This year was an interesting one, and I was surprised, at the end, that while there weren't too many new albums that I really loved, there were several new albums which I love more than I would've ever expected -- albums which will make my 'best of all time' list, and albums which I'm sure I'll continue to love for a long time to come. Without further ado, and before I hop into the best of list, I'm going to get a couple of formalities out of the way.Most overrated album of the year: Vampire Weekend. I know this will make people mad, and I'm sorry – I like the album: it’s fun, it’s catchy. It’s decidedly old hat after about 10 listens, though, and I got really sick of seeing them everywhere. Get mad at me if you will; I’m bored of this album.Biggest surprise of the year: Kanye West: 808s & Heartbreaks. Yes, I admit – I like the new album. It’s well-produced, the vocals are brilliant, and Kanye West doesn’t remind me of Kanye West (which is perhaps why I like it so much). It’s a good album – I’m shocked, but I admit it. (Doesn’t make Kanye any less of a douchebag, though.)Honourable mention: Final Fantasy's EPs, Spectrum 14th Century and Pays to Please. Together, these are two sides of a gloriously rich story. As flashy as Pays to Please is, Spectrum rounds it out with a richness that balances out the pair. Owen Pallett is a lyrical tease, a brilliant composer, and continually amazes me.Most underrated albums: Wolf Parade, Department of Eagles, Cut Copy. For as much love as some other albums are getting, At Mount Zoomer, In Ear Park, and In Ghost Colours are truly brilliant albums. I'm amazed at how little love and attention Wolf Parade, DoE, and Cut Copy are getting in everyone's year end lists, but those 3 albums have been among my very favourites this year.And now without further ado, here's my year in lists: the best of 2008.25. Los Campesinos!: We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed. The only reason this is so low on the list is cos I haven't listened to it more than a time or two. Love these kids, though, and I'm sure it's on par with Hold On Now, Youngster, which you'll find further down this list...24. Clinic: Do It!. It's funky, it's fun, it's quintessential Clinic. Quite addictive, when you listen to it, and it's definitely a grower (though I loved it from first listen).23. Fuck Buttons: Street Horrsing. Starts by blowing your mind with Sweet Love for Mother Earth, and by Colours Move, you're completely mindblown... in a really pleasant way.22. Bloc Party: Intimacy. I never thought there would be a day when Bloc Party would release an album that wasn’t in my top 10. This hurts me – physically. And that’s not to say there aren’t great songs on the album – I love Biko, I love Trojan Horse, I love Signs. But seriously, guys – Ares and Mercury are horrid. The album is completely unbalanced, and isn’t a cohesive album like the previous two. I like that their sound is changing, and I like adding a more electronic vibe, but if they’re heading toward Mercury/Ares, they’re going to lose me.21. Beck: Modern Guilt. This is the grooviest thing Beck has done in ages (I’m pretty sure we have DangerMouse to thank for that), and I love the throwbacky vibe. The album is also cohesive, and I really dig that. I love this album; just haven’t listened to it enough.20. MGMT: Oracular Spectacular. I know, I know – rounding out at the bottom of my top 20? How could I, right? See, here’s the thing about this album for me: I love Electric Feel. Seriously, that’s song of the year material. I love Kids. It’s groovy. The album is groovy and fun… but it all sounds the same to me. I like their sound, I like their style, I like this album… just don’t love it.19. The Verve: Forth. Don’t get me wrong – new Verve is instant win, and I'm more than thrilled that we got it. New Richard Ashcroft always makes my heart go pitter-pat. This album has several really great tracks – Appalachian Springs, Sit and Wonder, Valium Skies. I even like the first single, Love is Noise. The Verve definitely didn’t disappoint, after all this time.18. Of Montreal: Skeletal Lamping. It’s fun, it’s cheeky, it’s groovy as hell, and it’s decidedly addictive. I love it – possibly a new favourite, and definitely on par with Hissing Fauna (though in a completely different vein: Hissing Fauna is as poptastic as Skeletal Lamping is groovetastic).17. M83: Saturdays = Youth. This album has such a great vibe – if MBV had a logical heir, it would certainly be this album – there's something about this album that brings MBV to mind in the best possible way, and M83 should be really proud of that. It functions really well as a cohesive glimpse of shoegazey gorgeousness, and I’m really enamored of its complex grace.16. Los Campesinos!: Hold On Now, Youngster. This is how you spell EPIC ALBUM. They’re fun, they’re smart, they’re adorable, and this album makes it nearly physically impossible to stay still. And I adore it.15. Benoît Pioulard: Temper. I love Benoît Pioulard’s style – I love the richness of his musical textures, the little noises spirited away in the background. I haven’t had enough time to sit with this album and fully appreciate it, hence its position on my list. I'm confident that with more listens, it'll continue to rise in my estimation, as everything that Pioulard does -- his music worms its way into my heart via my brain, and I end up loving it before I even realise it.14. Islands: Arm’s Way. This album is brilliant, and also full of cellos cellos cellos. It’s fun, it’s smart, the lyrics are catchy and addictive. Musically, it’s complex and a departure from the previous album – in the best possible way. I love where they’re going, even if I loathe the cover art. (Seriously guys, was it really necessary?!)13. Girl Talk: Feed the Animals. This album is a walk down memory lane… albeit obscured by ghetto rap. Every time I listen, I find something new; every time I listen, I love it more. Totally addictive, totally fun, excellent album.12. Foals: Antidotes. This album is brilliant, their sound is brilliant. Lyrics and choruses be damned; Foals manage to succeed at bucking the traditional in favour of something new… formless, and yet still held together. The album is as cohesive as each track is, and it’s a masterpiece of a debut. (Again with the cover art, though – why must you scare me?!)11. Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid. This album is gorgeous. Complex, layered, more gorgeous than a fairytale and nothing short of spectacular. Garvey’s voice is the common thread between this stylistically diverse collection of brilliance.10. The Last Shadow Puppets: The Age of the Understatement. Lots of people might disagree with my giving this album precedence over so many other great records. It might be merely my personal bias; and yet, there’s something about this album that makes me keep returning to it. Whether it’s how well Alex and Miles have mastered the throwbacky vibe, or how much Owen Pallett’s strings really add to the scope of each song, or how well the whole album works together, I really love this album. Maybe more than I should, but I love it nonetheless.9. Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours. This album is gorgeous, and only gets moreso with every listen. I can’t decide which is better – the initial high of Lights & Music, the intermediate surprise of So Haunted, or the closing grace of Strangers in the Wind. This album is brilliant, through and through, and improves with every listen.8. Wolf Parade: At Mount Zoomer. Love. That’s the only word for this album: love. Every track on this album builds upon the previous, until Kissing the Beehive explodes in all its groovy musicky goodness, and you’re left basking in the afterglow of a truly great record.7. TV On The Radio: Dear Science,. The only reason this isn’t in my top 5 is that I haven’t had enough time to sit with this album and fully appreciate it. I love every track on this album, and I love how well this album works together. It’s truly a masterpiece, and I can’t help but be rapt every time I listen.6. Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs. This album reminds me of the days before Plans – in the best way I never expected. While they’re definitely trying out some new vibes, DCfC are still as brilliant as they ever were – and songs like Cath and Grapevine Fires seal that deal.5. Fleet Foxes. If I could describe autumn to you in music, I would give you this album. Whether it’s the purity and timbre of the vocals, the tightness of the harmonies, the gentle atmosphere of each track – this album is a coherent tribute to a career I’m very much looking forward to, and it’s a hell of a debut.4. Hot Chip: Made in the Dark. This album has travelled through this whole year with me – I’ve loved it since the first listen, and I continue to do. I couldn’t choose a favourite even if I wanted to. I love how well Hot Chip balances fragile sweetness in with what is brilliant electronica – their music is ridiculously fun and geeky, but the decided intelligence and delicacy behind each track only endears them more to me.3. Department of Eagles: In Ear Park. One word: masterpiece. This album is in equal parts lush, complex, brilliant, and new. I can’t decide if it starts better, or finishes better; I just know that every time the album is over, I want to listen again. The complexity of each track, the quality of the vocals and the lyrics – all of them add up to what is a brilliant, cohesive, highly underrated album. I’m in love.2. Sigur Rós: Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust. This album is gorgeous, fun, and quintessentially Sigur Rós. The brass band is an excellent addition to what was already a complex and gorgeously layered sound. Their capability for sheer joy in tracks like Gobbledigook is easily and perfectly balanced with their uncanny ability to build a song well past what one would think is humanly possible, in something like Festival. (In this case, not only is the cover art perfectly, adorably joyously suited to the album, but it’s also perfectly suited to the band. Well done, boys!)1. Portishead: Third. If ever an album was worth a wait, this is it. Most people get upset when a favourite band changes their sound; I couldn’t be happier that Portishead have embraced this newer, darker, more stripped sound. This album simultaneously breaks my heart and repairs it. I’ve listened to this album countless times, wondering if I would ever find a flaw; not only is there no flaw, but I continue to find little complexities and intricacies that only serve to remind me just how great Portishead are, just how great this album is, and just how much I love them.
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