Ya know, I put a lot of time, thought and re-listening to the albums I’ve rated highly in 2008. I was kind of surprised to find out:
1) a few of the albums that I really liked this year (like MGMT’s Oracular Spectacular) came out in previous years,
2) a few albums that I really liked listening to and thought would make this list weren’t as “good” when I compared them to the rest of the list.

At any rate, here ya go!

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Living in Austin, there are always amazing bands forming and making it. Spoon, Fastball, Dexter Freebish, Dynamite Hack, the list goes on and on. However, it is rare that a lot of the bands formed here mature with a sound that I still enjoy. Okkervil River seems to be one of the exceptions to that statement. Okkervil River’s “The Stand Ins” has got to be my personal favorite album so far published by the band. Every track on this album is solid, a bit more than their, “The Stage Names” (as well as a few gems scattered amongst their previous albums). While not my “Favorite Album of the Year”, it’s definitely up there in rank.

About two months ago while poking through my usual online/offline music haunts, I discovered “Lost Coastlines” and immediately fell in love with the track. I love how the banjo compliments the passionate vocals of Will Sheff and Zachary Thomas. After listening to the entire album, there is no regret with my purchase. Song like “Singer Songwriter” and “Calling and Not Calling my Ex” are quite excellent and will probably see radio exposure any day now.

Speaking of radio coverage, I am really hoping that this band gets a little more mainstream coverage. They are really starting to produce mature sounding albums, composing songs using non-traditional instruments for rock music. The fact that they can include banjo, steel guitar, organ and other stuff into their sound well, makes this a great album.