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Posted on 10/12/08 at 12:49:48 pm
In the new issue of NME we present our top 50 albums of 2008. You can view the winning 10 (and nominate your own picks) elsewhere on the Office Blog.
Of course, ours is just one of the many critical run-downs that appear at this time of year, which is why we've trawled the net to bring you the ultimate list of lists, an aggregation of all the key tastemakers' choices, both in print and online.
The rules are simple: each album gets one point if it's at number ten, and ten points if it's at number one. For your reference, the individual source top 10s are all listed below.
What's remarkable, looking at these lists, is the relative lack of consensus. There are albums that recur, but nothing dominates the field like, say, Arctic Monkeys' 'Favourite Worst Nightmare' did in 2007.
If you had to pinpoint a trend, you could argue that 2008 saw the resurgence of a particular strain of wintry, backwoods folk-rock: it's hard to remember the last time acts as delicate as Bon Iver and Fleet Foxes were quite so lavishly praised. Perhaps that reflects the apocalyptic tenor of world events in 2008 – economic meltdown, looming environmental catastrophe – and hence a collective desire to retreat from the big bad world, like Justin Vernon in his Wisconsin log cabin.
But if hushed, rootsy Americana was big in 2008, so too was the more modern sound of the States - specifically Brooklyn. No fewer than three bands in NME's, and the aggregated, Top 10, hail from that borough of NYC: MGMT, Vampire Weekend, TV On The Radio, all of whom delivered records that surprised and intrigued in a way few British albums managed this year.
What's also noticeable is how few of the biggest-selling albums of 2008 – Duffy, Keane, etc. – made it on to these lists, which proves that the disjunction between what critics like, and what people actually buy, is as deep as ever.
Here, then, based on the views of some of the world's most respected critics, is as 'definitive' a run-down of the year's best albums as you'll find anywhere.
2. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
3. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
4. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
5. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
6. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
7. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
8. Portishead - Third
9. Amadou And Mariam – Welcome To Mali
10. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
Meanwhile, here's a selection of artists discussing their albums of the year:
NME
1. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
2. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
3. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
4. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
5. Foals – Antidotes
6. Metronomy – Nights Out
7. Santogold – Santogold
8. Mystery Jets – 21
9. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
10. Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires
Uncut
1. Portishead - Third
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. TV On The Radio - Dear Science
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
6. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
7. Neon Neon - Stainless Style
8. Nick Cave - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
9. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
10. Paul Weller - 22 Dreams
Last.FM
1. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
2. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
3. Portishead - Third
4. Nine Inch Nails – Ghosts I-IV
5. The Ting Tings – We Started Nothing
6. The Kooks - Konk
7. Death Vab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
8. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
9. Jack Johnson – Sleep Through The Static
10. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Pitchfork
1. Deerhunter – Microcastle / Weird Era Cont.
2. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
3. No Age - Nouns
4. Hercules And Love Affair – Hercules And Love Affair
5. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
6. DJ Rupture - Uproot
7. Fucked Up – The Chemistry Of Common Life
8. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
9. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
10. Portishead – Third
Q
1. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
2. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
3. Coldplay – Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
5. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
6. Duffy - Rockferry
7. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
8. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
9. Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely
10. Nick Cave – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
The Observer
1. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Amadou And Mariam – Welcome To Mali
3. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid
4. Glasvegas - Glasvegas
5. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
6. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
7. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
8. Kanye West – 808s And Heartbreak
9. Portishead – Third
10. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
Metacritic
1. Amadou And Mariam – Welcome To Mali
2. The Bug – London Zoo
3. Plush – Fed
4. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
5. Shugo Tokumaru – Exit
6. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
7. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
8. Nick Cave – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
9. Neil Young – Sugar Mountain: Live At Canterbury House 1968
10. Robyn – Robyn
The Sunday Times
1. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
2. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
3. Paul Weller – 22 Dreams
4. Nick Cave – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
5. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
6. Aidan John Moffat – I Can Hear Your Heart
7. Al Green – Lay It Down
8. Kanye West – 808s And Heartbreak
9. REM – Accelerate
10. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
Blender
1. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
2. Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
3. TV On The Radio – Dear Science
4. Metallica – Death Magnetic
5. Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
6. Robyn – Robyn
7. Of Montreal – Of Montreal
8. Randy Newman – Randy Newman
9. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
10. Fall Out Boy – Folie A Deux
Filter
1. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Dr. Dog - Fate
4. TV On The Radio - Dear Science
5. Foals - Antidotes
6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
7. She And Him - Volume One
8. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
9. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colors
10 The Dears - Missiles
Sasha Frere Jones / The New Yorker
1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Portishead - Third
3. The Very Best - Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit are The Very Best
4. Dungen - 4
5. Taylor Swift - Fearless
6. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
7. Ashton Shepherd - Sounds So Good
8. Benga - Diary Of An Afro Warrior
9. Flying Lotus - L.A. EP 1 x 3
10. Cat Power - Jukebox
Permalink
startled01 [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 13:42
hey, what happened to the Ladyhawke album?!
very notable ommission from the top xy lists.
James2222159 [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 14:50
What Happend to the Last Shadow Puppets album
Brita Filter [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 15:00
It was late of the pier for me
Aron [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 16:09
And what happend to The Music's Strength in Numbers album?
joshy [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 16:14
what about the hold steady (9/10 in nme)???
OLI [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 16:47
Why the fuck are kings of leon in there
garrett [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 17:57
Kings of Leon are on there because OBTN is a great album. They tried something very different, and I think they succeeded. Rock on Followills...
shambolic [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 18:10
because they're a good band.
where are bloc party though?
Kyle Servera [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 18:13
What about The Courteeners and Yeti? You people need to really sort out yer earholes, man!
peter [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 18:18
1-Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
2-Does it Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into
3-Hadouken - Music For An Accelerated Culture
4-The Blue Van - Man Up
5-Foals - Antidotes
6-Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
7-Peter, Bjorn & John - Seaside Rock
8-Tiger! Shit! Tiger! Tiger! - Be Yr Own Shit
9-The Teenagers - Reality Check
10-MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
[Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 19:25
REM's Accelerate only got 1 mention? it was 1 of my albums of the year.
Oscar [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 19:34
Love Kings Of Leon, but the new album is very average. Only the first four tracks and Cold Desert would I consider to be some of their best.
froes [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 19:50
if you compare the lists from 2000 from now, there are a lot of different bands/sounds/styles, very few bands figure in more than one list... the "great bands" culture is a hoax, music is eating itself inside out, the mp3 era lost the personal-touch of listening to music, it became a very frigid and read it-download it-listen to it a few times and agree or not with the writer-and then pass on to another download kind of thing... how sad
SandyOD [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 21:11
it was late of the pier. trust me.
Always Right [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 22:57
There are some major misconceptions about Vampire Weekend and MGMT -- NEITHER are from Brooklyn. They are private school kids from upper Manhattan, NOT BROOKLYN.
Always Right [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 23:00
man, all these lists are horribly myopic. How about some variations among the world's "critics"?
[Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 23:15
girls aloud???
jack [Visitor] //December 10 2008 at 23:27
god what a rubbish year
andydarkone [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 01:16
where are metallica and G'N'R, surely either of those two are worth a mention!
. [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 02:05
Late of the Pier, Ladyhawke, Foals!
Gold [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 08:11
Where the hell are Maupa on these lists? Foals? Shit. Paul fucking Weller?
Matt [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 08:37
Kings of leon do not deserve to be in there based on OBTN. complete crap that album. TV on the Radio definitely and good to see M83 in there
shakermaker [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 09:46
dig out your soul????????
Gav_TB [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 10:52
It's strange that we care so much about this.
Personally, MGMT don't do anything for me. When I read NME yesterday, I found myself disappointed to see their album was voted #1. Why should it make a difference to me or anyone who NME pick for album of the year? Why do these lists illicit such a strong response from nme.com users?
Daz [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 11:01
Agreed with Vampire Weekend being up there, but where are British Sea Power's Do You Like Rock Music? and Supergrass' Diamond Hoo Ha???
DJ Dave [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 11:06
REM
The Envy Corps
Glasvegas
Coldplay
Los Campesinos! (...Youngster)
Oasis
Bloc Party
Portishead
Guillemots
Los Campesinos! (WABWAD)
Kings Of Leon
Keane
The Courteeners
Travis
The Music
Elbow
Last Shadow Puppets
Death Cab For Cutie
Friendly Fires
Duffy
the winner over all being either REM or The Envy Corps, most likely.
DJ Dave [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 11:10
Cant believe only one of the above mags listed REM's Accelerate. It's a beast of an album, their best since...Automatic For The People.
And it seems I'm also the only one who's mentioned The Envy Corps. their Dwell album is amazing, should top most alt-indie lists!
And well done to los Campesinons for having made two brilliant albums this year. Gareth's lyrics are so damn good.
2009 tips? Manchester electro/indie act Delphic, and The Incredible Flight Of Birdman, who I think come from Oxford. Watch this space.
Backlash [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 11:27
so funny to see the Backlash against KOL has started in earnest!! Now their big news, all the cool indie kids slag them rotten! im sure the Followills will be deeply upset as they headline their 36th sell out arena show off the year and count their $$$ all the way to the bank!
Mouse [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 11:30
A Top 50 and No Age nowhere to be seen, shame on you!
George-O [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 11:55
Come on, where are Late of The Pier? Fantasy Black Channel is WAY better that any other 2008 album.
NICK [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 12:59
HOT CHIP ARE SHIT!
One imaginary girl [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 14:07
1) Portishead-Third DEFINITELY... 2) Foals. I wish I could say The Cure....but this last one is s**t
doug [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 14:33
didnt Oracular Spectacular come out in 2007
doug [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 16:23
whit denim should be in there
LOL [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 16:43
where the fuck are oasis
alan [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 18:10
Where are dig out your soul and chinese democracy?. Shame on you nme.
Markc [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 18:33
ummm....glasvegas that low? =S and where are the gaslight anthem?
barrie black [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 19:45
goldfrapp with seventh tree would top my list followed by the verve ,oasis,coldplay,brett anderson,supergrass ,glasvegas,rem and mgmt .worst album of the year was from keane and most overrated was kings of leon fine band but why the need to be the new u2?
dan [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 20:08
Bon Iver is 2007 people.
Megan [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 20:55
WE ARE SCIENTISTS?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!
Leah [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 21:58
he doesnt know why by fleet foxes is one of the most beautiful songs ever written that isnt by arcade fire. definitely album of the year.
Nick C [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 22:25
Can't see what all the fuss is about with MGMT. Waited eagerly for its release in Spain (my home for past 10 years) and was thoroughly underwhelmed.
Surprised R.E.M. didn't get more of a look in and what about The Couteeners (my personal Nº1) or The Ting Tings?
jj [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 22:39
what about Santogold?, as usual critics know sod all.
drew [Visitor] //December 11 2008 at 22:53
kol - pretty marginal, they could be on the U2 big band downhill slip fast . MGMT definitely - brilliant . wheres ladyhawke ? .....and oasis? (lol -just kidding) excellent no ones mentioned the verve ... yawwwwn
[Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 00:05
I can't believe that the kooks only made it to the last.fm list their new cd was great
meep [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 00:34
Coldplay's score is wrong. Vampire Weekend have more points.
Scruff [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 00:49
2008 has been the best year for music in living memory, well since 1997 at least... and its great to see a wide and varied spectrum of music, even better to see my personal favourite of the year coming out as the overall #1 "dear science" is breathtaking in its scope, even allowing for a blatant rip off of aTom Petty melody on track 9
barney [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 01:06
1) Portishead - third.......2) BSP - do you like rock music?.....3) The Bug - London Zoo......4) Nick Cave - Dig! lazarus! dig!!.......5) Atmosphere - When life gives you lemons you paint that shit gold......6) Quantic - Flowering inferno........7) 2562 - Aerial.....8) Cat Power - Jukebox........9) Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs......10) Our Broken Garden - When your blackening shows.
or something like that, maybe stick fuck buttons, tv on the radio, beach house and stuff in there somewhere, but yeah, the list is pretty shitty, not been a amazing year for music though, lots of the same bands churning out the same stuff, nothing too new
Niff [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 02:22
What About Dig Out Your Soul? That Album rock, and what About Accelerate? Damn.
Yonjin [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 04:04
where's dig out your soul?!???!???
Geoff Downes [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 07:16
Get off your high horses "cool kids" Kings of Leon album is best of year and that my firends is a fact
Callum whitley [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 08:46
Pitchfork got it spot on by featuring No Age 'Nouns' an absolute incredible album this band makes a fantastic noise, think NME have have missed a trick with this band, although i think NME's list was a good interpretation of this years best LP's.
ryan [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 11:02
your allowed to have your own top 10 too! not just what nme says y'know
. [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 11:20
thank god oasis aren't on there, but no lightspeed champ? come on now!
Robin [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 12:30
no lightspeed champion? at all??? on of my personal favourites... and you gave him a 9! MGMT's album is pretty dull, definitely not no. 1
Victor Mature [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 15:14
The KOl backlash is long overdue, they've been eating their cake for too long
Tim Wright [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 16:41
Surprised to see no mention of Spiritualized 'Songs in A & E' - excellent.
thornie [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 17:37
why no Burial in either your 2007 or 2008 top albums for his/her album Untrue? is it their own fault for releasing it November 07 and not having the pleasure to grace your albums list? shame on you NME for not just sneaking Untrue into Albums of 2008!
mr____sifter [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 18:17
um...OASIS??????????whoever picked these lists needs to get a life
jen [Visitor] //December 12 2008 at 18:40
where are last shadow puppets?
tbonespop [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 01:03
Fleet Foxes: good pick. TVOTR: good pick. Oasis?: shameful omission. Also, what the hell about Black Kids? That was one killer sugary dance fest with an amazing production. Cut Copy had a great album also. Go figure...
jimmy [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 06:35
surprised not to see Oasis up here, that was my favourite album this year!!!???
Meh [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 11:06
Glad to see that reheated Britpop (i.e. Oasis) is absent, although there re still a few inclusions that I'd object to (Glasvegas, Coldplay)
chris morris [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 13:53
Two massive ommisions....The Courteeners and The Last Shadow Puppets. Love Wellers lp and Stepanie Mckays.
chris morris [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 13:53
Two massive ommisions....The Courteeners and The Last Shadow Puppets. Love Wellers lp and Stepanie Mckays.
Adrian Gonzales [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 17:50
1. Fleet Foxes, 2. Bon Iver, 3. Daniel Wylie, 4. Portishead, 5. Nick Cave.
Liam Fallows [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 18:02
Why all the KOL moaning? Just because they are successful now doesn't mean they are bad. I would have liked to have seen the helio sequence on the list and I was pleasently suprised to see cut copy a couple of times
bruno [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 18:47
dig out your soul????
Joe Thompson, Blud [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 19:52
LATE OF THE PIER - FANTASY BLACK CHANNEL. best album of the year, maybe it was to experimental and out there for some people. No mention of Lightspeed Champion? it was released in January and everyones forgotten about it?!??
sa [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 20:44
FOALS
FOALS
FOALS
FOALS
FOALS
followed by Paper Trail by T.I.
cARLITO [Visitor] //December 13 2008 at 21:30
Why the lack of Bloc Party? And Dig Out Your Soul was worthy to make the top 10's especially if the Kooks made it into one of the list. Hell so did Cardinology
U.Soban [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 00:33
I'm disappointed everybody missed out two great records - new Oasis album 'Dig Out Your Soul' and 'Forth' by Verve. Personally, I think Verve have done outstanding job with their new album, which can simply compare to their masterpiece Urban Hymns.
Dannny K [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 04:57
Vampire Weekend aren't from brooklyn, but MGMT are
and fantasy black channel is #1
KingOfCarrotFlowers [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 05:12
MGMT released their album digitally on October 22, 2007. If Radiohead cannot be considered neither should MGMT. Also, Bon Iver's album is a rerelease, he self-released it in 2007... Lastly, I believe Last.fm's list is simply based on most listened on the site but the site's users. It's not the site's opinion.
aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 06:56
more deerhunter please.
[Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 13:39
What about Bloc Party? Intimacy is the best Bloc Party album.
The main man [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 14:36
Dig out your soul is the best album of 2008, fact! Followed by KOL , The Verve, MGMT, Foals and Coldplay.
FACT, END OF STORY, NEW TOPIC PLEASE.
waldo [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 15:23
that pitchfork list ain't the real deal. they're just ordered by rating
Tim Sharkey [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 16:08
Why is it now that KOL have stopped mkaing good albums and are making really boring ones like OBTN and Because of the Times that they are getting all this attention? Coldplay have never released a good album because they sell albums according to two good singles or something. they shouldnt be top 50. glad killers arent in it. glasvegas is suicide music ... its terrible. my top 10 for anyone who cares haha 1). Intimacy - Bloc Party 2). Antidotes - Foals 3). Fantasy Black Channel - Late of the Pier 4). Jumping Off the Lavender Bridge - Lightspeed Champion 5) Beat Pyramid - These New Puritans 6). Dear Science - TV on the Radio 7). Music For An Accelerated Culture - Hadouken! 8). Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords 9). You Have No Idea What You’re Getting Yourself Into - Does it Offend You, Yeah? 10). Twenty One - Mystery Jets. wonderful.
not many experts [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 18:16
So many laughable comments.. I'll have to keep it short.
Oasis wasn't on anyone's list because it is the same old "Iwannabeabeatle" rubbish.
The person who said "Where is Konk" actually made me laugh, as did Last.FM's list.
Thornie, Burial is just one person, not a band.
Got to love Blender for putting Lil Wayne @ number one, it's a great record.
Intimacy has totally been ignored because it was not released conventionally.
[Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 21:17
Fantasy Black Channel???!!!!!
where is HELL is it???
Lightspeed Champion also deserves a place in at least ONE of the lists.
WW [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 22:13
Late of the pier shoulda been higher ^ + Metronomy too
adhd [Visitor] //December 14 2008 at 23:22
no laura marling? a travesty
Ron V [Visitor] //December 15 2008 at 02:54
1) Elbow; 2) Sigur Ros; 3) British Sea Power; 4) Spiritualized; 5) Paul Weller; 6) Dandy Warhols; 7) Bloc Party; 8) Portishead; 9) Death Cab; 10) Mercury Rev
hugbees [Visitor] //December 15 2008 at 05:38
what, no love to sun kil moon's april? troglodytes
BJ [Visitor] //December 15 2008 at 09:02
You want to know why dig out your sole isn't in the lists? A: Because its rubbish. You poor Britons are so deprived of good music that you can no longer tell the difference between quality music and puerile drivel.
[Visitor] //December 15 2008 at 11:47
Oasis fucking suck.
RadioMad [Visitor] //December 16 2008 at 22:39
1. R.E.M. - Accelerate /
2. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid /
3. dEUS – Vantage Point /
4. Blood Red Shoes - Box Of Secrets /
5. The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age Of The Understatement /
6. TV On The Radio – Dear Science /
7. Coldplay – Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends/Prospekt’s March /
8. Voicst - A Tale Of Two Devils /
9. British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music? /
10. The Dø – A Mouthful
Johnny [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 17:03
What happen to the great album from Primal Scream - Beatiful Future ????
Lambo [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 17:40
Sorry but Oasis not making this list is laughable. Dig out your Soul is definitely at least top ten!
Joe McQuade [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 20:10
Late of the Pier definitely the best album of the year and where are neon neon!!!
[Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 20:15
thats not the list of the best albums if there`s no dig out ur soul in it
[Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 20:39
Oasis's new album?! Really?? you sure it's not crap?
JohnD [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 21:48
1. Glasvegas- Glasvegas
2. The Killers- Day & Age
3. Coldplay- Viva La Vida
4. Oasis- Dig Out Your Soul
5. The Fratellis- Here We Stand
6. The Verve- Forth
7. The Last Shadow Puppets- The Age Of The Understatement
8. Keane- Perfect Symmetry
9. Razorlight- Slipway Fires
10. The Courteeners- St.Jude
Rob [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 22:00
1. The Courteeners - St Jude
2. Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
3. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
5. We Are Scientists - Brain Thrust Mastery
6. MGMT - Oracular Spectacualar
7. The Kooks - Konk
...I can't even think of any more worth mentioning; what a poor year for music!
. [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 22:16
Coldplay and OBTN in the top ten!! Even if they are quite good albums they're not good enough to be in the top ten of the definitive list, and there nowhere near as deserving as the likes of Lightspeed Champion, Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. and Ladyhawke, none of whom even got a mention in these lists. Though fairplay to MGMT, Fleet Foxes and Mystery Jets.
JohnD [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 22:17
1. Glasvegas- Glasvegas
2. The Killers- Day & Age
3. Coldplay- Viva La Vida
4. Oasis- Dig Out Your Soul
5. The Fratellis- Here We Stand
6. The Verve- Forth
7. The Last Shadow Puppets- The Age Of The Understatement
8. Keane- Perfect Symmetry
9. Razorlight- Slipway Fires
10. The Courteeners- St.Jude
michelle [Visitor] //December 17 2008 at 22:56
come on!! where are the killers with day & ageeeeeee!!??? its an awesome album!
Slow Motion [Visitor] //December 18 2008 at 00:54
Logistics - Reality Checkpoint
Good job nme [Visitor] //December 18 2008 at 06:43
I think this is a pretty good summery of others ratings and I think people rated them good. I was especialy glad to see tv on the radio up there and even more that is at number one. I thing they should have awarded points differently besides giving a full 10 points to first place and only one point to the other top ten.
Leonardo Peixoto [Visitor] //December 18 2008 at 11:02
Chinese Democracy is the album of the year...is a breath of fresh new air...a masterpiece
Toby [Visitor] //December 18 2008 at 17:04
And what about Black Lips?
I'm sorry, but for me they are the best band i heard in years, 15 years to be exact.
What a shame! As long as it's commercial, right...
amarinder [Visitor] //December 18 2008 at 18:17
putting coldplay that high is idiotic considering it only got on two lists, the shitheap last.fm one (jack johnson lol) and the mondeo-man-tastic q magazine one (duffy lol).
RedThom [Visitor] //December 18 2008 at 21:51
Bon Ivor was in the list because it was released in the UK in 2008. But Robyn... Robyn by Robyn was released in 2005, and then internationally last year. Blender are so desperate for albums they are including special editions?
patricia [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 02:43
oasis??? Dig out your soul is amazing
Jerome (Visitor) [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 10:41
Hi. I don't recognize myself in those selections. My selection is : 1. KEANE; 2.THE VERVE; 3. MGMT; 4. COLDPLAY; 5. SNOW PATROL; 6.OASIS; 7.THE LAST SHADOW PUPPETS.
Mix master Pesh [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 13:28
it is an absolute farce that neon neon are not on that list.
When is someone going to make a gold statue of Gruff
cheesy [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 13:49
where's bloc party!
tony [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 14:23
were is dig out your soul by OASIS like? that is by FAR the best album of the year
pitchfork media [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 14:58
your PITCHFORK chart is completey wrong - check it on their website - thus making the whole aggregation thing fishy
hsojsdbj [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 16:21
the only hip-hop artist there is in the list is Kanye West?
wow. all of it's alt.rock/rock.
how boring.
Movax [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 17:24
Fighting With Wire's album Man Vs Monster is a stonking album. Stop listening to indie shit
Superunknown [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 17:24
Forth by The Verve is just a masterpiece, no album here can compare to that...it's a shame no one mentions it...criminally underrated. And you also forget Evil Urges by My Morning Jacket....just brillant...stop reading pitchfork guys, it's obviously dangerous for your minds.
Chelsie [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 19:47
The Killers.
Day and Age?...hmm.
Gonn [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 20:11
Sorry, my mistake..
but pitchfork list is wrong!!!
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/148001-the-50-best-albums-of-2008?page=5
Strach [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 20:13
Yeah, The Verve's Forth is an amazing album, UNBELIEVABLY understated, Coldplay just don't cut it. Portishead seems to be generally liked by everyone. As for Oasis, Heathen Chemistry/Standing O.T.S.O.G may have been disappointing (I mean, it's hard for any album to stand next to Def Maybe) but take DBTT and Dig Out Your Soul out of that context - they ARE good albums.
sam n [Visitor] //December 19 2008 at 20:24
mildly confused as to why the picture linking to the article has a picture of the killers day and age, yet they were found on none of the lists. which is a shame, it is an amazing album
Philippe [Visitor] //December 20 2008 at 02:16
don't know where that pitchfork list came from, but actually it's not accurate!
Victor (Malta) [Visitor] //December 20 2008 at 12:59
The Great Killers With A Great Comeback.Well Done Boys Just Keep Rocking
Daniel [Visitor] //December 20 2008 at 18:32
I'm calling bs, since KOL was rated 7/10 by this very site and Los Campesinos! - We are Beautiful, We are Doomed was rated 9/10. Curse you NME! Curse you!
bossaddict [Visitor] //December 20 2008 at 19:13
Cant believe that the Elbow album isn't in the top 10!!!!!!!!!! Do yourselves a bit favour an give it a listen
SpckmrSpck [Visitor] //December 20 2008 at 21:22
TV On The Radio. Best album of the year.
max [Visitor] //December 20 2008 at 23:25
Heard there's a new uU2 on the way. No need for it since 50% of the bands today try to sound like them. The other half are even worse... If there are some albums to pick for this year I'd go for Raconteurs, Cave and Axl and the Beduins. Don't forget ACDC even if they play the same old song over and over it's still better that most of today's, well... should I say rock? And yes, Verve's album is way better than any Coldplay. Wonder what would have happened if Radiohead had another album since they are unbelievably overrated. Forget the Fleet Foxes and listen to some real acoustic and vocal harmonies from the 60's.
wellsy [Visitor] //December 21 2008 at 00:08
glasvegas is so shit. so over-rated. dears-missles my fave.
Claire [Visitor] //December 21 2008 at 01:11
The Killers - Day & Age (I'm stunned this isn't on any of the lists)
The Age Of The Understatement - The Last Shadow Puppets
Off With Their Heads - Kaiser Chiefs
Santogold - Santogold
Donkey - CSS
Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
In Ghost Colours - Cut Copy
Made In The Dark - Hot Chip
Nights Out - Metronomy
Dig Out Your Soul - Oasis
Kate [Visitor] //December 21 2008 at 03:02
Donde estan the Killers, Day & Age?
from spain [Visitor] //December 21 2008 at 17:38
where is dig it your soul????
Rosa [Visitor] //December 21 2008 at 19:18
The Killers - Day & Age is easily the best album of the year.
Humberto Cano [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 01:20
Where are LOS CAMPESINOS, BRITISH SEA POWER, and THE COURTEENERS? I think most of these lists are supported by big companies, or at least they have putted more money, and that is the reason why really great bands dont appear.
Brenda [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 03:01
The Killers - Day & Age
ElizabethBennett [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 12:48
Coldplay- Viva la Vida [...] Prospekt's March Edition
Keane- Perfect Symmetry
Sean [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 13:17
Vampire weekend was easily the best album this year. It not an obscenely over- rated side project, glorified dad rock or a meagre attempt by a reunited band.
It’s intelligent, fresh and shortly followed by Foals.
nicola [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 17:27
wheres the killers 'day and age' and oasis 'dig out your soul'? 2 fab albums, yet dont appear. some albums mentioned are by rubbish bands who havnt been half as successfull as the likes of the killers and oasis! i often wonder who compiles these lists!? i do love kings of leons album, i do agree with that.
Julius Killerby [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 20:13
I'm surprised Only By The Nights not in every top 10 list
Jonny [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 22:07
I Wouldn't Even Wipe My Ass With KOL........I've Never Liked Them And Never Will......Does It Offend You, Yeah? And Bloc Party Made Brilliant Albums This Year!!!
Leila [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 22:47
Give me some Day & Age by the Killers!!!
J [Visitor] //December 22 2008 at 23:28
so many great albums missed: keane,snow patrol, KAISER CHIEFS, razorlight, darren styles, The feeling and not forgetting the clasic bands like R.E.M and AC/DC. next year U2 for number one easy.
Rachael [Visitor] //December 23 2008 at 04:53
what happened to Day and Age?
Jack [Visitor] //December 23 2008 at 14:06
What a pitiful list of albums. What a dire year. I was expecting so much from The Killers and Kings of Leon, but they disappointed me big time. Only By The Night is a poor man's Because of the Times.
Snakeyes [Visitor] //December 23 2008 at 14:11
where are Late of the Pier? Isnt FBC a 2008 release?
Stephen S [Visitor] //December 23 2008 at 14:31
Where is Fantasy Black Channel, they deserve a place in the top 10
jacob [Visitor] //December 23 2008 at 17:26
it's so sad to pretend that after 15 years of wait they delivered their best ever effort oasis dig out your soul man!!!!!!
Dan the Man [Visitor] //December 23 2008 at 18:47
I'm sure it's been said already, but I have to reiterate it; Where the HELL is Chinese Democracy?!? Maybe these lists were formed a little to prematurely because that album was the climax of this years musical ride! I'm disappointed the critics couldn't wait just a few more weeks...
GT [Visitor] //December 23 2008 at 19:36
Late Of The Pier - fantastic. Glasvegas; wishy-washy rubbish. Why is it so highly rated???? Its music to fall asleep too! Coldplay - their worst album so far but commercially the most succesful????????? What am I missing?
Johnny [Visitor] //December 24 2008 at 06:48
The best album this year is the new Verve album "Forth". After 10 years, they've made their best album to date. "Love Is Noise" is the best single this year. Colombo is a rock epic. This album is one of the best in the last few years..
gd [Visitor] //December 27 2008 at 16:19
dig out your soul didn't appear on any list... strange! it is one of the bests albums of the year, easily
rita [Visitor] //December 27 2008 at 21:35
OASIS!!! GID OUT YOUR SOOOOOUL this one's awesome and yeah, FORTH by THE VERVE is amazing!!
I totally agree with u U.Soban
Jack [Visitor] //December 28 2008 at 18:20
I'm glad TV On The Radio and MGMT are on there but Late Of The Pier, Hercules & Love Affair and Santogold really deserve to be there. Then again, there's never going to be a list that everyone agrees on, so it is good considering that.
[Visitor] //December 29 2008 at 14:49
cut copy underappreciated big time!
its clear that the KOL love on the lists is due to because of the times' echo from last year, the album is very unexceptional.
get coldplay off the list now, and foals are terrible. end of.
come on nick cave???
[Visitor] //December 29 2008 at 14:58
you know as well as i do that "forth" is shit
Ned [Visitor] //December 29 2008 at 18:43
the first comment on here made me sick
lets clear this up:
keane =bollocks
snow patrol=bollocks
kaiser chiefs= bollocks
razorlight= bollocks
darren styles= dancefloor bollocks
the feeling= bollocks
and also:
kings of leon=bollocks
Ned [Visitor] //December 29 2008 at 18:49
heres my list:
10. mystery jets twenty one
9. foals antidotes
8. dan le sac vs scroobius pip angles
7. metronomy nights out
6. vampire weekend vampire weekend
5. last shadow puppets the age of the understatement
4. mgmt oracular spectacular
3. gnarls barkley the odd couple
2. elbow the seldom seen kid
1. los campesinos! we are beautiful, we are doomed
individual6827 [Visitor] //December 29 2008 at 22:12
The best album of the year by far is Ghosts I-IV. 36 instrumental songs of pure genius. A soundtrack for daydreams. And what makes it better is how Trent Reznor has been able to free himself from the chains of a record label and still succeed.
charlie08 [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 03:00
ADELE? THE KOOKS? COLDPLAY IS THE MOST OVERATED BAND EVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
... [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 09:20
Late of the Pier must be #1 everywhere.
No mgmt, duffy...
CP rox [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 10:01
great list! Coldplay r great. Kings Of Leon r gay and rubbish
Corky [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 16:18
Not one list featured the Presets album?
False or truth [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 16:58
Stop lying!! The best album of 2008 in Q Magazine has been Perfect Symmetry by Keane!! You're lying here because you don't want to recognise that Keane is a great band and much better than other bands you show! Other magazines and other web-sites notice that Keane is a good band, not like here, and now you don't want you do not dare to retract yourselves.
False or truth [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 17:00
Stop lying!! The best album of 2008 in Q Magazine has been Perfect Symmetry by Keane!! You're lying here because you don't want to recognise that Keane is a great band and much better than other bands you show! Other magazines and other web-sites notice that Keane is a good band, not like here, and now you do not dare to retract yourselves.
False or truth [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 17:02
Stop lying!! The best album of 2008 in Q Magazine has been Perfect Symmetry by Keane!! You're lying here because you don't want to recognise that Keane are a great band and much better than other bands you show! Other magazines and other web-sites notice that Keane is a good band, not like here, and now you don't want you do not dare to retract yourselves.
Dawni [Visitor] //December 30 2008 at 23:55
YOU GOT TO BE KIDDING!!!!
Where the hell are The Killers-Day & Age, I am shocked!!!!
Tom [Visitor] //December 31 2008 at 16:26
Its hard to believe that the Gaslight Anthems "the '59 sound" has gone so unnoticed- when they eventually make it big people will cry about missing this album and rating stuff like coldplay higher than it. Saying that, they may fall into the kings of leon album and make iot big off the back off their first poor album.
vivalacoldplay [Visitor] //December 31 2008 at 20:05
why all the anger towards coldplay??like it or not they ARE the biggest and best band on the planet!argue all you like!and oasis?cmon its the same rubbish every time
Selso [Visitor] //December 31 2008 at 23:25
Oracular Spectacular-MGMT is exactly where it should be....FIRST!
[Visitor] //January 1 2009 at 16:43
No Portugal. The Man?
donkey [Visitor] //January 2 2009 at 05:54
C.S.S - Donkey !!! my fave of the year
John [Visitor] //January 2 2009 at 16:40
Muse next year...... that is all
Revan0357 [Visitor] //January 3 2009 at 00:37
Danm! Where's Oasis? Jeezze!
ShabbaRanks [Visitor] //January 3 2009 at 18:57
What about the James album??It's easily in my top two of this year!! And the Charlatans one was pretty good too. Come on!!!
Elie [Visitor] //January 3 2009 at 19:29
1. THE FIREMAN - ELECTRIC ARGUMENTS
.
.
.
.
OASIS - DIG OUT YOUR SOUL
NICK CAVE - DIG LAZARUS DIG
.
.
.
the aliens, the cure, kaiser chiefs, last shadow puppets...
Kate [Visitor] //January 4 2009 at 08:31
If you think these lists are bad, wait till you see the US Rolling Stone's Top 50 albums of the list
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24958695/albums_of_the_yea
It's got frickin' Jonas Brother's in it!!! I feel like the music industry is going down the gurgler again. The only new acts that I like this year are MGMT, Lykke Li and this band from Melbourne (I'm Aussie) called Children Collide plus Tame Impala from Perth
katie [Visitor] //January 4 2009 at 20:15
whoever wrote this need to listen some real music i mean where are the killers it has a pic of day and age on the link plus where are oasis on that list i mean dig out my soul is a great albulm (GET A LIFE)
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