Music Blogs

These are selections #11 through #20 in our Best Albums of 2008 countdown series.

#11. We Brave Bee Stings And All by Thao

Released: January 29, 2008
Label: Kill Rock Stars
Album Charts: None

"I had not heard of Thao Nguyen until I heard this wonderful debut for Kill Rock Stars. I remember being surprised when I first learned that Thao was a woman. Her voice is more mid-register than upper register, and it's not the sound you would expect from an indie-pop songstress. But it's not just Thao's voice that's unique, her ability to form unorthodox ideas into prodigious compositions is quite remarkable. Thao is a singular talent who has developed a sound completely her own. We Brave Bee Stings And All is an excellent glimpse into her abilities."

Listen to We Brave Bee Stings:  

   1. Beat (Health , Life, and Fire)

   2. Bag of Hammers
 
   3. Big Kid Table
 
   4. Swimming Pools
 
   5. Geography
 
   6. Feet Asleep
  
   7. Yes, So On and So On
  
   8. Fear and Convenience
 
   9. Violet
 
   10. Travel
 
   11. We Go

#12. The Renaissance by Q-Tip

Released: November 4, 2008
Label: Universal Motown
Charts: #11 The Billboard 200, #3 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums

"I will accept any heat gladly to say that one of the most talented voices in hip-hop today is not Kanye or Lil Wayne, but Q-Tip. It's a crime that the music industry has basically turned it's back on this immense talent, costing the public multiple Q-Tips records that never got the support they deserve. The Renaissance finds Q-Tip squeezing every ounce of his God-given talent onto wax. If you're a hip-hop fan and this album is not near the top of your personal favorite 2008 list, you have some listening and reflecting to do."

 Listen to The Renaissance:

   1. Johnny Is Dead
     
   2. Won't Trade
     
   3. Gettin Up
     
   4. Official
     
   5. You
  
   6. Wefight/Welove

   7. Manwomanboogie
   
   8. Move
     
   9. Dance On Glass
     
   10. Life Is Better
   
   11. Believe
   
   12. Shaka

#13. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

Released: January 29, 2008
Label: XL
Album Charts: #17 The Billboard 200, #25 Top Internet Albums, #2 Top Independent Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"The popularity of world music, especially African traditional music and Afro-pop, has been a catalyst for a smattering of indie bands blending indie rock and African influence. Paul Simon did this with excellent results on 1986's Graceland, so why not expect a new generation to give it a go? I'm always weary of such genre collisions as they can come off as contrived and gimmicky, but Vampire Weekend's debut album speaks for itself. And no matter what inspired them to write these songs, I'm grateful for it."

Listen to Vampire Weekend:   

   1. Mansard Roof
  
   2. Oxford Comma
  
   3. A-Punk
  
   4. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa
  
   5. M79
  
   6. Campus
  
   7. Bryn
  
   8. One (Blake’s Got A New Face)
  
   9. I Stand Corrected
  
   10. Walcott
  
   11. The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance

#14. Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust by Sigur Rós

Released: June 24, 2008
Label: XL
Album Charts: #15 The Billboard 200, #15 Top Internet Albums, #2 Top Independent Albums,#11 Top Canadian Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"Most people have expectations for a new Sigur Rós album. They want the sweeping, ethereal and mysterious beauty the band is known for. Well, on their newest album, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (Translation: With a Buzz in Our Ears We Play Endlessly), they do deliver on expectations. However, they also prove that they can produce more traditional pop goodness. The wash of sound found on previous albums is not as pronounced on this one, instead the instruments are more distinct. But even with this change in formula there's no mistaking Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust for anything but a Sigur Rós album."

Listen to Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust:

   1. Gobbledigook
  
   2. Inní mér syngur vitleysingur
  
   3. Gódan daginn
  
   4. Vid spilum endalaust
  
   5. Festival
  
   6. Med sud í eyrum
  
   7. Ára bátur
  
   8. Íllgresi
  
   9. Fljótavík
  
   10. Straumnes
  
   11. All Alright

#15. Going To Where The Tea Trees Are by Peter Von Poehl

Released: October 6, 2008
Label: Bella Union/World's Fair
Album Charts: None

"Swedish songwriter Peter Von Poehl's album, Going To Where The Tea Trees Are, may not exactly qualify for the best of 2008 since it has seen smaller releases in 2007, but since it was released on Bella Union/World's Fair in October of this year, and considering I'm completely in love with it, I've made the executive decision to include it. To say, Going To Where The Tea Trees Are is a low-key effort may be an understatement, but while being beautifully entrancing and mellow it's also lush and filled with a myriad of memorable melody lines."

Listen to Going To Where The Tea Trees Are:

   1. Going To Where The Tea Trees Are
  
   2. Tooth Fairy
  
   3. Travelers
  
   4. Virgin Mountains
  
   5. A Broken Skeleton Key
  
   6. Global Conspiracy
  
   7. Scorpion Grass
  
   8. The Story Of The Impossible
  
   9. Tooth Fairy Part II
  
   10. The Lottery
  
   11. Little Creatures
  
   12. The Bell Tolls Five

#16. Microcastle by Deerhunter

Released: August 13, 2008
Label: Kranky
Album Charts: #123, The Billboard 200, #1 Top Heatseekers, #14 Top Independent Albums

"Microcastle's electronic backbone, ringing guitar lines, pensive vocals and trippy undercurrent all come together in a way that has propelled Deerhunter to the next level in their musical career. Where 2007's Cryptograms piqued interest and showed promise Microcastle is a fully realized work that will have you listening for days."

Listen to Microcastle:

   1. Cover Me Slowy
   
   2. Agoraphobia
   
   3. Never Stops
   
   4. Little Kids
   
   5. Microcastle
   
   6. Calvary Scars
   
   7. Green Jacket
   
   8. Activa
   
   9. Nothing Ever Happened
   
   10. Saved by Old Times
   
   11. Neither of Us, Uncertainly
   
   12. Twilight at Carbon Lake

#17. Life Like by The Rosebuds

Released: Soctober 7, 2008
Label: Merge
Album Charts: None

"Like the previous three albums released by The Rosebuds, Life Like is probably destined to be notoriously overlooked, and a gem that those in-the-know hold dear. This husband and wife driven band are exceptionally good at getting emotion across by surrounding the listener with small tidbits of reality, found objects and a bit of poetic license."

Listen to Life Like:   

   1. Life Like
  
   2. Cape Fear
  
   3. Border Guards
  
   4. Bow to the Middle: Religion Of Politics
  
   5. Nice Fox
  
   6. Another Way In
  
   7. Concordia Military Club
  
   8. Hello Darlin
  
   9. Black Hole
  
   10. In the Backyard

#18. Talking Through Tin Cans by The Morning Benders

Released: May 6, 2008
Label: +1 Records
Album Charts: #8 Top Heatseekers, #30 Top Independent Albums

"The Morning Benders first full-length debut on the brand new +1 Records label is mostly the work of singer/guitarist/songwriter Chris Chu. Chu carries this record on big hooks and traditional popcraft. There's no epic song layering or art school dynamic at work here. Just old fashioned, honest songwriting harvested at the peak of its flavor. Talking Through Tin Cans is proof that if you start with the right ingredients embellishment is simply not necessary."

Listen to Talking Through Tin Cans:

   1. Damnit Anna
  
   2. I Was Wrong
  
   3. Loose Change
  
   4. Patient Patient
  
   5. Crosseyed
  
   6. Waiting For A War
  
   7. Heavy Hearts
  
   8. Boarded Doors
  
   9. Wasted Time
  
   10. Chasing A Ghost
  
   11. When We're Apart

#19. Keep It Simple by Van Morrison

Released: March 11, 2008
Label: Lost Highway
Album Charts: #10 The Billboard 200, #10 Top Canadian Albums,#10 Top Internet Albums, European Top 100 Albums

"Van Morrison tells it like it is in the title of his 2008 release Keep It Simple. Van the Man has the most soulful voice to ever come out of Ireland... no, make that Europe... no, make that a white person. In fact, his voice could sell albums if his backing band consisted only of bagpipe, blackboard and vacuum cleaner players. Keep It Simple works so well because the easy going, clearly recorded music supports his voice and never detracts from it."

Listen to Keep It Simple: 

   1. How Can A Poor Boy?
    
   2. School Of Hard Knocks
   
   3. That's Entrainment
    
   4. Don't Go To Nightclubs Anymore
    
   5. Lover Come Back
    
   6. Keep It Simple
   
   7. End Of The Land
  
   8. Song Of Home
  
   9. No Thing
     
   10. Soul
     
   11. Behind The Ritual

#20. Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware by Alina Simone

Released: April 15, 2008
Label: 54 40' or Fight!
Album Charts: None

"Ukrainian-born Alina Simone is the perfect storm of creative talent and a background that includes the influence of Boston, MA., Austin, TX., and Yanka  Dyagileva. Yanka Dyagileva was an influential underground Russian singer/songwriter who committed suicide in 1991. This album by Alina Simone includes 9 Yanka Dyagileva covers, all sung in Russian. Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware is a haunting, sparse, powerhouse of an album, and it should not be overlooked by anyone with ears."

Listen to Everyone Is Crying Out To Me, Beware:

   1. Half My Kingdom
  
   2. From Great Knowledge
  
   3. My Sadness is Luminous
  
   4. Beware
  
   5. Flocks Are Flying
  
   6. Sold

   7. Up To The Knees
 
   8. Special Reason
  
   9. Feet Higher Off the Ground  

Continue to the Best Albums of 2008 - #21 to #30