Ryan Flatley: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5544
Lewis Parry: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5542
Daniel Incognito: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5541
Trey Spencer: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5541
Andrew Hartwig: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5539
Nick Butler: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5537
Jared Dillon: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5533
Nick Greer: http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5509
A lot of people I talk to are very unhappy with the state of music nowadays. It’s just all too commercialized, it lacks emotional depth etc. etc. They say record labels control everything, peddling shit everyone but our ADD riddled majority should hate. They say music is dead. While a lot of what’s playing on the radio today could certainly foster that impression (except for Coldplay), the sheer heaps of quality coming from 2008 should prove beyond a shadow of a doubt quite the opposite.
2008 delivered excellent records from seemingly every corner of music, from progressive jazz metal to disco pop (Hercules and Love Affair needs more love, people), and yours truly ate it all up. For me, 2008 proved to be a year of huge musical expansion. Post Rock and I elevated from flirtation to a full on love affair, I discovered a passion for skramz beyond Circle Takes the Square, and realized I wasn’t missing all that much by not getting into Cynic sooner. Of course, being made staff required me to greatly expand my tastes, and that March promotion has come to define my year. In fact, this list has come to define my year. I couldn’t very well be expected to end 2008 without hearing enough to make a decent list, now could I? Thus, I embarked to grab any and all 2008 music I could find, with at times frustrating results.
First off, old stalwarts like Kayo Dot and A Silver Mount Zion started the year with maddeningly inconsistent releases. So, short on releases from old favorite bands, I was forced to branch into anything that sounded appealing. This is where being staff helped. Tyler Fisher opened my eyes to tons of great post rock, Ryan Flatley helped me get into the Dodos, and of course there were the hype albums. It seemed there was a new “it” album every week here on sputnik, and I picked up practically every one. Some were great (see below for your favorites), others were mediocre-atrocious (See below below for more).
So as I wind down 2008, I’m left with a deep wealth of impressions. First off, I’ve realized that contrary to popular belief, post rock is not a dying genre, at least from the huge pull delivered by dozens of unknown acts from around the globe (Vessels, Her Name Is Calla, Lights Out Asia, pg.Lost, My Education, Spokes, Glissando, The Samuel Jackson Five… how many of those acts did you know before this year?). Folk Rock also seems to be in full swing with another batch of quality records from men with beards. But what the overriding theme of 2008’s best records seems to be is inner turmoil in a tumultuous time. Bon Iver delivered by singing out his heart and 2008’s string of strongly personal albums followed suit. The Flashbulb delivered what may be the best instrumental autobiography ever in Soundtrack to a Vacant Life, and TV On the Radio delivered the hippest record of the year by setting their political and personal doubts to a slick collection of catchy tunes. It was easy to be overwhelmed in 2008’s sheer level of awesomeness, a feeling I felt several times throughout the year.
This is where this list comes in. Even if it’s not as widely read as some of the squeakier wheels on staff, this list is me making sense of what’s easily amounted to the craziest year of my life, both musically and personally. Here’s to 2009 being just as awesome. Peace.
Top 20 2008
20. 
Sigur Ros- With a Buzz In Our Ears We Play Endlessly
The album whose name was the biggest pain in the ass to type this year also turned out to be one of the biggest surprises. Sigur Ros drops the funeral marches and picks up the acoustic guitar on this unexpected left turn from a band trying to remain relevant in what’s considered by many an irrelevant genre. “Gobbledigook” announces the change triumphantly with pounding drums, hand claps and “lalalas” that more closely resemble another album on this list, Visiter than say, The Earth Is Not a Cold Dead Place. The change works wonderfully for a few tracks, before Sigur Ros proves that they’re still among the best at what they do: glorious epic post rock. “Festival” and “Ara Batur” are two of their best tracks in ages. It’ll be interesting to see where the band goes from here. The avenues are completely open.
19. Mark Northfield- Ascendant
Ever wondered what a Sondheim musical from his darker years would sound like if it was recorded by an indie pianist and some buds? Well, wait no longer! An album that’s almost unsettling in its classical bend, Ascendant features some terrific vocal performances from a variety of singers and some marvelously crafted tunes, with arguably the most beautiful of the year in “Zero.” This albums stark, sparse, and a little flat, but Northfield’s gift for composition makes it all work in the end. At its conclusion, Ascendant leaves a distinct feeling of “…what?” But figuring out that confusion makes it worth the while.
18. Blue Sky Black Death- Late Night Cinema 
The BEST instrumental hip hop album of 2008 really is just that. Providing a nice Endtroducing flavored entry in 2008’s heap is Late Night Cinema, a beat heavy, euphoric romp that packs the beats and the samples together to form trip hop bliss. The production keeps things bouncing, with Kingston and Young God literally composing some of the best tracks the genre’s had in years. The sheer amount of material holds back Late Night Cinema from being as perfect as DJ Shadow’s 1996 gem, but for a hodgepodge of gold, Late Night Cinema is the record to turn to.
17. Ohana- Dead Beat 
Australian hardcore with Interpol basslines. That descr1ption alone peaked my interest, and Dead Beat delivers. This is a catchy, mathy album that sacrifices no musical interest for progressive elements. This album is abrasive, intense, and all in all tight as hell. At a slick 26 minutes, Dead Beat is consistent, minimalist in construction, and all the more enthralling for it. “One on Four” kicks things off with a bang, and each track after that delivers at the same level. I’m no expert in Australian hardcore, but if this is the standard, I’m intrigued.
16. hitide.lotide- The Forest
One of the cool things about Olympus is that sometimes labels or artists contact us to review their album. While this can lead to some issues (So the Story Goes fans are probably still plotting their mail-bombing of John Hanson), it occasionally calls attention to some fabulous artists. Hitide.lotide is one of those artists. The Forest, the debut of Nate Gruber, features some of the best packaging on the face of the Earth that’s only a harbinger of the well crafted concept album inside. Charming melodies, breathy vocals, and heartbreaking lyrics: it’s all here, and it’s all awesome. One of the year’s unheard gems.
15. Mesa Verde- The Old Road
2008 was a big year for skramz, at least to me. After really getting into Sed Non Satiata’s La Ciel De Notre Enfance, I searched for any similar albums. The best one from 2008 I heard was Mesa Verde’s The Old Road. Starting out with the ace post rock jam “A Dead Sleep Without Dreams,” The Old Road doesn’t let up for its duration, giving over a half hour of pounding emo expertly layered to perfection. This is a furious record that needs to be heard. One more thing, “For the Tree That Fell” destroys. The shaking vocals of the-singer-who-until-corrected-will-be-known-only-as-Dave are stunning, and while his clean vocals are great, his screams are just as good. A promising debut from a promising band in what is promising to be one of my favorite genres.
14. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes 
It may have only one harmonic structure, but damn is it one awesome harmonic structure. Fleet Foxes’ debut is filled with beautiful if somewhat inoffensive songs. This is the type of album you AND your mom can enjoy. From start to finish, Fleet Foxes tread the same road to perfection, using airy acoustic guitar and lovely melodies to create a good collection of eleven tracks. “White Winter Hymnal” may be the catchiest song of 2008, and these northwestern boys deliver one heartfelt album. Don’t want to be challenged by your music? Fleet Foxes are a good band to turn to.
13. Spokes- People Like People Like You
Here I am at the end of the year, and still People Like People Like You continues to impress. It's not all that different from its contemporaries: cymbals swell, most of the tracks are instrumental (with two beautiful exceptions), but what sets it apart is how invariably warm this record is. People Like People Like You seeps with blissful contentment through sweeping violins, charmingly sweet melodies, and occasionally, achingly wistful vocals. It's refreshingly short and masterfully executed, with the production getting everything it can out of such expertly crafted songs. It's criminal how little hype this has received from sputnik when it's a record that truly deserves it.
12. Coldplay- Viva La Vida
Don’t worry guys, it’s not gay to like Coldplay anymore. Chris Martin and co. cut the ballads and bring da muthafuckin ruckus on Viva La Vida, and Coldplay are all the better for it. Brian Eno produced this record, which boasts Coldplay’s best tracks in years, including the folk-tinged romp “Cemeteries of London,” the auditory celebration “Lovers in Japan,” and the epic grandeur of “Viva La Vida.” They say they’re going to break up in two years, but if this is the type of album they keep making, the world will truly be at a loss. Viva La Vida shows a band finally reaching their potential and becoming what they always aspired to be: the world’s biggest rock band.
11. Daitro/Sed Non Satiata- Split
If France’s Post Rock-tinged emo scene isn’t the strongest one around, I don’t know what is. This split from two skramz giants proves to be the best release of 08 from a very strong genre. Though the Sed Non Satiata side may be a little more consistent (and features the incredible “Les Hommes Sans Visages”), both Daitro and Sed Non Satiata give four emotionally charged hardcore tracks worth hearing. Two awesome bands just keep doing their thang, and it works great.
Stay tuned for part 2.
http://www.sputnikmusic.com/feature.php?id=5551
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