[conceived in fire]

This year's results took quite awhile to figure out, and whether by my error in setup or simply lack of votes, the final round ended up having lots of ties.
After the first three, the next 5 albums got 2 votes in the final round, the next 9 got 1 vote, and the last three were decided via bonus round. Thus, only the first and last three are necessarily ranked compared to the albums around them (i.e. 5th place vs. 6th place, 14th vs. 15th, etc.)
Be sure to private message me any blurbs you would like to be displayed underneath the album and I will edit them in.


1. Thrice - The Alchemy Index Vols. III and IV (Air and Earth)


2. Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Somewhat akin to the painting that adorns its cover, Viva La Vida is a statement. It's Martin and Co. saying that they're not completely spent after (the underwhelming) X & Y, and A Rush of Blood to the Head isn't the best they're capable of. Viva La Vida sees the band refining their core sound and branching out almost perfectly, such that it's easily the most ambitious, cohesive and consistent Coldplay album to date. Even if you didn't like them before, you'll probably find something here to enjoy.

Maybe Chris Martin thinks it's all downhill from here, and he's considering retiring at a career high. Listening to this, I don't exactly blame him.
written by conceived in fire

3. Metallica - Death Magnetic

When Metallica promised a return to their earlier sound, I was more than skeptical. They hadn't produced a good album in 17 years, and the band made a similar promise regarding St. Anger, which was declared horrendous by seemingly everyone. That's why Death Magnetic ends up being of the best surprises of 2008. Starting with "That Was Just Your Life", which recalls the no-holds-barred thrashfests that were classic openers such as "Battery", Death Magnetic sounds like the Metallica of the 80's funneled through the over-the-hill musicians they are now. The abundance of strong riffs is back, Kirk is soloing about as much as he used to, James Hetfield sounds much more interesting than he has in years, and that painfully irritating snare is long gone.
Welcome back Metallica - here's hoping you have a few more winners like this left in you.
Written by conceived in fire

4. Girl Talk - Feed the Animals


5. M83 - Saturdays = Youth


6. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night


7. Opeth - Watershed


8. Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles


9. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs


10. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath


11. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular


12. Brave Saint Saturn - Anti-Meridian


13. The Gaslight Anthem –The ’59 Sound


14. Becoming the Archetype - Dichotomy


15. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes


16. Kanye West - 808's and Heartbreak

After the lazy, uninspired borefest that was Graduation, I feared the worst. The release of "Love Lockdown" didn't help much either, and after the first listen to 808's and Heartbreak, I was disappointed - I wanted the old Kanye back. But my first impressions were more than wrong. Kanye's latest shows that he can evolve as an artist, drop the ego, and make a sad, paranoid R&B album with more than enough gems to be worthwhile. While it's not as strong as his first two albums, 808's and Heartbreak makes up for his previous disappointment and Mr. West has once again made an album that deserves its spot on any comprehensive best-of-the-year list.

17. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III


18. Nine Inch Nails - The Slip


19. Deerhunter - Microcastle


20. Sigur Ros - með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

[conceived in fire]

Photobucket's being really stupid, I'll have the images up within an hour or so.

[bread man]

Good work with this man. Thanks again for organising it.

[mYdEePeStDrEaM]

Yes! Thrice won!

[DKelly]

I'm just glad that Metallica finished in the top 3.

[conceived in fire]

With the exception of the Lil Wayne album, everything I've heard on the list is either good or really good. The albums I'd like to be on the list are either a tad too obscure or metal (the good stuff gets almost totally ignored on this site).

and I'd still like some more people to contribute diet-portion size reviews!

[Adam K]

Hmmm. Graduation = borefest, heh?

[conceived in fire]

Yeah, save "Stronger", "I Wonder", "Homecoming", and "Champion", it sounds so half-***ed and unimpressive to be on the good side.

[natedawg5280]

"Here's Looking at You Kid" off of The '59 Sound is so good. Definitely my favorite album on this list.

[Kenny C.]

Originally Posted by conceived in fire

Yeah, save "Stronger", "I Wonder", "Homecoming", and "Champion", it sounds so half-***ed and unimpressive to be on the good side.

Apples and oranges. I felt the same way about 808s , with the exception that I didn't like any song off of it.

[ryan a johnson]

Originally Posted by natedawg5280

"Here's Looking at You Kid" off of The '59 Sound is so good. Definitely my favorite album on this list.

seriously, mine too.

"even cowgirls get the blues" is probably my second favorite on the album

[Meningitiphobic]

sint Becoming the Archetype a christian band?

[conceived in fire]

So are Brave Saint Saturn if I remember correctly, and August Burns Red, Anberlin, Mae and MxPx, which have all been on these best of the year lists before.
They're supposed to distance themselves from the Christian market to count, but it doesn't necessarily matter as long as most of the list is secular (I guess).

[Cam42]

I'm pretty sure Fleet Foxes doesn't have the right picture...

[conceived in fire]

haha WHOOPS. I think the picture wouldn't respond to its resize-ing in Photobucket and I pasted the wrong code.

There we go.