Listmania!
The Best Indie/Alternative CDs of 2007-2008
By an Amazon.com customer
Tiger My FriendTiger My Friend by Psapp
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $6.28
Inventive and mellow, with some similarities to Tom Waits and High Places, plus a singer with a great voice. This is a great CD
MoonbeamsMoonbeams by Throw Me the Statue
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $6.30
Great cd with a lot of different moods by a multi-instrumentalist. His voice could be better, but this is a fun CD.
Lost and SafeLost and Safe by The Books
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $4.66
so cool and creative, great samples and effects, definitely something unique here. check it out with a good pair of headphones and can pay attention to the music.
Tones of TownTones of Town by Field Music
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $4.40
a really fun and soothing CD, singer has a great voice (rare today) can't wait to hear other stuff from these folks.
Life LikeLife Like by Rosebuds
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $3.49
Great CD, interesting lyrics and compelling music. very listenable
44 by Dungen
Buy new: $12.98 / Used from: $4.28
Sounds really cool, neat instrumentation and a lot of creativity without electronic interferrance. Check it out!
High PlacesHigh Places by High Places
Buy new: $15.99 / Used from: $4.34
Amazing and very inventive CD, i love it! check it out if you're into interesting percussion, minimalist electronic music, or just good music in general
Little JoyLittle Joy by Little Joy
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.25
Some great tracks on this CD--I like the more upbeat tracks more than the mellow ones.
Midnight BoomMidnight Boom by The Kills
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $7.64
A really great CD, I'd never heard of these two before. A fun punk-blues-classic rock inspired CD.
Flight of the ConchordsFlight of the Conchords by Flight of the Conchords
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $9.92
Hilarious New Zealand duo, similar premise as Tenacious D, but a lot more intelligent and funnier, too. They poke fun at just about every U.S. musical style with their own flair, and add little jokes. Love the TV show too.
PendulumPendulum by Broadcast
Buy used from: $2.09
EP by a fantastic band, some really interesting tracks. some instrumentals, some with a singer--her voice is pretty enjoyable, especially "Come on Let's Go"
Widow CityWidow City by Fiery Furnaces
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $4.75
a crazy CD, sort of blending spoken-word poetry and indie rock, with a hint of blues. The singer's voice is probably not for everyone, but worth checking out.
Friend OpportunityFriend Opportunity by Deerhoof
Buy new: $16.98 / Used from: $2.66
My favorite Deerhoof CD, with a lot of really enjoyable and yet inventive tracks. What will they come up with next?
Cansei de Ser SexyCansei de Ser Sexy by CSS
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $4.46
A great CD from a South American group with a lot of talent. Check out the track "Alala", and the music video. I like this better than their brand new CD.
The Mary OnettesThe Mary Onettes by The Mary Onettes
Buy new: $11.98 / Used from: $8.49
Very fun nod to the 1980's, I hope we hear more from this obviously talented group. Only criticism is that the tracks all pretty much sound alike--but if you like the sound, then that's good!
The Way I See ItThe Way I See It by Raphael Saadiq
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $6.78
Damn, this cd is hot! He totally captures the essence of a bygone era, which happens to be one of my favorite musically. Not a bad song on the whole cd.
Dandelion GumDandelion Gum by Black Moth Super Rainbow
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $5.70
No words can describe this music, except fantastic and go buy this CD!! Dance music for the new millennium.
Fort NightlyFort Nightly by White Rabbits
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $5.89
A cool and creative CD. The track "While We Go Dancing" is a must-listen. Curious to hear more from these guys.
Sebastien Grainger & The MountainsSebastien Grainger & The Mountains by Sebastien Grainger
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $6.22
Have only heard the samples, but I like what I hear a lot. Similar to Walter Meego (he might be in the group?)
Transparent ThingsTransparent Things by Fujiya & Miyagi
Buy new: $10.99 / Used from: $3.00
A funky, quiet disco cd that's a lot of fun. I've never heard of these guys before, but this cd is pretty darn cool. Their new CD sounds like it's pretty good too.
RomanticRomantic by Walter Meego
Buy new: $10.98 / Used from: $4.98
Some cool tracks on this cd, danceable electro-disco/pop with a touch of 80's--if you like midnight juggernauts or does it offend you yeah? you might like these guys.
DystopiaDystopia by Midnight Juggernauts
Buy used from: $24.94
very 80's sound, interesting style. unique sound, worth a listen.
Sea LionSea Lion by The Ruby Suns
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.85
a folksy/world music influenced cd, a lot of fun and very creative and original. not familiar with their other cds.
Friend and FoeFriend and Foe by Menomena
Buy new: $14.98 / Used from: $3.28
I really like this CD, not really comparable to anything else I'm familiar with. The baritone sax adds a nice touch on a couple of tracks.
The StoopThe Stoop by Little Jackie
Buy new: $12.98 / Used from: $5.36
awesome cd, lots of fun and different styles without getting self-indulgent. Singer's style is somewhat repetitive and has been done before, but still sounds great and she's funny and funky.
Get RidGet Rid by Robots in Disguise
Buy used from: $11.61
These girls are crazy, but make really fun quirky music. All of their CDs have some gems on them.
Later That Day...Later That Day... by Lyrics Born
Buy used from: $2.95
This CD is so damn funky, and with some of the tightest lyrics you'll ever hear. I like this better than his newest release, but it's worth checking out, too.
Fleet FoxesFleet Foxes by Fleet Foxes
Buy new: $11.49 / Used from: $8.90
A really unique CD, singer has a great voice, great instrumentation and recording sound.
The Bird & The BeeThe Bird & The Bee by The Bird & The Bee
Buy new: $8.99 / Used from: $3.53
A very fun and quirky cd, very upbeat and yet subtly (and politely) gangsta at the same time.
MirroredMirrored by Battles
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.76
This is a pretty cool CD by a newly formed group of math-rock pros. you can hear Don Caballero all up in this.
The ReminderThe Reminder by Feist
Buy new: $12.99 / Used from: $4.48
Another great CD from Feist--check out Let it Die if you haven't yet. Her "French" voice and diverse instrumentation are an ingenious blend.
Fancy FootworkFancy Footwork by Chromeo
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.19
these guys kick the funky disco with a sense of humor. If you're a fan, check out the group "Velveteen Pink" on myspace. Fans of vocoder and Gil Mantera will get it.
Writer's BlockWriter's Block by Peter Bjorn and John
Buy new: $11.99 / Used from: $3.98
A hugely popular CD and with good reason. So many great songs on one CD, unbelievable.
Oracular SpectacularOracular Spectacular by MGMT
Buy new: $8.49 / Used from: $5.49
A neat CD, shows a lot of promise. Has a New Wave/Eletro-pop kind of feel, but very unique nevertheless.
Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer? by Of Montreal
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $7.37
Of Montreal might be an acquired taste, but I for one got it real fast with this CD, after seeing them perform it live. Sunlandic Twins is very popular too, but this one is ultimately more interesting to me. Their new CD SUCKS
BloodsongsBloodsongs by Gil Mantera's Party Dream
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $1.47
I know, they're really a live experience, but I love these guys. I saw them live several years ago when nobody knew who they were, and I have one of their older CDs--get it if you can find it ("Once Triangular).
Neon BibleNeon Bible by Arcade Fire
Buy new: $13.99 / Used from: $7.41
A very interesting and fun (albeit somewhat bleak in outlook) CD. A real gem.
Sky Blue SkySky Blue Sky by Wilco
Buy new: $14.99 / Used from: $5.00
Have they found "their sound"? Maybe. This CD is so cool, but so are Yankee Hotel Foxtrot and A Ghost is Born.
With LasersWith Lasers by Bonde do Rolê
Buy new: $13.98 / Used from: $3.15
If you're like me and grew up on 90's booty rap and the like, you'll get a kick out of these guys. some tracks get annoying (as can be expected) but all in all they're creative and stretch the genre--plus they sing in Portugese.
PinbackPinback by Pinback
Buy new: $15.98 / Used from: $7.48
I know, a little old, but this is my favorite of theirs and it is such a good CD.