Biggest Disappointments of 2008

Kanye West "808's & Heartbreaks"

-Now in context a lyrically hilarious egotist of a rapper switching everything over to hit a taiko drum and pretend to be T-Pain sounds like a great move... Wait, no it doesn't.  I sat scratching my head for 35 minutes trying to figure out when he was gonna start rapping only to realize "Oh, fuck he's not kidding, he actually went through with this."  I seriously thought he was kidding when he said he was going to make an album like this.  Way to fuck up your vocal chords in the process, Kanye.

The Flaming Lips "Christmas On Mars: The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack"

I've been waiting to see this movie for 4 years now.  The movie I knew was going to suck in the best way possible (I mean, come on.  There was a marching band with vaginas for heads in the movie)  But I was really hoping for an actual album.  I kinda guess it was my fault for assuming this wasn't going to be something more than a Harry Potter soundtrack on acid.

The Streets "Everything is Borrowed"

With the way Mike Skinner is de-evolving into senility (that may sound harsh, but I'm trying to make a point here), his next album is probably going to be about the anxiety of not being sure what type of gift certificate to get his grandkids for Christmas.  Vice Records came out with some of the best and worst label debuts this year. This was the latter.

I won't make friends saying this right now;  Jenny Lewis is losing her touch.  I love Jenny.  I really wanted to love this album too.  But here's the first strike:  Elvis Costello is dueting.  Here's the second strike:  the lyrics were simple and repetitive, and yes, I know the whole argument of "repetition creates an emphasis of feelings".  But every single song?  Fuck.  and of course, the third strike:  If you look closely at the linear notes guess who shows up as a supporting musician on the album?  Fucking Jonathan Rice. Yes, the tool/former boyfriend of Jenny Lewis shows up to suck down her ability by what?; fucking producing half the tracks on the album.  Of course it only makes more sense that the duet with Lewis and Costello was written entirely by Rice.  Go. Fucking. Figure.

Peter, Bjorn, and John "Seaside Rock"

Umm... was this even music.  Fuck.  Produce your own records if your just going to bang trash cans together for 50 minutes.

Kimya Dawson & Friends "Alphabutt"

So after having such a great experience discovering solid Kimya album after solid Kimya album I was only expecting yet another... solid Kimya album.  But this wasn't even anti-folk.  If anything it was like a pro-folk.   Who seriously majorly distributes an album basically made strictly for kids?  One or the other, Kimya. One or the other.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Cold War Kids "Loyalty to Loyalty"

Two of the best tracks this year "Something is Not Right With Me" and "Mexican Dogs" were on this album.  With "Robbers and Cowards" as such a high precedent, it was only expected they would come back with a second great punch.  Nothing else really great came off this album.  It was all kinda like an outakes ep more than an actual album.  And because I love Cold War Kids so much it made it hurt that much worse.