Every year ends with me looking at the list of CDs I meant to pick up and bands I meant to give a listen to but never quite got around to it. This year is no different, and actually my list seems even longer than usual. But, there is nothing to be done about it - and even with a list of yet-to-hears so staggeringly long, 2008 was still crammed with enough great music that I could throw together a top 10 without blinking. So with that in mind, here is my list of top 10 favorite albums of 2008. Stay tuned for some other lists, including favorite songs, top albums I still want to listen to, and some other honorable mentions.

10. Wild Sweet Orange - We Have Cause to Be Uneasy

I wandered into this band at Lollapalooza this year with zero background, and they were hands down my favorite "discovery" of the weekend. Their album, "We Have Cause to Be Uneasy" starts with my favorite track, "Ten Dead Dogs." At first listen the rest of the album doesn't seem to have the same power as the first single, but it is definitely a grower album. Different songs invoke comparisons to various singers. "Ten Dead Dogs" has a bit of a feeling of Magnet singer Even Johansen while "House of Regret" has a strong Conor Oberst vibe.

Stand out tracks: Ten Dead Dogs, House of Regret, An Atlas to Follow

9. Sigur Ros - Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

Icelandic band Sigur Ros is back with their fifth studio album, and it may be my favorite yet. Gobbledigook the first song off of the album is a heart-lifting life-affirming song, and the video that accompanies it is perfect - it features people running naked and carefree through the woods. It is beautiful. I agree with Kramer - the track Ára Bátur is the album's strongest moment, with the sweeping strings and swelling choirs toward the end of the nearly 9 minute song that will make your heart swell. Also noteable is All Alright, the band's first English language song - although you'd hardly know unless you were paying attention. Jonsi represents, as far as I know, the only out gay performer in my top 10 this year. Thanks for representing!

Stand Out Tracks: Gobbledigook, Ára Bátur

8. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

I heard Oxford Comma back in 2007 and really enjoyed it, but then Vampire Weekend fell off my radar - until suddenly they were everywhere. They are, in my opinion, this year's Peter, Bjorn and John. They hit right at the beginning of the year, became hugely popular in indie circles and crossed over to mainstream appeal almost instantly before falling off of people's radar a bit. (P.S. Spin Magazine- it's never okay to declare a best CD of the year in March) This was the perfect summer CD and amazing outdoor festival music. It is fun and warm - and though inspired a lot by African percussion, it transports me to the East Coast. Maybe that is because of the (hot) band member's Ivy League look.

Stand Out Tracks: M79, Mansford Roof, I Stand Corrected

7. The Spinto Band - Moonwink

I first heard "Mountains" off of 2005's "Nice and Nicely Done" will staying at a hostel in Scotland, which is strange considering this band hails from Delaware! The Spinto Band have a pretty unique sound, and I was curious if they could manage another good CD. I was very pleasantly surprised by their latest album... it has everything that made me love their previous release, but with some very welcome additions. Specifically, I was very happy to hear some great instrumentation, including a piano solo in the opening track "Later On" and some horns (or horn synth) throughout the album's stand out track, "The Carnival." I was happy to hear this CD being used as the soundtrack to an episode of The Best Week Ever - and hope they keep making great music.

Stand Out Tracks: The Carnival, Summer Grof, The Cat's Pajamas

6. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

I was really impressed a couple of years back when I saw Wolf Parade open for the Arcade Fire, and I enjoyed their first full length "Apologies to the Queen Mary." However, their sophomore album blows their first album out of the water! There are a lot of fantastic songs, all building to the final track - arguably the most epic song of the year - "Kissing the Beehive" clocks in at 10:52 and the shift in tone at about 4:00 minutes in is probably my favorite musical moment of the year. And the experience is just as magical live.

Stand Out Tracks: Kissing the Beehive, Fine Young Cannibals, The Grey Estates

5. Islands - Arm's Way

Yes, I have two Montreal bands in a row on my list! Islands was the band I saw the most times (3) at SXSW 2008. They hardly played any songs from their first album, showcasing mostly their then unreleased new album. And I didn't care at all - that is how strong their new tracks were. And talk about epic... they give Wolf Parade a run for their money. Only a third of the songs clock in under 5 minutes, with two over 7 minutes and one at just over 11 minutes long! It is quite the experience live. However, on the first few listens, the CD fell short. Don't give up on this album though! Start with the singles like "Creeper" and "The Arm" but stay for gems like "To A Bond" and "Vertigo (If It's a Crime). Even my least favorite song (Abominable Snow, featuring the totally creepy lyric "rack of lamb of god, we ate you instead") is redeemed by an extremely catchy bridge.

Stand Out Tracks: The Arm, Creeper, Vertigo (If It's a Crime)

4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver, french for Good Winter, has released the perfect winter CD (a good answer to Vampire Weekends perfect summer album). Recovering from a rough year, Justin Vernon, who is Bon Iver, secluded him self in a cabin deep in the woods of Wisconsin for three months. This masterpiece emerged while he was there and drips with the solitude and frailty of the experience. He recorded everything by himself and my favorite part is some of the very in the moment voice cracks and blemishes that have been left unpolished in the finale product. While originally released independently in 2007, it was rereleased on a label this year (I always seem to have one of those on my list!) The falsetto heavy singer was by far my favorite performance at SXSW 2008.

Stand Out Tracks: Blindsided, Skinny Love, Lump Sum

3. Margot and the Nuclear So & Sos - Not Animal & Animal

Margot had my #1 album in 2006 and I have been chomping at the bit for their follow up ever since. From neighboring Indiana, I have had numerous opportunities to see them, and their unreleased songs always are as exciting as their released stuff. Unfortunately there were some delays in getting these albums released - Epic disagreed on what should be on the album. As a result, a vinyl only release of the band's preference, Animal!, was released along with the CD release of Epic's preferred song list - titled Not Animal. Many of the songs make appearances on each release. I don't know, it seems a little like a money making gimmick to me, but I don't care, I needed both! (The release of Animal! has a song called "Love Song for a Schubas Bartender" - props for name dropping my favorite music venue!) While the band themselves seem to be eternally on the brink of imploding, the albums lived up to expectations set by their first album. While they don't get my top spot this year, they are at the top of my "follow up albums" list which is saying something, considering how many of my favorite bands released new albums this year.

Stand Out Tracks: Broadripple is Burning, As Tall As Cliffs, Pages Written On A Wall

2. Johnny Flynn & The Sussex Wit - A Larum

Amazingly for me, Johnny Flynn is the first Brit on my list this year! Not only is he gorgeous, but his folk album skyrocketed amazingly quickly to my #2 position. I had heard the beautiful and heart-wrenching "Brown Trout Blues" back in 2007 but then he slipped my mind until I saw him perform with Laura Marling at Bottom Lounge. His CD, as good as it is, is topped by his amazing stage performance. You can tell by listening to his lyrics that he is well read, and he lists Yeats and Shakespeare as influences. According to wikipedia, he lists the origin of the album title as the Middle English word for "alarm," used in Shakespeare's manuscripts to signify a disturbance occurring offstage among other things. The title is also an anagram of "Laura M", a possible reference to fellow folk singer Laura Marling, with whom Johnny Flynn has done several informal collaborations who just happens to be...

Stand Out Tracks: Brown Trout Blues, The Box, Sally, Eyeless in Holloway

1. Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim, My Manic and I EP, Cross Your Fingers EP

The only female on my top 10 list is also my number 1! Laura is busy in the indie circles - she is a former member of Noah and the Whale, and has collaborated with The Rakes and The Mystery Jets. As mentioned above, she has collaborated with fellow Brit Johnny Flynn, and I first saw them performing live together. She was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize up against the powerhouse Radiohead among others (both lost to Elbow's most recent album). I first fell in love with track one on her album, "Ghosts" which was a doorway to a nearly perfect album, that I can listen to through and through. I can't pinpoint any one singer she sounds like, but I occasionally get inklings of Fiona Apple and Rachael Yamagata. Comparisons aren't really fair though - she's in a class of her own.

Stand Out Tracks: Ghosts, Cross Your Fingers, Alas I Cannot Swim

5) Coldplay "Viva La Vida"

I reviewed this disc earlier this year and I had a hard time getting past all of the sounds and structures that were common amongst earlier U2 releases. Due to the production, this is hard to avoid. However, this is still a progression for Coldplay in regards to song writing and just plain musicianship. Martin and company have definitely improved, album to album (with the exception of X&Y which was more of a "B" side release of AROBTTH). I love Chris Martin's voice, even if it is mainstream and a faux paus nowadays.

4) Vampire Weekend "Vampire Weekend"

I can't believe this album came out in 2008. It seems like it has been out forever (or at least in 2007). I remember seeing the SPIN cover declaring these guys "the next big thing" before I had even heard their disc. I bought into the hype though. Some people call them a passing fad and just this year's "freshman dorm cd." I KNOW they have more talent than that. The hooks that they write are raw and it is obvious there is tons of talent amongst the Ivy Leaguers. You can't help but bounce around the room and groove to their sound and that is exactly what indie pop/rock is supposed to do....get you out of your seat.

3) Fleet Foxes "Fleet Foxes"

The harmonies on this album are so lush and vast it is hard to even describe in words. I still can't believe that the lead singer is only 21. No one today is layering harmonies like these guys are doing today. It is a kick back to the 60's scene with male harmony and melody. Each song paints a picture for you like you are there in the mountains or in the winter season with them. You experience the music, not just hear it. This is the type of material that rock and roll hall of fame careers are based upon....at least that is my opinion.

2) Mates of State "Re-Arrange Us"

I didn't get into this album until post Lollapalooza and sad it took me that long. This married couple really gives Spoon a run for their money in regards to who can write the most consistently good pop songs. From start to finish, the album is one pop gem after another. The funny thing is that I don't really even like pop music that much. But I do know great music when I hear it (I listened to THRILLER non-stop even though I would get nightmares from the Vincent Price rap) and this is GREAT MUSIC. I believe that all of the top 5 cd's will remain in the rotation for a while but I know this one will for sure.

1) Sigur Ros "Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust"

I was talking to friend yesterday about how I was torn between this disc and Mates of State for my top slot this year. I always have a hard time picking a "best" disc when one of my favorite bands produces an album on any given year. The thing with Sigur Ros is that they are not for every one. They are "art rock" or "experimental" or "minimalist." Whatever you want to label them you can't take one thing away from them. Talent. Even though my wife has burned out on them a long time ago, she still admits and readily acknowledges the talent. The band doesn't take steps from disc to disc, they makes leaps and bounds. I love this disc. I love every song on the disc. My favorite song of the year is on this disc (Track 7 Ara Batur). Listen to this song, in its entirety, and try to not have chills going down your spine or have goosebumps. Sigur Ros capture my emotions and place them in song form. They make me appreciate this life and make me more aware of the reasons why I'm living it.

These, and so many more reasons why, are the traits of a timeless disc.

There were a ton of cd's this year that were far and above expectations. There were also a few that definitely left the rotation of listening quicker than I had anticipated (Counting Crows, unfortunately). Additionally, there are a some discs that I haven't had the opportunity to hear just yet (Lykke Li, Nada Surf, Mgmt, Liam Finn, Anathallo, Islands). I believe that many of these will probably be some of my favorites once I get the chance to hear them but my list is based upon those discs that have in heavy rotation ALL YEAR and for that reason, they are my top 10.

10) Ray Lamontagne "Gossip in the Grain"

Ray's 2nd disc was somewhat of a disappointment for me as he seemed to go away from his heavy blues influence. I LOVED his debut cd and I was hoping that the 3rd one would be more like it. It definitely went more in that direction, with added instrumentation to add it some more kick. It had a little bit of a Harry Connick Jr. feel to it but with Lamontagne's wistful voice to chisel his influence into the sound. He is not breaking out of the mold too much but it is a progression none the less.

9) Juno Soundtrack

The Moldy Peaches are the centerpiece of this soundtrack with the quirky lyrics and stripped down acoustic guitar. They are a big part of what made Juno such a nice change of pace and made the characters in the movie so much more real. You add into the fact that you have some great songs from some of the best artists of today (Belle and Sebastian and Cat Power) and artists of yesterday (Buddy Holly) and you have one of the most well-rounded efforts of the year.

8) Crystal Castles "Crystal Castles"

This disc is good. It is not one of those discs that I can listen to all the way through on any occasion but it has so many catchy tunes that stand out on their own that is impossible not to appreciate it. Electronica music is an acquired taste and I know many people don't feel it is "real" music. The Crystal Castles have also come under scrutiny due to some of the samples they have used in their music. However, it is VERY difficult to do and is one of the most creative genres of music today.

7) Keane "Perfect Symmetry"

Kyle and I have a few discussions about the lead singer of Keane. We have differing opinions on his look but we both agree that he has one of the best voices in music today. It has any outstanding range and he has an uncanny ability to stay on pitch for extended notes. The 3rd Keane album is such a great time because they have fused things that they loved from the 80's New Wave sound, classic rock and their previous album into their best yet. The first half of the album is straight pop and it probably the most accessible of any Keane music so far. The second half is classic Keane ballads that showcase the piano prowess and the pipes of Tom the lead singer. This is easily one of the best of the year that I have heard.

6) Adele "19"

Adele is part of the British invasion that has given us Amy Winehouse and Duffy. She has not received anywhere near as much fanfare. I believe it is that she isn't crazy like Winehouse and she isn't "trendy" like Duffy. I personally prefer her release to Duffy's for a number of reasons. Adele's voice has a warmth to it that is something that can be produced in a studio. You either have it or you don't. In the age of the overly produced and overly hyped starlets, it is a breath of fresh air to have someone that completely makes it on talent alone. From start to finish, this album really has no weak songs. There is a terrific cover of a Bob Dylan song and some definite attention to detail when it comes to song order and album cohesion. Adele is a winner and is worth a look.

I will cover the top 5 albums later on this week. Stay TUNED!!