My Big "Best of" List Strikes Again. 2008 Edition.

This really isn't a "Best of" list as much as it's simply a highly subjective grouping of my favorite and therefore most played albums of 2008... in no particular order.

Gang Gang Dance: St. Dymphna [The Social Registry]
St. Dymphna [buy] from Brooklyn's experimental outfit Gang Gang Dance is light years ahead of anything else released in 2008 and 2009 and...
First Communion mp3
House Jam mp3


Vivian Girls: Vivian Girls [In The Red]
With sickeningly sweet harmonies sprinkled over gooey punk chords,
Vivian Girls' self-titled debut [buy] might just be the most delicious treat of the year.
Tell the World mp3
Where Do You Run To mp3


Titus Andronicus: The Airing of Grievances [XL]
The tracks on The Airing of Grievances [buy] from New Jersey's Titus Andronicus are loud, fast and brilliant punk anthems for the iGeneration.
Arms Against Atrophy mp3
Titus Andronicus mp3


Okay: Huggable Dust [Absolutely Kosher]
Huggable Dust [buy] from San Francisco's Marty Anderson a.k.a. Okay is the perfect combination of gentle indie pop melody and freak folk eccentricity.
My mp3
Loveless mp3


High Places: High Places [Thrill Jockey]
Brooklyn duo High Places' full length debut [buy] is the year's most stunning collection of seductive and intoxicating experimental electro-pop.
The Storm mp3
Golden mp3


Rings: Black Habit [Paw Tracks]
The bizarre and unhinged tracks on Black Habit [buy] from New York's Rings took up residence in the primeval/reptilian portion of my brain back in January and never left... in a good way... I think.
Mom Dance mp3
You Remind Me mp3


Peter Adams: I Woke with Planets in My Face [Self-released]
Lush melodies combine with gorgeous arrangements to create a near perfect indie pop symphony on I Woke with Planets in My Face [buy] from Cincinnati's Peter Adams. A must listen.
The Observatory mp3
Ziggurat mp3


Nite Jewel: My CD [Human Ear Music]
Full of damaged beats and tortured vocals, My CD [buy] from L.A.'s Nite Jewel is the perfect soundtrack to a night of dancing and diazepam.
Artificial Intelligence mp3
What Did He Say mp3


Chairlift: Does You Inspire You [Kanine]
Brooklyn psych rockers Chairlift deservedly broke big this year with the catchy hooks and otherworldly melodies on their fantastic debut, Does You Inspire You [buy].
Planet Health mp3
Bruises mp3


No Age: Nouns [Sub Pop]
Nouns [buy] is the stunningly fuzzed out sophomore full length from L.A.'s No Age. Pop punk at it's most dissonant and danceable.
Eraser mp3
Teen Creeps mp3