Music Blogs

These are selections #71 through #80 in our Best Albums of 2008 countdown series.

#71. The Way I See It by Raphael Saadiq

Released: September 16, 2008
Label: Columbia
Album Charts: #19 The Billboard 200, #8 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

"The return to tradition can be a very good thing. And what Sharon Jones did for classic soul in 2007, Raphael Saadiq keeps alive in 2008. This warm, classic soul album is a vivid reminder that music was hitting on all cylinders in the 1970s. But more importantly, it's hope for those who are consistently depressed by the Top 40 charts."

Listen to The Way I See It:

   1. Sure Hope You Mean It 
   
   2. 100 Yard Dash 
   
   3. Keep Marchin'
   
   4. Big Easy 
   
   5. Just One Kiss 
   
   6. Love That Girl 
   
   7. Calling 
   
   8. Staying In Love 
   
   9. Oh Girl 
   
   10. Let's Take A Walk 
   
   11. Never Give You Up  

   12. Sometimes 
   
   13. Oh Girl (featuring Jay-Z)  

#72. Dark Developments by Vic Chesnutt, Elf Power, And The Amorphous Strums

Released: October 28, 2008
Label: Orange Twin
Charts: None

"When I first heard about Vic Chesnutt teaming up with Elf Power and The Amorphous Strums I thought, "that could work", but I never thought it could work so flawlessly, so symbiotically. Elf Power and the Strums show the restraint necessary to let Chesnutt shine like I've never heard him shine before. We can only pray that this won't be the only project the three will create together."

 Listen to Dark Developments:

   1. Mystery 
   
   2. Little F*&#er 
   
   3. And How
   
   4. Teddy Bear 
   
   5. We Are Mean
   
   6. Stop the Horse 
   
   7. Bilocating Dog 
   
   8. The Mad Passion of the Stoic 
   
   9. Phil the Fiddler 

#73. Black Ice by AC/DC

Released: October 20, 2008
Label: Columbia
Album Charts: #1 The Billboard 200, #1 Top Canadian Albums,#1 Top Internet Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"The worst thing AC/DC could ever do is release an album that tries to stretch artistically. Thankfully, Black Ice keeps the formula in tact and pumping. This band has stood the test of time by not offending the gods of rock. Every AC/DC album is filled with killer riffs, grit and electric power. The only thing left to differentiate one AC/DC album from the next is the quality of the main melodies, and Black Ice has some of the catchiest we've heard out of them in years."

Black Ice is not available for streaming

   1. Rock 'n' Roll Train

   2. Skies on Fire 

   3. Big Jack 

   4. Anything Goes 

   5. War Machine  

   6. Smash 'n' Grab 

   7. Spoilin' for a Fight  

   8. Wheel

   9. Decibel 

   10. Stormy May Day 

   11. She Likes Rock 'n' Roll  

   12. Money Made   

   13. Rock 'n' Roll Dream

   14. Rocking All the Way  

   15. Black Ice

#74. Some People Have REAL Problems by Sia

Released: January 8, 2008
Label: Hear Music
Album Charts: #26 The Billboard 200

"Some People Have Real Problems is an album that's luminous on the periphery and a sugar rush underneath. The production pulls out all the stops, and when it does go over the top (and it does), it's ok, because Sia's voice is intensely mesmerizing, and the undercurrent is so blissfully agleam. Although a couple of small things annoy me here and there, this album ends up a big winner in my book."

Listen to Some People Have REAL Problems:

   1. Little Black Sandals 
   
   2. Lentil 
   
   3. Day Too Soon 
   
   4. You Have Been Loved 
   
   5. The Girl You Lost To Cocaine 
   
   6. Academia 
   
   7. I Go To Sleep 
   
   8. Playground 
   
   9. Death By Chocolate 
   
   10. Soon We'll Be Found 
   
   11. Electric Bird

   12. Beautiful Calm Driving

   13. Lullaby

   14. Buttons

#75. Murs For President by Murs

Released: September 30, 2008
Label: Warner Bros.
Album Charts: #45 The Billboard 200, #20 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

"Murs doesn't have the smoothest delivery of major label rappers, and the production on Murs For President isn't incredibly detailed, but the package as a whole is difficult to beat. Great beats, underground sensibility and a sharp sense of humor all help make 2008's Murs For President a must own hip-hop release."

Listen to Murs For President:

   1. Intro 
   
   2. I'm Innocent 
   
   3. Lookin' Fly [feat. will.i.am] 
   
   4. The Science 
   
   5. Can It Be 
   
   6. Everything 
   
   7. Road Is My Religion 
   
   8. Sooo Comfortable 
   
   9. Time Is Now [feat. Snoop Dogg] 
   
   10. Think You Know Me 
   
   11. Me And This Jawn

   12. Love And Appreciate II [feat. Tyler Woods] 
   
   13. A Part Of Me 
   
   14. Break Up [The OJ Song] 
   
   15. Breakthrough

#76. Fortress by Protest The Hero

Released: February 11, 2008
Label: Vagrant
Album Charts: #1 Top Canadian Albums, #10 Top Independent Albums

"How a group of kids in their early 20's produced an album like this leaves me stunned and gape-mouthed. Fortress melds the best elements of progressive metal, and not a single bend member fails to exceed mortal expectations. This is not just flash for flash's sake, but a well thought-out, well developed and perfectly executed record."

Listen to Fortress:

   1. Bloodmeat 
   
   2. The Dissentience 
   
   3. Bone Marrow 
   
   4. Sequoia Throne 
   
   5. Palms Read 
   
   6. Limb From Limb
   
   7. Spoils 
   
   8. Wretch 
   
   9. Goddess Bound 
   
   10. Goddess Gagged

#77. Life...The Best Game In Town by Harvey Milk

Released: June 3, 2008
Label: Hydra Head
Album Charts: None

"Hydra Head records is a label known for going out on a limb for art. I'll be the first to say that sometimes their artists are simply over my head, but when I do find one I can understand it's usually a revelation. This was the case for me with Harvey Milk's 2008 release Life...The Best Game In Town. It hits hard, really hard, and if you're lucky it'll hit you the same way it hit me."

Listen to Life...The Best Game In Town:

   1. Death Goes to the Winner 
   
   2. Decades 
   
   3. After All I've Done For You, This Is How You Repay Me? 
   
   4. Skull Socks and Rope Shoes 
   
   5. We Destroy the Family
   
   6. Motown 
   
   7. A Maelstrom of Bad Decisions 
   
   8. Roses 
   
   9. Barnburner
   
   10. Goodbye Blues    
 

#78. Sycamore Meadows by Butch Walker

Released: November 11, 2008
Label: Original Signal
Album Charts: #173 The Billboard 200, #7 Top Heatseekers, #20 Top Independent Albums

"Butch Walker has so many influences flying around on Sycamore Meadows that it takes real concentration to keep track. And although some songs work better than others, it's all held together by the songwriting, which comes from somewhere deep inside. A place that most songwriters never find."

Listen to tracks from Sycamore Meadows:

   1. The Weight Of Her 
   
   2. Going Back/Going Home 
   
   3. Here Comes The… 
   
   4. Ponce De Leon Ave. 
   
   5. Ships In A Bottle 
   
   6. Vessels 
   
   7. Passed Your Place, Saw Your Car, Thought Of You 
   
   8. The 3 Kids In Brooklyn 
   
   9. Summer Scarves 
   
   10. A Song For The Metalheads 
   
   11. Closer To The Truth and Further From The Sky

   12. Atl

   13. Untitled

#79. Don't Do Anything by Sam Phillips

Released: June 10, 2008
Label: Nonesuch
Album Charts: #13 Top Heatseekers

"Sam Phillips delivers fresh, melodic and mysterious songcraft fresh off of her divorce from uber-producer T-Bone Burnett. This is Sam's first self-produced album and she does a bang up job of alternating muted tones with crystal clear ones. She also succeeds in giving the record a wonderful flow that will keep you listening. Don't Do Anything is a distinguished and important album in 2008."

Listen to Don't Do Anything:

   1. No Explanations
   
   2. Can't Come Down 
   
   3. Another Song
   
   4. Don't Do Anything 
   
   5. Little Plastic Life
   
   6. My Career in Chemistry
   
   7. Flowers Up 
   
   8. Sister Rosetta Goes Before Us 
   
   9. Shake it Down 
   
   10. Under the Night

   11. Signal 
   
   12. Watching Out of This World 

#80. Harps And Angels by Randy Newman

Released: August 5, 2008
Label: Nonesuch
Album Charts: #30 The Billboard 200, #30 Top Internet Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"At 65, Randy Newman still does not receive the respect he deserves from the popular culture, although most have heard his voice in Pixar films. His latest album, Harps And Angels, is not so much a breakthrough, but a confirmation of his immense talent and wit.  This record is as important as any he's ever produced, and that's really saying something."

Listen to Harps And Angels:

   1. Harps and Angels 
   
   2. Losing You 
   
   3. Laugh And Be Happy 
   
   4. A Few Words In Defense of Our Country 
   
   5. A Piece of the Pie 
   
   6. Easy Street
   
   7. Korean Parents

   8. Only A Girl 
   
   9. Potholes 
   
   10. Feels Like Home 

Continue to the Best Albums of 2008 - #81 to #90