Music Blogs

These are selections #91 through #100 in our Best Albums of 2008 countdown series.

#91. Attack & Release by The Black Keys

Released: April 1, 2008
Label: Nonesuch
Album Charts: #14 The Billboard 200, #14 Top Internet Albums

"The blues-based rock duo The Black Keys have delivered a freewheeling gem of an album this year with Attack & Release. It's a fine combination of unaffected swagger and grit that will appeal to both classic rockers and iPod slinging college kids. A crossover appeal not easily achieved."

Listen to Attack & Release:

   1. All You Ever Wanted
  
   2. I Got Mine
  
   3. Strange Times
  
   4. Psychotic Girl
  
   5. Lies
  
   6. Remember When (Side A)
  
   7. Remember When (Side B)
  
   8. Same Old Thing
  
   9. So He Won't Break
  
   10. Oceans & Streams
  
   11. Things Ain't Like They Used to Be  

#92. Some Racing, Some Stopping by Headlights

Released: February 19, 2008
Label: Polyvinyl
Charts: None

"Headlights are following the path of bands that stand the test of time. Instead of delivering a sophomore slump on their second full-length, Some Racing, Some Stopping shows a band developing in leaps and bounds. They have delivered a record that is blissful and beautiful. Arcade Fire-ish layering melds with songs as memorable as a favorite Christmas melody."

 Listen to Some Racing, Some Stopping:

   1. Get Your Head Around It
  
   2. Cherry Tulips
  
   3. Market Girl
  
   4. On April 2
  
   5. School Boys
  
   6. Some Racing, Some Stopping
  
   7. So Much For The Afternoon
  
   8. Catch Them All
  
   9. Towers
  
   10. January
  

#93. At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade

Released: June 16, 2008
Label: Sub Pop
Album Charts: #45 The Billboard 200, #16 Top Canadian Albums,#4 Top Independent Albums

"This brilliant second effort by the heralded indie band Wolf Parade follows up on an equally brilliant debut. I would have thought it impossible to equal 2005's Apologies To The Queen Mary, but Wolf Parade have done it. At Mount Zoomer is not as airy as Apologies... and it's just a tad quirkier, but in the end it sounds more mature and more powerful."

Listen to At Mount Zoomer:

   1. Soldier's Grin
  
   2. Call It a Ritual
  
   3. Language City
  
   4. Bang Your Drum
  
   5. California Dreamer
  
   6. The Grey Estates
  
   7. Fine Young Cannibals
  
   8. An Animal In Your Care
  
   9. Kissing the Beehive

#94. Arm's Way by Islands

Released: May 20, 2008
Label: Anti
Album Charts: #200 The Billboard 200, #10 Top Heatseekers, #27 Top Independent Albums

"Somehow the eclectic sounds found on Arm's Way leave you exhilarated and always excited for what lies around the corner. The bombast comes right to the edge, but never crosses the boundary that would transform it to annoyance. To the contrary, Arm's Way is consistently surprising, creative and delightful."

Listen to Arm's Way:

   1. The Arm
  
   2. Pieces Of You
  
   3. J'aime Vous Voir Quitter
  
   4. Abominable Snow
  
   5. Creeper
  
   6. Kids Don't Know Sh*t
  
   7. Life In Jail
  
   8. In The Rushes
  
   9. We Swim
  
   10. To A Bond
  
   11. I Feel Evil Creeping In

   12. Vertigo (If It's A Crime)

#95. Accelerate by R.E.M.

Released: April 1, 2008
Label: Warner Bros.
Album Charts: #2 The Billboard 200, #1 Top Canadian Albums, #2 Top Inernet Albums

"In 2008 R.E.M. became a rock band again. Accelerate contains a lot of what first attracted us to R.E.M. back in the day -- sugary melodies cutting through crunchy electric guitars, and a slight introspection that feels like art even when it's just rock & roll. R.E.M. returns triumphantly to their college bar roots on Accelerate, and at times even sounds possessed by the ghost of Hüsker Dü circa 1985."

Listen to Accelerate:

   1. Living Well Is The Best Revenge
  
   2. Man-Sized Wreath
  
   3. Supernatural Superserious
  
   4. Hollow Man
  
   5. Houston
  
   6. Accelerate
  
   7. Until The Day Is Done
  
   8. Mr. Richards
  
   9. Sing For The Submarine
  
   10. Horse To Water
  
   11. I'm Gonna DJ

#96. A Mad & Faithful Telling by DeVotchKa

Released: March 18, 2008
Label: Anti
Album Charts: #9 Top Heatseekers, #29 Top Independent Albums

"DeVotchKa continue to meld European gypsy folk and American indie rock into an almost perfect blend. Even a twinkling of mariachi sounds natural on A Mad & Faithful Telling. A new listener could never guess the band hails from Colorado because they incorporate styles of foreign lands so well. Almost as if history itself depends on them."

Listen to A Mad & Faithful Telling:

   1. Basso Profundo
  
   2. Along the Way
  
   3. The Clockwise Witness
  
   4. Head Honcho
  
   5. Comrade Z
  
   6. Transliterator
  
   7. Blessing in Disguise
  
   8. Undone
  
   9. Strizzalo
  
   10. New World

#97. Speak Low by Boz Scaggs

Released: September 30, 2008
Label: Decca U.S.
Album Charts: #128 The Billboard 200, #2 Top Jazz Albums

"Before you start shaking your head wondering how I could include Boz Scaggs in my year end best album list make sure you actually listen to Speak Low.  I admit that Lite Rock and pop stars singing jazz standards are two things I usually don't take kindly to. But somehow when you listen to Scaggs croon on Speak Low there is simply no way to resist."

Listen to Speak Low:

   1. Invitation
  
   2. She Was Too Good To Me
  
   3. I Wish I Knew
  
   4. Speak Low
  
   5. Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me
  
   6. I'll Remember April
  
   7. Save Your Love For Me
  
   8. The Ballad Of The Sad Young Men
  
   9. Skylark
  
   10. Senza Fine
  
   11. Dindi

   12. This Time The Dream's On Me

#98. A Telephone Built For Two by School For The Dead

Released: August 4, 2008
Label: Rub Wrongways Records
Album Charts: None

"Although not as gooey-sweet as 2004's The New You, A Telephone Built For Two has more than enough tasty bits to get the saliva flowing. Henning Ohlenbusch's pleasing nasal vocal and songwriting wit may remind you that you love They Might Be Giants, but here, School For The Dead deserve their own kudos."

Listen to A Telephone Built For Two:

   1. Periscope
  
   2. Feel Like I Should
  
   3. This Time It Looks Good
  
   4. Save My Place
  
   5. Journal of Lies
  
   6. Back to School
  
   7. Boring Dream
  
   8. Disgruntled Lover
  
   9. Map
  
   10. Superhero
  
   11. Thinking of a Time

#99. Exit by Shugo Tokumaru

Released: February 9, 2008
Label: Almost Gold
Album Charts: None

"Many have labeled Shugo Tokumaru as the Sufjan Stevens of Japan. I would agree that you can draw many similarities, but Shugo Tokumaru is a bit crisper, can play guitar like John Fahey and can layer it on like Brian Wilson. The talent exposed on Exit is immense, but it never becomes flashy or trite. The complexities all serve the greater purpose of producing a fantastic listening experience."

Listen to Exit:

   1. Parachute
  
   2. Green Rain
  
   3. Clocca
  
   4. Future Umbrella
  
   5. Button
  
   6. Sanganichi
  
   7. D.P.O.
  
   8. Hidamari
  
   9. La La Radio
  
   10. Wedding

#100. Watershed by Opeth

Released: June 3, 2008
Label: Roadrunner
Album Charts: #23 The Billboard 200, #17 Top Canadian Albums, #23 Top Internet Albums

"Sweden's Opeth have been doing well in the world of progressive metal for some time and they could have easily continued pushing down the road of the familiar. But instead they've challenged themselves, and in the process have produced Watershed. The band covers all the bases here and reveals that metal can be as diverse a genre as any other, if not more so."

Listen to Watershed: