As the new year begins, it’s time to celebrate the 10-year anniversaries of some iconic albums. While 2008 might not seem that long ago, it was a wild time for music and pop culture enthusiasts. The year started off with Britney Spears’ infamous meltdown, then David Cook broke the hearts of countless tweens when he beat David Archuleta on American Idol. 2008 also marked the milestone birthdays of superstars Madonna, Michael Jackson, and Prince, who all turned 50! The year ended with the election of Barack Obama and the release of arguably one of the most significant films of our generation: High School Musical 3. So, now that we’re all feeling nostalgic, let’s take a look back at some notable album releases from that year.
1. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
As a group of kids who formed a band in their Columbia dorm rooms, Vampire Weekend had a significant following online before they even released an album. The band quickly gained even more popularity when they released their highly anticipated self-titled debut studio album in January, 2008 with XL Recordings.
Frontman Ezra Koenig sang clever lyrics about the bourgeois and oxford commas, along with world music influences of ska and afro-pop mixed with their familiar indie rock sound. The album included singles “Mansard Roof,” “A-Punk,” and “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa.” Although some people criticized the band at first for being too preppy, they continued to grow on future albums.
2. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver’s 2008 album, For Emma, Forever Ago, is much different than his most recent release, 22 A Million, and it’s not hard to hear his musical progression. Singer-songwriter Justin Vernon was recovering from a breakup and the end of his band, so his debut studio album was emotional and raw with lyrics about a series of lost lovers. The album was full of soft vocals, acoustic guitars, and echoing falsettos connected by a smooth feeling that only Bon Iver could produce.
3. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
After forming a band in 2001, MGMT released their first album through RED Ink, which became an instant hit and went on to sell over a million copies. The album was promoted with the singles “Time to Pretend,” “Electric Feel,” and “Kids,” which can still be heard on the radio today.
4. Beyoncé – I Am… Sasha Fierce
The third studio album by Beyoncé garnered endless praise. It was released as a two-disc album, with the first disc, I Am…, consisting of slower pop and R&B ballads, while the second disc, Sasha Fierce (named after Queen Bey’s on-stage alter ego), featured more uptempo songs. Some popular hits include “If I Were A Boy,” “Halo,” and “Single Ladies.”
Within the first week of sales, I Am… Sasha Fierce debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 chart, and in a year the album was certified double platinum after selling over three million copies in the United States. The album was also nominated for seven Grammy awards, including Album of the Year.
5. Lady Gaga – The Fame
In the summer of 2008, Lady Gaga’s fame really took off with the release of her album The Fame. The album crosses different genres as it features sounds of electro-pop, synth-pop, and 80’s-style dance-pop. Lyrically, the album describes the effects of fame in Gaga’s life, including love, money, drugs, and finding her sexual identity. Some popular tracks from the album are “Poker Face,” “Just Dance,” and “Paparazzi.”
The Fame was received enthusiastically by critics and fans alike, and it gained international success, with singles topping the charts in a number of countries worldwide. It was also nominated for five Grammy awards and won the Grammy for Best Electronic/Dance album as well as the Best Dance Recording for the single “Poker Face.”
6. Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreaks
808s & Heartbreaks is the fourth studio album released by Kanye West, by Roc-A-Fella Records. After some personal struggles, the hip hop producer and vocalist departed from the style of his previous records and focused on more of an electronic, auto-tuned sound. The lyrics explore themes of heartache, love, and loss.
The album debuted at number one on the Billboard 200 charts, and it was named one of the year’s best albums on multiple lists. 808s & Heartbreaks has been mentioned as a major influence on contemporary hip hop artists, including Kid Cudi, Childish Gambino, and Drake, because it provided a new groundwork for style and content in the hip hop and R&B world.
7. Taylor Swift – Fearless
Before the Kanye/Taylor incident at the 2009 MTV VMA’s that sparked a lasting feud, both artists were topping the charts with their 2008 releases. Taylor Swift released her second studio album, Fearless, in November with Big Machine Records. While she was opening for other country artists, the singer was working on writing most of the songs. Other songs were co-written with Colbie Caillat, Liz Rose, and John Rich. This was also Taylor’s debut as a record producer, co-producing all the songs on the album.
The five singles released from Fearless were all met with success in the music industry. The first single, “Love Story,” became one of the best-selling singles of all time internationally and was temporarily the best-selling country song of all time. The second single, “White Horse,” received positive reception from critics worldwide, and it was named one of the best tracks for its intense message from a songwriting standpoint. “You Belong With Me” became one of the artist’s best-selling singles, and both “Fifteen” and “Fearless” achieved platinum certifications.
8. Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Viva la Vida is the fourth studio album released by Coldplay, which was named for the Spanish phrase that translates to “live the life” (similar to the French phrase, “c’est la vie”). The album contains lyrical themes of love, life, death, and war. With a tracklist of thirteen songs, including the three bonus tracks, it became the best-selling album of 2008 and won Best Rock Album at the 2009 Grammy Awards. The single “Viva la Vida” was the band’s first song to reach number one in both the United States and United Kingdom. Other popular singles include “Lovers in Japan,” “Lost!,” and “Violet Hill.”
9. Panic! at the Disco – Pretty. Odd.
The band’s second album, Pretty. Odd., was essentially a reinvention of Panic!’s sound. Differing from their first album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, the new album contained sounds of folk and psychedelic-rock, instead of their previous techno-inspired pop-punk style. Although initial reception was critical, the lead single “Nine in the Afternoon” was certified platinum, and eight years later the album was certified gold.
10. Britney Spears – Circus
The follow-up to to her critically well-received album, Blackout, Britney’s seventh album, Circus, was a way for the artist to focus on something a little bit lighter.
Let us know if any of these albums were your favorites!
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