2. analog
  3. 1230763268

Best Albums of 2008 on Vinyl

here is my list

1. Black Mountain - Into the Future

Best Album of the year IMO. Goes from 70's prog rock to alt folk in single chord changes. Great dense analog recording as well

2. Guttertwins

- was neck and neck for album of the year as well. Superb dark, haunting slow buring rock albums from Mark Lanegan & Greg Dulli. Super recording that matches the musical mood.

3. Portishead - 3

Comeback of the year for sure - This album is another haunting electronic soundtrack of the year. IMO their best. Great dynamic recording

4. Fuck Buttons - Stree Horrssing

Noise does not get any better than this. Like one giant soundscape of noise over 2 LP's. Easily the most original album of the year - brilliant recording as well

5. Wire - Object 47

What a return to form from the original punkrsters from the 70's. Still creating great layed music now, only with a little less punk but still attitude. Rrecording good, EP tRead & Burn 3 hat comes with the LP version is fantastic.

6. Cyrstal Castles
Super debut full lengthg albuim from the Canadian duo. Pop, electronic, dance music - call it what you want it is great music. recording is dynamic and clear

7. The Presets - Apocalypso

Can't add too much but say go out and and buy this great Aussie 80's retro synth sounding band that together with Cut Copy this year made it very big globally. recording is compressed but is still listenable on a big system

8. NIN - The Slip

Trent has certainly been churning out music since he left the big music labels. this album is Trent back to his very best, only let down by a rather slow timid ending to the album. great recording

9. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Great album that I really did not expect to like, but it is really is good in an electro folk sounding way. SWuper singles like "time to pretend". Recording is just terrible, bass is non existent - easily the worst sounding album I have bought this year and seemingly recorded only for MP3.

10. The Cure - 4.13 Dream

I had quite a few albums vying to bring home the top ten, however old favourite the Cure did it. Nothing new in this new LP, however ity does imerse you in the gravy thick sonics and the music is emersing as well.

Honorable mentions
- TV on the Radio
- Oasis
- Kings Of Leaon
- Paul Weller
- Nick Cave
- Mogwai
downunder
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,375 posts
 
I liked

Fleet foxes-fleet foxes
Bonnie prince billy-lie down in the light
Nick cave-dig Lazarus dig
Deerhunter-microcastles
No age-nouns
Tv on the radio-dear science
Autechre-quarstice
Bon iver-forever emma...
Gutter twins-saturnella
Bloc party-intimacy
Etc....
Lots of good stuff but was there anything great?

I'm going to listen more to the black mountain. I have it but didn't pay much attention to it.
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
"Lots of good stuff but was there anything great?"

Good question. Of 15 or so memorable LPs, the ones I would consider great or near-great are Dylan "Tell Tale Signs", Levon Helm "Dirt Farmer", and Pretenders "Break Up the Concrete."

Honorable mention to Steven Malkmus "Real Emotional Trash", Ray Davies "Workingman's Cafe", John Hyatt "Same Old Man." Lanegan's Gutter Twins is definately up there, but probably no more so than his other fine solo work and early contribution to QOTSA.(Without Lanegan's spooky Cream-like sensibility, Josh Homme is just another head-banger.)

In a category unto itself, this year the alt/folk/roots psychedelic dream pop thing got more interesting with new LPs from Bonnie Prince Billy, Shearwater, Deerhunter, Mercury Rev, Calexico, and Deparment of Eagles(Grizzly Bear). Some of these genre-defying albums blend classical training with rock, acoustic instruments in natural space with electric & electronic treatments, in new & unpredictable ways. PS. The Mercury Rev double LP gets better & better with each listening.

Good comebacks from Alejandro Escovedo, Matthew Sweet, Beck, Nick Cave, Lou Reed, NIN. Ditto above praise for She & Him Vol. I.
madfloyd
411 posts
 
I didn't like Steven Malkmus (hated his singing) or Levon Helm and while I've purchased a few of the LPs mentioned in this thread, I haven't listened to them yet (still gotta clean 'em!).

I have & like Portishead 3 and love Fleet Foxes.
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,379 posts
 
Which of all the great musical recommendations above have demonstration quality LP sonics to go along with the great performances?

I love much of this music, and would like to add Vampire Weekend to the list(for the music only), but sonically, haven't heard many new knockouts this year. Cheers,

Spencer
dgarretson
2,599 posts
 
Most of the better sounding LPs are on Matador and New West, both of which seem recently to be mastering and pressing at a consistently high level. Helm records on his own high-quality label affiliated with Vanguard. For realistic instruments in a believable acoustic space, I'm partial toward Helm, Reed, Shearwater, and Pretenders.
More to discover