WTBU Staff Picks: Top Albums of 2008

I hate when numbers and music have to cross paths. I hate how Pitchfork "scores" albums out of ten, and I hate how Rolling Stone gives out "stars". I think that album reviews should speak for themselves, and numbers lead to lazy readers. But, in my opinion, there is something different about taking time to point out the year's best new albums. Sure, these lists usually never quite seem objective enough, but luckily, WTBU is not even going to try to make one definitive list. Though 2008 wasn't nearly as great as 2007 for new music, there were still far too many new albums for our staff to possibly make one "Top 10". Instead, we asked our DJs and interns to submit their individual top lists, and the genre of their show, so our readers know exactly what point-of-view each list is coming from. Here they are!
peace/love/happy holidays,
liz pelly

PS!!!!! All of these lists aren't necessarily in a specific order. Also, at last minute, I decided to include my favorite singles in my list, which I didn't ask everyone for, so if you want to, you should leave your picks in the comments.


JOEY GERBER
DJ on "The Fleshy Fresh" (Indie/Alternative)
thefleshyfresh.blogspot.com
5. The Academy Is... - Fast Times at Barrington High
4. Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
2. Dr. Manhattan - Dr. Manhattan
1. The Fashion - The Fashion
Honorable Mentions:
Ben Folds - Way To Normal
Kings of Leon - Only By the Light
Jeremy Messersmith - The Silver City
Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane


KEITH SIMPSON
DJ on "Left of the Dial" (Indie/Alternative) & "Bumptastic Brothers of Funk" (Funk)
10. Los Campesinos! - We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed
9. Buena Vista Social Club - Live at Carnegie Hall
8. Thievery Corporation - Radio Retaliation
7. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
6. F***ed Up - The Chemistry of Modern Life
5. David Byrne and Brian Eno - Everything that Happens Will Happen Today
4. Q-Tip - The Renaissance
3. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
2. Times New Viking - Rip It Off
1. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash

LIZ PELLY
DJ on "You Are What You Love" (Folk/Folk/Folk)
Top 5 Albums:
5. Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
4. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
3. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
2. Bob Dylan - Bootlegs Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs, Rare & Unreleased
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Honorable Mentions:
She & Him - Volume 1
Beach House - Devotion
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls
Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
Cat Power - Jukebox
Best Singles:
MGMT - "Time To Pretend"
Beach House - "Used to Be"
Spiritualized - "Soul on Fire"
Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal"
Okkervil River - "Lost Coastlines"
Vivian Girls - "Wild Eyes"

JESSY BARTLETT
DJ on "Girl Powa!" (Female Vocalists/Indie/Various)
6. Lady GaGa - The Fame
5. The Dø - A Mouthful
4. Gregory & the Hawk - Moenie & Kitchi
3. Thao - We Brave Bee Stings and All
2. Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes
1. Stars - Sad Robots EP

DEVON MALONEY
DJ on "Alphabet Soup" (Indie/Rock/Various)
alphabetsoupontheradio.blogspot.com
10. Islands - Arm's Way
9. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
8. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
7. Dr. Dog - Fate
6. Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle
2. Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
1. The Decemberists - Always a Bridesmaid EP

ST. JEN CHOI
DJ on "Meows & Muses" (Indie/Alternative)
jenchoi.wordpress.com
10. Music Go Music - Light of Love
9. Santogold - Santogold
8. Deerhunter - Microcastles
7. The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
6. Lil' Wayne - The Carter III
5. Stephen Malkmus & the Jinks - Real Emotional Trash
4. No Age - Nouns
3. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
2. Beach House - Devotion
1. Animal Collective - Water Curses EP

CAL HANLON
DJ on "Cal On a Hot Tin Roof" (Various)
10. Neil Young - Sugar Mountain Live at Canterbury House 1968
9. Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP
8. Ray Lamontagne - Gossip in the Grain
7. Railroad Earth - Amen Corner
6. Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinology
5. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
4. Dr. Dog - Fate
3. Beck - Modern Guilt
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
1. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

JACK FLAGER
DJ on "High Fidelity" (Indie/Rock)
5. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
4. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
3. The Roots - Rising Down
2. Beck - Modern Guilt
1. Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
Honorable Mention:
Atmosphere - When Life Gives you Lemons, You Paint that Shit Gold
Cold War Kids - Loyalty to Loyalty
Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple

LAUREN WIEGAND
DJ on "Girl Powa!" (Female Vocalists/Indie/Various)
10. Britney Spears - Circus
9. Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
8. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Pt. 1
7. Sia - Some People Have Real Problems
6. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
5. Adele - 19
4. She & Him - Volume 1
3. Santogold - Santogold
2. Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes
1. Cat Power - Jukebox

ADAM LEBOWITZ-LOCKARD's TOP BLUES ALBUMS FROM 2008:
DJ on "Black and Blues" (Blues)
10. Cadillac Records - Music from the Motion Picture
9. Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials - Full Tilt
8. The Mannish Boys - Lowdown Feelin'
7. Janiva Magness - What Love Will Do
6. Susan Tedeschi - Back to the River
5. Buddy Guy - Skin Deep
4. Pinetop Perkins - Pinetop Perkins and Friends
3. Magic Slim & The Teardrops - Midnight Blues
2. Albert Collins - Live In Montreux 1992
1. B.B. King - One Kind Favor

JOSH FRIEDMAN
DJ on "When The T's Closed" (Rock)
10. Motorhead - Motorizer
9. N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds
8. Motley Crue - Saints of Los Angeles
7. Disturbed - Indestructible
6. The Game - LAX
5. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
4. Everlast - Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford
3. AC/DC - Black Ice
2. Guns 'N Roses - Chinese Democracy
1. Metallica - Death Magnetic

JOHN CHIERICI
DJ on "Bratwurst and Buddha" (Indie)
10. Why? - Alopecia
9. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
8. No Age - Nouns
7. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
6. Hot Chip - Made in the Dark
5. Michael McDonald - Soul Speak
5. Los Campesinos - Hold On Now Youngster...
4. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
3. M83 - Saturdays=Youth
2. Broken Social Scene Presents Brendan Canning - Something For All Of Us
1. Deerhunter - Microcastle

ROSS LICHTENBERG
DJ on "The Hot Dog and Jesus Show" (Talk/Comedy)
5. Jason Collett - Here's To Being Here
4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
2. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
1. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

LANA TKACHENKO
DJ on "Fender My Gender" (Rock/Alternative)
5. Tech N9ne - Killer
4. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
3. Thievery Corporation - Radio Retaliation
2. Lotus - Hammerstrike
1. Sound Tribe Sector 9 - Peaceblaster

JOHN CURRAN
DJ on "Turn It Up" (Alternative)
10. The Roots - Rising Down
9. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
8. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
7. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
6. ZZ Top - Eliminator: 25th Anniversary Deluxe Edition
5. Beck - Modern Guilt
4. The Black Keys - Attack & Release
3. Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs, Rare & Unreleased 1989-2006
2. Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On
1. Ween - At the Cat's Cradle, 1992


DAN RYS
Intern on "Bumptastic Brothers of Funk" (Funk)
9. Tea Leaf Green - Raise Up The Tent
8. Railroad Earth - Amen Corner
7. The Bridge - Blind Man's Hill
6. BB King - One Kind Favor
5. The Brew - Back To The Woods
4. Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Vol. 8
3. Ray LaMontagne - Gossip In The Grain
2. Chick Corea and Bela Fleck - The Enchantment
1. Lotus - Hammerstrike

TRICIA GILBRIDE
Intern on "Over Yonder" (Folk/Bluegrass)
10. Tilly & the Wall - O
9. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
8. The Magnetic Fields - Distortion
7. She & Him - Volume 1
6. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
5. Stereolab - Chemical Chords
5. Dr. Dog - Fate
4. Brian Wilson - The Lucky Old Sun
3. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
1. Why? - Alopecia

P-FUNK's BEST HIP HOP ALBUMS OF 2008
Intern on "Bars n Hooks" (Hip-hop/Rap)
10. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold
9. Jake One - White Van Music
8. The Knux - Remind Me in 3 Days...
7. Black Milk - Tronic
6. The Cool Kids - The Bake Sale
5. Little Brother - Justsus For All
4. Q-Tip - The Renaissance
3. Murs - Murs For President
2. Ludacris - Theater of the Mind
1. The Roots - Rising Down
The Carter III - Intentionally Omitted

AMANDA FINNEGAN
Intern on "Digital Love" (Electronic/Dance/Indie)
6. WHY? - Alopecia
5. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
4. Megapuss - Surfing
3. Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
1. No Kids - Come Into My House

BRIAN KRENZER
Intern on "Bratwurst and Buddha" (Indie)
10. No Age - Nouns
10. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colors
9. Spiritualized - Songs in A&E
8. Sun Kil Moon - April
7. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
6. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
4. Why? - Alopecia
3. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
2. The Loved Ones - Build and Burn
1. Gaslight Anthem - 59 Sound

TARA JAYAKAR
Intern on "Left of the Dial" (Indie/Alternative)
8. The Decemberists - Always a Bridesmaid
7. The Hush Sound - Goodbye Blues
6. The Killers - Day and Age
5. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
4. Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer
3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
2. Radiohead - In Rainbows
1. Beck - Modern Guilt

JOE MIELENHAUSEN
Intern on "White Chocolate Drizzle" (Hip-hop)
8. Nas - Untitled
7. The Roots - Rising Down
6. The Killers - Day & Age
5. Doomtree - Doomtree
4. MURS - MURS for President
3. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
2. Billy Bragg - Mr. Love and Justice
1. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons, You Paint That Shit Gold

ADAM BURNSTINE
Intern on "Left of the Dial" (Indie/Alternative)
1. Bound Stems - Family Afloat
2. Pavement - Brighten the Corners: Nicene Credence Edition
3. Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
4. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
5. Portugal. The Man - Censored Colors
6. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
7. Dear and the Headlights - Drunk Like Bible Times
8. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
9. Times New Viking - Rip It Off
10. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins

WILL ORMAN
Intern on "Premium Blend" (Various)
10. Xiu Xiu - Women as Lovers
9. Why? - Alopecia
8. Stereolab - Chemical Chords
7. Portishead - Third
6. Gang Gang Dance - Saint Dymphna
5. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
4. Pretty & Nice - Get Young
3. Lykke Li - Youth Novels
2. Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
1. Tobacco - F*cked Up Friends

JUSTIN MONESTIME
Intern on "The Fleshy Fresh" (Indie/Alternative)
5. Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
4. Carolina Liar - Coming To Terms
3. Tokyo Police Club - Elephant Shell
2. The Academy Is - Fast Times At Barrington High
1. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

NATHAN DAVIDSON
Intern on "Down With the Hipster" (Indie/Various)
10. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
9. Empire of the Sun - Walking on a Dream
8. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
7. Van She - V
6. Studio - Yearbook 2
5. Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
4. Miami Horror - Bravado EP
3. Hatchback - Colors of the Sun
2. College - Secret Diary
1. Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair