Scott B. Bomar's 40 Favorite Albums of 2008

Here's my list of favorite albums from 2008. I should note, right off the bat, that my favorite album of that year actually came out in November of 2007. I didn't discover it until early 2008, and there was no way I was gonna let an album that amazing go unmentioned. This was also the first year I bumped the list up to 40 releases. I'm sure that has a lot to do with the fact it was the same year I started working full time in the music industry, and therefore had much more opportunity to listen to and discover new stuff. It was also the first year that I (mostly) attempted to stick with one-sentence comments. I suppose this was really the start of the list as it still exists in current form.  



1.  Robert Plant & Alison Krauss – Raising Sand (Rounder)
The unlikely duo of Led Zeppelin’ archetypal rock n’ roll shouter and bluegrass’ velvet-voiced queen makes for a surprisingly understated collection of country, blues, and rockabilly cover songs (produced by the incomparably tasteful T. Bone Burnett) that balances multiple tensions – simple and lush, organic and ethereal, timeless and fresh – held together by the golden thread of Krauss and Plant’s perfect, swirling other-worldly harmonies.



2.  James Hunter - The Hard Way (Hear Music)
The British retro-cool guitarist and singer flawlessly channels Van Morrison, Sam Cooke, and Ben E. King with a lean, classic R&B retro soul pop sound that’s like a breath of pure, clean air.



3.  She & Him - Volume One (Merge)
M. Ward and actress Zooey Deschanel (Elf, The Happening, Yes Man) deliver this warmly intimate, catchy and decidedly uncalculated set of (mostly) heartbreak songs with an effortless Norah Jones-like coolness that gets better with every listen.



4.  Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain (RCA Victor)
This sparse, laid back set feels lean and rustic with glints of R&B, folk, and blues that weave together to accentuate the true centerpiece: LaMontagne’s wonderfully soulful, world weary voice.



5.  Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It (Columbia)
Though Saadiq has been at it a long time as a songwriter, producer, and performer (remember Tony! Toni! Tone!?) this infectious collection of vintage-sounding love songs (which, though new, almost seem as if they were discovered in the Motown vault) finds him at his most earnest, uplifting, and joyous self.



6.  Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (XL)
80’s influenced guitar pop that hooked me with an addictive single (“A-Punk”) and drew me in with the unexpected echoes of African guitar playing, reggae, and some afro-pop rhythms.  



7.  Duffy – Rockferry (Mercury)
With Amy Winehouse distracted by personal problems in 2008, Duffy filled in the gap as the surrogate U.K. blue-eyed soul singer whose earthy arrangements actually put a sweeter spin on the Winehouse formula to create a consistently enjoyable listening experience that grows on me more with each spin.



8.  The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely (Warner Brothers)
Much to the amazement of others, I’ve never gotten into The White Stripes, but front man Jack White has finally won me over with his “side project” band’s second album of unbridled original sounding rock n’ roll.



9.  Mudcrutch – Mudcrutch (Warner Brothers) 
Better known as Tom Petty’s pre-fame band, Mudcrutch reunites to create a relaxed and rambling country-rock record with enough rough edges to distinguish it as some of Petty’s rawest, and best work since 1994’s near-perfect Wildflowers album.


  
10.  Lucinda Williams - Little Honey (Lost Highway) 
A bit more raucous and less focused than some of her recent (and more reflective) releases, Little Honey finds the middle-aged crackly-voiced songwriter sounding energized and excited to be flailing away amid bluesy guitar wails and raw, crunchy classic rock riffs.



11.  Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life (Bloodshot) 
On this stylized retro-country debut, Earle seems to pay less homage to his famous father, Steve, than he does to the pleasantly old timey feel of Hank Williams.



12.  Q-Tip – The Renaissance (Universal Motown) 
Though I’m drawn to only a tiny fraction of hip-hop, this is fluid soulful stuff (with a brain) that’s engaging in an optimistic Obama-era put-on-your-thinking-cap-AND-get-up-and-dance kinda way (and it also apparently makes me want to use hyphens).



13.  Elvis Costello & The Imposters – Momofuku (Lost Highway) 
I’m an Elvis admirer who appreciates some of the more unusual detour projects he’s prone to chase, but this loose, natural, and immediate song set will definitely appeal to fans of the energized rock-n-roll Elvis Costello you first came to love.



14.  Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson - Rattlin’ Bones (Sugar Hill) 
The Australian husband-and -wife team blends traditional folk, bluegrass and blues strains into rootsy alternative country duets that crackle with a raspy contemporary edge.



15.  Noah and the Whale - Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down (Interscope) 
These British new-comers turn in a melodic, bright indie folk-pop record that reminds me of a less silly version of the “Yellow Submarine” side of the Beatles.



16.  The Black Crowes – Warpaint (Silver Arrow) –
Always one of my favorite bands, The Black Crowes have returned in their full Southern hippie jive glory, channeling the Rolling Stones and the Allman Brothers Band on a set of songs that starts out strong, but starts to feel slightly flimsy by the final few tracks.



17.  Al Green - Lay It Down (Blue Note) 
Produced by ?uestlove (of The Roots) and featuring an outstanding duet with Corinne Bailey Rae,  the enthusiastically smooth-voiced senior soul man stands solidly in the tradition of his classic 70’s sides and proves he hasn’t lost a beat.



18.  Gary Louris – Vagabonds (Rykodisc) 
This rootsy solo record from the Jayhawks’ front man is an ethereal and organic jangly pop-rock powerhouse - produced by Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes - that shows off Louris’ skills as a songwriter particularly well.



19.  Cat Power – Jukebox (Matador) 
Chan Marshall (aka Cat Power) shows once again that she is a grittier and more soulful version of Feist on this set of covers that she effortless embodies and reinvents with dreamy restraint and reverence.



20.  Jamey Johnson – That Lonesome Song (Mercury) 
Johnson brings a genuine brooding, tortured, and emotionally raw dimension to his rough-around-the-edges recording style while reviving a hard-living brand of outlaw country music that comes across as neither contrived nor as redneck posturing.



21.  Drive By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West) 
Lead man Patterson Hood is a solid Southern rock songwriter who mixes Keith Richards licks and country twang with an easy authenticity that reminds me of Son Volt or early Wilco, mixed with Neil Young’s edgier side.  



22.  Todd Snider - Peace Queer (MRI Associated) 
Snider, one of the most sharp, cuastic and insightful songwriters around, fills this lean eight song EP of politically charged anti-war tunes with satirical commentary and imagery that will make you think – and laugh.



23.  Randy Newman - Harps and Angels (Nonesuch) 
Newman, the master of the social-commentary-masquerading-as-a-pop-song, demonstrates that he’s still a funny storyteller on this understated, political, and bitterly amusing set that is more reminiscent of his classic albums than much of his recent work has been.



24.  Shelby Lynn - Just a Little Lovin’ (Lost Highway) 
Though this album is intended as a tribute to Dusty Springfield, Lynn, an effortlessly talented singer, channels Dusty’s spirit without copying her style on this rewarding Southern soul gem.



25.  Nikka Costa – Pebble to a Pearl (Stax) 
Costa is an underrated nostalgic retro-soul singer whose smoky-voiced intensity is perfectly suited to the tasteful arrangements on this release, and a suitable addition to the recently-revived classic Memphis Stax label.  



26.  Emmylou Harris - All I Intended to Be (Nonesuch) 
Her uncanny ability to select great songs over her forty year career has made Harris a solid songwriter in her own right, as she demonstrates on this graceful and restrained folky set that, though not her best work, is notably strong.



27.  B.B. King – One Kind Favor (Geffen) 
Uber-cool producer T-Bone Burnett (see Alison Krauss and Robert Plant) brings out the earthy side of the too-often-over-polished blues legend who is prone to coasting, but has here surprisingly generated some of his best music ever at the age of 83.



28.  Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cardinology (Lost Highway) 
One of the best torch bearers of the Gram Parsons tradition, Adams & The Cardinals perfectly balance swirling steel guitar and classic rock chops to create a well crafted collection of likable and relatively laid-back roots music.



29.  Coldplay – Viva La Vida (Capitol) 
Producer Brian Eno’s participation in this project makes comparisons to U2 inevitable, but Coldplay have managed to pull off a uniquely ambitious melodic album that is swirlingly grandiose and somewhat experimental while remaining accessible and engaging.



30.  The Knux – Remind Me In Three Days (Interscope) 
In another uncharacteristic hip hop selection, I was drawn to this quirky duo’s production style that is reminiscent of Outkast, but with crunchier guitars.



31.  Adele – 19 (XL) 
Adele, another British neo-soul powerhouse vocalist, is more tasteful and understated in her delivery than Duffy or Amy Winehouse, but her consistently pleasant songs don’t draw you in quite as quickly.   



32.  TV on the Radio - Dear Science (Interscope) 
These critical darlings produced a textured, eclectic groove-y and fascinating collection of songs that alternately remind me of Peter Gabriel, timeless soul, hip hop, rock, funk, and David Bowie without really sounding exactly like any of those things.



33.  Lee Ann Womack – Call Me Crazy (MCA Nashville) 
Though not as strong as her fantastic There’s More Where That Came From, Womack’s tasteful, timeless voice conjures up a vibe that’ll make you long for the days before Nashville was overrun by talented but vapid singers who seem characterless and utterly disposable.



34.  The Steeldrivers – The Steeldrivers (Rounder) 
The self-described rhythm 'n' bluegrass sound of these eleven strong original songs features hot musicianship and a uniquely soulful edge that is especially appealing to those who love the sound of bluegrass but can’t take the pinched, nasal vocals usually associated with the genre.



35.  Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes (Sub Pop) 
An organically rich brew of influences, from Brian Wilson to CSN&Y, underscores the lush folk melodies of these quirky bearded indie rockers. 


 
36.  Hayes Carll – Trouble in Mind (Lost Highway) 
The clever, irreverent wit of the song “She Left Me for Jesus” is the not-for-the-easily-offended centerpiece of this worldly-wise Texas troubadour’s songs that reflect an appealing wild streak and a sarcastic edge. 


 
37.  The Welcome Wagon – Welcome to the Welcome Wagon (Asthmatic Kitty) 
Producer Sufjan Stevens’ arrangements infuse the plaintive gospel folk of Rev. Thomas Vito Aiuto and his wife, Monique, with an eccentric indie pop hipness that’s endearing without being condescending.  



38.  David Byrne and Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today (Todo Mundo) 
With echoes of Eno’s work with U2 and Byrne’s Talking Heads, the rich textures create a particularly accessible record from two artists who’ve certainly have had their “out there” moments in the past.



39.  Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Lie Down in the Light (Drag City) 
Billy (aka Will Oldham) has created a quirky, low key, simply-arranged (mostly) acoustic folk album with echoes of the Beatles and the Grateful Dead that is unmistakably contemporary in its emotionally raw tone (think the “Juno” soundtrack, only much less annoying).



40.  The Black Keys – Attack and Release (Nonesuch) 
Produced by Danger Mouse, the bluesy Led Zeppelin-meets-Gnarls Barkley vibe features a few pleasant surprises like unexpected organ lines weaving in and out, and even random banjo textures.