Best Music of 2008: Part 5 (15-11)

15. The Walkmen – You & Me

On "In the New Year"—one of this album's standout tracks—lead singer Hamilton Leithauser sounds as if he's trying to convince himself as he proclaims, "I know that it's true/It's gonna be a good year". I don't need any convincing. In the end, it was.


14. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend—they of the highest ranking debut album on this year's list—tread very closely to that dangerous territory inhabited by the over-hyped. Regardless, each time I found myself thinking this, I'd listen to the album one more time and realize that it's just a really enjoyable, cohesive collection of pop songs. So, I guess what I'm saying is, believe the hype—at least for now.


13. Bound Stems – The Family Afloat

I read two separate reviews that reference Modest Mouse's The Moon and Antarctica in describing this one. Neither reviewer made a direct comparison, but I found this odd nonetheless. Many of the songs do take on a somewhat schizophrenic nature, but you'd have to call this a sunnier, friendlier version of that album for the comparison to seem slightly appropriate. Regardless, I suppose it says something about how good this album really is. While not their debut, this is the top spot occupied by a band I had never heard of prior to this year.


12. Cloud Cult – Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)

Cloud Cult topped my Best of 2007 list, and the follow up to The Meaning of 8--while not as mind-blowing—certainly did not disappoint. While his lyrics can be hokey, even silly at times, and his stuff sometimes a little over-the-top, Craig Minowa's philosophical meanderings always strike me as sincere. His songs also provide me with some of the best material to sing along to—when no one else is around, of course.


11. The Streets – Everything is Borrowed

I'm not a huge hip-hop fan, but every year that I've done an expanded list (i.e. more than a top 10), it's included at least one true hip-hop album. There was Kanye West last year, Ghostface Killah in 2006, and both Kanye and Danger Doom in 2005. Generally not considered hip-hop, The Streets is the closest thing to grace this year's list. However you want to classify it, this is an excellent return to form after the disappointing The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living.