2008 so far

[Maca (Mod)]

With July just around the corner I couldn't wait to do a recap of this year's music. So let's share the albums and/or songs that have made us dance/sing/live in 2008 so far.

NEW ALBUMS OF 2008

My top six:

1- Pretty. Odd. by Panic! At The Disco



By far the best album to come out this year. I have loved this band for a long time, but this sophomore album is far better than I could have hoped it would be. Eclectic, strange, rich and layered with sound and filled with PATD's trademark retro weirdness and complicated, pretentious and often nonsensical but still genious lyrics. I love that they are so mainstream and yet they sound like nothing else out there. I hope these guys have a long and fruitful career together.

2- Santogold by Santogold




If it hadn't been for just_me's comments on this album I may have missed it entirely. Because Creator sounds like something from MIA, who I don't like, I would have snobbed it. But it is an amazingly varied album, I think hip-hop/R&B producers could learn a lot from it, cause it's fresh and unique, while still sounding like something that would be a hit in contemporary radio.

3- Jim by Jamie Lidell



Soul will never get out of style as long as it is still sung by people with a lot of, well, soul, and if it keeps being revamped and mixed with modern sounds. Will get you dancing wether or not you know how to.

4- Keren Ann by Keren Ann



This album is like taking a journey on a sailboat through a still ocean in a cold, foggy day. Soothing, reflective and introspective. Worth to listen to over and over.

5- Dreaming of Revenge by Kaki King



Kaki King has been making instrumental rockish guitar-based music, and her latest album is relaxing but also very entertaining. It speaks to you without needing to use words.

6- Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend



When I discovered The Fratellis I loved their retro sound, and this band has that kind of vibe too, but adds a lot of its own stuff to it. British music has been on fire in the recent years, a blatant contrast to the crap American mainstream music has turned to. But these guys are from New York and they sound like the best of British bands.

ALBUMS I HAVE DISCOVERED IN 2008

1- The Con by Tegan and Sara



Overtaking Pretty. Odd. by a nose, The Con is definitely and absolutely the best album I have listened to this year. I am helplessly addicted to these girls and especially to this album. The songs can be weird and quirky and the lyrics a lot of the time need reflecting over, but are always heartfelt and honest and from a real place inside these girls' hearts. Go listen to it NOW.

2- Lynn Teeter Flower by Maria Taylor



The lyrics in this album are so deep and moving, but they are not overwhelming. It makes you think but doesn't give you a headache. I don't think I could ever get tired of listening to an album like this. Especially to A Good Start, my favorite song.

3- The Dusty Foot Philosopher by K'naan




I have known about this guy for a long time, cause he has collaborated with Furtado and The Philosopher Kings. He's a Somalian refugee, and he plays that card saying that the stories he can tell "can make Fifty Cent look like Fred Durst", and I believe him. This album is filled with African and world music and is honest, heartfelt rap, it doesn't sound exaggerated and pretentious as rap and hip-hop sound most of the time. And the live version of the album sounds like it is even better. Canadian musicians never cease to amaze me.

4- These Streets by Paolo Nutini



This guy has a way of making his music and his lyrics sound fresh and original that is almost uncanny. I've heard music like this before a million times, but not quite like this. And his voice and way of singing are also unique but familiar at the same time.

5- Betcha Bottom Dollar by The Puppini Sisters



They sing 40's-style music, and they do covers of classics like Blondie's Heart of Glass or Gloria Gaynor's I Will Survive that are impressive and hilarious. I always enjoy retro.

6- Undiscovered by James Morrison



This guy's voice is too much. Cannot wait for his collaboration with Nelly, I hope that one we get to listen to. Again, Britsh music is on fire.

And how could I forget my favorite album from the beginning of the year?

7- Taking The Long Way - Dixie Chicks



I discovered this back in February I think. It made me cry, gave me goosebumps and left me in awe. So honest and real and beautiful.

And my absolute favorite song from 2008 so far, but I doubt it will be de-throned, although I hope it will, cause if I discover something better than this that will be a feat:

[High Voltage]

i Still don't have my top albums but I discovered some great albums, they are:

Stateless - Stateless [2007]

I can't live without this album these days!
Yoav - Charmed & Strange [2008]

Cool & weird!
Jason Mraz - We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things [2008]

I think it's my best 2008 album so far...
Peter Cincotti - East of Angel Town [2007]

Amazing record but not a very great success unfortunately.
Vanessa Paradis - Divinidylle [2007]

The best French female singer ever!
Coldplay - Viva La Vida [2008]

Still fresh but I like the new sounds in it...
The Hoosiers - The Trick to Life [2007]

No comment.

and ALL of Radiohead's albums of course....

Originally Posted by Maca

6- Undiscovered by James Morrison



This guy's voice is too much. Cannot wait for his collaboration with Nelly, I hope that one we get to listen to. Again, Britsh music is on fire.

It was in my top albums of 2006 I thought you knew about him already...
oh there's an upcoming duet with Nelly? is that confirmed or what? It would be AWESOME!

EDIT: I forgot 2 albums:
Matthew Santos - Matters of the Bittersweet [2007]

I have no words to describe this album...
Mêlée - Devils and Angels [2007]

#1 in Japan! I wonder why....

[Italo (Mod)]

Jason Mraz is awesome.. I'm really glad he's finally getting some attention. 2006 was a great music year for me, I discovered there most of the artists I listen to now..

But 2007/08 were really dry in terms of music for me. So I'll just listen to those albums you guys posted and see if I like some of it.

[Maca (Mod)]

Yes, Jason Mraz is amazing. I think this latest album is better than the ones he's done before. It almost made my list

I discovered a lot of the music I listen to now during 2006 and 2007 too, but I'm still catching up. James Morrison was a big "have to check him out" for a long time, and I'm glad I finally did.

The duet has supposedly been recorded already, and this is the infamous piece of news that started the whole "will there be a b-sides album" debate

http://aceshowbiz.com/news/view/00016403.html

[Fiona]

My Favourite albums this year so far are :
Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro
Santogold - Santogold
Duffy - Rockferry
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Shayne Ward - Breathless
Natalie Imbruglia - Glorious: The Singles

[bunnyblasts]

the albums i found interesting were


vivi la vida by coldplay
rockferry by duffy (like a miniature Amy Winehouse)
in rainbows by radiohead

that's it i guess....for me, 2008 isn't much of a change from '07.

but there are a bunch of things i discovered:

-they were mostly '80's music. The '80s rock. aside from 1990s-2006, that was great year for music.
- Michael Jackson. I heard Billie Jean for the first time this year and i am the biggest Micheal Jackson's music fan. Most of his albums are Phenomenal.Thriller, Bad, Dangerous,Off The Wall, History.
-Stupid Girls by pink. i didn't really discover it, i heard it 2 years ago. but its pretty catchy and it delivers a message. Celebrities suck!
-Disturbia by Rihanna. The Best song from rihanna ever. beats umbrella, beats don't stop the music. in which all three songs are an exception to rihanna's music.
-a bunch of songs and albums from Prodigy, Crystal Method, The Chemical Brothers, and Fatboy Slim.
-Big Branch by M.I.A. a great song but this is the most cuss words M.I.A. has ever used. (i think)
-My current favorite nelly furtado's song is: Hey Man! - didn't like it a at the beginning but it grew on me.
-My current guilty pleasure is : I Touch Myself by Divinyls. the name says all! haha.
-Wyclef Jean's latest album Carnival II. really good.something nelly F. would do.
-absolutely (story of a girl) by nine days

[Maca (Mod)]

Duffy, yeah. I totally forgot about her. Amazing, amazing. And this whole Amy Winehouse-vibe kind of singers are on the rise. Keep your eyes open for Bryn Christopher, the so-called male version of Amy:

[Fiona]

^ yea he's got an amazing voice, he's been played quite a bit lately

[Paper Tiger]

My top albums so far:


Jucifer - L'autrichienne
A concept album telling the story of Marie Antoinette. From her affair with King Louis XVII and her ascension to the throne of Queen of France, to her trial and eventual execution via guillotine. 21 tracks ranging in genre from hard-hitting metal to banjo-driven ditties and even a couple ballads. Arguably the best offering from this Atlanta duo. Did I mention vocalist/guitarist Amber Valentine sings a few songs in French?


mr. Gnome - Deliver This Creature
A few words to sum up mr. Gnome: Massive Attack with guitars. Another duo, this one hailing from Cleveland, OH. Deliver This Creature is their debut full-length album following two incredible ep's. Brilliant melodies and pulsating drum beats (seriously, sometimes it seems skinsman Sam Meister has four arms). Vocalist/guitarist Nicole Barille's voice shines brighter than it ever has before, and her amazing guitar work goes without mentioning, at one point channelling Gish-era Pumpkins. A definite band to watch in the coming years.


Disturbed - Indestructible
Hard to say if this one is better than the band's previous offering, Ten Thousand Fists. It really is a close call. Indestructible sees the group pushing their shift from generic nu-metal to a more polished hard rock sound, complete with solos. The inclusion (and preceding Best Buy pre-order offer) of three songs from the album as downloadable tracks on Rock Band helped the album's sales, as it debuted at #1 on Billboard.


Made Out Of Babies - The Ruiner
The Brooklyn quartet's first release under new label The End Records, The Ruiner sees the group's sound maturing further, and singer Julie Christmas utilizing soothing, almost siren-like clean vocals more often than her trademark screams. That's not to say the album is without its share of chaos. Opening track "Cooker" sees Christmas employing a vocoder, giving the illusion that she is yelping from inside a meat locker. The group's best work to date in my opinion. A good listen to help tide fans over until Julie's upcoming solo effort due in 2009.

[hasafienda]

So far for 2008...
1. Santogold- Santogold
2. The Roots- Phrenology
3. Snowgoons- Black Snow
4. The Ting Tings- We Started Nothing

Actually discovered a rather large amount of artists this year, both good and bad. Some of the ones I prefer were Bonde do Rolê, CSS, Spank Rock, and Ghislain Poirier. And I think it was early this year that I first listened to Tegan and Sara, but it may have been late 2007. I try find new music often. I have made some progress, but not great to be honest.