Top 10 Albums of 2008: 5 to 1

#5 Kanye West: 808s and Heartbreak

On this record he turned away from rapping and sang everything through the auto-tune.  So what if he can't sing in real life?

Listen: Robocop

#4 Cat Power: Jukebox

Silky, smooth, and sexy.  She makes everyone else's songs her own like nobody else can.  A great listen all the way through.

Listen: Theme from "New York, New York"

#3 Black Kids: Partie Traumatic

A great party record by an energetic band that brings it to every track.  The most fun record of the year.

Listen: Hurricane Jane

#2 Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend

Easily the most unique record of 2008.  Compared to every other record on the list, it seems quiet.  It's not danceable, it doesn't rock hard, it's nerdy, and it followed no trends.  It sounds too good for a debut album.

Listen: Oxford Comma

#1 Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours

It was a tough decision between #s 1, 2, and 3.  In the end, this album has it all -- amazing singles, balance, and manages to be a great soundtrack for driving, walking around, getting ready to go out, or sitting on your ass.  It's a dance record by a rock band who knows the proper way to work a synthesizer without sounding derivative.  Other bands need to take notes.

Listen: Unforgettable Season

Top 10 Albums of 2008: 10 to 6

It's been a really good year for music.  What's been especially great is that in the era of itunes, playlists, and shuffling music, some bands have stepped it up and made great albums.  Here begins my top 10 of 2008:

#10 Radiohead: In Rainbows

Not a great album by Radiohead standards, but a solid listen and more of a blend of "Kid A" with "The Bends."

Listen: 15 Step

#9 MGMT: Oracular Spectacular

A different sound, danceable, weird, 80s-like, but with great songs.

Listen: Kids

#8 Van She: V

A lot of these songs have been floating around before, but when they released their debut, it was one damn good cohesive album.  80s pop channelled into the 00s.

Listen: Kelly

#7 Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes

Folksy, nice harmonies, unlike any other album this year.

Listen: White Winter Hymnal

#6 Beck: Modern Guilt

After noodling around with weird electronic studio crap for the past few years, he finally made his best album since "Sea Change."  It's crisp, short, and without a dud.

Listen: Modern Guilt

(Coming soon: Top 10 Albums of 2008: 5 to 1)

Losing their touch?

The album isn't bad (even Pitchfork rated it a 5.9), but there are no great singles.  "Losing Touch" may be the best of the bunch but it's no "Smile Like You Mean It."

Listen: Losing Touch

Joelplay?

Did Coldplay rip off the pride of Westbury, NY?

Decide for yourself (click here).