The Best Around: El Keter's Top 20 Artists of 2008 A ton of albums pass through my hands during a calendar year. A lot of
those albums leave a lasting impression on me. But the number that get
loaded onto the MP3 player I take on nearly every cross-town bus-ride
& walk to the corner bodega and then stay there all year is pretty
small. In fact, only twenty-something artists achieved this feat
during the past year. Their records were the ones that I just couldn't
stop listening to. I think it's safe to say this select group of
artists made my favorite music of 2008. Their names, listed in
alphabetical order, are...
Black Spade Blu (C.R.A.C./Johnson&Jonson) Clutchy Hopkins The Cool Kids The Foreign Exchange Grampall Jookabox Hot Chip James Pants Kitty Daisy & Lewis Lightspeed Champion Lykke Li MC Esoteric MGMT of Montreal Portishead Santogold Serengeti (Yoome/Friday Night) She & Him Tone Tank and Krayo (Iller Than Theirs/Nuk Fam) TV On the Radio okpdan: So, would you say there was an absolute favorite from the year? El Keter: Ya know, that's a declaration I hate to make...I can however tell you that of Montreal's Skeletal Lamping was my absolute favorite album of the year and TV On the Radio's Dear Science is probably the one record that's most representative of everything good about music right now. So, if there's a face that says "best of 2008" it's definitely TV On the Radio. Find a more in-depth analysis of El Keter's four-part series of posts "You're the Best, Around..." (El Keter's Favorite Albums of 2008) on his dedicated Blogarhythms page, updated 5 days a week.
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Hits: 10493 Comments (38)
kroc: ...
pac fucking division!!! u gotta be kiddin me, no one mentioned them!?
1
January 22, 2009 - 09:01:54 PM
IVERIANI-THE ILLEST PUBLICIST©: ...
My TOP 20 ARTIST THAT SMASH 2008 UNDERGROUND AND MAINSTREAM!:
BLACK MILK WALE 8THW1 DANIEL JOSEPH BROKN.ENGLSH Q-TIP ILLA J M.I.A SANTOGOLD MGMT PARAMORE THE KILLERS KATEY PERRY JAZZMINE SULLIVAN BLU N.E.R.D ERYKAH BADU FOREIGN EXCHANGE Muhsinah THEO 2
January 21, 2009 - 09:18:03 AM
Matchz: ...
Clutchys CD came out this year? Dont know why I thought that came out in 07
4
January 20, 2009 - 02:14:58 PM
someone from baltimore: ...
Dear Science was definitely off the closet sick. stop hatin'! alternative rock is not synonymous with garbage anymore!
5
January 20, 2009 - 06:43:34 AM
You Big Faker!: ...
I finally heard that Santogold. It's great. Good call!
7
January 18, 2009 - 03:17:33 PM
lesiki: ...
Raphael Saadiq
Raphael Saadiq Raphael Saadiq How could that not be on here. 9
January 18, 2009 - 08:55:04 AM
fortifiedlive420: ...
what a wak ass pick most of all that shit is wak except for blu ,foreign exchange and few others .Try focusing on real music that shit was trash espically ur favorite album we'll defintly make sure no one ask for ur opinon again thanks but no thanks.
10
January 16, 2009 - 08:24:55 AM
Grand Jo: ...
When listening to TVOTR I can't help but think that they have managed to create a post-alternative sound, much like how Joy Division did it in the early 80's. TVOTR have my vote for 21st century futurism
11
January 15, 2009 - 01:16:18 AM
kevin from paris: ...
to be honest this list lacks some of he greatest name
like badu,q tip, legendary roots crew..... 12
January 13, 2009 - 11:17:37 PM
PeaceShine: ...
Opionnssss......opinionsRlikeAsshoooooles!....YOP!
lol 14
January 13, 2009 - 11:49:02 AM
Wolfe: ...
You almost have to approach this shit like the grammy's. Nothing is universal and we use music for different purposes so we need categories.
Best Album to listen to While on the Way to Work to Deal with the Establishment - Nas "Untitled" Best Rap Song/R&B Song combo that makes an easy blend to keep the club jumping - Jim Jones, "Pop Champagne/Slim "So Fly" Make up your own ignorant category... 15
January 13, 2009 - 09:44:42 AM
Big Bad Burt: ...
Leave the man alone!
It's his freakin' opinion. Ya'll some internet ass nerds. 16
January 12, 2009 - 05:08:18 PM
Mike Shousky: ...
WTF is this. Is this suppose to be promotion for unknown artist or soemthing! If so say it because where is Nas, Badu, Q Tip, and Ice Cube? This list is wack
18
January 12, 2009 - 01:27:00 PM
Shaun P: ...
I thought that Jazz Lib's album was crazy!! Definately should be in everyone's top 20.
19
January 12, 2009 - 11:17:08 AM
el capitan: ...
it's leche negro not negro leche cuz negro leche mean milk black entiendes...
20
January 11, 2009 - 07:28:43 PM
You Big Faker!: ...
Nobody heard Saul Williams "...Niggy Tardust"? It was excellent. Common fell off this year, so did Badu, in my personal opinion.
21
January 11, 2009 - 08:13:24 AM
Adam1: ...
TV on the Radio's album is boooooooring. When are you supposed to listen to this music? At a party? Nope. Alone? Nope. I mean, gimme something that actually makes sense!!!!
22
January 10, 2009 - 10:13:10 PM
Ed1: ...
Last time i listen to somebodys top X
Both Montreal's Skeletal Lamping and TV On the Radio's Dear Science are among the most icky "hip" music i heard this year. Bah. Album of 2008 was Guilty Simpson's Ode to the Ghetto, even considering its corny topics. 23
January 10, 2009 - 07:25:27 PM
got my mind made up: ...
very solid list altho i was impressed with common's mind control, nas' untitled, q's renaissance, and kings of leon's only by the night (altho this isn't their best compilation). dear science, however, is, by far, one of the greatest albums of the year, if not of the past few years [i would have to argue]. they are an incredible group of imaginations with a unique sound that needs to be recognized. also, santogold is making a name for herself in a hiphop/funk fresh male-dominated world that needs more women [not sayin there aren't women out there, just sayin she's one of the best w/o a doubt]. her sound is innovative, real, a class of its own.
24
January 10, 2009 - 10:46:33 AM
@ Let me nudge the sleeper...: ...: ...
dont forget panacea's dj is damu the fudgemunk and he dropped a bunch of dope projects in 08 too
25
January 09, 2009 - 04:35:09 PM
WorldSpectacular: ...
since i agree with El on a lot(Portishead's Third and others) i should add that many of the posters are right, Black Milk should be on (although he often gets too much credit in my opinion)
and what about Radiohead's In Rainbows 26
January 09, 2009 - 02:51:48 PM
WorldSpectacular: ...
BADU
Flylo TVOTR Michna Hot Chip Santogold Clutchy Hopkins/Eric Lau Median Q-Tip Justice(DVD) Diplo-everything all year Rising Down(The Roots) N.E.R.D. Muhsinah +6 (if there was even that many-cause some of the ones listed here are iffy when people are on their A game) 27
January 09, 2009 - 02:48:29 PM
Let me nudge the sleeper...: ...
Ever heard of a duo called Panacea from D.C.? Their album " A Mind On a Ship Through Time " was, in my opinion the best of '08. I agree with some of the list but the underground is on the rise!!
28
January 09, 2009 - 09:43:19 AM
its just math: ...
i think flying lotus should definitely be thrown into this mix...
29
January 09, 2009 - 02:25:55 AM
happytrees: ...
really can't understand the absence of badu and tip. just can't.
and what's up with she and him... that's some country ass shit right there. not saying it's not allowed on okp, but definitely unexpected. I suppose I should get used to that... gonna have to give tvotr another listen. 31
January 08, 2009 - 10:48:34 AM
pure hip hop: ...
this list is cool but i agree with hiphop's savior..whats up with Black milk, and Badu's album was crazy. Im waiting for dead prez' Information Age, A-Alikes Us against Them, and Immortal Techniques Middle passage. Hip hop for mind. hip hop for the revolution.
32
January 08, 2009 - 10:19:16 AM
smg: ...
The list is his top 20, not the definitive top 20 of '08. If Black Milk, Badu and Tip didnt do it for his soul like the other 20 he listed that his business. Maybe they are in his top 25
33
January 08, 2009 - 10:00:57 AM
Reyn: ...
Great List! I agree almost completely...
www.potholesinmyblog.com/blog 35
January 07, 2009 - 11:19:43 PM
Hiphop's savior...: ...
Apparently you've never heard of Black Milk... because it's scientifically impossible to omit Negro Leche from a 2008 list.
36
January 07, 2009 - 09:59:00 PM
The Big Thyme: ...
you have of Montreal's link linked to MGMT's myspace page.
also, I was skeptical of TVOTR's album at first. and then I bought it and it bumps thoroughly. Oracular Spectacular has a few gems, especially "Of Moons, Birds, and Monsters". otherwise, I thought it was kinda alright. 37
January 07, 2009 - 08:31:56 PM
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