The Best of 2008 - 10 Albums

As promised, here is my list of the 10 best rock albums that came out in 2008. Happy New Year!

1) My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
The amount of genre-bending that MMJ pulls of on this album is indeed evil. There's the straight-up rock of "Aluminum Park," the brit-ambiance of "Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2" and the soft-rock feel-good vibes of "Sec Walkin." Mr. Jim James even channels the little purple one on "Highly Suspicious." What other band would have the urge to do that? None that I know. Their risk payed off, and this album is the best of the year, if not their career.
Three Key Cuts: "I'm Amazed" "Aluminum Park" "Touch Me I'm Going To Scream Pt. 1"

2) The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
I wish that this album had come out when I was 16 years old. It's exactly the kind of music that I would have worshipped and tried to play in my high school band. But alas, all that was around me in the year 2000 was computerized classic rock radio and TRL. It's a miracle that I came out of that alive. Anyway, Stay Positive is uptempo bar-rock that melds the sounds of Bruce, the Faces and Neil Young into an entire album of tight songs. Throw in a bunch of Catholic imagery, tales of partying and stories about the failings of love, and you make my 16 year old self very jealous.
Three Key Cuts: "Constructive Summer" "Both Crosses" "Slapped Actress"

3) Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
This album couldn't be more different from KOL's debut Youth and Young Manhood. Yes, the lyrics are all still about sex, drugs and the road. Yes, it's still chock full of guitar driven songs with heavy backbeats. Yes, Caleb howls with a voice unlike anything else in music today. But, there's less of that country-fried messiness to their writing and performing. The songs are more refined, more intricate, and some even border on being too overproduced. They're huge in the UK, (like Coldplay huge) and I think that might be getting to them. But it works here, and the family Followill keep the pop-rock torch running.
Three Key Cuts: "Use Somebody" "Revelry" "Sex On Fire"

4) The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
Compared to their first outing, The Rac's second disk skews more country/rhythm & blues. Don't get me wrong, it rocks, but there's violin, honky-tonk piano, gospel movements, and even some operatic elements to it. Brendan Benson has become more distinguished in his vocals, and has taken charge of his songwriting. But make no mistake, this is the best guitar album of 2008. Jack White has the chops to be the one kids try to emulate when they first pick up a 6-string. There should be a whole edition of Guitar Hero just for him.
Three Key Cuts: "Many Shades Of Black" "Old Enough" "Consoler of the Lonely"

5) Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Jenny Lewis has made an intimate album that feels like a chronicling of the history of pop rock. From the Fleetwood Mac stylings of the title track, to the Loretta Lynn country of "Jack Killed Mom," to the flamenco beats of "See Fernando," we get a tour of the best songcrafting coming out right now. Add the classic-rocker "Carpetbaggers" (featuring Elvis Costello), and a few of Jenny's signature piano ballads, and you've got yourself one helluva album. Plus, she's an absolutely gorgeous redhead. Schwing
Three Key Cuts: "Carpetbaggers" "Jack Killed Mom" "Acid Tongue"

6) The Black Keys - Attack & Release
So the story behind this album is that DJ Danger Mouse recruited The Black Keys to back the late Ike Turner on his comeback album. So the DJ and the blues-rockers got together and wrote a bunch of songs for Ike, but he passed away before work could begin. However, they felt the songs were so strong, that they recorded the album anyway. What was born is a dirty, dirty blues album with the best of hooks, the tightest of movements, and a fuller sound than anything the Black Keys have put out to date.
Three Key Cuts: "I Got Mine" "Strange Times" "So He Wont Break"

7) She & Him - Volume One
A timeless sounding album from M. Ward (a stalwart of the indie scene) and Zooey Deschanel (of Almost Famous and Elf fame). Her voice is so cute and vulnerable, and his arrangements are harmonious and complimentary. From silly pop songs to bleeding-heart ballads, Beatles covers to doo-wop melodies, this is the most soothing album of the year. I also cant help but notice the hints of Carole King. It's surprisingly complex, but not anything you have to think hard about.
Three Key Cuts: "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" "Sentimental Heart" "I Was Made For You"

8) Ben Folds - Way To Normal
Ben Folds is my favorite contemporary artist. He's got one of the most sardonic yet intelligent lyrical minds, and his piano playing is virtuosic but accessible. Which means he sings deeply emotional and honest songs with the mouth of a dirty comedian, and he plays percussive pop-rock songs with the chops of a classical pianist. This album is a great example; where as he matures, the songs do as well. But he can't help himself from throwing in the good old 7 dirty words where they fit.
Three Key Cuts: "Bitch Went Nuts" "Effington" "You Don't Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)"
Bonus: There is a "fake" version of the album that was leaked by Ben and his band months before the actual one came out. It's hilarious and surprisingly catchy. In concert they play these alongside the real ones.

9) Albert Hammond Jr. - ¿Como Te Llama?
Yeah yeah, he's just the guitarist for The Strokes. But he'd still be a big part of the indie rock scene if this was his main gig. On his second solo LP, Al goes further outside his home sounds of California pop-rock and NYC hipster rock to include dance beats, reggae, pop-punk, afro-folk, piano ballads, and a great instrumental ("Spooky Couch"). I still want to know why every Stroke tries to sing like Julian Casablancas when they go solo (see also: Little Joy, Fab the drummer's side project).
Three Key Cuts: "Bargain of a Century" "In My Room" "You Won't Be Fooled By This"

10) Ryan Adams - Cardinology
Cardinology is a solid record with no real standout tracks, which in itself makes it a unique record. Ryan Adams is known for his ability to craft authentic hooks and turn them into singles. I firmly believe that if he went into the ghostwriting business, he would have 5 songs by other artists in the Billboard Top 10. But this album is all about his band, The Cardinals, and they fill out his sound really well. The classic-rock nature of most of these songs lead us to think he's been listening to a lot of Neil Young and Crazy Horse. This album is more whole and grounded than his older ones, and show some real maturity. Not my favorite of his, but what's a year without a solid record from Ryan?
Three Key Cuts: "Magick" "Born Into A Light" "Cobwebs"