With 2008 now more than halfway completed, we here at EAR FARM wanted to take a look at our favorite albums that’ve been released thus far this year. To do so we’ve broken down ten favorite albums (each) from both Mike and myself with a blurb, a link to purchase, and a sample song from each one. We’re aware that there are lots of good records we’re missing here, so we invite each of you to offer up your own favorites of 2008 in the comments. And remember: with full-length records from New Kids on the Block, Coolio, Miley Cyrus, and many other favorites still to be released later this year, you can bet our lists will look a lot different when we return in December to recap our overall Top Albums of 2008. For now, let’s take a look at EAR FARM’s favorites of the first half of the year…

Matt’s Top 10 Albums of 2008 (so far)
10. Robyn by Robyn - watch: “Who’s That Girl”
Though this record is technically three years old (was released in 2005 in Sweden, 2008 in the US) it retains a shocking degree of freshness given the kind of pop music contained within. For that heavy dose of shake-your-ass ladypop you were hoping Madonna’s Hard Candy would deliver, look no further than Robyn. Would rank higher if it was actually ‘brand new’ in 2008.

9. El Rey by The Wedding Present - listen: “The Thing I Like Best About Him is His Girlfriend” (Jet Age Remix)
A powerful return to the guitar blasted heyday of The Wedding Present from the mid-’90s - and a return to working with master producer/engineer Steve Albini - El Rey contains no less than five amazing stranger-in-a-strange-land pop songs about David Gedge’s time spent living in LA. It’s a taut, powerful, and wittily catchy record.

8. Do You Like Rock Music? by British Sea Power - listen: “Waving Flags”
Frankly, as a fan of this band since early 2003, I’m slightly disappointed by Do You Like Rock Music? as it doesn’t quite measure up to the blitzing adventurousness of British Sea Power’s first album (a near-masterpiece) or the pop hookiness of their second (highly underrated). The artwork for Do You Like Rock Music? is strangely off brand as well… but still, it’s one heck of a fine record and the legions of new fans finding the band as a result are well deserved.

7. Seven Summits by The Secret Life of Sofia - listen: “Outside”
Seven Summits finds The Secret Life of Sofia scaling peaks of their own construct that are no less varied than the mountains and mountaineers conveyed in the songs they sing. Each track is justly layered and burrows deep; grabbing hold of the most human elements, contrasting those with the grandest of landscapes, and tugging little by little. Over a dozen listens in, this record continues to amaze.

6. Vampire Weekend by Vampire Weekend - listen: “A-Punk”
Many a smart listener has tried to not like Vampire Weekend’s debut and all have failed. Fact: Vampire Weekend delivers on every ounce of super-hype the band received leading up to the album, and then some. The record has already achieved ‘essential summer listening’ status and is easily one of the great debut albums of the ’00s. Sorry all you ‘ready to move on to the next flavor of the moment’ types, but it’s true.

5. Meanderthal by Torche - listen: “Grenades”
If this list were built upon the innovation of the albums considered, Meanderthal likely wouldn’t even show up here. Then again, if the list were about how much I’ve listened to these records, this one would rank at -or near- #1. What I mean to say is this: Meanderthal is not groundbreaking, but it fucking slays. Seeing these songs performed live in Austin most definitely raised my opinion of the album and the band. Metal + melody + awesome amazingness = Torche.

4. Phylactery Factory by White Hinterland - listen: “Dreaming of the Plum Trees”
White Hinterland’s Phylactery Factory flickers like the flame of an old reliable lantern that refuses to burn out. The intensity of the record ebbs and flows through jazz, folk, classical, and rock influences, never losing touch with the comforting grace of singer Casey Dienel’s vocals as they guide the listener through some of the best lyrics this side of perfection.

3. I Need You to Hold on While the Sky Is Falling by Kelley Polar - listen: “Entropy Reigns (In The Celestial City)” (live on “Fair Game”)
I Need You to Hold on While the Sky Is Falling is an album that delivers on the promise of both ’70s krautrock and ’80s synth-pop at once while managing to highlight the warmth of the human voice in a manner that’s as comforting as it is danceable. Easily one of the best of ‘08.

2. Alopecia by Why? - watch: “Song of the Sad Assassin”
Why Why? Because I’ve been a fan of Yoni Wolf since cLOUDDEAD dropped their first LP in 2001. Because I care about, and pay attention to, the words that make up songs. Because Alopecia is a combination of indie-rock, pop, and hip hop executed to a level you’re not likely to find anywhere else. Why? not?

1. Visiter by The Dodos - listen: “Jodi”
It should come as no surprise, really, that a duo consisting of a delta blues guitar player and heavy metal drummer have created my favorite album -thus far- of 2008. And yet here I sit: slightly shocked. Visiter is nearly perfect in my eyes - the songs hit right where it counts, the melodies and lyrics linger, and I’ve constructed an entire Visiter companion film in my mind. The Dodos have carved out a bit of 2008 that’s purely theirs, but also belongs to each of us. The more I listen, the better it all gets. Note: this is also one of Mike’s favorite albums.

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Mike’s Top 10 Albums of 2008 (so far)
10. Arm’s Way by Islands - listen: “The Arm”
The bar was set impossibly high for this album. Did they clear it? I did just use the word “impossible” right? The final verdict is still out on this one, though there’s lots to like. Now that Nick Thorburn’s seemingly cleared out the back catalog with “Abominable Snow” and “I Feel Evil Creeping In”, it’ll be very interesting to hear what comes next.

9. The Evening Descends by Evangelicals - listen: “Skeleton Man”
I had this recurring dream as a kid where I would slide down my staircase banister and towards the awaiting arms of a monster. Sheer terror. Then, at the last minute I would somehow glide under his legs and off to safety. Sheer ecstatic relief! Hot and cold, terror and relief, welcome to the deadlights. The Evening Descends is the soundtrack to this and every B-movie dream I’ve never had.

8. A Buzz, A Buzz by Bombadil - listen: “Julian of Norwich”
Who? What? This one came out of left field and completely won me over. A loose, playful, and entirely self-assured debut from a band destined for great things.

7. Third by Portishead - watch: “Machine Gun”
A deeply brooding and immersive album brimming with nervous energy, flutters and tics, it seems only natural that Thom Yorke warms up to “The Rip” backstage before shows. Despite its intensity though, Third remains entirely accessible. Note: this is also one of Matt’s favorite albums.

6. Rabbit Habits by Man Man - listen: “Top Drawer”
Like all things Man Man, the songs here reach another level of frenzied genius when witnessed live. However, divorcing Rabbit Habits from the sweaty exhilaration of that setting reveals the band’s underrated strength: Honus Honus’ incredibly vivid and direct lyrics. When he howls “Mama I know I’m possessed by yo’ daughter!”, you’ve just gotta believe him.

5. Real Emotional Trash by Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks - listen: “Baltimore”
A step up from Face The Truth, a notch below Pig Lib, if everything the Malkman makes from here on out resides in Real Emotional Trash’s comfort zone of familiarly inscrutable lyrics and extended jams, consider me one happy customer.

4. At Mount Zoomer by Wolf Parade - listen: “Call It A Ritual”
Apologies to Apologies to the Queen Mary (which underwhelmed), but the nine tracks that comprise At Mount Zoomer feel so unforced and intuitive I’m beginning to think that Spencer Krug and Dan Boeckner just kinda roll out of bed in the morning, light up a cigarette, and cough up amazing songs. Yeah it’s that easy for them.

3. Little Death by Pete and the Pirates - listen: “Mr. Understanding” (live @ Paradiso, Amsterdam)
A fast, fun, direct, honest, wonderful, exhilarating, ROCK album. I have no clue why other UK artists like the Kooks or Fratellis or whateveryoucallit get so much shine in the U.S. while these blokes remain all but ignored, but it just ain’t right. Come on feet! Dance with me!

2. Devotion by Beach House - listen: “Heart Of Chambers”
A close friend once succinctly and elegantly described a favorite hobby of his in the following terms: “It’s like a warm blanket, and I welcome that feeling in my life.” Pretty much perfectly sums up how I feel about Devotion.

1. Parc Avenue by Plants and Animals - listen: “Faerie Dance”
Just when I thought Montreal had tapped out their supply of epic, sprawling, timeless, life-affirming albums, Parc Avenue came along. I just don’t have enough space here to relate how much I love this album. Good thing I already wrote close to 1,000 words about it.

*above picture of Beijing National Stadium from HERE.