These are my favorite albums of 2008. As always, these only reflect music that I was able to afford or otherwise get my grubby hands on. Regretfully, the lastest from Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Marc Broussard, Ray Lamontagne, Amos Lee, and Butch Walker among dozens of others kept a distance.

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  #1. THE HOLD STEADY, Stay Positive (Vagrant) Rock / Alternative

  I’m absolutely blown away by The Hold Steady’s fourth studio album ‘Stay Positive’. Led by Craig Finn’s blistering vocal delivery via a mostly conversational style, the band out of Brooklyn shows why they pack the house at every show. If Springsteen’s E Street Band explored punk rock this is what it would sound like and it gets better with every listen.

  Key Tracks: “Constructive Summer”, “Sequestered In Memphis”, “Navy Sheets”, “Lord, I’m Discouraged”, “Yeah Sapphire”, “Stay Positive”, “Magazines”, “Joke About Jamaica”, “Slapped Actress”

• #2. OLD 97S, Blame It On Gravity (New West) Rock / Alternative / Country

  Great to see the Dallas, TX band back in action. It was worth the wait.

  Key Tracks: “Dance With Me”, “No Baby I”, “My Two Feet”, “Ride”, “She Loves The Sunset”, “I Will Remain”, “Early Morning”, “The Easy Way”, “Here’s To The Halcyon”, “The One”

• #3. GLOSSARY, The Better Angels of Our Nature (Undertow) Rock / Indie / Southern Rock

  My sleeper pick of the year. Diamonds in the rough via Murfreesboro, TN.

  Key Tracks: “Almsgiver”, “Shout It From The Rooftops”, “Bitter Branch”, “Nothing Can Hurt You Now”, “Chase Me Out Of The Dark”

• #4. RECKLESS KELLY, Bulletproof (Yep Roc) Country / Rock / Jam Band

  Best band in Texas? If not, damn near close.

  Key Tracks: “Ragged As The Road”, “Love In Her Eyes”, “American Blood”, “Mirage”, “A Guy Like Me”, “Wandering Eye”, “Bulletproof”

• #5. ELI “PAPERBOY” REED, Roll With You (Q Dvision) Soul

  The best throwback band around. Your feet will disconnect from the rest of your body when you listen to these guys. A live show is sure to please.

  Key Tracks: “The Satisfier”, “Stake Your Claim”, “Am I Wasting My Time”, “Take My Love With You”, “I’m Gonna Getcha”, “(Doin’ The) Boom Boom”

• #6. KATHLEEN EDWARDS, Asking for Flowers (Zoe) Rock / Americana / Country

  Kathleen Edwards has yet to make a bad album. Clever lyrics, rockin’ tunes and a voice that will make you weak at the knees. She’s got it all.

  Key Tracks: “The Cheapest Key”, “Asking For Flowers”, “I Make The Dough, You Get The Glory”, “Oil Man’s War”, “Oh Canada”

• #7. DONAVON FRANKENREITER, Pass It Around (Lost Highway) Rock / Soul

  What can I say? I’m a sucker for jangly pop tunes. ‘Pass It Around’ was among the best in that category.

  Key Tracks: “Life, Love & Laughter”, “Too Much Water”, “Hit The Ground Running”

• #8. JAMES MCMURTRY, Just Us Kids (Lightning Rod) Rock

  I never knew just how much McMurtry was a bad ass until I saw him live earlier this year. ‘Just Us Kids’ is further proof.

  Key Tracks: “Bayou Tortous”, “Just Us Kids”, “God Bless America”, “Freeway View”

• #9. THE MOTHER TRUCKERS, Let’s All Go To Bed (Funzalo) Alternative / Country / Rock

  Energetic, honky-tonkin’ and pure fun by the band led by husband and wife team of Teal Collins and Josh Zee.

  Key Tracks: “Dynamite”, “Streets of Atlanta”, “Never Miss My Baby”, “I’m Comin’ Over”

• #10. HAYES CARLL, Trouble In Mind (Lost Highway) Folk / Americana / Country

  Rough hewn and twangy like the man who made it. The music is great but the lyrics make this album.

  Key Tracks: “It’s a Shame”, “She Left Me For Jesus”

• #11. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE, The Good Life (Bloodshot) Folk / Acoustic / Country

  Key Tracks: “Who Am I To Say”

• #12. MARAH, Angels Of Destruction! (Yep Roc) Rock

  Key Tracks:”Coughing Up Blood”, “Wild West Love Song”, “Angels of Destruction”

• #13. LIAM FINN, I’ll Be Lightning (Yep Roc) Experimental / Pop

  Key Tracks: “Better To Be”, “Lead Balloon”, “Energy Spent”

• #14. R.E.M., Accelerate (Warner Bros) Alternative / Rock

  Key Tracks: “Living Well Is The Best Revenge”, “Hollow Man”, “Horse To Water”,

• #15. MANDO SAENZ, Bucket (Thirty Tigers) Indie / Folk Rock / Acoustic

  Key Tracks: “Wrong Guy”, “Pittsburgh”, “Seven Dollars”

• #16. JACKIE GREENE, Giving Up The Ghost (429) Americana / Rock / Indie

  Key Tracks: “Like A Ball & Chain”, “Uphill Mountain”, “Another Love Gone Bad”

• #17. JIM BOGGIA, Misadventures In Stereo (bluhammock) Indie / Pop / Rock

  Key Tracks: “To And Fro”, “8 Track”

• #18. DRIVE-BY TRUCKERS, Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West) Rock / Indie / Southern Rock

  Key Tracks: “Two Daughters And A Beautiful Wife”, “3 Dimes Down”, “The Righteous Path”, “Self Destructive Zones”, “Home Field Advantage”, “That Man I Shot”, “A Ghost To Most”

• #19. LUCINDA WILLIAMS, Little Honey (Lost Highway) Rock / Americana / Country

  Key Tracks: “Real Love”, “Honey Bee”, “Jailhouse Tears”

• #20. MATTHEW SWEET, Sunshine Lies (Shout Factory) Rock / Powerpop / Alternative

  Key Tracks: “Byrdgirl”, “Daisychain”

Honorable Mentions

The Offramps, The Dexateens, Crooked Still, Ayla Brook, Conor Oberst, Sean Costello, Bruce Robison, Taylor Hollingsworth, Stonehoney, Benjamin Taylor

What were some of your favorite albums from 2008?

About the author:  Washington, D.C. area web designer by day. Certifiable music freak by night. Husband and father of two by the loving grace of God.

by Tom Osborne in Best of Year