Top 10 Albums of the Year

Here is my Top 10 Albums of the Year. The list could probably change in a few weeks since I'm leaving off a few good albums that I'm uncomfortable putting on a Top 10 with only one or two listens under my belt.

10. Ben Folds - Way to Normal
9. Jack Johnson - Sleeping Through The Static
With Ben Folds and Jack Johnson you pretty much know what you're going to get and I find that comforting.
8. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Seeing "Kids" performed live was one of the highlights of my summer. I liked the first two singles off the album and was pleasantly surprised it turned out to be a pretty solid album throughout.
7. Mates of State - Re-Arrange Us
If I was doing a list of Top 10 singles of '08, "Get Better" would be jockeying for a top spot. I'm a sucker for male and female harmonies.
6. Gary Louris - Vagabonds
I loved The Jayhawks and for awhile I was on Team Mark Olsen, but within the last few years I've jumped ship. This is a solid album with some great guests. Don't be surprised to see the Mark Olsen/Gary Louris collaboration on my Best of '09 list next year.
5. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
Unfortunately this album would have been a top 3 for me but I'm too easily swayed by how a band is live. And if you read our comments on the Okkervil River show this year you know I was disappointed. Maybe they'll just have to be a really good studio band for me...like my Steely Dan perhaps.
4. She & Him - Volume 1
I'm very much looking forward to Volume 2. It was exciting to learn that her voice carries over live too. It gives me the same kind of feeling as the Matthew Sweet and Suzanna Hoffs : Under the Covers Volume 1 gave me...which was good.
3. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
I feel like I pork MMJ enough on this blog so go back and read it if you really need to know how I feel about this album.
2. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Getting to see them twice on their Stay Positive tour helped out this ranking alot. Not to say that it wouldn't have been top 5 but I listen to this album and it brings back great memories. Constructive Summer might be one of those songs I play on a loop every Memorial Day for the rest of my life.
1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Crazy harmonizing. I actually got into the game really late with this album. But since I got it a few months ago I haven't been able to go more than two consecutive days without listening to it. I'm looking to putting it on during a heavy snowstorm while drinking some sort of seasonal winter lager.

I'll drop some honorable mentions in there too:
-Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Would have easily been in there if the year ended in September. Enjoyable album except for the Blake's Got a New Face song which is my least favorite songs of the year. They started to wear on me a tad so they fell a little.
-Weezer - Red Album
If for no other reason that every time I hear Weezer it brings me back to some happy teenage places. Average album compared to the Blue Album and Pinkerton but still enjoyable. "Greatest Man Who Ever Lived" would probably have a spot on my Top 20 song countdown.

My apologies to:
Deerhunter, Matt Costa, Death Cab for Cutie, Jenny Lewis, Bon Iver, Neil Diamond, Aimee Mann, Calexico and Blitzen Trapper. For one reason or another I didn't spend enough time with your 2008 release or just haven't gotten it yet.