Golden Donuts 2008
End of the year lists are always a little bit strange, and a little bit rushed. I mean, Oh No's Oxperiment is a good album, but one of the best released last year? I don't think so. Thankfully the rest of last year's winners have aged pretty well.
Without further ado, here are the 10 must have albums and tracks put out in the last 12 months.
the 10 best albums of 2008
Beats Work - Nobody Beats The Drum
they certainly do. while it's hard to replicate the magic and energy of their live show, beats work came very close. sjam says it's not meant for writing emails to, but there's never a bad time to enjoy this frenetic mix of every form of music that ever rocked a crowd. top marks.
De Avonturen van Kapabel En Inf
ok, this came out right at the tailend of 2007, but like the Grammys, we don't pay much attention to the calendar. They weren't many more fun releases than this, and Kapabel's emergence as a genuinely captivating performer was a very pleasant surprise. Inf still needs to work on his stagecraft a little bit...
Full Crate & FS Green - Mixing Monthly
These boys deserve it for putting out a consistently entertaining mixtape every month this year. My favourite's still probably February, but you can get your hands on all of them here.
The Foreign Exchange - Leave It All Behind
no rapping, but this was a stunning progression from Connected that stood out as the r&b/soul/hip hop release of the year. simply beautiful.
Bono & The Second Liners - TM Juke and the Jack Baker Trio
fittingly the brass section on this record are called 'the killer horns', as that's exactly what this album's filled with. add some of the best percussion i've ever heard, irresistible guitar hooks and stomping vocals and you've got one of the albums of this or any year.
The Roots - Rising Down
get busy y'all.
Make the Street for Walking - Menahan Street Band
Stick The Budos Band, Antibalas and the Dap Kings in a room together and you get this - a funk ass work out that you'll have heard as the hook for Jigga's "Roc Boys" but there was more quality on this annoyingly short LP.
Lay It Down - Al Green
he may (sadly) be slightly mental, but he's still got the pipes, as this album proved. it even made me cry (with) take your time, in case you're wondering)
Slime and Reason - Roots Manuva
The UK's finest MC's finest album yet.
There's got to be one melancholy English album on here and this stunning third album from Bristol's finest troubadour was it.
top 10 tunes of the year
sorry - kyteman
damage - nobody beats the drum
beter wel - kapabel en inf
de gave - perCeptie
be alright - Arts The Beatdoctor ft Skiggy Rapz en Wudstik
creator - santogold
sounds like music - pax and pry
burgesinha - seu jorge
chicago falcon - budos band
o telefone tocou novamente - jorge ben