01. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
02. The Sound Of Animals Fighting – The Ocean and The Sun
03. The Drones - Havillah
04. Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night
05. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
06. Black Mountain - In The Future
07. Birds Of Tokyo - Universes
08. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
09. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
10. Bob Corbett - Storyboard
11. Beck - Modern Guilt
12. Blitzen Trapper - Furr
13. Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
14. TV On The Radio - Dear Science
15. Guns ‘N Roses - Chinese Democracy
16. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
17. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
18. Razorlight - Slipway Fires
19. Mercury Rev - Snowflake Midnight
20. The Presets - Apocalypso
21. Steven Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
22. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig!!!
23. Metallica - Death Magnetic
24. AC/DC - Black Ice
25. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
26. Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
27. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
28. Supergrass - Diamond Hoo Ha
29. The Mars Volta - The Bedlam in Goliath
30. TZU - Computer Love
31. The Understudy - What Not To Think While In Love
32. Firekites - The Bowery
33. Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst
34. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
35. Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
36. Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Rattlin’ Bones
37. The Living End - White Noise
38. Amanda Palmer - Who Killed Amanda Palmer
39. You Am I - Dilettantes
40. Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
41. Sparkadia - Postcards
42. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
43. The Herd - Summerland
44. Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday at Devil Dirt
45. Flogging Molly - Float
46. Dandy Warhols – …Earth to the Dandy Warhols…
47. Van She - V
48. Lightspeed Champion - Falling Off The Lavender Bridge
49. End of Fashion - Book Of Lies
50. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Nick Milligan
Reverb Editor
01. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
“It’s as if Natalie Portman stuck a pair of headphones in my ears and said, ‘Listen to these guys. They’ll change your life.’ Indeed, discovering this Seattle-based band was as spiritual experience as hearing The Shins ‘New Slang’ for the first time. It even rates up there with the first time you hear Hendrix howl, ‘Well, I’m standing next to a mountain…’
With their divine vocals, pastoral instrumentation and ability to write songs that hollow their way to your heart, Fleet Foxes represent everything that’s pure and wondrous about man’s ability to write melody.
02. The Drones - Havilah
“While there was some strong competition, I feel this was the best release by an Australian band in 2008. Perth’s The Drones benefited from the addition of Dan Luscombe on guitar who, along with singer Gareth Liddiard, tears shreds with his screaming solos. It’s the kind of epic record that we’ve come to expect from them, but it reaches heights of absolute chaos and wonder. An essential album – even by international standards.”
03. Razorlight - Slipway Fires
“While I didn’t mind Razorlight’s previous efforts, they never really lived up to the hype. Perhaps their very British sound failed to register amongst efforts from The Libertines and The Kooks. But the opening track on their third album, Slipway Fires, takes you firmly by the throat. The whole record, whether it’s upbeat pop (‘Burberry Blue Eyes’) or aching ballad (‘60 Thompson’) is deep and masterful. A lot of this is due to singer Johnny Borrell’s raw vocal delivery, which stands tall at the front of every song.”
04. The Sound Of Animals Fighting - The Ocean and The Sun
“This manic and furious record was the biggest surprise of the year. Falling somewhere between the neo-prog of The Mars Volta and the 70s progressive rock of Black Mountain, The Ocean and The Sun shocks and amazes with every passing second. One minute, it’s a spaced-out, rhythmic jam. The next – a thunderous, screaming whirlwind of emotion. Benefiting from twin vocalists and an unconventional approach to songwriting, you only need to hear this record once to be completely riveted – and ultimately lost in the tumult. Wow.”
05. Empire Of The Sun - Walking On A Dream
“When news of Nick Littlemore and Luke Steele’s collaboration spread, it was easy to get excited about the prospect of these two creative minds working together on a full-length project. The opening track from Pnau’s highly successful self-titled album, ‘With You Forever’, was a sneak glimpse – euphoric dance music with Steele’s mysterious and spiritual vocals. Walking On A Dream is an appropriate title. At times the record is unbearably beautiful. ‘We Are The People’ continues to give me butterflies every time I hear it (although I certainly don’t advocate drug use, this track goes down nicely at a ‘love-in’). While MGMT may have hogged most of 2008’s spotlight, for me Walking On A Dream takes you as close to musical nirvana as one can get.”
Kieran Ferguson
Reverb Production Manager
01. The Herd - Summerland
“With John Howard out of the picture there goes half of your political frustrations, response, music that celebrates life and society. Another cracker for the Herd, dynamite production and instrumentation plus sweet grooves and raps from Jane, Ozi and Urthy.”
02. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
“The masks came off, the direction changes, the heavy phrases get heavier, the rockin’ bits continue to rock. Great live band, massive sounds from the 9.”
03. The Presets - Apocalypso
“The Presets crack the big time with a more trancey, dark take on their synth pop. And score about one million new fluro fans. Despite that, solid”
4. Metallica - Death Magnetic
“First take, it doesn’t suck. Further listens, it rocks out quite nicely.”
5. TZU - Computer Love
“Another wicked collection of party tunes and solid cuts. Intelligent raps to get your groove on.”
Kevin Bull
Reverb Publisher
01. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
“Where have you been all my life. I listened to this CD, and realized that something had been missing in my soul. Alt-southern country rock done with class. They are the perfect support for Neil Young.
02. Black Mountain - In The Future
“Bring on the prog-rock. My preferred style of heavy rock, and this satisfied my need for the year.”
03. Drones - Havillah
“Delving up the bones of Aussie band Crow. So much passion and emotion, and honesty.”
04. Mercury Rev - Snowflake Midnight
“Completely unexpected, the Rev do electronica, and do it brilliantly.“
05. Beck - Modern Guilt
“The man can do no wrong. I look forward to each release, just to see what the guy is up to, and each time I am not disappointed.”
Courtney Fitzsimmons
Reverb Contributor
01. The Getaway Plan – Other Voices, Other Rooms
“It’s always great to discover a new band and love a song. To love the entire album is marvellous.”
02. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
“Only one word is needed – fantastic!”
03, The Living End – White Noise
“Definitely proud to have these boys representing our country. It’s a good rock album. Good new change from previous albums.”
04. Rihanna - Good Girl, Gone Bad
“I really enjoyed the ‘touch your heart’ songs in this album. The softer songs compared to those
that are getting pumped in the clubs. She’s doing well.”
05. Vaudeville - Self-Titled EP
“A local band that have captured my heart with a great sound in vocals and musically. I was captivated the moment I listened”
Mat Packer
I’m With The Band webzine owner
01. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
“A stellar album throughout, Kings Of Leon’s fourth studio album is an absolute cracker. The day I bought the album I think I listened to it through and through at least five times, it was just that good from the get go.“
02. Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony
“It was pretty difficult to put this album in second spot, as I’m such a huge fan of Alkaline
Trio, however it didn’t quite hit home as strongly as Crimson or From Here To Infirmary. Stand out tracks are ‘Into The Night’, ‘I Found Away’, and ‘In Vein’.”
03. Here Come The Birds - Self-titled EP
“Sometimes in these reader polls people will throw in a token local to make up the numbers – this is not one of those choices. Quite honestly Here Come The Birds’ debut EP made it into this list on their own merits. Definitely some of the best music I’ve heard all year.”
04. Rise Against - Appeal to Reason
The last Rise Against album, The Sufferer and the Witness, was possibly the best album I bought last year – miles above everything else. This album didn’t quite live up to that, however there are a number of really solid songs that pushed it up into my top five and keep the CD in my car.”
05. Bayside - Shudder
“Another solid release from these New Yorkers – it’s their fourth full length album, not including live albums. The band has grown musically with each release, and this album is no exception.
Really looking forward to catching their set at Soundwave.”
Nathan Zervos
Ruffneck Promotions
1. The Herd – Summerland
“This album shows The Herd diversity in style, attitude and, as always, political stand point.
With the enchanting vocals of Jane Tyrrell, The Herd continue to leave you guessing what’s next as you struggle to find a genre to categorise them in.”
2. You Am I – Dilettantes
“One of Australia’s most underrated rock bands, these guys continue to deliver both in the studio and on stage.”
3. Tame Impala -
“‘The New Boys on the block’ with a sound that echoes the 60s, but transcends to the modern age. I predict these guys to be huge!”
4. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Simply awesome.
5. Lover – Face In Colour
“Call it nepotism, but I strongly believe these young boys from Newcastle have a lot to offer the music industry. Their EP is both a quality recording teamed with intelligent lyrics and song structure.”
Graham Seaton
Ruffneck Promotions
1. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Immediate standout tracks for me were ‘The Youth’, ‘Pieces Of What’ & of course, current radio
fav, ‘Kids’. Hearing the tracks come to life live certainly made this a more enjoyable album to listen to.
2. The Futureheads – This Is Not The World
“This one’s a classic party starter from the opening track, ‘The Beginning Of The Twist’. ‘Radio
Heart’ is pure pop and the title track also stands out. A subtlely heavy album.”
3. AC/DC – Black Ice
“It sounds like AC/DC have been sitting around listening to all the ‘rock is back’ bands of the last 10 years and thought they’d give everyone another lesson in how it’s done. Opening track,
‘Rock ‘n’ Roll Train’ is a lesson in itself.”
4. Kings Of Leon – Only By The Night
“I like this album a lot – however, I also liked The Joshua Tree by U2 and Sam’s Town by The Killers. Let’s hope KOL don’t follow the same awry path. I’ve heard ‘Sex On Fire’ played in some of the most inappropriate places (shopping malls, Sunrise etc) which is great.”
5. Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul
“This is one of those albums a band makes when they have nothing left to prove. I think
Oasis have made about three now. They don’t seem to be trying to please anyone but themselves. A very pleasant sounding record anyhow. ‘The Shock Of The Lightning’ is classic Oasis & ‘Waiting For The Rapture’ is classic Noel.
Sarah Humphreys
Musician, Central Coast
1. Bob Corbett - Storyboard
“A beautiful album by one of my good friends and produced by my own producer, Michael
Carpenter, who gives these already incredible songs even more life.”
2. Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson - Rattlin’ Bones
“From start to finish this is absolute gold, from the kindest and most genuine people in this business. My favourite songs are ‘Wildflower’ and ‘One More Year’ – A very deserving ARIA win.”
3. Sara Storer - Silver Skies
Sara is a lovely human being and this record captures her beautiful spirit. Production by Matt Fell & Josh Cunningham is outstanding.
4. Eddie Vedder - Into The Wild Soundtrack
“I love hearing Eddie stripped back and so honest. Poignant songs with a raw delivery.”
5. Alison Krauss & Robert Plant - Raising Sand
“A very unique and special sounding album that’s been worn out on my stereo!”
Luke Logemann
A&R/Label Manager – Boomtown Records
1. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
“This album works for everywhere – parties, driving, working, Sunday morning chilling… can’t think of any other album that can do that.”
2. m83 – Saturdays = Youth
“Makes life feel romantic and epic. You can even feel like a superstar while you sit on a train.”
3. The Getaway Plan – Other Voices, Other Rooms
“This record owned the year, not only ‘cause I worked with them, but because the songs and production owns.”
4. Bring Me the Horizon – Suicide Season
“I pretty much hate hardcore as much as the next non-necktattooed, new-age sensitive dude, but we all wanna feel tough sometimes.”
5. Rihanna – Good Girl Gone Bad: Reloaded
“Seriously, have you tried having sex on drugs to this album? It’s smoking.”
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