Brad Matthew

Here are my top albums of 2008.  Fleet Foxes ran away with the album of year.  Their self-titled debut is a beautiful mix of Beach Boy harmonies and roots folk in the vein of My Morning Jacket.  Give this album a listen, it is truly a spiritual experience.

1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
3. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
4. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
5. Beck - Modern Guilt
6. The Whigs - Mission Control
7. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cardinology
8. Lykke Li - Youth Novels
9. Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
10. Death Cab for Cutie - Narrow Stairs
11. Liam Finn - I’ll Be Lightning
12. The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
13. Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
    
14. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
15. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

What are your top albums of 2008?

As mentioned before, Ryan Adams’ new album Cardinology comes out October 28, but if you can’t wait it is currently streaming in it’s entirety on HERE. After a few listens, my first impression is “Wow”.  The production is very organic and The Cardinals sound better than ever.  Seems like everyone is very comfortable with their role in the band and have really found a groove with the songwriting.  Head on over The Cardinals website to preorder the album or just wait a week and buy it at your local record store.

What once was Ryan Adams and The Cardinals is now just Cardinals.  Mr. Adams is now considering himself a member of The Cardinals, who are prepared to release their new album, Cardinology, October 28 via Lost Highway.  I still listen to his last album, Easy Tiger, on a regular basis, but am ready for some new material. You can take a listen to the first single “Fix It” here and can buy it on itunes or amazon.  Cardinals will be coming through Chicago December 12 opening for their new best friends Oasis at Allstate Arena.

Cardinology Tracklist:
1. “Fix It”
2. “Magick”
3. “Let Us Down Easy”
4. “Like Yesterday”
5. “Go Easy”
6. “Sink Ships”
7. “Born Into A Light”
8. “Cobwebs”
9. “Crossed Out Name”
10. “Natural Ghost”
11. “Evergreen”
12. “Stop”

US Tour Dates:
10/09 - Kansas City, MO @ Uptown Theater
10/10 - Tulsa, OK @ Brady Theater
10/11 - Grand Prairie, TX @ Nokia Theatre
10/13 - Austin, TX @ Paramount Theater
10/14 - Houston, TX @ Verizon Wireless Theater
10/16 - Tuscaloosa, AL @ Bama Theater
10/17 - Alpharetta, GA @ Verizon Wireless Amphitheathre

w/ Oasis
12/3 - Oakland, CA @ Oracle Arena
12/4 - Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
12/6 - Las Vegas, NV @ The Pearl
12/8 - Denver, CO @ Broomfield Events Ctr.
12/10 - Minneapolis, MN @ Target Center
12/12 - Chicago, IL @ Allstate Arena
12/13 - Detroit, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
12/15 - London, ON @ John LaBattCentre (rescheduled 9/9 date)
12/17 - New York, NY @ Madison Sq. Garden
12/19 - Camden, NJ @ Susquehanna Center
12/20 - Washington, DC @ GMU Patriot Center

Cardinals, once Ryan Adam & The Cardinals, will be hitting the road supposedly in support of the “tentative fall release of their new album.” Hmmm? With bands like The Raconteurs turning out albums in a months span, I guess there is still a realistic chance of them releasing an album. Their last album, Easy Tiger, is still in rotation for me, so bring on the new one! Visit www.ryan-adams.com for more info.

8/23 San Francisco, CA - Fillmore
8/26 Seattle, WA - WaMu Theater - w/ Oasis
8/27 Vancouver, British Columbia - General Motors Place - w/ Oasis
8/29 Edmonton, Alberta - Rexall Place - w/ Oasis
08/30 Calgary, Alberta - Pengrowth Saddledome - w/ Oasis
09/01 Winnipeg, Manitoba - MTS Center - w/ Oasis
09/04 Ottawa, Ontario - Scotiabank Palace - w/ Oasis
09/05 Montreal, Quebec - Bell Centre - w/ Oasis
09/07 Boston, MA - Bank of America Pavilion
09/25 Schenectady, NY - Proctor’s Theater
09/26 Syracuse, NY - Landmark Theater
09/27 Rochester, NY - Auditorium Theater
09/29 Columbus, OH - Palace Theater
09/30 Cleveland, OH - Playhouse Square
10/02 Indianapolis, IN - Murat Theatre
10/03 Cincinnati, OH - Taft Theater
10/04 St. Louis, MO - Fox Theater
10/05 Madison, WI - Overture Hall