What a glorious year for music. The Maroon Cafe opened up and quenched your thirsts with our unique and fresh choices. We can only look forward to what this year has in store, but before we do, lets take a look back at some albums that stood out for 2008.
Sia – Some People Have Real Problems
If my zune was a disc player, Some People Have Real Problems, would have look like Freddy Kruger was playing Frisbee with it. This album was a turning point in Sia’s career. After years of being a guest star on tracks or adding vocals to other artist’s work, she step up to the plate and became a bonafide star. Like I said earlier, the amazing thing about this album, is that we’ve been playing in since January 2008. Normally, you grow weary of an album and throw it aside. Not SPHRP (Some People Have Real Problems), thanks to Sia’s voice, lyrics, inspirational and creative videos, this album was a snowball at the top of a hill that became a boulder.
Ours – Mercy (Dancing For The Death Of An Imaginary Friend)
It’s been six years since Ours has released a studio album. Was it worth the wait? Of course, it’s on our top releases of 2008, but……you knew there was a but. We expected more from this release. I’ve gone to countless Ours shows in the past six years, which seem like they were a listening session for Mercy (Dancing For The Death of An Imaginary Friend). Besides my little gripe, no one can deny, “Ranaway To Tell The World,” is easily one of the best tracks of 2008. Just off the strength of that track they would have made the list, but the rest of the album is equally soul shaking and deeply profound.
Kings of Leon – Only By Night
While a lot of rock groups have showed up and given us hope and flashes through this decade, The Hives, The Strokes, The Killers, basically any band with the in their name. They’ve all had their time to shine and have done something to disappoint us (musically of course). Well, the Kings Of Leon are the most consist of all of them. Only By Night, is their most commercial and studio polished album to date, but what they lose in rough and raunchy sound they make up for it with fine tuned tracks, like “Closer” and “Use Somebody.” Hands down their best album, and one of the best albums of 2008.
Adele – 19
Adele’s debut album, 19, shows a lot of potential for this young talented artist. Powerful voice, engaging and playful lyrics was the theme throughout her album. Take a listen to the opening track, Daydreamer: “Looks good when he when he walks, he is the subject of their talk/He would be hard to chase/but good to catch and he could change the world with his hands behind his back.“ You gotta love that. Some of the staff went to the Apple store to see she her perform live (article here). The way she commanded the stage with just a guitar and her lyrics was incredible. Hey, you guys remember when there was a million Amy Winehouse comparisons when Adele came out. Safe to say they were way off.
Royce the 5’9 – Bar Exam 2
We stumbled upon this album by accident. Last we heard of Royce, he was beefing with Em and D12, and just seemed in a real unhappy place. Keep in mind, I’ve been a fan of Royce since 1999 (Around the time he dropped Bad Meets Evil, with Eminem). So, his talent and work is nothing new to me or folks around the cafe. To say these past few months have been incredible for Royce would be an understatement. Easily reclaiming the crown as Detroit’s best emcee, with his countless guest appearances (most notably Slaughterhouse), and his mix tape, Bar Exam 2. His mix tape is of course the reason why he is on the list. Very underrated album and a even more underrated emcee.
