Jimmy E's Music List Mania

See “Best of 2008” for a general introduction. Not to harp on about it but, musically, 2001 decidedly did not suck (take that, Pitchfork!). Surely all a year needs is a handful of records that end up dear to someone’s heart (even if it’s for less than happy reasons, like the soundtrack that gets you through something) and, voila!, that person’s had a good year for music. Of course, in typical James fashion, most of my favourites weren’t so at the time, but at least 5 of them are my favourite records of any year. I will say, though, that perhaps 2001 wasn’t great at brand new – of my top 10 17, only 2 were debut releases, and 1 of those (Zero 7) from folk who had been around in the industry in some form for a few years already. In the rest of my shortlist (only 48 albums, which at less than 50 is standard of around this time. Must be some sort of function of streaming not existing back then, not buying every CD in sight like I’d do later, and seemingly not doing enough homework since) ...

See “Best of 2008” for a general introduction. A funny year this one. There are a couple of classic debuts and instances of artists’ best work, but otherwise it’s a case of solid albums by great artists whose Magnum Opuses were from other times. Of course this is, as usual, a matter of preference. For many people, Killswitch Engage’s Alive or Just Breathing, Korn’s Untouchables, or ISIS’s Oceanic are those bands’ best records. Some classic albums from the year that I haven’t chosen to comment on more fully include Coldplay’s A Rush of Blood to the Head (their best album, I think), Damien Rice’s O (I recall this was everywhere at the time but it doesn’t seem to feature in that many retrospective best-ofs), And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead’s Source Tags and Codes, Coheed and Cambria’s Second Stage Turbine Blade, Finch’s What it is to Burn, The Flaming Lips’ Yoshimi Battles the Pink Robots, GZA's Legend of the Liquid Sword, Hundred Reasons’ Ideas Above Our Station, The Co...