pretty good year for music if you ask me, and some of the smaller bands i've been following put out good releases, and well the big ones did some good too. also we got martha wainwright, stereolab and toadies albums this year, which are definitely things to be thankful for. links go to youtubes of live performances for you no-click zoners, and if any pro-clickers find a broken link let me know. or just bitch about how mainstream my tastes are.

30. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Godspeed

29. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
Magick

28. Flogging Molly - Float
(No More) Paddy's Lament

27. The GZA - Pro Tools
0% Finance

26. Bloc Party - Intimacy
Mercury

25. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
Going On

24. Toadies - No Deliverance
So Long Lovey Eyes

23. Cruiserweight - Big Bold Letters
Balboa

22. Old 97's - Blame it On Gravity
Dance With Me

21. Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
You Cheated Me

20. Drive-By Truckers - Brighter than Creation's Dark
Two Daughters and a Wife

19. Stereolab - Chemical Chords
Neon Beanbag

18. Calexico - Carried to Dust
Red Blooms

17. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
Gardenia

16. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
I Got Mine

15. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Bixby Canyon Bridge

14. Tapes 'n Tapes - Walk it Off
Conquest

13. She & Him - Volume One
I Was Made for You

12. Centro-Matic/South San Gabriel - Dual Hawks
I, The Kite

11. Retribution Gospel Choir - Retribution Gospel Choir
For Her Blood

10. Aimee Mann - @#%&*! Smilers
Freeway

9. Dr. Dog - Fate
The Old Days

8. The Loved Ones - Build & Burn
The Bridge

7. TV On the Radio - Dear Science,
Dancing Choose

6. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Constructive Summer

5. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Pt. 1

4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
The Kids Don't Stand a Chance

3. Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
Revelry

2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Blue Ridge Mountains

1. Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak
Heartless

bring on 2009, i'm ready to be critical of the creations of others!

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Great post. Agree on many points -- disagree on just as many.

it's funny because usually i put together a 30-song mix cd for the year, but there weren't many good sad bastard songs to choose from (because you have to have at least 2 per disc). it's a very upbeat year for some reason.

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do you listen to kaki king

don't know what that is link me a tube

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a lot of her stuff is just instrumental guitar stuff, so if that doesn't please you, just search youtube for it.

Went to see the Fleet Foxes earlier this year at a local bar in SD, they were pretty good. On our way out we saw the lead singer doing something on his laptop and the BF chatted with him for a little. The guy was so chill and very nice.