(NOTE: The title of “top album” comes with these specifications: a “top” album is stronger as a whole than as the sum of its parts. What puts an album on this list is that the album – as a complete work – is functional and exceptional. These are not records with a bunch of good songs. These are thought to be complete works of art that need all tracks involved to be considered “great.”)
Future With the Lights On’s official picks for the best of the past year in music:
8. Greg Laswell – Three Flights from Alto Nido
Mr. Laswell might be the underdog of 2008. His “How the Day Sounds” teaser EP was mediocre. His live show opening for Ingrid Michaelson in June was adequate but unremarkable. But somewhere beneath the fading charm of his Cyndi Lauper cover song is an album full of restrained pop songs that bubble and fester but successfully never get ahead of themselves.
MP3: Greg Laswell - That It Moves
7. Kathleen Edwards – Asking for Flowers
Kathleen Edwards has the fire and spunk that could survive in punk rock – but instead she channels her anger and energy into writing muddy, emotional alt-country that gives ode to Lucinda while simultaneously giving Ms. Williams some healthy competition. There are moments of surliness – like “Cheapest Key” – and moments of barebones, heart-breaking insight – “Scared at Night.”
MP3: Kathleen Edwards - The Cheapest Key
6. Kings of Leon – Only By the Night
The Nashville family band has collected a bunch of perfect pop hooks and strong melodies, injected with the rhythm of a Police record. It has party capabilities, but is also outfitted with a sense of timelessness. So does it really matter what the phrase “your sex is on fire” means?
MP3: Kings of Leon - Notion
5. Little Jackie – The Stoop
Call it the “comeback of the year” – or the comeback of the last ten years… Imani Coppola was a one hit wonder with her 1997 song “Legend of a Cowgirl.” In 2008 she found herself a DJ, named their duo “Little Jackie” and put out a soundtrack to Brooklyn summers. “The Stoop” is part Motown, part hip-hop, and all heart.
MP3: Little Jackie - The Stoop
4. The Killers – Day & Age
After mining the territory of Springsteen, the Vegas glam boys rounded up their misplaced gusto and unleashed one of the most ferociously hummable albums in years. Brandon Flowers makes use of vivid imagery, quotes Hunter S. Thompson, and hides emotive and desperate pleas of pop perfection in every nook and cranny.
MP3: The Killers - A Dustland Fairytale
3. Wild Sweet Orange – We Have Cause to Be Uneasy
These Alabama rockers, led by baby-faced singer/songwriter Preston Lovingood tackle the toughest of subjects in disillusionment, anger, and discontent. They are angry that the world isn’t the rose-colored, black & white landscape they were promised – and they are ready to tell you about it. Lovingood has the desperate delivery needed to hand-out the lyrical venom. And the band has the sense of how to back up his feelings with flow and structure as much as chording. It is terse and emotional and strikingly gorgeous at moments.
MP3: Wild Sweet Orange - Either/Or
2. Jeremy Messersmith – The Silver City
Jeremy has created the musical equivalent to a short film. The songs all build on each other and work together to become a complete commentary on suburban longing. It is sad and haunting – and somehow still hopeful.
MP3: Jeremy Messersmith - Broken Down
1. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down – We Brave Bee Stings and All
There is something so infectious about Thao - Her off-kilter, husky wrasp; her perfect 3 minute pop forays. We Brave Bee Stings is unique without being annoying, is catchy without wearing out quickly. It is a musical anomaly.
1 comment:
only 8 albums? this does not suffice for an EOTY list. I'm emailing mine now...
-Joel
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