Hard to believe it’s almost July—the mid point for 2008—but that can only mean one thing: IT’S TIME FOR A LIST!
Here are my choices for the Best Albums of 2008… so far.
1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, "Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!" (Anti-)
2. Weezer, “Weezer” (Geffen)
3. Local H, “12 Angry Months” (Shout! Factory)
4. Gnarls Barkley, “The Odd Couple” (Atlantic)
5. Lupe Fiasco, “The Cool” (Atlantic)**
6. Tim Fite, “Fair Ain’t Fair” (Anti-)
7. Saul Williams, “The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust” (Fader) ++
8. The Black Angels, “Directions to See a Ghost” (Light in the Attic)
9. Portishead, “Third” (Mercury)
10. Flight of the Conchords, “Flight of the Conchords” (Sub Pop)
** Yes, I know Lupe’s second disc is arguably a 2007 release. But in its infinite wisdom (or lack thereof), Atlantic officially issued it on Dec. 18 last year, where it was thoroughly lost and quickly forgotten. It’s an outstanding effort nonetheless, and I’d argue that it’s only really started to make an impact in 2008 as Lupe has toured with Kanye West.
++ Originally issued as a pay-what-you-think-it’s-worth download last November; now getting its official CD release on July 8.
this seems like the weakest list of mid-year best records since I can remember.
has the download and burn music economy finally filtered down to the artist level such that we do not see the level of artistic accomplishment that we witnessed in previous years?
Good to see Local H, but Weezer? That's their worst record, ever.
Gotta agree with Tony, Jim. The Nick Cave record is phenomenal, and the Lupe record was indeed one of the best albums of LAST YEAR (haha), but the Weezer record is underwhelming (though fun), and I still don't hear what you did on "The Odd Couple."
A few suggestions for you to have a good, hard listen to before the end of the year: The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit; Songs in A&E by Spiritualized (their best since Ladies & Gentlemen!); and (and frankly, I think I'm the only one around who likes this record so much) Devotion by Beach House.
Yeah...the new Weezer is pretty weak. However, putting Flight Of The Conchords in the Top Ten is inspired!
Gotta say, I agree with everyone else on the Weezer--however, kudos for Nick Cave at #1 and Local H at #3!
Really? Weezer Red? I have given that one about 3 or 4 tries now and have to ardently disagree.
Where's the new Hold Steady? That was is pretty darned good.
I'd even put the new one by The Fratellis over Weezer's entry. It's not as good as Costello Music but it's still fun.
I can't help but put Pork & Beans in the same category as American Gigolo. I think it's more of a slap at fans than it is the record company.
All that said, I wish you would take a listen at my favorite album of the year:
Let Live and Let Ghost by Jukebox the Ghost. It was a treat all the way through and on heavy rotation in our house.
How about locals The Last Vegas??
While I think internet music outlets provide vast access to music, I do think it hinders the the potential and purpose of an album.
That being said, I'd include Al Green's Lay It Down and Tift Merritt's Another Country as among the year's finest thus far.
I'm surprised you don't have Death Cab's "Narrow Stairs" on the list, it's definitely in my top three for the year at this point. I've got to say, I've only made it through 4 songs so far, but Girl Talk's just released "Feed the Animals" will most likely end up on my year end list as well.
Let's see...
The Magnetic Fields -- DISTORTION
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks -- REAL EMOTIONAL TRASH
Death Cab For Cutie -- NARROW STAIRS
Boris -- SMILE
Bob Mould -- DISTRICT LINE
My preference for new music would be Teenage Bottlerockets - "Warning Device" and The Copyrights (from Carbondale) "Learn the Hard Way". Obviously I tend toward a little more punk/pop. But I can at least respect most of your choices.
weezer? the r. kelly trial must've thrown you off your game sir! was coldplay barely edged out of the top ten?
top spot is m83 "saturday=youth" is unparalleled and even though it took me a minute to get into.
mgmt, foals, duke spirit "neptune", gregor samsa "rest",
looking forward to new dandys and the new primal scream record, which though i haven't heard, can be only amazing as the main influence is suicide. plus they had a free hawkwind cover on the web the other day.
huzzah.
Seriously, Jim. Weezer(Red Album)along with Make Believe are by FAR the 2 worst Weezer albums. Can't believe that would make this list. Cuomo, lyrically, has gotten extremely cheesy; and not in a good El Scorcho - Pinkerton kind of way. Seriously bad album and that pains me to say because I'm a HUGE fan of Weezer's first 4 albums. Can't say how much I disagree with this being on the list.
Note to Jim DeRogatus.................. R.E.M. Supernatural Superserious. This has to be added. If you don't like it you have to be totally wrong and tone deaf!!!!
A few weeks ago I purchased a very rare Cd of Jeff Beck at Ronnie Scootts Jazz Club in London. The concert transpired in November 2007 but the CD was not released until 2008. As usual Jeff Beck musically smoked with his nonpareil guitar virtuosity combining fusion, hard rock, jazz, blues and psychedelic instrumentals. At the end of the show he was joined by Eric Clapton and they played two great blues songs together. In attendance were Brian May,Jimmy Page and Toni Iommi. A masterful Cd and concert in front of a sold-out crowd of 200 lucky, elated people.
Big props for putting Weezer and FOTC on your list. The Red Album is unabashedly cheesy, but that has always been Weezer to me. I like the way they are having fun with their sound, while still injecting some real feeling which is missing so often these days. FOTC is simply the best musical comedy record I've ever heard.
If Rivers Cuomo dies in a plane crash in 1998, Weezer is the best band of their generation. Blue and Pinkerton were that awesome. Make Believe maybe be the worst album i've ever heard and Red sucks too.
Over at the NPR’s All Songs Considered blog, we’re polling users as to their favorite albums of the year so far. To vote and to see the results, head over to the All Songs Considered homepage
http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=37&agg=1
You're a joke and I'll never take you seriously ever again after that My Morning Jacket review.
Like most people, i disagree greatly with your opinion on Weezer, and I also disagree with Gnarls Barkley. You have to give MMJ more time. Evil Urges grows on you after a while. And I really think Fleet Foxes, No Age, Wolf Parade, and Vampire Weekend should be on that list.
mmj hands down. this band just continues to expand with each album... Sigur Ros's new album is fabulous as well. Hold Steady is great too, but i (personally) don't think it holds a candle to their last...
m83, sigur ros, portishead, tokyo police club, nada surf (at least over weezer!)
Unlike most here, I agree with your Weezer pick. In the face of such vitriol for this album it's brave, in fact. I can say that it takes a few spins to get into its groove, and there are certainly some clunkers here (personally I'd suggest skipping almost a third of it -- specifically tracks 1, 5, 7, 8, and 9) but "Dreamin'," "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived," "Pig," "The Angel and the One," and "The Spider" are pretty far from what we've come to expect from these boys, in the best sense. And damned if "Pork and Beans" doesn't boast their most infectious chorus in 14 years. That and "Heart Songs" alone are worth the cost of the deluxe CD, but the aforementioned are gems too.
Best Cd's 0f 2008 thus far
1. Steve Winwood - Nine Lives
2. Walter Becker - Circus Money
3. David Bowie - Live In Santa Monica 72
4. Buddy Guy - Skin Deep
5. Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Momofuku
6. Bill Frisell - History, Mystery
7. Jacob Dylan - Seeing Things
8. Portishead - Third
9. Aimee Mann - Smilers
10. The Sales Brothers - Hired Guns
Bob