Best Albums Of 2008 by Indie Music Filter

The list is done, here’s what rocked us in 2008. I’m posting this list now, but I’ll add some words tomorrow and the next day.

1. The Midnight Organ Fight – Frightened Rabbit. The everything record. This was a pretty easy decision for me. No other album got played in my office as much as this one and when these guys came to play Toronto, we all were really impressed with their first performance here. Head Rolls Off video.

2. Me&#-394176;&#-386368;eyrum vi&#-394176;ilum endalaust – Sigur Ros.&#-394176; The international record.&#-394176; I’m still in love with Takk, but this was a nice follow-up.&#-394176; Possibly a new direction for the band, I’m still hearing well crafted songs in languages I’ll never understand.

3. For Emma, Forever Ago – Bon Iver.&#-394176; The acoustic record.&#-394176; Justin Vernon’s falsetto is a force to be reckonned with.&#-394176; Pass this album along to friends, they’ll be happy you did.

4. Visiter – The Dodos.&#-394176; The freakout record.&#-394176; So many songs here that start as a singer/songwriter but ends in crazy frantic drumming and strumming.&#-394176; Fools video.

5. Friendly Fires – Friendly Fires.&#-394176; The get up and dance record.&#-394176; On first listens I didn’t think this album would get me, but halfway through Lovesick I noticed it.&#-394176; Solid all the way through and an amazing live show.

6. Alpinisms -&#-394176; School Of Seven Bells.&#-394176; The psych-loop record.&#-394176; There are at least 5 songs on this record that will stay in your head forever.&#-394176; Something about the harmonies and the looping hooks… Keeps your toes tapping.

7. Saturdays = Youth – M83.&#-394176; The 80’s record.&#-394176; Like the Friendly Fires record, this one didn’t get me right away.&#-394176; I think I wanted old M83, the shoegazy wall of sounds from Before the Dawn Heals Us.&#-394176; But this one really grew on me.&#-394176; Kim & Jessie (video) was one of my favorite songs this year.

8. Dear Science – TV On The Radio.&#-394176; The new record.&#-394176; This was really my introduction to a phenominally talent band.&#-394176; Now that I’ve got this one under my belt, I’ll go back and experience the album that made them.

9. You & Me – The Walkmen.&#-394176; The old record.&#-394176; Anything The Walkmen put out will sound good to these ears.&#-394176; Too bad when they toured to Toronto this year I was also throwing a party and couldn’t go see them live.

10. Jackson Square – Arkells.&#-394176; The Canadian record.&#-394176; Showing support for a great record from a band that is growing and continually getting better.&#-394176; Oh, The Boss is Coming video.

Head to iTunes to download the iMix for this.

Honourable mentions:&#-394176; Chad VanGaalen, Lykke Li, Wolf Parade, Vampire Weekend, Plants and Animals, Sebastien Grainger, Does It Offend You Yeah?, Hey Rosetta.