2008 has been a wonderful year for music. It has been a year that has produced alot of albums that exceeded my expectations and a year that had letdown records few and far between. So without further ado, I give you the 10 best records released in 2008.

10. The Sound of Animals Fighting – The Ocean and The Sun
The third full-length from prog-rock supergroup saw the band combining the best aspects of their previous two albums to create something that was progressive enough to warp your brain without being completely off the wall and elusive to the listener. This album has something for everyone and reveals something new with each listen.
Myspace :: The Sound of Animals Fighting
Purchase The Ocean and The Sun
MP3 :: The Sound of Animals Fighting - I, The Swan

9. Evangelicals – The Evening Descends
When I first heard this record, I would have laughed at the thought of it appearing on this list, but with time, these guys have proved to me that my first impressions aren’t always right. This gem is full of spacey atmospheric dream rock that has a replayability factor that is through the roof. Not to mention these guys put on an insane live show.
Myspace :: Evangelicals
Purchase :: The Evening Descends
MP3 :: Evangelicals – Midnight Vignette


8. Underoath - Lost In The Sound of Separation
After the initial hype of this album began to die down, it sort of lost it’s luster. While it fails at reaching the intense and heavy peaks that their breakthrough release “Define The Great Line” did, LITSOS is still an album that I’ve enjoyed too much to not put it on this list.
Myspace :: Underoath
Purchase :: Lost In The Sound of Separation
MP3 :: Breathing In A New Mentality

7. Stray From The Path – Villans
This record is a perfect example that some bands still believe in making music with a message. Villans was recorded by this virtually unknown hardcore outfit out of Long Island, New York and mixed and mastered by Converge’s Kurt Ballou. At just 11 songs in length, Villans blisters through its socio-political message in a mere 23 minutes, which never really gives you much time to realize you’ve just been hit by a fucking train.
Myspace :: Stray From The Path
Purchase :: Villans
MP3 :: Stray From The Path – The Art of Reprisal

6. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular

An album that will probably be on a lot of year-end lists, MGMT took the indie mainstream by storm with Oracular Spectacular. An album filled with sexually charged indie-pop gems. It’s really hard to pick out a bad song off this “spectacular” record.
Myspace :: MGMT
Purchase :: Oracular Spectacular
MP3 :: MGMT – The Handshake

5. Conor Oberst – Conor Oberst
Oberst shines on his self titled effort which displays his calm, reposed romanticism and natural songwriting talent in songs like “Lenders in the Temple” and “Sausalito”. The simplicity of the songs on this album like the epic closer “Milk Thistle” all retain their intricacies making this one that will keep finding its way back onto your playlist.
Myspace :: Conor Oberst
Purchase :: Conor Oberst
MP3 :: Conor Oberst – Milk Thistle

4. Lydia – Illuminate
Lydia return with their second full-length that shreds any notion of the so called “sophmore slump”. Illuminate is filled with dualing male/female vocals and big instrumentation that create the perfect backdrop to one of the most stunning efforts of the year. Illuminate proves that this band is capable of very big things.
Myspace :: Lydia
Purchase :: Illuminate
MP3 :: Stay Awake

3. Colour Revolt – Plunder, Beg, and Curse
These guys have a sound wise beyond their years. Upbeat songs like “Naked and Red” “A Siren” and “Swamp” showcase the melodic brutality of their triple guitar assault, backed by one of the most dynamic vocal performances I’ve heard all year. Plunder Beg and Curse is one of the most aggressive, dynamic, thought provoking records of 2008.
Myspace :: Colour Revolt
Purchase :: Plunder, Beg, and Curse
MP3 :: Swamp


Right Away, Great Captain! – The Eventually Home
The Eventually Home paints the bleak, depressing tale of a sailor bent on revenge. RAGC founder and sole member Andy Hull crafts his tale through simplistic layered acoustics and deafening builds of emotion from beginning to end. This album is sure to captivate and engross you in its dark brooding tale.
Myspace :: Right Away, Great Captain!
Purchase :: The Eventually Home
MP3 :: I Was a Cage

1. La Dispute – Somewhere At The Bottom of The River Between Vega and Altair
This little known group of friends out of Grand Rapids, Michigan have released the best record of 2008. SATBOTRBVAA is an album that is relentless in its ferocity and honesty. The music itself can be described as a progressive post-hardcore melding pot of bands such as At The Drive In, Glassjaw, mewithoutYou, and Circle Takes The Square. Dual guitars intertwine to create the jagged musical base for frontman Jordan Dryer’s vocals. At first listen, the comparisons between Dreyer and mewithoutYou vocalist Aaron Weiss are inescapable. Like Weiss, Dreyer is able to wield his words together in a way many wish they were capable of, creating an intensity throughout that is nearly tangible. La Dispute represents the little hope left in today’s music industry, where things like brotherhood, love, and community are the defining factors for their creation.
Myspace :: La Dispute Purchase :: Somewhere At The Bottom of The River Between Vega and Altair
MP3 :: Damaged Goods
MP3 :: The Castle Builders

Related posts: (Hopefully! This is auto-generated)

1. Coming Soon: Best of 2008
2. Review: Portugal. The Man – Censored Colors