So there's no particular order here, because I loved all these albums the most at some point. Also, I think it's interesting to note that 4 out of the 5 top albums here are debuts. It just goes to show what we're facing in the future, and it doesn't look to bad either. And I may be a little predictable in my decisions, most of which you'll find on everyone else's top albums as well. But they were just all so darn good.

Mates of State – Re-Arrange Us
Bring It Back was for sure one of my favourite (if not my favourite) albums of 2006, and they haven’t failed to succeed yet again with Rearrange Us. Christina Aguilera may claim that she “keeps getting better”, but for Mates of State her words ring true, especially in the track of a similar name. While previous albums included a great, pounding organ and schmoozy vocals, the Mates have stepped it up a notch, incorporating a fuller instrumentation. But the undeniable power of their voices still remains, with Get Better as a case in point. They dichotomise the album with the more toned down (if you could call them that, like Get Better and My Only Offer) and race through others such as The Re-Arranger. Every record they make is just so enjoyable, but uncompromising on quality and unchanging in their often sarcastic wit.

Mates of State – My Only Offer

Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
There isn’t much that hasn’t already been said about Fleet Foxes, and praise for their debut album rings out far and wide. Their beautifully constructed but easily accessible brand of folk hits the right chords with those who wouldn’t usually find themselves drawn to the genre, and only makes those of us who are well inclined to the bearded side of things much more excited about things to come. Fleet Foxes managed to give 2008 a sound that was irresistibly pretty and unlike anything else being produced. They imitate noone, inspire everyone and have a damn good time doing it. It’s not a big leap to say that they will be one of the most influential folk bands of years to come, with replicates galore, so expect to see Fleet Foxes cubs springing up all over the woods.

Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
There’s undoubtedly magic in Justin Vernon’s songs; his way of composing and his articulations. Reintroduced this year as Bon Iver, many bloggers reservedly started with the line “I generally don’t like folk, but…” Managing to capture the hearts of a generally resistant music community, For Emma proved that wandering off in the woods for a while isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I mean, Hansel and Gretel found a house made of candy. Vernon found an inner being that manifested itself into Bon Iver’s haunting, yet fulfilling debut, a startling and honest voice amid softly spoken yet attention-commanding acoustics that have been stripped down and laid out like an exact science. It’s music that demands your attention despite its minimalist nature, something that’s harder and harder to find. Apparently, it’s a rare breed found only in the Wisconsin woods.

Bon Iver – Creature Fear

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
I think in a few years people in general, not just any form of blogging community or people who enjoy indie music, are going to look back on Oracular Spectaular as one of the great albums of this decade. While I didn’t enjoy it when it first came out, I let myself be led astray by the haunting sounds of Kids, the best on the album, and insatiability of Electric Feel, Weekend Wars and Time To Pretend. Though the second half doesn’t quite hold up to the magic of the first, it’s the big, resounding first five that carry the album, and nobody can deny the pull of one of their irresistible hits. It’s something that everyone can enjoy, and stood the test of time. While the electro aspects seemed disposable at first, Oracular’s staying power was proved when we kind of failed to get sick of it, which is what most (including myself) predicted would happen. By the way, what was up with Pitchfork likening them to Mew. That is the biggest mismatch I have possibly heard this year.

Now I can’t put up an MGMT song because Columbia are party poopers and will delete this entire post (and that would kill me). But I will direct you to a video that plays the original version of Kids, which, in my opinion, is much better than the current one.

Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Most had this on their lists last year, but it was technically a 2008 release. And what a release. More critical acclaim than you could poke a stick at, and a public reception that most dream of. Everyone was drawn to the collegiate smugness, and those of us actually at university are wishing we were at Harvard (or else wondering why our college experience is completely different from theirs). But apart from being the anthems of 19-23 year olds everywhere, the influence of the self titled debut reached beyond the obvious targets and permeated music markets around the world. Well, it has my best friend’s mother singing M79. They’ve a lot to thank Paul Simon for, but nobody is complaining about the heavy influences when the outcome is so good. From the head-shaking upbeat riots of Walcott and A Punk to the laidback Oxford Comma and Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, their repertoire is grand and fit to expand in the future, if the new songs they showcased in November at the Metro are anything to go by.

Vampire Weekend –Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa

Other fabulous albums of this year:

Dr. Dog – Fate
Department Of Eagles – In Ear Park
Lykke Li – Youth Novels
TV On The Radio – Dear Science
Okkervil River – The Stand Ins

Labels: feature, mp3