the top 10 albums of 2008
10.
Search the City – A Fire So Big the Heavens Can See It 
good, uppity, pop punk album. one of the best bands you’ve never heard of – Christian, too.
09.
Quietdrive – Deliverance 
this album doesn’t really approach their last, but they’re a great band and it’s still one of the best of the year.
08.
Secondhand Serenade – A Twist in My Story
one of the most emo artists I listen to, similar to Dashboard Confessional. apparently this guy is getting pretty good, and I’m glad to hear it.
07.
Ivoryline – There Came a Lion 
another solid pop punk record, by another solid group. this band came out of nowhere and I can’t remember how I found them, but I was pleasantly surprised to find that a friend of mine likes them too. oh hey, the band members are all Christians too (but they’re not a “Christian” band).
06.
Anberlin – New Surrender 
this album rounds out the trio of solid Christian music for the year. Anberlin is just a good band, I don’t have to explain anything here.
05.
Empires – Howl 
this band was recommended to me and boy are they great. another awesome artist that came out of nowhere. they also offer the album for free here. I expect their next release to hit the charts.
04.
Frightened Rabbit – Midnight Organ Fight 
another band that was recommended to me. I’ve only started listening to this album in the past week but it is clearly a best-of-2008 favorite. listen to it.
03.
Augustana – Can’t Love, Can’t Hurt 
I checked out this album figuring it would be another easily forgotten pop record, but wow was I surprised. I listened to this, basically on repeat, for weeks. Augustana has cemented their place as a favorite band for me.
02.
Jack’s Mannequin – The Glass Passenger 
the old Something Corporate leader did it again. this is Andrew McMahon’s second solid solo side-project sing-along. if you haven’t heard of it yet you’ve been hiding under a rock.
01.
Third Eye Blind – Red Star 
any year that my favorite band releases something proper, they will probably win the top spot by default. however, this really is a good release (even though it’s a 3-song EP) so you should check it out.
.
and 10 honorable mentions:
- Punk Goes Crunk
- Alesana – Where Myth Fades to Legend
- Allison Crowe – Little Light
- Archie Star – Carry Me Home
- Bayside – Shudder
- The Flobots – Fight with Tools
- Jack Johnson – Sleep Through the Static
- Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s – Not Animal
- Rise Against – Appeal to Reason
- Senses Fail – Life Is Not a Waiting Room
I would love to include the new Funeral for a Friend album, Memory and Humanity, but it really wasn’t up to par. same for Copeland’s newest, You Are My Sunshine. and to be fair, I haven’t given Death Cab For Cutie’s new album Narrow Stairs a proper listen yet (in fact, I just realized I didn’t have it, so I’m in the midst of fixing that).
I’ve heard a lot of “2008 was a bad year for music”, but I would have to disagree. either way, hopefully 2009 will be full of fantastic auditory surprises!
and after a few listens, Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs deserves one of the top spots, no question. oops!
also, Roddy Woomble/John McCusker/Kris Drever – Before the Ruin makes a strong case for honorable mention (Roddy Woomble being the lead singer of Idlewild).