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Best of 2008
-
See the '05 thread here
See the '06 thread here
See the '07 thread here
This is a little tough for me this year. Most of what I bought or listened to this year, didn't actually come out this year. I put in a "Awesome albums I found this year that didn't come out this year" section to include the most noteworthy ones that you guys might not know and might appreciate. I found a lot more new music this year than I have in the previous couple, so I guess that's pretty cool. As always my list is in no particular order, except for the first one, which is in fact first. Here it is:
Day Without Dawn - Understanding Consequences
Not only do I think this was the best record released this year, I think it's one of the best records ever released. If you don't like this record, I think that you're either deaf or hate awesome music. The album flows like it's one big long track and it is best absorbed all at once. The music can't really be compared to other bands because it really doesn't sound like anything I've heard before. The musicianship contained on this record is just awe inspiring. If you haven't heard this one yet, you really, REALLY need to get a hold of it.
Standout Tracks: Your Diminutive Hand, The Undertide, The Wake, The Second-To-Last Page
The Mars Volta - Bedlam in Goliath
I have some minor gripes with the album (most having to do with the new drummer and Omar's production techniques), but they really don't keep the album from still being awesome. The material, though still very self-indulgent, doesn't alienate this listener as much as I felt their previous couple records have. I can't shake the feeling that this album would have been incredible if they let Rick Rubin produce it.
Standout Tracks: Wax Simulacra, Metatron, Ilyena, Ouroborous
Opeth - Watershed
Ahhhh, Opeth. A model for consistancy. Outside of Deliverance, they've been cranking out awesome album after awesome album for a solid decade now (and Deliverance isn't even awful, it's just not as good as the other stuff). Ever since releasing Damnation, their material overall seems to have gotten a little less heavy and more prog-rocky and this album continues that trend. I don't think this is a bad thing. As you get older, I imagine it gets increasingly difficult to get so angry about things and one gets more introspective and I feel that the music conveys that shift in thinking quite effectively.
Standout Tracks: Burden, Porcelain Heart, Heir Apparent, The Lotus Eater
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
Trent will never top The Fragile, but I think this is definitely the best record since that aforementioned apex. The material sounds very raw, but still manages to convey a careful precision in it's composition, like it's supposed to be that way. Head Down is one of my favorite NIN tracks ever.
Standout Tracks: Head Down, Echoplex, Demon Seed
The Fall of Troy - Phantom on the Horizon
These guys are awesome. As always their music is schizophrenic and highly technical with a few catchy hooks thrown in for good measure. The majority of this material is a little old (mostly having been composed in 2004) and falls a little behind that represented in Doppelgänger, but that doesn't make it bad. In fact, I think it makes it their second best album. I'm really excited for their followup to Mainpulator to see how they've evolved past that as well as their era of their career.
Standout Tracks: Chapter IV: Enter the Black Demon, Chapter V: The Walls Bled Lust, Chapter I: Introverting Dimensions
Sevendust - Chapter VII: Hope & Sorrow
I never thought that I'd put a Sevendust record on this list that didn't feature Clint Lowery on guitar and backing vocals, but I really can't think of a reason not to put this one here. This record is one of their best (if not their best). I feel like Sonny Mayo really gelled with the band on this release and they were able to compose music that played to the strengths of all of the members this time around. Outside of a snoozefest duet with Chris Daughtry, all of the material is top notch. There is a lot of experimentation with electronic music implemented into their style and it really makes their sound come off as fresh and intriguing. All that said, I'm glad they kicked out Sonny Mayo and let Clint back into the band.
Standout Tracks: Hope, Fear, Contradiction, Lifeless
Austrian Death Machine - Total Brutal
I almost forgot about these guys. This record is great. It's pretty much classic death metal with a sense of humor. Sort of like if Dying Fetus decided they wanted to write material with a HORSE the band-type mind set. And it's one guy doing everything. Every song is based around an Arnold Schwarzenegger one liner from one of his movies and the album is filled out with skits featuring bad impressions of him speaking. The album is just fun throughout and though the composition of the tracks is fairly simple, the playing is still pretty impressive and keeps you intrigued throughout.
Standout Tracks: Get to the Choppa, Come With Me If You Want To Live, If It Bleeds We Can Kill It, Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers
Jean Baudin - Solace
I almost forgot about this one, too. And I've been waiting for this record for years (see previous Best of... threads). This album is one man, one extended range bass, one track. It's really impressive how he's able to play the rhythm and melody portions at the same time and make the tracks sound so full with only one instrument and without layering tracks. Along with being technically impressive, the music is also beautiful and memorable. Some of the melodies get stuck in my head for weeks. If you want to hear bass centric music that has more in common with Imogen Heap than Victor Wooten, give this material a spin.
Standout Tracks: Be Water My Friend, Albatross, Vanishing, So Far Yet So Close, Transcend, Puppy Love
Albums I haven't picked up yet that might deserve to be on the list:
Portugal. The Man - Censored Colors
Porcupine Tree - Nil Recurring
Porcupine Tree - We Lost the Skyline
East Of The Wall - Farmer's Almanac
Biggest disappointments of this year:
Metallica - Death Magnetic
Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts I-IV
Noteworthy albums that don't quite make the list:
Foxy Shazam - Introducing Foxy Shazam
Dead Letter Circus - Next In Line (put out a full length already!)
Awesome albums I found this year that didn't come out this year:
Dearly Departed - Believing In Ghosts
Fair To Midland - inter.funda.stifle
Pure Reason Revolution - The Dark Third
Return To Forever - Romantic Warrior -
"RCSoul":
Austrian Death Machine - Total Brutal
I almost forgot about these guys. This record is great. It's pretty much classic death metal with a sense of humor. Sort of like if Dying Fetus decided they wanted to write material with a HORSE the band-type mind set. And it's one guy doing everything. Every song is based around an Arnold Schwarzenegger one liner from one of his movies and the album is filled out with skits featuring bad impressions of him speaking. The album is just fun throughout and though the composition of the tracks is fairly simple, the playing is still pretty impressive and keeps you intrigued throughout.
Standout Tracks: Get to the Choppa, Come With Me If You Want To Live, If It Bleeds We Can Kill It, Rubber Baby Buggy Bumpers
Just from that description, this is my new favorite band. I don't even care what it sounds like. -
Nice list, although mine wouldn't have Watershed on it. I was so disappointed by that one... Oh, and Nil Recurring was released in 2007.
Here's my favorites from this year, in no order:
Cult of Luna - Eternal Kingdom
Firewater - The Golden Hour (thanks, Dan)
Mouth of the Architect - Quietly
Porcupine Tree - We Lost the Skyline (acoustic live album)
Portished - Third (a slight disappointment at first, but learned to like it)
The Mars Volta - Bedlam in Goliath (same as above... still hate a few songs on this one though)
This Will Destroy You - This Will Destroy You (not even close to Young Mountain, but still pretty good)
All in all, another poor year. Or I haven't found the best stuff yet. -
"tommi":
Oh, and Nil Recurring was released in 2007.
?
http://www.amazon.com/Nil-Recurring-Porcupine-Tree/dp/B0011BJQ52/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1229550161&sr=8-6
"Original Release Date: February 19, 2008""tommi":
Porcupine Tree - We Lost the Skyline (acoustic live album)
I missed that one. I'll have to remember to check that one out, too. -
"Aerock":
I posted Nil Recurring being one of my favorites from 2007 on the thread last year. Must not have been 'officially' released but it was out forever it seemed.
I put Radiohead's In Rainbows on last year's list and it wasn't released in CD form until some time in January. Maybe it was something like that."tommi":
All in all, another poor year. Or I haven't found the best stuff yet.
You've got a solid 8 albums there. I'd say that's a decent year for music. Your list also doesn't contain most of what's on mine, so there's obviously some good tunage that you haven't heard yet.
I'll have to check out Mouth of the Architect, This Will Destroy You, Cult of Luna, and Portished as I haven't heard any of them. I'm fairly sure I listened to Firewater and didn't like them, but I'll give them another shot, too. -
"RCSoul":
[quote="tommi"]Oh, and Nil Recurring was released in 2007.
?
http://www.amazon.com/Nil-Recurring-Porcupine-Tree/dp/B0011BJQ52/ref=pd_bbs_sr_6?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1229550161&sr=8-6
"Original Release Date: February 19, 2008"[/quote]
Weird. I'm pretty sure I bought the CD in London in November 2007 and my friend already had the album by then, so it must have been released in October that year, I think. Maybe they only sold it on their website and at their shows at first..?
EDIT: Checked Wikipedia:
Released
Transmission:
September 17, 2007
"The first press of the album was issued on Porcupine Tree's own label, Transmission, and was limited to 5000 copies in a fold-out digipak. It was originally decided to sell 3000 copies through the band's online store and sell the remaining 2000 at shows on the forthcoming tour, but the initial run of pre-orders through the online store were sold out in a period of 24 hours[6] so the band quickly put out more copies, whether for purchase or download in MP3/FLAC formats at a very cheap cost; the downloadable version includes exclusive printable artwork.""RCSoul":
You've got a solid 8 albums there. I'd say that's a decent year for music. Your list also doesn't contain most of what's on mine, so there's obviously some good tunage that you haven't heard yet.
Yeah, solid, but no real masterpieces and too many disappointments, no matter how small they may have been. I'll have to check some of the stuff on your list, though. I generally don't like NIN much, so it's probably pointless to try that one, but some of the others might be gems I've missed."RCSoul":
I'll have to check out Mouth of the Architect, This Will Destroy You, Cult of Luna, and Portished as I haven't heard any of them. I'm fairly sure I listened to Firewater and didn't like them, but I'll give them another shot, too.
Mouth of the Architect and Cult of Luna are post-metal bands. Kind of like ISIS, but a bit heavier. If you're into that genre, I'd have to recommend Rosetta as well. One of the best bands in the genre, and I think they're from Philadelphia as well... also, Cult of Luna's earlier albums are even better than their latest one.
Rosetta's Wake/Lift would definitely be on my list, but I think it's a 2007 release. I just found it this summer though. -
I'm too lazy to listen to new albums... I get there eventually, but i have a tendancy to stick to whats on my current playlist and work my way through discographies so new albums disrupt the process..... with that said....
Awesome/Best Release the band has put out:
Day Without Dawn - Understanding Consequences
Demians - Building An Empire
Really good, one of the best the band has put out:
Epicure - Postcards From A Ghost
The Fall Of Troy - Phantom On The Horizon
Opeth - Watershed
Sounds good but i haven't listened to much:
Anathema - Hindsight
Cog - Sharing Space
Dead Letter Circus - Next In Line
The Mars Volta - Bedlam in Goliath
Melodyssey - The Two Windows
Somehow I've been to lazy to listen to yet even though i own them:
Sevendust
Shihad
NIN
Don't own but would like to:
East Of The Wall -
"MARK!":
Demians - Building An Empire
I gave that one a listen once and wasn't that impressed. It struck me as mostly a cheap VAST rip-off. I still have it and I've been meaning to get it another couple listens to form a solid opinion on it. I just forgot about it."MARK!":
Don't own but would like to:
East Of The Wall
I forgot East Of The Wall put out another album this year. I'll have to get a hold of that one, too."Aerock":
I'll make a list when the following two things are true:
I'm not at work
I have internet access
I did my list at work. Stop being a pussy. -
"RCSoul":
[quote="MARK!"]Demians - Building An Empire
I gave that one a listen once and wasn't that impressed. It struck me as mostly a cheap VAST rip-off. I still have it and I've been meaning to get it another couple listens to form a solid opinion on it. I just forgot about it.[/quote]
I gave it another couple listens today and I've figured out what I don't like about it. It does sound like VAST, but I don't want to call it a knock off because I think the music is more proggy and dynamic. I actually really enjoy the music. What bothers me is the way the guy sings. Not his voice so much (though he's not a great singer) but the style in which sings. He often tries to fit too many words in a bar and sustain uninteresting notes in another. It almost sounds like he composed the music and then the lyrics, but didn't think how to sing them so they would fit into the songs. But, he didn't want to throw away any lyrics, so he just crammed them into the songs however he could get them to fit. Listening to it actually makes me angry because I really want to like it because I think the music is really good. I just can't stand his vocals. -
I'm stealing your layout again.
The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
I disagree with Rob about the drummer. I think this is the best drummer they've had. All the songs are awesome, and I've said it before, but I like this album more than Deloused. It would have been better if Rubin produced it, agreed, but I have no complaints at all. I've listened to this album over 100 times this year, and I'll hit the thousands before I die, I'm sure.
Favorite tracks: Ilyena, Goliath, Ouroborous
Foxy Shazam - Introducing
I think this is a really good album. There are 3 or 4 songs I don't like, but the rest are quality. Like a White Stripes/Mike Patton mix, it's full of energy and unconventional singing paired with very catchy music. I'm glad I found out about these guys, but now I'm super bummed I didn't find them earlier, or I would've gone to the Fall of Troy / Tera Melos / Foxy Shazam show in Seattle a few months ago.
Favorite tracks: A Dangerous Man, Introducing Foxy, Red Cape Diver, Ghost Animals
The Fall of Troy - Phantom on the Horizon
Shortly after Rob got me into these guys, I checked out their Ghostship EP that had a few of the songs from this EP in demo form. Originally, I thought the demo version of Chapter I was better than the new version, but after a few listens I've grown to like the new one more. I think each successive song is weaker than the previous, except for Chapter III which is an aborted fetus of a song. This makes listening to the whole thing from start to finish a little irritating. Removing that song gives you a nice little 4-song set that's more easily digestible, like getting a grilled stuffed burrito from Taco Bell. It starts out great, but about halfway through you just want it all to be over with.
Favorite track: Chapter I
Albums I haven't picked up yet, or that I've only listened to briefly, that might make the list later
NIN - The Slip (Forgot all about this album until this thread)
Portugal. The Man - Censored Colors (Heard a couple previews on myspace, haven't checked it out yet)
Portishead - Third (Listened to the album on last.fm (all the tracks are there to listen) and I really liked it)
Beck - Modern Guilt (Didn't know he put out an album until I saw it in the wikipedia list for albums put out this year)
Thievery Corporation - Radio Retaliation (See: Beck - Modern Guilt)
The Black Keys - Attack and Release (Only heard a few songs. Typical Black Keys.)
Day Without Dawn - Understanding Consequences (Would never have considered this without Rob's idolatry to it. I'll have to check it out.)
Awesome albums I found this year that didn't come out this year
Dearly Departed - Believing in Ghosts (I don't know about awesome. 4 or 5 songs are pretty great, but the rest are kinda mundane to me)
Foxy Shazam - The Flamingo Trigger (This is better than Introducing. It's so chaotic. Some pretty awesome lyrics in this album)
The Red Paintings - Walls (found out about these guys through last.fm of course. I've only checked out this EP so far but I really like it. I don't listen to enough indie music to really compare them to anyone else, but it's familiar in a lot of ways without sounding derivative of anybody. The singer takes a little getting used to, but it's worth it.)
ps: I posted this from work and lost no productivity while I did it. How? I'm awesome is how. -
"Aerock":
Nah, I could go into the server and remove all copies of all the code we've been working on the past 2 years. That would be negative productivity.
I guess, but that depends on the situation. If your goal is to screw the company, then that's being extremely productive. -
I didn't buy many 2008 albums this year (a ha!), but these are the discs that brought the phatness. 10 - 1 (1 being bestest 2008 album eva!!!1)
In Flames - A Sense Of Porpoise
I only actually bought 10 '08 albums so that's the only reason this makes my list. It's not a bad album, but there's nothing that grabs me like the other IF albums do, so i never put it on. Mirror's Truth is a fucking wicked song and their live shows on this tour have been godly. The packaging of the SE with the DVD was great aswell.
Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted
The Cavalera Boys back back together and destroying your face!! Great collection of killer songs.
My only criticisms are that they should have gotten a different guitarist instead of Marc Rizzo - It's not that he sucks (the opposite) but he has a pretty distinctive style and since he already plays with Max in Soulfly - that's how it sounds at times. The other problem is Max's vocal delivery, it's borderline boring at times. I know that's his style, but it's goten lamer with every Soulfly (and now CC too) release - I didn't bother buying the new Soulfly album for that reason.
I managed to catch them live twice this past summer at a few festivals and along with the CC tracks, they played loads of Seps classics - Desparate Cry, Troops Of Dooooom, fucking Inner Self!, Attitude, Roooooooots, Refuse Resist, Territory. Awesome.
Testament - The Formation of Damnation
Fuck yeah. Solid album. Got nothing bad to say about it. The Persecuted Won't Forget is one of my favourite tracks from this year - Scope that riffage, sooooo metal. Paul Bostaph such a wicked drummer.
Schlipknot - All Honey Is Gone
Loved this from the first play. Nearly impossible to not crank the volume once it kicks in. A few songs feel more like Stonesour songs than Slipknot. Probably their best album...
Opeth - Waitershed
Wicked album! It did take awhile to get into... it only suffers from not being Ghost Reveries. Yeah i know...
Meshuggah - ObZen
ObZen makes it to number 5 on my list on the awesomeness of Combustion alone. Such a brilliantly heavy album. A joy to listen to. Sadly, i missed these mofos on their recent tour. Hopefully they'll make it back 'ere soonish, like.
Strapping Young Lad - Chaos Years (do greatest hits albums count?)
Fuckin' SYL bitches!! I only got into these guys this year when a mate convinced me to pick up City. I'm hooked. Devin Townsend is a genius. You can't really go wrong with Gene Holgan behind the kit too. I saw this greatest hits album in HMV and grabbed it because not only did it have songs i didn't already have, but it came with a bonus DVD choc'd with live stuff. Devin is fucking funny on stage, highly entertaining.
Machine Head - The Blackening Special Edition
Yes technically The Blackening came out last year, but this is the usual re-release that Roadrunner Records does with all their successful albums and this came out a few months ago.
Usually i don't bother with the re-releases, but this one was actually worth the second purchase - A bonus CD of rarities, b-sides, covers and demos spaning their whole career PLUS a bonus DVD with live songs from all over the planet (including Donington '07 with me in the crowd!!) and music videos and the accompaning 'making ofs'. This is what a Special Edition should be.
If you don't own The Blackening, you either don't like metal or you garggle donkey semen on a regular basis. Put your cup with the large 'L' on it down, and buy it ya homo!
The Haunted - Versus
I was undecided for months about this, since it lacks the distinct riffage of the previous albums. But since i got over that it just keeps getting better and better, there's alot in the songs that wasn't obvious to me at first... They exchanged the thrash for depth, i guess. The production is excellent too - recorded live. Peter Dolving has to be one of my favourite frontmen.
Metallica - Deaf Magneto
The boy are back, muthafukkahs!!! Bestest album of the year. Fuck the haters, enjoy the ride.
I was skeptical at first, was put off by James' vox and Lars lame-assed drumming, but after a few listens it all came together and made sense. It's metal as fuck and makes me bust out the air guitar when i crank it on my stereo. That's Metallica to me.
All Nightmare Long and Judas Kiss is where it's at. -
"Satan McBacon":
I didn't buy many 2008 albums this year (a ha!), but these are the discs that brought the phatness. 10 - 1 (1 being bestest 2008 album eva!!!1)...
Holy crap, it's Satan. Long time no see. I'm fairly certain that I wouldn't like anything on that list outside of Opeth and SYL, but thanks for sharing anyway. (don't know Testament, so I might have to check them out)
Out of all the people that post here, I think that you'd probably enjoy Austrian Death Machine the most. You should check them out. -
"RCSoul":
don't know Testament, so I might have to check them out
Here you go, sir
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V-rySnvAvmo"RCSoul":
Out of all the people that post here, I think that you'd probably enjoy Austrian Death Machine the most. You should check them out.
You know, i heard the album a few months back and i liked everything but the music. Retarded, i know. The song titles are priceless, the artwork was great, but the novelty wore thin pretty quickly. Props to the As I Lay Dying guy for doing it though.
There's another band that had the same idea before ADM came about, except they're a punk band. I can't remember their name, but i read an interview with them in Kerrang a while back and all they did was bitch about how ADM stole their idea. -
"Satan McBacon":
Here you go, sir
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V-rySnvAvmo
That main riff is one of the sickest I've ever heard. I like it. My first impression is that they're similar to Trivium, except they don't completely suck because they're not completely ripping off old Metallica. I'll have to listen to some more."Satan McBacon":
You know, i heard the album a few months back and i liked everything but the music. Retarded, i know. The song titles are priceless, the artwork was great, but the novelty wore thin pretty quickly. Props to the As I Lay Dying guy for doing it though.
Alright, wasn't sure if you've heard it. The songs are far from the most complex metal ever written, but I really enjoy a lot of those riffs and the songs are pretty catchy and funny and it gives them a certain charm that I can't deny. -
"RCSoul":
[quote="Satan McBacon"]Here you go, sir
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=V-rySnvAvmo
That main riff is one of the sickest I've ever heard. I like it. My first impression is that they're similar to Trivium, except they don't completely suck because they're not completely ripping off old Metallica. I'll have to listen to some more.[/quote]
Back in my day (see, because I'm old) we listened to this Testament and we liked it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zcu7BVG7JE4
They actually look pretty much the same 19 years later, just older and fatter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09rHDabBQfA -
Hey Dan, being an oldie, did you listen to the mighty Exodus too? Have you heard the new stuff with Rob Dukes on vocals? The last few albums have been br000tal as fuck. They also re-recorded Bonded By Blood again with Rob Dukes on vox, somewhat pointless re-recording a classic but the 2 songs i heard sounded aight.
It's kinda cool to see the old school thrashers (Testament, Exodus, Death Angel etc.) come out and still show the new kids (including moi) how it's done right. -
"Satan McBacon":
Hey Dan, being an oldie, did you listen to the mighty Exodus too? Have you heard the new stuff with Rob Dukes on vocals? The last few albums have been br000tal as fuck. They also re-recorded Bonded By Blood again with Rob Dukes on vox, somewhat pointless re-recording a classic but the 2 songs i heard sounded aight.
It's kinda cool to see the old school thrashers (Testament, Exodus, Death Angel etc.) come out and still show the new kids (including moi) how it's done right.
Yea I had my share of Exodus tapes back in the day (yes... TAPES). I haven't heard anything recent from them but I did hear about the re-recording. Does seem kinda pointless but when someone invents something like the Toxic Waltz you kinda just let them do whatever they want to do.
Fun fact (not that fun but whatever): I met Chuck Billy out behind the Troc before one of their shows years ago. At that point in my life it was like meeting a pretty serious celebrity. -
Toxic Waltz!!! How more awesome can lyrics get. None. None more awesome.
I'm on a Exodus buzz at the moment, here's a couple of the new tracks... for jumpin' up and down like a psycho-circus-clown:
Funeral Hymn
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=h21pPDrMt7g
Deathamphetamine
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DNyHShylv3w
Now Thy Death Day Come
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=7ebUJ6PNYGMFun fact (not that fun but whatever): I met Chuck Billy out behind the Troc before one of their shows years ago. At that point in my life it was like meeting a pretty serious celebrity.
I've got that beat, i spilled my drink on Joey Jordison of Slipknot fame, last month. I was drunk and made an ass of myself. Yeah, how cool am i! You can touch me if you want. -
I like to leave a little 'cool' for the grammar nazi's.
-
I'm just steady whorin', RaZor. With a side order of steady pimpin'
How's shit in your neck of the woods, dude? The army's taking back the northern region from that chubby guy, right? Loads of fighting... sounds pretty fucked.
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