Why am I surprised-to-the-point-of-gagging by the “best of ‘08 so far” poll put forth by NPR’s All Songs Considered, which allows users to cast a ballot for Colin Meloy’s live album (41 votes so far!) but not for Erykah Badu’s astonishing New Amerykah Vol. 1, the Ponytail album, or the High Places album? And currently shows lone hip-hop representative Lil Wayne trailing Fleet Foxes, Wolf Parade, and the aforementioned Meloy collection? (Bon Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago and Vampire Weekend’s album are currently in a slapfight for first place.) Could it be that I figured a kinda-important broadcast outlet like NPR would at least try to, I don’t know, engage with music that ran beyond the safest parameters of “indie” and “rock” once in a while? Are we really becoming a nation of niches? What does this mean for future pledge drives? And finally, can I ask any more semi-rhetorical questions with obvious, depressing answers? After the jump, the poll, in all its milquetoast glory.

Please, for the love of God, tell me your favorite albums of the year so far. It’ll make me feel at least a little better.

What are your favorite albums of 2008 so far? Please, choose ONLY FIVE albums. [Quibblo via muSick in the head]