2008 Readers Choice Album Of The Year

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It’s that time of year again… We’re making our list and checking it twice, trying to find out who’s been naughty or nice. Yes, it’s our Album of the Year! More coveted than a shiny penny, more famous than the winner of last year’s X-Factor and guaranteed to start debate!

This year, to shuffle blame away from TLOBF HQ, we’re getting YOU, yes, YOU the reader, to vote for the albums YOU think are the best 2008 had to offer. We’ve whittled down a mammoth list of prospective albums to a mere 50. It’s tough work, but someone had to do it.

So, mouse button at the ready – get clicking! You can pick as many albums as you like, there are no limits. If you feel it’s worthy of “Album of the Year” status, then do the right thing and cast your vote.

If you need some help making that all-important decision, you can read our take on the albums listed in our 2008 archive here.

The poll will close on Friday December 12th.

There is a prize up for grabs for one lucky reader. Some very kind record companies behind the following 50 records have offered up a selection of prizes including: ultra-rare vinyl, posters, t-shirts and CDs by some of the nominees, plus a pair of tickets to see the sold-out Fleet Foxes show at London Roundhouse in February 2009. To be in with a chance of winning this mammoth and hugely exciting prize, enter your details at the bottom of this page. The lucky winner will be notified via email. Competition closes on Friday 12th December.

[polldaddy poll="1128287"]

26 Responses to 2008 Readers Choice Album Of The Year

  1. Rich Hughes November 28, 2008 at 10:49 am #

    That was an impossibly hard decision…

  2. Adam November 28, 2008 at 1:16 pm #

    I’m guessing that staffers aren’t allowed to enter the competition, all that “law” shit and all that amirite.

  3. Rich Thane November 28, 2008 at 1:25 pm #

    well

    put it like this

    we’ve already had entrants from staff AND some of the record labels involved. the cheek of it! im not naming names. :-)

  4. AndrewD November 28, 2008 at 1:33 pm #

    * Whistling shiftily *
    In my defence I would decline the prize on the basis that I don’t think I’d like any of it, given that I could only possibly vote for one album of the above.

  5. AndrewD November 28, 2008 at 1:35 pm #

    - oh, and though I love Elbow (the only possible other candidate) that album just hasn’t got under my skin like their others.

  6. Rich Thane November 28, 2008 at 2:06 pm #

    ^ yeah the elbow album is my least favourite of theirs by miles. i still like it, don’t get me wrong – but it has nothing on their other records

  7. ro November 28, 2008 at 2:11 pm #

    I can’t see anythjing wrong with writeres voting- you don’t have to enter your name details if you JUST want to vote.

    I entered mine because I was sleepy….and didnt think about what i was doin

  8. Grindcore Motherfucker Bitches November 28, 2008 at 2:19 pm #

    I would never put a prize up for a competition and then enter it! No way! That’s crazy talk!

  9. Adam November 28, 2008 at 2:19 pm #

    yeah, I’ve voted, I was talking specifically about winning the prize – there’s always those disclaimers about employees of Heinz and the families thereof not participating in competitions on baked beans cans and stuff.

    and I think the new elbow is up there with the rest of their stuff. I actually think their debut is their worst though, so most elbow fans tend not to listen to me.

  10. Jude Clarke November 28, 2008 at 2:47 pm #

    I’m going to vote for Of Montreal about 50 times, then stand back and watch Marling’s face when it wins ;-)

  11. Jude Clarke November 28, 2008 at 2:47 pm #

    (not really though: I do still have some semblance of a life…)

  12. Rich Thane November 28, 2008 at 3:01 pm #

    to clear up adam’s comment above

    staffers are of course encouraged to vote. it would be bloody silly not too. everyone can vote. even your dogs and cats if they have access to a computer.

    re. the competition. there are no rules stipulating that staffers CANT enter.. but at the same time, would it be really fair if a staffer won the prize? no. not really.

  13. Grindcore Motherfucker Bitches November 28, 2008 at 3:24 pm #

    Yeah it would

  14. oceanRain November 28, 2008 at 5:59 pm #

    Some missing (eg M83), a touch UK heavy (Mogwai, wtf?), the “dear god don’t let Vampire Weekend win”, a couple I haven’t heard (eg Peter Broderick), but all in all a very decent top 50.

    I still can’t shake that Q Mag list outta my head: Kings of Leon at number 1!! It would be funny if it weren’t so tragic…

  15. dg November 28, 2008 at 11:25 pm #

    yeah, there are some very good records that are not in the list, including: M83, The Notwist, Kaki King, The Field, Ladytron, Jesu, Plants ans Animals, Portishead, Okay, Clark, etc etc. anyway…

  16. Christian November 29, 2008 at 9:15 am #

    Agreed (with the above).

    And I actually really liked the Bloc Party record.

    Should I be saying that in public?

  17. Valerio November 30, 2008 at 1:58 pm #

    No Age – Nouns
    Should have been there, at least to show that California can produce something sensible in addition to a useless G’n'R album every 15 years.

    The Kills – Midnight Boom
    Even too optimistic and electronic for my taste should have been considered. It is probably their best to date…even if I prefer the first.

  18. Shain November 30, 2008 at 4:29 pm #

    I entered. I’m horrible, I know.

  19. Melissa December 1, 2008 at 4:58 pm #

    Frightened Rabbit hands down!

  20. Michael December 1, 2008 at 5:07 pm #

    Where the hell is Rip It Off by Times New Viking?

  21. kauf December 2, 2008 at 2:19 pm #

    Nice selection. However, how could you miss both Portishead’s “Third” and the fabulous Grace Jones’s “Hurricane”???

  22. The Pop Cop December 2, 2008 at 10:06 pm #

    I voted for Frightened Rabbit… despite being an utterly amazing album AND made by fellow Scots, it’s not The Pop Cop’s No.1 album of the year… I’m totally stunned our choice is not even on your Top 50 list!

  23. Sally December 6, 2008 at 5:02 pm #

    bon iver is the most talented and most qualified for this win. if you haven’t listened to him, i suggest doing so..

  24. T December 11, 2008 at 9:46 pm #

    Gotta be FR. Discovered thanks to TLOBF. Excellent gigs in SF including a goose-bump-inducing off-mike solo of Poke.

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