Mes Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust by Sigur Rós
Elegiac and wonderfully sublime, this is 2008’s testament of euphoria. Listen to the second track’s split-second pause and then bursting into vibrant life, and to Ára bátur’s glorious boy-choir backdrop of sheer beauty. This is the Icelandic quartet’s most acoustic, most accessible, jolliest and rawest.
Viva La Vida: Prospekt’s March by Coldplay
Shredding off mushiness and taking up career-wise revolutionary kits and arm-bands, what turns out to be a gaudy experiment turns lush and beautiful. Both melancholic and effervescent, with added European twist.
Shredding off mushiness and taking up career-wise revolutionary kits and arm-bands, what turns out to be a gaudy experiment turns lush and beautiful. Both melancholic and effervescent, with added European twist.
Day and Age by The Killers
Harking back to the 80s heyday of The Cure and Starship, The Killers go bonkers but playful and thrilling. Who does not adore Human and I Can’t Stay? Even their bastardisation of Cinderella “looking for a nightgown” is shamelessly exciting.
Harking back to the 80s heyday of The Cure and Starship, The Killers go bonkers but playful and thrilling. Who does not adore Human and I Can’t Stay? Even their bastardisation of Cinderella “looking for a nightgown” is shamelessly exciting.
In Rainbows by Radiohead
It sounded bizarre at first, but the experimental dexterity of Radiohead shines. Nude is a fucking majesty of a song! This is spectacular stuff. This Oxford quintet is up to something momentous here.
It sounded bizarre at first, but the experimental dexterity of Radiohead shines. Nude is a fucking majesty of a song! This is spectacular stuff. This Oxford quintet is up to something momentous here.
Only By the Night by Kings of Leon
More famous in Britain than in their hometown America, this quartet delivers a solid bomb of an album: blending rock, new wave, indie and blues, with alarming ferocity.
More famous in Britain than in their hometown America, this quartet delivers a solid bomb of an album: blending rock, new wave, indie and blues, with alarming ferocity.
Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
The quirkiest, wittiest album of 2008. Full stop. Absolutely peerless and assured, they injected amazing cheerfulness to Afropop, making these New Yorkers sound like the musical equivalent of lemonade-under-the-sun. Ezra’s vocals brilliantly tilt high.
The quirkiest, wittiest album of 2008. Full stop. Absolutely peerless and assured, they injected amazing cheerfulness to Afropop, making these New Yorkers sound like the musical equivalent of lemonade-under-the-sun. Ezra’s vocals brilliantly tilt high.
Peaceful the World Lay Me Down by Noah and the Whale
Ridden with pathos and dark-themed lyrics and played with indie-movie twinkly melodies, the Twickenham group knows how to move in a light-hearted mood. Stirringly beautiful.
Ridden with pathos and dark-themed lyrics and played with indie-movie twinkly melodies, the Twickenham group knows how to move in a light-hearted mood. Stirringly beautiful.
For Emma Forever Ago by Bon Iver
The how-to-make-an-album bio-story of the year. Bloke breaks up with girl, and retreats to the forest and records an album in a cabin, alone. The result is a haunting, eerie, contemplative record and skilfully produced. Remarkable.
The how-to-make-an-album bio-story of the year. Bloke breaks up with girl, and retreats to the forest and records an album in a cabin, alone. The result is a haunting, eerie, contemplative record and skilfully produced. Remarkable.
Seventh Tree by Goldfrapp
Incredibly, surprisingly poignant from the electro-pop-funk disco-diva-turned-folky. Here is a record that manages to be subsequently luminous and clever.
Incredibly, surprisingly poignant from the electro-pop-funk disco-diva-turned-folky. Here is a record that manages to be subsequently luminous and clever.
Modern Guilt by Beck
First listen, strange. Second, intriguing. Third, bold. Modern Guilt is a guilty grower, and musically ebullient.
First listen, strange. Second, intriguing. Third, bold. Modern Guilt is a guilty grower, and musically ebullient.
Started a Fire by One Night Only
Britain’s most perfectly-designed stadium filler, and an also incredibly entertaining piano-rock musical escapade, with the sweep of Just for Tonight and the foot-stomping You and Me.
Britain’s most perfectly-designed stadium filler, and an also incredibly entertaining piano-rock musical escapade, with the sweep of Just for Tonight and the foot-stomping You and Me.
Rockferry by Duffy
Duffy’s voice shines through her debut album, a harking back to the 60s female vocals. Mercy is a blast, but that’s only one of the many nicely designed tunes of this album.
Duffy’s voice shines through her debut album, a harking back to the 60s female vocals. Mercy is a blast, but that’s only one of the many nicely designed tunes of this album.
19 by Adele
A soulful voice assisted by her maturely written lyrics, this artist has some good future written all over her music. Chasing Pavements may be her zenith, but there are more brilliant tracks here.
A soulful voice assisted by her maturely written lyrics, this artist has some good future written all over her music. Chasing Pavements may be her zenith, but there are more brilliant tracks here.
Safe Trip Home by Dido
This is the Irish chanteuse’s best record in her career. Thoughtful, elegant and effortless, her voice never breaks and serenades deep, profound themes of darkness and loneliness. Grafton Street is an exquisite piece, so is the intelligent, moving Look No Further.
This is the Irish chanteuse’s best record in her career. Thoughtful, elegant and effortless, her voice never breaks and serenades deep, profound themes of darkness and loneliness. Grafton Street is an exquisite piece, so is the intelligent, moving Look No Further.
We Started Nothing by The Ting Tings
Perhaps the most joy you’ll get from an album in 2008, wickedly sharp and adroitly camp.
Perhaps the most joy you’ll get from an album in 2008, wickedly sharp and adroitly camp.
Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
This is what turns out when one mixes folk with church choir echo. A charming record filled with velvety harmonies. It sounds like medieval music with a contemporary resonance.
This is what turns out when one mixes folk with church choir echo. A charming record filled with velvety harmonies. It sounds like medieval music with a contemporary resonance.
