With Old Wounds, the ex-member of Breather Resist have crafted a tribute to David Yow that sounds even better than Goat. Young Widows combine a subtle post-hardcore influence with Big Black-style dredging and in turn craft a slow, sludgy sound that is unique in the Deathwish-dominated hardcore scene. Young Widows’ skill at crafting pulsing rhythms and overlaying them with melodic guitars may have its roots in Breather Resist, but the sophistication and, most importantly, restraint they show on Old Wounds puts them in position as one of the most interesting "new" hardcore bands currently playing. Additionally, Kurt Ballou puts in one of his best production jobs to date.  / Jared W. Dillon

MP3: Young Widows - 'Old Skin'  //  Review

39. Black Milk – Tronic

Black Milk has, since the passing of Dilla, been marked out as the next big thing out of Detroit. 2008 seemed to be his coming-out party, with production credits on numerous records by artists such as Invincible, Guilty Simpson and Elzhi. Tronic represents the peak of Black Milk's production style, using '80s synths without coming off as devoted-to-era as, say, Kanye West. While, lyrically, Milk may not be the most sophisticated rapper, he is able to carry the record with guest spots from legends such as Sean Price and Pharoahe Monch. Tronic is clearly one of the most forward thinking rap albums in a very long time.  / Jared W. Dillon

Black Milk @ MySpace  //  Review

38. Lights Out Asia - Eyes Like Brontide

It's easy to get lost in the dense ambience of Eyes Like Brontide, but that's precisely the point. From the piano lines to the cold-war samples, everything about Lights Out Asia's third album is immaculately crafted to drench the listener in the tension and fear that the band plays to so perfectly. Electronic beats and calm, soaring vocals set the theme for the album that just seems so… effortless. One thing (among many) to note here: Chris Schafer’s voice is fucking ridiculous. In fact, the only criticism I can think of is that Eyes Like Brontide doesn’t use it enough. He alone makes Eyes Like Brontide an impressive release, and Lights Out Asia's consistency propels the record to the top of 2008's post rock heap.  / Adam Downer

Lights Out Asia @ MySpace  //  Review

37. Sun Kil Moon – April

Fans of Mark Kozelek will surely have realised by now that the man is simply incapable of writing a bad record. With that in mind, April was always going to be good. However, tracks like ‘Lost Verses,’ ‘Moorestown’ and ‘Like the River’ are among the best Kozelek has ever written, and make April not just a good record, but a great one. While it's not the epic masterpiece that Ghosts of the Great Highway was, April has its own subtle charm that makes it a welcome addition to an unbeatably solid discography.  / Andrew Hartwig

Sun Kil Moon @ MySpace  //  Review

36. Meshuggah – obZen

Meshuggah are back with their best album in years. After two albums of weird experimentation, they have gone back to the style their fans love the most: crushing riffs, unrelenting heaviness (nearly) and in-your-face aggression. It doesn't mean that they've lost their tendency for angular riffs and strange time signatures- it's just that it's finally interesting again. It also doesn't hurt that ‘Bleed’ is one of the best songs they've ever written… ever.  / Trey Spencer

MP3: Meshuggah - 'Bleed'  //  Review

35. United Nations - United Nations

The hardcore/emo style of the early ‘90s went missing, so Geoff Rickly and company (possibly members of GlassJAw and Converge) decided to revive the sound they once cherished under the name United Nations. Containing the technicality and rawness that defined ‘90s emo, United Nations recaptures the sound with incredible vigor and liveliness. The album is riddled with on-and-off melodic/coarse vocals countered with dense power-chord riffs and the occasional finger tapping, most notably on ‘No Sympathy For A Sinking Ship,’ ‘Subliminal Testing,’ and ‘Model UN.’ I would say that sound has been revivified.  / Ryan Flatley

United Nations' Official Website  //  Review

34. Burst - Lazarus Bird

Though Burst's fifth studio album does take a page from the likes of Mastodon and Neurosis, it's a refreshing record nonetheless. Songs like ‘I Hold Vertigo’ and ‘Cripple God’ convey Burst's song writing prowess exceedingly well, as they effortlessly morph from heavy, riff-based sound to tranquil, yet still lively, endeavour. The nine minute long ‘City Cloaked’ not only does an especially exceptional job in bridging together Burst's multifaceted sound, but also earns the distinction of being among the year's best songs.  / Mike Stagno

Burst @ MySpace  //  Review

33. Shugo Tokumaru - Exit

Exit sees Shugo Tokumaru set the standard for a genre he is privy to. It's a simple and infectious blend of traditional folk, electronica and pop, but Tokumaru is a more skilled songwriter than that, and on Exit he transcends the language barrier to create an innovative, life-affirming masterpiece: brilliant, glorious and awesome.  / Lewis Parry

MP3: Shugo Tokumaru - 'Parachutes'  //  Review

32. Opeth – Watershed

Eighteen years into their career, Opeth really don't have very much left to prove. Generally, an Opeth record is either one of two things: a) an extremely infectious slab of progressive metal, or b) an extremely tedious slab of progressive metal. Watershed slides quite nicely into the former; with the exception of parts of the unnecessarily lengthy ‘Porcelain Heart,’ Watershed is extremely strong as a whole, and sports some of the most exciting prog metal since Blackwater Park. Though there are subtle progressions in the band's sound (keyboards, for example, play a much greater role this time around), Watershed hardly challenges Opeth's established style; essentially, if you already like Opeth, chances are that you'll enjoy the record. If not, it's doubtful that Watershed is going change your mind. Really, the only question left to ask is, where do Opeth go next?  / Mike Stagno

MP3: Opeth - 'The Lotus Eater'  //  Review

31. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (Fourth World War)

If anybody reading this has been alive long enough to see the release of a soul album as daring and exciting as this, I doff my cap to them - and that's a statement coming from somebody who thinks The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill was one of the best albums of the '90s. New Amerykah Part One: 4th World War is a stunning record, uplifting in its spirituality and gobsmacking in its ambition. With these 11 tracks, she took soul, hip-hop, and funk, and went interstellar with them. Lord knows how long it will take her contemporaries to catch up.  / Nick Butler

Erykah Badu @ MySpace  //  Review

Individual Lists:

Share: Facebook Stumble Digg Del.icio.us

Comments