Was 2008 a crummy year in music?

It's year-end time, and the critics are weighing in with their year-end lists, from the maddening mix of obscure and popular at Pitchfork to the back-and-forth over at Slate.

I'm not a music critic, so I don't get to listen to hundreds of new CDs for free. That means I've missed plenty of the music on these critics' list, though I know I hate No Age and am indifferent to Girl Talk.

Even so, without checking the data, this year seemed pretty good: TV on the Radio, Beach House, and Portishead all made strong impressions, and I like Fleet Foxes quite a bit, though not as much as Pitchfork. But looking back at my master list, I've only got 9 recordings that were released in 2008.

That's my lowest total-by-year since 1995, which is probably my least favorite music year ever. I know the year's not out yet--I have hope for some LPs under the tree--but I'm curious what everybody else thinks. Was 2008 a dud year? Or am I missing some great entries?

[soundman45]

Boy, don't get me started !!! Unfortunately the music industry has been in decline for a few years now. Lack of artist development by record labels, the rise of mp3 music sharing, decline in record sales all have contributed to a poor product being released. The popularity of games like Guitar Hero are also not a good sign. Instead of kids going out and actually learning an instrument and learning to read music they are throwing their money down to play electronic air guitar. it's just depressing all around.

[daveturnley]

Having grown up in the 80s I'm probably biased, but I think rock music is as good as its ever been. Inexpensive recording and easy distribution lets artists that would normally be confined to local coffee shops on Saturday afternoon reach wider audiences. Most of the 'small' acts would be summarily ignored by the majors if they were still in control.

I've been out of the loop for a few years and I wasn't blow away by the spate of releases, but I really liked what I heard in 2008:

- TV on the Radio--best album I've heard in years
- David Byrne/Brian Eno--best solo DB
- The Fireman--best McCartney since Ram
- Musée Mécanique--really good stuff, if a bit repetitive
- Bon Iver (have only heard a bit, but really liked)
- Fleet Foxes
- MGMT (good pop psych)
- Sigur Ros
- She & Him

How about song of the year?:
http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=97939029&m=97940685

[blbaum]

Matt -

I know you ended up writing about Rhapsody a couple posts after this one, but you really have to subscribe to that service if you want to hear great new music. I pay something like $10/month for unlimited access and they have probably 95% of what I go looking for - and believe me, I give it a workout. Anyway, no need to be out of the loop or blow money on albums you don't like. Read lists like the ones from Pitchfork and check the albums out in Rhapsody!