The Best Overlooked Albums of 2008

I don't know what the best albums of 2008 are - that's hard to say without hearing everything. However, here are some great albums I think got a bit overlooked this year.

Punk(ish) and Metal(ish) Albums


Gaslight Anthem – The 59- Sound
Bruce Springsteen and punk make for a remarkably potent mix – one of my favorites all year.

Dance Gavin Dance – Downtown Battle Mountain
This is a ridiculous screamo album – but it’s also pretty irresistible.

Dillinger Four – CIVIL WAR
It only took seven years for a follow up but this album was totally worth the wait.

The Loved Ones – Build and Burn
An honest blue-collar punk album that just delivers.

Baroness – Red Album
It was a strong year in metal and I think this release is a contender.

Zozobra – Bird of Prey
Relentless and punishing, Zozobra steps up its efforts in a big way.

Krallice – Krallice
Something this intense shouldn’t be so constantly listenable.

Veil of Maya – The Common Man’s Collapse
One of my favorite bands last year continues its excellent streak.

Misery Signals – Controller
Ditto for this great band and release.


Rock(ish) Albums

1990s – Cold and Kind
Listen to “The Wool and the Lamb” and tell me that this isn’t a great record.

The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain
This Ottawa band didn’t get any love, but they deserve it – this is an album album

American Princes – Other People
A solid and toe-tapping record from a consistently good American band

Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow and Blue
The Ruffian’s sound is jagged, but spiked with great melodies.

The Bound Stems – The Family Afloat
Everything is falling apart, but sounds so together on this album.

The Cansecos – Juices!
The Cansecos have a knack for delicious keyboard-flavored soul.

Dennis Wilson – Pacific Ocean Blue
Dennis proves that there was another talented Wilson in the Beach Boys.

The Depreciation Guild – In Her Gentle Jaws
Chiptune meets Slowdive in a gloriously great mashup.

The Dodos – The Visitor
This album just oozes the warmth and wandering of summer.

Evangelicals – The Evening Descends
A bent testament to widescreen cinema and horror-movie storytelling.

Foals – Antidotes
Battles meets British Rock in a furious blaze of songs.

French Kicks – Swimming
They dirty up their minimalist rock with epic results.

Headlights – Some Racing, Some Stopping
Every song on this compact pop album is superb.

The Helio Sequence – Keep your Eyes Ahead
Despite some stumbles this record is full of mind-blowing moments.

Hilotrons – Happymatic
Wobbly-legged melodies with a bright falsetto for a singer.

Mae Shi – Hillyh
They lost their lead singer and they persevered – good thing too.

Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
The last song on this album gives me goosebumps every time.

Passion Pit – Chunk of Change EP
This was the singer’s engagement gift to his wife – great gift!

Sun Kill Moon – April
Who needs the Red House Painters? Long live Sun Kil Moon

Two Hours Traffic – Little Jabs
The light on east coast can-rock hasn’t gone out yet.

The War on Drugs – Wagonwheel Blues
Music that sounds better in feedback – great album.

Wilderness – (K)now(W)here
They are consistently awesome in what they do.

Wye Oak – If Children
Both beautiful and anarchic, this is a great almost post-rock record.


Electronic-ish Albums

Autechre – Quaristice
Autectrhe always find a way to challenge and delight.

Azeda Booth – In Flesh Tomes
I would say that this was the best release from Calgary this year.

Belong – Colourless Record
Brief, elegiac and haunting drone(ish) record.

Clark – Turning Dragon
A chaotic, complex listen – just trying sourcing the samples

HEALTH/DISCO
A new movement in aggressive electro was born here.

Holy Fuck – LP
I saw them live this year – they can turn any source into something to dance to.

Kleerup – s/t
Not a lot of people can do heartsick with electronics – at least not this well.

Lykke Li – Youth Novels
Lykke Li is one of the reasons the Kleerup release is so good.

Mahjongg – Kontpab
Not quite rock, not quite electronic. All awesome.

Sian Alice Group – 59:59
Ditto.


Rap(ish) Albums

Black Spade – To Serve with Love
Such an effortlessly solid album – I highly recommend

D-Sisive – The Book
His story is heartbreaking, his return is incredible.

Del the Funky Homosapien – Eleventh Hour
Del does his thing and it’s crazy, but a fun listen.

eMC – The Show
This supergroup delivers one of the best rap releases of the year.

Invincible – Shapeshifters
Great female emcee with a decidedly political bent.

Jake One – White Van Music
This is an awesome mixtape with a great variety of guests.

Jean Grae – Jeanius
Some of the best wordplay I’ve heard all year.

Madlib – King of the Wigflip
Madlib has a way of creating the most oddly memorable beats.