What started out as general excitement over their live show turned into a convincing win for album of the year by Seattle's Fleet Foxes. Early on, main crooner Robin Pecknold stopped by this blog to explain his thoughts behind making their self-titled debut, and his intentions felt as pure as the quintet's harmonies. Runners up TV On The Radio are also known for their voices, but Dear Science likely placed so high because it's their most consistently written collection to date and comes closest to what it's like seeing them live. Speaking of voices: Justin Vernon, aka Bon Iver, went from Wisconsin hunter with a magical falsetto to Wisconsin hunter with a magical falsetto and a very popular record. (His For Emma was self-released last year, but hit most folks' radars via Jagjaguwar in February.) Rounding out the top ten: Deerhunter justified what some discounted as empty hype, Portishead confirmed their status as most vital reunion of 2008, and Walkmen made a surprise appearance (You & Me's a great album, for sure, but not one that got as much lip service as its top 10 neighbors). It should be noted that the Killers placed a respectable 177. Others who lodged votes, but not enough to crack the top 50 were Torche, High Places, Fucked Up, Gang Gang Dance, Marnie Stern, Grouper, Crystal Stilts, Fuck Buttons, Stephen Malkmus, Mt. Eerie, and El Guincho. A few people voted for "PHISH."
50
Islands
Arm's Way
(Anti)
49
Born Ruffians
Red, Yellow & Blue
(Warp)
48
Man Man
Rabbit Habits
(Anti)
47
Bloc Party
Intimacy
(Atlantic)
46
Flight Of The Conchords
Flight Of The Conchords
(Sub Pop)
45
Chad VanGaalen
Soft Airplane
(Sub Pop)
44
Gnarls Barkley
The Odd Couple
(Atlantic)
43
Crystal Castles
Crystal Castles
(Last Gang)
42
Hercules And Love Affair
Hercules And Love Affair
(Mute)
41
Kanye West
808s & Heartbreak
(Roc-A-Fella)
40
Hot Chip
Made In The Dark
(Astralwerks)
39
Los Campesinos!
Hold On Now, Youngster...
(Arts & Crafts)
38
The Black Keys
Attack & Release
(Nonesuch)
37
Ryan Adams & The Cardinals
Cardinology
(Lost Highway)
36
Dr. Dog
Fate
(Park The Van)
35
Jenny Lewis
Acid Tongue
(Warner Bros)
34
Blitzen Trapper
Furr
(Sub Pop)
33
The Raconteurs
Consolers Of The Lonely
(Warner Bros)
32
Lykke Li
Youth Novels
(Atlantic)
31
Santogold
Santogold
(Downtown)
30
Kings Of Leon
Only By The Night
(RCA)
29
Conor Oberst
Conor Oberst
(Merge)
28
She & Him
Volume One
(Merge)
27
Beach House
Devotion
(Carpark)
26
Coldplay
Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends
(Capitol)
25
Lil Wayne
Tha Carter III
(Cash Money)
24
M83
Saturdays = Youth
(Mute)
23
The Dodos
Visiter
(French Kiss)
22
My Morning Jacket
Evil Urges
(ATO)
21
Okkervil River
The Stand Ins
(Jagjaguwar)
20
Cut Copy
In Ghost Colours
(Modular)
19
Department Of Eagles
In Ear Park
(4AD)
18
Beck
Modern Guilt
(Interscope)
17
Frightened Rabbit
The Midnight Organ Fight
(Fat Cat)
16
Ra Ra Riot
The Rhumb Line
(Barsuk)
15
No Age
Nouns
(Sub Pop)
14
Death Cab For CutieNarrow Stairs
(Atlantic)
(Atlantic)
13
WHY?Alopecia
(Anticon)
(Anticon)
12
Sigur Rós
Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
(XL)
11
Wolf Parade
At Mount Zoomer
(Sub Pop)
10
The WalkmenYou & Me
(Gigantic)
(Gigantic)
9
Girl TalkFeed The Animals
(Illegal Art)
(Illegal Art)
8
The Hold SteadyStay Positive
(Vagrant)
(Vagrant)
7
PortisheadThird
(Mercury)
(Mercury)
6
of MontrealSkeletal Lamping
(Polyvinyl)
(Polyvinyl)
5
DeerhunterMicrocastle
(Kranky)
(Kranky)
4
Vampire WeekendVampire Weekend
(XL)
(XL)
3
Bon IverFor Emma, Forever Ago
(Jagjaguwar)
(Jagjaguwar)
2
TV On The RadioDear Science
(Interscope)
(Interscope)
1
Fleet FoxesFleet Foxes
(Sub Pop)
(Sub Pop)
Bon Iver is 2007 - why include it? Boooooooooo.
Score = -26
it's 2008.
Score = -1
FLLLEEETTT FOOOXXXESSSSS!!!!!!!!
Score = -5
WHHHYYYYYYY!!!!!
Score = 4
"he doesn't know why"... that's the reason!
Score = 0
"Beck's" best album of 2008? Are you fucking kidding?
Score = 1
Congrats Dep. of Eagles and The Walkmen! The people have spoken!
Score = 15
Fuck yeh! So happy about The Walkmen :)
Score = 1
of Montreal 6th? really people?
Score = 13
Ugh, you're right. Totally should have been higher. So good.
Score = -11
so far this is much more predictable than i would've imagined.
Score = 3
Swap out Bon Iver for Wolf Parade and the top ten makes a lot more sense.
Score = -8
Fleet Foxes? Yawn...
I like the Independent UK's headline about them from their Evri profile page: Fleet Foxes: Are a hairy bunch of young folk-rockers inventing a new sound of Seattle?
If you're from Seattle, you know the answer is a pretty resounding no.
http://www.evri.com/organization/fleet-foxes-0x4844c.html
Score = 6
I'm highly disappointed with stereogum readers' choices this year! Fleet Foxes on first position? TV on the Radio on second? Vampire Weekend in the top 5? Girl fucking Talk in the top 10?! Really, it's ridiculous. At the same time I see Crystal Castles on 43, Hot Chip on 40 and Portishead not in the top 5! Also I can't not notice the complete absence of Crystal Stilts, Flying Lotus, The Teenagers, School of Sven Bells, Horse Feathers... and so on. Last year's list was much better imho.
Score = -11
Last year's music was so much better, IMHO.
Score = 11
The Teenagers are the Blink 182 of France, in that they play shit two chord quasi-songs and have a ped as a lead singer. Portishead are the band for MENSA members (safety kids who take multiple choice tests for a glimmer of self-worth and whom inevitably die alone).
Score = -6
I am so glad you explained what MENSA is to us tards out he... I LIEK CAEK
Score = 6
You don't like anything but old internet jokes congealed like scum underneath the fridge. I wish that I was able to teach you further through a brick to the head-based curriculum.
Score = -2
you're a twat
Score = 0
I'm so glad The Walkmen have made it up to the top 10. In the last couple weeks they've gotten up to my second favourite album of the year.
My votes came in 5th, 7th, and 24th. Definitely don't agree with the top choice, but oh well. Can't argue with democracy.
Score = 11
"...Can't argue with democracy."
Given the recent passage of Prop 8, I'm pretty sure you can. Mass public sentiment does not a good decision always make. Judges?
Score = -3
Well, what this poll is isn't totally democracy. I wouldn't make the same statement if everyone in America voted in this poll, cause it would be shit of course. But I trust the votes of Stereogum readers, and this list is just fine with me.
I don't want to get into a political debate here, but I'm just going to say that you're right, I was definitely NOT okay with proposition 8, so, you got me there.
Score = 10
Aside from the obvious and terrible #1 pick, the top ten is a LOT better than the list as a whole, which kinda sucks.
Score = -6
where's plants and animals?
Score = 4
I was wondering that myself!
Score = 0
Biggest shock... Death Cab @ 14. In my opinion that album was the biggest dissapointment of the year. Pure dud...
Score = 12
Fleet Foxes Number One! Love the Frightened Rabbit so high up!
Score = 1
of Montreal should be lower. Skeletal Lamping was sub-par.
Alopecia finally fucking made it onto a list, though it deserves top 10 over of Montreal and VW.
and seriously people.. girl talk? fucking christ.
Score = 10
though besides VW and of Montreal and Girl Talk, I must say this is a pretty solid top 20. I would have liked to see Blitzen Trapper higher.
Score = 3
day & age is definitely better than both arms way and shitty ass new bloc party....(ick)
Score = -1
Is this list a sign of how mainstream stereogum readers are? A resounding yes. These albums all had one thing in common - Press coverage. That's not to say the writers of the blog are mainstream in anyway as I'm sure Scott and Amrit, etc. lists would vary a great deal from their readers' choices.
My two cents: No shearwater is a shame.
Score = -19
hahahahaahahahhah SHUT UP you fucking twelve year old. it's not underground enuf!!!!1!
Score = 17
Perhaps mainstream was the wrong word choice. How about "safe"? Anyone who had Flight of the Concords or Conor Oberst or The Raconteurs or Gnarls Barkley and countless others on this list in their top 3 weren't listening to much music this year.
Score = -13
actually that Conor record has some wicked lyrics.
Score = 2
If you wouldn't have said The Raconteurs, I woulda been alright with this statement.
Score = 1
I second the SHEARWATER disappointment. That album was too good to not be included somewhere in the top 50.
Score = 1
This is the most indiepretentious list I have ever seen. 95% of people have no idea who most of these people are. I could walk up to most people on my campus, show them this list, and know that they wouldn't know anyone on here. Will you not be content until the year end lists are composed of only unsigned artists? Does an album become worse once it has been reviewed?
Like 40 new albums are released every week from MAJOR RECORD LABELS ALONE!
Did you listen to all of them? No? hmmm..
So don't pretend that you're the musical dali lama just because your favorite albums are farthest down on the hierarchy of hype.
Bloody hell, I hate that.
Score = -11
hilarious!
Score = 0
You & Me was my favourite this year - I'm glad it's in the top 10.
Score = 4
so glad to see frightened rabbit on the list. two solid, great albums back to back from some guys that don't nearly get enough credit.
Score = 4
me too!:)
Score = 0
No shit dude.. when you have 100s of people voting for something obviously the ones that are going to come out on top are the ones that are most well known and therefore got the most votes. Did you really expect to see some obscure release on here?
Score = 7
portishead > vampire weekend
Score = 1
Portishead ---> a brick wall with spikes on it at a hundred miles an hour, where ---> equals "running into".
Score = 2
and why is vampire weekend still lingering around? jesus, it seems like that album came out YEARS ago!
Score = 4
how the hell does deathcab's painfully mediocre album rank higher than department of eagles, beach house, or m83?
Score = 16
so glad to see you + me in top 10!
Score = -1
note to self: put naked people on album cover to get into top 50
Score = 4
that death cab album was awful. wtf?
Score = 3
Rabble Rabble Rabble!!!
Score = 14
No Fucked Up or Black Mountain = FAIL
Score = 1
Steregum readers are obviously much more mainstream than I ever realized. After seeing this list, you would think the readers would have voted in Weezer and the Killers. The TV on the Radio and of Montreal albums sucked. A comedy album and an Auto-Tuned Kanye made it. This list sucks. Deerhunter is #1.
Score = -23
Deerhunter is the white Wesley Willis band. Disease as a fetish. Tsk, tsk, young men of America.
Score = -3
I'm most surprised by the Death Cab inclusion since this is based on just top three album choices. I could see it creeping into a lot of people's top 20 lists, if they are long time fans or just like several of the songs, but having it as a top 3 choice is just blind, and I say that completely objectively. No album with "Talking Bird" should be a top 3 album of the year.
All in all though, this looks like it is a list created by people that get their music off of internet blogs, and that's better than a list created by people that get their music from the radio, or magazines, or TV.
I'm really happy to see Dr.Dog on this list. Fate is a recent discovery of mine and I'm absolutely loving it. If there are albums on this list that you have not heard yet, I encourage you to give them a chance. That's what these lists are for, right?
Score = 15
No Foals???!! Aarrggghh :(
Score = 6
I've listened to that Foals album a few times - to me that is an album people are using this year to have something on their list that nobody has heard. It's certainly not better than either of the Los Campesinos' albums or Bound Stems or White Denim, etc. No offense.
Score = 0
Anyone else suprised (and delighted) to see that Why was ranked so high?
Cut Copy as well.
Score = 4
I was hoping for a top ten spot for Cut Copy personally. That shit is infectious!
Score = 10
Yeeeeeah! Alopecia is my number one for the year. Such an excellent, incredibly well-constructed album.
Score = 0
Agreed. Did it even make it onto any other lists? I didn't see it. Looks like it took a user-survey list to put WHY in the top 15....most underrated (by the blogs) album of 2008?
Score = 0
I'm really disappointed the mae shi didn't make the list. that's my favorite album from last year
Score = 0
uh oh! stereogum readers aren't as authentic as stereogum readers thought they were! everyone bail!
Score = 18
No Black Mountain????.... k.
Score = 4
No White Denim? I like the list, there are a few I would remove but overall it's the best list I've seen. I'm a huge Of Montreal fan but I really did not like their newest album and I agree with some others who say Bon Iver shouldn't be on there (2007)
Score = 3
Flight of the Conchords was one of the best albums of the year? Seriously? The Of Montreal was pretty average, too. Gang Gang and Flying Lotus were two of the seriously best of the year...
Score = 2
Yay! Walkmen and GT in the top 10! #1 was expected, but def. not disappointing.
But Vampire Weekend...?
Score = -2
Wow, most of those albums totally suck. This is so much worse than I imagined it would be. And I'm not talking about the placement of these albums, I'm saying that the majority of these records are bad. Just bad. I count about 40 pieces of shit. Boo to stereogum readers!
Score = -12
omg!!!! what a mainstream list! i cant believe the ten obscure bands i like didnt make the top ten list, i mean all of you who dont listen to those bands are totally mainstream and predictable. fleet foxes... come on! your just repeating a Seattle sound that everyone knows about, i hope everyone cares that i feel disillusioned with the type of the people who read this blog
Score = 18
Why don't you pull your head out of your ass and stop giving music fans a bad name?
Mainstream doesn't mean bad. Something has mass appeal for a reason. Fleet Foxes have mass appeal because they put out a fucking great record.
Pull 'em out and let 'em hang low.
Score = -16
did you think someone called themself "average know-it-all hipster" NOT for comedic effect?
Score = 18
Someone's sarcasm detector is broken. Not that he wasn't being a dick.
Score = 4
I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic.
Score = 1
Where are the Ruby Suns on all of these lists?
Score = 2
Let's everyone b*tch [I don't know how much lenience I'm allowed on here] and moan about what albums didn't make the list! Come'on people! Get off your elitist high-horses and appreciate the music that the MAJORITY of Stereogum users voted into the top 50. All of these bands [except Sigur Ros] obviously have some talent, or else they wouldn't have been voted this high.
Score = -11
shut the fuck up
Score = 7
missing: el guincho, flying lotus. and hercules and love affair should be higher.
Score = 2
Radiohead should have been higher!
On a serious note though, I am not digging this list. Gorilla vs Bear's list is the best I have seen so far. I mean, 808s is on here. C'mon
Score = -2
No mates of state.. chuks... I love that album.
Score = 4
i really dont like fleet foxes at all
los Campesinos! should have been #1 motherfuckers
Score = 0
Fleet Foxes do not deserve to be number one. They really haven't brought anything knew and sound like every other indie band but hey, thats just my opinion.
The bands I voted for came in 36th, 16th, and 10th, and Dr. Dog should have been higher.
Score = 1
it's a cumulative list, so obviously the more popular albums are going to be near the top just because the number of people who heard them
Score = 0
wow, pretty much copy and paste the Pitchfork music tastes into the top 50 i see. the readers on this site have really just become nothing but indie elitists.
And what the hell is happening with Destroyers - Trouble in Dreams. I know it came out in like January, but it was a superb album and everyone seems to be forgetting about it. Not even top 50? i think not.
Score = 1
because Destroyer is horrendously mediocre?
Score = -2
Agreed, Destroyer was my #1.
Score = 2
The Destroyer album was off a cliff. You go in expecting smugness and lazy songwriting, but actual offensively irritating music wasn't part of the deal. I think he'd do with a nice solid suicide next year to bounce back from this year's debacle.
Score = -2
los campesinos should've been one
...and two
Score = 1
i like threadtrend.com's list alot
Score = 1
If you don't like the list, then quit bitchin and put up your own.
Score = 3
Devotion at 27, COME ON PEOPLE!
Score = 3
you guys are back in my good graces by including frightened rabbit
Score = 3
where's my tourmaline at?
Score = 0
It is kind of unfortunate that a lot of pretty good stuff probably doesn't make it onto any lists simply because it was released in January and people have forgotten about it. VW and BI are exceptions, but only because the hype and whatnot about them didn't get going til mid-2008 and it has continued throughout.
The Magnetic Fields album Distortion is pretty great and was well-reviewed, but no sign of it.
Thao with the Get Down Stay Down's album is better than a lot of stuff on this list, including, in my opinion, Fleet Foxes (though I have nothing but love for them and it is great to see them representing Seattle so well! New Seattle sound, etc, best album of the year, etc, not quite...maybe next album.)
I will be the first to defend Narrow Stairs. It was one of my three choices (although I would have replaced it with Cataldo's Signal Flare, but I heard that album after I voted sadly.) I don't understand quite why Narrow Stairs is called a disappointment. I would have been upset had it not made the list, honestly. True it could be better, but it sounds great, Ben's melodies are as good as ever, and it explores some territory the band hadn't yet tackled... I will concede that it doesn't quite measure up to Transatlanticism or We Have The Facts... but even a pretty good (not amazing) Death Cab album is worthy of 14th album of the year.
Score = 5
I was glad to see Fleet Foxes grab the number 1 spot. But I, too, can't believe Death Cab landed as high on the list as it did, I thought it was a very underwhelming album. Ditto for "Cardinology," I bought that one solely off of Stereogum's recommendation, and it disappointed in nearly every way. I don't think that one deserved a spot on the list at all. Also, yay for The Walkmen.
Score = 0
Whoa, I can't believe Why? placed higher than No Age.
Not that both aren't awesome, but it's just that No Age were kind of everywhere (even MTV), and I barely saw any Alopecia coverage.
The new Bon Iver EP is great.
Score = -2
Visiter should be higher. The Dodos are one of the best new acts to come out this year, IMO. I'm sad that a lot of the lists are excluding that album. Definitely one of my favorites of the year. It's become a regular fixture on my playlist.
Score = 3
Shearwater really should have been on this list. Rooks is a wonderful album.
Also missing:
The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
Sun Kil Moon - April
Jamie Lidell - Jim
Score = 6
British Sea Power is best heard as the soundtrack to a third-tier show on the CW that remains resolutely unwatched. Dull and derivative matte finish music.
Score = 0
Dear Science is underrated at #2. Can't believe Modern Guilt is so high, I vowed it's the last Beck CD I ever purchase and I've purchased all of them. MIssing for me are The Streets and Last Shadow Puppets, we can just switch them with Bloc Party and Coldplay so I'm not considered a Loyalist
Score = -2
This is easily the best list yet. After Paste's colossal disappointment, two predictable lists from the Brits and a few shit lists, this one is pretty refreshing. I would've given The Hold Steady the top spot, but that's my midwestern bias coming through.
Only a few big fuck-ups.
- Black Mountain should be in the top 25, no questions asked.
- Coldplay, Death Cab and Kings of Leon are WAAAAAYYYYYYY too high. In fact, Coldplay over Beach House and Santogold is criminal.
- Bloc Party, Kanye, and Ryan Adams have no business being on this or any list.
- Weezy and Kanye are the only hip-hop artists on the list? Really?
- Where the fuck is MGMT? Is this a release date technicality? And if so, how come Bon Iver made it?
- I can't believe that the Black Keys aren't getting any love in the top 25 anywhere. Attack and Release is fucking badass, and Danger Mouse needs special mention for a phenomenal year. Beck, Gnarls and the Keys? Not bad.
Score = 3
Abso-fucking-lutely. Someone agrees with me on Black Mountain.
Score = 1
In thirty years, MGMT is going to be the best memory a whole class of really dull people have and when they wonder why their lives are so grey and unfulfilled, they will never realise how their greasy soundtrack of their youth lubricated the way.
Score = 4
I voted Bon Iver in my top three even though the album came out last year because by the time I became aware of the album it was impossible to get. They stopped distributing it toward the end of the year. I didn't hear the whole thing until this year. If you were one of the people who were able to get it last year, great more power to you. If not, please stop complaining and let me vote it as one of my favorite albums of the year.
By the way, its utterly ridiculous to label Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend mainstream. The majority of music fans probably don't even know who those guys are. If these guys are considered mainstream, your friends and family have way better musical taste than my friends and family. It is completely reasonable that people subjectively think that these are good records.
Score = 8
Vampire Weekend were all over MTV for a while there. And they did SNL.
Score = 1
nobody watches those shits for the music bro
Score = -1
and even if you could consider vw + ff mainstream, it doesn't matter because they're both legitimately good records.
Score = 3
Lykke Li is NOT on Atlantic. She is on her own label LL. I don't know why anyone would think she's on Atlantic. It doesn't mention anything about her on their website.
Score = 0
Fleet Foxes are an overrated suck-fest. The fact that Portugal. The Man didn't even get a mention here is highly unfortunate.
Score = -1
I'm not someone who cares all that much about the end of the year lists because rarely does an artist i love top the list.
But Fleet Foxes, stereogum readers? REALLY? Theirs was the BEST album of 2008? Really? Any other barbershop quartets that should have made the top 10? Because honestly, i don't know what to do with you guys anymore.
Score = 6
I hate to be this guy...but I figured someone should point it out. The Chad VanGaalen album is called Soft Airplane, it isn't self-titled.
Score = 0
Pretty nice list, with one glaring omission. Where the fuck is Destroyer?
Score = 2
Burning a whole in a mirror with his stare, thinking about making amends for his life by ending it quietly and soon?
Score = 0
I hope some others agree with me but I think that the most underrated album on there is Islands-Arm's Way at #50. I listened the hell out of that album and thought it was a huge improvement over their first LP, easily up in my top 5 of the year.
Score = 3
Missing in action ...The Week That Was, Dungen 4, Friendly Fires,Ratatat, The Helios Sequence, Neon,Neon,The last shadow puppets,school of 7 bells and Secret Machines....all of these much better than Bon Iver?, (Gnarls Barkley??,Coldplay???
Score = 0
every year gets better- and now the king of beers is sponsoring the award? When will you declare the death of indie? 80% of the records on this list were bankrolled by majors for the markerting and PR- What's really weird is that Scott Weiland did not make the list- You must have been bummed.
Score = 0
Disappointing...Where is The Week that was, Dungen4, School of 7 bells,Secret Machines,The Helios Sequence, Ratatat, Friendly Fires,Neon Neon,The Last Shadow Puppets
Score = -1
BTW, I know it's Dungen, not Dungen4-my mistake
Score = 1
All right...how can albums from supposedly "overrated" bands make it on here? Like Vampire Weekend and Coldplay. I totally agree with TVotR's Dear Science. Best album of the year in my opinion. I'm glad it's ranked 2 on this list. There is some justice in this world.
Score = 0
Hmm.. The list form 30-10 looks to have the real best albums of the year.. what happened to the top 10? (Lots of junk thrown around for sure though)... Wolf Parade, Why?, Beck, Dodos, Lil' Wayne, Santogold, Crystal Castles, Islands.....all more worthy top 10 material than Bon Iver, Of Montreal, Walkmen, and Portishead.
Score = -3
...More like YAWN Iver
Score = 5
I voted 4, 30, and 43. Because Fleet Foxes puts me to sleep after Ragged Wood. 3 solid tracks and a "we are artists" image doesn't necessarily mean it's better music than simple classically-influenced chamber pop.
So glad to see Dodos higher than Lil Wayne, and to see Ra Ra Riot at all. Loved those. Glad Bloc Party is where they belong. Wish Crystal Castles had done better, but I guess we can't all be in love with electro.
And I have to say, I bought Wolf Parade. I bought it an put it right in my car and listened for nearly two weeks straight. I really really really tried to like it. And do you know what? it's incredibly boring. Will someone please tell me how to like it?
Not that any of the albums on this list are offensive to me. I own most of them (as pretentious of me as that may be) so I'm all over this list. I'm not debating inclusion in the list. Just order.
Score = -2
I feel that way about Portishead. I've listened to it several times: with headphones, without, different times of day, while driving, etc. but I just can't get into it. I really want to like it, I love their previous stuff, but I just haven't fallen in love with this one.
Score = 0
no mention of flying lotus's LA anywhere? no fuck buttons? no marnie stern? no ponytail? damn, people forgot some real gems
Score = 2
How could you leave out Black Mountain 'In The Future'?
Score = 1
Agreed. I actually had them as my number one album of the year.
Score = 0
most of you people who commented need to get a life. Seriously if a top 50 list can produce such anxiety for you please reevaluate your life. Just because your favorite album didn't make the list doesn't mean this list sucks and it also doesn't mean everything in the top10 sucks.
Score = 2
Congratulations, you're a hypocrite.
Score = 0
Blitzen Trapper should be in the top 10
Score = 2
The Uglysuit s/t. Y'all fucked up.
Score = 0
The Uglysuit!! I definitely agree!!! The Uglysuit is my favorite album of the year, but I don't think many people have had the chance to check them out. Hopefully next year they'll release another stellar album and it will get a bit more (well deserved) attention. Their self-titled debut has been one of the strongest I've ever heard. I can listen to it from start to finish and love every minute of it. Great!!!
This isn't all that bad of a list, but the top 10 has several that I disagree with, Bon Iver, Of Montreal, The Hold Steady, and Girl Talk, in my opinion are not top 10 quality.
Dr. Dog and Blitzen Trapper should be higher. Ratatat "LP3", and The Sea and Cake "Car Alarm" should be on the list.
Biggest disappointments of the year for me are My Morning Jacket- "Evil Urges"-painfully disappointing. Of Montreal- "Skeletal lamping". Death Cab for Cutie- "Narrow Stairs". All shit from bands that I love!
Score = 1
1 - Beach House - Devotion
2 - Brett Anderson - Wilderness
3 - Xiu Xiu - Women as Lovers
4 - Joan As Police Woman - To Survive
5 - Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
6 - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!!
7 - Magnetic Fields - Distortion
8 - Bonnie 'Prince' Billy - Lie Down In The Light
9 - Pattern Is Movement - All together
10 - Santogold – Santogold
11 - Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
12 - Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
13 - The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of The Understatement
14 - Paul Weller - 22 Dreams
15 - REM - Accelerate
16 - Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
17 - Duffy – Rockferry
18 - Sparks - Exotic Creatures of the Deep
19 - Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part I
20 - MGMT - Orcular Spectacular
21 - El perro del mar - From the Valley to the Stars
22 - Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead
23 - Grouper - Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill
24 - Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
25 - Mercury Rev - Snowflake Midnight
26 - Matmos - Supreme Balloon
27 - Grace Jones - Hurricane
28 - Neon Neon - Stainless Style
29 - Portishead - Third
30 - Sam Sparro - Sam Sparro
Score = -10
I just want to be the fourth comment that says SHEARWATER should have been on this list Personally, that's my favorite album of the year. I also voted for Fleet Foxes (suck my dick if you want, some of you guys), but Shearwater did the beautiful orchestral thing in a much more exciting way this year.
Score = 2
Weezy is the only hip-hop album on the ENTIRE list? Seriously?
The Roots? The Cool Kids? T.I.? Nas? Q-Tip? Murs?
Do you just not like black people or what
Score = 2
I think they only like black people in indie rock bands.
Speaking of, where are Black Kids? Didn't this blog throw a fit about the P4k doggiestyle review a few months ago?
Score = 2
Cardinals 2008!
Score = 1
It's funny that blitzen trapper is next to the raconteurs, considering furr is an album the rac's could only dream of making. But still glad to see furr on the list. The list is rather predictable but I still don't understand the love for the hold steady and death cab albums. Both were sub par at best.
Is it me or are all the of Montreal cd's starting to all sound the same?
Yay for chad vangaalen, the dodos, blitzen trapper, ra ra riot and why? for making it onto a year end list.
Here's hoping for a good '09 with grizzly bear and animal collective and others
Score = 0
I think the main reason they put The Raconteurs ahead of Blitzen Trapper might be because The Raconteurs are better than Blitzen Trapper. My opinion of course, though.
Score = 0
P.S. the flight of the conchords were so '07
Score = 3
No Shearwater... sad. I knda forgot to vote for it though. frick. Whatever else I feel, I'm just happy Frightened Rabbits made it in the top 20. 'Head Rolls Off' alone was enough to make them number one in my book.
Score = 0
What the fuck is stereogum?
Score = -1
When you leave things to the masses they will suck. 49 albums voted better than The Islands, that's all I got
Score = -1
wow. just wow.
the of montreal record was beyond bad.
and girl talk?? seriously? how can you even consider that an honest album? i admit, his live performance is beyond amazing, but thats all he has. fuck man.
the kings of leon stereogum really?? after listening to that album once i threw it out my car window...
the dodos or deerhunter put out the most consident eloquent records of 08. nufff said.
Score = 2
death cab at 14 makes me want to vom.
Score = 3
wah wah boo hoo my favorite obscure band didn't make it onto the list, but if it had i would have denounced it as far too mainstream for such an elitist as myself.
Score = 2
no Marnie Stern? no Boris? no Times New Viking or Titus Andronicus? no Foals or Fucked Up? no Kaki King? what gives...?
you got Girl Talk, which is just mixing over already made songs, of Montreal was terrible, Lil Wayne, Coldplay, Kings of Leon? come one now...
Score = 1
Titus Andronicus did craft a fine album.
Score = 1
I hated that Times New Viking album. But that's just me. I included Q-Tip, Dead Confederate and Bottomless Pit on my best of list. Did Bottomless Pit's album come out this year or at the end of last year? Don't recall, but it's fucking great.
Score = 0
looks like washington and portland were swing states!
HA!
Score = 3
Wait a minute, I know where I've seen this list... it's Under the Radar's list! Well, almost.
Anyhoo, I'm happy at least my top pick (The Walkmen) made it to the Top 10... yohoooo!
Fleet Foxes as number one is a lacklustering pick, and there are numerous questionable entries, but hey what are you gonna do. It's what it always comes down to. The day I see my personal pick at number 1, I'm gonna flip!
Score = -1
1. Born Ruffians
2. Ratatat
3. Walkmen
4. Vampire Weekend
5. TV on the Radio
Score = -2
eat a dick, buddy
Score = 2
AND WHERE IS TIMES NEW VIKING!? [looking in the garbage] OH YEAH - NVRMND!!
Score = 1
home taping is killing the music industry.
Score = 1
WHERE IS MGMT- ORACULAR SPECTACULAR???????!!!!!!!!
Score = 2
in 2007
Score = 5
there needs to be a fucking recount. MGMT should have been top ten. i've listened to that album countless times and it is still fresh and good i wish i could say the same about VW. they just got old really quick. take out VW replace it with MGMT. and replace the hold steady with black mountain and you got yourself a fucking amazing list.
Score = 0
lil wayne relaly needs to dissapear off the earth- THAT FREKAING ALBUM IS LAME.
and jenny lewis?kanye's new album?
eh, at least the positive picks outnumebred the dumb ones.
pretty good...
Score = 2
death cab? uhhh...... hello?
m83 whoooooo
yeah last years was definitely better
Score = -1
Can't believe no one put the Gutter Twins' "Saturnalia." That was an amazing album, like a desert road trip with the Four Horsemen riding in the back seat.
Score = 0
Lists suck. Everyone complains. My only complaint is that TV On The Radio sucks. And they keep pulling it off on ya'll. That really gets my goat.
Score = -3
I wholeheartedly agree with 'mother of twins' - WHY FLEET FOXES ??? It is a hollow sham - you will see next year when it sounds completely out-dated and shit. Mark my words....... You have been conned....
Score = 0
Agreed - Mountain Goats album super amazing (again) and probably shuld be in top 20, if not higher. Islands - Arms Way is genius. Anybody rate the "Late of the Pier" album ??
Score = -1
Edit Stereogum's list yourself here (vote the albums up or down, etc):
http://stereogum.patrolmag.com/
Score = 0
VAMPIRE WEEKEND ARE PROBABLY LIKED BY EVERYONE TODAY, BUT THATS BECAUSE THEY MADE A GOOD ALBUM. JUST BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN PLAYED ON GOSSIP GIRL OR YOU LITTLE SISTERS FRIENDS LISTEN TO THEM, THEY STILL MADE A GREAT ALBUM AND THATS THAT.
Score = 1
Plants and Animals should have made this list. If you at all enjoyed Fleet Foxes' record (as it appears most of you did) you should check out their album. It really is a massively overlooked little gem. Black Mountain should have made this list too, along with Friendly Fires. I love love love Of Montreal and Portishead but I didn't think either of their albums put out this year warrant their top 10 status, and I know I'm going to get hated on for saying that about Third.
Score = 3
welp.. all these rehashes can eat a dick. born ruffians should be #1 rehash.
Score = -1
HOLY SHIT!
DCFC should have been higher. Narrow Stairs CHANGED THINGS.
WHERE THE FUCK IS THE RED ALBUM IN ALL OF THESE LISTS? that right there is a visionary piece of shit.
Dissapointed Stereogum readers. Diss-a-point-ed.
Score = -3
DID ANYONE LIKE TOKYO POLICE CLUB's ALBUM????
Score = 1
I think its really sad how the "indie scene" has totally turned its back on Tokyo Police Club since they started making music videos and getting air time on fuse. we get it, thats all very lame, but They are still producing awesome indie rock. Maybe if they went low-fi and added 10 back up vocal harmonizations to every track you would all like them a bit more? at least people haven't turned their back on Ra Ra Riot yet, though i foresee that happening with their next album. too upbeat and mainstream sounding for you lot.
Score = 1
ELEPHANT SHELL?!?!
Score = 0
But I bet if the Ting Tings were on there, lots of your college friends would say its wonderful and is great music.
Its terrible to hear you say so many bad cliches tucked under one indie blanket. Indie music is about discovering bands for how much the listener likes the band. Indie music doesn't give a shit about who else likes it. If lots of people do, so be it. That's why I agree with some of these albums (Fleet F-ing Foxes & Ra Ra Riot) and disagree with many others.
Don't go rubbing your opinion all over this group like icy/hot on a cold winter night. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, even if it sucks - like yours.
Score = 1
... and that's in reply to Mr. Jolson's "indie-pretentious list" comment above.
I would have liked to see The Helio Sequence on here.
Score = 1
white denim. nuff said.
Score = 2
hey, what's with the people who comment here days? fuck, i miss the old stereogum commenters who were bitching and moaning about everybody and everything, like true members of the independent music scene (tm).
Score = 4
This year's list seems reasonable. If this list angers you so much as to fits of cursing and convulsions, you probably just don't agree with the concept of numbered lists anyway. That is fine, of course, but please just don't say otherwise.
Fleet Foxes had a fantastic live performance this year. Not gonna lie.
Score = 0
so, uh, was anyone else as impressed with okkervil river's latest as i was? i feel like they're definitely not getting enough lovin' on these year end lists.
Score = 0
If only Born Ruffians were higher. I seriously believe "Red, Yellow, and Blue" was one of the best albums of 2008. :[
Score = 0
Funny how Vampire Weekend got number 4, just a breath away from number 1, but still got voted most overrated.
Score = 2
Go Cardinals!
Cardinology is a great album- not the best, but better than 90% of music today. I am SO SICK of the attitude towards Ryan Adams and his music. He is a GENIUS and anyone who is on the "I hate Ryan Adams" bandwagon is missing a lot of really great music.
Score = 0
I think everyone is missing the best album.....Slipknot's- All Hope is Gone. hahahahaha
Score = 2
I DO NOT understand Portishead. Absolutely do not understand it.
And I think it's a shame that MGMT got overlooked (as I'm assuming that it was lack of votes and not release date technicalities that left it off the list). But to be honest: I forgot to vote for it. It was released so early on in the year...
Score = 1
how the fuck are hot chip only at number 40?!?!?!? what a travesty.
Score = 1
In serious leftovers mode and should be ditched as quickly as possible: Death Cab, of Montreal (#6??!??!?), Ryan Adams, Beck, My Morning Jacket
Heartbroken over ignoring Shearwater.
Glad to see about where they are: Why?, the Dodos, Sigur Ros, Wolf Parade, Deerhunter, Bon Iver, TVOR, Fleet Foxes (enjoying the backlash on the TVOR and FF).
Glad not to see MGMT at all.
Up: Okkervil River and Department of Eagles.
Down to the bottom half: Frightened Rabbit, Girl Talk, the Hold Steady, Vampire Weekend.
No Thao? The Mountain Goats? Port O'Brien? Breathe Owl Breathe? DeVotchKa?
Score = 0
to all of the people complaining about so-and-so being to low/high or missing: who gives a shit? it's a stupid list and you don't have to swear by it. there are a lot of artists on this list i absolutely despise, but it's serving its purpose in giving me a whole slew of new albums that i've missed checking out on this past year. that's the important part. so shut the fuck up, everyone.
Score = 3
I am surprised the Ratatat record has been ignore on most of these end of year lists. Also, no Friendly Fires? I know this is a democratic process, but man, that record was tops. And sodding hell, Vampire Weekend? The formula is cute, but I waited for it to go somewhere, and nothing. It just goes to show what a little hype from MTV and the blogosphere can do. Go Man Man!
Score = 0
How does Bonnie Prince Billy's new album keep getting snubbed on these lists? I think "Lie Down in the Light" is arguably his best album since "I see a Darkness". Surely it deserves to be on a list ranked somewhere higher than "Acid Tongue" or "Cardinology"!!
Score = -2
Missing one thing: Titus Andronicus.
Score = 1
I couldn't agree more
Score = 1
The Kills - Midnight Boom should be on the list. But of course everyone is too busy kissing Kanye West's ass.
Score = -2
1. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
2. Black Mountain - Black Mountain
3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
4. M83 - Saturdays=Youth
5. Fleetfoxes - Fleetfoxes
6. Deerhunter - Microcastle
7. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
8. Le Loup - The Throne of the third heaven (...)
9. Bob Dylan - I'm not there
Songs 2008 Top9
1. Strangers in the Wind - Cut Copy
2. Pieces of What - MGMT
3. Kim & Jessie - M83
4. Your Protector - Fleet Foxes
5. Tyrants - Black Mountain
6. M79 - Vampire Weekend
7. I had a dream I died - Le Loup
8. Moonshiner - Bob Forrest (I'm not there)
9. Never stops - Deerhunter
Score = 0
I cannot believe that Martha Wainwright's "I Know You're Married" wasn't included in this list.
Score = 0
can't believe kanye cracked the top 50. his album was the worst of the year. only idiots can listen to that shit (like the sterogum editors).
Score = -2
You forgot "In Rainbows" dickheads.
Score = -5
One HUGE omission. In Rainbows by Radiohead. Man the shit that won. I mean Fleet Foxes, Kanye?
Score = -6
You are a year back man!
Score = 0
In Rainbows was released in late 2007 people.
That's why it's not on this list.
FYI
Score = 0
you assholes forgot "the notwist".
Score = 1
gang gang dance
Score = 0
I don't have a good reason, but man oh man do I fucking loathe The Hold Steady. I just don't understand their rabid critical following at all.
Score = 1
GREAT LIST BUT WHERE IS NEON NEON?
Score = 0
The Fleet Foxes is some vapid shit.
Dear Science is really well-written, though, and definitely deserves the high rating.
Score = 0
Portishead, most overrated album of the year, i listen to all kinds of music all over the board and it just does nothing for me. believe me i wanted to like it.
Score = 0
White Denim and Thao are the glaring omissions in my opinion. If you haven't heard White Denim "Exposion" you should really check it out. Makes me have such a good day when I listen to it.
Score = 2
i have all 50 of these. good year, i didnt miss anything.
Score = 0
Go listen to a record from 2002......... and hear a, weirder, more creative, more soulful, and original sound that the Fleet Foxes adopted.
It's My Morning Jacket's "At Dawn" It's a modern classic and will change your life. The FF's record is nice and of quality, but "At Dawn" will change how you feel about the world.
Seriously. Go listen to that record on a long walk....
Score = 1
Where is Spiritualized? Not even an honorable mention? I don't get it. The album comes out to much anticipation, it blows everyone away, PF gives it a 8.4, saying it's their best work in 10 years, but somehow omits the album from even getting an honorable mention?
And am I the only one who thinks that the Evangelicals record, The Evening Descends, is one of the best of the year? With the an unfortunate January release date, it managed to stay afloat above all else all year for me, earning the top spot in my top abums of the year.
Score = 0
Since we're griping...Vampire Weekend is "Alternative" for people who don't like (and are, frankly, a little scared) of newish or exciting or pleasant type musics. It's not surprising it's on here, just that it is so high. I listened (oh, God, how I listened), but I found I liked it less and less each time (which I can't say for any other album I've heard on this list, except...). Lil F*cking Wayne! Stop It! It's absolute sh#t! But getting back to VW, they just sound like they want to be Talking Heads/David Byrne at their/his very worst and contrived. The rest of the list is fine.
Score = 0
I cannot believe the Weezer red album was not included in the top ten comments.
You guys...
Score = -2
these comments remind me ......school !!! .
for the most interested ears ,some great songs with Deus (the best european rock band (from belgium ) behind Radiohead of course),the Notwist & Get Well Soon from Germany,Gotye belgic guy who live in australia ,the Girls in Hawai belgium and for the frenchy people the great Alain Bashung (with M Ward on guitars ) M83 and Syd Matters for example
great job stereogum !thank's
Score = 0
Fuck the fleet foxes, they suck. And so do the rest of the top 5.
Score = -1
Cold War Kids?
Score = 2
yea people that say missing M83 are right
death cab and beach house albums = BORING
and why do these stupid indie blogs insist on hating on the killers? THEY ARE NOT BAD
Score = 0
Man oh man, several of you really have your panties in a bunch over extremely boring and uninteresting music.
I mean, what do you listen to in the car on your way to class/work? 90% of this shit puts me to sleep after less than a minute. Beach House. Department of Eagles. She & Him. SO BORING!
And don't even get me started on Why?'s "Alopecia"...it's like, "ok, let's hire some decent musicians and have them make some trippy music while the lead singer of the fucking Bloodhound Gang is on vocals".
Score = 0
why? isn't alopecia by why? in the top 5
Score = -1
I admit that I didn't like Fleet Foxes at first but it was a grower, just like Deerhunter. However, you can't shut me up about:
Fucked Up - The Chemistry
Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
Damned - So, Who's Paranoid?
Score = 0
tv on the radio struggles at making good music... despite this whole website disliking them , the killers should be on this list..and seriously coldplay not in the top 5!!
Score = -1
I loved Modern Guilt, I don't know why it didn't do so well. At least it beat Coldplay.
& also I love that there enough closet Coldplay fans here. Obviously plenty of people voted for them.
As for Vampire Weekend, I see them as a pretty good pop band that "mainstream" listeners will enjoy just as much as "indie" listeners.
Score = 1
of montreal was my #1 this year. apparently nobody here can agree with that.
i am not surprised that it is not on the list, but i am surprised that nobody has mentioned my brightest diamond. that was my #2 of the year. so fucking good.
Score = -1
Also, where is Parc Avenue?
Score = 0
I'm sorry but I fall asleep listening to Fleet Foxes.
They sound like a slow, progressive hemmorage of the brain.
Score = -1