2008 Top Tens

What's a blog without year end top ten lists?

So the first 10 are all LA-based peeps (Andres Renteria deserves props for appearing on at least 3 of them) and the other 10 are the albums released in 2008 that, upon reflection, most ended up on repeat in my car or headphones this year. I spent a while finding YouTube videos and such, so try the links!

LA Top Ten



1. Flying Lotus, Los Angeles, Warp

FlyLo gets top bill because he named the album Los Angeles.

2. No Age, Nouns, Sub Pop

No Age brought the Smell Scene to the pages of The New Yorker and beyond.

3. Health, //Disco, Lovepump United

Health //Disco brought the Smell Scene to dance floors across the globe.

4. Hearts of Palm UK, For Life, Hypnote

I guarantee this album will gain momentum in 2009, especially after the remixes drop.

5. Daedelus, Love to Make Music To, Ninja Tune

"Fairweather Friends" was the summer jam and "My Beau" was the slow jam of '08.

6. Ras G & The Afrikan Space Program, Ghetto Sci-Fi, PooBah Records

This is the debut full length from South L.A.'s biggest sweetheart and dopest beat maestro.

7. Nobody Presents Blank Blue, Western Water Music Volume II, Ubiquity

One of my favorite things about this album has been watching the trip hop production on the album evolve into performances built around a live rhythm section, psychedelic guitar and Space-Echoed vocals.

8. The Little Ones, Morning Tide, Chop Shop

The world is a better place now that this album is out in it.

9. Mia Doi Todd, Gea, City Zen

2008 saw a lovely release from L.A.'s favorite guitar strumming, harmonium playing chanteuse.

10. Gaby Hernandez, When Love, Armed Orphan

Rhumba tinged "The Tropics" was my favorite song of 2008.

Reefer by Reefer (Alpha Pup) gets honorable mention!

Maura's Top 10 Most Listened to, 2008

1. Nomo, Ghost Rock, Ubiquity
2. School of Seven Bells, Alpinisms, Ghostly International
3. Karl Hector and the Malcouns, Sahara Swing, Now-Again
4. Dr. Dog, Fate, Park the Van
5. Four Tet, Ringer, Domino
6. Department of Eagles, In Ear Park, 4AD
7. Hercules & Love Affair, S/T, DFA
8. Portishead, Third, Mercury
9. Spiritualized, Songs in A&E, Fontana
10. Lykke Li, Youth Novels, LL