There are still so many more albums from 2008 I have yet to hear, as Ian’s post and many of the other end-of-year roundups I’ve been noticing have made me realize. It was hard just narrowing it down to a top ten!

1. You Are Here - thenewno2 I’ve raved about Dhani Harrison’s group since I first heard them in August. The newest sounding album of the year, by far; this could not have been made any year other than 2008. They have remained fairly under the radar, playing some shows in Los Angeles (and broadcasting them live via Stickam in September) and releasing their album first as an iTunes exclusive, and then on one of those new-fangled, extremely tiny SlotMusic cards. Read more about thenewno2 in my original post.

2. Imperial Wax Solvent - The Fall Ah, the mighty Fall! I have been a fan since, by chance, someone posted an mp3 of “Dead Beat Descendant” on The Killers Network in 2005. After I realized that they had a boatload of albums, I settled on the excellent 2-disc compilation 50,000 Fall Fans Can’t Be Wrong…and ended up obtaining most of the studio albums anyway. So, here we have Imperial Wax Solvent which is not only the best Fall album of the 2000s, but one of the strangest Fall albums. Ever. Seriously, it’s a classic. Stream it on Last.fm

3. Midnight Boom - The Kills Reaction on this album has been fairly mixed. The production is a lot cleaner, perhaps less “raw” or live sounding than the first two. This album actually happens to be my favourite of theirs so far, and shows that they still have quite a lot of room to grow. Check them out on MySpace Music

4. Sixes & Sevens - Adam Green While not my top favourite of his (mine is Jacket Full of Danger), this album runs more like a mix tape than an ordinary LP. Adam Green is the man.

5. Box of Secrets - Blood Red Shoes I think I may have found their music when I was looking up related artists for The Kills on Last.fm They have not yet reached their full potential, but this album shows a band so promising that I just had to put it in my top ten. Stream (part of it!) on Last.fm

6. In Ear Park - Department of Eagles Did I say thenewno2’s You Are Here was the new-est sounding release of the year? There is a contender in Department of Eagles. Something Beatle-esque about this group for sure. Check them out on MySpace Music

7. Plutonium Blonde - The Legendary Pink Dots
Like the Fall, they have a massive discography, though they are lesser known. And, comparable the Fall’s 2008 release Imperial Wax Solvent, this is a contender for “most strangely enjoyable” in their entire catalog. The eerie album art offers a clue to the sounds inside. Stream it from Free Napster

8. Just Pretend You’re a Pegasus - Panda steps in chocolate Found by pure chance of typing in “chocolate” in Last.fm’s tag radio… Read my full review | Stream it on Last.fm Also check out PSIC’s Paper EP

9. A Burial in Seven Births - Mt. Moon Epic release from a summer-long band… Read my full review | Stream it on Last.fm Check out the new Tea and Oranges project!

10. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles A lot of people…well, they hate Crystal Castles. They are frequently reduced to being just another “chiptune” group, and are probably known best for their Creative Commons issues and Madonna image-use controversy. I luckily heard their album before uncovering all of the hullabaloo, and I love it. Atari bits and sampling and all. Stream it on Last.fm

I, too, will be posting a list of ‘08’s best singles soon; and, I’d love to hear your top ten album + singles picks as well!