Music Blogs

These are selections #41 through #50 in our Best Albums of 2008 countdown series.

#41. Rising Down by The Roots (Explicit)

Released: April 29, 2008
Label: Def Jam
Album Charts: #6 The Billboard 200, #14 Top Canadian Albums, #6 Top Internet Albums, #3 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

"After so many years the Roots are still standing firm on pure talent. Rising Down finds them comfortable with the house they've built. And although not as perfect as Phrenology, I would have to say this 2008 release is a very close second. Not much has to be said other than that."  

Listen to Rising Down:

   1. The Pow Wow
  
   2. Rising Down
  
   3. Get Busy
  
   4. @ 15
  
   5. 75 Bars
  
   6. Becoming Unwritten
  
   7. Criminal
  
   8. I Will Not Apologize
  
   9. I Can't Help It
  
   10. Singing Man
  
   11. Unwritten

   12. Lost Desire
  
   13. The Show
  
   14. Rising Up
  
   15. Pow Wow 2 

#42. Visiter by The Dodos

Released: March 18, 2008
Label: Frenchkiss
Charts: #31 Top Heatseekers

"Tasteful acoustic picking and intricate drumming are intertwined with crystal clear and heartfelt vocals on this new album by The Dodos. I enjoyed the band's debut, but was not expecting such a leap of quality on this, their sophomore effort Visiter. The record sounds sort of like a more Americana flavored Shins. And I mean that in a very good way. Don't let this one pass you by."

 Listen to Visiter:

   1. Walking

   2. Red And Purple

   3. Eyelids
  
   4. Fools
  
   5. Joe's Waltz
  
   6. Winter
  
   7. It's That Time Again
  
   8. Paint The Rust
  
   9. Park Song
  
   10. Jody

   11. Ashley
  
   12. The Season
  
   13. Undeclared
  
   14. God? 

#43. You & Me by The Walkmen

Released: August 19, 2008
Label: Gigantic
Album Charts: #71 The Billboard 200, #13 Top Heatseekers

"You & Me is a more challenging record than the Walkmen's last two efforts. In reaching for new artistic heights the band has crafted an album that pays bigger dividends for those willing to give it the attention it deserves. As music fans know, the very best records require repeat listens and reveal themselves slowly. This is the case for You & Me."

Listen to You & Me:

   1. Donde Esta La Playa
  
   2. Flamingos (for Colbert)
  
   3. On The Water
  
   4. In The New Year
  
   5. Seven Years Of Holidays (for Stretch)
  
   6. Postcards From Tiny Islands
  
   7. Red Moon
  
   8. Canadian Girl
  
   9. Four Provinces

   10. Long Time Ahead Of Us
  
   11. The Blue Route
  
   12. New Country
  
   13. I Lost You
  
   14. If Only It Were True

#44. Tha Carter III by Lil Wayne (Explicit)

Released: May 13, 2008
Label: Cash Money
Album Charts: #1 The Billboard 200, #1 Top Canadian Albums, #1 Top Internet Albums, #1 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"Lil Wayne's 2008 release, The Carter III, has been able to reach the #1 spot on the Billboard 200 album chart this year, but it has done so without sacrificing artistic credibility or selling out with pre-packaged, over-the-top production. This ain't no mixtape, or manufactured hit. It's a deserving hit."

Listen to Tha Carter III:

   1. 3 Peat
  
   2. Mr. Carter
  
   3. A Milli
  
   4. Got Money
  
   5. Comfortable
  
   6. Dr. Carter
  
   7. Phone Home
  
   8. Tie My Hands
  
   9. Mrs. Officer
  
   10. Let The Beat Build
  
   11. Shoot Me Down

   12. Lollipop

   13. La La
  
   14. Pussy Monster
  
   15. You Ain't Got Nuthin

   16. DontGetIt

#45. Feed The Animals by Girl Talk

Released: September 23, 2008
Label: Illegal Art
Album Charts: None

"Girl Talk's latest goes from 0 to 100 in about 4 seconds and doesn't let up for the duration. The mash-up king has so many recognizable samples and infectious beats jammed into such a small amount of space, it almost becomes overpowering. Listening to Feed The Animals is an experience like no other. It's a serious mental workout just to keep up, and it may help keep your mind sharp when you eventually retire to the old folks home."

Listen to Feed The Animals:

   1. Play Your Part (Pt. 1)
  
   2. Shut The Club Down
  
   3. Still Here
  
   4. What It's All About
  
   5. Set It Off
  
   6. No Pause
  
   7. Like This
  
   8. Give Me A Beat
  
   9. Hands In The Air
  
   10. In Step
  
   11. Let Me See You

   12. Here's The Thing
  
   13. Don't Stop
  
   14. Play Your Part (Pt. 2)

#46. Roses Are Black by Austin Collins

Released: February 26, 2008
Label: Fat Caddy
Album Charts: None

"Texas' own Austin Collins came out of nowhere this year with one of the best alt country releases to hit store shelves. The songwriter achieves a perfect combination of twang and grit with memorable melodies sweeping around everywhere. Roses Are Black is a hit from start to finish and I would be hard pressed to pick a favorite track. There are just too many."

Listen to Roses Are Black:

   1. 11 Months
  
   2. Broken
  
   3. Witching Hour
  
   4. Roses are Black
  
   5. Out Loud
  
   6. Bridge Street Lullaby
  
   7. Unapology
  
   8. Can't Say This At Home
  
   9. 8 Dollar Thrills
  
   10. Today

   11. House Without Windows
  
   12. Goodbye Houston 

#47. Big Star by Haley Bonar

Released: June 10, 2008
Label: Afternoon
Album Charts: None

"24-year old Haley Bonar sings with a maturity on Big Star that must have come straight from heaven. This album is expansive and angelically beautiful. The ultra-talented producer Tchad Blake is masterful with Haley's immense talent. This is one of those rare cases when the production work is super-slick, but it never sounds over-processed. To the contrary, it sounds natural, real and just fantastic."

Listen to Big Star:

   1. Green Eyed Boy
  
   2. Arms of Harm
  
   3. Little Maiden Gin
  
   4. Big Star
  
   5. Mayday
  
   6. Better Half
  
   7. Something Great
  
   8. Queen of Everything
  
   9. Highway 16
  
   10. Along
  
   11. Tiger Boy 

#48. By-The-Numbers by The Postmarks

Released: November 11, 2008
Label: Unfiltered
Album Charts: None

"By-The-Numbers is one of only two albums that consist entirely of covers to make my list this year. The album's title references the fact that the first 11 song titles contain a number from 1 to 11. Although there are a couple misses here, on a whole the record feels like a giant, freshly-laundered down pillow. And once you get your head into it it's impossible to pull yourself away."

Listen to By-The-Numbers:

   1. One Note Samba
  
   2. You Only Live Twice
  
   3. Three Little Birds
  
   4. Ox4
  
   5. Five Years
  
   6. Six Different Ways
  
   7. 7-11
  
   8. Eight Miles High
  
   9. Nine Million Rainy Days
  
   10. Slaughter On Tenth Avenue
  
   11. 11:59

   12. Pinball Number Count

#49. Un Dia by Juana Molina 

Released: October 6, 2008
Label: Domino
Album Charts: #14 Latin Pop Albums, #59 Top Latin Albums

"Through the use of the repetitive and psychedelic Juana Molina has created something unique in Un Dia. The psychedelic elements are perfectly counterbalanced with her excellent, well-tempered vocals and bossa nova flavors. Un Dia is not like anything I've ever heard before, and I'm completely in love with it."

Listen to Un Dia:

   1. Un Dia
  
   2. Vive Solo
  
   3. Lo Dejamos
  
   4. Los Hongos De Marosa
  
   5. Quien? (suite)
  
   6. El Vestido
  
   7. No Llama
  
   8. Dar (Que Dificil)

#50. Keeper's by Deastro

Released: November 18, 2008
Label: Ghostly International
Album Charts: None

"Shake up some catchy electro-pop, art house rock, retro synth and dream pop vocals and you have the main ingredients for the recipe that's created Keeper's. This record is a shiny, home-recorded gem fashioned by Randolph Chabot under the moniker Deastro. It should be taken all at once, preferably on a long commute into the city at night."

Listen to Keeper's:

   1. Michael, The Lone Archer of the North Shore

   2. The Shaded Forests
  
   3. Light Powered
  
   4. The Goodman of the House
  
   5. The Green Harbor
  
   6. Wind Powered
  
   7. The Floating Cradle

   8. Leah’s Daughter the Giraffe
  
   9. Open Up Ye Dark Gates!
  
   10. Child of Man, Son of God

Continue to the Best Albums of 2008 - #51 to #60