I won't be listening to as ridiculous an amount of music this year, but that doesn't mean I'm going to miss out on the best that 2008 has to offer, and you shouldn't either. That's why I'm going to be recommending albums that are not just good (because there is a ton of really good music and plenty of resources online for finding critical feedback), but excellent. The main difference between this year and last year is that I am just going to shout out a few really good albums that I've come across instead of making a concrete list of bests as the year goes on (though I'll probably end up with one anyway, though it'll be much less toiled-over). If completing my list for 2007 was too much pressure and work, there's no way I'll be able to manage in this much more busy year.

My primary motivation for this first such post is to warn everyone (if they haven't already heard) about an album that was released today. From what I hear, this band whose debut album I am referring to is actually being hyped in magazines and on television. This is a surprise, but a pleasant one. If you are a fan of baroque pop, indie rock, or good melodies, then you need to buy Vampire Weekend. You might as well do it sooner rather than later, so you're not jumping on the bandwagon later. I don't imagine there will be much of a bandwagon at all -- this isn't the second coming of Arcade Fire, The Strokes, or Franz Ferdinand (it's much less rock-oriented and more Eastern-influenced) -- but if you need a reason to buy it, just let it be that it's really, really good.

Also, I know it was released in 2007, but it came out after I posted my year-end list, so Lupe Fiasco's The Cool is being pushed into this year, and it will very likely make an appearance on whatever type of year-end feature I decide to do. It's a bit of a cluttered mess, but some of the tracks taken by themselves are spectacular. I guess the fact that this album is overstuffed isn't as much of a crime for a guy who apparently has already decided to make only three albums in his career, which, by the way, is the dumbest thing I've ever heard. Anyway, I'm not sure whether The Cool is a better album than Food & Liquor (which placed 27th on my best-of-2006 list), but I think its peaks are higher. If you liked his first album, then you definitely should check this one out too.

This January has been nothing in comparison to last year's opening month, but Vampire Weekend looks like it will have a lot of staying power because of its fun, simplicity, and charm. I haven't enjoyed an indie guitar pop album this much since Phoenix's It's Never Been Like That. The quality of 2008 as a year in music is going to depend on some comeback efforts and on new bands releasing refreshingly great music just like Vampire Weekend have done today. Stay tuned throughout the year.

Labels: Music

Posted by Farewell, Free Will on Tuesday, January 29, 2008 at 12:54 a.m. | Permalink