You know I dreamed about you, for twenty-nine years before I saw you.

Hello readers of Christielli's blog, my name is Wes. I just wanted to say a quick thank you to Christielli for letting me post my entry on her blog. I couldn't stand the idea of not being able to post my top ten albums for 2008 because if there are two things that I love, they are music and making lists. My blog and I were together for three years before we had to end it in early 2008 because of time restraints. I hope to be back in some form another in the near future. Anyways, thanks again Christielli. Enjoy.


10. We Are Scientists - Brain Thrust Mastery. Let's start off the list with a band who I loved the debut album from. With Love And Squalor was a great album from 2005 that I listened to excessively after discovering it in a small CD store in Edmonton when I was in town for Matthew Good acoustic show. I could not wait for them to release a new album, so when Brain Thrust Mastery finally came out, all was right with the world. As you could probably guess, this album is a disappointment being that its number ten on my list. Its got some great songs, but as an album, it in no way compares to their previous effort. The hooky little guitar parts and lyrics are just not there. If you are interested in them, I suggest checking out their previous effort, its much better than the current state of their music.


9. Sam Roberts - Love At The End Of The World. Continuing on with the disappointment train, we have Sam Roberts latest album. Chemical City was my top album of 2006, so I had very high expectations for his latest album. There are some great songs on this album, but overall, it lacks the punch that Chemical City had. It kind of feels like Sam Roberts has run out of ideas, as most of the album's content doesn't grab me like his previous work does. The subject matter just feels unoriginal and uncreative. The songs themselves are well constructed, Sam Roberts is king of the pre-chorus and tags, but the information injected into these sections are boring and dated. If it wasn't for the tear-jerking "Words & Fire", this album wouldn't have even made my list and I would be talking about Axl's cornrows and bloated ego.


8. Foxboro Hot Tubs - Stop Drop And Roll!!! Ok, I'm a big Green Day fan ever since I was very young, but that's not why this album made the list. Its a different sound than we are use to hearing from Green Day, but its a sound that I love and is so under-utilized. Sounding like they are straight out of the 1950's, greasy hair and all, its an upbeat tempo that is extremely infectious. It may be just a filler album to tied us over to the new Green Day album comes out, but I think it was very underestimated.


7. Hey Rosetta! - Into Your Lungs. Ok, this one is all Christielli's fault. She told me about it and she takes full responsibility for any of your feelings toward this choice. Its a pretty good album sonically, it hits all the right notes. Its the kind of album that gets me excited about the Canadian music scene. Its not all Avril's and Theory Of A Nickel Fault's, there are some great bands out there that do not get near the recognition they deserve. Its really such a shame that these smaller bands get looked over in favour of the "watered-down" bands that appeal to the dumb masses. Believe me, I could write a book on the state of the music industry, so I will end it here by simply stating that we need more music like Hey Rosetta!


6. Fleet Foxes - Self-titled. Harmonies, oh sweet harmonies. That's what Fleet Foxes are chalk full of. Folky music born out of the north western United States, its America's answer to the Great Lake Swimmers. Its the kind of album you want to listen to on a cold winter's afternoon by the fire. Soothing in its sound, and un-intrusive in its nature. You can't help but sit back and relax, and enjoy the music.


5. Bloc Party - Intimacy. After the pitiful Weekend In The City, Bloc Party are back to their Silent Alarm selves, or at least closer to it. Intimacy is a mix of what we expect from Bloc Party, raging, infectious beats layered with simple, but catchy lyrics. Intimacy is a refreshing sound that has been lacking from the pop world as of late. As good as they are when they are loud, when the music drops out, you can't help but feel all tingly inside. Like big, fat snowflakes drifting to the ground, you can't help but be drawn into their world, their sound. It's an enchanting world filled with all the colours of the rainbow and big fluffy snowflakes that fall so slowly, you are convinced they are suspended in time and never completing their journey to the Earth. Then the beat kicks in and are quickly pulled back into reality, forever changed by your experience.


4. The National - Boxer. Alright you got me, this album came out in 2007, but I didn't purchase it until 2008, and it is way too awesome to leave off my list over such a small technicality. With a very distinctive lead voice and soft textures, The National soars and dives through the musical spectrum. It is epic in its vision, humble in its delivery. It is raw in its production, but polished in its composition. Its simplicity draws you in, but its complexity keeps you intrigued. At times it feels like Modest Mouse meets Death Cab, and other times it defies a column or a box. But in the end, its just brilliant.


3. The Jolts - Haute Voltage. Local Vancouver band who I have first hand knowledge of their studio antics manged to come out with a great album this year. I am a long time punk fan who is seriously disillusioned by the state of punk these days. The good punk albums are far and in between. Actually one of my favorite all time bands, a band from Australia called The Living End, released a new album this year, but unfortunately they did not secure a North American release this time and I was unable to obtain an import copy before the end of the year, otherwise, this album would have definitely been in my top ten, and probably in my top five. But back to The Jolts, its great to hear a punk band that believes in punk and not this "mall-punk" that everyone else is into these days. I don't care what you say, Avril and Sum 41 are not punk just because they put on a tie and a studded wristband. You won't find punk playing on the radio or on stage at your nearest hockey arena or in your local store. The only place where you are going to see it is at some dive bar in the "bad" part of town, because that's where true punk chooses to live, behind the bright lights and shadows of those who are in it for the money and fame.


2. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer. I've got a super soft spot for Wolf Parade after I saw them rock the daylights out of a cafe in Saskatoon. Their first album, Apologies To The Queen Mary, was an underground success and they finally backed it up this year with one of the best albums I heard all year. Their unmistakable charm shines through this album as they found a way to top their previous work. I think Wolf Parade is a lot like Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, in that you either love or hate them, you either get it or you don't, there is no in between. At Mount Zoomer is definitely more accessible than Apologies To The Queen Mary, but at the same time they still find ways to push the envelope and force the listener into new territory.


1. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs. There is never any question whether or not a Death Cab album is going to be near the top of my list. Transatlanticism and Plans are two albums that made the top of my lists in their respective years, and it seems that Narrow Stairs is no exception. After the super polished Plans, Death Cab definitely took a step back and traveled along a different path when making Narrow Stairs. The rawness of the album shines through the perfectly structured songs and shows a side of Death Cab that has been hidden for some time and from the majority of their new fans. With a four minute and thirty-three second intro to their first single, it is very evident that they are taking the less commercial route. But as the albums spins on, other stand-outs are heard and you begin to wonder "how does something so simple sound so new?" Its truly a talent that Death Cab have mastered, making the very simple sound very unique. One of the major highlights of 2008, other than seeing Radiohead, was finally seeing Death Cab in concert. It was an awesome show that backed up all of their albums and just left me wanting to see them over and over again. Here's hoping that the next album and tour are as good as the past.