Top 10 Albums of 2008 - Part IV

#1 - The Silver Cord by The Classic Crime



For the few of you who were waiting for it, here it is. Number one. The Silver Cord. The Classic Crime. That's my pick for the best album of 2008. The Classic Crime would probably have to be the most improved band over the past year, and they started off pretty good anyways. But, The Silver Cord took their music to a new level. The songs have found a new energy, the guitar riffs are more intricate and exciting, the vocals are more passionate and emotional, the beats are more driven and intense, the fast is faster, the heavy is heavier, the everything is better. It's not just good guitar solos, great vocals, catchy melodies, well designed song structure, or deep lyrics. It's all of those, and on just about every single song. So if you're looking for something to do with those itunes giftcards or extra cash you have from Christmas, get The Silver Cord. It's worth it. (Unless you would rather give the money to a church, charity, someone in need, or another noble cause. That's way more worth it.)

Top 10 Albums of 2008 - Part III

#4 - Narrow Stairs by Death Cab For Cutie



Death Cab tricked me on this one. I got the cd and listened to about half of it, and didn't like it. So i didn't bother with it for probably over a month. Then I really got into their previous release, Plans, and decided I wanted more. So I gave Narrow Stairs another shot. Not expecting much, I was blown away. This was good, at least as good as Plans, maybe better, but still maybe not. But nonetheless, it was good, and new, and Death Cab for sure. Great band, great album.

#3 - New Surrender by Anberlin



Surprise surprise, Anberlin in my top 10. If you know me, it is a surprise that they're not number 1, or even number 2 for that matter. Although they are and have been my favorite band for a while, New Surrender wasn't the best album I heard this year. It's really good, and some of the songs are great, but at the same time it was slightly disappointing. I had such high hopes for my favorite band's new cd, maybe too high though. Personally, I think the switch to a major label did nothing for them besides publicity. Great music, the best live show I've ever seen, but not quite enough for number one this year.

#2 - You Are My Sunshine by Copeland



Actual surprise here, a band I've liked for quite a while got signed to my favorite record label. Copeland + Tooth & Nail = great music. Aaron Marsh's vocals continue to provide tension and beauty as always, and the addition of Rae Cassidy on a track or 2 was a much appreciated move. And the music behind the voices proved to be Copeland's best yet, melodic, smooth, tense, raw, everything that needs to be behind Marsh's falsetto. This is what I was waiting for from Copeland.

Top 10 Albums of 2008 - Part II

#7 - Shake My Hand by The Jakes



The Jakes are the only band to make the top 10 that I had never heard before 2008. I'm a frequent visitor of purevolume, looking for new bands and new stuff from other bands. Most of the time they feature pop punk, hardcore, or other bands that don't really interest me too much. But one week I got on and saw that The Jakes were featured and they were indie. So I decided to give them a listen and basically fell in love. A mix of new-age indie, funk, jazz, soul, southern, a mix. One of the most unique bands I know of.

#6 - Viva La Vida by Coldplay



Coldplay is big, and you might actually know a song or 2 off this cd from the radio. But they make such quality music I can't leave them out, despite their mainstream-ness. They definitely pulled away from Chris Martin singing falsetto to piano on every song. Don't worry, there's still plenty of piano, just in between strings, synths, guitars, and a number of other musical devices. Possibly a new direction for Coldplay, possibly just a tangent. Whatever it is, it's new, it's different, and it's good.

#5 - Cruel To Be Young by Jonezetta



This may have been the biggest surprise of the year in music for me. Jonezetta's last cd, Popularity, ws good, not great. It had some catchy lines, some decent guitar, and the occasional melodic verse or chorus. But on Cruel To Be Young, Jonezetta seems to have found their place in music. At times they sound grungy and happy, but it works. Lead singer Robert Chisolm's voice is definitely a much closer to perfect match for the new music. It's music that sounds old, new, happy, sad, angry, and those can all take place in one Jonezetta song without sounding ridiculous.

Top 10 Albums of 2008 - Part I

#10 - Fear & Love by We Shot The Moon



We Shot The Moon is an upbeat pop/rock band from California, typical I know. But thanks to the piano play and vocals from Jonathan Jones (of Waking Ashland) they go a cut above the other bands in their genre. Great music to sway your head to(also the 2nd song title), sing along with, and definitely to drive with. Definitely a band to check out, but you might wanna wait until the summer, or at least until the sun's shining a little warmer. And they've got some great sounding demos on their myspace page.

#9 - The Glass Passenger by Jack's Mannequin



Andrew McMahon, former lead man of one of "emo"'s founding bands, Something Corporate, has found his slightly happier, but still emotional side. In his second solo effort McMahon, known as Jack's Mannequin, continues with his piano-driven melodies, upbeat rhythms, and confessional lyrics. The Glass Passenger seems to be deeper than past albums though, with its piano-led ballads, intricate layering, and the lengthy but somewhat epic "Caves". For anyone who likes to move to their music, but also likes the sound of gut-spilling, emotional, vocals; this is a band for you.

#8 - The Bird and the B-Sides by Relient K



Relient K has always been a band you can rely on. And that cheesy wordplay was totally intentional, since this cd is full of it, but somehow makes you forget that it's cheesey and makes you love it instead. From what I've seen this cd has been extremely underrated and overlooked. People still think of 5 Score... as RK's latest without realizing that this B-Sides CD has 13 brand new tracks. And they're really good. Catchy guitars, clever wordplay, Matt Thiessen's simple but nice vocals, and years of musical experience all come together to make a collection of great listening. If you like Relient K, you have to get this CD. Plus, there are 13 acoustic, rare, and funny tracks that make up the second (B-side) half of the CD.

Hello

I know I have my blog at alive, but this is going to be a personal, less theological blog. So if you guys want to know what's going on in my life, what I'm interested in, things about music, school, pretty much the detail things about my life; then feel free to read. I plan on putting up a top 10 albums of 2008 post. It'll be personal opinion though, so don't expect to know everything or have heard any of it on the radio. Until then, peace and love.