Sunday, December 21, 2008
My Top 10 albums of 2008
Here is how my 10 best albums list of 2008 played out, as now viewable on Billboard.com.
Wayne Robins Top 10 albums of 2008
1. Malcolm Holcombe, "Gamblin' House" (Echo Mountain). Crafty and handsomely
crafted songs from a wise and wizened North Carolina singer/songwriter.
2. Alejando Escovedo, "Real Animal" (Back Porch/Manhattan). Brilliant and
relentlessly rocking autobiographical survival tales.
3.Waco Brothers, "Waco Express Live & Kickin' at Schuba's Tavern"
(Bloodshot). Bar band bash as progressive political rally.
4. Human Highway, "Moody Motorcycle" (Suicide Squeeze). From doo-wop to
folk-pop, songs of self-discovery from a Canadian duo.
5. John Mellencamp, "Life Death Love and Freedom" (Hear Music). Eloquent
ruminations on all of the above.
6. Randy Newman, "Harps and Angels" (Nonesuch). Mordant and occasionally
hilarious songs about mortality and modern life.
7. Loved Ones, "Build and Burn" (Fat Wreck Chords). Blue-collar Philly rock
band moves from punk to Springsteen, rage to hope.
8."The Ugly Suit" (Quarterstick). Psych meets prog, rendered with not quite
naive wonderment by young Oklahoma band.
9. "Vampire Weekend" (XL). Winsome suburban collegiate rock/Afro-pop buoyed
by its blend of sincerity and irony.
10. Lucinda Williams, "Little Honey" (Lost Highway). No drama, just
low-maintenance, high-quality rocking.
Wayne Robins Top 10 albums of 2008
1. Malcolm Holcombe, "Gamblin' House" (Echo Mountain). Crafty and handsomely
crafted songs from a wise and wizened North Carolina singer/songwriter.
2. Alejando Escovedo, "Real Animal" (Back Porch/Manhattan). Brilliant and
relentlessly rocking autobiographical survival tales.
3.Waco Brothers, "Waco Express Live & Kickin' at Schuba's Tavern"
(Bloodshot). Bar band bash as progressive political rally.
4. Human Highway, "Moody Motorcycle" (Suicide Squeeze). From doo-wop to
folk-pop, songs of self-discovery from a Canadian duo.
5. John Mellencamp, "Life Death Love and Freedom" (Hear Music). Eloquent
ruminations on all of the above.
6. Randy Newman, "Harps and Angels" (Nonesuch). Mordant and occasionally
hilarious songs about mortality and modern life.
7. Loved Ones, "Build and Burn" (Fat Wreck Chords). Blue-collar Philly rock
band moves from punk to Springsteen, rage to hope.
8."The Ugly Suit" (Quarterstick). Psych meets prog, rendered with not quite
naive wonderment by young Oklahoma band.
9. "Vampire Weekend" (XL). Winsome suburban collegiate rock/Afro-pop buoyed
by its blend of sincerity and irony.
10. Lucinda Williams, "Little Honey" (Lost Highway). No drama, just
low-maintenance, high-quality rocking.
Labels: 10 best albums 2008, 10 ten albums 2008
