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If you read this blog regularly, you may find my 1500 word Coldplay rant from earlier this year to be pretty hypocritical, considering I didn’t even put the album on my own Top 10 for 2008. I guess, in the end, I couldn’t justify bumping any of these albums (even though I do love Coldplay and you need to deal with that). If this were a top 20, Viva La Vida would definitely be on there (and most likely be #11), and the past few weeks would have probably been a lot easier for me.

After a million edits, a dozen number changes, and a near deletion of my #9 on a technicality, I’m finally effing done with this Top 10.

Close calls:
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay
Oracular Spectacular MGMT
Devotion Beach House
Santogold Santogold
For Emma, Forever Ago‎ Bon iver
The Rhumb Line Ra Ra Riot

Honorable Mention:
Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit are the Very Best The Very Best
The combination of Esau’s native Malawian singing style and Radioclit’s eclectic production is one of the best things I’ve ever heard in my life.

“Dinosaur on the Ark” by The Very Best

10. You & Me The Walkmen
The crisp guitars and raspy vocals on this record are as gritty as the New York City streets that surely inspired them. This is one of the best Subway albums I’ve ever commuted to.

“In the New Year” by The Walkmen

9. Alegranza El Guincho
El Guincho’s exotic debut album throws some beats on old tropical music samples and mixes in some unrelated audio clips for one of the coolest and most original albums I’ve heard in years.

“Antillas” by El Guincho

8. Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust Sigur Ros
Sigur Ros has ripped out my soul, stomped it to death, and then brought it back to life all within single tracks. Have you translated the lyrics to “Inní mér syngur vitleysingur” lately (scroll down to the 6th post, here)? Yeah. Yup.

“Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur” by Sigur Ros

7. Rockferry Duffy
Duffy’s voice is literally like no other, and the production and songwriting on her A&M debut is incredible in every sense of the word. This is just a solid pop record.

“Warwick Avenue” by Duffy

6. In Ear Park Department of Eagles
Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear’s other band. The bulk of this record seems lost in time, and is comprised mostly of lo-fi, low-key, melodic pop tunes reminiscent of late Beatles and their respective solo careers. This record is subtle, but great.

“No One Does it Like You” by Department of Eagles

5. The Odd Couple Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley are a timeless act that sound like they were sent from the future to teach us how to make a record that transcends all boundaries, genres, and eras, and Cee-Lo continues to sing the sh*t out of everything he records.

“Going On” by Gnarls Barkley

4. 808s & Heartbreak Kanye West
808s, while auto-tuned and 90% sung, is highlighted by stellar production, surprisingly introspective lyrics, and Kanye’s everlasting ability to make a brilliant pop song.

“Amazing” by Kanye West

3. Third Portishead
This is one of the few times an artist makes a come-back record that trumps all of their previous efforts. The album’s intense, innovative electronica successfully carries Portishead over into the 21st Century with a sound that evolved rather than adapted.

“The Rip” by Portishead

2. Tha Carter III Lil Wayne
Tha Carter III is 15 tracks of unstoppable hip hop monsters, with enough quotable lines to fill 10 Facebook profiles. “Lock load ready to aim at any target/i can get your brains for a bargain like i bought it from target/hip hop is my supermarket/shoppin’ cart full of fake hip hop artists/I’m starvin’.” “And I be the sh*t now you got loose bowels/I don’t O U like two vowels.” “I got summer hatin’ on me cause I’m hotter than the sun/Got spring hatin’ on me cause I ain’t never sprung/Winter hatin’ on me cause I’m colder than ya’ll/And I would never I would never I would never fall.” Mm.

“A Milli” by Lil Wayne

“Let the Beat Build” by Lil Wayne

1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
It wasn’t even a week into the new year when the reviews started trickling in, naming Vampire Weekend’s self titled debut ‘Album of the Year’ (including mine). SPIN threw them on the cover before the thing was even released (and before most people had any idea who they were). It doesn’t happen often, but the hype was justified. Every single song on this record is A+ 5 star 100% awesome. The band’s subtle array of influences spanning decades/continents, mixed with their impeccable knack for writing choruses that are catchier than a Britney hook and lyrics that are as clever and articulate as they come, makes their charming 40 minute debut a near perfect record.

“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” by Vampire Weekend