Strangeglue Writers' Top 50 Albums of 2008 (Numbers 40 -31)

You can be sure that were the world to endure an apocalypse, the only remnants of its formerly civilised society would be a piece of paper titled: 'The Top 10 things we enjoyed about annihilation' such is humanities fondness for these sequenced summations.

The Strange Glue offices resemble such a war-zone after we tried desperately to build a consensus on which were the most important albums of 2008. When a Monday morning coffee break is punctuated by a swivel-chair being pushed full-pelt across the room with the verbal backing of "I'll give you flippin' N-Dubz for number one..." you know that emotions are heavily involved.

As a result of our efforts, we bring you part two - or for the pretentious among us: partie deux - of our favourite albums of 2008. Collecting together numbers 31-40 we witness a fair few bands delivering upon the hype with which they were propelled to notoriety. Stay tuned for the rest of the run down which will be unloaded unto you all in a timely fashion (or, for the unpretentious among us: posted in the next few days).

Disagree? Convinced we're performing rectal ventriloquism? Then sound off in the comments section below.

31.) The Cast Before the Break: As Your Shoulders Turn On You

The saying goes: 'Make something notable and people will notice'. Such an assertion held true for America's The Cast Before the Break. Despite being an unsigned entity, the band's (full band) debut album whiplashed critics across the plains of alternative and punk with its contemplative concept album which chronicled the battle for the soul of a coma victim. One which starts with manslaughter and ends in murder.

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32.) D Charles Speer and the Helix: After Hours

After Hours is one of those albums capable of making journalists mock the identikit fashionista bands which they effusively publicise for the other 51 weeks of the year. Paring psychedelic influences with country, western and bluegrass Speer effortlessly evokes images of dusted, sun-bleached deserted Routes while regaling all with his tales of mental instability, infidelity, drunken advice, wartime hucksters, heartbreak, and redemption.

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33.) Lau Nau: Nukkuu

Finnish singer songwriter Laura Naukkarinen or Lau Nau for short is very, very strange. She is in countless bands, all playing some form of folk and the woman herself uses anything, literally anything as an instrument. As random as it sounds, it seems to work as this 2008 release was both beautiful and brilliant.

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34.) Los Campesinos: Hold On Now, Youngster

While 2008 saw a steep decline in the popularity of spiky art-punk bands, the simple charms of Los Campesinos debut still hold nearly ten months after its release. It's about time somebody put Wales back on the map. Cartographers became slightly concerned with the same year release of We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed but the warmth of Youngster weathered the storm admirably.

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35.) The Kills: Midnight Boom

Knocking boots with Kate Moss wasn't the only contribution The Kills made toward popular culture this year. The duo of Jamie Hince and Alison Mosshart (the surname's a coincidence, right?) got the feet underneath the boots knocking with third album Midnight Boom which contained a lot more 'wow' than their previous effort.

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36.) The Decemberists: Always the Bridesmaid EPs

Released as three EP's/Singles in October, November and December, Always The Bridesmaid is collectively 7 songs of Decemberists brilliance. Released only on vinyl, this set is sure to become a coveted gem in the near future but for now, they're fantastically baroque indie-pop from one of the most intelligent bands in music.

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37.) Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours

In Ghost Colours is dance. It's funk. It's pop. It's electro. It's also pretty good. The trio themselves have risen hugely in popularity this year as it seems that left-wing dance is what the people want. If you like dancing like a chicken on LSD then pick this up, you'll bloody love it.

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38.) Nada Surf: Lucky

Hey, you over there! Yes? Have you been in a band for nearly 17 years? Yes! Your from Nada Surf then? Yes!. That's how a conversation would go between a member of Nada Surf and a fan because seriously, it's been nearly 17 years. Still making brilliant music after all this time, Lucky is your typical relaxed Nada Surf affair and there's nothing bad about that what-so-ever.

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39.) 2562: Aerial

What a year it has been for dub. Rising from the underground into the relatively mainstream, dub and dub-step seems to be the "new thing". As harrowing as that could turn out to be (Scream-Dub, Nu-Dub, Post-Dub, you get the idea) it seems it's early enough in it's popularity phase to give some fantastic new artists some spot-light. 2562's 2008 album is an example of intelligent beats, harsh electronica and enough bass to kill a child. Just the way we like it.

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40.) Tokyo Police Club: Elephant Shell

What a year it has been for the Police Club boys. Going from a brilliant (though over-hyped) EP to this fantastic (though short) LP, 2008 was certainly an important one for the group. Rising through the murky depths of "up and coming", Elephant Shell was released to relative acclaim and even gave them enough spot light to pick up a cameo in HBO's series Desperate Housewives. Erm...nice?

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