Top 10 Albums of 2008

I like top 10 lists. I think I want to do a top 10 albums of 2008 list. Now, this won’t be your typical top 10 list, because I’m not writing about my top 10 albums that came out this year. No, I’m going to list the top 10 albums I listened to this year. Some of them are 2008, some of them are from a long time ago. But they defined my year.

In no particular order: 

M.I.A. – Kala (2007)
I would probably put this as my #1 for the whole year if I were ranking. Some of my picks are totally guilty pleasures (see: Britney), but I would defend this album anywhere, anyhow, anytime, anyplace!

Lady GaGa – The Fame (2008)
I just love her, she’s a hot bitch. If I ever kill anyone it will be her fault because this record makes me dance in my car while driving. She does fun ultra-vibratos with her voice too. 

Britney Spears – Circus (2008)
If 16-year-old me had the ability to know that 27-year-old me  ”bought” a Britney Spears CD (actually, two) and would root for her to make a big comeback, 16YOM would have found a way to make time travel a reality just so she could travel to the future to punch 27YOM in the  face, really hard. But I just gotta own it, as a dear friend says. This record is just pure fun and helped me get through some super-shitty times at work.Truthfully, Blackout did too, just…different job.  I <3 you, Britney, no matter how 16YOM would cringe. 

Black Sabbath – Master of Reality (1971)
Early Sabbath is so good. Ozzy has a unique voice, one of my favorites of all time, actually. There’s something about it. Plus this album achieves total heavyosity, so it rules. Obvs great stoner album. I mean, it’s Sabbath. 

George Harrison – All Things Must Pass (1970)
Most underappreeshed Beatle. Sorry Ringo. Also, I vote for this as best post-Beatles solo album by a Beatle. Yup, I said it. T and I listened to this nonstop for about a month straight. It’s a triple album (the first ever released) with so many stellar tracks. I’m considering walking down the aisle to the lead track, I’d Have You Anytime.

Jay-Z & Dangermouse – the Grey Album (2004)
I tend to love mashups, so I thought this might rule when I downloaded it. The concept is genius (The Beatles’ White Album mashed with Jay-Z’s Black Album). Turns out it does rule, and it totally turned me on to Jay-Z in general. Before that I tended to stick to female rappers (see below) and Kanye West (rap fag extraordinaire). 

Steely Dan – Aja (1977)
I have tried to get T to like Steely Dan for fucking ever. 2008 was the year he finally caved, and it’s because this album is fucking tight as hell. 

Jean Grae – Jeanius (2008)
How could I not love a rapper  named after an X-Man? She has a ton of range. There’s some really gangsta stuff on here, and then some really poignant, emotional tracks too. I get the sense she hasn’t lived an easy life.

Madonna – Hard Candy (2008)
I had to buy the album, because I could tell by the cover that Madonna would personally beat the shit out of me if I downloaded it. Totally worth it, except for how low-volume the iTunes mp3s are. I like to crank my shit up.  

Tufts Beelzebubs – Pandaemonium
I’m an a cappella snob, what with my judging the a cappella awards for the last gazillion years, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a collegiate a cappella album this luminous and enjoyable.