The 50 Best Albums of 2008

13

Blitzen Trapper FURR Subpop

The other great breakout band from the Pacific Northwest (see Number 11). Singer Eric Early makes his deepest impression on the title track, a dubby, Dylanesque coming-of-age tale as romantic as it is hallucinogenic. The rest of Furr is positively boisterous, jumping from glam-y folk rock to latter-day R.E.M.

14

Ryan Adams and the Cardinals CARDINOLOGY Lost Highway

Adams' best LP in years seeks the heights of Gram Parsons' country and U2's stadium rock. He belts out his heartland gospel on "Born Into a Light" and gathers himself for the sobriety ballad "Stop." And then "Magick" shows that he'll never totally calm down.

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