Everybody has an opinion …

… not least the writers, editors and technical folk whose job it is the bring you americanaUK -  the finest music site in cyberspace. Their individual top tens can be found below.

By a fiendishly cunning system of points allocation, number crunching and pin sticking we have also compiled an Official americanaUK Best of 2008. A fine list it is too reflecting the diversity of music that we at americanaUK strive all year long to bring to your attention.

Paul Villers

• 1. Fleet Foxes – "The Fleet Foxes"
  Synthesising a plethora of musical styles from folk, rock, pop and more these guys are flavour of the month in many quarters, not just here at Americana-uk. Their rustic aesthetic is enhanced by their ability to seemingly harmonise any vocal. Fine Americana indeed.  And a debut so the promise of lots more to come.
  
  
  
• 2. Nick Cave – "Dig, Lazurus, Dig!!!"
  Sex, death, murder, redemption, even a little God plus a moustache that most guys would simply die for. Nick Cave it seems, like his subject matter, just gets more menacing the older he gets. And we love it. This time searching out the dark corners of Americana the Bad Seeds go from strength to strength.
  
  
  
  
• 3. Bon Iver – "For Emma, Forever Ago"
  Famous shack dweller Justin Vernon knocked this little masterpiece off over the space of four months with, it seems, only the snow for company. There must be something in the (frozen) water up Wisconsin way. Sample lyric: "Only love is all maroon/ Lapping lakes like leery loons/ Leaving rope burns-- reddish ruse." Fabulously understated Americana.
  
  
  
  
• 4. The Felice Brothers – "The Felice Brothers"
  We said: "…as Americana as you can get, you can't just hear it, it flows through you like last night's booze, leaving you wanting more when it's gone. If someone were to ask you "what is Americana?" you could give them this album soaked, as it is, in tradition and authenticity and know you were giving them a true American original…"
  
  
  
  
  
• 5. The Miserable Rich – "Twelve Ways To Count"
  We said: "…It is that rare thing – something that you play once from start to finish then play again simply because you need to hear more of it. Then you play it again in its entirety just for the joy of immersing yourself in exemplary song writing, playing and singing – the craft, artistry and beauty of music that grabs you variously by the heart, throat, mind or nether regions depending…"
  
  
  
• 6. Anna Kashfi – "Procurement"
  We said: "…Writing the kind of americana that drives right up to the kerb of other genres, the band are almost the dictionary definition of the term "more than the sum of their parts." Watching them live as isolated individuals you can see their respective talent but the overall sound, with its torch song chord changes and sparing production, is at times so beautiful and affecting it can almost feel completely overwhelming. They’ve always been a band to be heartbroken to, the best kind of music being the kind that leaves you like a gibbering wreck when you’ve spent half an hour in a dark room with it…"
  
  
  
• 7. Miracle Mile – "Coffee and Stars"
  We said: "…never less than excellent and in general sublime. It includes tracks from all their studio albums, with a slight bias towards later work, and every single one is a gem. Some few are not quite flawless but the overwhelming majority are of the first water. The word "perfect" has been used a lot in this review and that’s really all you need to know. Miracle Mile make perfect music. End of…"
  
  
  
  
• 8. Martin Stephenson and the Daintees - "Western Eagle"
  We said: "…Stephenson disappeared for a while but now he's back. Doing what he does best. Making intimate melodic gems in the folkie/country rock (plus loads of other) genres. The songs here are infectious catchy toe-tappers and just downright excellent. Coupled with intelligent lyrics and some superlative playing, they go from strength to strength with every listen…"
  
  
  
• 9. Steve Earle – "Live in Austin Tx"
  We said: "…On this showing I would put Earle right up there with Springsteen when it comes to documenting a blue collar America, tired, frayed, at times anonymous yet still somehow committed to an American dream that has so far passed them by. These are epic songs of life and how we cope in our own ways with what it has to throw at us…"
  
  
  
  
• 10. Lambchop – "(OH)Ohio"
  Country, rock, folk, jazz and 1980s indie combining to ambient, often trancelike effect. Arch mumbler Kurt Wagner and his ever changing line up of musical compadres present album number ten for a delectation…and have still got it. As diverse as ever this is a fine addition to their oeuvre.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  Top Tens – americanaUK Staff
  
  

  Mark Whitfield – Site Editor
  1) Anna Kashfi - "Procurement"
  2) Lightspeed Champion - "Falling Off the Lavender Bridge"
  3) Daniel Wylie - "Car Guitar Star"
  4) Daniel Ahearn -  "Pray For Me By Name"
  5) Katkhuda - "A Long Way From Somewhere"
  6) Eugene Francis Jr. - "The Golden Beatle"
  7) The Boy Bathing  - "A Fire to Make Preparations"
  8) Grantura - "In Dreams and Other Stories"
  9) Ally Kerr - "Off the Radar"
  10) Ali Whitton and the Broke Record Players - "A Failed Attempt at Something Worth Saying"
  
  Jeremy Searle – Deputy Editor
  1)  Various Artists – "The History of Rhythm & Blues Part 1 1925-1942"
  2 ) Miracle Mile – "Coffee & Stars"
  3 ) Songdog – "A Wretched Sinner's Song"
  4 ) Justin Rutledge – "Man Descending"
  5) Possum Trot Orchestra – "Night Crow"
  6) Star Anna – "Crooked Path"
  7) Jefferson Pepper – "American Evolution Volumes 1 & 2"
  8) Dolly Varden – "The Panic Bell"
  9) The Border Blasters – "Blast from The Past"
  10) Kathleen Edwards – "Asking for Flowers"
  
  Paul Villers – Reviews Editor
  1) The Miserable Rich – "Twelve Ways To Count"
  2) Nicolai Dunger – "Niccolide and the Karmic Retribution"
  3) Wes Finch and the Dirty Band – "Now Look Here It’s the Dirty Band, See"
  4) Bon Iver – "For Emma Forever"
  5) Dr. Dog – "Fate"
  6) Anders Ellowsson – "It Used To Feel So Good"
  7) Nordegarden – "The Path Of Love"
  8) Tahiti 80 – "Activity Centre"
  9) The Ramallamas – "Drownded"
  10) The Rosselys – "One Way Street"
  
  Stu Olds - Webmaster
  1) The Gutter Twins – "Saturnalia"
  2) Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan – "Sunday at Devil Dirt"
  3) The Waifs –"sundirtwater"
  4) The Gutter Twins – "Adorata"
  5) Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson – "Rattlin’ Bones"
  6) Xavier Rudd – "Dark Shades Of Blue"
  7) Die Toten Hosen – „In Aller Stille"
  8) Nick Cave And Warren Ellis – "The Assassination Of Jesse James"
  9) Greg Dulli – "Live At Triple Door"
  10) Pete Murray – "Sunday At Eureka"
  
  Robin Hynes – Listings Editor
  1) The Felice Brothers – "The Felice Brothers"
  2)  Horse Feathers – "House with no Name"
  3) Pete Molinari – "A Virtual Landslide"
  4) Bonnie Prince Billy – "Lie Down in the Light"
  5) Fleet Foxes – "Fleet Foxes"
  6) Bon Iver – "For Emma, Forever Ago"
  7) Justin Rutledge – "Man Descending"
  8) Lambchop – "OH(Ohio)"
  9) Nels Andrews – "Offtrack Betting"
  10) Shearwater – "Rook"
  
  David Cowling – Lead Staff Writer
  1) Fleet Foxes – "Fleet Foxes"
  2) Port O'Brien – "All We Could Do Was Sing"
  3) Okkervil River – "Stand Ins"
  4) Peter Bruntnell – "Peter and the Murder of Crows"
  5) Horse Feathers – "House with No Home"
  6) Bonnie Prince Billie – "Is It the Sea"
  7) Frightened Rabbit – "Midnight Organ Fight"
  8) The Welcome Wagon – "Welcome to the Welcome Wagon"
  9) No Age – "Nouns"
  10) Avett Brothers – "Gleam II"
  
  Del Day – Staff Writer
  1) Fleet Foxes – "Fleet Foxes"
  2) Mark Erelli – "Delivered"
  3) NQ Arbuckle – "XOK"
  4) Damien Jurado – "In The Trees"
  5) a.h.a.b. – "a.h.a.b."
  6) Ferraby Lionheart – "Catch The Brass Ring"
  7) Rain Perry – "Cinderblock Bookshelves"
  8) Todd Snider – "Peace Queer"
  9) Lou Vargo – "American Disaster"
  10) Thomas Denver Jonsson – "The Lake Acts Like An Ocean"
  
  Ian Fildes – Staff Writer
  1) Elbow – "The Seldom Seen Kid"
  2) Mermaid Skeletons – "Darlings"
  3) Jenny Lewis – "Acid Tongue"
  4) Elvis Costello & The Impostors – "Momofuku"
  5) Calhoun – "falter.waiver.cultivate"
  6) The Wedding Present – "El Ray"
  7) Brice Woodall & The Positrons – "Sine Wave Sea"
  8) Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet – "Abigail Washburn & The Sparrow Quartet"
  9) Fleet Foxes – "Fleet Foxes"
  10)Death Cab for Cutie – "Narrow Stairs"
  
  Keith Hargreaves – Staff Writer
  1) Neil Young -  "Sugar Mountain"
  2) Peter Bruntnell  - "Peter and the Murder of Crows"
  3) The Felice Brothers – "The Felice Brothers"
  4) C R Avery  - "Sailor Songs"  
  5) Fleet Foxes – "Fleet Foxes"
  6) The Rustlanders – "The Rustlanders"
  7) Drive By Truckers - "Brighter Than Creations Dark"
  8) Jason Isabell – "Sirens of the Ditch"
  9) Bon Iver  - "For Emma, For Ever"
  10) Ryan Adams and the Cardinals  - "Cardinology"
  
  Dan Wilkinson – Staff Writer
  1) Bob Dylan – "Tell Tale Signs"
  2) Bon Iver – "For Emma, Forever Ago"
  3) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds -  "Dig!!!, Lazarus, Dig!!!"
  4) The Triffids – "Treeless Plain Re-issue" 
  5) The Replacements – "Let It Be Reissue"
  6) Creedence Clearwater Revival – "Cosmos Factory Re-issue"
  7) Hold Steady – "Stay Positive"
  8) Ryan Adams and the Cardinals – "Cardinology"
  9) Calexico – "Carried to Dust"
  10) Nils Logfren – "The Loner, Nils sings Neil"
  
  Andy Riggs – Staff Writer
  1) Rodney Crowell – "Sex & Gasoline"
  2) Alejandro Escovedo – "Real Animal"
  3) Haunt – "Deep North"
  4) Lindsay Buckingham – "Gift of Screws"
  5) Gary Louris – "Vagabonds"
  6) John Mellencamp – "Life, Death, Love & Freedom"
  7) Danny & The Champions of the World – "Danny and the Champions of the World"
  8) Victor Krummenchar – "Patriarch's Blues"
  9) Old 97s – "Blame It On Gravity"
  10) Rogue Wave – "Asleep at Heaven's Gate"
  
  Carl Anders – Staff Writer
  1) Lonely Drifter Karen – "Grass is Singing"
  2) Ben Folds – "Way to Normal"
  3) Lambchop – "(OH)Ohio"
  4) No Age – "Noun"
  5) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – "Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!"
  6) Weezer – "Red Album"
  7) AC/DC – "Black Ice"
  8) Drive-By Truckers – "Brighter than Dark's Creation"
  9) Damien Jurado – "Caught in Trees"
  10) Metallica – "Death Magnetic"
  
  Maurice Hope – Staff Writer
  1) Eliza Gilkyson – "Beautiful World"
  2) Dan Tyminski. -  "Wheels" 
  3) Ray Bonneville -  "Goin’ By Feel"
  4) Merle Haggard - "Live From Austin, Tx ‘78"
  5) Chris Knight – "Heart Of Stone"
  6) Tim O’Brien - "Chameleon"
  7) Darrell Scott - "Modern Hymns"
  8) Malcolm Holcombe - "Gamblin’ House"
  9) Various - "Moneyland"
  10) Rosalie Sorrels - "Strangers In Another Land - The Songs Of Bruce Utah Phillips"
  
  Kai Roberts – Staff Writer
  1) Chatham County Line – "IV"
  2) Fleet Foxes – "Fleet Foxes"
  3) The Accidental – "There Were Wolves"
  4) Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – "Dig! Lazarus Dig!"
  5) Johnny Flynn – "A Larum"
  6) Black Mountain – "In the Future"
  7) The Felice Brothers – "The Felice Brothers"
  8) Old Crow Medicine Show – "Tennessee Pusher"
  9) Mark Olson & Gary Louris – "Ready for the Flood"
  10) Railroad Earth – "Amen Corner"
  
  Paul Kerr – Staff Writer
  1) The Felice Brothers – "The Felice Brothers"
  2) Chris Brecht - "The Great Ride"
  3) Giant Sand - "Provisions"
  4) Jeremy Edwards and the Dust Radio Band - "Stay Hungry"
  5) Nick Cave And The Bad Seeds - "Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! "
  6) Justin Townes Earle  - "The Good Life"
  7) Backyard Tyre Fire - "The Places We Lived"
  8) The Baseball Project - "Volume 1: Frozen Ropes And Dying Quails"
  9) Calexico - "Carried To Dust"
  10) The Raconteurs - "Consolers of the Lonely"
  
  Phil Edwards – Staff Writer
  1) Bob Cheevers – "Fiona's World"
  2) Ryan Bingham – "Mescalito"
  3) Joe Ely & Joel Guzman – "Live Cactus"
  4) Rodney Crowell – "Sex and Gasoline"
  5) The Storys – "Beyond the Trees"
  6) James Dunn – "The Long Ride Home"
  7) Martin Stephenson & the Daintees – "Western Eagle"
  8) Glen Campbell – "Meet Glen Campbell"
  9) Jackson Browne – "Time the Conqueror"
  10)  Nels Andrews – "Off Track Betting"
  
  Lynne Pettinger – Staff Writer
  1) Devon Sproule – "Keep your Silver Shined"
  2) Okkervil River – "The Stand Ins"
  3) Chris Mills – "Living in the Aftermath"
  4) Willard Grant Conspiracy – "Pilgrim Road"
  5) Last Harbour – "Dead Fires and the Lonely Spark"
  6) Lambchop – "(OH) Ohio"
  7) Teddy Thompson – "A Piece of What You Need"
  8) Eileen Rose – "At Our Tables"
  9)Royal Wood – "A Good Enough Day"
  10) Green Peppers – "Adventures in the Slipstream"