Favorite Albums from 2008

Although I don't listen to lots of music, and I definitely did not buy many albums released this year, I thought it would be fun to list a couple of my favorites. Since I can't list every album I bought this year as a favorite, I thought I would go with five;)

5. Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust, Sigur Ros

Not quite so transcendent and other-worldly as takk, but beautiful music. It runs from tromping and happy to simple and gentle.

4. Narrow Stairs, Death Cab for Cutie

Again, not their best, but good. This one received a lot of listens throughout the year.

3. In Rainbows, Radiohead

I know this is kind of cheating. This record actually came out at the very end of 2007, but I did not get it until 2008. This was perhaps my favorite album of the year, musically. There are, however, some things I really don't like about it. I was even unsure whether or not to say aloud that I liked Radiohead. Thus, the third place slot.

2. Welcome to the Welcome Wagon, Welcome Wagon

A wonderful collection of songs mostly about Jesus. These are not hymns or praise choruses, but rather finely crafted folk songs. They often sound "churchy" with Choirs backing them up in most songs, but somehow this is okay. This album also sounds very much like a Sufjan Stephens project, which is good.

1. The Sparrow and the Crow, William Fitzsimmons

I have only had this for a few weeks, and it has easily won the place for favorite of the year. I have been listening to it constantly. I will not labor to describe it myself, but recommend you listen for yourself.

As for other yearend lists, the most interesting I found was by Patrol Magazine. You can read it here.