Best Albums of 2008 (according to me!)

So, it’s coming to the end of 2008 and I’m making a list but it’s not for Santa! It’s a top albums of 2008 list. It’s a bit of head wrecker to pick out five of my favourite albums of 2008 because it’s been an excellent year for albums. Especially debut albums. But here it goes:

1 – Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires

I posted a couple of weeks ago about Friendly Fires being my favourite album of the year so I don’t want to keep going on about how great it is.

Their Amazon album description describes them as “driving punk funk grooves with unstoppable pop melodies, joyous vocals, wonky waltz-like rhythms, and My Bloody Valentine atmospherics. ” Yes. I concur. 

The guys have released three singles from their debut album; On Board, Paris and Jump in the Pool. Other stand out tracks from the album include White Diamonds, Strobe and Skeleton Boy. In fact, the whole album is just plain and simply amazing. Buy it. 

Music:
Strobe
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/Friendly-Fires-Strobe.mp3]
Skeleton Boy
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/Friendly-Fires-Skeleton-Boy.mp3]
Video – Friendly Fires – On Board 

2 -Pnau – Pnau

Not sure how I came across Pnau but their single ‘Baby’ lead me to believe that these guys are the Australian version of Justice. Baby has a similar catchyness and “good-vibration” feeling as D.A.N.C.E. But while Justice’s Cross album is shite, Pnau’s debut album isn’t.

It’s one of the most joyous and creative albums I have ever listened to it. From the Cure-esque vocals on the opening track ‘With You Forever’ to the closer ‘Die With Us’ there is a distinct wave of freshness about Pnau which other bands could only dream of catching. 

Music:
With You Forever
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/pnau-with-you-forever.mp3]
Embrace
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/pnau-embrace.mp3]

Video – Pnau – Baby  

3 – Kleerup – Kleerup

Probably best known as that guy who worked with Robyn to bring us the catchiest dance tune of 2008 “With Every Heartbeat”, Kleerup’s debut album is the closest thing to Robert Miles’ Dreamland I have heard. He serves out the perfect amount of cheesy electro synth-pop accompanied with genius yet simple melodical keyboard arrangements. 

Kleerup worked quite a bit with female vocalists such as Lykee Li, Robyn, Nenah Cheery and Lisa Millberg on his album. Even Cyndi Lauper got in on the action but her vocals never made it onto the album. Instead Kleerup renamed the track to ‘Thank You for Nothing’ and added his own vocals! (note to self: don’t turn down requests from Kleerup to provide vocals)

Music: 
Until We Bleed ft Lykee Li
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/kleerup-until-we-bleed-ft-lykke-li.mp3]

Longing for Lullabies ft Titiyp 
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/kleerup-longing-for-lullabies-ft-titiyo.mp3]

Video: Kleerup ft Robyn – With Every Heartbeat  (Kleerup video version)

4 – Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

Probably the most obvious and common album to grace many of the top albums of 2008 lists but there is a pretty good explanation for that. ‘Cuz Vampire Weekend produced a splendid little album, that’s why. 

Not much to say about Vampire Weekend really. They’re probably the most successful and radio friendly out of all the bands I listened to in 2008. If like their sound you might also like Bedouin Soundclash. They have a similar reggae sound a going on.

Music:
The Kids Don’t Stand A Chance
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/vampire-weekend-the-kids-dont-stand-a-chance.mp3] 
Video: Vampire Weekend – A-Punk

5 – The Presets – Apocalypso

You know those bands which you are kind of embarrassed that you enjoy listening to? They’re the ones who just blast out nonsensical noise and shout out lyrics which don’t necessarily mean anything…. yeah? The Presets do it the best! 

It’s mid 90′s nu-rave head banging, foot tapping pounding music at its best. The Presets are the second Sydney based band in the top 5 after Pnau. Interesting electro scene emerging from down under it seems! 
 
Music:
Talk Like That
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/the-presets-talk-like-that.mp3]
This Boy is in Love
[audio:http://www.album.ie/2008/songs/the-presets-this-boy-is-in-love.mp3]
Video: The Presets – My People
 

So that’s it. They are my top five albums of 2008. Three of which are debut albums. But what else did I listen to and enjoy in 2008? In no particular order:

• Kelli Ali -Rocking Horse
• All the Saints - Fire on Corridor X
• Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul
• David Byrne and Brian Eno
• The Cure – 4:13 Dream
• TV On The Radio – Dear Science
• Crystal Castles – Crystal Castles
• Lykke Li – Youth Novels
• Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
• Hot Chip – Made in the Dark
• Black Kids - Partie Traumatic
• MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
• French Kicks – Swimming
• Mlle Caro & Franck Garcia – Pain Disappears
• Daedelus – Love to Make Music To
• Earlimart - Hymn And Her

Check out my best of 2008 playlist for some musical samplers too. Cheers.