In no particular order, Best Music of 2008:

1. Receivers by Parts & Labor. Post-hardcore anthems that make me happy. Cheaper than therapy....
2. Black Meddle, Pt 1 by Nachtmystium Assassins. A black metal reading of mid-period Pink Floyd. No kidding! Cheaper than most male enhancement drugs....
3. The Obliterati by Mission of Burma. Technically, this came out two years ago. I gave it the smallest of spins then. Holy crap this is good! Makes feel better about being old. Prostate be damned!
4. Orchestral Works Vol 5 by Xenakis. Music the aliens will be cranking when they come and kick our ass! Visceral, complex, and proof the orchestra ain't an eight track tape.
5. The Way of All Flesh by Gojira. Eco friendly noise terrorists who do Death Metal like it needs doing. I'll give anybody ten bucks who can make it through this entire disc alive.
6. In Rainbows by Radiohead. Damn! I hate it when the vulgar masses are right. Makes it tough being an elitist.
7. Tell Tale Signs from the Bob Dylan Bootleg Series. At first spin, just ho-hum. Once it sunk into my cortex, depth, range and the man's ability to turn a song inside out broke the hum. Giants walk among us!!!
8. Orphans by Tom Waits. Another 2006er (did I fall asleep that year?.....Wait that's when I had my kid. That'll distract a person...). Junkpile genius. Did I mention that giants walk among us?
9. Obzen by Meshuggah. Math Death Metal??!! I dunno. It's ropey, jagged, and feels like a auditory mugging. What's not to love?
10. The ABC Song, as performed by Beckett Rose. Kinda sappy, but my son is the best thing I've ever done. Hearing him warble his ABCs makes me think things are going to be okay. Little giants walk among us.