Loo.me

Here are my top albums of 2008.  It was a toss up between MMJ and Dylan but when i looked back at my total plays for 2008 in my iTunes, it was no contest – i’ve played MMJ a bunch mor

1. Evil Urges – My Morning Jacket – totally unexpected departure from the Southern rock band but that made it all the more awesome.  There songs are all great.  From start to stop, this album totally delivers.   “Librarian” and “Smokin’ From Shootin'” are my favorites.
2. The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 – Bob Dylan – previously unreleased tracks from 1987 to today.  And they are amazing.  I love both versions of “Mississippi” and “High Water”
3. Consoler of the Lonely – Raconteurs – These guys totally rock.  The title track is one of the best rock songs i’ve heard in the past 10 years and the rest of the songs are good too
   
4. For Emma Forever Ago – Bon Iver – incredibly catchy and chill record.  This got stuck in my head for about 2 months in the middle of the year.  Plus you’ve got to love a guy from the woods of Wisconsin. Love the songs “Flume” and “Skinny Love”
   
5. Only By The Night – Kings Of Leon – this album isn’t as good as 2007’s Because of the Times which had 2 amazing (5 star) songs but it still rocks. The songs are all pretty good and continues KOL’s rise to be one of the biggest bands in the US
   
6. The Way I See It – Raphael Saadiq – a pretty smooth and groovy album that brought some soul back into my life in ’08.  The songs “Take a Walk” and “Never Give You Up” with Stevie Wonder are the best of the bunch
7. The Stand-Ins – Okkervil River – a good followup to the awesome The Stage Names.  It’s songs are just as punchy and fun to listen to.  I didn’t get to this until later in the year, otherwise it could have been higher in my list

Honor Roll – these albums have one or two good songs but not enough to be a “top” album of 2008 but i did like them:

• Ra Ra Riot – The song “Dying is Fine” is one of the best songs of the year
• Born Ruffians – very addictive album but also kind of annoying.  Can’t tell if i really like it or not
• Ryan Adams – all the songs are just okay
• Girl Talk – not my favorite mashup artist but still catchy and good for working out to
• Mudcrutch – two great songs in “The Wrong Thing To Do” and “Six Days on the Road”

Related articles:

• Rock List: Readers’ Top 30 Albums of 2008
• Music Review | My Morning Jacket: That’s Some Cheeky Shaman in the Aisles
• Rolling Stone’s Top 50 Albums Of The Year
• Raphael Saadiq = special guest @ the Seaport Friday
• Music Review | Raphael Saadiq and Janelle Monáe: Multiple Visions of Soul Music’s Past and Future