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Favorite Albums of 2008 (mid-year)

Favorite Albums of 2008 (mid-year)

We’re at the halfway mark, so it’s time to review our first six months of excellent music. I’ll go first. Here are my top 5 albums for 2008 (January-June):

5.

The Cool Kids – The Bake Sale

I know everybody loves Lil Wayne right now, but this is easily my favorite rap album of the year so far. The Cool Kids make fun music, and anyone who doesn’t want to have fun can just go home. The Bake Sale brings ’88 back and makes party rap something we don’t have to be embarrassed of. “So if you’re ugly keep your hands by your side. but if you’re not then put ’em in the sky. and if you knowin’ what it is, it’s a party at the crib, come and party with the Kids!” oh man. awesome.

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4.

Dosh – Wolves and Wishes

I doubt anyone else will put this on their list, but this is the album I’ve listened to the most this year. And I’m not sure why… Dosh is an electronic/experimental percussion master. He drums for Andrew Bird, and anyone who can make music with that man is already in a very high ranking musically. But Wolves and Wishes can suit any mood I’m in, at any time of the day, and for short or long periods of time. I can’t explain why this instrumental album strikes that chord, but hopefully some of you dear readers will understand when you check it out.

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3.

Girl Talk – Feed the Animals

So I listened to this three times today, and i still can’t believe it. I won’t be surprised if we look back at 2008 years from now to remember Feed the Animals as the one that changed everything. Pay what you want, sample without permission, withhold any real substance, and make the funnest music you can mash together. That’s the Girl Talk way! Kanye, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Daft Punk, Roy Orbison, Kelly Clarkson, the Beastie Boys, the Cool Kids, the Beach Boys, Lil Wayne, Metallica, Classic Rock, blues, 80’s, 90’s, and modern pop music all meeting up for a 2008 party (along with who knows how much more). I’ve dabbled in DJ stuff, but after hearing this I feel like I should just give up and let Greg Gillis take over as king of the club.

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2.

Bonnie Prince Billy – Lie Down in the Light

The quiet, spiritual album. Americana rawness and poetic integrity. I really don’t have much to say about the album except that when my soul is tired I can drink deeply of this music. Will Oldham is a superb songwriter, and Lie Down in the Light should stand as hard proof.

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1.

Why? – Alopecia

It has challenged, entertained, frightened, assaulted, and repulsed me. Alopecia grabs its listener from the beginning and continues to tighten the grip until the end. It is musically diverse, lyrically brilliant, and its uniqueness defies comparison. I can’t promise that everyone will love it as much as I do, but for those who fear no art, you will find a great gem in the daring experimentation of Why?.

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other good stuff that came out this year: Cut CopyIn Ghost Colours, The Explorer’s ClubFreedom Wind, the Tallest Man on EarthShallow Grave

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alright, so how about everyone else? I can’t listen to every album that comes out, what great records am I missing out on?

Dylan Peterson is a recently married bicyclist from Chicago. He provides internal help to Sound Opinions (check your local NPR station for times, or subscribe to the podcast). And he made an official muxtape for the Relvant Music Blog.

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