Is there a consensus best album from the first half of 2008?

Portishead innit...

Man I'm going with 'Real Emotional Trash' - still very fun to listen to and share with friends ...

If there's one thing ILM is famous for, it's consensus!

http://www.rockjamradio.sk/page/downloads/u505/offspring_obal.jpg

Leviathan's "Massive Conspiracy Against All Life" . . is never going to be any kind of consensus record, but it's the one which does it for me.

the new limp bizkit rekkid ftw.

I'm pretty sure damn near 100% of the record-buying public agrees that I am the fucking man for '08 - I asked some scientists

John and Dom otm

FINE Heretic Pride takes it but by default ONLY because The Unquestionable Truth is, it turns out, "still being worked on".

unquestionable truth (part 2) btw

Stefan @ Acclaimed Music Forum tracks what I call the "Critical Mainstream" consensus for 2008, throws up these stats:

he breaks down the stats US, EU, UK

And now to the Half-Year-Chart :

The current position is followed by last month´s position in brackets, then the adjusted score, followed by the average rating and the number of reviews in brackets.

The scores after the title are the individual positions/adjusted scores for Europe, the UK and the US, followed by the current Metacritic score.

UPDATE : 30/06/08 : MEGA-CRITIC : Best Reviewed Albums Of 2008 So Fa
http://pub37.bravenet.com/forum/3172289350/show/871903

50. (34) 63,58 - 70,00 (22) British Sea Power ´Do You Like Rock Music?´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 07. 72,45 - US : 0000000 - MC : 80

49. (46) 63,68 - 74,62 (13) Cut Copy ´In Ghost Colours´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 0000000 - US : 32. 65,98 - MC : 79

48. (33) 63,70 - 70,18 (22) Foals ´Antidotes´
EU : 51. 63,31 - UK : 35. 67,35 - US : 0000000 - MC : 75

47. (--) 63,72 - 76,68 (11) Sparks ´Exotic Creatures Of The Deep´
EU : 63. 62,18 - UK : 27. 67,95 - US : 0000000 - MC : 00

46. (32) 63,75 - 81,63 (08) Toumani Diabaté ´The Mandé Variations´
EU : 45. 63,51 - UK : 31. 67,65 - US : 0000000 - MC : 00

45. (--) 63,85 - 74,14 (14) Lykke Li ´Youth Novels´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 48. 66,33 - US : 0000000 - MC : 00

44. (30) 63,92 - 78,40 (10) Times New Viking ´Rip It Off´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 79. 64,71 - US : 14. 68,78 - MC : 00

43. (29) 63,98 - 72,53 (17) Beach House ´Devotion´
EU : 52. 63,09 - UK : 0000000 - US : 28. 66,67 - MC : 73

42. (40) 64,09 - 76,29 (12) Elvis Costello & The Imposters ´Momofuku´
EU : 25. 66,17 - UK : 0000000 - US : 0000000 - MC : 78

41. (36) 64,22 - 74,79 (14) Al Green ´Lay It Down´
EU : 32. 65,29 - UK : 0000000 - US : 47. 65,00 - MC : 81

40. (31) 64,36 - 71,48 (21) Death Cab For Cutie ´Narrow Stairs´
EU : 28. 65,89 - UK : 67. 65,39 - US : 0000000 - MC : 73

39. (39) 64,49 - 78,18 (11) Matmos ´Supreme Balloon´
EU : 54. 63,84 - UK : 0000000 - US : 21. 67,68 - MC : 79

38. (--) 64,53 - 76,15 (13) Bonnie ´Prince´ Billy ´Lie Down In The Light´
EU : 33. 65,18 - UK : 50. 66,18 - US : 0000000 - MC : 83

37. (27) 64,53 - 78,27 (11) Frightened Rabbit ´The Midnight Organ Fight´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 50. 66,18 - US : 51. 64,76 - MC : 80

36. (26) 64,59 - 72,58 (19) The Mountain Goats ´Heretic Pride´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 40. 67,05 - US : 10. 69,22 - MC : 74

35. (--) 64,60 - 77,25 (12) The Notwist ´The Devil, You & Me´
EU : 21. 67,02 - UK : 0000000 - US : 84. 63,05 - MC : 77

34. (25) 64,67 - 78,55 (11) Earth ´The Bees Made Honey In The Lion´s Skull´
EU : 47. 63,51 - UK : 38. 67,24 - US : 64. 64,03 - MC : 00

33. (--) 64,69 - 81,67 (09) Opeth ´Watershed´
EU : 14. 68,27 - UK : 0000000 - US : 0000000 - MC : 87

32. (28) 64,72 - 73,22 (18) Cass Mccombs ´Dropping The Writ´
EU : 37. 64,68 - UK : 20. 69,32 - US : 0000000 - MC : 00

31. (24) 64,87 - 72,60 (20) The Black Keys ´Attack & Release´
EU : 24. 66,69 - UK : 0000000 - US : 73. 63,59 - MC : 77

30. (--) 64,93 - 73,11 (19) Joan As Police Woman ´To Survive´
EU : 83. 61,21 - UK : 08. 71,43 - US : 0000000 - MC : 79

29. (22) 65,00 - 74,75 (16) Neon Neon ´Stainless Style´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 14. 70,41 - US : 58. 64,39 - MC : 79

28. (21) 65,24 - 71,58 (25) Cat Power ´Jukebox´
EU : 23. 66,72 - UK : 0000000 - US : 48. 64,90 - MC : 71

27. (--) 65,25 - 74,06 (18) Wolf Parade ´At Mount Zoomer´
EU : 18. 67,84 - UK : 0000000 - US : 19. 68,04 - MC : 78

26. (20) 65,31 - 71,68 (25) Magnetic Fields ´Distortion´
EU : 19. 67,78 - UK : 0000000 - US : 23. 67,50 - MC : 78

25. (23) 65,33 - 74,71 (17) Why? ´Alopecia´
EU : 85. 61,06 - UK : 79. 64,71 - US : 06. 70,10 - MC : 76

24. (19) 65,33 - 71,98 (24) The Breeders ´Mountain Battles´
EU : 0000000 - UK : 24. 68,37 - US : 13. 68,93 - MC : 74

23. (18) 65,47 - 77,85 (13) Robert Forster ´The Evangelist´
EU : 16. 67,89 - UK : 59. 65,52 - US : 0000000 - MC : 79

22. (38) 65,64 - 75,81 (16) Spiritualized ´Songs In A & E´
EU : 78. 61,60 - UK : 40. 67,05 - US : 14. 68,78 - MC : 77

21. (12) 65,97 - 73,88 (21) Santogold ´Santogold´
EU : 22. 66,83 - UK : 0000000 - US : 12. 69,13 - MC : 77

20. (17) 66,20 - 75,56 (18) Los Campesinos! ´Hold On Now, Youngster´
EU : 43. 63,68 - UK : 24. 68,37 - US : 26. 67,22 - MC : 80

19. (15) 66,41 - 75,89 (18) Drive-By Truckers ´Brighter Than Creation´s Dark´
EU : 06. 70,70 - UK : 0000000 - US : 53. 64,71 - MC : 82

18. (14) 66,43 - 73,26 (25) R.E.M. ´Accelerate´
EU : 41. 63,93 - UK : 16. 69,39 - US : 25. 67,35 - MC : 79

17. (13) 66,73 - 75,43 (20) The Gutter Twins ´Saturnalia´
EU : 11. 69,52 - UK : 27. 67,95 - US : 0000000 - MC : 80

16. (11) 66,86 - 73,88 (25) Hot Chip ´Made In The Dark´
EU : 29. 65,87 - 71. 65,31 - US : 07. 69,51 - MC : 78

15. (10) 66,90 - 74,54 (23) MGMT ´Oracular Spectacluar´
EU : 08. 70,24 - UK : 14. 70,41 - US : 0000000 - MC : 76

14. (09) 67,12 - 75,60 (21) Black Mountain ´In The Future´
EU : 15. 68,19 - UK : 40. 67,05 - US : 34. 65,88 - MC : 79

13. (16) 67,66 - 78,47 (17) No Age ´Nouns´
EU : 13. 68,56 - UK : 79. 64,71 - US : 16. 68,73 - MC : 77

12. (08) 67,87 - 75,96 (23) The Last Shadow Puppets ´The Age Of Understatement´
EU : 03. 71,53 - UK : 48. 66,33 - US : 69. 63,80 - MC : 77

11. (07) 67,94 - 78,91 (17) Elbow ´The Seldom Seen Kid´
EU : 39. 64,42 - UK : 04. 74,49 - US : 61. 64,15 - MC : 82

10. (--) 67,98 - 77,82 (19) Sigur Ros ´Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum End´
EU : 04. 71,36 - UK : 16. 69,39 - US : 0000000 - MC : 81

09. (--) 68,25 - 79,41 (17) Silver Jews ´Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea´
EU : 27. 66,06 - UK : 10. 70,51 - US : 18. 68,53 - MC : 78

08. (--) 68,58 - 81,47 (15) Lil Wayne ´Tha Carter III´
EU : 10. 69,79 - UK : 59. 65,52 - US : 10. 69,22 - MC : 83

07. (06) 69,26 - 80,39 (18) Erykah Badu ´New Amerykah : Part One (4th World War)
EU : 12. 68,60 - UK : 21. 69,23 - US : 05. 70,11 - MC : 82

06. (04) 70,63 - 78,89 (26) Vampire Weekend ´Vampire Weekend´
EU : 05. 70,97 - UK : 08. 71,43 - US : 08. 69,46 - MC : 82

05. (05) 70,74 - 79,73 (24) Hercules And Love Affair ´Hercules And Love Affair´
EU : 17. 67,88 - UK : 04. 74,49 - US : 04. 71,18 - MC : 85

04. (03) 71,87 - 81,76 (23) Bon Iver ´For Emma, Forever Ago´
EU : 09. 70,19 - UK : 01. 77,55 - US : 17. 68,63 - MC : 89

03. (02) 73,15 - 82,40 (26) Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ´Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!´
EU : 07. 70,29 - UK : 02. 76,53 - US : 01. 74,11 - MC : 87

02. (--) 73,49 - 87,06 (18) Fleet Foxes ´Fleet Foxes´
EU : 02. 71,79 - UK : 02. 76,53 - US : 03. 71,96 - MC : 88

01. (01) 74,07 - 83,69 (26) Portishead ´Third´
EU : 01. 74,48 - UK : 04. 74,49 - US : 02. 73,13 - MC : 85

Further information on the regional charts :

EU :

20. (20) 67,50 Madrugada ´Madrugada´
30. (21) 65,70 Tindersticks ´The Hungry Saw´
31. (22) 65,49 Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan ´Sunday At Devil Dirt´
34. (25) 65,00 Sascha Funke ´Mango´
36. (27) 64,90 Be Your Own Pet ´Get Awkward´
40. (28) 64,04 The Young Knives ´Superabundance´
42. (30) 63,73 Black lips ´Good Bad Not Evil´ (2007)
44. (32) 63,59 American Music Club ´The Golden Age´
48. (35) 63,45 Willard Grant Conspiracy ´Pilgrim Road´
49. (36) 63,39 Scott Matthews ´Scott Matthews´
50. (37) 63,36 Baby Dee ´Safe Inside The Day´

UK :

10. (16) 70,51 Johnny Flynn ´A Larum´
10. (18) 70,51 Paul Weller ´22 Dreams´
13. (--) 70,46 White Denim ´Workout Holiday´
16. (10) 69,39 These New Puritans ´Beat Pyramid´
16. (10) 69,39 Mystery Jets ´Twenty One´
21. (14) 69,23 DeVotchKa ´A Mad And Faithful Telling´
23. (16) 69,12 Thea Gilmore ´Liejacker´
24. (19) 68,37 The Raconteurs ´Consolers Of The Lonely´
27. (22) 67,95 Cadence Weapon ´Afterparty Babies´
27. (--) 67,95 Wild Beasts ´Limbo Pato´
31. (25) 67,65 Benga ´Diary Of An Afro warrior´
31. (25) 67,65 Fuck Buttons ´Street Horrrsing´
31. (25) 67,65 Flight Of The Conchords ´Flight Of The Conchords´
35. (30) 67,35 Goldfrapp ´Seventh Tree´
35. (30) 67,35 Kathryn Williams & Neill Maccoll ´Two´
38. (--) 67,24 Sennen ´Where The Light Gets In´
40. (34) 67,05 Lightspeed Champion ´Falling Off The Lavender Bridge´
40. (34) 67,05 The Long Blondes ´Couples´
46. (38) 66,67 Tegan & Sara ´The Con´(2007)
46. (38) 66,67 Camille ´Music Hole´
50. (41) 66,18 Duels ´Regeneration´
50. (41) 66,18 Booka Shade ´The Sun & The Neon Light´

US :

09. (13) 69,24 Robyn ´Robyn´ (2005)
20. (--) 67,74 The Hold Steady ´Stay Positive´
22. (15) 67,65 Destroyer ´Trouble In Dreams´
27. (21) 66,81 Food For Animals ´Belly´
29. (39) 66,37 Islands ´Arm´s Way´
30. (23) 66,13 Jonny Greenwood ´Let There Be Blood´
30. (--) 66,13 Torche ´Meanderthal´
33. (25) 65,98 Autechre ´Quaristice´
35. (--) 65,85 Girl Talk ´Feed The Animals´
35. (--) 65,85 Alejandro Escovedo ´Real Animal´
37. (34) 65,83 Kelley Polar ´I Need You To Hold On ...´
38. (28) 65,76 Flight Of The Conchords ´Flight Of The Conchords´
38. (14) 65,76 Jamie Lidell ´Jim´
40. (29) 65,73 Subtle ´Exiting Arm´
40. (35) 65,73 Jim Noir ´Jim Noir´
42. (30) 65,71 Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks ´Real Emotional Trash´
43. (31) 65,69 Ellen Allien ´Sool´
44. (32) 65,59 Raveonettes ´Lust Lust Lust´(2007)
45. (33) 65,20 Ghostface Killah ´The Big Die Rehab´(2007)
46. (35) 65,14 Kathleen Edwards ´Asking For Flowers´
49. (40) 64,80 Atlas Sound ´Let The Blind Lead Those Who Cannot See´
50. (41) 64,78 Ruby Suns ´Sea Lion´

Robyn yeah that's the album of the year 2008... fucking yanks

I hope Malkmus wins, he deserves it!

Baby Dee deserves better than she's getting, the lead-off track alone there puts her above most of the competititon

I'm pretty sure damn near 100% of the record-buying public agrees that I am the fucking man for '08 - I asked some scientists

-- J0hn D.,

haha JD heretic pride the song is definitely one of my top 5 of the year (album rocked too)

ps i am a scientist

Like it or not, I don't see how anyone couldn't say the Fleet Foxes full length.

There isn't even an obvious canon pick yet, is there? Mega Critic has Portishead and Fleet Foxes on top, but I cannot quite see them dominating quite like Arcade Fire did last year, for instance.

o noes, JD. That Baby Dee album gives my ears some kind of cancer.

Stefan @ Acclaimed Music is awesome for doing this and he breaks it down to territory.

thanks for the info djmartian!

baby dee scares me in a scary low-budget horror movie kinda way. but i'm sure she is a lovely person.

i wanna hear the new cass mccombs album. i forgot that there was one.

so, according to Acclaimed Music in the U.S. if goes:

1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
2. Portishead - Third
3. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Johnny Foreigner.

This Fleet Foxes lark. Down loaded ep off e music and was very underwhelmed.
Anybody can sing nicely with plenty of reverb. Not even good tunes IMHO,.

Full length better?

nick cave gets a pass from critics every fucking time lets be real here

people still listen to nick cave albums?

x post spot on. There's some music I have never got and his is one. Although love Dirty Three

It's still album of the year thus far, gents. Perhaps you should listen to it again.

I've given 'Dig...' plenty of listens. OK at eat five. It's OK but if that's the best, well I rest.

at least . sorry

here is the way the UK brakes down, according to Acclaimed:

1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
4. Portishead - Third
4. Hercules And Love Affair - Hercules And Love Affair

Bon Iver?

didn't see because it was so far up but Elbow The Seldom Seen Kid is in a three way tie for number 4 on the UK chart. good to see, great album but was hardest to get.

'Creature Fear' is lovely - is that the one that segues badly into next non descripter.
Nice timing Bonnyver
By dooooming yersen up in yer dad's hunting lodge you spoilt buzzard (killed plenty whilst holed up) - you have made album of year

Elbow's is superb effort. Forgot Bury's finest

It came out in January so it'll get overlooked in these year-end polls, but Drive-By Truckers Brighter Than Creation's Dark is way up there.

Is Mountain Goats still available on Ajax records or 3Bos? Winner!!!

DBT touring blighty soon?
anybody hoping to catch them suvern pussies in Dottingham? Rescue rooms?

I woulda said Hercules and Love Affair but I'm sure loads of you hate that as well.

That's actually a great album, IKR?.

people still listen to nick cave albums?

People who enjoy good records do.

xpost, well we both think so then, but that's hardly consensus!

him and you and me makes three

Look, I know that I should probably bother to find some reviews, but Elbow: What the fuck? I mean, the last time that I heard Elbow, they were on a shitty mix CD between Coldplay and Snow Patrol and the CD came with a gushing, effusive note about how no one in America had heard about them but they were amazing, and they just seem to me like dying from numbness under a gray Michigan sky, and not in a good way. They were serious and drab, like someone earnestly handing me an overcoat instead of a song.

I keep hearing that the new album is great and amazing and nothing specific about what makes it so. I'm curious. What song should I hear and what's so great about it?

The gorgeousness of 'Fugitive Motel' seconded. It's a much warmer record than Asleep In The Back, it's got this lovely soothing amniotic feel about it.

What I really like about it is that I know 100% that I don't love it as much as I will. Immediacy isn't an Elbow strong point - it took me about six months to really get into Asleep... - but the songs sort of sneak up on you gradually over a period of time.

-- The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 19 August 2003 21:39 (3 years ago) Bookmark Link

I trust Lex when it comes to chartpop of the Mariah Carey variety. I do not trust his taste in indie rock.

I'm giving the Fugitive Motel a try now, and it sounds like a more bombastic (wadding, not effort) and deliberate Seal.

Maybe it's just not for me.

Ach, right, I see that comment's from three years back—I already knew I didn't like them then. Or maybe Lex just has hyper-promo powers, able to get an advance FROM THE FUTURE.

portishead.

it's obviously the s/t from cheap time.

I keep hearing that the new album is great and amazing and nothing specific about what makes it so. I'm curious. What song should I hear and what's so great about it?

Off the latest, try Mirrorball. It's probably the most accessible and immediately gratifying track on the album, not to mention one of the most gorgeous songs I've heard this year. I was already sold on the song by the chorus, but then along comes this wonderful piano bit after the second chorus that elevates it to a whole new place entirely.

Chris Martin wishes he could write a song with as many great moments as this.

surprised at the lack of love for the wonderful new album by My Morning Jacket.

coldplay obviously

If this is what's being widely accepted as "great," no wonder a couple of us think Robyn made the album of the year in 2005.

Guaranteed to land in at 47 a year-end list of 50: Grouper - Dragging a Dead Horse Up A Hill, though I would put it at the top of my own.

I think The Hold Steady will walk this for half 2.

Does anyone know what Dissensus' best album is from the first half of 2008? Grimey Grime Cutlets Vol 78 by DJ Oxfam?

It's no Fleet Foxies

I still haven't heard Fleet Foxes. Gather it's the aural equivalent of a Thomas Kinkade painting?

Thankfully, its closer than character to Fairfield Porter, although that's not a comparison of greatness. At all. Ever.

Fleet Foxes are in themselves justification for overturning the foxhunting ban.

They're fine, just don't listen to them if you don't like them, y'know?

No, they're evil and they require liquidation for the greater good.