Okay, so I lied about posting this on December 22nd. I was tired of moving an album up a spot, moving it back the next day and just stopped. I got it all together and thought “let’s get this out there now while I can” so here it is. This is Slowcoutic’s favourite albums from 2008 – remember as previously mentioned, I am always right and take criticism terribly. Got it, good.
Drumroll please….
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10. Boduf Songs – How Shadows Chase The Balance
This is not a concept album, it just sounds that way – ominous and incredible at the same time.
(Boduf Songs – Pitiful Shadow Engulfed In Darkness)
9. Death Vessel – Nothing Is Precious Enough For Us
That voice out of that body – masterpiece.
(Death Vessel – Peninsula)
8. Sigur Rós – Með suð à eyrum við spilum endalaust
I don’t care if I don’t understand it, it is breathtakingly gorgeous no matter how you hear it.
(Sigur Rós – Gobbledigook)
7. Right Away, Great Captain! – The Eventually Home
Andy Hull can do no wrong. His songwriting and album creation is amazing – this album solidifies this.
(Right Away, Great Captain! – Anna No)
6. Frontier Ruckus – The Orion Songbook
Some of the best back country/mountain folk tunes one can find, even though they are from heart of Michigan!
(Frontier Ruckus – Animals Need Animals)
5. J. Tillman – Vacilando Territory Blues
Try and tell me it didn’t come out this year….officially…still, he has been the pinnacle of the hushed songwriter for the last few years, this year is no different.
(J. Tillman – James Blues)
4. Lotte Kestner – China Mountain
She is by far my favourite female performer. The focused strokes of a guitar with that voice – nuff said. And the B-Sides for this release could be their very own album!
(Lotte Kestner – Leif Erikson)
3. Horse Feathers – House With No Home
Justin Ringle and crew have the orchestral folk perfected. Delicate vocals with beautiful backing – this album soothes and entertains all at once upon first, second and last listen.
(Horse Feathers – Different Gray)
2. Elephant Micah – Exiled Magicians
Joe O’Connell brings his music to a new level on this one. Gone is a lot of the reverb and he compensates by bringing the guitar, songwriting and song crafting to new heights – phenomenal!
(Stream “Imperial Blues” here)
1. Brian Borcherdt – Coyotes
So this one is top notch in my books. It comes in at under 30 minutes, and still it feels longer and it absolutely captivates me the entire time – this album haunts me when I don’t listen it – almost simple at times with only Borcherdt and his guitar – the sound he creates, the lyrics, the delivery – sad bastard music at its ultimate level. Seeing him live solidified my decision on this album, one that you must have.
(Brian Borcherdt – The Drugs)
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There you have it, top albums as per me. Not all will agree, some will. Not all will recognize J. Tillman’s album as being an ’08 release or Borcherdt’s Coyotes as being a full length album or Elephant Micah’s CD-R as his actual release….I do. I hope you like this music or give them a try as these were the albums that kept my world spinnin’ this past year.
~Smansmith
Comments
10 responses to “Slowcoustic Best Albums of 2008”
i just found your blog. great work, thanks a lot!
these are almost my top 25! most of them are in my top releases as well. we´re music twins!
i even prefer the b-sides of lotte kestner.
Right Away, Great Captain! and Brian Borcherdt were my biggest surprises this year. i´m still waiting for the vinyl…
here´s what i really like and didn´t find on your list.
The Accidental: There Were Wolves lp
Meredith Bragg and the Terminals: Silver Sonya cd
Larry Jon Wilson: s/t cd
Peter Broderick: home lp
Ken Reaume: Four Horses cd
Neil Halstead: Oh! Mighty Engine lp
Mount Eerie: dawn lp (i prefer this one compared to the lost wisdom release)
Choir Of Young Believers: This Is For The White In Your Eyes lp
Katkhuda: A Long Way From Somewhere (obi solo project) cd
soltero: you´re no dream cd
Benoit Pioulard: Temper
Beatbeat Whisper: Wonder Continental cd
Peasant: s/t cd
usually i don´t like live records, but this one´s really good.
Christina und Karla-Therese Kiellvander: Santiago Alquimista et al – live cd
the same with cover versions but these i really liked:
James Yorkston: When The Haar Rolls In (Covers)
i could go on like this… it´s so hard to do a list and it changes every day… but i hope you´ll find one or another great release, you don´t know yet…
Thanks for the list, some artists I am unaware of!
I do agree the b-sides to Lotte Kestner are top notch. Right Away, I did expect to be good, Borcherdt hit me out of left field though. Picked up the vinyl for Coyotes (had him sign it as well) at a concert a few weeks back!!
S.
hey. thanks a lot for the list. just bought lotte kestner – China Mountain as xmas presents to my friends. really appreciate it!
a very good choice. btw thank you for your great blog.
man.. that Tillman record is a tour de force. Probably my favorite from him yet, which is kind of like picking your favorite kid or something, but still.
great selection !
thanks for sharing all this gooooood music with us !
Stumbled upon this site (looking for a torrent of Ken Reaume’s earlier stuff). Great Blog :)
[…] Third Uncle). Those artists are the overly Slowcoustic profiled Elephant Micah (mentioned here, here and here) and new on my radar, […]
Many thanks for many discoverings !
This ie excellent, excellent stuff, Smans. Thanks so much. I know I’m gonna discover a lot of great music just by digging into this list. Many thanks. Glad to see Elephant Micah getting his due.
Also, I’ll back up Er on his choices of Peasant, Peter Broderick, and the Accidental. Particularly those first two.