2008 Album of the Year: The Rhumb Line

I knew after the first listen that The Rhumb LIne was a strong contender for my favorite album of the year. The short-hand I kept using to describe this band to friends is The Arcade Fire meets Vampire Weekend, but Ra Ra Riot is so much more than that. They masterfully combine bouncy pop tracks with deep lyrics that reward upon further listening. Much like The Arcade Fire's Funeral, this album deals with death and loss. Their original drummer, John PIke drowned after a house party in 2007.

The melodies linger in my head long after the last track has played. The tracks are orchestral, yet danceable (if you so choose). The lyrics are focused and descriptive, each line a snapshot that brings to mind the pain, tragedy and joy that the band must have experienced as it made this album. I can't say for certain that the band worked through it's grief by making this album, but it certainly feels that way, and if so it is a stronger album because of it.

The Top Ten Albums of 2008

1.  The Rhumb Line by Ra Ra Riot
2. The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit
3. Brighter Than Creation's Dark by The Drive By Truckers
4. Dear, Science by TV on The Radio
   
5. For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
6. The Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley
7. Real Emotional Trash by Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks
8. Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
9. Santogold by Santogold
   
10. Stay Positive by The Hold Steady  

Honorable Mention

• Loyalty to Loyalty by Cold War Kids
• Evil Urges by My Morning Jacket
• Rook by Shearwater
• Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend

Dear, Science is a late entry, and it's what I'm listening to the most these days. I didn't pick it up until December but giving it fourth place feels right. It will carry me into the new year for sure. Six of my current top ten managed to stick around since my mid year list. Those falling out of favor include Evil Urges, Parc Avenue by Plants and Animals, Feed the Animals by Girl Talk and Death Cab for Cutie's Narrow Stairs.

According to Last.fm

My most played albums of the last-twelve months filtered for those released this year looks like this:

1. The Rhumb Line by Ra Ra Riot
2. The Midnight Organ Fight by Frightened Rabbit
3. The Odd Couple by Gnarls Barkley
4. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend
5. Modern Guilt by Beck
6. Fleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
7. Narrow Stairs by Death Cab for Cutie
8. Stay Positive by The Hold Steady
9. For Emma, Forever Ago by Bon Iver
10. Wagonwheel Blues by The War on Drugs