Best albums of 2008, Pt. I

Click here for the second half of the list. Otherwise, read on...


15. Laura Barrett, Victory Garden

What I said then: Even if you spend the first fifteen minutes being amazed that kalimbas lend themselves so well to pop music, that still leaves you with another eight songs and a half hour to revel in what Barrett has created.

Download "Deception Islands Optimists' Club"


14. Bonjour Brumaire, De La Nature De Foules

What I said then: Even if I don't fully understand Bonjour Brumaire's debut, that didn't stop me from enjoying every minute of it. Every track on De la nature des foules is testament to the fact that catchy, melodic pop works well in any language.

Download "Prunelle"


13. Forest City Lovers, Haunted Moon Sinking

What I said then: Twelve (songs) in all, each one of them a gorgeously intricate pop creation. Whether it's the tango-tinged pop "Two Hearts", the upbeat bounce of "Pirates (Can't Sail The Indian Ocean)", or more understated fare like "At The Border" or "Sullen Seas", Burns and co. have clearly put a lot of thought and effort into writing songs that can be enjoyed on multiple levels.

Download "Monsters"


12. Woodhands, Heart Attack

What I said then: Woodhands is essentially Dan Werb on his keytar, and having a great drummer behind (or, as is more often the case in concert, next to) him has freed him to unleash his sexiest, sultriest, sleaziest self. ... Gloriously sweaty, hedonistic fun. Anyone who can hear songs like the aforementioned "Be Back Soon" (with its shades of Battles' "Atlas") or "Dancer" and not instantly start moving is either dead or a very old school fundamentalist.

Download "I Wasn't Made For Fighting"


11. Rah Rah, Going Steady

What I said then: There's something that's truly rewarding and exhilarating about an album like Going Steady. ... There's just so much good stuff on it that I don't know where to begin, and I'm sure that no matter how favourable this review is, I still won't end up doing Going Steady justice. ... On song after song, the pattern is the same: the band comes up with something great, thereby setting the bar incredibly high for the next track, which in turn is cleared easily, with a new high water mark being set in the process. By a certain point, of course, you're basically priming yourself for a letdown, but to the band's credit, that never comes.

Download "Tentacles"


10. The D'Urbervilles, We Are The Hunters

What I said then: The D'Urbervilles make music that's not only designed to make you dance and stick in your head, but also to be something different from the norm. Long after you've stopped dancing along, We Are The Hunters will stay with you, and keep you coming back for more.

Download "The Receiver"


9. The Rural Alberta Advantage, Hometowns

What I said then: (Hometowns) is a great album, one that's equal parts Neutral Milk Hotel-style pop (largely due to the fact frontman Nils Edenloff's vocals sound a little like those of Jeff Mangum) and Sufjan-esque history lesson (as Edenloff tells the story of his home province). Every single track is a testament to the fact the band knows how to write emotionally engaging songs that are also instantly memorable.

What I'll add now: It's taken awhile, but the world seems to be finally coming around to the fact that The RAA are worth checking out. On some level, this is kind of unfortunate -- after all, the full-length debut was a long-time coming, and a lot of the songs on it were well-known to people who have been following the band for awhile. Its success now means that it'll probably be awhile before we finally get to hear more new music from the trio. In the big scheme of things, though, that's just a petty quibble -- The RAA are a phenomenal band, and Hometowns deserves every bit of praise and attention it receives.

Download "In The Summertime"


8. Plants and Animals, Parc Avenue

What I said then: Parc Avenue shows that all the hype surrounding Plants and Animals is very, very well-deserved. ... Of all the prominent Canadians albums to have been released in the last year or so, this is the one that best combines unabashed ambition with unashamed accessibility.

What I'll add now: I still think Parc Avenue should've won this year's Polaris Prize. That it didn't, however, is more a reflection of the Polaris jury than of any shortcomings on the part of Plants and Animals. Not many bands can combine jam-rock with prog and come out with something that's consistently enjoyable, but Parc Avenue shows that it's not only possible, it's possible to do it well.

Download "New Kind of Love"


7. Born Ruffians, Red, Yellow And Blue

What I said then: Red, Yellow & Blue shows that Born Ruffians have suddenly developed maturity (and songwriting chops) far beyond their years.

What I'll add now: The more I listen to Red, Yellow and Blue, the more impressed I am by it. Given the immediacy of the band's debut EP, I really didn't think they had it in them to write an album that was such a grower. And yet I found myself going back to this again and again throughout the year, and enjoying it more and more with each listen.

Download "Little Garçon"


6. Noah and the Whale, Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down

As others have noted, Noah and the Whale aren't the most original-sounding band, but they make up for that by being really, really good at what they do. It alternates between being upbeat and bouncy (say, "2 Atoms In A Molecule") and melancholic (i.e. "Hold My Hand As I'm Lowered"), but it never fails to sound anything less than affecting and enjoyable.

Download "5 Years Time"


5. Jill Barber, Chances

What I said then: Chances may sound like it should be blasting from an old transistor radio in a movie from the '40s, but it's probably one of the best albums of 2008. ... Barber has always shown herself to have an outstanding voice, but here she's given the opportunity to really stretch out her vocal chops and show what she can do. The result ... is a great mix of bravado and vulnerability, with a touch of chaste sexiness ... thrown in for good measure.

What I'll add now: My girlfriend and Herohill both insist that Chances is more a '50s-style record than a '40s one, so I was probably wrong about the decade. I think we're all in agreement, though, that it's a beautifully lush album that captures the feel of the era, but doesn't sound in thrall to it. Barber is able to have fun with it all, and it's impossible to resist.

Download "Old Flame"


4. Entire Cities, Deep River

What I said then: There's not a single thing wrong with Entire Cities' sophomore outing. ... The eight songs here are simply great, and as engaging and catchy and near-perfect as anything I've ever heard.

What I'll add now: I may have gone a tad overboard in my initial praise for Deep River. After all, ten months on and I've noticed that its pacing is a little off (with all the energetic songs at the front, the album's back-end seems to lag a little at times). But apart from that, there's not much wrong with it. If anyone has ever wondered about the value of a good producer, this should be the answer: Entire Cities went into the studio with a reputation for being as ramshackle as they were talented (that is, very). With Dale Morningstar behind the boards, however, they were able to rein it all in and focus their considerable energies on the task at hand, with the result being an extraordinary album.

Download "Cop Song"


3. , Black Hat Brigade

What I said then: There are definite similarities between (Black Hat Brigade) and Wolf Parade. They have the same kind of prog-tinged, keyboard-driven, humanity-marching-to-the-apocalypse sound that defined Apologies To The Queen Mary, right down to the fact that one of the band's lead singers (either Justin Myler or Rob Haughey; I'm not sure who sings lead where) has the same kind of hiccuping vocals as Spencer Krug. That said, the fact they've captured the same vibe as a masterpiece like Apologies... is pretty impressive in its own right. ... Of course, it should go without saying that the album blows my mind, too. No matter how many times I listen to the EP ... I'm amazed by just how great each of the five songs here are, both individually and as a cohesive whole.

What I'll add now: I don't have much to say now that I haven't said at some point in the last nine months. But whenever I sit down and listen to BHB's debut EP, I'm reminded of just how good these guys are. Their new EP, which should be out early in 2009, is probably the album I'm looking forward to most.

Download "Pictorial History"

To have a tie for album of the year is kind of cheating, I know. But I really couldn't choose between these two albums, when it came down to it. And since it's my site, I can do whatever I want. As such, here are 1a and 1b...


1b. Bruce Peninsula, A Mountain Is A Mouth

What I said then: Listening to A Mountain Is A Mouth is an awe-inspiring, humbling experience, and the near-religious feeling the album inspires is the sort of thing that even the very best writers have difficulty translating into words (which means someone like me has no chance of doing it). ... . I'd never have guessed that one of the best albums I've ever heard would be the product of a eight(ish)-piece choir that sings modern-day gospel tunes, and yet...well, here it is. ... An incredibly talented group of musicians ... who know how to work together to create some of the most beautiful melodies -- both vocal and instrumental -- I've heard all year.

Download "Shutters"


1a. Ketch Harbour Wolves, Dead Calm Horizon

What I said then: It seems that Ketch Harbour Wolves have figured out who they are as a band. Specifically, they seem to have figured out that who they are, deep down, is a really, really amazing band. Or, more specifically, they've figured out that they're a really, really awesome band who are giving away their album for free, meaning there's absolutely no excuse for not checking it out. Like, right now. ... From start to finish, top to bottom, it's one of the most perfect albums to come out this year.

What I'll add now: It says something about the modern music industry when the best album of the year is being given away for free by a band that doesn't even have a label. (In fact, come to think of it, none of the top four bands on this list are signed, which says even more about where today's music industry stands.) But just because it's free doesn't mean it lacks value. Dead Calm Horizon blends together stunning lyrics delivered by a great lead singer, backed by amazingly engaging, unforgettable music.

Download "Midnight Dark Water"


And with that, I'll see you all again on Monday. Thanks to all the bands who sent me their music, and to everyone who stopped by to read and to download. Happy new year, and here's to a 2009 that's as good as 2008 was!