Looking back over the albums I acquired in 2008 (that were actually released in 2008) was a might bit depressing. Mixed in with the mediocre releases were a bunch of duds, and for the most part nothing from established bands grabbed my fancy. Wolf Parade released a decent album in ‘At Mount Zoomer’, while The Constantines released a solid offering with ‘Kensington Heights’, but neither album strikes me as better than previous releases. I enjoyed Jason Collett’s ‘Here’s to Being Here’, and new comers Vampire Weekend released a catchy album that a friend calls, “an excellent album to play Mario Kart too.” Staples of Canadiana Sloan, Sam Roberts, The Trews, and Kathleen Edwards, each had an album out this year that were great additions to their catalogue, but none really had that ‘album of the year’ vibe (though I can spin ‘Love at the End of the World’ time and time again).
Now don’t think that my choice for album of the year was a default selection — a best of the worst situation — because that is truly not the case. ‘Hometowns’ by The Rural Alberta Advantage earned its place atop my best album of 2008 list. From the first listen of the first song the album struck me as original yet poppy and accessible, with enough layers to keep even the most jaded music fan interested. The entire album is a standout track, but of the standout tracks the ‘standout tracks’ are: the lead song ‘The Ballad of the RAA’ a slow builder that tries to tell the story of leaving the prairies, ‘Don’t Haunt This Place’ a tumbling pop tune, ‘Frank, AB’, and ‘In The Summertime’ a beautiful woeful closing song about love. The band has drawn numerous comparisons to Neutral Milk Hotel, but I feel a bit of Meligrove Band in them, which stems from the originality and energy in their songs.
Hometowns is a solid addition to my music library and one that I’m sure will remain in my rotation for many years to come, as well as being an album I can turn to on cool rainy day when just a little bit of warmth is required.
I second your choice wholeheartedly. This album has become the soundtrack to my life for 2008.