly fun, light-hearted and life-affirming.
Kanye West - 808s and Hearbreak
Unexpectedly chilling crazy of an idea record that has no right to work as well as it does. While I'd love to hear what previous collaborators like Jon Brion and a "real" production would have done with these songs, but what we may have lost is made up for with immediacy and emotion. Kanye West may not be the most likeble guy out there, but his willingness to put it out there shows that he has the soul of a real artist. 2008's most WTF record (taking the mantle from 2007's Allison Krauss/Robert Plant collaboration).
Coldplay - Viva La Vida/Prospekt's March
The world's easiest band to love AND the world's easiest band to hate, all wrapped up into one. Make fun of them all you want, but you can't resist them. A huge comeback from "X&Y".
Aimee Mann - @#%&*! Smilers
Speaking of comebacks. I feared we'd lost Aimee forever, but this low-key charmer is chock-full of
what made you love her in the first place. The melodic invention is almost all the way back after taking a bit of a vacation.Paul Weller - 22 Dreams
I don't think this is the best Paul Weller solo record, but I know it's the MOST Paul Weller solo record. If you've liked anything he's ever done before, there's probably something on here that you'll love. And if you love avant-garde jazz, etudes, and spoken word interludes, well you've got some of those as well!
Dr. Dog - Fate
A band that even tries to sound like The Band will always get a break in my book. The Felice Brothers could have snuck into this slot, but Dr. Dog wrote more good songs.
REM - Accelerate
The first four songs on this album have more life and energy than the last four REM albums. The album drops off considerably from there, but for 10 minutes or so, you remember why you ever gave a shit.
Randy Newman - Harps & Angels
Any new non-Pixar Randy Newman music is a joy to hear. Not that the Pixar stuff is bad, but it's great to have adult Randy Newman characters to be horrified by. The title song is the main attraction here, but this record sits pretty easily next to his classics, unlike his last album "Bad Love."
Special Commendation:
Plush - Fed
Not sure how to account for this. It was originally released in Japan in 2002, and didn't get a European release until this year. Domestic release on target for 2020, I guess. In any case, this is a stunner. If you like Eric Matthews/Cardinal and Burt Bacharach and horns and strings and pianos and love and good songs, you can't go wrong here. "Special" as in "hard to justify provenance in a 2008 list" and as in "really worth seeking out."
Honorable Mentions:
Okkervil River - The Stand-Ins
Not nearly as good as "The Stage Names," but this is still the up-and-coming American band.
Adele - 19
She's the real British soul talent right now.
Duffy - Rockferry
An album of surface pleasures, to be sure, but "Distant Dreamer" sounds like Radiohead and Dusty Springfield wrapped into one. Extra kudos to Bernard Butler's production.
She & Him - Volume One
Darling, cute, etc. M. Ward's production was always seductive, but his voice always grated. I guess all he needed was a beautiful and talented actress to get him over the top in my book!
Sun Kill Moon - April
Not as good as "Ghosts on the Highway," but Mark Kozelek's songs are the kind you listen to for decades.
Dr. Horrible's Singalong Blog - Neil Patrick Harris, Felicia Day & Nathan Fillion, et. al.
I loved (love LOVE) the musical Buffy episode "Once More, With Feeling." This is a lot more jokey, but Joss Whedon needs to get his ass to Broadway double quick.
Disappointments:
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
"Highly Suspicious" is the most horrible song I've ever heard. Fuck you, MMJ. I'm off the train until further notice.
Ben Folds - Way to Normal
This album feels calculated to annoy. Much of it sounds like the b-sides to the songs rather than the songs themselves. Maybe this is a corrective to the maturity of "Songs for Silverman," but I for one can't wait to Ben Folds to grow up again.