The Recordstore Blog: 2008

The results are in, the first annual Recordstore Albums Of The Year (as voted for by you, our loyal customers) runs as follows:

1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (Bella Union)

Every few years a band comes along that stops you in your tracks. A band whose music is so overwhelmingly beautiful, so emotionally stirring, so utterly beguiling and unique, that you have to stop and catch your breath. Fleet Foxes are one of those bands.

You Say: "beautiful to hear a band not conforming to the dictated zeitgeist norm"

We Say: "the folk equivalent of crack. Moreish, addictive and with a monumental buzz"

2. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular (Columbia)

'Oracular Spectacular’ is the sound of a band taking off and leaving everyone else in their vapour trail. Andrew Vanwyngarden and Ben Goldwasser, for they are MGMT, have described their sound as ‘Future 70s’. There is an ambition to the music, as if everything out there is there for the taking.

You Say: "it's so much fun, you can't help but feel happy and bouncy as the blissful tunes roll on."

We Say: "I'm yet to be convinced but as you've voted it number 2 I'm gonna borrow my brother's copy and give it another go. I'm willing to be proved wrong about this one"

3. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid (Fiction)

Elbow's fourth studio album, ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ is a welcome return from the band, driven by a thunderous riff that reminds listeners of Elbow’s love of the heavy as well as the delicate.

You Say: "musically uplifting, lyrically beautiful"

We Say: "these boys are like Hull City. Having started off in the lower divisions they slowly raised their game to prove they can mix it with the big boys on any occasion."

4. Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night (Columbia)

‘Only By The Night’ is a bold and expansive sonic statement that looks set to solidify Kings of Leon’s position as one of the most important international acts of 2008 and beyond.

You Say: "this is a big step on from Because Of The Times - harder, faster, stronger"

We Say: "stadium filling anthems that'll see them vying for stage space with Coldplay and U2....only KOL are much, much better. The best crossover alternative rock album since 'Nevermind'"

5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (XL)

Indie rock from NYC who describe their genre of music as "Upper West Side Soweto"...and who are we to argue with that?

You Say: "it simply was the soundtrack of the summer"

We Say: "I've never really got this band but they certainly are a favourite amongst you lot. The track 'A-Punk' has got me dancing before though."

6. Portishead - Third (Island)

Like Guns'n'Roses they'd created a zeitgeist defining debut, followed it up with mediocre re-hashes of that classic and then disappeared....unlike Guns'N'Roses they returned with an album as magnificent as anything that had gone before. Hear that Axl? This is how you make a comeback....

You Say: "such a fantastic album, and easier to listen to than their older stuff"

We Say: "having feared the worst this came as a very pleasant surprise. Goodbye trip-hop, hello accessible drone"

7. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (4AD)

Every record comes out of a specific time and place, but that's more true of this one than most. At the end of 2006, Bon Iver's Justin Vernon spent 3 months alone in a log cabin in Northern Wisconsin, seeking silence, simplicity and solitude. The intention was to fill the time with physical chores - splitting wood, gathering food - but out of this period of isolation and contemplation, music started to emerge. The unexpected, triumphant result was an album of singular beauty.

You Say: "last year, various tracks were floating around the egocentric blog world. I downloaded them and quietly they faded deep in the iPod mix. At the start of this year, with the encouragement of a couple dear friends back East, this disc became the most anticipated of the year for me and it didn’t let me down one bit. Many months later it still rewards me with beauty. Isn’t that what great art should do! Great live act as well."

We Say: "one of my mates got some of Bon Iver's lyrics tattooed across his heart. You don't get that with Iglu & Hartly. Truely a band to fall in love with."

8. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement (Domino)

An album of 12 full-blooded songs, bold and brassy, full of drama, wit and melody, that source the past but avoid falling into pastiche. This is a youthful record, full of life and the sheer pleasure of music making.

You Say: "a trip down musical history, but very relevant and up to date. Incredible effort."

We Say: "not quite up there with its obvious influences but the title track was easily one of the best indie singles of the year"

9. TV On The Radio - Dear Science, (4AD)

Three albums in and TV On The Radio have really hit their stride. 'Dear Science,' (don't forget the comma) is their most challenging, yet ultimately most fulfilling set of songs to date. The incredible first single 'Golden Age' and the menacing 'DLZ' are highlights on an album which laughs in the face of "filler".

You Say: "one of my favourite bands, this record is completely different from the previous one and is amazing."

We Say: "TVOTR are fast becoming the band of the decade. Never a dull moment on any of their three albums and this one is their best yet"

10. Glasvegas - Glasvegas (Columbia)

One of the most anticipated debut albums since 'Definitely Maybe', the self titled release from Glasvegas came with a blizzard of hype as the indie scene, bored with a diet of Razorlight and Keane, finally found its saviour.

You Say: "sounds just as good as they did in a tiny club in Guildford.....and you've got to be something to sound good there."

We Say: "personally I never trust anything that gets hyped as much as this band did in 2008 and on listening to the record I still didn't get what all the fuss was about."

11. Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! (Mute)

You Say: "a return to greatness & rock n roll"

We Say: "as a recent convert to the church of the Cave-meister I absolutely fell in love with this record after one listen. The man is untouchable."

12. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (EMI)

You Say: "a new direction for the band - and it works."

We Say: "a band that never disappoint. Sublime and beautiful"

13. Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree (Mute)

You Say: "always invent something new. This album is ahead of its time."

We Say: "never been a fan of them before with their cheesy disco beats but on hearing this transition to psychedelic folk several times in the office I think I may be a convert"

14. Coldplay - Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends (Parlophone)

You Say: "their own Sgt Pepper!"

We Say: "they lost me after 'A Rush Of Blood' and this didn't change my opinion."

15. The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely (XL)

You Say: "very well written and rocks hard"

We Say: "a massive leap on from their debut, White indulges his Led Zep fantasies whilst Benson proves a match for any of the classic 70s songwriters."

16. Foals - Antidotes (Transgressive)

You Say: "great bouncing pop"

We Say: "they didn't include their best two singles but it didn't stop this being a pretty enjoyable little record. A wee bit samey but still head and shoulders above much of the indie crowd"

17. The Verve - Forth (Parlophone)

You Say: "this album proves that bands can be out of the scene for a time and return and still show that they are relevant to today"

We Say: "a lot of my geezer mates were pretty excited about Ashcroft and co's return. Me, I remain indifferent."

18. Late Of The Pier - Fantasy Black Channel (Parlophone)

You Say: "a totally out there album that you can enjoy before you go out on the town."

We Say : "electro-rock-rave - sound like The Klaxons? Well, yes in some way they are cut from the same cloth but what The Klaxons lack is LOTP's gift for pulling off even the most bizarre experimentation."

19. Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off The Lavender Bridge (Domino)