Vampire Weekend-Vampire Weekend

I am sure this one is on a lot of other “Best of” lists but it deserves to be.  It is just catchy and fun pop rock.  Influenced by African Pop or at least influenced by Paul Simon being influenced by African Pop.  Some people have disliked them for being too catchy and Ivy Leaguers but I have no idea what that has to do with the album. I can’t decide which track I like best the two below might be my favorites of the year.

She & Him-Volume One

Back in March I heard Zooey Deschanel (who played Will Ferrel’s love interest in the movie Elf) and M. Ward on Fresh Air.  Another thing to thank Terry Gross for. Normally actors making albums is a blight on all of humanity but this is not the case. I have seen it referred to as folk but I don’t think that is the case. It seems to come from a half century ago but still be fresh at the same time. And Deschanel can sing. The most recent comparable thing to it is Nora Jones but I like this better.

Hot Chip-Made In the Dark

I like all the previous Hot Chip albums and that goes for this ones as well. I like it but not as much as The Warning. Liking the previous albums is better (if there is one) seems to be a seems to be a reoccorring theme for me ion 2008. It still is a solid album though. Labeled as electro-pop I have always though Hot Chip a little different than others labeled the same.

Unicorn Dream Attack-Love Bits

The previous albums have probably been on other “Best of” list this one might not be on any but I like it. Say Chiptune and most people think of Crystal Castles. Replace the Crystal Castles grating vocals with Kraftwerk like vocoder vocals and the soulless coolness of Crystal Castles with sweet childhood remeinsces mixed with some sypmhonic 8bit music and it is Unicorn Dream Attack. And you have to like a guy just doing it lust for the love of the music. And a lack of fair use issues is a good thing also.

Love Bits

The Raveonettes-Lust, Lust, Lust

I like fuzz and hooks. So, I have to love Lust, Lust Lust. Part Phil Spector, part Jesus & Mary Chain what is not to like. A wall of sound and yet simple what is not to like. Another album that recalls the past and yet seems fresh.

Nine Inch Nails-Ghosts I-IV

Admittedly this album is not there for it music alone. Though I do respect the fact that a major act decided to basically release a soundscape album. It is good for what it is but what makes it great is the way it was released. It was downloadable for free. NIN has done everything right lately. The took the Radiohead In Rainbows idea and did it right. They released each part of each song tracks to let fans remix and entire album and put up a site to host those tracks. They even released another more traditional album The Slip in the same way as Ghost I-IV. How cool it that?

Ghost I-IV

TV on the Radio – Dear Science

Again I have like the previous two albums but this was to me doesn’t seem as strong as the others. In fact I didn’t like it that much at first but grew on me. Very much like the other albums but does quite have the urgency, tension and drive of the first two albums but it is TVotR none the less.

Portishead – Third

It has been ten years since the last release. I am not sure it was worth the decade wait but it is a darn good album. Unlike others this year is album maybe there best. It is understandably more mature. It is wonderful melancholy collection of songs. It has the trip-hop feel of old but adds strange percussion and clever touches. Good stuff.

Juno – Music From The Motion Picture

I love the the love the Moldy Peaches so any album featuring Kimya Dawson in a big way is a good thing. Add in some Cat Power, Mott the Hopple, The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth and Belle & Sebastian and you have the making of a great album. And it not only fits well with eh film it makes the film.