Right, I'm going to try and do a best of this year mainly for myself but maybe as a useful "check it out" guide for firnds who may have missed out on something worth sampling.
There were a lot of good albums out in 2008, many of which I still need to listen to (courtesy of pitchfork top50) but these are my favourites from the year. I think the big trend this year was that 80s synth is back - this was clear in albums by Cut Copy, Black Kids and Mystery Jets. I just hope this doesn't mean that 80's fashion will creep back in 09-10.
A smaller trend was the heavy influence of African music sneeking into western artists in the form of Vampire Weekend and Dirty Projectors as well as genuine african music by tinarwien. It was also fun to see new albums by AC/DC and Guns 'n' Roses - good old fashioned cock-rock.
Anyway on with the top 10.

10. Okkervil River - the stand ins
Another consistent album that is fun with great lyrics and easy to sing along to. I also saw them give an excellent live performance in November. Even more impressive is how two of this bands founders made a spin-off band, shearwater, who's first album this year was excellent too.

9. Why? - alopecia
I'm not a huge fan of hip-hop rap but this album definitely struck a chord and is far more enjoyable than anything eminem has done. Get's in for being different from my usual fare.

8. Plants and animals
good old indie fun. It took a couple of listens to realise that "good friends" is a cover of a Damien Rice song. Plus "Mercy" has one of the coolest riffs of the year

7. Cut Copy
My favourite of the 80's influenced albums of the year. A bit like New-order the next generation where it's obvious where the influence is but not generic. One of those albums you can put on at a party and several people will ask who they are.

6. Born ruffians
It's a shame that Canada seems to be able to do British indie-rock far better than the dull generic artists we produce these days but at least we can still hear good indie-rock somewhere. I was shocked at how young this three=piece was when i saw them live back in March this year. I even had a brief chat with the Lead singer who was selling CDs by the bar (this was before they made a nice amount by selling humming-bird for use in an orange advert) and he seemed a bit shattered but cool with the fact i knew their album before it was out. Will be interested to see how they develop.

5. Black Mountain - In the future
In this album the band has settled into their motorcycle gang Led Zep influenced rock band, There are some great tracks on this album such as "Angels" and "Wucan" but it works best listened to in it's entireity. It could be because i was reading "A song of Ice and Fire" but the music just reminds me of some LOTR style fantasy adventure - probably helped by the gothic keyboards and the female singers vocals. Worthy of more recognition.

4.Bon Iver - For emma forever ago
I only became aware of this album as the band was supporting Iron and Wine and Jens Lekmann. I'm pleased I checked them out beforehand as they are really good. Haunting vocals and lo key music make this one of the more introspective albums of the year. They are amazing live too and easily eclipsed Iron and Wine's performance (mainly due to I&W stadifying their acoustic songs). A lot is made of how this album was written up in the wilderness in a hut when the frontman decided to escpae it all/ I thought it was a gimmick marketing tool (still is) but the album sounds like that too.

3. TV on the radio - Dear Science
With their third album I can finally agree that they are as good as all the critics claim. Their previous albums have had some good tracks but always felt a little inaccessible as an album but in this album everything gels and the entore album is instantly likeable without sacrificing any of their unique sound. I think they have hit their stride now, if not their next album may be truly amazing.

2. Broken social scene presents Brendan Canning - something for all of us
when it was announced that the next few BSS albums would be in the form of "presents ..." in which one band member takes creative control, I was skeptical it would be filler but with this album and Kevin drew's previous effort it is far from it. As this is the bass player in charge we are treated to some really cool bass riff tracks such as the funky "Love is new" but at the same time get some really great classic BSS songs in the form of "something for all of us" and "hit the wall". It's weird how both albums are clearly more influenced by one voice yet are still undeniably BSS. I guess it shows how well the band works as a whole in the main albums. Interested to see if there are any more "presents..." albums.

1. M83 - Saturdays = youth
From my first listen back in April I knew it was the best album I'd heard all year and, despite a lot of other great albums coming along, it was never bettered. Much like Tv on the radio, I'd enjoyed previous albums but never fallen in love with the band. Oddly it's with a more "fun" and 80s pop influenced album that they won me over. For me "Kim and Jessie" is the most uplifting song of the year followed immediately by the most haunting spine-tingling song of the year "skin of the night" and that's only 3 songs into the album. There are several other treats on the album and i have yet to grow tired of it. Brilliant.