Albums of 2008
The records from 2008 that made our lists.
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119Adele
19
A soulful, jazzy debut of mature songcraft. Warm and acclaimed. A striking start.
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2Twilight of the Thunder GodAmon Amarth
Twilight of the Thunder God
A triumphant, Viking-themed melodic-death peak. Heavy and beloved. A high point.
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3Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsColdplay
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
An ambitious, Eno-produced peak, home to its baroque title smash. Bold and huge. A creative high.
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4Crystal CastlesCrystal Castles
Crystal Castles
An abrasive, glitchy electro-punk debut. Bold and influential. A breakthrough.
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5In Ghost ColoursCut Copy
In Ghost Colours
A bright, nostalgic dance-pop peak. Tuneful and beloved. A genre highlight.
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6New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)Erykah Badu
New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
A dense, political neo-soul peak. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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7Fleet FoxesFleet Foxes
Fleet Foxes
A lush, harmony-drenched debut of pastoral baroque folk. Timeless and beautiful. A defining record of its indie moment.
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8Los AngelesFlying Lotus
Los Angeles
A dense, woozy beat-scene landmark. Inventive and influential. A breakthrough.
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9The Way of All FleshGojira
The Way of All Flesh
A crushing, ambitious progressive-death peak. Heavy and acclaimed. A high point.
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10808s & HeartbreakKanye West
808s & Heartbreak
A cold, Auto-Tuned grief record that reshaped pop-rap. Bold and influential. A pivotal record.
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11Only by the NightKings of Leon
Only by the Night
A widescreen, arena-sized peak, home to 'Sex on Fire' and 'Use Somebody'. Polished and huge. Their commercial breakthrough.
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12The FameLady Gaga
The Fame
A glittering electro-pop debut that made Gaga a superstar, hook after hook. Bold and fun. A defining late-2000s record.
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13Tha Carter IIILil Wayne
Tha Carter III
A blockbuster peak of Wayne's wordplay and weirdness, home to 'A Milli'. Eccentric and huge. His commercial high.
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14Saturdays = YouthM83
Saturdays = Youth
A nostalgic, 80s-drenched synth-pop peak. Dreamy and beloved. A breakthrough.
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15obZenMeshuggah
obZen
A crushing, polyrhythmic djent landmark of mechanical precision. Heavy and influential. A genre high point.
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16WatershedOpeth
Watershed
A dynamic, progressive peak balancing beauty and brutality. Bold and acclaimed. A high point.
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17ThirdPortishead
Third
A stark, abrasive comeback far from their trip-hop roots. Bold and acclaimed. A creative high.
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18Dear ScienceTV on the Radio
Dear Science
A vibrant, art-rock peak of horns, funk and urgency. Bold and acclaimed. Their masterpiece.
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19FearlessTaylor Swift
Fearless
The country-pop blockbuster that made Swift a star, home to 'Love Story'. Tuneful and huge. A breakthrough.
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20Vampire WeekendVampire Weekend
Vampire Weekend
A bright, preppy debut blending Afropop guitars with witty literate pop. Fresh and instantly likeable. The start of a great run.