1. Nomo, "Ghost Rock
." Bleepy analog synthesizers, plinky homemade instruments, killer brass section. Funky as all get out. This album sounded like nothing else I heard last year. It has remained in my car CD stack since summertime.NOMO Live session from Svetlana legetic on Vimeo.
2. The Helio Sequence, "Keep Your Eyes Ahead
." I never figured out why I rarely heard any of these songs on the radio. They rock. Plus, there's a great countrified tune and a swampy-sounding song thrown in for good measure.3. The Gaslight Anthem, "The '59 Sound
." Driving power-pop, great lyrics, allusions to Tom Petty, Miles Davis and (of course) Springsteen, this Jersey band will be around for a long time.Old White Lincoln
4. The Cat Empire, "So Many Nights
." Quieter than their prior effort, less of a party album, more serious. But still a great listen from top to bottom. This Australian band effortlessly combines genres and keeps the foot tapping.No Longer There
5. Fleet Foxes, "Fleet Foxes
." A hint of Crosby, Stills & Nash; a taste of The Beach Boys. On one track they out-My-Morning-Jacket MMJ themselves.White Winter Hymnal from Grandchildren on Vimeo.
Honorable mentions: REM's "Accelerate
" (the best thing they've done since "New Adventures in Hi-Fi
"), My Morning Jacket's "Evil Urges
" (wanted to like it better than the last two great ones, but simply didn't), "Secret Machines
" (ditto), "Vampire Weekend
" (a few really catchy pop songs, and some filler. Will look forward to their next one), "Grand Archives
" (ditto).Tags:
best of, music, 2008