Top Albums of 2008

(Do a quick sign up at www.imeem.com & stream the albums for free)

In No Particular Order by Jesse Roberts

Amadou & Mariam: Welcome To Mali: The African couple met at a school for the blind & have crafted some of the most beautiful World-Afro Pop music that transcends culture & connects with us all.
http://www.imeem.com/people/ADE_5JD/playlist/W9EKRMOu/amadou_mariam_music_playlist/

Beach House: Devotion - Dreamy-Moody-Sentimental Harmonies. Overcast young beach lover conversation soundscapes.
http://www.imeem.com/people/8L1Jj8/playlist/73uYR45P/devotion_music_playlist/


Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes – One of the best debuts of the year. These Seattle boys created some truly original sounds with roots in English folk, and 60s west-coast music. Cant beat the four part harmonies and blissful instrumentation.
http://www.imeem.com/benlauren/playlist/grWoFsxd/fleet_foxes_lp_music_playlist/


Black Keys: The Attack & Release – This is what good rock music sounds like. Produced by the versatile Danger Mouse. Probably my most played of the year.
http://www.imeem.com/people/E1AIlQD/playlist/-TINRrri/the_black_keys_attack_release_music_playlist/


Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend – Another candidate for best new group. These preppy-dressed white boys from NYC play some dam good indie- west african inspired pop music. (Apologies to those who went with us to Vegas & Nicaragua early in the year & probably never want to hear the cd again.) Skip the 2nd song on the playlist– it's not them.
http://www.imeem.com/artists/vampire_weekend/playlist/TcAeRsU1/vampire_weekend_album/


Q-Tip: The Renaissance - Q-Tip returns to release his first solo album in nine years & serves up some fresh-jazzy-brighter day sounds that main stream hip-hop desperately needs.
http://www.imeem.com/sexypympz/playlist/ZodEET0r/q_tip_music_playlist/


El Guincho: Alegranza! - Barcelona's own Pablo Díaz-Reixa, plays a highly danceable fusion of Tribal, Tropicália, and early rock'n'roll. Jump into the rio carnival and get swept into the rapids of rhythm.
http://www.imeem.com/artists/el_guincho/playlist/eECE48mL/alegranza_album/


GZA: Pro Tools – Doesn't have the production of 808's and Heartbreak or Universal Mind Control. But unlike those other albums GZA stays true to his roots & delivers some stripped down beats with great lyrically-packed flows.
http://www.imeem.com/rah88/playlist/RlRdy82V/gzagenius_pro_tools_music_playlist/


Other Goodies:
Santogold and Diplo: Top Ranking (Way better than the real album)
The Roots – Rising Down (Rise Up featuring WALE)
Blitzen Trapper: Furr (Good Stuff)
Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series Vol. 8 (Gold from the Vaults)
Jenny Lewis, Acid Tongue (Lyrics may be weak, but one of the best voices around)
Kills: The Midnight Boom (Very Unique)
Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Part I (Very Soulful)
Beck - Modern Guilt (Darker than some of his other stuff, but good.)
The Bug - London Zoo (Dub-olious)
(Guilty Pleasures) – I pretty much love any single featuring Rihanna (TI-Paper Trail)
WALE – Mixed Tape About Nothing (Maybe the best hip-hop album of the year. You'll be hearing a lot of him in the future)