WELCOME TO THE PIER'S FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2008

Welcome to the Best of 2008. As The Pier did last year, we gave bands the opportunity to submit and have published their favorite music of the year. This is just another way for folks to discover GOOD music.

Feel free to discuss your thoughts of the lists and share your own on The Pier's Chat Boards RIGHT HERE. We have even created a thread already for you to share your favorite things of 2008.

Anyway... enjoy the feature and a big thanks to everyone that participated. Also look out for a Most Anticipated Albums of 2009 feature dropping on the site on the 1st of January. Like last year (over 20,000 reads), that feature is going to be huge, with all the lastest inside info from the band's themselves of what you can expect on their upcoming albums. Anyway here are the lists of favorite music from 2008:

Jason Moorehead, bass (The B Foundation)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Passafire - Submersible, I love this album, I dig how Passafire has this rootsie feel and also this Rage Against the Machine feel.. love it.

2. The Expendables - Self Titled, pretty rockin' CD....Std is my favorite track especially how it blends into Keep Up.

3. Metallica - Death Magnetic, great to see Metallica grinding down and reinventing the grit of old school Metallica.

4. Ballyhoo! - Cheers!, a bunch of great sing-along songs, album has hooks galore.

5. Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid, great album from beginning to end, and this is supposed to be a b-sides type of album?

Check out the The B Foundation MySpace

Passafire (Band Entry)

TOP ALBUMS

1. John Brown's Body - Amplify

2. The Roots - Rising Down

3. MGMT - Oracle Spectacular

4. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

6. Spoon - GaGaGaGaGa

7. Matisyahu - Shattered EP

Check out the Passafire MySpace

Bud Gaugh, drums (Sublime/Del Mar)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Willie Nelson - #1s

2. Bert Susanka Band - Onward Christian Slater

3. Mike Watt and the Secondmen - The Window Babies EP

4. Half Pint - No Stress Express

5. The Surfites - Escapades in Space

Nicole Hutcheson, bass (Del Mar)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Bert Susanka Band - Onward Christian Slater

2. Mike Watt and the Secondmen - The Window Babies EP

3. Various Artists - The Pier Summer Sampler, d'uh!

4. Various Artists - Reggae Archives Vol. 1

5. Al Green - Lay It Down

Check out the Del Mar MySpace

Mike Keenan, guitarist (John Brown's Body)

TOP ALBUMS

1. Portishead - Third, not their best but thank fuck they're back. Trip hop never happened the way it could or should have in the US. While this album is different than what made them famous it none the less is still great. My highlight is Silence.

2. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid, Elbow is the greatest band that almost no one in the US has heard of. This is another amazing record from them. Guy Garvey sings full voice from his abdomen and is brilliant. The entire band brings greatness to the table but they are subtle and don't show it off. They create different vibes in the room with each track. Highlights for me are The Bones of You and Tower Crane Driver. In fact Elbow are so good that this album includes one of their worst songs ever and they still make my list.

Tommy Benedetti, drummer (John Brown's Body)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Buena Vista Social Club - Live at Carnegie Hall, this record is timeless and transcendent.

2. Testament - Formation of Damnation, thrash veterans return to show everyone whats up..and a killin drum performance by Paul Bostoph.

3. Gary Louris - Vagabonds, I have been a Jayhawks fan for 17 years. Killer songs.

4. Mister Rourke - Terrorvision, The most musical dj/turntablist I have ever heard. He is a good friends of JBB, appears on Make Your Move and is part of the John Brown's Body side project, Guvna Dub Sessions.

5. Leviathan - Massive Conspiracy Against All Life, U.S. black metal at its best. Haunting, atmospheric, and brutal.

Seth Herman, manager (John Brown's Body)

TOP ALBUMS

1. The Simpkin Project - In The Wake, sometimes your friends turn you onto good habits and other times those not so good. Giant Panda Guerilla Dub Squad turned us onto Simpkin Project and it's has been a healthy dose from day one. Stand out tracks include If You Really Want It and No Council; and best of all there are dub versions of each song. The album is filled with positive lyrics, smart production, chucks & bubbles, sticky guitar, and a solid rhythm section. The first thing I thought of when I heard this record was, "I have to send Philip from The Pier this CD, he is going to love it." (Ed note. still waiting)

2. Santogold - Santogold, what happens when you combine Brooklyn, England, grime, reggae, dub, and MIA into one record? -->SANTOGOLD. This debut opens all kinds of doors while authentically blending multiple genres into a current record.

3. Hassan Mackey - Soul For Sale, Hassan is urgent, paced, and articulate while the music under his breath is everything I ever could want hip hop/rap to borrow forward from Jazz. The production is minimal which creates a "this song could actually be performed in real life" feel. If you pride yourself on discovering new music, then discover Hassan.

Check out the John Brown's Body MySpace

Iration (Band Entry)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Pepper - Pink Crustaceans and Good Vibrations

2. Radiohead - In Rainbows

3. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold

4. RZA as Bobby Digital - Digi Snacks

5. Metallica - Death Magnetic

Check out the Iration MySpace

Daddy X, MC (Kottonmouth Kings)

TOP 10 ALBUMS

1. Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static

2. OPM - Golden State of Mind

3. Dirtball - Crook County

4. Sen Dog - Diary of a Mad Dog

5. Tech N9ne - Killa

6. Kottonmouth Kings - Green Album

7. (hed) PE - DIY Guys

8. Young Jeezy - Recession

9. DGAF - Self-Titled

10. Mia - Kaya

Check out the Kottonmouth Kings MySpace

Skart, vocalist/guitarist (The Supervillains)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

Weird as it sounds, I dont have a CD player or I-pod and I listen to AM Sports all day. I didn't buy too many CD's in 2008, and I couldn't even tell you what came out but the five CD's I did buy were as follows (in no real rank):

1. Creedence Clearwater Revival - Complete Collection (Vol 1)

2. Various Artists - O' Brother Where Art Thou Soundtrack

3. Manu Chau - Radio Bemba

4. Mad Caddies - Keep it Going

5. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III

Check out the The Supervillains MySpace

Cootdog, vocalist (Mystic Roots Band)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Morgan Heritage - Mission In Progress

2. Kardinal Offishall - Not for Sale

3. Various Artists - The Pier Summer Sampler

4. Wyclef Jean - Carnival II

5. Jay Z - American Gangsta

Check out the Mystic Roots Band MySpace

Ballyhoo! (Band Entry)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Slipknot - All Hope is Gone

2. Weezer - The Red Album

3. Ben Kenny - Distance and Comfort

4. Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Not Stoned Enough...

5. The Dirty Heads - Any Port in a Storm

Check out the Ballyhoo! MySpace

Zack Walters, vocalist/guitarist (3rd Alley)

TOP ALBUM

1. 3rd Alley - Shiny Shady People, might be a little biased.

Check out the 3rd Alley MySpace

Weege, vocalist (880 South)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Cas Haley & Woodbelly - Self-Titled

2. Drum Major Instinct - Back to the Sun

3. Maroon 5 - It Won't Be Soon Before Too Long

4. Mike Doughty - Golden Delicious

5. Flobots - Fight With Tools

6. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons You Paint That Shit Gold

7. Pepper - Pink Crustaceans & Good Vibrations

8. Los Lonely Boys - Forgiven

Check out the 880 South MySpace

Jungle Josh, drummer/producer (Chapter 11)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Estelle - Shine

2. Richie Spice - Gideon Boot

3. Tarrus Riley - Challenges

4. N.E.R.D. - Seeing Sounds

5. DJ Babu - Duck Season Vol.3

Check out the Chapter 11 MySpace

Paulie Nugent, MC (Burn Unit)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Busy Signal - Fully Loaded

2. Mavado - Gangster for Life

3. Paulie Nugent - Late Night Stereo

4. Oak Lonetree - tba

5. FK - tba

Check out the Paulie Nugent MySpace

Kory Kochersperger, drummer (Three Legged Fox)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. John Brown's Body - Amplify

2. Jah Roots - Joy

3. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

4. Kings of Leon - Only By Night

5. Fear Nuttin Band - Yardcore

Kyle Wareham, vocalist/guitarist (Three Legged Fox)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. John Brown's Body - Amplify

2. Fear Nuttin Band - Yardcore

3. G. Love & Special Sauce - Superhero Brother

4. Rodrigo y Gabriela - Live in Japan

5. The Movement - Set Sail

Josh Zimmer, manager (Three Legged Fox)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. John Brown's Body - Amplify, wasn’t really sure what to expect from this album and let’s just say it was a pleasant surprise haha.

2. Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid, great to hear studio versions of some of my old favorites, and really dig some of the new songs as well. Most specifically No Cocaine, that bass line is hot!

3. G. Love & Special Sauce - Superhero Brother, Lemonade is still my favorite but this one has some real catchy tunes as well.

4. Fear Nuttin Band - Yardcore, these guys are awesome and it was great to hear their music w/ some great production work that does them justice.

5. The Movement - Set Sail, I still need to get this album but from what I have heard of it, I know it’ll be one of my favorites.

Check out the Three Legged Fox MySpace

Mike O'Gara, vocalist/guitarist (Stone Senses)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. John Brown's Body - Amplify

2. Slightly Stoopid - Chronchitis

3. Stephen Marley - Mind Control

4. Rootz Underground - Movement

5. Ooklah the Moc - Vaults EP

Check out the Stone Senses MySpace

Si, vocalist/guitarist (Captain Bud)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. The King Blues - Save the World, Get the Girl!

2. The Gaslight Anthem - The 59' Sound

3. Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid

4. Iration - Sample This

5. Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony

Check out the Captain Bud MySpace

Robert Tait, singer/guitarist (Bag of Toys)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. G. Love - Superhero Brother

2. Michael Franti & Spearhead - All Rebel Rockers

3. Bag of Toys - Afternooner

4. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

5. Flight of The Conchords - Flight of The Conchords

Steve Cowgill, lead guitarist (Bag of Toys)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

2. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

3. Bag of Toys - Afternooner

4. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

5. Kings of Leon - Only By Night

Robert Stadler, drummer (Bag of Toys)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

3. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

4. Bag of Toys - Afternooner

5. Flight of The Conchords - Loaded

Joe Schewe, bass (Bag of Toys)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Bag of Toys - Afternooner

2. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

3. James Hunter - The Hard Way

4. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

5. The Wood Brothers - Flight of The Conchords

Check out the Bag of Toys MySpace

Clev Stiles (Dub Rock Radio/Dub Rock Records)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

2. 880 South - Youth Bus Sessions

3. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

4. Drum Major Instinct - Back to the Sun

5. Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid

Check out the Dub Rock Records MySpace

Masre (Hor!zon)

TOP 10 ALBUMS

1. John Brown's Body - Amplify, untouchable production, album gets better with every listen.

2. Atmosphere - When Life Gives You Lemons Paint That Shit Gold, the well never runs dry with Slug, always spittin wisdom in poetic fashion that makes us all look foolish.

3. The Black Keys - Attack & Release, 100% soul, this duo teamed up with Danger Mouse to create a fresh take on southern style blues.

4. Dirty Heads - Any Port in a Storm, I still haven't even heard the whole thing and I already know it's in my top 5. The "perfect storm" of reggae hip hop song-writing combined with top of the line production.

5. Bun B - II Trill, the standard in dirty south rap. Bun still holds it down with Pimp C gone.

6. Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static, smooth as ever. This guy always makes me jealous.

7. The Supervillains - Massive, Hometown boys crushed it. Officially on the map with this banger.

8. The Black Seeds - Solid Ground, sick sounds from New Zealand. Catchy dub grooves with conscious lyrics.

9. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It, brings back the classic sounds of motown. This album sounds refreshingly old. Dude's got real soul.

10. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III, get's the party jumpin!

Check out the Hor!zon MySpace

Brett Wilson, vocalist/guitarist (Roots of Creation)

TOP 10 ALBUMS

1. Iration - Sample This

2. Rebelution - Courage to Grow

3. Nas - Unititled (N****r)

4. Jay-Z - American Gangster

5. STS9 - Peaceblaster

6. Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static

7. Ray Lamontague - Gossip in the Grain

8. Govt Mule - Dub Side of the Mule

9. Ryan Montebleau - Patience on Friday

10. Sol Driven Train - Lighthouse

Tal Pearson, Keyboard (Roots of Creation)

TOP ALBUMS (No Particular Order)

1. The Black Keys - Attack and Release, beautiful, rich, soulful, and accessible.

2. Secret Machines - Secret Machines, truly awesome fuzzed out space rock. These guys add a new guitarist and don't miss a beat. Definitely holds ground with other Secret Machines records, probably a bit MORE experimental than previous albums.

3. STS9 - Peaceblaster, very well put together album... very intricate, but still really catchy. Like the recurring themes throughout the album too. STS9 has finally made a fan of me in 2008 (Thanks, Rothbury...).

4. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular, really unique psychedelic album, by unkown dudes. Gave ultra hipsters something to dance about. Some pretty weird stuff, but its mixed in with some fantastic songs.

5. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely, Jack White never disappoints. Just a solid Rock and Roll album.

6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend, another one by a brand new band, these guys have an original, easy to identify sound, and simple catchy songs. It's all about the notes you don't play.

7. Lotus - Hammerstrike, gaining a lot of momentum recently, Lotus put out their most Rock - sounding album yet, and it's a welcome direction for them to move - they call themselves a Dance Rock band. Nice to hear them sound like a band in the studio, rather than Weather Channel Background Music.

8. Dub Trio - Another Sound is Dying, Metal+Dub=Crazy. I think these guys have started getting paid per note.

Mike Chadinha, Drummer (Roots of Creation)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. STS9 - Peaceblaster

2. Vampire Weekend - Self-Titled

3. The Black Keys - Attack and Release

4. Dub Trio - Another Sound is Dying

5. Gogol Bordello - Taranta

Check out the Roots of Creation MySpace

Sub, vocalist/guitarist (Live@Subs)

TOP ALBUMS

1. Toko Tasi - Spiritual Life

2. The Bredrin Daddys - Bag O Tricks

3. LB Allday - Looking at Them

4. Glue Factory/Live@Subs - Transpacific

Check out the Live@Subs MySpace

Knowledgeborn 07

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Rza - Digi Snacks

2. Dr.Dog - Fate

3. Rootz Underground - Movement

4. Taj Weekes & Adowa - Deidem, tied with

4. Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Not Stoned Enough to Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid

5. GZA - Protools

Check out the KnowledgeBorn 07 MySpace

Mike Schminke, drummer (Blue Island Tribe)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Mars Volta - Bedlam In Goliath

2. The Bravery - The Sun And the Moon Complete

3. Buckcherry - Black Butterfly

4. Jack Johnson - Sleep Through the Static

5. Slightly Stoopid - Slightly Not Stoned Enough To Eat Breakfast Yet Stoopid

Check out the Blue Island Tribe MySpace

Jake Curran, bass (DPR)

TOP 5 ALBUMS

1. Buju Banton Presents - Jamrock Classics

2. Fear Nuttin Band - Yardcore

3. Roots Radics meets King Tubby - More Danderous Dub

4. The Problemaddicts - Dark Side Of Oz

5. Pennywise - Reason To Believe

Check out the DPR MySpace

THAT"S IT TILL NEXT YEAR & DON'T FORGET TO SHARE YOUR FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2008 ON THE PIER CHAT BOARDS