2008 albums of the year: #26-30

It's that time of year again, when Jann Wenner snuggles up to his Dylan bootlegs and declares them the best anything ever. Yes, album of the year time is here, something I tend to greet with mixed emotions. On one hand, if someone tells me their favorite album this year was, say, Britney's Circus, then I totally respect that because who can say what rocks someone's boat? But on the other, critics should be just that: applying a critical eye to even their own favorites to determine if it's a quality outing worthy of elevating above the others and should reward an artist for daring, artistic work.

I fall somewhere in between. If, again, Circus were an act of pure pop euphoria, I would have no problem giving it props, but there are countless respected artists who rested on their laurels this year (Beck, it's you, buddy) and while it's easy to throw them on a listicle and not have it questioned much, it really shouldn't be there. I had to take several of my favorites off or demote them on the list after a final listen, and in many cases, it hurt bad.

My criteria: risk-taking, repeat-listenability, cohesiveness, clear goals and fun.

With that in mind, I'm going to count down my personal Top 30 albums of the year, five every other day or so (because getting these songs are a pain), leading up to OW's Christmas issue, where you can find my Top 5, along with those of local critics Jason Ferguson and Bao Le-Huu, as well as our 3 worst albums of the year!

All the albums on my Top 30 also received points on my Pazz & Jop ballot, so congrats!

Let's get to it:

26. Autopilot is for Lovers - Sore Eyes
This Portland, Ore. duo's haunting folk-blues is the kind of stripped-down, arthouse sound that's both populist and discriminating.

27. Cars Can Be Blue - Doubly Unbeatable
Irresistible garage-pop from an Athens, Ga. duo that draws from the best of Phil Spector and Tullycraft.

28. Restavrant - Returns to the Tomb of Guiliano Medidici
I used to watch these guys a lot around Los Angeles before they relocated to Texas. Roots country with electro and Jack White influences, they're infinitely silly but foot-stomping fun.

Posted by Justin Strout on 12/15/2008 9:29:51 AM Permalink | Comments: 4

Comments on this story:

Anonymous said:
why you gotta make up bands to put on a year-end list? just to make you seem cool???
posted on: 12/15/2008 2:19:31 PM

tifraser said:
Specifically, which bands did he make up?
posted on: 12/15/2008 2:29:30 PM

Anonymous said:
there's no way anyone would ever call themselves "Restavrant," that's like some momma naming their kid Barack...
posted on: 12/15/2008 5:54:27 PM

Justin Strout said:
Ha, unfortunately Restavrant are real and good but I love the idea of making up a fake band. Though I don't think it'd go very far. At some point, people would want to hear music. I think.
posted on: 12/15/2008 6:39:01 PM