End of the year CD countdown

2008 was a good, but expensive year for me and music. In addition to listening to many great new bands as a music reviewer at the radio station, I got a great number of CD's and vinyls, the vast majority of which I am immensely pleased with. I'll give as complete a list of these purchases as possible, along with a very abbreviated review. Also, thanks to Albums on the Hill for helping me find many of these albums. Easily my favorite record shop out there.


A.C. Newman - The Slow Wonder (2004)
Lots of sweet, slow melodies and some peppier ones - if you like the New Pornographers, you'll love this.

The Apples in Stereo - Discovery of a World Inside the Moone (2001)
Great album by a great pop band. Second favorite in their discography.
The Apples in Stereo - Electronic Projects for Musicians (2008)
Comp album of B-sides and unreleased stuff, about 3/4 of which is awesome. Features their Stephan Colbert song.
The Apples in Stereo - Her Wallpaper Reverie (1999)
Decent, but I really only picked it up to complete my collection of their discography. Start with Discovery of a World Inside the Moone or New Magnetic Wonder if you're new to the band.
The Apples in Stereo - New Magnetic Wonder (2007) - LP
I love this album, it was my favorite CD from 2007. I just picked up the LP this year, so I'm counting it. And since this is a one-way medium at present, you can't stop me. Bam.

Beck - Odelay [Deluxe Anniversary Edition] (2008)
Great re-release of a GREAT album. Features an unchanged release of the original Odelay and about more than 20 unreleased songs and remixes. Excellent intro to Beck for noobs.
Beck - The Information (2006)
Another good album from Beck, I feel bad for having waited so long to buy it.
Beck - Sea Change (2002)
I actually didn't enjoy this as much as I hoped. Should have bought Midnight Vultures instead.

British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music? (2008)
Indie rock - VERY indie - but good. Except for the two tracks of just noise.

Flobots - Fight With Tools (2008)
I gotta represent the local artists, Colorado what what! The album is meh.

The Fratellis - Here We Stand (2008)
Not as good as their first album, better than then next one is likely to be.

Gnarls Barkley - St. Elsewhere (2006) - LP
It's an album from Danger Mouse. Would you accept anything less than wonderful?
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple (2008)
Read above.

Heavy - Great Vengeance and Furious Fire (2008)
Alright, this was a favorite from this year. Very good indie rock and pop, lots of bass work, some rap even. I lurve it.

The High Decibels - The High Decibels (2008)
Imagine two rappers and musicians went back and redid a whole bunch of old skool rap. now imagine that all the songs were new and original. And that it is good. You have The High Decibels.

Jamie Lidell - Jim (2008)
More interesting than anything, a dance music producer writes and sings 70's soul. Huh.

Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads (2008)
Their best work since their first album. Also their third album. Full review in archives.

The Knux - Remind Me in Three Days (2008)
Another favorite from this year, this is by far the best rap I've heard in a long time. Amazing, and beat-tastic. Full review in archives.

The Ladybug Transistor - Can't Wait Another Day (2007)
I had a poster of theirs up in my apartment all year, and I like other Elephant 6 bands, so I went on a limb and bought it. I don't really like it much.

Los Campesinos! - Hold On Now, Youngster (2008)
I got this after their EP dropped last year, and was all like "An EP and an album in just a few months? That's awesome!" And it was, as it is good indie from Ireland.
Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (2008)
AND THEN THEY RELEASE A SECOND FULL ALBUM IN THE SAME YEAR. These guys kick buttocks on a royal scale. Also a very good indie album.

My Federation - Don't Wanna Die (2008)
Electronica meets Pop, and I like it. Full review in archives.

The New Pornographers - Challengers (2007) - LP
Another repurchase of a CD from last year. My second favorite album from '07, but my favorite band.

The Pack A.D. - Tintype (2007)
Like the White Stripes? Want the White Stripes to be 2 girls? And for them to be better than the White Stripes (debatable)? Get this CD.
The Pack A.D. - Funeral Mixtape (2008)
Then this one, as it's even better.

Pendulum - In Silico (2008)
Very good electronic music, I like to listen to it with bass UP.

Port O'Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing (2008)
Maybe the indie favorite from '08, this is very melodic and saccharine. Also the 2nd nicest band I've ever met. Best thing to come out of Alaska since Jewel.

Rilo Kiley - Under the Blacklights (2007)
Got this early in '08 and liked it a lot. It's poppy and very indie.
Rilo Kiley - Take Offs and Landings (2001)
I liked their other 2 albums I had, so I got it. It's more saccharine, but nice nonetheless.

Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings - Naturally (2005)
I picked this up after a concert of theirs - GO SEE SHARON JONES LIVE. She has a voice like nobody else, a backing band that is internationally acclaimed, and she was a prison gaurd at Rikers Island. And she's funky.

Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha (2008)
Experienced pop band makes great pop album. It's nice.

That Handsome Devil - That Handsome Devil (2006)
An old and interesting EP from a band I like. Indie rap?
That Handsome Devil - A City Dressed In Dynamite (2008)
Eclectic and wonderful, featuring a wide variety of style and songs. Get it. Full review in archives.

Tilly and the Wall - Wild Like Children (2004)
I had to get this after getting Bottoms of Barrels.
Tilly and the Wall - Bottoms of Barrels (2006)
I had to get this after getting O.
Tilly and the Wall - O (2008)
I had to get this after I heard a single song off it. This was definitely my most listened to band this year - and I got to meet them too. Jamie the tap dancer is awesome.

Ulysses - .010 (2004)
A side project from the main guy in Apples in Stereo, it's lofi and garage-y. Good, but there's better out there.

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (2008) - LP
I got this in CD and vinyl, and saw them live twice within a week, but the concerts were over 1000 miles apart. Indie meets Beach Boys, this was my album of the year. Screw whoever thinks they're overrated, I like 'em. And to all you indie kids, I liked 'em first.

Willie Houston - Bluesman Willie Houston and his Guitar (2001)
Saw this little old (over 80?) man get up on stage at a blues festival, and he proceeded to belt it out like it was a 1950's dive bar and he was newly broken hearted. Classic blues by somebody who was around to see the genre develop.

Windmill - Puddle City Racing Lights (2008)
I bought this for the cover. Bad singing, great slow music. Buy for the cover.


Whew! I think I'm forgetting a few albums, but that's a full enough list for me. And that, my friends, is why I'm broke now.