The Best Music of 2008
Overall, 2008 was a pretty good year for music, despite all the beards. We can’t defend the inclusion of Kanye West on our list, but some of us (uh Robert and Brian) have been loving his 808s and Heartbreak. Sure, autotune vocals are the dorkiest thing to take over pop music since Peter Frampton, but oh well, Robert likes Frampton too. Lisa turned us on to Lucky Dragons and Lau Nau. And our new music editor Elizabeth kept us in the loop with the best new releases all year.
In the end, we were perplexed by The Bug—wtf… they pretty much suck right? Intrigued to see crystal become the new black, since black had just become the new wolf. Annoyed that The Hold Steady—frat music for hipsters—won’t simply go away. Delighted to see another solid bootleg release by Bob Dylan (The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs – Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006). Weirded out by Scarjo. And made blissfully happy by the most important music moment of the year: Hamster Eating Popcorn on a Piano. Thanks to all our writers and friends who helped us compile this list.
Have a great holiday. We’re signing off for a few days.
 |
30. The Tallest Man on Earth Shallow Grave |
 |
29. GZA Pro Tools |
 |
28. LUCKY DRAGONS Dream Island Laughing Language |
 |
27. WOLF PARADE At Mount Zoomer |
 |
26. NOUNS Nouns |
 |
25. JOHANN JOHANNSSON Fordlandia |
 |
24. JASON COLLETT Here’s to Being Here |
 |
23. INDIAN JEWELRY Free Gold! |
 |
22. THE WAR ON DRUGS Wagonwheel Blues |
 |
21. GANG GANG DANCE Saint Dymphnia |
 |
20. SHE & HIM Volume One |
 |
19. HERCULES & LOVE AFFAIR Hercules and Love Affair |
 |
18. BEACH HOUSE Devotion |
 |
17. KEMIALLISET YSTAVAT Split Series |
 |
16. KANYE WEST 808s & Heartbreak |
 |
15. HOT CHIP Made in the Dark |
 |
14. TV ON THE RADIO Dear Science |
 |
13. THE WALKMEN You & Me |
 |
12. PORTISHEAD Third |
 |
11. THE DODOS Visiter |
 |
10. MGMT Oracular Spectacular |
 |
9. JAY REATARD Singles 06-07 |
 |
8. LAU NAU Nukkuu |
 |
7. GIRL TALK Feed the Animals |
 |
6. BON IVER For Emma, Forever Ago |
 |
5. FLEET FOXES Fleet Foxes |
 |
4. EL GUINCHO Alegranzo |
 |
3. VAMPIRE WEEKEND Vampire Weekend |
 |
2. DEERHUNTER Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. |
 |
1. SANTOGOLD Santogold |
that kanye record doesn’t even deserve the 16th spot. IMO, it’s bad. that bad… and i’m a fan of everything thus far…
LOL & MGMT
The Bug is an individual (Kevin Martin) therefore the pronoun “they” is not necessary.
Say what you might but his record was mostly put out of context in top lists, “cherry-picking” electronic music to beef up rather narrow, indie-rock laden lists.
These selections are tepid and trite. Nothing has been more nauseating than the growth of indie rock over the past years and it’s electronic or dance related tokens.
Every year you ignore Boz Scagg’s “Silk Degrees” and every fucking year I get angrier and angrier about it!!!
Stop the madness. Bring the Boz.
I guess we won’t be seeing Tony Bennet this year too
Santogold? Um, nuh-uh. No thanks.
No love for Sigur Ros’s latest and greatest?
Vampire Weekend and no MGMT?
This list fails.
This is the best music you heard this year? You need to open your ears a little more. (and stop reading Pitchfork!)Vampire Weekend, Kanye West, MGMT, SHE & HIM, Girl Talk? Mediocre at best. There is plenty of great music in the world. Most of it is not indie/hip hop/pop.
wtf chris(tina), sigur ross is for trannies
Why in the world is Santogold #1?
I disagree with the whole concept of lists. can’t you just remember what the best music of 2008 was? I can, it was Tennessee Ernie Ford and some other people, that I am not going to tell you about.
Good Luck on your new book, I look forward to reading it.
The Gang at Awkward Haiku
nice list
!!
you personally listened to every new band/artist of 2008 and depicted your opinion here!
nice going
soo proud.
so proud.
seriously? Santogold?
bump up that gang gang dance, just heard it, holy shit its good
I’m not impressed with this list. Most of this music is just a jumbled mess. A ridiculous excuse of music. I do, however, give Fleet Foxes and Vampire Weekend my support.
…something is wrong when the only one i agree with is She & Him. I dont think people should make lists about the best music. Theres too much of it, and too many severely differing tastes.
It´s great. I like it very much.
http://www.icositetrahedron.com
The Perfect World Gold is to do the task, when you and your friend are play the game, It is necessary to Buy Perfect World Gold,Perfect World Silver is very useful to many, if you want to buy Perfect World Silver and to buy cheap Perfect World Gold come to here ,it allows you to buy pw gold.
Christian louboutin
Tiffany jewelry
Tiffany jewelry on sale
replica Maurice Lacroix watches
breguet watches
coach handbags
fashion Tiffany Charms
Air Jordan Fusion
Nice article.It is very informative post.