Words of Wisdom

When it comes to my music tastes, I am an album person. Sure, there may be individual songs that I really like, but there is something about an artist’s vision as a whole that appeals to me much more. That being said, 2008 was an excellent year for music. Yesterday I posted ten honorable mention albums and today I give you the first ten of my top twenty. Enjoy.

20. The Raveonettes – Lust Lust Lust
With their mixture of crashing guitars and ethereal vocals, this emusic discovery quickly became one of my favorites for 2008. This atmospheric album had a peculiar air about it, one that I would liken to earlier shoegazing bands like the brilliant My Bloody Valentine or the Jesus and Mary Chain, meaning that, even though the song structures of the Raveonettes are a bit more distinguishable than these earlier groups, this is truly meant to be an album experience. Their songs builds a seemingly impenetrable wall of noise and feedback, but somehow it all makes sense. Just lay back, turn up the volume, and lose yourself in the rolling waves of heavily distorted guitar…it’s a great ride.
Download: Aly, Walk With Me, Lust

19. Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch
I’ve been a fan of Tom Petty for a long time now, but, of his vast repertoire of work, I’ve always found myself drawn to his simpler, more folk-like songs, those that focus around guitars rather than keyboards. So, I was excited to hear about Petty reuniting his original 70’s country-rock band, Mudcrutch, to finally record their debut album, and I have to say that they do not disappoint. Some of the tunes, like “Scare Easy,” sound as if they could have come from the Full Moon Fever sessions 20 years ago, while others, such as “Shady Grove,” sound more akin to something you would hear played by old-timers in the Ozark mountains, but somehow it all fits together to form another fantastic work from Petty.
Download: Shady Grove, Topanga Cowgirl

18. R.E.M. – Accelerate
I have to admit that over the past decade I had lost track of Michael Stipe & company. Though I continued to acknowledge their earlier brilliance (Seriously, if you don’t own a copy of Fables of the Reconstruction you should be ashamed of yourself), I apathetically pushed much of their later work to the side. So, it took me aback when I felt such a strong urge to pick up their latest work. With such strong, positive memories of their work from years ago, I was certain that this could not compare, that Stipe, Peter Buck, and the others had lost that streak of youthful genius. But I was wrong. The guitar-heavy Accelerate reminds me of their mid-90’s release Monster. They charge through number after number with a ferocity that belies the fact that they have been together and recording for almost 30 years.
Download: Supernatural Superserious, Hollow Man

17. Jason Isbell – Sirens of the Ditch
As a member of one of my favorite bands, the Drive-By Truckers, Isbell proved himself to be an excellent songwriter (see: “Outfit” and “Decoration Day), so I anxiously awaited his first solo release after leaving the group. Though this is perhaps not up to the level of his former band, it remains an excellent collection of southern rock songs. “Dress Blues” may be the one of the best and most heartbreaking tales of war and loss that I have heard yet from our current conflict.
Download: Dress Blues, Shotgun Wedding

16. Beck – Modern Guilt
I’ve been convinced for years that Beck is one of the most brilliant artists of my generation, from his slacker anthems in the 90’s to his beautifully depressing (and best) work, Sea Change, to the wide scope of his most recent albums. Modern Guilt doesn’t aspire to the great, generation-defining heights of Odelay, but it is a solid effort and a welcome addition to his incredible catalogue.
Download: Chemtrails, Modern Guilt

15. Lucinda Williams – Little Honey
A review I read for this album in the last year made the comparison between 1998’s stellar album Car Wheels on a Gravel Road, whose lyrics, “You took my joy, I want it back,” rang out loud and true for Williams on subsequent albums and her latest release, on which the first strains of “Real Love,” the opener on Little Honey, make it clear that the ever-elusive happiness may have finally found her. Without a doubt, this is her best work in ten years, further cementing her place as one of the greatest songwriters to be found. And, personally, I was excited to find out that I will have the opportunity to again bear witness to her greatness live and in concert here in Memphis this coming March.
Download: Circles and X’s, Tears of Joy

14. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
I came into contact with this band through NPR’s All Songs Considered, one of the best resources around for new music, and was instantly hooked. Their prodigious use of vocal harmonies and beautiful pop melodies elicit thoughts of great groups of times past like Crosby, Stills, and Nash, a characteristic that sets them apart from other new acts. “White Winter Hymnal,” is definitely one of my favorite songs (though not my favorite, that is coming up) of the year and I look forward to hearing much more from these guys in the future.
Download: White Winter Hymnal, Ragged Wood

13. Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst
There has been a recent glut of good indie rock bands that have come to the forefront of the public consciousness. Of this group, one of my personal favorites has been Bright Eyes and their vocalist Conor Oberst, whose wavering, seemingly unsure voice and poetic lyrics seem to fit these tumultuous times like a glove. His first solo outing is more stripped-down than his work with Bright Eyes, a style that works with his melodic pop sensibilities just fine.
Download: Cape Canaveral, Lenders in the Temple

12. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
“Time to Pretend” is the very best song of the year. Period. It’s tale of youthful exuberance and hopes and dreams eventually leading to disappointment and hopeless resignation is one that resonates loud and clear. The entire album is excellent as well, my only problem with it being that it has their best song as track one, so, as good as the other 9 songs are, they seem like a bit of a letdown. This is only their second album (and their first as MGMT), so keep an eye on this band and take my word for it, these guys will be huge.
Download: Oracular Spectacular, Weekend Wars

11. Metallica – Death Magnetic
I can see where there may be two schools of thought on the latest Metallica release, either that it is a cynical ploy to increase album sales after several years of garbage or that after several years of experimentation with different styles they have returned assuredly to their roots. I vote for choice two, though that may just be because Death Magnetic rocks like few others can and like Metallica has not done since 1991’s Black Album (or maybe even earlier). The songs are longer and thrashier (a la 80’s Metallica) and the guitar solos are back after their absence on the abysmal St. Anger, two factors that work to turn back Father time nearly two decades. Though far later, this album works as the perfect bridge between the epic And Justice for All and the heavy, but more radio friendly, Black Album. Just turn it up and rock out.
Download: The End of the Line, All Nightmare Long