Top 25 Albums of 2008

[halo19]

Alright, we're into the top 100. We have a lot of the longtime stuff as well as some newer and previously overlooked classics...

100. Has no major radio hits but has gold RIAA sales. In spite not being their big radio hit there is one song here that's quite popular. The Flaming Lips - Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots (crash46)

99. Popular producer/rapper's comments about a natural disaster led to an online mash-up track with that famous quote, coming from the big single at the time. Kanye West - Late Registration (friday)

98. Followed a long hiatus with this hit album, one lesser single with a road footage music video that featured Tenacious D. Weezer - "The Green Album" (a Nick O!)

97. Took over a decade to be followed up. Portishead - s/t (a Nick O!)

96. Originally intended as a double album, it doesn't even reach the 45-minute mark.

95. This album has their highest charting song, with no albums after their major label signing getting as big a hit as the moderate breakthrough. Hot Hot Heat - Make Up the Breakdown (WotUNeed)

94. Made before the band later got signed to a major, a popular underground record. Some people consider it their "breakthrough," but its follow ups got considerably more mainstream success. Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West (a Nick O!)

93. The Postal Service covered an album cut here and both of its actual singles have a regular version and remix both available.

92. Both #1 singles were re-mixed on the album to make the vocals and bass loud enough in the mix. Nirvana - In Utero (a Nick O!)

91. The real first mainstream breakthrough for what would eventually become the world's biggest band. U2 - War (friday)

90. Their breakthrough album, quite possibly because of the stickman who joined them at the time. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf (a Nick O!)

89. All 3 of its singles (Stateside) made the Billboard Hot 100, the first of a few albums that did this. Not their first hit record, though. Depeche Mode - Music for the Masses (WotUNeed)

88. They have a new song that as of this post is still on Pulse's first page. Debut album. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment (WotUNeed)

[friday]

99) Kanye West - Late Registration
91) U2 - War
90) AC/DC - Back in Black
88) Shiny Toy Guns - We Are Pilots

[a Nick O!]

98. Weezer - Weezer (2001) a.k.a. "The Green Album" (I never knew "Photograph" had a music video, but "long hiatus," "hit album," "one lesser single" and a band that could conceivably be down with the D led me in this direction, which I confirmed on wikipedia.)
97. Portishead - s/t
90. Queens of the Stone Age - Songs for the Deaf

[WotUNeed]

A shot at two:

89. All 3 of its singles (Stateside) made the Billboard Hot 100, the first of a few albums that did this. Not their first hit record, though.
Depeche Mode: Music for the Masses

88. They have a new song that as of this post is still on Pulse's first page. Debut album.
Oasis: Definitely Maybe

[halo19]

Six of 'em total taken down so far. I remember citing MFTM earlier as an album I "couldn't get into" but I finally got over the "bonus tracks" thing (fixed for the CD/DVD combo) and when I get past the breaths "I Want You Now" is pretty alright. And honestly I think I'd rank SoFaD as being liked equally but wanted to move more variety in to the top 100.

I'll probably go do more tomorrow night, whenever I feel like extending it.

[halo19]

100. Has no major radio hits but has gold RIAA sales. In spite not being their big radio hit there is one song here that's quite popular.
Record's about "a black belt in karate."

96. Originally intended as a double album, it doesn't even reach the 45-minute mark.
The first album of the full classic lineup, although the one with a new drummer still hasn't been released yet.

95. This album has their highest charting song, with no albums after their major label signing getting as big a hit as the moderate breakthrough.
A Sub Pop album.

94. Made before the band later got signed to a major, a popular underground record. Some people consider it their "breakthrough," but its follow ups got considerably more mainstream success.
Their first big hit was a chart topper at Alternative. They're from the Northwest.

93. The Postal Service covered an album cut here and both of its actual singles have a regular version and remix both available.
The inside sleeve adds a lot of parenthical titles alongside the regular song titles on half of the tracks.

92. Both #1 singles were re-mixed on the album to make the vocals and bass loud enough in the mix.
Their final studio album, overshadowed saleswise in respect with the monolithic breakthrough that came before.

88. They have a new song that as of this post is still on Pulse's first page. Debut album.
Think of Oasis' nationality and the era of STG. First single was released twice, with the second release of it barely scraping.

[WotUNeed]

A couple guesses

95. This album has their highest charting song, with no albums after their major label signing getting as big a hit as the moderate breakthrough.
A Sub Pop album.
Hot Hot Heat: Make Up the Breakdown

88. They have a new song that as of this post is still on Pulse's first page. Debut album.
Think of Oasis' nationality and the era of STG. First single was released twice, with the second release of it barely scraping.
Kaiser Chiefs: Employment

[a Nick O!]

94. Modest Mouse - The Lonesome Crowded West

[halo19]

Yes, that's right, even though I'd sometimes like to say"You can't get it 'cuz you don't get it" ("Dog Paddle," Long Drive).

100. Has no major radio hits but has gold RIAA sales. In spite not being their big radio hit there is one song here that's quite popular.
Record's about "a black belt in karate."
Title character's name sounds like the Mario dinosaur.

96. Originally intended as a double album, it doesn't even reach the 45-minute mark.
The first album of the full classic lineup, although the one with a new drummer still hasn't been released yet.
.

93. The Postal Service covered an album cut here and both of its actual singles have a regular version and remix both available.
The inside sleeve adds a lot of parenthical titles alongside the regular song titles on half of the tracks.
There's a surround sound mix of the album that was released a couple years ago.

92. Both #1 singles were re-mixed on the album to make the vocals and bass loud enough in the mix.
Their final studio album, overshadowed saleswise in respect with the monolithic breakthrough that came before.
There's an "edited" copy which retitles a song and changes the back artwork a little bit.

I'll edit later to post 87-75, but it would take longer to get my new clues.

[crash46]

100 must be that Flaming Lips' Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robot.

[a Nick O!]

92. Nirvana - In Utero, but I was not aware of that first clue at all.

Still don't know what we're looking for with the other two, though.

[halo19]

One very helpful hint about the remaining two I can give you is that both artists have one already correctly guessed entry here.

96. Originally intended as a double album, it doesn't even reach the 45-minute mark.
The first album of the full classic lineup, although the one with a new drummer still hasn't been released yet.
Had their first sort-of radio hit, which had two chart runs, sandwiching a one-off to later appear on the next record. Rancid - Let's Go (a Nick O!)

93. The Postal Service covered an album cut here and both of its actual singles have a regular version and remix both available.
The inside sleeve adds a lot of parenthical titles alongside the regular song titles on half of the tracks.
There's a surround sound mix of the album that was released a couple years ago. The Flaming Lips - The Soft Bulletin (a Nick O!)

In with the new...
87. Album's most well known song features a 41-second piano solo at the outro, but this does not appar at the performance video. Thrice - The Illusion of Safety (Mega248)

86. Incubus covered the artist's (and album's) most famous song, and it's one of two studio albums from the artist. Big Punisher - Capital Punishment (crash46)

85. The short-lived output from an underground D.C. band. Minor Threat - Complete Discography (a Nick O!)

84. Only one of its tracks mentions the song title in its lyrics. AFI - The Art of Drowning (a Nick O!)

83. Debut album has been out of print during certain times due to artist's falling out with initial record label, although it's generally regarded as a classic work of this artist. Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine (a Nick O!)

82. You still hear over half of these songs on rock radio these days and a couple of female singer-songwriters have covered the most famous song. Nirvana - Nevermind (a Nick O!)

81. An edition of the Bible. Harvey Danger - King James Version (a Nick O!)

80. A very big selling album that set the stage for solo careers, which had some degree of success. They later had a temporary reunion. Fugees - The Score (a Nick O!)

79. Lead single's music video showed a crossword puzzle wall, which the lead singer walks up on part of the video. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives (a Nick O!)

78. Features what may possibly be a fluke hit from the artist (in terms of crossover), and the song was a hit earlier this year, although released last fall. Lupe Fiasco - The Cool (a Nick O!)

77. The liner note artwork is the first in years to show individual pictures of each member of the band. Tool - 10,000 Days (a Nick O!)

76. The band had two songs from soundtracks well before the album's release, one which became their first (and most famous) hit. Gravity Kills - s/t (a Nick O!)

75. One of the "new" recordings on the collection was written by Lenny Kravitz, although he was an up and comer at the time. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection (a Nick O!)

[a Nick O!]

96. Aw geez, it's Rancid's Let's Go. Did not know it was intended to be a 2LP.

93. Ah, this is The Flaming Lips' Soft Bulletin.

Didn't "cheat" on either of those.

87. The only thing I can think of without timing the piano solo is Atreyu's Suicide Notes and Butterfly Kisses. But the video wasn't performance only, either.

86. Only stab off the top of my head is Jeff Buckley's Grace. I don't know if they ever covered "Last Goodbye" or if Jeff Buckley has two "studio" albums.

85. Fugazi - 13 Songs ? "Short-lived" is throwing me off, though.
84. AFI - Sing the Sorrow (Does "Silver and Cold" count?)
83. Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
82. Nirvana - Nevermind
81. Harvey Danger - King James Version
79. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives
78. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
75. Madonna - The Immaculate Collection

[crash46]

86 is Big Pun's Capital Punishment.

Figured that one out on two feet while walking away from the computer trying to accept a zero for this round. Not this time!

[halo19]

Sept 26, 2008 1:33:48 GMT -4 a Nick O! said:

96. Aw geez, it's Rancid's Let's Go. Did not know it was intended to be a 2LP.

I actually looked that one up. Also, it's shown on Discogs that the vinyl is actually 2 10" mini-albums.

86. Only stab off the top of my head is Jeff Buckley's Grace. I don't know if they ever covered "Last Goodbye" or if Jeff Buckley has two "studio" albums.

85. Fugazi - 13 Songs ? "Short-lived" is throwing me off, though.
84. AFI - Sing the Sorrow (Does "Silver and Cold" count?)
79. The Hives - Tyrannosaurus Hives

I have to admit for the Grace album that I usually am taken in by "Hallelujah" but usually stop the album there, and that was the main thing keeping it from inclusion. The Argument by Fugazi came close to inclusion, but missed. I honestly forgot all about the "Walk Idiot Walk" music video (which I've seen only a few times total) until stumbling across it shortly before the clue.

85 & 84 are on the right track and 84 is even the right artist. Actually, "Silver and Cold" counts technically because it literally appears in the first verse ("Now, it is silver and silent/it is silver and cold"). I actually looked at the booklet to see if I overlooked it and I did.

Sept 26, 2008 11:52:08 GMT -4 crash46 said:

86 is Big Pun's Capital Punishment.

Figured that one out on two feet while walking away from the computer trying to accept a zero for this round. Not this time!

Yeah, that's the one.

[Mega248]

87. Thrice- The Illusion of Safety
78. Buckcherry- 15

[halo19]

Out of curiosity, how'd you know about "Deadbolt"? But then again I didn't know that was actually a second single until later. "Betrayal Is a Symptom" (which I first saw on a Hopeless compilation CD/DVD) was first and incidentally is one of the lesser songs IMO from the album. It just seems so standard for the album to me.

Good going on those, and I'll get to adding more to the still existing clues:

85. The short-lived output of an underground D.C. band.
Well, it's a full output of a band before that one, only around about a fifth as long as Fugazi.
Minor Threat - Complete Discography (a Nick O!)

84. Only one of the songs mentions the title in its lyrics.
May as well reserve it for Nick, a step back. AFI - The Art of Drowning (a Nick O!)

80. A very big selling album that set the stage for solo careers, which had some degree of success. They later had a temporary reunion.
Half of the singles were covers.

78. Features what may possibly be a fluke hit from the artist (in terms of crossover), and the song was a hit earlier this year, although released last fall.
Well, maybe not just "in terms of crossover," I was kind of rushing myself to get a clue here. This big song though is the only one from the artist I've ever heard on the radio, several times at that. I heard the lead single from the last album but it was all helped by the video networks.

77. The liner note artwork is the first in years to show individual pictures of each member of the band.
Includes a #1 hit with a 5/4 riff. Tool - 10,000 Days (a Nick O!)

76. The band had two songs from soundtracks well before the album's release, one which became their first (and most famous) hit.
Both songs appear on this debut album (where the single was promoted from), the non single being re-recorded for the inclusion.

[Mega248]

Sept 28, 2008 22:28:03 GMT -4 halo19 said:

Out of curiosity, how'd you know about "Deadbolt"?

My station actually played it a few times back in '03 or so. They're notorious for giving quite a few plays to songs that do nothing nationally, which I consider a great thing for the most part. I did have to rely on Google for the album name though.

[a Nick O!]

85. Minor Threat - Complete Discography (When 13 Songs was wrong, it didn't dawn on me for some reason to think backward. Duh! Hello!
84. AFI - The Art of Drowning (The song in question obviously being "A Story at Three." Or, um..."Battled." Heh.)
78. M.I.A. - Kala
77. Tool - 10,000 Days

I'm not thinking too hard yet about the other ones (and I'm giving someone else a chance.)

[halo19]

80. A very big selling album that set the stage for solo careers, which had some degree of success. They later had a temporary reunion.
Half of the singles were covers.
First single title is a self-reference.

78. Features what may possibly be a fluke hit from the artist (in terms of crossover), and the song was a hit earlier this year, although released last fall.
Well, maybe not just "in terms of crossover," I was kind of rushing myself to get a clue here. This big song though is the only one from the artist I've ever heard on the radio, several times at that. I heard the lead single from the last album but it was all helped by the video networks.
Album was released at the tail end of the "holiday rush."

76. The band had two songs from soundtracks well before the album's release, one which became their first (and most famous) hit.
Both songs appear on this debut album (where the single was promoted from), the non single being re-recorded for the inclusion.
The band's first seven singles are all just one word titles.

74. No singles were released officially from this album yet interestingly there was a song from a short-form release that was.

73. Includes a song once used on a Nissan commercial, although many casual people probably aren't aware of that. Lyrics are quite questionable in its context, though.

72. On the intro of the music video for the lead single, a Muzak version of a previous hit is played while the frontman is going up an elevator. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape (a Nick O!)

71. The final hit is probably now more reknowned for a cover version, although the charts would have you think reverse. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (a Nick O!)

70. Features their first Top 5 alternative hit, where they previously had only minor stuff there beforehand.

69. One of its early singles could have been a hot Britney Spears remake, if you didn't know where it came from and just knew the title. Kanye West - Graduation (a Nick O!)

68. Indie label album had their first minor/moderate radio hit, although usually overshadowed by later stuff.

67. In spite being regarded as the artist's great work and selling well it didn't have an actual chart-topping hit, at least at the main radio format.

66. The first disc was intended to collect all of their A-sides but the space didn't fit and two of 'em appeared on the B disc.

65. Luke 4:5-8.

64. The earliest single was debuted on their MTV Unplugged performance. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple (a Nick O!)

63. Nearly half of these songs are covers, one of them a particular hit single.

62. It's how you follow up after the rehabilitation program.

[a Nick O!]

I don't have time to look at the brand new clues, but real quick,
78 is Lupe Fiasco's The Cool and if 76 is Pearl Jam's Ten, you'll have to explain its history to me.

[WotUNeed]

I thought I might get one of these if I stared at them a while.

Miscalled that one.

[a Nick O!]

73. Silversun Pickups - Carnavas
72. Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape
71. Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
69. Kanye West - Graduation
64. Stone Temple Pilots - Purple

As for #65:

5The devil led him up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. 6And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7So if you worship me, it will all be yours."

8Jesus answered, "It is written: 'Worship the Lord your God and serve him only.'

I have no idea what album to pull from all of that.

[halo19]

Well there's a passage on the King James version not found in your quote, using English standard.

[halo19]

Okay, so here comes some extensions.

80. A very big selling album that set the stage for solo careers, which had some degree of success. They later had a temporary reunion.
Half of the singles were covers.
First single title is a self-reference.
One song featured an uncredited sample, but original artist ultimately did not end up suing. That song was sampled eight yeras later on a hit.

76. The band had two songs from soundtracks well before the album's release, one which became their first (and most famous) hit.
Both songs appear on this debut album (where the single was promoted from), the non single being re-recorded for the inclusion.
The band's first seven singles are all just one word titles.
The band came a few years later than PJ and never were anywhere near as popular. Still, first single in spite a relatively low peak gets some nice gold play.

74. No singles were released officially from this album yet interestingly there was a song from a short-form release that was.
First album they made in their current lineup.

73. Includes a song once used on a Nissan commercial, although many casual people probably aren't aware of that. Lyrics are quite questionable in its context, though.
A few to several years before SSPU. Never a major hit but probably their most well known song at that point.

70. Features their first (and only) Top 5 alternative hit, where they previously had only minor stuff there beforehand.
The only short-form studio album to reach the top of the albums chart. Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies (EP) (a Nick O!)

68. Indie label album had their first minor/moderate radio hit, although usually overshadowed by later stuff.
The song's music video shows a backward slow motion of the bassist bouncing a ping pong ball.

67. In spite being regarded as the artist's great work and selling well it didn't have an actual chart-topping hit, at least at the main radio format.
This was one of several songs/albums where an ambient producer worked with more big pop artists.

66. The first disc was intended to collect all of their A-sides but the space didn't fit and two of 'em appeared on the B disc.
Rihanna interpolated part of one of the songs here with a sort of recent single. New Order - Substance (WotUNeed)

65. Luke 4:5-8.
Their only album not released on vinyl format. The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan (friday)

63. Nearly half of these songs are covers, one of them a particular hit single.
It's live. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York (a Nick O!)

62. It's how you follow up after the rehabilitation program.
They made a political music video to the "sequel"/remix version of one of the album's songs.

[WotUNeed]

67. James: Laid ... probably not but it kinda fits
66. New Order: Substance

[a Nick O!]

After having to open up the alphabetical list of my CD collection, I finally figured out #80:

Fugees' The Score.

A very big selling album that set the stage for solo careers (Wyclef, Lauryn, Pras), which had some degree of success. They later had a temporary reunion.
Half of the singles were covers. ("Killing Me Softly," "No Woman, No Cry.")
First single title is a self-reference. ("Fu-Gee-La")
One song ("Ready or Not") featured an uncredited sample, ("Boadicea") but original artist (Enya) ultimately did not end up suing. That song was sampled eight yeras later on a hit. (Mario Winans' "I Don't Wanna Know," or whatever it was called. It was too boring for me to remember if I've got the exact title 4 years later.)

#76 has gotta be Gravity Kills' self-titled album, although, St. Louis radio gave me a different perspective on the chronology of their career. (And I had all but forgotten their soundtrack appearances save for the Escape from L.A. one.) But yes, you're correct on all counts.

70. Alice in Chains - Jar of Flies (EP)
63. Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York

[friday]

65) The White Stripes - Get Behind Me Satan

8And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.

[halo19]

Oct 5, 2008 13:25:20 GMT -4 a Nick O! said:

#76 has gotta be Gravity Kills' self-titled album, although, St. Louis radio gave me a different perspective on the chronology of their career. (And I had all but forgotten their soundtrack appearances save for the Escape from L.A. one.) But yes, you're correct on all counts.

But if you ever heard the radio on a Tulsa radio station, they aren't really one hit wonders there. "Enough" got medium rotation when I heard it from 2000-3, although I haven't really heard the alt. or active stations there since or paid attention. I guess since their live show they made during the first album over there went real well they always had a follwing there.

Oh, and as for that AFI one earlier guessed, I forgot all about "Battled" when I made the clue.

[a Nick O!]

Oct 5, 2008 22:37:48 GMT -4 halo19 said:

But if you ever heard the radio on a Tulsa radio station, they aren't really one hit wonders there. "Enough" got medium rotation when I heard it from 2000-3, although I haven't really heard the alt. or active stations there since or paid attention. I guess since their live show they made during the first album over there went real well they always had a follwing there.

Basically in St. Louis, "Guilty" was a local single in 1995, "Enough" was released at the beginning of 1996, "Down" was played about when the album came out, and obviously the "Blame" remix was played that summer. I should point out, though, that every previous single continued to get heavy recurrent play when any subsequent ones were released.

Oct 5, 2008 22:37:48 GMT -4 halo19 said:

Oh, and as for that AFI one earlier guessed, I forgot all about "Battled" when I made the clue.

Well, I don't blame you. It is merely the hidden bonus song after all...

By the way, which New Order song did Rihanna interpolate?