In keeping with the proud 1 year tradition, it’s time for my favourite albums of the past year.
1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (sample)
This debut album have caused Fleet Foxes to become somewhat of a revelation in blogging circles. They produce some amazing vocal harmonies with an indie-folk undercurrent (maybe think Bright Eyes but slightly more melodic).
2. The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely (sample)
Maybe it’s just because I hanker for some more accessible White Stripes-ish material from Jack White but I thought this album was great. I’m quite happy for the edgier stuff to stay with TWS and for the Raconteurs to do the more, ummm….populist (ugh, hate that word) stuff.
3. Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim (sample)
To record such an album whilst only 17 but also to show far more musical (and lyrical) maturity than similar artists like Kimya Dawson (twice her age) is quite exceptional.
4. The Butterfly Effect – Final Conversation of Kings (sample)
I like to think of the Butterfly Effect as thinking man’s hard rock. I don’t know why – maybe because there’s some melody and the lead singer doesn’t do too much shouting. *shurgs*
5. Beck – Modern Guilt (sample)
If there’s one artist that I thought could have benefited from a tighter instrumental mix it would be Beck. With Danger Mouse claiming producer credits for Beck’s eighth album, things are slightly less chaotic – which is a nice change.
6. Ratatat – LP3 (sample)
Something slightly different from the rest of this list, LP3 is an electronic work that doesn’t try and be dancy – which is just the way I like my electronica (some tracks remind me of Justice minus the vocals).
7. Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (sample)
If you thought Sigur Rós were too weird then I suggest you give this album a spin. Much of the sparseness and minimalism that permeated their previous works has been swept aside. This album (for the most part) has a much warmer feel.
8. Blitzen Trapper – Furr (sample)
If you appreciate the #1 entry on this list it’s likely you’ll be a fan of this one too. A little more traditional than the Fleet Foxes release but not boring in the slightest.
9. Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords (sample)
For me, it’s rare that a comedy album survives the first few listens (which is why I scrubbed my Tripod collection from my music library). Of course, some songs are stronger than others but I don’t think I’ll ever get sick of Foux Du Fafa.
10. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals (sample)
Mashup master Girl Talk put out his fourth album this year. The number of samples per track is astonishing. I have nothing else to say.
Note: MGMT excluded because Oracular Spectacular was released digitally in 2007 and then physically in 2008 (just like In Rainbows was). That and I forgot about them until I had finished the post. It would have probably been in at around #5
Lists by sites cooler than this one: Pitchfork, Last.fm, Rolling Stone
