Best albums of 2008

Echo

There's still almost a month to go until the end of this year but I think that it's appropriate to create this thread already. If anyone feels like it's too early, wait until this year has passed and post then.

Now, 2008 has been a great year in terms of music. We're talking about a musically great year for pretty much any genre. Pop, rock, metal, indie, progressive, screamo, hip hop, you name it. Even though the bigger names have got a lot of time in the ears of music listeners, smaller, more unknown bands have released unseeingly good material. New bands have burst out of their shells into the hurricane of the music industry and old bands have made comebacks to conquer the world, yet again.

Because a general list from one person can be too easily disagreed with, I won't even try to compile a favorite list that would please the majority. I'd much rather see multiple lists of users' favorite albums of this year. Restricting your list to something such as a Top 10 would be nice to keep this thread summarized to an extent. But if you feel like more utterly awesome albums than just ten have been released during this year, feel free to expand your list. Also, a little explanation of why you listed the album would be nice too, so that conversation could be started. I'll contribute my own list when I have the time to do a proper one.
 
The new Metallica was terrible.

My list in no particular order except the first one

Cynic - Traced In Air
Protest The Hero - Fortress
Anathema - Hindsight
Meshuggah - obZen
Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God
Opeth - Watershed
Avantasia - The Scarecrow
Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh
Draconian - Turning Season Within
Demians - Building an Empire

I guess those are my favourites, but the new Portishead, A Silver Mt. Zion, Funeral for a Friend, Falconer, Enslaved, Scar Symmetry, Katy Perry, Bon Iver, and assorted others are all good too.

also a mention to the albums that rule but I haven't heard yet such as Why? or Crystal Castles
 
Some of my favorites.

Disturbed- Indestructible
This band keeps getting better and better. It is definitely my favorite.

Trivium- Shogun
I bought a Trivium album once just cause I needed new music and I liked the cover art. I knew nothing about it at all. Turns out it's pretty good and this album is probably the best sounding in the collection from what I can tell.

Guns N' Roses- Chinese Democracy
This may be controversial, but I never liked GNR as much as I do now. I'm sure there are all kinds of mixed feelings about this, though, because this album is kind of a mixed bag and I think only Axel Rose remains of the original members, right?

Metallica- Death Magnetic
Even if it's not as epic as older Metallica, I still loved this one. I recentally gave Saint Anger a chance, and compared to this even, THAT is kind of a bad Metallica album. I could like it if I get used to it, but still.
 
I honestly have hardly listened to any new albums this year. Nothing reall caught my imagination at all.

The only album I really liked is Nomo - Ghost Rock, but I dont think it's as good as their last album New Tones.. They did branch out from their classic afrobeat style a little, but not really enough to be particularly interesting. They just happen to be an awesome enough band to make a good album on their bad days.

Hopefully someone in this thread will recommend something, because on the whole 2008 has been lackluster.

Have a nice day.
 
I didn't listen to much new music this year but I enjoyed these particularly

Deerhunter - Microcastle / Weird Era Cont.
Bodies of Water - A Certain Feeling [these three are indie/folk]
Fleet Foxes - s/t
The Dodos - Visiter
Johan Johannsson - Fordlandia [ambient/classical]
A Silver Mt. Zion - 13 blues for 13 moons which I need to listen to more

other ok stuff
Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling [post-rock]
Lifelover - Konkurs [black metal/shoegaze?]


I haven't listened to Portishead - Third which is a bad thing. I will do it soon.
 
AC/DC - Black Ice was pretty good, but not as good as some of their other albums.

I liked the new Metallica album, too.
 
Not a great year in music... my most expected albums will probably come out early 09' =\

As much as I'd like to list "Oracular Spectacular" by MGMT and "Insurgentes" by Steven Wilson, the former was released in 07' while the latter will be released only in 09'.

So what do we have.. umm. Thrice's "Alchemy Index Vol. 3 & 4: Air and Earth" was a decent album, although not really my favorite. CSS' "Donkey" got very bad reviews, but in fact it's probably at the top of my list or close enough. "Just In Case We'll Never Meet Again" by Klimt 1918 is a breathtaking album from start to end; Sigur Rós' new album is also pretty decent, but I don't listen to it as much as I used to when it came out. "Third" by Portishead is amazing, they didn't disappoint. Mogwai's "The Hawk Is Howling" is also one of my top favs, "Daphne and the Brain" is probably my song (track) of the year.

Other noticeable albums I liked: "Alopecia" by Why?, "Narrow Stairs" by Death Cab For Cutie, "Only by the Night" by Kings of Leon, "Maybe I'm Dreaming" by Owl City and "Ephyra" by miimi.

Oh yeah, Viva La Vida is pretty good, but I was slightly disappointed.
 
Suburban Legends - Let's Be Friends ... and Slay the Dragon Together
Disco + ska + pop = one of the most energetic albums released. Opens up with a seemingly happy pop/punk song about getting turned down with the phrase "Let's Be Friends." Moves onto a ska/disco fusion song followed by another pop/punk song. Next up is an all-out disco track, completely with falsetto vocals, rapid staccato horn lines, and classic disco bass line. Goes in an entirely different direction with the next song, which is very similar to Paramore's Misery Business in structure, but is about a fire they encountered when starting their band off. After this, there's an upbeat happy song that can't really be described by any genre other than saying its classic Suburban Legends. Once again, they delve into disco, with a song about dancing that would fit in any classic dance scene. Finally, the band returns to its ska roots with the next song, which of course is about getting with a girl, and the next song follows the same trend, except its more rejection. The album ends with a Pink Panther-esque song followed by a meh lovesong, but the bonus track ends the album on a good note. One of the things I love about this album is that they use the same metaphors about rejection and dating throughout the entire album, i.e. silver bullet and slay the dragon.

Less than Jake - GNV FLA
They return to a their style from Hello Rockview. Unfortunately, its not as good, but that doesn't mean its bad, especially since Hello Rockview is one of my favorite albums. All of the songs on this are solid, so I can't complain at all.

Goldfinger - Hello Destiny
Just listened to this yesterday, so can't really give too much detail. All I really want to say is I first heard the trombone solos on Get Up and knew this album was going to be good.

Dragonforce - Ultra Beatdown
They're most varied album so far. You can't say all their songs are the same anymore, or that they only write long songs (although the majority still are). Once again just a solid album.

Honorable mentions go to Disturbed with Indestructible, The Offspring with Rise and Fall, Rage and Grace, Metallica with Death Magnetic, and Scars on Broadway with a self-titled album (although its no where as good as SoaD's stuff, they should get over this branching off stuff).
 
Disturbed - Indestructible
This album was amazing and Inside the Fire is a beast of a song. Some new more experimental stuff and some of their old stuff revamped as well as the relase of Criminal. All good stuff.

Slipknot - All Hope is Gone
This is probably the best of all Slipknot albums released to date. They retain their hard sound but experiment with new stuff which is seen in Gehenna. Psychosocial is a mind melting metal song that makes me proud to be a fan. Snuff was also a nice reprieve from the thrash metal, and compares well with Vermillion pt. 2.
 
After a hiatus of over a decade (since the self-titled album), Portishead's Third was mind-blowing, delivering the same classic Portishead sound while introducing something new.

Cold War Kids "Loyalty to Loyalty" was very cool as well. Maybe not as good as their first, "Robbers and Cowards," but still good. Just as dark and showcases their unique sound well.

I was also introduced to Of Montreal this year when "Skeletal Lamping" was released. Pretty cool, quirky band with their sexually charged vulgar lyrics, an insane frontman, stage antics, and talented instrumentalists.
 
I don't know how many Smogoners listen to gangster rap but SPM's newest CD "Last Chair Violinist" was really good. I hated most of the rap music that came out this year though, the rock was way better imo.
 
Altmer said:
The new Metallica was terrible.

My list in no particular order except the first one

Cynic - Traced In Air
Protest The Hero - Fortress
Anathema - Hindsight
Meshuggah - obZen
Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God
Opeth - Watershed
Avantasia - The Scarecrow
Gojira - The Way Of All Flesh
Draconian - Turning Season Within
Demians - Building an Empire

I guess those are my favourites, but the new Portishead, A Silver Mt. Zion, Funeral for a Friend, Falconer, Enslaved, Scar Symmetry, Katy Perry, Bon Iver, and assorted others are all good too.

also a mention to the albums that rule but I haven't heard yet such as Why? or Crystal Castles
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You have absolutely incredible taste in music :D
 
I'm probably the odd one out here with my musical taste, but I think Lil' Wayne's album "Tha Carter III" was very good. It had varying songs (of Hip-Hop/Rap of course, but they didn't sound the same). Also, despite not being a big fan, Rihanna's album is pretty stacked (when was that even released?)
 
As previously mentioned Cynic and Amon Amarth along with

Decrepit Birth - Diminishing Between Worlds
Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame
Bodom - Blooddrunk (meh)
Arsis - We Are The Nightmare
Eluvetie - Slania
Into Eternity - Incurable Tragedy

more I can't think of.
 
b rock that list is terrible
Amon Amarth - Twilight Of The Thunder God
Opeth - Watershed

I would have to say those 2 albums are great all around albums. Some great tracks and a bunch of good ones.
I have only heard 3 off of Yngwie's new album, and Caprici Di Diablo is incredible. I am going to trust the rest of Altmer's list as well.

Death Magnetic: good rebound album, but only an average album overall. A few keepers, but some downers (my apocalypse.. i think) James vocals just are not the same no matter what anyone tells me.

in what I have heard from reviews, and my listening to 2(3) songs, CHinese Democracy just isnt a good album at all. Shacklers Revenge is alright, good riffs but really just like all the other songs, its just a clusterfuck of instruments
 
Lol B-Rock I think you meant to put those in the worst albums of 2008, no offense. Death Magnetic is ok, Chinese Democracy is a disgrace, Trivium are ripoffs, Disturbed is just boring nu metal but I wouldn't call them terrible.

Malmsteen's new album is really solid. Although some songs do drag there are some diamonds in there. Tim "Ripper" Owens brought some good vocals.
 
8. Red Of Tooth And Claw - Murder By Death

I actually got into this band when I decided to get their latest album. I'm glad I did because they are probably the coolest folk/alternative rock band I'm aware of. '52 Ford is such a groovy song that I keep listening to it over and over again. I haven't investigated much of their older production, so I'm not really in the position of telling whether this album is good by their standards.

7. The Ocean And The Sun - The Sound Of Animals Fighting

Good experimental rock band and I really enjoyed this album. Uzbekistan, On The Occasion Of Wet Snow and Another Leather Lung are all great tracks.

6. When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold - Atmosphere

An album full of gold. Not the best one out of the bunch Atmosphere has made but definitely deserves a mention.

5. Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace - The Offspring

Definitely album I was eagerly waiting for. The Offspring is band that I've listened to too long to forget them completely. Their music remains the same: easy-going, make-happy punk rock full of life and youth. I thought that by this time, the band would have lost their touch and that they'd have moved on to slower rock-ish style. I was luckily wrong. You're Gonna Go Far, Kid seems like something they could've made ten years ago.

4. The Alchemy Index: Vols. III And IV: Air And Earth - Thrice

The transformation of a cool post-hardcore band to a calm, rock band with rougher songs is something quite too common these days. Yet, these guys pulled it off quite well. Though, I still sort of hope that these albums will be left as an experimentation for the band and they will go back to their old genre.

3. Keep Telling Myself It's Alright - ASHES dIVIDE

Probably the best creation of Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle). The atmosphere he has brought upon the listener on this album is solely enough to send anyone into cloud 9. APC is a decent band in my opinion but ASHES dIVIDE leaves them cold. Denial Waits is a masterpiece, which I could listen infinitely to. This is something everyone should get their hands on whenever possible.

2. Phantom On The Horizon - The Fall Of Troy

Their first album (a lengthened EP in fact) that has clearly more progressive elements than experimental ones. The tracks are longer and screaming isn't as common as in their previous production. The five chapters of this album are each outstanding creations by a band that has recently got the respect it has earned. The first chapter, Chapter I: Introverting Dimensions is an euphoric experience into the world of progressive and experimental music. The song lasts almost 11 minutes and every minute is worth listening to.

1. God Is An Astronaut - God Is An Astronaut

The self-titled album of this insanely good post-rock band gets overshadowed by their earlier work bur remains still as a piece of art, which has deserved quite a few listens from me. Tracks such as Echoes and Zodiac maintain the rather powerful grip they have on their own, unique style. The album as a whole is creatively combined together and the makes flows easily from one track to other.
 
Burzum said:
As previously mentioned Cynic and Amon Amarth along with

Decrepit Birth - Diminishing Between Worlds
Yngwie Malmsteen - Perpetual Flame
Bodom - Blooddrunk (meh)
Arsis - We Are The Nightmare
Eluvetie - Slania
Into Eternity - Incurable Tragedy

more I can't think of.
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Blooddrunk and Incurable Tragedy are pretty terrible vocally and songwriting-wise. Not heard any of the others, though I doubt I would like Malmsteen or Eluveitie.

I really dig the new Funeral for a Friend. Crystal Castles are good too, I need to hear those Mogwai and GIAA records. Mostly Autumn's new one was ok, same with Evergrey and In Flames. I didn't like the new Trivium.
 
Burzum said:
Lol B-Rock I think you meant to put those in the worst albums of 2008, no offense. Death Magnetic is ok, Chinese Democracy is a disgrace, Trivium are ripoffs, Disturbed is just boring nu metal but I wouldn't call them terrible.
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pookar said:
b rock that list is terrible
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Heh, I'm not a musician after all and I barely know shit about music, but that is the best music I picked up and enjoyed this year, therefore my assumption of the best.

I'll admit I'm dead wrong about alot of things, but as far as music goes, I'm pretty sure my taste in it doesn't make a difference at all as long as I'm enjoying it.
 
black ice by AC/DC is a great album so is viva la vida by coldplay and the best, best of album is somewhere back in time by iron maiden.
 
My Favourites:
Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
The Killers - Day & Age
The Kooks - Konk
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
Protest the Hero - Fortress
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
In Flames - A Sense or Purpose
Bloc Party - Intimacy

Yup. The Slip wasn't as good as some other NIN stuff but honestly it's still awesome compared to some of the shit that came out this year. A Sense of Purpose was unlike a lot of In Flames' stuff but I loved it. 'The Chosen Pessimist' was one of my favourite songs of the year, but that's mostly because I love proggy stuff.

What most people are gonna say is all the older bands' new albums. Death Magnetic was okay, and only okay. Some good tracks but really, it can't compare to stuff like Ride the Lighting or even ...And Justice for All. Chinese Democracy was actually solid even though it was hardly like old GNR. Axel is still a douche though. I don't even want to talk about Black Ice.

Just my thoughts and opinions on music this year...
 
There is an extreme lack of pop sooo...

The Fame by Lady GaGa. Amazing album, all the songs were great except Again Again (Horribly annoying). Blows all that other crappy pop like PCD and Girlicious out of the water. Great electronic feel, and I love the running theme of the album (Fame and money). Can't wait for her next album already!
 
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