My brother, the world-famous Uncle T, who often contributes to Speed of Dark, got his Top 10 of 2008 list together before I did, but I will have mine finished in a couple of days. We will also have more from Uncle T about albums that missed this list.
1. STAY POSITIVE - The Hold Steady
The Hold Steady: 
These streetwise aging punks come up with another great CD, perhaps their personal best. The songs are beautiful, world-weary tales of the urban youth decay. The mostly uplifting music is great, with keyboardist Franz Nicolay sounding a lot like Roy Bittan of the E-Street Band. Despite all the dark lyrics, it somehow manages to stay positive. And the three bonus tracks on the CD I bought are also keepers.
The Hold Steady: Sequestered in Memphis
MySpace | Website | BUY
2. REAL ANIMAL - Alejandro Escovedo
Alejandro looks back to his 70s punk days on a number of these songs. This Toni Visconti produced CD took a while for me to get used to, but eventually it sank in due to the great songs and passionate vocals. Chuck Prophet (ex-Green on Red) helped on guitar and the songwriting. This CD appears to be on everyone’s favorite list this year.
Alejandro Escovedo: Always a Friend
MySpace | Website | BUY
Concert review: Alejandro Escovedo at ACL 2008
3. MOMOFUKU - Elvis Costello and the Imposters
Great CD by Elvis and his band, aided by Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) and Jonathan Rice. Some of this sounds like his late 1970’s period, but he mixes it up with other styles. All the songs are good.
Elvis Costello and the Imposters: American Gangster Time
MySpace | Website | BUY
4. CONSOLERS OF THE LONELY - The Raconteurs
The debut by this band led by Jack White and Brendan Benson was a nice warm up, but on their second effort they really gel as a band. This one is quite more adventurous with much better songs. And it rocks, which make these songs great in concert where they really excel.
The Raconteurs: Top Yourself
MySpace | Website | BUY
5. ACID TONGUE - Jenny Lewis
Another brilliant solo CD from Rilo Kiley front-woman Jenny Lewis. Here she expands her repertoire to gospel, soul, and hard rock. The songs’ musical styles vary but all come together as a whole very nicely.
Jenny Lewis: Carpetbaggers
MySpace | Website | BUY
Concert Review: Jenny Lewis at ACL 2008
6. JUST US KIDS - James McMurtry
This one kicks off with gutbucket swamp rock, continues with social commentary (“God Bless America”, a final great W. kiss-off (“Cheney’s Toy”), and winds down with great introspective tunes. All the songs are good.
James McMurtry: Hurricane Party
MySpace | Website | BUY
7. DIG!!! LAZARUS, DIG!!! - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
Their best CD in a long, long time. Here they’re back in a nasty rocking mode, similar to last year’s Grinderman side project, with great songs of cool depravity.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
MySpace | Website | BUY
8. JUKEBOX - Cat Power
Chan Marshall followed up “The Greatest” with a great CD of cover songs, a re-recorded version an earlier song, and an original. Back in 2000, she did a really nice “Covers Record” CD which brought her to my attention. For “Jukebox” she expanded that concept backed by her great Dirty Delta Blues Band and other crack musicians, great production, and her own confidence and verve to create another exquisite song collection.
Cat Power: I Believe In You
MySpace | Website | BUY
Album Review
9. VAMPIRE WEEKEND - Vampire Weekend
This Ivy-league collegiate band’s debut combines African-sounding guitars, classical keyboards and strings, a rock rhythm section, and hyper-catchy songs. This CD was massively hyped early in the year, but it certainly deserves it. Not sure if they’ll be able to produce a successful follow-up, but this one was very nice.
Vampire Weekend: A-Punk
MySpace | Website | BUY
Concert Review: Vampire Weekend at the Glass House
10. TEMPORARY PEOPLE - Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts
Not as good as I’d hoped for, but still a pretty good second CD by Joe and his great band. My only problem with it is that I’d already heard great live versions of many of these songs at a concert last year, and they sound better live (which is testimony to a great band).
Joseph Arthur and the Lonely Astronauts: Look Into the Sky
MySpace | Website | Buy
Album Review
See also:
Uncle T’s Top 10 CDs of 2007
Uncle T’s Top 10 CDs of 2006
- alt-gramma (371)
- indie.mom (395)
- Uncle T (7)
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