My bud Brian asked me to make him a mix of my favorite songs off of my top 10 albums of 2008 list. I thought I'd 1-UP him by mixing him a cd of 15 tracks from my favorite top 11-20 albums of 2008 along with 2 songs off of my top 10 album list.
I have burned enough of these discs to realize you all need to check out this mix. It's really good. If you don't have/know any of these songs hit me back. Or buy them.
1) Rock 'N Roll Train - AC/DC - Black Ice 4:22
2) Replica - Beck - Modern Guilt 3:25
3) Psychotic Girl - The Black Keys - Attack & Release 4:11
4) Halo - Bloc Party - Intimacy 3:35
5) The What? (feat. G-off & The Whooligan) - Mark Farina/Colossus - Mushroom Jazz 6 5:02
6) Never Stops - Deerhunter - Microcastle 3:04
7) Misty Morning - Earl Greyhound - I'm on Jupiter Waving My Arms at You: Live at The Calhoun School 9:10
8) Porchlight - Eric Avery - Help Wanted 3:48
9) 3 Ghosts I - Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV 3:51
10) Top Yourself - The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely 4:26
11) You'll Find A Way - Santogold - Santogold 3:01
12) Wired for Light - School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms 4:57
13) My Medicine - Snoop Dogg - Ego Trippin' 2:41
14) Dancing Choose - TV On the Radio - Dear Science 2:56
15) Angel - The Wood Brothers - Loaded 4:09
16) Sit and Wonder - The Verve - Forth 6:52
17) Basin Street Blues - Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis - Two Men With the Blues 4:56
I didn't think they'd EVER release this. 17 years ago I figured that was it. But the rumors persisted and then, the album came out! 13 million dollars, 8 studios, 30 recording engineers, a huge cast of musicians and it sounds good. There are only about 3 songs on the new album that sound like "classic" GNR. If you are looking for more than that, this album is probably not for you. But that's fine with me. I'm not 17 years old anymore with 17 year old tastes. The rest of the songs are mutated metal/hard rock/alternative rock songs that are very different from the old GNR sound. But original. Hip hop beats. Flamenco guitar. Crazy Buckethead guitar soloing ALL over it. And Axl's voice is still there unless he recorded the good vocal tracks 17 years ago. The album is also recorded VERY well and is VERY unique/original. I'd say it is at least as good as "Lies", "Use Your Illusions", and "Spaghetti Incident" (way better than this one!). There were great songs on those old albums packed in with a lot of average songs too, and this album is at least that good. I think better. I really do like this album, just don't expect what you used to like and keep an open mind. I also keep my inner 17 year old happy getting this on to my top 10 list.
#9. Q-Tip - "The Renaissance"
It's been 9 years since Q-Tip put out his first album "Amplified" which I really liked. Then all his future work was indefinitely delayed/shelved until now. This new one is a very funky hip hop album in line with everything he has ever done. Jazzy, R&B, Retro, 80's, smooth, and hip. It fits his style but is very modern in the way he approaches the music world today. If you ever liked any of his old stuff you should splurge on only his 2nd solo disc.
Life Is Better. I couldn't find any good live clips of Q. This is a bangin' track off the new one. Norah Jones is the female singer all over it on this track. Nice. It is also the typical hiphop "shout-out" last track, even though it's not the last song. All you see is the album cover.
#8. Metallica - "Death Magnetic"
Rick Rubin produced the boys' new album and said one thing, pretend you are "back in the day" and writing a 2nd disc to the Master of Puppets album. And they deliver. I didn't think they could even do that anymore. They can, they just have chosen to do something different over the years. This album is heavy, loud, fast, overly complicated and syncopated. Plus wonderfully recorded. One of the loudest recorded albums I have heard in awhile. I just bought tickets to see them live because the album is so good. And I haven't wanted to see them live since I saw the And Justice For All tour. Which was great (but old school). Now they are new old school. If you always wished Metallica would return to their old style, they finally did.
The End Of The Line
#7. The Walkmen - "You And Me"
This is my most obscure pick of the year. A band from NYC. I have been a fan of theirs for awhile but their albums just had a lot of variety and no concept. A lot of singles. But then this new album came along. Every year there are at least 2 bands who try and re-do the sound of the Beach Boys "Pet Sounds". This is one of them. It has that Phil Spector Wall Of Sound. Heart aching vocals, but more punk than Brian Wilson. And the album really holds together as an album. All of the songs work as pieces of one story and build off one another. This is the first time I have heard this band sound really together. I expect bigger and better things from them and I think this is their watershed album.
In The New Year.
#6. Girl Talk - "Feed The Animals"
Girl Talk is a DJ who just mixes other peoples' music. But he chooses to mix the most modern/popular/profane hip hop lyrics with the strangest of classic rock, 80's music, and popular rock songs. In a very dancy way. Out of my top 10 albums I have probably listened to this one the most. Whenever people are by or at a party, this cd gets people laughing and dancing. Plus whoever did these video versions of this albums songs on youtube also did a great job of entertaining. My pick for the funnest album of 2008.
Track 1
#5. The Roots - "Rising Down"
These guys have long been my favorite hip hop band. And THE ORIGINAL hip hop band. They play everything and write songs in a band format, but it's not rock. And it is cutting edge. There were always old school hip hop acts using bands to play there already sampled songs but these guys wrote hip hop songs on instruments. Plus their MC Black Thought is still my favorite. Besides that they have been putting out stellar albums for 10 years now. They pretty much have an album on my top 10 list every year. Nobody touches them in modern pop hip hop. These guys are on another level and this new album is no different.
Rising Up
#4. The Raconteurs - "Consolers Of The Lonely"
What can I say? I love Jack White. I've blogged about him many times. Plus I love hearing him in a full band. I don't get tired of that. The Racs new album is very eclectic like their first album. The best of classic rock, punk, folk, blues, and Americana. The musicianship and songwriting is top notch. They also put a great live show on for this album. I saw them over the summer. A must for any Jack fan.
Salute Your Solution
#3. Beck - "Modern Guilt"
Like the Roots I pretty much have a Beck album on my top 10 list on which ever year he puts out an album. This new one was produced by producer/DJ extraordinaire Dangermouse. It is stripped to the bone as far as the songwriting. It's real basic and 60's rock sounding (except for Replicant which is one of the years best electronic songs). For almost the entire album Beck and Dangermouse play all the instruments. If you have ever liked Beck or 60's rock in general you should pick it up. On a side note I also am awarding Dangermouse my producer of the year award. Besides this album he also put out the new Gnarls Barkley album and the new Black Keys album. They would both be on my top 20 list. 3 phenomenal albums this years and he was big parts of all of them. Kudos D!
Gamma Ray
#2. Louis XIV - "Slick Dogs and Ponies"
This is actually my #1 favorite recorded album of the year. It is as classic rock and old school rock and roll of anything I have heard this year. Pounding drums, wailing guitars, sex, beatles-y moments, and an overall concept album. For this album they actually added some string players. Very nice. Song to song it stands up on it's own. As did their last album The Best Little Secrets Are Kept. If you like classic 70's rock you should pick it up.
Guilt By Association
#1. Muse - "HAARP"
While my #2 album is technically my favorite straight recorded concept album of the year, this new Muse live CD/DVD blows every live show I have ever seen off the map. Props to my buddy Patrick who told me he threw this on every morning to get pumped up just to go to work. Made me wonder why. When you see this you can see why these guys are probably one of the biggest and baddest (best) bands in the world. Just a power trio but they sound like Queen on steroids and Red Bull on a spaceship 200 years into the future. Their lead singer is just a virtuoso. Guitar, piano, and singing. And he has the craziest custom guitars ever with most of the effects built on to them. He picks guitars based on the effects they have in them. Plus the band has stage prescence. Plus they have a stellar stage show and props. My jaw just drops everytime I watch this DVD, which my friends will tell you is a lot. Watch the clips below and see for yourself. One of the few bands that sound bigger than on their albums live (and their albums are really good!). Best of the year.