Best Albums of 2008

'08 was a great year for music (artistically, if not commercially) and I listened to a lot of it! Below you'll find the top 10 I submitted as my official "Gambler" vote at altcountrytab.ca as well as a couple other albums I heard this year. Tomorrow I'll get back to the funny and post a "Best of 2008 Country Covers" edition with mostly fresh, new, unposted parody covers! For now though, here's what my ears enjoyed in 2008.





01. Drive-by Truckers - Brighter Than Creation's Dark
This is my third favorite Truckers album. That alone qualifies it to be the number one in any given year. The fact that DBTs recovered from their previous, disappointing release and the loss of Jason Isbell with this extremely satisfying record only seals the deal. Standout: The Righteous Path








02. Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song
The best mainstream country album in years, maybe decades. Jamey paints a darkly vivid picture of heartache, addiction and despair with a few respites of humor, all in the style of an updated Waylon. Johnson inhabits his songs in a way that few country artists do. He may not be in the category of "..Jennings and Jones" but That Lonesome Song proves Johnson has the talent to aim that high. Standout: The High Cost of Living







03. Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson - Rattlin' Bones
I've never had more than a passing interest in Kasey's solo material, but this is a different beast altogether. Kasey and Shane's vocals blend to make a heavenly sound and the songs they perform are very strong as well. The harmonies are the thing though. Standout: Sweetest Waste of Time









04. Kathleen Edwards - Asking For Flowers
Kathleen reaches back into the emotional depth of her debut album with Asking for Flowers and comes out with nearly as strong an album. Her songwriting and wit are sharper than ever.











05. Hayes Carll - Trouble in Mind
Hayes is a hillbilly poet in the tradition of Steve Earle and Townes Van Zandt and he's quickly proving himself to be in that realm of talent as well.
Standout: Bad Liver and a Broken Heart











06. Sun Kil Moon - April
I'm not sure how Mark Kozelek keeps this up. His first SKM album is one of my favorites of all time, and this isn't far off.










07. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Standout: Lord, I'm Discouraged














08. The Felice Brothers - s/t
Standout: Frankie's Gun!













09. Two Cow Garage - Speaking in Cursive
Standout: Bastards and Bridesmaids














10. Fleet Foxes - s/t
Standout - White Winter Hymnal














The rest:
11. NQ Arbuckle - XOK
12. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
13. Chris Knight - Heart of Stone
14. Metallica - Death Magnetic
15. Reckless Kelly - Bulletproof
16. The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
17. Justin Townes Earle - The Good Life
18. Bruce Robison - The New World
19. The Steeldrivers - s/t
20. Drag The River - You Can't Live This Way
21. Blue Mountain - Midnight in Mississippi
22. Mudcrutch - s/t
23. Vampire Weekend - s/t
24. AC/DC - Black Ice
25. Damien Jurado - Caught In The Trees
26. Lee Ann Womack - Call Me Crazy
27. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever
28. Chris Mills - Living In The Aftermath
29. Hank Williams III - Damn Right Rebel Proud
30. The Tallest Man in the World - Shallow Grave
31. The Moondoggies - Don't Be a Stranger
32. Guns n' Roses - Chinese Democracy
33. Jason Boland And the Stragglers - Comal County Blue
34. Aaron Watson - Angels and Outlaws
35. Horse Feathers - House With No Home
36. Whitey Morgan And The 78's - Honky Tonks And Cheap Motels
37. Old Crow Medicine Show - Tennessee Pusher
38. Kings of Leon - Only By the Night
39. The Black Crowes - Warpaint
40. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
41. Paul Thorn - A Long Way From Tupelo
42. Randy Rogers Band - s/t
43. Old 97s - Blame It On Gravity
44. Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers - Turbo Ocho
45. Langhorne Slim - s/t
46. Jim Lauderdale And The Dream Players - Honey Songs
47. Trent Willmon - Broken In
48. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
49. Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball
50. Nada Surf - Lucky
51. Snoop Dogg - Ego Trippin'
52. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
53. Candlebox - Into the Sun
54. R.E.M. - Accelerate
55. George Strait - Troubadour
56. Alan Jackson - Good Time
57. Weezer - The Red Album
58. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
59. Glen Campbell - Meet Glen Campbell
60. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
61. Five Finger Death Punch - The Way of the Fist
62. Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak
63. Coldplay - Viva La Vida
64. The Cool Kids - Bake Sale
65. Rodney Parker & 50 Peso Reward - The Lonesome Dirge