Listmania!
2008 albums
Rest Now Weary Head You Will Get Well SoonRest Now Weary Head You Will Get Well Soon by Get Well Soon
Buy new: £11.98
The influence no doubt comes from the likes of Radiohead, Bright eyes and Arcade fire, but the end product is refreshing and original. If This Hat Is Missing/Endless Dream/Ticktack are the pick.
O Soundtrack My HeartO Soundtrack My Heart by Pivot
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £22.80
This is probably the best instrumental album of the year...in fact its a contender for best album full stop. Music never sounded so good.
DistortionDistortion by Magnetic Fields
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £4.50
A much shorter offering this time and whilst many won't rate this as highly as ‘69’ I still reckon it has quite a few moments of genius. I love old fools...
Modern GuiltModern Guilt by Beck
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £7.29
Superb stuff from Beck, would it be controversial to say this is his best album yet? Maybe, but here he proves again what a great songwriter he is. Best tracks – Chem trails, Modern guilt, Volcano.
ThirdThird by Portishead
Buy new: £4.97 / Used from: £6.89
Ignore the doubters, this is a great return, everything you expected and much more
Weezer (The Red Album)Weezer (The Red Album) by Weezer
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £3.10
They have always been so consitant in my opinion but never receive the plaudists they deserve. Pork and beans, Thought I knew and The greatest man that ever lived are Weezer at their best.
Do You Like Rock Music?Do You Like Rock Music? by British Sea Power
Buy new: £9.58 / Used from: £7.25
Not on a par with their previous albums but that would have been some feat to replicate. Inspired moments can be found in the likes of No Lucifer and Down on the ground.
SuperabundanceSuperabundance by Young Knives
Buy new: £9.98 / Used from: £4.22
An improvement on their debut, much tighter and even the inclusion of strings on turn tail is ok. A very worthy offering that proves that as with Glasvegas British indie music is far from dead.
Vampire WeekendVampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
Buy new: £5.98 / Used from: £5.00
I think this one may split opnions but there is actually a lot to like here, full of catchy tunes a little bit like the Strokes, but altogether well worth a listen or two.
You Have No Idea What Youre Getting Yourself IntoYou Have No Idea What Youre Getting Yourself Into by Does It Offend You Yeah?
Buy new: £5.38 / Used from: £2.99
Stupid name, try and ignore it…They have been mentioned in the same breath as Klaxons but I think they are better. Dawn of the dead and Epic last song have been on constant repeat for some time now.
In Ghost ColoursIn Ghost Colours by Cut Copy
Buy new: £4.97
Ah the 80’s. Who would have thought that decade would influence so many musicians of this decade? I think its his voice that mostly does it, again though this is an album packed with cracking songs.
Only By The NightOnly By The Night by Kings Of Leon
Buy new: £8.98 / Used from: £8.73
This is taking me a while to get into…it’s good but is it in the same league as their first three albums? I don’t think so and at the moment it looks like Because of the Times may be their peak.
Crystal CastlesCrystal Castles by Crystal Castles
Buy new: £5.98
Periodically I’m drawn to electronic beeping sounds. Good job there are crystal castles then.
Twenty OneTwenty One by Mystery Jets
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.39
Its certainly patchier than their debut but it does contain at least three gems – Flakes, Veiled in grey and Two doors down. Suppose that will have to do for now.
Brain Thrust MasteryBrain Thrust Mastery by We Are Scientists
Buy new: £9.78 / Used from: £4.74
They may have been wittled down to two members, but this is a fine offering by another band that keep getting better. Lethal enforcer is the song of the year for me.
Replica Sun MachineReplica Sun Machine by Shortwave Set
Buy new: £5.18 / Used from: £5.50
Very retro sounding at times and a real mixture of styles, one of those albums that gets better with each listen. Stand out tracks are the awesome now til 69 + I know & Harmonica.
StationStation by Russian Circles
Buy new: £9.98
One of the best instrumental albums of recent years.
Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! by Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £4.26
The best Nick Cave album of the year. Seriously though past Nick Cave albums I’ve only liked in parts, this is the whole package.
The Age of the UnderstatementThe Age of the Understatement by The Last Shadow Puppets
This will be compared to Arctic Monkeys stuff, and people will say its not as good, but I actually quite like it, and it's good to be different.
Oracular SpectacularOracular Spectacular by MGMT
Buy new: £4.98 / Used from: £7.10
Time to pretend carries it a bit, but there are other good tunes that make it a worthy offering.
GlasvegasGlasvegas by Glasvegas
Buy new: £7.97 / Used from: £7.00
When you consider the swathe of generic indie bands out there at the moment, its great that for 10 of them there is one Glasvegas, it’s a triumph of a record.