2008 - The Albums

So another year, another bunch of albums. As always, it was hard to decide where to rank everything, and if I were to re-assess this list in 6 months time, it would probably be completely different, but then, that's the game innit? So now, here are my top ten albums of 2008:-

1) Portishead- 3rd : After 10 years away, they've delivered a fantastic set of post-punk influenced tunes, still blowing my away after 8 or so months of living with it. Top Stuff

2) You Am I - Dilettantes : Tim Rogers is in a rich vein of song writing form, this being the 3rd brilliant record he's been responsible for writing in as many years.

3) Radiohead - In Rainbows : Yes, I know the songs were released online in 2007, but they were only physically released on January 1st 2008, so it makes the list. A real return to form too.

4) Sloan - Parallel Play : Canada's finest purveyors of power pop goodness. My surprise of the year.....not that it was this good, but that after releasing the marathon effort that was 2007s Never Hear The End Of It, I'm shocked they had songs left over to record.

5) HDU - Metamathics : This has grown on me over the year. After not being blown away initially, having seen them play this stuff live, it all makes sense now.

6) Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling : A real return to form from these Scottish post-rockers, rather than (over)reacting to their previous albums, they've just gone out and created a masterpiece.

7) The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement : A rather awesome collection of 60s influenced pop gems.

8) Fleet Foxes - S/T : A late discovery, could possibly have made it higher up the list with a bit more time to digest this album.

9) Sam F. Scott and the Bunnys on Ponys - Straight Answer Machine : Lovely indie pop gems, well played by some of the biggest and brightest names in the Wellington indie scene.

10) The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride : While not hittin the heights of previous efforts, there are still some great tunes on this album.

There you have it. Unlucky to miss out were albums by Brian Wilson, Mudhoney and School of Language, with albums that, while having their pleasures, were good rather than great.
On the other hand, the latest efforts by Wire and The Futureheads were highly anticipated on my part and turned out to be rather disappointing (tho The Futureheads album featured 3 fantastic singles it must be said)

STAY TUNED FOR MY TOP TEN SONGS AND GIGS OF 2008