Best albums of 2008!

[howard male]

I'm surprised to see Soha has slipped out of your ten, Charlie.

Chiwoniso's Rebel Woman is OK but a little patchy, so I suspect the fact you met her and were charmed by her, has (perhaps subconciously)influenced this betrayal of the wonderful Soha. I think John Crosby had better get Soha over here pretty sharpish so she can appear on your show before Christmas and earn back her rightful place in your Top Ten!

In the meantime, my ten now looks like this, but I'm optimistic that something else might roll into town before the year is over, and knock out a CD or two. My new entries are 'The Vodoun Effect' by Orchestre Poly-Rythmico de Cotonou which fills the last available free space, and 'Tchamantche' by Rokia Traore which knocks Yael Naim out of the running.

1. A Mad & Faithful Telling by DeVotchKa
2. D'ici Et D'ailleurs by Soha
3. 03 by Son of Dave
4. Congotronics 3 (Kasai Allstars)
5. Mali Koura - Issa Bagayogo
6. 1. Real by DJ Dolores
7. A Town Called Addis by Dub Colossus
8. 'The Vodoun Effect' by Orchestre Poly-Rythmico de Cotonou
9. Ten Thousand - Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir
10. 'Tchamantche' by Rokia Traore

[Charlie]

I think John Crosby had better get Soha over here pretty sharpish so she can appear on your show before Christmas and earn back her rightful place in your Top Ten!

I have put in a request already, so we'll see what transpires.

If Soha were to re-emerge it might be at the expense of the film soundtrack.

The good songs on Chiwoniso's album are so good, she will survive despite a few weaker ones.

[matt m]

I think I only have a top two:

1. My Dearest Dear by Martin Rossiter
2. London Zoo by The Bug

There's nothing else that's really impressed me yet. Have mostly been listening to old stuff this year.

There's album's I've heard that have been interesting, and I'm glad they were put out there: My Mother's Children by Mary Hampton; Songs famed for Sorrow And Joy by Samuel James; and the recent double album from Belshazzar's Feast, for example. but I can't honestly say they've blown me away exactly.

Then there's albums that I suspect I'd probably like a lot that I haven't heard for one reason or another: the CDR from Boycott Coca Cola experience; Erykah Badu's last one (was it called Amerykah?); toshimaru nakamura's duet album with Annette Krebs; and Trim's SoulFood Vol III.[/i]

[Con Murphy]

Then there's albums that I suspect I'd probably like a lot that I haven't heard for one reason or another: Erykah Badu's last one (was it called Amerykah?);

'New Amerykah Part One'. It would definitely make my top ten despite being a bit soggy in places (as is her wont).

[Chris P]

some new entries:

1. Sevval Sam - Karadeniz (BlackSea) (Kalan label)
2. Dub Colossus - In a Town Called Addis
3. Zoe and Idris Rahman - Where Rivers Meet
4. Mariza - Terra
5. Kasai Allstars - In the 7th Moon ...
6. Dem Trio - The Fountain
7. Buika - Nina de Fuego
8. Wasis Diop - Judu Bek
9. Burkina Electric - Reem Tekre
10. Mor Karbasi - The Beauty & the Sea

[matt m]

suspect New Amerykah Part 1 will be an iTunes rather than a CD purchase then.

Forgot to mention Flake Brown's album "Help the Overdog". So that's album no.3.

1. My Dearest Dear, Michael Rossiter
2. London Zoo, the Bug
3. Help the Overdog, Flake Brown

Whaddya reckon are the chances of 7 more albums I like getting released in the next 75 days?

[whitebeard]

74'ish days left depending, the chances of seven, little; the chances of one, higher.

Three of the best Underground American Hip Hop albums not just songs (just incase, "underground" stands for independent or none major label release)

1. FUN DMC by People Under The Stairs

1. Journey To The Planet Of The Birds by DJ Frane

1. The Ugly Truth by Prolyphic (that's how it's actually 'spelt') & Reanimator. They're a duo Pro & Re they are!

[Jonathan E.]

I'm beginning to think that All Rebel Rockers by Michael Franti & Spearhead will find its way into my year-end tops.

[Con Murphy]

Is it cheating to come into this thread right at the end of the year? I don't think my top ten's likely to change much from this:-

1. The Garifuna Women's Project - Umalali
2. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One
3. Rajery, Ballaké Sissoko, Driss El Maloumi - 3MA
4. Rokia Traoré - Tchamantché
5. Mamadou Diabaté - Douga Mansa
6. The Roots - Rising Down
7. Devotchka - A Mad & Faithful Telling
8. Ivo Papasov - Dance of the Falcon
9. Etran Finatawa - Desert Crossroads
10. Huong Thanh - Fragile Beauty

[Jonathan E.]

Is it cheating to come into this thread right at the end of the year? . . .

Let's just say it indicates extreme caution.

[Chris P]

mo' new entries:

1. Dub Colossus - In a Town Called Addis
2. Sevval Sam - Karadeniz (BlackSea) (Kalan label)
3. Rokia Traore - Tchamantche
4. Buika - Nina Del Fuego
5. Niyaz - Nine Heavens
6. Wasis Diop - Judu Bek
7. Zoe and Idris Rahman - Where Rivers Meet
8. Femi Kuti - Day by Day
9. Chiwoniso - Rebel Woman
10. Kasai Allstars - In the 7th Moon ...

[CantSleepClownsWillGetMe]

1. Kiran Ahluwalia - Wanderlust
2. The Garifuna Women's Project: Umalali
3. Afous Afous - Najmar Style
4. Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Fragile Beauty
5. Amadou & Mariam - Welcome to Mali
6. Devotchka: A Mad & Faithful Telling
7. Zola: Ibutho (2006)
8. Son of Dave: 03
9. Cheb I Sabbah: Devotion
10. Melingo: Maldito Tango

Anyone who checked this out before might notice that Kiran Ahluwalia has shot back up into my No.1 spot. Well, my reasoning is that, if I'm still listening to her album in March 2009, a lot more than any of the others, then she goes to the top.

No more changes, honest!

J

[Kirin]

How do other people pick their top ten lists? I'm asking this because an online 'zine has asked me to nominate a world music top ten for 2008 and I'm stuck on the tenth disc. Most of the albums I've listened to this year have been African, but I don't want to overload the list with Africans otherwise it'll be a Best of Africa (And Oh Maybe One Or Two Other Places If We're Feeling Generous), not a Best of the World. I want be fair, or at least fairish. At the moment I don't know whether I should choose one of two Latin American albums (to balance things out geographically) or Sir Victor Uwaifo (historical representation, which is good, but I've already got Soul Science and that Dub Colossus disc, and will the inclusion of Uwaifo over-Africa things?) or Julie Fowlis's Cuilidh (which is a current favourite of mine, but can I honestly put hand on heart and tell the internet-reading world that she should come before Uwaifo? I'm not completely comfortable with that. On the other hand, it will mean another female face, and my list is looking very boy-ey).

[Jamie Renton]

How do other people pick their top ten lists?

Every year I go through the same kind of angst as you describe in your posting & every year I come to the same conclusion ... to hell with all that, which albums have I enjoyed the most this year? Which albums am I most likely to keep on playing the most? Which would I try to grab if my house was burning down? Which make me smile, clap, dance round the room (when no-one's looking), stare into space at the wonder of it al?

Balance, shmalance, you gotta feel it

[Kirin]

I understand, but that still leaves me contemplating a Mexican band in competition with Julie Fowlis, both of them trying to fit into a single spot on the list.

Oh heck, I'll go with the Mexicans. Mexicans it is.