Published: Monday, December 29, 2008
Liner notes: Andy's picks for 2008
5 albums make the cut this year
I've heard that the state of music gets better as the state of the world gets worse.
Evidence certainly bolstered the idea this year.
You probably don't need a list reminding you of everything that went wrong. You read the paper, after all.
Instead, here's a shorter, happier list, my top five albums of 2008.
Andy Rathbun, arathbun@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3455
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
Self-titled
Sub Pop Records
It's hard to write songs that stay fresh. Same with jokes. But you wouldn't know that listening to these New Zealanders. Spoofing Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and their own inability to speak French, the duo gave us a catchy album as funny as their HBO series.
GIRL TALK
"Feed the Animals"
Illegal Art
Girl Talk's latest rush of an album mashed together so many different tracks it bordered on distracting. Was that Lil Wayne? Yes. Sinead O'Connor? Yes. Salt-n-Pepa? Yes. Twisted Sister? Yes. And that was just part of the first song.
THE HOLD STEADY
"Stay Positive"
Vagrant Records
The Brits think Nashville's Kings of Leon represents American rock 'n' roll. Hold Steady fans know otherwise. Despite a couple of weak spots, the Brooklyn band's latest delivered literate lyrics, stadium-ready riffs and unlikely sing-alongs ("Subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis").
KANYE WEST
"808s & Heartbreak"
Roc-a-Fella Records
Atmospheric hip-hop and heartfelt lyrics from a raging ego? And it worked? Well, all right! The 12 songs on this album have been played more than 55 million times on West's MySpace page for a simple reason: They're good.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Self-titled
XL Recordings
Brainy white guys haven't had this much fun playing Afro-Pop since Paul Simon released "Graceland." These Columbia University graduates were so good, Peter Gabriel has already covered a song. The album itself can satisfy bloggers and parents alike.
Fleet Foxes, "Mykonos": Because the harmonies of this Seattle group threatened the supremacy of the Allman Brothers and the Beach Boys.
Hot Chip, "Ready for the Floor": Because the spongy beat and a fun line -- "You're my No.1 guy" -- acted as a reminder that electronica and pop aren't mutually exclusive.
Weezer, "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)": Because it's the "Bohemian Rhapsody" of geek rock.
What was your favorite?
Visit this article at www.heraldnet.com to share your favorite songs and albums of 2008.
Evidence certainly bolstered the idea this year.
You probably don't need a list reminding you of everything that went wrong. You read the paper, after all.
Instead, here's a shorter, happier list, my top five albums of 2008.
Andy Rathbun, arathbun@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3455
FLIGHT OF THE CONCHORDS
Self-titled
Sub Pop Records
It's hard to write songs that stay fresh. Same with jokes. But you wouldn't know that listening to these New Zealanders. Spoofing Stevie Wonder, David Bowie and their own inability to speak French, the duo gave us a catchy album as funny as their HBO series.
GIRL TALK
"Feed the Animals"
Illegal Art
Girl Talk's latest rush of an album mashed together so many different tracks it bordered on distracting. Was that Lil Wayne? Yes. Sinead O'Connor? Yes. Salt-n-Pepa? Yes. Twisted Sister? Yes. And that was just part of the first song.
THE HOLD STEADY
"Stay Positive"
Vagrant Records
The Brits think Nashville's Kings of Leon represents American rock 'n' roll. Hold Steady fans know otherwise. Despite a couple of weak spots, the Brooklyn band's latest delivered literate lyrics, stadium-ready riffs and unlikely sing-alongs ("Subpoenaed in Texas, sequestered in Memphis").
KANYE WEST
"808s & Heartbreak"
Roc-a-Fella Records
Atmospheric hip-hop and heartfelt lyrics from a raging ego? And it worked? Well, all right! The 12 songs on this album have been played more than 55 million times on West's MySpace page for a simple reason: They're good.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Self-titled
XL Recordings
Brainy white guys haven't had this much fun playing Afro-Pop since Paul Simon released "Graceland." These Columbia University graduates were so good, Peter Gabriel has already covered a song. The album itself can satisfy bloggers and parents alike.
Fleet Foxes, "Mykonos": Because the harmonies of this Seattle group threatened the supremacy of the Allman Brothers and the Beach Boys.
Hot Chip, "Ready for the Floor": Because the spongy beat and a fun line -- "You're my No.1 guy" -- acted as a reminder that electronica and pop aren't mutually exclusive.
Weezer, "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived (Variations on a Shaker Hymn)": Because it's the "Bohemian Rhapsody" of geek rock.
What was your favorite?
Visit this article at www.heraldnet.com to share your favorite songs and albums of 2008.
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