Rollin’ & Scratchin’

In the Year where the remix and not the album reigned supreme, there were still many notable full-lengths that are worth mentioning in this list.

5) Lykke Li – Youth Novels

Perhaps the most honest album of the year, Sweden’s Lykke Li reminded us how to open our hearts, fall in love and dance again. This is definitely one of the most rhythmically creative albums of 2008. Everything about this Scandanavian Princess is utterly charming Although it’s been remixed by several heavy hitting producers, the original somehow stands atop the mountain in triumph. I dare you not to fall in love with Lykke Li…

Lykkie Li – Dance, Dance, Dance

4) Girl Talk – Feed The Animals

Maybe you can’t technically consider this an album, but Pittsburgh’s Girl Talk managed to come up with yet another mash-up masterpiece with Feed The Animals. Topping his previous effort, Feed The Animals boasts over fifty samples in each mash-up to cover any and every pop song from the last thirty years you could possibly think of in an entire album (Exaggeration? Not really…) Never have I had so much fun listening to a mix CD. We’d better hope he’s got a great lawyer.

Girl Talk – Play Your Part Pt.

3) Hot Chip – Made In The Dark

It makes sense that one of the best shows of 2008 would come from a band that released one of the best albums. Expectations were riding high for Hot Chip’s third release after the outstanding sophomore LP that was ‘The Warning’. Thankfully, Hot Chip neither strayed too far away from what they do best, nor repeated themselves in any capacity with ‘Made In The Dark’. The British quintet can still write songs that are as equally tear-jerking as they are playful and catchy. This just goes to show you that nerds know how to have fun too.

Hot Chip – Ready For The Floor

2) The Black Keys – Attack and Release

Although they’ve been around for a while, The Black Keys were new to me this year. Sure, a two-piece band can seem a little gimicky after we’ve seen so many other duo’s rise to stardom over the last decade. But something about this two-piece from Akron, Ohio seems so much more sincere than others past. Attack and Release is one of those start to finish albums that is worth taking the time to listen all the way through. With the right mix of roadhouse rock, and blues ballads, The Black Keys have done an outstanding job creating an entire album. Oh yeah, and did we mention that Danger Mouse produced this album? It’s got gold written all over it!

The Black Keys – Strange Times

1) Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

2008 was the year of Cut Copy. Not only did they tour the world nearly three times over, but they released their best material to date. This retrospective three piece from Melbourne Australia really know how to grasp the finer points of 80’s pop music and turn it into something entirely their own. Great lyrics, great grooves, and an over all accomplished and complete album for Cut Copy. Not to mention that they put on one of the best shows I’ve seen this year. The Cutters take the cake!

Cut Copy – Lights and Music

December 29th, 2008 by Craig