What is the best album of 2008? (when did it come out?)

DOWNLOAD: Steinski – The Payoff Mix (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Steinski – Lesson Two (James Brown Mix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Steinski – Lesson Three (History of Hip Hop) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Bon Iver – Skinny Love (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Shearwater – Leviathan Bound (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal (Dj Doc Rok Remix) (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up – No Epiphany (MP3)
DOWNLOAD: Fucked Up – Twice Born (MP3)

Plush’s Fed & The Dodos’ Visiter

It’s the time of year when people start talking which album was the best this year. That usually means I start cramming and trying to figure out what I still haven’t heard and look forward to what others have to say to make my selection process slightly easier. Part of what I’m saying is, I’m not ready to answer that yet. According to the aggregated critics at MetaCritic, this is what was best this year…

1 London Zoo by The Bug
2 Fed by Plush
3 For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
4 Dear Science, by TV On The Radio
5 Exit by Shugo Tokumaru
6 Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
7 Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! by Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds
8 Robyn by Robyn
9 Hercules And Love Affair by Hercules And Love Affair
10 What Does It All Mean? 1983-2006 Retrospective by Steinski

Does when an album actually came out matter?. Bon Iver‘s album actually came out in 2007, but was reissued in 2008. Shugo‘s album came out in 2007 in Japan. Plush‘s album actually came out in 2002 in Japan (I still haven’t heard it). Robyn‘s album came out in Sweden in 2005. Steinski came out in 2008, but as the title suggests, is actually a compilation of tracks that were released between 1983-2006.

Other bands currently ranking in Metacritic’s Top 30: The Dodos, The Music Tapes, Shearwater, Portishead, Harvey Milk, Torche, The Hold Steady, Drive By Truckers, and Fucked Up.

Also put out albums this year: Sigur Ros, Jamie Lidell, Laura Marling, Lykke Li, Marnie Stern, Jenny Lewis, She & Him, Conor Oberst, My Morning Jacket, MGMT, The Black Keys, Calexico, Crystal Stilts, Crystal Castles, Crystal Antlers, Grails, Al Green, Anathallo, Flight of the Conchords, Frightened Rabbit, Wolf Parade, Vampire Weekend, Vivian Girls, The Walkmen, Santogold, Parts & Labor, Cut Copy, Hot Chip, David Byrne, Death Cab For Cutie, Beck, Beach House, Elbow, REM, M83, NIN, No Age, Of Montreal, Destroyer, Department of Eagles, Deerhoof, Deerhunter, The Dears, and Deer Tick (though Deer tick was out in 2007 and reissued in 2008) (and I guess Radiohead is qualified too) (and Metallica, AC/DC and Guns N’ Roses) (and JACK JOHNSON) (and a million others).

Who else? What are your favorites this year? Who will Pitchfork pick as #1?

The Bug is going on tour with Nine Inch Nails. Those dates are below…

The Bug – 2008/08 Tour Dates
Nov 21 – Bodytonic/Twisted pepper Dublin
Nov 28 – Supporting Nine inch nails Rapid City, south dakota
Nov 29 – Supporting Nine inch nails Billings, montana
Dec 1 – Supporting Nine inch nails Saskatoon,saskachewan
Dec 4 – Supporting Nine inch nails Kelowna, BC
Dec 5 – Supporting Nine inch nails Victoria, BC
Dec 7 – Supporting Nine inch nails Portland
Dec 8 – Supporting Nine inch nails Nampa, idaho
Dec 9 – Supporting Nine inch nails Missoula, montana
Dec 12 – Supporting Nine inch nails Sacramento, Ca
Dec 13 – Supporting Nine inch nails Las Vegas
Jan 14 – Exit/Hafenklang Hamburg
Jan 15 – Karlstorbahnhof Heidelberg
Jan 16 – Berghain Berlin
Jan 17 – Conne Island Leipzig
Jan 23 – Bakery Perth
Jan 24 – Sydney festival Sydney
Jan 25 – Laundry Melbourne
Jan 29 – ? Wellington
Jan 30 – Double happy Christchurch
Jan 31 – Rising Sun Auckland