Lists, trips and hits OH MY [part 2 of 2]

Part two takes care of the list portion of today’s programming. Inspired by (and not copied from) James Montgomery, here’s a look a my Top 10 albums of 2008 so far. This list isn’t quite complete, as some albums need more time to grow on me (Atmosphere and Motley Crue spring to mind here).

10. Death Cab for Cutie Narrow Stairs
DC4C brings the mellow, but they also flash a side that isn’t quite as mellow.

9. Weezer Weezer (red album)
This one is really hit and miss, but the hits outweigh the misses by quite a bit.

8. Filter Anthems for the Damned
Richard Patrick sobers up and delivers a Filter album worthy of following Title of Record.

7. Airbourne Runnin’ Wild
This might be the best AC/DC album of the year, and AC/DC is even releasing an album this year. Drop this album into the late 80s and they would be retired by now, or headlining Rocklahoma.

6. The B-52’s Funplex
A sixteen year gap between studio albums? It sounds like the B-52s are but a year removed from Good Stuff.

5. Flight of the Conchords Flight of the Conchords
This duo is ready for business and their business time is now. If not for the sudden electronic swerve on some of the tracks, I’d have put this one higher.

4. The Raconteurs Consolers of the Lonely
Jack White’s first go around with this band left me flat. One listen to this album inflated my hopes about this side project’s future. “Many Shades of Black” might be one of my favorite tracks of the year.

3. Spooncat! Higher Than the State
On what might be their last album as Spooncat, the band goes out swinging with an album that takes almost as many chances as Tao Babies, and finally gives us some studio versions of live classics like “Tiger” and “Person 3″.

2. R.E.M. Accelerate
This is the first R.E.M. CD I’ve paid for (others being dubs and radio freebies) and I don’t regret it one bit. The band tries to take their chances and rock out at the same time, and in my book they pulled it off.

1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
Indie pop-rock and African touches? I’d have said “it would never work” (had I not read up much before listening) but hearing tells me it not only works, but I’m hoping Vampire Weekend make it work for many years and albums to come.

Any other good 2008 so far suggestions? Lists?