In the month of December, when most labels and artists break for a short winter hibernation (unless you are Sufjan Stevens, in which case you have a Christmas tradition to uphold), the critic emerges from the underbrush to fill all media niches. The number of sub-species increases each year: the Great Grizzled Professional, the Spotted Sarcastic Independent Mag-er, the Elusive Rambling Blogger, the Top-40 Parakeet, the Common Internet Loud-Mouth. Each sub-species rouses cautiously; they watch the others and wait for the beginning of the great critic call. Usually, the elusive blogger is the first to sound this colorful chant. It is known among enthusiasts as the "Best of the Year" list, and it is delivered with all manner of verbal flourishes and colorful expressions. The media forest literally fills with these tonal chants around the solstice.
The Critic Molt of '08 has just concluded. All manner of music enthusiasts rushed through the media forest in search of the most colorful, the most thoughtful, and the most satisfying (i.e., closest to our own) "Best of ..." chants. Here is a quick look at some of this years lists.
Pitchfork:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/148001-the-50-best-albums-of-2008?page=1
3. No Age: Nouns
2. Portishead: Third
1. Fleet Foxes: Sun Giant EP/Fleet Foxes
Pitchfork Readers Poll:
http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/feature/148094-2008-pitchfork-readers-poll
3. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend
2. Fleet Foxes: Sun Giant EP/Fleet Foxes
1. TV on the Radio: Dear Science
WOXY (Note: this list is generated by air play):http://woxy.lala.com/music/best.php
3. Ra Ra Riot: The Rhumb Line
2. TV on the Radio: Dear Science
1. My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges
To see the more subjectively determined lists from the WOXY djs, point your browser to http://woxy.lala.com/boards/showthread.php?t=56278
Stereogum's Gummy Awards (a reader's poll):
http://stereogum.com/gummys/2008/best-album.html
3. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
2. TV on the Radio: Dear Science
1. Fleet Foxes: Sun Giant EP/Fleet Foxes
(also interesting is Stereogum's section detailing several artist's favorite lists: http://stereogum.com/archives/yearend-list/stereogums-favorite-artists-list-the-best-of-2008_043221.html)
.... Are you noticing a trend yet ????.....
My Old Kentucky Blog
http://myoldkyhome.blogspot.com/2008/12/my-old-kentucky-blog-albums-of-2008.html
The writers of this fine site offered a "Senior Superlative" list for the year in a fun attempt to avoid those awful rankings. Their superlatives included a lot of the same names you see above.
Of interest here is their best breakout of the year, which went to Dr. Dog.
Rolling Stone:
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24958695/albums_of_the_year/31
3. Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III
2. Bob Dylan: Tell Tale Signs - The Bootleg Series Vol. 8
1. TV on the Radio: Dear Science
Other Albums Consistently Receiving Critical Attention in those "Best of .." lists:
Blitzen Trapper: Furr
The Hold Steady: Stay Positive
Deerhunter: Microcastle/Weird Era Cont.
Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours
Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
M83: Saturdays=Youth
Sigur Ros: Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Beck: Modern Guilt
Wolf Parade: At Mount Zoomer
The Walkmen: You & Me
Santogold: Santogold
Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid
A little research reveals some clear patterns in the myriad of critic calls. Is this the result of objective, natural review in the wild ? Or, as is so often the case in competitive natural habitats, another case of emulation ? We may never know, at least until more data has been gathered on this great end of the year molt.
