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Spin's 40 Best Albums of 2008

LIST SUMMARY

List Rating: 75

Based on 265 album ratings

Genre Breakdown:

Indie Rock (7), Alternative Rock (6), Electropop (3), Hip Hop (3), Rock (3), Indie Pop (3), Indie Folk (2), Soul (2), Hardcore Punk (1), Alt-Country (1), Trip Hop (1), Funk (1), Metal (1), Singer-Songwriter (1), Electronic (1), Experimental Rock (1), Experimental (1), Hard Rock (1), Psychedelic (1)

1. TV on the Radio - Dear Science,

TV on the Radio - Dear Science,

Released: Sep 22nd, 2008
Genre: Experimental Rock

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
14 reviews

USER SCORE

84

Based on
18 ratings

2. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III

Released: Jun 10th, 2008
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

49

Based on
4 ratings

3. Portishead - Third

Portishead - Third

Released: Apr 28th, 2008
Genre: Trip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

88

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

89

Based on
18 ratings

4. Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life

Released: Oct 7th, 2008
Genre: Hardcore Punk

CRITIC SCORE

86

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

86

Based on
4 ratings

5. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

MUST HEAR

Released: Jun 3rd, 2008
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

84

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
35 ratings

6. Santigold - Santigold

Santigold - Santigold

Released: Apr 29th, 2008
Genre: Electropop

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

87

Based on
8 ratings

7. Deerhunter - Microcastle

Deerhunter - Microcastle

MUST HEAR

Released: Oct 28th, 2008
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

87

Based on
13 reviews

USER SCORE

90

Based on
24 ratings

8. Hot Chip - Made in the Dark

Hot Chip - Made in the Dark

Released: Feb 5th, 2008
Genre: Electropop

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
8 ratings

9. Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends

Released: Jun 17th, 2008
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

72

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

70

Based on
15 ratings

10. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

Released: Jan 22nd, 2008
Genre: Electronic

CRITIC SCORE

70

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
18 ratings

11. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid

Released: Mar 17th, 2008
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

94

Based on
4 ratings

12. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)

Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)

Released: Feb 26th, 2008
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
1 rating

13. No Age - Nouns

No Age - Nouns

MUST HEAR

Released: May 8th, 2008
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

82

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
8 ratings

14. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Released: Jan 29th, 2008
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
12 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
28 ratings

15. Beck - Modern Guilt

Beck - Modern Guilt

Released: Jul 8th, 2008
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
7 ratings

16. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

Released: Jun 10th, 2008
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
10 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
5 ratings

17. The Roots - Rising Down

The Roots - Rising Down

Released: Apr 29th, 2008
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

77

Based on
3 ratings

18. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!

Released: Apr 8th, 2008
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

83

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

85

Based on
10 ratings

19. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins

Okkervil River - The Stand Ins

Released: Sep 9th, 2008
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

81

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
4 ratings

20. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple

Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple

Released: Mar 18th, 2008
Genre: Funk

CRITIC SCORE

74

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
3 ratings

21. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

Released: Sep 23rd, 2008
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

51

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

62

Based on
7 ratings

22. Black Kids - Partie Traumatic

Black Kids - Partie Traumatic

Released: Jul 22nd, 2008
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

62

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

69

Based on
2 ratings

23. Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks

Kate Nash - Made Of Bricks

Released: Jan 8th, 2008
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

64

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
3 ratings

24. Duffy - Rockferry

Duffy - Rockferry

Released: May 13th, 2008
Genre: Soul

CRITIC SCORE

73

Based on
6 reviews

USER SCORE

60

Based on
4 ratings

25. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

Released: May 13th, 2008
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

74

Based on
6 ratings

26. R.E.M. - Accelerate

R.E.M. - Accelerate

Released: Mar 31st, 2008
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

82

Based on
5 ratings

27. The Streets - Everything Is Borrowed

The Streets - Everything Is Borrowed

Released: Sep 15th, 2008
Genre: Hip Hop

CRITIC SCORE

59

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

67

Based on
2 ratings

28. Metallica - Death Magnetic

Metallica - Death Magnetic

Released: Sep 12th, 2008
Genre: Metal

CRITIC SCORE

71

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

65

Based on
3 ratings

29. Nas & DJ Green Lantern - The Nigger Tape

Nas & DJ Green Lantern - The Nigger Tape

Released: Jun 9th, 2008

CRITIC SCORE

NR

USER SCORE

NR

30. Lucinda Williams - Little Honey

Lucinda Williams - Little Honey

Released: Oct 14th, 2008
Genre: Alt-Country

CRITIC SCORE

62

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

72

Based on
1 rating

31. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

MUST HEAR

Released: Feb 19th, 2008
Genre: Indie Folk

CRITIC SCORE

85

Based on
9 reviews

USER SCORE

90

Based on
32 ratings

32. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia

The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia

Released: Mar 4th, 2008
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

79

Based on
2 reviews

USER SCORE

75

Based on
1 rating

33. El Guincho - Alegranza

El Guincho - Alegranza

Released: Mar 1st, 2008
Genre: Experimental

CRITIC SCORE

80

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

60

Based on
1 rating

34. Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

Released: Jun 10th, 2008

CRITIC SCORE

77

Based on
3 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

35. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

Released: Mar 25th, 2008
Genre: Alternative Rock

CRITIC SCORE

69

Based on
4 reviews

USER SCORE

83

Based on
4 ratings

36. Lykke Li - Youth Novels

Lykke Li - Youth Novels

Released: Aug 19th, 2008
Genre: Indie Pop

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

80

Based on
5 ratings

37. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

Released: Jun 17th, 2008
Genre: Indie Rock

CRITIC SCORE

75

Based on
8 reviews

USER SCORE

78

Based on
5 ratings

38. Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

Released: Oct 7th, 2008
Genre: Rock

CRITIC SCORE

63

Based on
11 reviews

USER SCORE

64

Based on
4 ratings

39. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy

Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy

Released: Nov 23rd, 2008
Genre: Hard Rock

CRITIC SCORE

63

Based on
5 reviews

USER SCORE

46

Based on
4 ratings

40. Chairlift - Does You Inspire You

Chairlift - Does You Inspire You

Released: Sep 30th, 2008
Genre: Electropop

CRITIC SCORE

66

Based on
7 reviews

USER SCORE

NR

Recommend:

MORE 2008 YEAR END LISTS:

Drowned in Sound

MORE YEAR END LISTS FROM SPIN:

COMMENTS

2008 YEAR END LISTS

Drowned in Sound

TOP RATED FOR 2008

Album of The Year

Beats Per Minute

Consequence of Sound

Drowned in Sound

Under The Radar

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BEST ALBUMS OF 2008 BY GENRE

Alternative Rock

Experimental Rock

Psychedelic Rock

Singer-Songwriter