I Just Want to Get This Best Albums of the Year Thing Done.

I realized it would be exhausting to write up all the really good stuff I heard this year. Also, I am unbelievably lazy. So besides the Silver Jews and Magnetic Fields, here were the best I heard:
Beach House- Devotion
Beach House- Gila
More droney, pretty organ pop from one of the best young bands around.
Bonnie "Prince" Billy- Lie Down in the Light
Bonnie "Prince" Billy- So Everyone (Demo)
People flipped for Fleet Foxes, yet pretty much slept on this album. Yeah, they're different, but they both explore old Americana styles. Billy just doesn't feel like he has to sound like My Morning Jacket.
Deerhunter- Microcastle

Atlas Sound- Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See but Cannot Feel
Atlas Sound- River Card
Even with its ambient/computer instrumental bits, the album is an honest work with great songs. And really, if you don't like the instrumentals, there's always the Deerhunter album.
The Walkmen- You & Me

Unlike everyone else, I liked A Hundred Miles Off. I like this subdued, less messy album a lot, too.
Unicornicopia- Grace, You're a Dear
Unicornicopia- Before There Were Oceans
A one woman musical about Jesus, heartbreak, and laying in bed with your mom when you're sick.
of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
of Montreal- Id Engager
A brilliant album that pushes of Montreal's aesthetic to its edge and intersperses ear worm choruses, noise, and sex into one day glow dance party.
My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges
My Morning Jacket- Touch Me, I'm Going to Scream Pt. 2
Lots of people found this album bland, but I found the mix of country rock, Prince, and straight up pop hard to resist.
Murs- Sweet Lord (I have Murs for President, I just haven't listened to it yet)
Click here for the whole album
I love Murs. I love 9th Wonder. They get together for a FREE album that is on par with 3:16 and Murray's Revenge. The summerest of albums.
Micah P. Hinson- Micah P. Hinson And The Red Empire Orchestra
Micah P. Hinson- We Won't Have to Be Lonesome
Hinson is amazing. I don't really know what to say about this album, I guess just listen to it. New Country Romantic.

Stay tuned because later I'll share my pick for album of the year.

Best Albums of 2008 Part 2: Look Out Mountain, Look Out Sea by Silver Jews

Probably the best thing I discovered this year was the Silver Jews. I'd always been aware of them as attached to Pavement, but I'd never listened to them. It's a good thing then, that I downloaded their song "What is Not but Could Be If". It's a song of beginnings and wonder that hit me while lots of other people were catching Hope Fever. The albums sound is what I would call country, but others would probably disagree. You decide.
Vote or die.
Anyway, the whole album is about drawing a parallel between young people in 1914 and the youth of today. Lead Jew David Berman has said in interviews that this is the first album he has written for younger people. Taking this into account, it's easy to see why some longtime fans were disappointed with this album, however I, being devoid of the baggage of history and context, find it really, really, enjoyable. Which is strange, since this is an album about context and history.
I've since listened to all their other albums and still like this one a lot, for whatever that's worth.
Also, seeing the Jews live was amazing. I can't really explain it. David Berman is a definite hero of mine. Screw Malkmus. Not really, because if I had decided to download Real Emotional Trash, it would probably be on this "list" too.
The Silver Jews- Strange Victory, Strange Defeat

Best Albums of 2008 Part 1: Distortion by The Magnetic Fields

This year, Stephin Merritt released his best album since 69 Love Songs. Taking on the sound of the Jesus and Mary Chain, Merritt has cloaked his witty pop songs in waves of distortion. It works surprisingly well and the album sounds wonderful. The uniform sound and length (all the songs are around three minutes) gives the album a nice sense of cohesion. But none of this would matter if the songs weren't so good.
Granted, any album Merritt released would most likely end up on this list of the year's best albums, but it makes it so much sweeter that this album is so good.

The Magnetic Fields- Drive On, Driver
The Magnetic Fields- Zombie Boy