My Top 10 Albums Of 2008

I am a huge music fan, and some major albums came out during the calendar year, including releases from legends. Please check out my list and feel free to disagree, or even sample some of their music with the handy links I have provided.

1 – The Raconteurs – Consolers Of The Lonely – March 25th



When I got the idea to do this post, there was no doubt that this album was going to be # 1. This is the second album from The Raconteurs, which features Jack White from the White Stripes, and three other ringers who I never heard of before they joined up with Mr. White. Consolers is a complete album, that ranges from classic rock, to sweet, to borderline country, to hard rock. These guys have it all, and when Jack White trades falsetto verses with Brendan Benson, they are almost like rappers passing the mic. My favorite song is Five on the Five, which is a rocker!! Every song on this album is fantastic. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/theraconteurs



2 – Slipknot – All Hope Is Gone – August 20th



The masked metal band from Iowa dropped another bomb on the world with this one, and this album has some serious heat. It starts off with a typical one minute intro, featuring the garbled vocals of Corey Taylor ranting, which leads into the brutal Gematria (The Killing Name). Gematria is clearly a sarcastic song that should be taken as anti-war, but to some listeners (like myself) it comes off as bad-ass pro-war. Lyrics such as "we will burn your city down, America is a killing name" sound like Mr. Taylor is criticizing the U.S. for a shoot first attitude, but to me it also sounds like they are threatening other countries with certain fire if the offenders do not obey. The next two songs Sulfur, and Pyschosocial, continue the thrash, but the real surprise is track # 5, Dead Memories, which is basically a ballad and provides a nice break in the action. The rest of the album continues this pace, several brutal songs in a row, then something soft (like track # 11 Snuff), followed up by pure aggression, including the finisher and title track All Hope Is Gone. Mick Thompson and James Root (guitars) play like their hair is on fire, and Joey Jordison (drums), in spite of the substance abuse problem he overcame during the recording, is once again the MVP for the rhythmic backbone he provides. This is the death / thrash metal hybrid stuff that I love, and no one does it better (in my opinion). Hear more at http://www.myspace.com/slipknot1



3 – Girl Talk – Feed The Animals – June 19th



The genius that is Gregg Gillis decided to "give" away his album for whatever you wanted to pay ala Radiohead, and what a gift. This mashup is even better than his last album, and shows that Girl Talk AKA Mr. Gillis is just going to continue improving until all other mashup DJs quit. The man takes 300+ samples and somehow works them all into a flow of songs. It is really hard to explain, you just have to hear it. My favorite moment is when he combines the innocent Lil Mama song Lip Gloss with Metallica's iconic thrash from One. If you want to dance then click here http://www.blogger.com/www.myspace.com/girltalk



4 – Cavalera Conspiracy – Inflikted – March 24th



When word of this album started circulating on Blabbermouth.net, I could not wait to hear what it would produce. For those not in the know, brothers Max (guitar) and Igor Cavalera (drums) formed the Brazilian metal band Sepultura back in the early 80s, and their albums continue to inspire bands today. However, something caused the two brothers to stop speaking back in 1996, and Sepultura broke up. Max went on to form Soulfly, one of the best bands in the world. In 2007 Max and Igor got on the phone and hashed things out. They then decided to drop one of the roughest thrash metal albums, which features Marc Rizzo (guitar) from Soulfly, and Joe Duplantier (bass) from Gojira. A month or so before the album was released, samples on MySpace came out and salivating started. The lead single, Inflikted, showed that they had dynamite, and the rest of the album followed suit. I was so impressed and am so nerdy that I pre-ordered the CD and got an autographed copy. So worth it. Get your ears blasted at www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy



5 – Metallica – Death Magnetic – September 12th



The legends of metal are back with their best album since And Justice For All. This is pure greatness, and the addition of Robert Trujillo on bass did not hurt. If anything, it helped them get back to the type of music they were playing on Master of Puppets and Ride the Lightning. Excellent work Metallica! Oh by the way Lars, I downloaded this album for free before it was even released. In your face! You can't stop the internet Lars!! Make friends with Metallica at http://www.metallica.com/



6 – Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III – June 10th



A few years ago I hated this guy, and really didn't think he had any rap skills. Now, a few years later, and he has greatly improved. Along with broadening his subject material, Lil Wayne AKA Lil Weezy AKA Dewayne Carter took his abilities to an entirely different level with Tha Carter III. "A Milli" is one of the best rap songs I have heard in a long time, and it features some witty rhymes like "I'm a young money millionaire, tougher than Nigerian hair." The song "Phone Home" is another standout that is not the norm when you think of Weezy. Total complete great album. Hit up Wayne at http://www.myspace.com/lilwayne



7 – Soulfly – Conquer – July 23rd



Max Cavalera, hot off of the success that is Cavalera Conspiracy, and feeling confident for appearing on my list twice, found some inspiration from the recording of that album and just went f*cking nuts on this Soulfly album. One listen to the songs and you can hear a revitalized sound, more groove metal and thrash breakdowns, less high pitched guitars. The tribal sounds are still there, which make for great interludes to balance out the heavy. Check it out at http://www.myspace.com/soulfly



8 – Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy – November 23rd



Holy cow, this album actually came out. 15 years after their last studio album, GNR comes back with one of the more epic albums of their career. Well, I guess for Axl Rose's career, since he is the only guy from the original line-up who is still in the band. Anyway, the songs are fantastic, beautiful creations that frequently have huge ranges from hard rock, to soft falsetto, to incredible lead guitar parts. You might accuse Axl of over-producing these songs, because if you read the credits you will see 5 guitar players credited on almost every song, but the fact is that Axl is a genius (musically) and this album is their best outside of Appetite For Destruction. Offer Axl a rail at http://www.myspace.com/gunsnroses



9 - Hollywood Undead - Swan Songs - September 2nd



This is a guilty pleasure of the highest order. These hockey masked rappers mix misogynistic party rap vocals with R&B hooks, and do it over rock-rap beats. Danny Lohner from Nine Inch Nails even helped produce some of their more badass songs, although Deuce The Producer, who also sings the hooks for every song, is quite a good beat-maker as well. Charlie Scene does such a good job of impersonating Eminem that I don't hold it against him, since he sounds better than the real Slim Shady has in years. This really sounds like Eminem meets Linkin Park. Get your boogie on at http://www.myspace.com/hollywoodundead

10 - AC/DC - Black Ice - October 10th

Another legend that released a bomb ass album during 2008, and they sound as great as ever. The band just sounds classic no matter what, and the vocals are surprisingly the same as back in the day. Solid album of classic rock.