To shake things up a bit, I decided to do away with the “Top 5″ albums format that I followed for the past three years.  It was mostly predictable what album would end up at #1, so I figured it wasn’t that much fun.  Besides, just looking at the annual lists published by online music websites, I’ve realized that I don’t listen to nearly enough music to justify a top anything list.  What I’m going to do here is briefly talk about what music (released in ‘08) I was listening to in the year gone by.  Here we go.  Oh, and also, as a late decision, I’m making this a two-parter.  Part II will be posted soon.

Opeth – Watershed

I never thought of myself as a death metal fan – the growling and general heaviness in the music were always a turn-off.  But when I gave Opeth an honest listen, I actually enjoyed their music. Their methodology of mixing heavy music with mellower moments creates an engaging contrast which has kept me interested for most of 2008.  Their latest album, Watershed is a fine record, and has everything – heavy, pounding death metal, growling, sweet/clean vocals, and even a keyboard solo.  Blackwater Park still remains my favorite Opeth record, however.

Definitely try:  Heir Apparent, The Lotus Eater

Metallica – Death Magnetic

My, they took their own sweet time with this one, didn’t they?  Well, it was for the best because I think DM is a solid Metallica record that has them returning to their old sound, almost entirely ditching what they did in St. Anger.  I don’t think it can be counted among classics such as Ride the Lightning and Master of Puppets, but this is a very good album that shows Metallica can still put metal up yo’ ass.

Definitely try:  All Nightmare Long, My Apocalypse, The Day That Never Comes

Steven Wilson – Insurgentes

As the wait for the next Porcupine Tree album is set to last until later this year, I decided to try the new Steven Wilson solo record.  Just be mindful that this is not a Porcupine Tree album, even though you might notice the PT style in some places.  The songs are varied, and PT’s Gavin Harrison provides some terrific live drum work to complement Wilson’s arrangements. Production, as expected, is top-notch.

Definitely try:  Harmony Korine, Insurgentes, Salvaging

R.E.M. – Accelerate

I did a full review when Accelerate was released earlier this year.  Check it out here.  Since then, I went to see R.E.M. as the famed Madison Square Garden, and came away impressed, from what was certainly one of the best concerts I’ve ever been to.  Like Metallica, R.E.M. returned with a bang in 2008.

Definitely try: Living Well Is The Best Revenge, Supernatural Superserious, Horse To Water

The Verve – Forth

Clever title, eh?  Fourth album, the band setting their career back on track, etc. etc.  The first four songs are very good, but the album slackens after that.  Unfortunately, it doesn’t achieve the kind of quality that Urban Hymns and A Northern Soul managed.  Maybe this was a tentative reboot, and I’m hoping for a better record next time around (if there is one).

Definitely try: Sit and Wonder, Love is Noise, Rather Be