Year-End Critics' Polls '08

Margasak did say why he went for Cave and Gnarls Barkley I just left it out of my cut and paste!

Halvorson keeps showing up on jazz lists. Youtube seems to only have her quieter acoustic duo side though.

Year-End Summary & Fester's Lucky 13s

Includes a top 100 list and genre lists as usual. Have a happy New Year.

Cokemachineglow had some interesting hip-hop choices. Invincible - Shapeshifters, hrm.
http://www.cokemachineglow.com/feature/4098/top50albums-2008?pg=5

Silent Ballet. As usual, I've only heard 25% of their list, just 3 of the top 10.
http://www.thesilentballet.com/tsbt/2008/10_01.html

From cokemachine glow:

If two of the best hip-hop albums (the other being Hell Hath No Fury) production-wise of the past three years are also the most innovative, the reason they’re innovative is…(quiet voice) they don’t just rely on an Akai sampler. But where the Neptunes have their cred elsewhere, and so they don’t need to worry so much, Black Milk is taking a huge risk by foregrounding his adoption of synths—rather than just quietly using them like everybody else does.

Question: I haven't heard Black Milk yet, but is he really taking such a "huge" risk?

I think we can assume from the Hell Hath No Fury hyperbole that the guy simply doesn't know shit and move on.

That Rick Springfield album didn't make my top 10, but it was close. The only other album in Chuck's whole 150 that I liked at all was way down in the 130s somewhere, though, so it's hard to say I'm agreeing with him in any meaningful way. (And I still think the idea of ranking 150 albums is perverse.)

From the Alibi(Albuquerque's main weekly). I types this out from the newspaper, so there are probably some mistakes:

The Alibi: “Twenty (or so) of the year’s best big-time albums”:

Ani DiFranco: Red Letter Year
Avishai Cohen: The Flood
Blitzen Trapper: Furr
Colourmusic F: Monday, Orange, February, Venus, Lunatic, 1 or 13
CSS: Donkey
Dafnis Prieto: Taking the Soul for a Walk
DeVotchKa: A Mad Faithful Telling
Donny McCaslin: Recommended Tools
Dr. John and the Lower 911: City That Care Forgot
The Dresden Dolls: No Virginia
Eagles of Death Metal: Heart On
Islands: Arm’s Way
Keane: Perfect Symmetry
The Knux: Remind Me in 3 Days
My Brightest Diamond: A Thousand Shark’s Teeth
Omar Sosa: Afreecanos
Portugal: The Man Censored Colors
The Roots: Rising Down
Tilly and the Wall: o
Tom McDermott & Connie Jones Creole: Nocturne
TV on the Radio: Dear Science

Best Albuquerque releases of the year:

The 2Bers: Children of a Mortal Sun
Bellemah: Low End Hum
Charmed: BitterSuite 7
Eva Ave and Carlosaur: Den of Drowning Rattlesnakes
Fast Heart Mart: Cheap & Sunny
The Grave of Nobody’s Darling: Firedbird
Hillary Smith: No Easy Way
Hit by a Bus: The Optimist’s Handgun
Le Chat Lunatique: Demonic Lovely
Leeches of Lore: Leeches of Lore
Mei Long: Mei Long
Old Man: Untitled
Patti Littlefield and Mark Weaver: Resonance
Suspended: Prelude to Indignance
Trilobite: Silver Skin
Unit 7 Drain: LoveCraft
We Were Born as Ghosts: Brightly, Brightly, and with Beauty

Or you can go to their site:

http://www.alibi.com/index.php?story=26250&scn=music
http://www.alibi.com/index.php?story=26246&scn=music

Not exactly critics top 10s, but here's WNYU's lists:

http://wnyu.org/top10/

THE NODEPRESSION.COM TOP 40 ALBUMS OF 2008

http://www.nodepression.com/articles.aspx?id=5112

1. Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal (Back Porch/Manhattan) -- 88 -- 14
2. Hayes Carll, Trouble In Mind (Lost Highway) -- 44 -- 6
3. Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation's Dark (New West) -- 43.5 -- 8
4. My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges (ATO) -- 39 -- 5
5. Ben Sollee, Learning To Bend (self) -- 37.5 -- 5
6. Lucinda Williams, Little Honey (Lost Highway) -- 37 -- 7
7. Shelby Lynne, Just A Little Lovin' (Lost Highway) -- 37 -- 6
8. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (Anti-) -- 37 -- 6
9. Randy Newman, Harps And Angels (Nonesuch) -- 36 -- 6
10. Kathleen Edwards, Asking For Flowers (Zoe/Rounder) -- 35 -- 6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar) -- 33 -- 5
12. Santogold, self-titled (Downtown) -- 33 -- 5
13. SteelDrivers, self-titled (Rounder) -- 29 -- 5
14. Hold Steady, Stay Positive (Vagrant) -- 28.5 -- 7
15. Glen Campbell, Meet Glen Campbell (Capitol) -- 28 -- 5
16. Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet, self-titled (Nettwerk) -- 28 -- 4
17. Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song (Mercury Nashville) -- 27 -- 4
18. Old 97's, Blame It On Gravity (New West) -- 27 -- 4
19. Bob Dylan, Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 (Columbia) -- 26 -- 3
20. Basia Bulat, Oh, My Darling (Rough Trade) -- 25 -- 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21. Fleet Foxes, self-titled (Sub Pop) -- 24 -- 3
22. Calexico, Carried To Dust (Quarterstick) -- 23 -- 3
23. Various, Como Now: The Voices Of Panola Co., Miss. (Daptone) -- 22 -- 3
24. R.E.M., Accelerate (Warner Bros.) -- 21 -- 4
25. Justin Townes Earle, The Good Life (Bloodshot) -- 21 -- 3
26. Tift Merritt, Another Country (Fantasy) -- 20 -- 3
27. Teddy Thompson, A Piece Of What You Need (Verve Forecast) -- 18.5 -- 3
28. Gary Louris, Vagabonds (Ryko) -- 17 -- 3
29. Caroline Herring, Lantana (Signature Sounds) -- 16.5 -- 2
30. TV On The Radio, Dear Science (DGC/Interscope) -- 16 -- 3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31. Raconteurs, Consolers Of The Lonely (Warner Bros.) -- 16 -- 4
32. Felice Brothers, self-titled (Team Love) -- 16 -- 3
33. Ani DiFranco, Red Letter Year (Righteous Babe) -- 16 -- 2
34. Buika, Nina De Fuego (Warner International) -- 15 -- 2
35. B.B. King, One Kind Favor (Geffen) -- 14 -- 3
36. Jolie Holland, The Living And The Dead (Anti-) -- 14 -- 2
37. She & Him, Volume One (Merge) -- 13 -- 4
38. Michael Franti & Spearhead, All Rebel Rockers (Anti-) -- 13 -- 3
39. Giant Sand, Provisions (Yep Roc) -- 13 -- 2
40. Raphael Saadiq, Sure Hope You Mean It (Columbia) -- 12 -- 4

FWIW, the descarga.com pick for best of 2008:

http://www.descarga.com/cgi-bin/db/best_of_2008

Black Milk is taking a huge risk by foregrounding his adoption of synths—rather than just quietly using them like everybody else does.

This makes it sound like he stopped listening to rap sometime before Lil Jon hit.

Conor Oberst didn't make the top 40 of No Depression? This is an outrage.

wtf does 'quietly using' synths even mean

xp
theyre waiting for a depression year-end list

^^ the dadjoke force is strong in this one

Question: I haven't heard Black Milk yet, but is he really taking such a "huge" risk?

Not sure if his beats are risky... but personally, I find them really satisfying.

I think there's a full song on the Cokemachineglow list, embedded track. Did you listen?

Yes and it does not prove his point

Did you watch the embedded YouTube video, also?

I'm not going to typet his out but here's Philadelphia City Paper's list:

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2009/01/01/top-21-albums-of-2008

With supplemental material:

http://www.citypaper.net/articles/2009/01/01/about-the-list
http://www.citypaper.net/music/top10/2008/

x-post to ilxor,

No

Here ya go:

im hearing basically no synths

Yep

Jane Dark, Top 40 singles:

http://janedark.com/2009/01/top_40_coundown_2008.html

piratemoggy, Top 30:

http://piratemoggy.livejournal.com/330464.html

Jason Gross, fave albums/singles/reissues:

http://yeweiblog.blogspot.com/2008/12/fave-2008-albums-singles-reissues.html

Phil Dellio, Top 10 singles:

http://phildellio.tripod.com/

Dave Dimartino, Top 10 albums:

http://new.music.yahoo.com/blogs/newthisweek/5134/looking-backward/

Chris Stigliano, year-end wrapup:

http://black2com.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-was-gonna-call-this-year-end-wrapup.html

MetalJazz, top metal/jazz albums:

http://www.metaljazz.com/2008/12/top_metaljazz_albums_of_2008.php

Alex Macpherson, top 122 tracks:

http://alexmacpherson.livejournal.com/215505.html#cutid1

Frank Kogan, top 25 albums:

http://koganbot.livejournal.com/98091.html

Frank Kogan, top 50 singles:

http://koganbot.livejournal.com/97519.html

Matos, top 50 albums:

http://m-matos.blogspot.com/2008/12/2008-albums-1.html

did not know the lex had a lj

poptimist polls so far:

http://community.livejournal.com/poptimists/653623.html

here's my top 100 if anyone cares:
http://www.aprilfish.net/?p=18

wtf does 'quietly using' synths even mean

Think he means not having album covers like this:

http://www.metacritic.com/media/music/artists/blackmilk/tronic/picture.jpg

Which is a "risk" because real heads, true schoolers etc. will reject you.

http://www.base58.com/2009/01/01/top-100-tracks-of-2008/

My top 50 albums, top 75 tracks, top 63 gigs.

And, rather more thrillingly... The Disastrous Rocktimists UK Pop Critics Poll 2008!

^change you can believe in

I thought I might have more of the Disastrous Poll up before it showed up here. Instead I have been drinking cans in the hope I fall asleep sometime before I gotta get up for work.

Mixmag's 2008 Top 100 Tunes (copied from Rocklist.co.uk):

1. Hercules And Love Affair – Blind
2. MGMT – Kids
3. Hot Chip – Ready For The Floor
4. Johnny D – Orbitalife
5. Fake Blood – Mars
6. Radio Slave – Grindhouse
7. The Kills - Cheap And Cheerful
8. MIA – Paper Planes
9. Eric Prydz - Pjanoo
10. Mujava – Township Funk

11. Crystal Castles – Crimewave
12. SIS – Standing
13. Sia – The Girl You Lost To Cocaine
14. Friendly Fires – Paris
15. Surkin – White Knight Two/Next Of Kin
16. Mgmt – Electric Feel
17. Little Boots – Stuck On Repeat
18. Wiley – Wearing My Rolex
19. Sam Sparro – Black And Gold
20. Portishead – Machine Gun

21. Zomby – Zomby EP
22. Afefe Iku – Mirror Dance
23. Deadmau5 – I Remember
24. Matt John – Boeing Highfly
25. Sebo K – Diva
26. Booka Shade – Charlotte
27. Zoo Brazil – Technik
28. Midnight Juggernauts – Into The Galaxy
29. N*E*R*D – Everyone Nose
30. Underworld – Ring Road

31. ZTT – The Worm
32. Ilario Alicante – Vacaciones En Chilie
33. Underworld – Beautiful Burnout
34. Rolling Stones – You Can’t Always Get What You Want – Soulwax Re Mix
35. Sis – Trompeta
36. The Chemical Brothers – Midnight Madness
37. Guillame & The Coutu Dumonts – They Only Come Out At Night
38. Heartbreak – We’re Back
39. Mystery Jets – Two Doors Down
40. Melchior Productions – Who Can Find Me

41. Late Of The Pier – Bathroom Gargle
42. The Bug Feat. Killa P & Flowdan – Ganja
43. Estelle – American Boy
44. TRG – Broken Heart
45. Sebastian Teller – L’Amour Et La Violence
46. Friendly Fires – Jump Into The Pool
47. Mathew Johnson – Marionette
48. Chase & Status – Eastern Jam
49. Audion – Billy Says Go
50. Sasha – Mongoose

51. Mark August – Warm
52. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
53. Alphabeat – Boyfriend
54. DJ Shah – Back To You
55. D’Julz – Just So You Know
56. Fabrikat Feat. Peter Juergens – Discolicker
57. Felix Da Housecat – Radio
58. Grace Jones – William’s Blood
59. Larry Tee Feat. Princess Superstar – Licky
60. Lemon & Einark – Anticipation

61. TC – Where’s My Money
62. Solomun Vs Ost & Klex – Federgewicht
63. Santogold – Say A-Ha
64. Stereo:Type Feat. Foreign Beggers – Bangers & Mash
65. Mandy Vs Booka Shade Feat. Laurie Anderson – O Superman
66. Tricky – Council Estate
67. Andy Duguid – Wasted
68. Dizzee Rascal Feat. Calvin Harris – Dance With Me
69. Don Rimini – Rave On
70. Luciano – Nin

71. Flying Lotus – Parisian Goldfish
72. Foals – Hummer
73. Friendly Fires – Ex-Lover
74. Geiom Feat. Marita – Reminissin
75. Pedro – Fleute And Clarinette
76. Kabala Und Lauhus – Makake
77. Kris G – Feel My Love
78. Kuffdam & Plant – Burning Up
79. Late Of The Pier – The Bears Are Coming
80. Martina Topley-Bird – Carnies

81. Math Head – Turn The Music Up
82. Kryptic Minds & Leon Switch – Minor Nine
83. Moby – I Love To Move In Here
84. Shonky – Time Zero
85. The Ting Tings – Great DJ
86. Italoboyz – Bahia
87. The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name
88. Tyrrell – Lalalalalala
89. Buraka Som Sistema – Sound Of Kuduro
90. Christian Burkhart – Maison Noire

91. Crystal Fighters – I Love London
92. Deadest – Acid Radar
93. Toddla T – Manabadman
94. Bloc Party – Mercury
95. Flying Lotus – Breath
96. Hercules And Love Affair – Raise Me Up
97. Joker – Snake Eater
98. Martin Eyerer – Furthermore
99. Drums Of Death – Cursed By Magick
100. Utah Jazz – Back In Time

I'm glad "Wearing My Rolex" is getting so much <3

I'm sorry it took me so damn long to hear it! Would have been in my Top 20 easy.

is little boots any good? i downloaded them but it was from the same ppl who recommended me garbage like fleet foxes, bon iver and little joy

she's ok, definitely much better than those people, but if that's the sort of thing you're after you may as well just go get the last roisin murphy album instead, next to which little boots is sort of redundant

'wearing my rolex' fans should also hear 'if you're going out, i'm going out too':

dope

you may as well just go get the last roisin murphy album instead, next to which little boots is sort of redundant

this is like saying you don't need both ciara and cassie in yr life

this is like saying you don't need both ciara and cassie in yr life

When, in fact, you actually need neither of them...

uh oh

"Stuck on Repeat" I prolly like better than anything off the last Roisin, all the other stuff I've heard is kinda eh.

poptimists tracks of 08 part one (42-50)

http://community.livejournal.com/poptimists/654842.html

poptimists tracks of 08 part two (31-40)

http://community.livejournal.com/poptimists/655205.html

Nashville Scene Country Critics Poll: http://www.nashvillescene.com/2009-01-15/news/the-ninth-annual-nashville-scene-country-music-critics-poll-the-results/

Didn't Christgau in his consumer poll give a 'dud' to the Nashville Scene Critics poll winner Jamey Johnson? Wonder why he hates him so. Maybe he says why in that Slate discussion upthread

it's probably bcuz he's old

Nah, that hasn't stopped him before.

if that's the sort of thing you're after you may as well just go get the last roisin murphy album instead, next to which little boots is sort of redundant

Little Boots sounds nothing like Roisin Murphy and more like Hot Chip with a female singer.