Music Blogs

These are selections #51 through #60 in our Best Albums of 2008 countdown series.

#51. The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit

Released: April 14, 2008
Label: Fat Cat
Album Charts: None

"Hailing from Glasgow, Scotland, Frightened Rabbit have crafted an album that moves from heavily-accented pub folk, to soaring, almost choral movements. The melodies are spread on thick and there is beauty to be found everywhere. This is a record that can be enjoyed with no work at all on the part of the listener, or you can dive in deep for an even more fulfilling experience."

Listen to The Midnight Organ Fight:

   1. The Modern Leper 
   
   2. I Feel Better 
   
   3. Good Arms vs. Bad Arms
   
   4. Fast Blood 
   
   5. Old Old Fashioned 
   
   6. The Twist 
   
   7. Bright Pink Bookmark 
   
   8. Head Rolls Off 
   
   9. Backwards Walk 
   
   10. Keep Yourself Warm 
   
   11. Extrasupervery  

   12. Poke 
   
   13. Floating in the Forth 
   
   14. Who'd You Kill Now?  

#52. Twilight Of The Thunder God by Amon Amarth

Released: September 30, 2008
Label: Metal Blade
Charts: None

"There is something about the Viking imagery and the music of Swedish metal virtuoso's Amon Amarth that really works. This may be the only metal band with a guttural and growling lead vocal that I just can't resist. These guys know how to rock in a speed metal sense, but also utilize more traditional and melodic talents. This is the best Viking metal on the planet, and it's the perfect soundtrack for the millions currently exploring Northrend. You know who you are."

 Listen to Twilight Of The Thunder God:

   1. Twilight Of The Thunder God 
   
   2. Free Will Sacrifice 
   
   3. Guardians Of Asgaard
   
   4. Where Is Your God? 
   
   5. Varyags Of Miklagaard
   
   6. Tattered Banners And Bloody Flags 
   
   7. No Fear For The Setting Sun 
   
   8. The Hero 
   
   9. Live For The Kill 
   
   10. Embrace The Endless Ocean 
  

#53. Brighter Than Creation's Dark by Drive-By Truckers

Released: January 22, 2008
Label: New West
Album Charts: #37 The Billboard 200, #37 Top Internet Albums, #6 Top Independent Albums

"In a world where slick production, pre-packaged sounds and omnipresent electronic tweaking rule the day, we should all be praising the Lord for Drive-By Truckers. This prolific band's newest effort, Brighter Than Creation's Dark elevates bar band charm to new heights, and at times it even sounds like the Rolling Stones are present."

Listen to Brighter Than Creation's Dark:

   1. Two Daughters And A Beautiful Wife 
   
   2. 3 Dimes Down 
   
   3. The Righteous Path 
   
   4. I'm Sorry Huston 
   
   5. Perfect Timing 
   
   6. Daddy Needs A Drink 
   
   7. Self Destructive Zones 
   
   8. Bob 
   
   9. Home Field Advantage

   10. Opening Act

   11. Lisa's Birthday 
   
   12. That Man I Shot 
   
   13. The Purgatory Line 
   
   14. The Homefront 
   
   15. Checkout Time In Vegas 
   
   16. You And Your Crystal Meth 
   
   17. Goode's Field Road 
   
   18. A Ghost To Most 
   
   19. The Monument Valley

#54. Little Honey by Lucinda Williams

Released: October 14, 2008
Label: Lost Highway
Album Charts: #9 The Billboard 200, #18 Top Canadian Albums, #9 Top Internet Albums

"A big improvement over her previous release West, Little Honey finds Lucinda in a very good mood. Her perfectly controlled, loose-jawed twang is dead on the mark. While not 100% happy, the spirit of this record sounds like it was fashioned by a woman in love. If there's one thing I've learned about Lucinda's music, it's that she's best broken-hearted, or head-over-heels in love. God bless the lucky devil."

Listen to Little Honey:

   1. Real Love 
   
   2. Circles And X's 
   
   3. Tears Of Joy 
   
   4. Little Rock Star
   
   5. Honey Bee 
   
   6. Well Well Well 
   
   7. If Wishes Were Horses 
   
   8. Jailhouse Tears 
   
   9. Knowing 
   
   10. Heaven Blues
   
   11. Rarity

   12. Plan To Marry

   13. It's A Long Way To The Top

#55. Made In The Dark by Hot Chip

Released: February 4, 2008
Label: EMI
Album Charts: #109 The Billboard 200, #1 Top Heatseekers, #2 Top Electronic Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"Hot Chip have been making waves with their large reserve of talent for some time now. This new album finds the electropop outfit mastering and refining their craft further. Made In The Dark is tighter and they've achieved a more accessible sound by doing something that usually drives music further from being popular -- being adventurous."

Listen to Made In The Dark:

   1. Out At The Pictures 
   
   2. Shake A Fist 
   
   3. Ready For The Floor 
   
   4. Bendable Poseable 
   
   5. We're Looking For A Lot Of Love 
   
   6. Touch Too Much 
   
   7. Made In The Dark 
   
   8. One Pure Thought 
   
   9. Hold On 
   
   10. Wrestlers 
   
   11. Don't Dance

   12. Whistle For Will 
   
   13. In The Privacy Of Our Love

#56. Untitled by Nas

Released: July 1, 2008
Label: Def Jam
Album Charts: #1 The Billboard 200, #1 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, #5 Top Canadian Albums, #1 Top Internet Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"The album cover of Nas' 2008 untitled release confronts the viewer with a mock scarring of the rapper's back. It's a reminder of our country's shameful history with slavery. The music on Untitled is just as confrontational as this image, and even uncomfortable at times. Nas navigates the themes brilliantly and takes on political issues in profoundly poetic ways. Even if you find yourself disagreeing with Nas' in-your-face politics, you can't escape listening without thinking. And that's all we can ask from art."

Listen to Untitled:

   1. Queens Get The Money 
   
   2. You Cant Stop Us Now 
   
   3. Breathe 
   
   4. Make The World Go Round 
   
   5. Hero 
   
   6. America
   
   7. Sly Fox 
   
   8. Testify 
   
   9. N.I.*.*.E.R. (The Slave and the Master) 
   
   10. Untitled 

   11. Fried Chicken
   
   12. Project Roach 
   
   13. Yall My Ni**as 
   
   14. Were Not Alone 
   
   15. Black President

#57. Trouble In Dreams by Destroyer

Released: March 18, 2008
Label: Merge
Album Charts: #13 Top Heatseekers, #31 Top Independent Albums

"It used to be that I could not listen to Dan Bejar without comparing him to Robyn Hitchcock because of the similarity in their voices. But Trouble In Dreams, like 2006's Rubies, transcends my personal prejudices. Bejar is emotionally attuned and unafraid to let it out. Combine this with his ability to execute on truly inspired musical ideas and you have a winner."

Listen to Trouble In Dreams:

   1. Blue Flower/Blue Flame 
   
   2. Dark Leaves Form A Thread 
   
   3. The State 
   
   4. Foam Hands 
   
   5. My Favorite Year
   
   6. Shooting Rockets (From The Desk Of Night's Ape) 
   
   7. Introducing Angels 
   
   8. Rivers 
   
   9. Leopard Of Honor 
   
   10. Plaza Trinidad 
   
   11. Libby's First Sunrise

#58. House With No Name by Horse Feathers

Released: August 26, 2008
Label: Kill Rock Stars
Album Charts: None

"I'm a sucker for sparse, sad, well executed folk-based music, and Horse Feathers hit me hard right in my soft spot on House With No Name. Delicately measured, the album meanders like a bright red leaf floating slowly down a stream in the autumn sun. It's a simple thing of such beauty that you can't help but slow down and experience the moment while it lasts."

Listen to House With No Name:

   1. Curs in the Weeds
   
   2. Rude To Rile 
   
   3. Working Poor 
   
   4. Albina 
   
   5. A Burden 
   
   6. Helen 
   
   7. Father Reprise 
   
   8. Heathen's Kiss 
   
   9. Different Gray 
   
   10. This Is What 
   
   11. Father

#59. Devotion by Beach House

Released: February 26, 2008
Label: Carpark
Album Charts: #195 The Billboard 200, #5 Top Heatseekers

"Beach House has followed up on their stunning self-titled debut with an equally worthy sophomore effort called Devotion. This is good old fashioned slowcore that's wistfully dreamy. It feels like music you would hear when you wake up in the forest after being abducted by woodland fairies."

Listen to Devotion:

   1. Wedding Bell 
   
   2. You Came to Me 
   
   3. Gila
   
   4. Turtle Island 
   
   5. Holy Dances
   
   6. All The Years
   
   7. Heart of Chambers 
   
   8. Some Things Last a Long Time 
   
   9. Astronaut 
   
   10. D.A.R.L.I.N.G.

   11. Home Again

#60. Heretic Pride by The Mountain Goats

Released: February 19, 2008
Label: 4AD
Album Charts: #8 Top Heatseekers, #28 Top Independent Albums

"I have always thought of The Mountain Goats as intelligent, emotional, wimp music for intelligent, emotional, wimps. But it works. Darnielle always walks a fine line between artist and pansy. My fear, with every album, is that he will cross the line and transfom completely into a milksop, and instantly lose appeal. But Heretic Pride is not the start of any cowardly downfall, in fact, it's more refined and sophisticated, to the point where it may just appeal to non-intelligent, emotional, wimps."

Listen to Heretic Pride:

   1. Sax Rohmer #1 
   
   2. San Bernardino 
   
   3. Heretic Pride 
   
   4. Autoclave 
   
   5. New Zion 
   
   6. So Desperate
   
   7. In The Craters On The Moon

   8. Lovecraft In Brooklyn 
   
   9. Tianchi Lake 
   
   10. How To Embrace A Swamp Creature 
   
   11. Marduk T-Shirt Men’s Room Incident 
   
   12. Sept 15th 1983
   
   13. Michael Myers Resplendent

Continue to the Best Albums of 2008 - #61 to #70