best albums of 2008

with the exception of a few amazing albums, most of the music of 2008 was disapointing or fucking lame. Then again I'm not sure how much of it i even bothered to listen to. So here we go:

1. Constantines - Kensington Heights Number one with a bullet, and also hailed as album of the year by the associated press we have the Constantines with Kensington Heights. This one is tamer then their previous albums, but still packs a punch. Some of the songs still don't quite mach their brilliance live, but they come damn close. This one also contains the best song to date sung by Steve Lambke, "Shower of Stones". While his vocal stylings might not be everyones cup of tea, this song has gorgeous texture, builds up brilliantly, and the main line of "all love can be a shower of stones" is a gem. All the other songs are all brilliant in their own unique way. I would have named the album Queenston Heights, as a slight reference to the Americans essentially losing the war of 1812 because of this famous battle, but I have since spent time in Toronto and discovered that the Kensington Market area is pretty fucking kick ass, and home to a great guitar shop called "paul's botique". I got a sweet amp from their, and the dudes are actually helpful, rather then out to screw clueless musicians such as myself.

2. Hayden - In Field and Town
Like all Hayden albums, this one contains 4 amazing songs, and then a bunch of really pretty ones. Simple, wonderful and easy to digest. Personal favorites are: Damn This Feeling, Lonely Security Guard, and Weight of the World.

3. Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs
While none of these songs were recorded in 2008 the latest installment of the Dylan Bootleg series was released in 2008. Another fine example of this old bastards ability to write a song and play it a million different ways. A good live version of Cocaine Blues, pretty similar to Van Ronk's but freeer and more swinging. A simple acoustic take on Most of Time is interesting to hear, and while I always thought a stripped down version of any Dylan song is always superior to its band backed counterpart, this one makes you realise that.... they are both great, fucking dylan. Not for everyone I know, but have your local dylan fanatic pick and choose em for you.

4. Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain
A good example of being able to release an album to a wide audience and not have it suck really badly. Some songs are a bit boring, but Meg White, Hey Me Hey Mama, and Henry Nearly Killed Me carry most of the weight.


Most disapointing albums: Raconteurs, Nick Cave's Dig Lazaurs, and Coldplay's boring crap fest Viva La Vida.

Most Over Hyped: Anything on pitchforks list.

Pretty Good or If I listened to them more then once they might be good: James' Hey Ma, doing pop just as well as they ever did. Not a solid album from begining to end but Hey Ma is a good anti-war tune, and the rest are pretty and non-offensive. Kings Of Leon's Only By Night is nothing too new or interesting, but as far as top 40 rock n roll goes, its better then most of the shit they put on the radio. Portishead's third, Tv on the Radio's science something or other, cut copy.. my buddy sean likes them so it could be good. blaa bla bla im tired of writing.

Band's who might have been good at one point in time, but don't have to bother listening to ever again because they clearly have gone past the point of no return:
Catpower, Coldplay, Ryan Adams, and i hate to do this... Billy Bragg