The final top 5 albums in the ranking.

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#5
Camille
Music Hole
myspace.com/camilleofficial

Music Hole

Even though there is ‘only’ voice and body percussions, and a piano occasionally, the last thing you can say about this album is that it’s boring or monotonous. Every single track has a special vibe that distinguish it from the other ones. Experimental Music Hole is both alternative and pop, dramatic and entertaining. Camille plays with conventions and has a genuine attitude. That’s what I adore her for.

Top 3 tracks: The Monk, Cats and Dogs, Home Is Where It Hurts

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#4
Santogold
Santogold
myspace.com/santigold

Santogold

Santogold (now – Santigold) is a special case. It was difficult not to compare her with the other Diplo’s protégé – M.I.A. However, both of them are as indie and loud as they can be, but there are no more similarities. M.I.A. is revolutionary, Santigold is rebellious. What I like about the album the most is the reivented punk energy that explodes out of each track. After so extraordinary debut I can’t wait for more to come.

Top 3 tracks: Unstoppable, I’m a Lady, Creator

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#3
Kate Nash
Made of Bricks
myspace.com/katenashmusic

Made of Bricks

This album may be quite controversial in the ranking as it was released in a summertime in 2007. However, I discovered Kate Nash at the very beginning of 2008 and I simply cannot omit Made of Bricks because of: incredibly catchy melodies, adorable London accent, loads of charisma, and brilliant lyrics that convey the spirit of youth – the self-confidence mixes with insecurity, the little big drama mixes with all those silly things.

Top 3 tracks: Foundations, Mariella, Dickhead

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#2
Hercules and Love Affair
Hercules and Love Affair
myspace.com/herculesandloveaffair

Hercules and Love Affair

Hercules and Love Affair makes you move your body. If you can resist, you’re a square. Andy Butler chose what was the best in dance music from ‘70s, ‘80s and ‘90s, mixed it all together and added some contemporary vibe. That’s how the masterpiece was born. Antony Hegarty is flawless in such repertoire – thanks to his stunning vocals on just as much stunning track made ‘Blind’ my #1 single of the year. I strongly recommend US version of the album that includes ‘Classique #2’ and ‘Roar’ – these two songs illustrates what I imagine as an ecstasy on a dancefloor just perfectly.

Top 3 tracks: Blind, You Belong, Roar

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#1
Loco Star
Herbs
myspace.com/locostarmusic

Herbs

Loco Star’s album moves heart and soul, but it can move the body as well (‘Steppin’’). Marisja conveys a wide range of emotions with her charismatic vocal, and Tomek Ziętek creates a space in music that makes all your thoughts disappear and there is only music in your mind (just listen to ‘Arps’ or ‘Herbs’). I have never experienced before a feeling when music, lyrics and emotions they bring on fill every single cell of my body.
I can honestly say, that Herbs is one of the most important albums of my life.

Top 3 tracks: Arps, Herbs, Steppin’

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

If you’ve missed the posts listed below, check them out!

Top 10 albums of 2008: part 1 (of 2)

Top 10 albums of 2008: prologue

Now that I’m in the holiday zone finally, I can listen to all the music, watch all the music videos, and write on the blog without the feeling I should be studying for the exams. So here I return again (it comes in waves, doesn’t it?) with new posts.

I have never managed to finish my ‘top ten albums of 2008’, so I’ll do it now, in two post (I’d better write both of them right now just to make sure they will appear on my blog soon). I changed positions of some albums in the former ranking, but the very top ones are still.

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#10
MGMT
Oracular Spectacular
myspace.com/mgmt

Oracular Spectacular

Oracular Spectacular made it to 2008’s top ten albums in most of the important music magazines and websites. But is it really that amazing? Let’s face the fact – there are only three terrific songs on this album: ‘Time to pretend’, ‘Electric feel’ and ‘Kids’. All the singles. The other tracks are good enough to make the album decent as a whole. So I would rather say that MGMT was brilliantly marketed than concider it as a revelation. On the other hand, it made it to my personal top ten, so there must be something to it.

Top 3 tracks: Time to pretend, Electric Feel, Kids

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#9
Silver Rocket
Tesla
myspace.com/silverrocketpl

Tesla

Tesla is an amazing concept album that tells the story of a Serbian scientist. Silver Rocket is a Polish project that gathers great musicians together (amongst the others: Marsija and Tomek Ziętek from Loco Star; Tomek Makowiecki). Beautiful melodies, airy arrangements, instruments profusion, and stunning vocal performances from Tomek Makowiecki and – most importantly, as she is one of my favourite vocalists ever – Marsija. Breathtaking musical landscapes.

Top 3 tracks: If, New Yorker, Space Oddity

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#8
Erykah Badu
New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
myspace.com/erykahbadu

New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)

Even though these days I’m not into black music as I used to be a few years ago, Erykah’s album takes me for an adventurous journey every time I listen to it. Soulful vocals, experimental attitude, incredible production – New Amerykah… is full of that. Semi-oldschool, positive ‘Honey’ on one side, dark and disturbing ‘Twinkle’ on the other, with a tribal ‘My people’ in between. And since I was at Erykah’s almost mystical concert, the album has an extra dimension for me. It’s partially a masterpiece.

Top 3 tracks: Twinkle, Soldier, The Cell

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#7
Sam Sparro
Sam Sparro
myspace.com/samsparro

Sam Sparro

At first this album was at #9 as I’m aware that it may not be produced in a highest quality ever, but at some point I got so inspired by Sparro’s music and style that I needed to change the ranking a bit so it would reflect my musical year more accurately. The main strength of Sam Sparro’s self-titled album is his charismatic voice (three-octave range!) that I absolutely adore. It makes the glorious mix of electro-funk, synthpop and soulful disco so distinctive. I guess I’ve expressed my admiration for Sam a few times on my blog, so not wanting to exaggerate I’d better finish this mini-review right now.

Top 3 tracks: Cut me loose, Black & gold, Sally

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

#6
Psapp
The Camel’s back
myspace.com/psapp

The Camel's Back

Since the moment I discovered Psapp thanks to charming ‘Cosy in the rocket’ featured in the opening sequence of Grey’s Anatomy series, I have instantly fallen in love with them. And I by saying ‘in love’ I mean a steady, happy, long-lasting relationship. On The Camel’s Back, duo’s third LP, they enriched they minimalist toytronica with more actual music instruments. As a result, their sound is more dynamic, powerful and deep, but it still has their unique cosy vibe.

Top 3 tracks: I want that, Parker, Marshrat

♪  ♫  ♪ ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫  ♪  ♫

The final top 5 albums of 2008 are coming soon.

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Oracular Spectacular made it to 2008’s top ten albums in most of the important music magazines and websites. But is it really that amazing? Let’s face the fact – there are only three terrific songs on this album: ‘Time to pretend’, ‘Electric feel’ and ‘Kids’. All the singles. The other tracks are good enough to make the album decent as a whole. So I would rather say that MGMT was brilliantly marketed than concider it as a revelation. On the other hand, it made it to my personal top ten, so there must be something to it.

I know it’s March already, but I couldn’t make myself finish writing this summary of 2008, even though my final list was ready in last days of December. On the other hand it’s never too late to catch up with good albums, so if you are not familiar with the ones I’m gonna present in this new ’series’ – give them a try!

There was plenty of good music in 2008. Lots of new fresh artists and thrilling discoveries. I would like to present you my ten favourite albums. Before I do that, let’s have a look at great albums that didn’t make it to my top ten:

Madonna - Hard Candy

There are some great songs, like ‘Candy Shop’, ‘Give It 2 Me’ or ‘Beat Goes On’.
There are some surprising tracks, like ‘She’s Not Me’ or ‘Incredible’.
All of them are produced by Pharrell.
And there are some – let’s face the fact – boring and predictable songs created by Timbaland and Justin.
But still, the album is good. The thing is I know it could have been so much better! More Pharrell, less Timbaland and Justin. NO Timbaland and Justin.
Top 3 songs from the album: Give It 2 Me, 4 Minutes, She’s Not Me

Grace Jones - Hurricane

The album is filled with Grace’s strength and self-confidence. That’s why the songs are so powerful. Maybe I haven’t become the biggest fan of Grace Jones, but I understood that she’s a strong artist who can inspire. Very good album, I can’t really say anything bad about it.
Top 3 songs from the album: Corporate Cannibal, Hurricane, Devil In My Life

Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree

Dreamy, gentle songs with Alison’s airy vocals sound all very nice, but I prefer Goldfrapp in glam-electro. On their two previous albums they are hypnotizing; Seventh Tree lacks excitement… I mean, the album is great if you are in the very specific mood – if you’re not, it is nothing but boring.
Top 3 songs from the album: Happiness, Road To Somewhere, Caravan Girl

Oszibarack - Plim Plum Plam

Less minimalist, yet just as raw as on a terrific debut album Moshi Moshi. Involving more live instruments in their music was a good step; I also adore all those cinematic sounds. Still, I think that it is the unique playful voice of Patrycja Hefczyńska that make them sound so distinctive. If you need a boost of pure energy – just listen to Plim Plum Plam!
Top 3 songs from the album: Anchor Up, Surfin’ Safari, Point Blank

Dido - Safe Trip Home

Dido is an established artist who hasn’t failed to provide beautiful, smart songs over the last ten years. Maybe it’s why this album wasn’t that thrilling as I knew what to expect. It doesn’t change the fact that I shed a few tears over moving lyrics sung in amazingly introvertive way… Flawless record.
Top 3 songs from the album: Northern Skies, Let’s Do The Things We Normally Do, Never Want To Say It’s Love

Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles

Hate them or love them. Personally, I got stuck somewhere in between. I really enjoy all these cyber-sounds, they (or rather: he) can actually make melodic songs out of them and this is brilliant. But some of the tracks from their self-titled album is a crappy noise (‘XXZXCUZX Me’ – a title speaks for itself) and if this is called ‘music’… that’s a devaluation of this word. Another disadvantages of the album: Alice’s voice (hate it or love it – in this case I’m on a ‘hate’ side) and repetitiveness (there are only that many sounds you can get out of Atari 5200).
Top 3 songs from the album: Crimewave, Magic Spells, Courtship Dating

Inara George & Van Dyke Parks - An Invitation

It’s a really interesting and original album. Sometimes I can listen to it on repeat, sometimes I have enough after a couple of songs. On this record there is only Inara’s voice (you can know her from The Bird and The Bee) and Van Dyke Parks’ orchestra. It sounds like a psychedelic versions of very old Disney’s songs. There are moments when I feel uncomfortable listening to some songs – the vocals are arranged in a bizarre way. Hm. I still haven’t really got into the album yet, but I there’s something special about it that makes me want to listen more.
Top 3 songs from the album: Duet, Idaho, Dirty White