This was Dennis Wilson's only solo album. This year it was re-issued along with some bits n pieces that never surfaced. His grainy, rough voice makes for such a beautiful, peaceful and soulful album that it’s hard not to want to listen to this double disc all the way through. Hang out with your mates on a Sunday arvo and play this disc in the background. Sweet.
After listening to the former Test Icicles debut album, we were already ready for his sophomore to come out. Do not expect anything like his former band’s music. This album is much mellower, has violins, pianos and female harmonies on it. He mixes gentle music with tense lyrics and seems like a man with a lot of anger. However, if you can catch him live, you'll see he is nothing more than a shy, young, innocent Star Trek lover.
12. M83 - Saturdays=Youth 
This album marks the French duo's sense of nostalgia. The album has sounds that some might think are outdated, but are actually in fact stylish, vibrant and fresh. It imposes this kind of haze across one's mind that everything's going to be alright. Like their former albums, it still offers that cinematic feel to it, yet has some ripper songs that could have been plucked straight out of the 80's bin. It gives you a really warm feeling inside knowing that m83 have probably produced their best record to date.
This was a tough one. Despite mixed reviews, 'Intimacy' somehow happened to always get into the stereo system at the office. This album was half mixed by 'Silent Alarm's' producer and half by 'A Weekend In The City's' producer and that’s exactly how it turned out. However, there are some bloody good tunes on this album. It's quite an ambitious album and seems like Bloc Party are trying to move away from their earlier sounds. Well, they don't actually do that, but that’s why we rate the album. They should never stray too far from their original sounds and this album doesn't. Hence, it makes it to our best of list for 2008.
15. The Foals - Antidotes 
Think The Klaxons meets Bloc Party meets Battles. That’s what you get when you listen to The Foal's debut album. This album is very addictive. Great melodies. Great hooks. Sometimes punchy. Sometimes spacey. This album really gives life back to the new wave, post-punk revival genre. Hope an album like this comes around every year.
16. Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping 
All we can say is this is an either love-it or hate-it album. It requires one to have patience and really try and absorb it for all it offers. It's extremely experimental (mind you so are most of their back catalogue) and quite erratic at times, but overall it provides something that no other album does this year - thought. At times it feels like Ziggy Stardust has come on board because of its creativeness and mischievous sounds. Nevertheless, do us a favour and give it a listen.
17. Santogold - Santogold 
Since day 1, Santogold has always been compared to M.I.A., which in our eyes isn't a bad thing. However, Santogold is not just a rip off artist. This album proves it. Santogold mixes hip-hop, dub, rock, electro and pop all into one album. It's definitely an album that’s worthy of high rotation at any party, especially one with lots of girls. It's rowdy, energetic, catchy and carefree. It's just so good.
18. Coldplay - Viva La Via or Death And All His Friends 
Not much needs to be said about Coldplay. They are arguably the biggest band in the world right now. This album is what X&Y should have been if they weren't rushed by their record company. Brian Eno is a genius and that’s made clear with this album. Coldplay have been pushed to their boundaries and taken some risks. Well, it's paid off. They haven't veered away from their normal sound too much; they've just found a more interesting way to present it. It's a really satisfying listen that won't make you want to skip a single track.
19. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular 
MGMT somehow manages to blend psychedelic rock and indie-electro punk into ten songs that can at times take you to another level. With some of the catchiest tunes to come out of NYC since The Strokes, MGMT have become the hottest new band of 2008. It's not only their music, but their lyrics that make this album so brilliant. They're witty, tongue-in-cheek and really fun. Hundreds of kids around the world sing their songs; hundreds more will have their album. If you don't, there's something wrong with you this year.
20. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! 
Who would've thought that after 13 albums, Nick Cave could still produce such brilliance (besides the die hard fans)? This dark, sexy, decadent album is typical Nick Cave. His lyrics are probably the best part of it all (as they always are). He does seem to talk more than sing, but who cares when it just sounds perfect. Some of the music, we think only Cave could get away with too. The mixture of elegant tones with devil-like poetic lyrics just makes this at-times-provocative album, a masterpiece.
**Notable absentees to miss out coz it aint the top 30 albums
B. Fleischmann - The Humbuckling Coil
The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Scars on Broadway - Scars on Broadway
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
The Dears - Missiles
Ray LaMontange - Gossip In The Grain
Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Deerhunter - Microcastle
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair The Raconteurs - Consolers of The Lonely
***Notable EP's
Tame Impala - Tame Impala
Antony and The Johnsons - Another World
One Day as a Lion - One Day as a Lion
Take a look at last year's 2007 'Best Albums' list
here
Please make your comments below as to what albums we might be missing... 
