Top 50 Albums of 2008: #43 - 46

46. M83 Saturdays = Youth
For ages M83 have lived in a world where synths and rhythms have overshadowed any and all other parts of the song. Built up in layer after layer of synths and drums the songs often got lost, but on Saturdays = Youth Anthony Gonzalez finally pointed the spotlight on the song giving us an album that is still heavy on the beats and electronics but is more concise and better flowing thanks to better lyrics and more focused singing. It's not a departure from what they've done previously, it's a step up from where M833 normally toils. The resulting album gives us more then it's fair share of terrific tracks, "Kim & Jessie", "Graveyard Girl", "Couleurs", and plenty more. But as good as the tracks are this is a record that can be played from front to back straight through every time and it won't get tired or stale at all.
M83 - "Graveyard Girl"
M83 - "Highway of Endless Dreams"

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45. Land of Talk Some Are Lakes
Brevity seems to be something the folks in Land of Talk are pretty damn good at. On their debut EP the band launched themselves into indie rockers ears in with only 6-songs and 22-minutes of music and on their debut full length they didn't press much further then that with 10-songs in just under 40-minutes. But it's not the length of the songs that matter here, what matters is that they are beautifully delivered by Lizzie Powell's breathless voice and the sharp music that accompanies those vocals throughout this record. It's powerful, hard hitting, and over before you know it so you better pay attention right from the get go otherwise this is the type of album that you could blink and miss. And if you miss it you'll be kicking yourself for a while.
Land of Talk - "Some Are Lakes"
Land of Talk - "Corner Phone"

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44. Frightened Rabbit Midnight Organ Fight
On last year's Sing the Grey's we were introduced to a group of Scot's who followed in a long line of emotive Scottish rock bands. It was a band that kept things simple and relied heavily on Scott Hutchinson's passionate lyrics to keep things going. But on this year's Midnight Organ Fight the band ratchets things up a bit, expanding on their sound and allowing a more spacious venue for Hutchinson's emotions to spread out in. As impressive as Scott's lyrics are once again it's his brother Grant who takes over this record with his wild and spastic drumming. Without a bassist the drums serve as sole time keeper on the album, and with air-worthy fills and sharp flourishing cymbal hits Grant's skin work is impeccable throughout the record.
Frightened Rabbit - "Keep Yourself Warm"
Frightened Rabbit - "The Modern Leper"

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43. Gang Gang Dance Saint Dymphna;
Gang Gang Dance have been pushing the envelope on dance music for years now, but for some reason Saint Dymphna has really clicked with me and a lot of other people. The tribal rhythms and new-wave synths here soar to new heights, and the songs have more of a pop aesthetic then anything they've done prior to this. That aesthetic is what allows the band to truly shine through on this record making something that is club ready, but also something that you could just put on in the car and bop around to. It's their best album to date, and that's in a long line of records and EP's that had showed a progression of talent to this point. So based on that this is not the last we'll hear of Gang Gang Dance, but for now I'm more then happy to just let loose whenever this comes on.
Gang Gang Dance - "Vacuum"
Gang Gang Dance - "House Jam"

Top Albums of 2008:
#47 - 50