2008 has came and gone, but the great music and superb albums that came out last year will live on forever. Yes, it is true, not every album that was released last year will be etched in stone for future generations to see, but the ones that will, deserve the extra recognition now.
Wikipedia has a great list of all the popular records released in 2008 and I scanned through all of them to come up with this list. I am sure there are many self-released and indie records released in 2008 that should be on this list, so if you know of a album that is worthy, drop a comment below with the title and your personal review so we can expand this list past just 7 albums!
Ashes Divides debut release is not just one of the best albums of 2008, it is one of the best of all time records. The band is fronted by Billy Howerdel (A Perfect Circle guitarist) and features other notable musicians such as Josh Freese, Devo Keenan, and Johnette Napolitano.
The lyrics and sounds on this album both get a 10 in my book for originality and experimentation. This album is a easy hard rock album that anyone can enjoy. If you haven’t heard it yet, I highly recommend you check out Keep Telling Myself It’s Alright by Ashes Divide!
Elect the Dead is Serj Tankian’s (System of a Down) solo debut and embodies a album that is full of food for thought. If you like System, you will like this albums stance on hopes for social justice and positive reform.
This album, I feel, if more experimental than System, but by no means a replacement for all of their great albums. I look forward to Serj’s next record, seeing how it might be a while before System of a Down (possibly) reunites.
Scars on Broadway is another part of System of a Down. It’s members are Daron Malakian on vocals, guitars, bass guitars, keyboards/organs/mellotrons and John Dolmayan on drums. Pending the possible reunion of System of a Down, Daron and John set out on their own to create a album that is not comparable to anything that I have heard to date.
Sometimes serious, sometimes not so serious, Scars on Broadway is a really awesome album and has some excitingly unique tracks on it. “Kill Each Other/Live Forever” is one example that characterizes a intriguing paradigm that any self-reflecting thinker should enjoy. Check it out if you missed this albums release last year.
Wikipedia describes In Flames as a “Swedish melodic death metal band”, I just call them progressive rock. They have progressed and improved with every pressing album and they rock. Isn’t that what progressive rock is?
On A Sense of Purpose, In Flames is sticking to their new style that emerged with their last album Come Clarity. This is another great album from a band that has been making music for nearly 20 years now.
The Slip is an amazing, thought provoking album that has probably the strongest line-up of musicians ever. Trent Reznor + Josh Freese + Robin Finck + Alessandro Cortini = absolute talent.
And did you know? It’s free to download. Not because they couldn’t use the money, but because they are just that @$#%ing cool. Actually it was a “present” to all of the fans that have supported NIN over the years, but I am going to remember it my own way. You can get the album right now, for free at NIN.com.
And yes NIN did release another album in 2008 that deserves just as much praise as “The Slip”. Ghost is a 4 disk set that is 100% instrumental and has some of the coolest sounding synthetics you will ever hear.
This was the first album from NIN since they ditch Interscope Records, so the album was released completely independent of a major label. More bands and musicians that are on Trent’s and NIN’s level should ditch their labels as well. All lables are good for is making and taking money, which has nothing to do with creating music.
The Fabled City is the second release from The Nightwatchman (Tom Morello of RATM and Audioslave) and continues to be one of the greatest protestresistance albums of the last 30 years.
Serj Tankian (of System of a Down), Shooter Jennings, and Perry Farrell (of Jane’s Addiction) all appear as guest on the album and help add some uniqueness to a lot of the tracks. It’s great to see inspiring music still is being released today. Sometime this year Street Sweeper, another band Tom is working with, is going to be releasing a new album so check that out or see Street Sweeper right now while they are on tour with Nine Inch Nails and Jane’s Addiction.
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Very highly agreed with In Flames, a sense of purpose. By far my favorite album, and it will live on forever!!! \m/