Get ready for one CHUNKY MUNKY post, because here it is: The Better Late Than Never The Stu Reid Experiment's Favorite Albums of 2008, or as we like to call it around these parts, TBLTNTSREFA of 2008.
Now that you have all those iTunes gift cards from your Aunts and Uncles who don't really know you all that well, and your itchy little fingers are looking to legally download some pay-for-music tunes before iTunes bumps up the price, TSRE gives you some unsought advice on what's worth your dollar. Because we're not too into rankings around these parts, three of our top writers combined their brains to put together four categories of albums from this year - Universal Appeal (all three listed it in their top 12), Strong Showing (2/3), Niche Market (1/3), and Deserved Better (0/3, but probably because we didn't listen to it enough or it juuuust missed the top). Without further ado -
UNIVERSAL APPEAL:
TV On The Radio - Dear Science,
Without question, my personal favorite album of the year, this was a consensus choice as a favorite. Dynamic songwriting, impressive vocals, brilliant songwriting, and TVOTR at their poppiest. A helluva live show doesn't hurt either. If you don't have this record, go get it.
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Perhaps a more controversial pick, the nature of this list brings out the best and the worst in Vampire Weekend. Their debut album is a light, preppy afro-pop jaunt that's accessible at the first listen. That same musical superficiality has earned them their fair share of scorn, but it's not being questioned that these young ivy grads are appealing to the masses.
STRONG SHOWING:
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
It's my fault this album isn't up at the top with TVOTR and Vampire Weekend, but I wasn't as impressed with it as The Truth and The Kid. It's definitely a solid album that's worth listening too.
I barely trust myself, so there's little reason you should.
Hot Chip - Made In The Dark
Made In The Dark is a bit of a schizophrenic assault from Hot Chip - danceable and original at points, and a bit disjointed and dull at others. A great album, but probably fitting that it's in the Strong Showing category.
Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
An album that didn't quite capitalize on a breathtaking single, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid blah blah blah hints at fantastic and phenomenal growth from Sigur Ros, but only a few moments on the disc capture that potential. Gobbledigook and Inni Mer Singur Vitleysingur are gorgeous, but the rest of the album is pretty standard (read: great) from Sigur Ros.
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair
A debut album that certainly turned some heads, Hercules and Love Affair was also very close to vaulting into the top category. Surprisingly, The Kid, who introduced me to this love affair,
didn't count them among his favorites. I'm sure they'll recover, and I look forward to catching more from these kids.
Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit - The Very Best Mixtape
This mixtape from Malawian singer Esau Mwamwaya and remix artist Radioclit is incredible. A brilliant mixture of electronic music, pop music, dance music, and world music. I could listen to this album 100 times, and have. It's a mixtape, though, so probably doesn't merit top status. It's good, but it's not the very best.
Santogold - Santogold
The long awaited debut from M.I.A. II, this album has it's fair share of great tracks. But outside of those great tracks lie danger and duds. Perhaps better suited as an EP (Imagine this EP: You'll Find A Way, Lights Out, L.E.S. Artistes, Shove It, I'm A Lady, Creator). 6 tracks of awesome. I have a feeling she'll catch on.
Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
Tough to ignore the massive year that this album had. I think at one point it had like 4 tracks in the Billboard top 20 (does that exist?). Ridiculous. A Milli was the most loved/hated song of the summer, and there are some flat out killers on this album. But, as Weezy is wont to do, it goes on a little too long and gets a tad too crazy.
M83 - Saturdays=Youth
This album hit early on, so I'm happy to see that it found it's way to a strong showing. M83 have long been one of my favorite post-rockish groups, and they hit their stride with some of their more mainstream and accessible tracks here, while still maintaining their signature sound.
Flying Lotus - Los Angeles
Flying Lotus busted onto the scene with some fabulous remixes and the most ridiculous video ever, and definitely grabbed our attention here at TSRE thanks to The Truth. A really interesting album full of Madlibish funky beats that's definitely worth some spins.
NICHE MARKET:
The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale EP
This is a ballin' EP from 2008's Beastie Boys equivalent, that likely got stuck down here because of it's EP status. Good tracks on this one.
Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
For some reason, Wolf Parade's At Mount Zoomer got caught in the shuffle a bit this year, and overlooked in a major way. I myself am guilty of it, and have made a new years resolution to give this
album another chance. This one probably deserves better.
Beck - Modern Guilt
The Truth loved this record, another one that hit early in the year. I never got into it, but he swears (I think) that it's Beck's best effort yet. I maintain that Midnight Vultures can't be topped. Or maybe Odelay. One of those.
Foals - Antidote
Funny story about this album. I had a friend who promised me for 3 months to 'lend' me his Foals CD to check out. He never did, and I never did. I regret it now, and they are on my New Years List. I've heard great things about this album, though.
The Hold Steady - Stay
Positive
Really liked this latest effort from The Hold Steady, but not enough to put it in my tops. Still definitely worth checking out, particularly if you like The Hold Steady. I'd never heard them before this year, and this album helped intrigue me.
Pale Young Gentlemen - Black Forest (Tra La La)
PYG are the forerunners of The Truth's Woods Rock genre, and they come highly recommended. Some great tracks on this one. And they just covered Paper Planes!
Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
Tons of hype about this one early in the year, I was surprised not to see it mentioned more around the turn of the ennium. Funny story, this blog is related to the drummer. Sort of.
Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
A great post-rock effort from old standards Mogwai. Captures their old sound and packs a deliciously digestable punch.
Black Milk - Tronic
One of my favorite hip hop albums this year, this album is stuffed to the gills with hot beats and aggressive raps. Glad this guy started to get some exposure after lots of years at the grind, hopefully he'll keep getting his due.
Why? - Alopecia
The Kid loves this album. I've never heard it, except that apparently once I made fun of The Truth for listening to Why? when I heard it in his car. Good times.
DESERVED BETTER:
Passion Pit - Chunk of Change EP
I know all three of us went crazy over this release, attended multiple Passion Pit shows, and generally enjoyed the crap out of this Cambridge band. They made omellettes in our friend's house, and The Truth and Dedicated Fan X spent their New Years Eve with them. So why aren't they on the list? Maybe because it's an EP. Or maybe we're just salivating in anticipation of their soon to be released debut LP.
Deerhunter - Microcastle
This album is apparently dopeshow to the max. I'm afraid to listen to it, since I swore off Deer bands after a scarring experience with Deerhoof. Definitely deserved better.
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
This album is all over year end lists, and White Winter Hymnal has recently been on repeat for me. I think we all got on this train too late to count it among our favorites, and probably all feel bad about that.
Re-Up Gang - We Got It For Cheap, Vol. III
What a mixtape. This tape is straight fire and got absolutely NO love at the end of the year. Overshadowed by a lower quality PlayCloths mixtape, this one is definitely one of my most played hip hop albums of 2k8. Check it out if you haven't.
Well, that's about all for the best albums of 2k8. Rather than deal with best tracks, I'll just post a few of our favorites that haven't gotten love on TSRE before.
And since we just spent so much time with the best, don't forget to give some love to the
Worst Song of 2008.
Happy New Year,
The Stu Reid Experiment
DJ Earworm - United States of Pop 2007 
