Best Records of 2008
December 29, 2008
Another year of records and another year of acquiring more than I actually have time to listen to. Not a bad problem in my opinion. This year solidified one thing for me; being the year where Internet access was the most limited its ever been did very little to deter me from scoring heaps and heaps of records, proving that if you give me a connection for even a hot second, there’ll be an album in my hands. Guess you’d have to give me more than a second (that’d be sweet!), but you get the idea.
From those piles of records, I’ve compiled a list of my favorites which proved to be rather difficult. There are plenty of top-notch albums that didn’t make the cut, both from 2008 and plenty from years past, but that’s the way it goes. If you’ve got a minute, drop a comment and let me know what ranked at the top of your record lists. As usual, my ears always remain open to the vibrations circulating around me and there is an ever-present curiosity into what I have yet to discover. Oh yeah, if you’ve got any of the “Haven’t Heard Yet” records, or better yet any “2009″ records, then send ‘em over, you’ll be compensated dearly.
Here’s to 2008 and the records that carried me through the ups and downs during the year. Without them, I’d truly be a mess. Music. Quality music that is. It’s my lifeblood and always will be.
Top Five Hip-Hop Records
- Q-Tip – The Renaissance
- Jazz Liberatorz – Clin d’Oeil
- P.U.T.S – Fun DMC
- SP – Movin’ Along
- Black Milk – Tronic
Top Ten Funk/Afrobeat/Soul Records
- Karl Hector and the Malcouns – Sahara Swing
- Baby Charles – Self-Titled
- Menahan Street Band – Make the Road by Walking
- Kylie Auldist – Just Say
- Seun Kuti & Fela’s Eygpt 80 – Self-Titled
- TM Juke and The Jack Baker Trio – Present Boto and the Second Liners
- The Soul Jazz Orchestra – Manifesto
- NOMO – Ghost Rock
- Clutchy Hopkins – Walking Backwards
- The New Mastersounds – Plug & Play
Top Five Records Discovered This Year
- Soul Jazz Records: Studio One Roots Vol.3
- Haggis Horns – Hot Damn!
- AIFF – Afro Soul System
- Saint-Germain des-Pres Café: Paris 10-Disc Collection
- Hypnotic Brass Ensemble – New York City Live
Top Ten Records From Assorted Genres
- The Gaslight Anthem – The ‘59 Sound
- Jackson Conti – Sujinho
- Saravah Soul – Self-Titled
- Grupo Fantasma – Sonidos Gold
- Ocote Soul Sounds – Alchemist Manifesto
- Jazzanova – Of All Things
- Jose James – The Dreamer
- Mr.Chop – Sounds from the Cave
- Jaz’Presso – Eeriedance
- Flying Lotus – Los Angeles
Top Five Compilations
- Soundway Records – African Scream: Raw and Psychedelic Afro Sounds from Benin & Togo 70s
- Daptone Records – Singles Collection Vol.2
- Wagram Records – Soul Divas
- Recordkicks – Soulshaker Vol.5
- Jazzman Records – Welcome to the Party
Top Five Dub/Reggae Records
- The Lions – Jungle Struttin’
- Joe Higgs – Life of Contradiction
- Dub Specialist – Dub
- Quantic Presenta Flowering Inferno – Death of the Revolution
- Jah Stitch – Micron Music Presents…Every Mouth Must Be Fed
Top Five Records I Haven’t Heard Yet
- Jimmy Radway & Fe Me Time Allstars – Dub I
- Uncle Funkenstein – Together Again
- Natural Yogurt Band – Away with Melancholy
- Mr. Chop – Lightworlds EP
- The Perceptions – Introducing…
Top Ten Records To Be Released in 2009
- Rancid – Untitled Hellcat Release
- Quantic and his Combo Barbaro – Traditions in Transitions
- NOMO – Invisible Cities
- Mayer Hawthorne and The County- Untitled Stones Throw Release
- Lord Newborn & the Sugar Skulls – Untitled Ubiquity Release
- Nostalgia 77 feat. Keith and Julie Tippett – The Nostalgia Sessions Vol.1
- Betty Padgett – Self-Titled Reissue
- SA-RA Creative Partners – Untitled Ubiquity Release
- Kings of Convenience – Quiet IS the New Loud
- K’Naan – Troubadour
December 30th, 2008 at 18:54
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