Our Top 25 Albums of 2008

Here’s the American Songwriter Top 25 Albums of 2008 List. There are dozens more incredible albums out there that didn’t make it onto our list; our excuse is the standard one, we had to stop somewhere and 25 felt just right.

Here’s the American Songwriter Top 25 Albums of 2008 List. There are dozens more incredible albums out there that didn’t make it onto our list; our excuse is the standard one, we had to stop somewhere and 25 felt just right. All-in-all, we felt 2008 dished up some jaw-dropping good music and fresh songwriting. We hope you enjoy these albums as much as we do (we enjoy them, obviously, a frickin’ lot). We wish all our readers a safe and joyous holiday season and the best of wishes for 2009!

1. Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago
Though probably one of the most buzzed about albums from early 2008, Justin Vernon’s album recorded in the icy wilderness of Wisconsin still resonates. For Emma, Forever Ago is nothing short of a masterpiece, a tour de force and a songwriting feat not be to forgotten as the clock strikes 2009; that’s why it’s our No. 1 album of 2008.

2. MGMT, Oracular Spectacular

3. Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes

4. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend

5. TV On the Radio, Dear Science

6. Sigur Ros, Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

7. The SteelDrivers, The SteelDrivers

8. My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges

9. Jamey Johnson, That Lonesome Song

10. Coldplay, Viva La Vida

11. Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs

12. Hayes Carll, Trouble In Mind

13. The Dodos, Visiter

14. Silver Jews, Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea

15. The Walkmen, You & Me

16. She & Him, Volume One

17. Sun Kil Moon, April

18. Damien Jurado, Caught In The Trees

19. Guns N’ Roses, Chinese Democracy

20. Lambchop, OH (Ohio)

21. Justin Townes Earle, The Good Life

22. Kings of Leon, Only By the Night

23. The Felice Brothers, The Felice Brothers

24. Dr. Dog, Fate

25. M83, Saturdays = Youth