When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. Sure it’s only April, but it’s never too soon to start tracking the Top Albums of 2008. The list will be up 20 soon enough, but for now here are the 15 best albums I’ve heard so far this year (Note: To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2007 and November 30, 2008):
1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL)
2. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple (Atlantic)
3. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic)
4. Hot Chip Made in the Dark (Astralwerks)
5. The Hush Sound Goodbye Blues (Fueled By Ramen/Atlantic)
6. Death Angel Killing Season (Nuclear Blast America)
7. The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely (Warner Brothers)
8. MGMT Oracular Spectacular (Red Ink/Columbia)
9. The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride (4AD)
10. The Kills Midnight Boom (Domino)
11. The Mars Volta The Bedlam In Goliath (Universal)
12. Wu-Tang Clan 8 Diagrams (Universal Motown)
13. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks Real Emotional Trash (Matador)
14. Erykah Badu New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War (Universal Motown)
15. Flowers Forever Flowers Forever (Team Love)
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the album as a whole. Sure it’s only March, but it’s never too soon to start tracking the Top Albums of 2008. The list will be up 20 soon enough, but for now here are the 10 best albums I’ve heard so far this year (Note: To be eligible for this list the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2007 and November 30, 2008):
1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend (XL)
2. Lupe Fiasco The Cool (Atlantic)
3. Hot Chip Made in the Dark (Astralwerks)
4. MGMT Oracular Spectacular (Red Ink/Columbia)
5. The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride (4AD)
6. The Mars Volta The Bedlam In Goliath (Universal)
7. Wu-Tang Clan 8 Diagrams (Universal Motown)
8. Flowers Forever Flowers Forever (Team Love)
9. Thao We Brave Bee Sting and All (Kill Rock Stars)
10. Kelley Stoltz Circular Sounds (Sub Pop)
For the second year in a row, there was no obvious, A-plus-caliber, Album of the Year (in my opinion). But several relative newcomers and a few dependable veterans delivered exceptional artistic statements – reassuring music lovers that true artists will continue to make quality full lengths. Here are my picks for the 20 most complete, ambitious and well-executed albums of 2007 (followed by 20 honorable mentions). As usual, I focused mainly on rock, hip hop, metal, pop, electro/dance, r&b, and alternative country.
1. Band of Horses Cease to Begin (Sub Pop)
2. Menomena Friend and Foe (Barsuk)
>>Watch Video Review
3. Bright Eyes Cassadaga (Saddle Creek)
>>Watch Video Review
4. White Rabbits Fort Nightly (Say Hey)
5. Portugal. The Man Church Mouth (Fearless)
6. Patrick Park Everyone’s In Everyone (Curb Appeal)
7. Saul Williams The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust (The Fader)
8. The Good Life Help Wanted Nights (Saddle Creek)
9. Okkervil River The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
10. Aesop Rock None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)
11. Parts & Labor Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar)
12. Macromantics Moments in Movement (Kill Rock Stars) >>Watch Video Review
13. Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs (Anti-)
>>Watch Video Review
14. The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee (Metro Blue/Blue Note)
15. Tim Fite Over the Counter Culture (Anti-)
16. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino)
>>Watch Video Review
17. The National Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
18. Pharoahe Monch Desire (SRC/Universal Motown)
19. Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold (Warner Brothers)
20. The Veils Nux Vomica (Rough Trade)
Honorable Mentions
21. Wilco Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
22. El-P I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Definitive Jux)
>>Watch Video Review
23. M.I.A. Kala (XL)
24. The Beauty Shop Crisis Helpline (Believe Music)
25. The Shins Wincing the Night Away (Sub Pop)
26. Andrew Bird Armchair Apocrypha (Fat Possum)
27. Voxtrot Voxtrot (Playlouder)
28. Elvis Perkins Ash Wednesday (XL)
29. Arcade Fire Neon Bible (Merge)
30. Nine Inch Nails Year Zero (Nothing/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
31. Feist The Reminder (Cherry Tree/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
32. Iron and Wine The Shepherd’s Dog (Sub Pop)
33. Joan As Police Woman Real Life (Cheap Lullaby)
34. Dinosaur Jr. Beyond (Fat Possum)
35. Kings of Leon Because of the Times (RCA)
>>Watch Video Review
36. Maria Taylor Lynn Teeter Flower (Saddle Creek)
37. The Noisettes What’s the Time Mr. Wolf? (Universal Motown)
38. Alicia Keys As I Am (J Records)
39. The Comas Spells (Vagrant)
40. CocoRosie The Adventures of Ghosthorse and Stillborn (Touch and Go)
7 Comments on this post
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the cohesiveness of the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list, the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2006 and November 30, 2007. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album or albums break into my Top 20.
Update: The new Trent Reznor-produced, digital-only release from Saul Williams, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust, moves into the Top 10 this week. Meanwhile El-P’s I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead gets bumped off the Top 20.
1. Band of Horses Cease to Begin (Sub Pop)
2. Menomena Friend and Foe (Barsuk)
>>Watch Video Review
3. Bright Eyes Cassadaga (Saddle Creek)
>>Watch Video Review
4. Portugal. The Man Church Mouth (Fearless)
5. Patrick Park Everyone’s In Everyone (Curb Appeal)
6. Saul Williams The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust (The Fader)
7. The Good Life Help Wanted Nights (Saddle Creek)
8. Okkervil River The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
9. Aesop Rock None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)
10. Parts & Labor Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar)
11. Macromantics Moments in Movement (Kill Rock Stars) >>Watch Video Review
12. Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs (Anti-)
>>Watch Video Review
13. The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee (Metro Blue/Blue Note)
14. Tim Fite Over the Counter Culture (Anti-)
15. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino)
>>Watch Video Review
16. The National Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
17. Pharoahe Monch Desire (SRC/Universal Motown)
18. Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold (Warner Brothers)
19. The Veils Nux Vomica (Rough Trade)
20. Wilco Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
Additional Video Reviews (from former Top 20 Albums):
El-P I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Definitive Jux)
>>Watch Video Review
Nine Inch Nails Year Zero (Nothing/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
Feist The Reminder (Cherry Tree/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
Kings of Leon Because of the Times (RCA)
>>Watch Video Review
When I review a new release, I also give the album a score based on the quality of each individual track and the cohesiveness of the album as a whole. To be eligible for this list, the album needs to be released in the U.S. between December 1, 2006 and November 30, 2007. The following albums have scored highest this year so far. I update these Standings every time an album or albums break into my Top 20.
Update: The new self-titled album from progressive metal band Avenged Sevenfold is the latest addition to the list. Meanwhile, Kala, the sophomore album from M.I.A. gets bumped out of the Top 20. There are only two new-release Tuesdays left this year, so the final list will start taking shape very soon.
1. Band of Horses Cease to Begin (Sub Pop)
2. Menomena Friend and Foe (Barsuk)
>>Watch Video Review
3. Bright Eyes Cassadaga (Saddle Creek)
>>Watch Video Review
4. Portugal. The Man Church Mouth (Fearless)
5. Patrick Park Everyone’s In Everyone (Curb Appeal)
6. The Good Life Help Wanted Nights (Saddle Creek)
7. Okkervil River The Stage Names (Jagjaguwar)
8. Aesop Rock None Shall Pass (Definitive Jux)
9. Parts & Labor Mapmaker (Jagjaguwar)
10. Macromantics Moments in Movement (Kill Rock Stars) >>Watch Video Review
11. Youth Group Casino Twilight Dogs (Anti-)
>>Watch Video Review
12. The Bird and the Bee The Bird and the Bee (Metro Blue/Blue Note)
13. Tim Fite Over the Counter Culture (Anti-)
14. Arctic Monkeys Favourite Worst Nightmare (Domino)
>>Watch Video Review
15. The National Boxer (Beggars Banquet)
16. Pharoahe Monch Desire (SRC/Universal Motown)
17. Avenged Sevenfold Avenged Sevenfold (Warner Brothers)
18. The Veils Nux Vomica (Rough Trade)
19. El-P I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead (Definitive Jux)
>>Watch Video Review
20. Wilco Sky Blue Sky (Nonesuch)
Additional Video Reviews (from former Top 20 Albums):
Nine Inch Nails Year Zero (Nothing/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
Feist The Reminder (Cherry Tree/Interscope)
>>Watch Video Review
Kings of Leon Because of the Times (RCA)
>>Watch Video Review
