World Music Central's Best World Music CDs of 2008

World Music Central's contributors have released the editor's top world music picks of 2008:

Angel Romero,  World Music Central/Músicas del Mundo (USA)

• Various Artists - Big Blue Ball  (Real World, 2008) 
• Buena Vista Social Club - Buena Vista Social Club At Carnegie Hall (World Circuit/Nonesuch, 2008) 
• Plena Libre - Plena Al Salsero (GM Musica, 2008)
• Dub Colossus - A Town Called Addis  (Real World, 2008)
• El Lebrijano - Cuando Lebrijano Canta Se Moja El Agua (Rosevil, 2008)
• Issa Bagayogo - Mali Koura (Six Degrees, 2008)
• Sa Dingding - Alive (Wrasse Records WRASS 213, 2007)
• Crooked Still - Still Crooked (Signature Sounds, 2008)
• Unni Løvlid - Rite (Grappa GRCD4223, 2008)
• Etran Finatawa - Desert Crossroads (Riverboat Records/World Music Network TUGCD 1048, 2008)
• Jamshied Sharifi - One (Ceres Records CER001, 2008)
• Mamak Khadem - Jostojoo (Forever Seeking) (Banyan Tree Production, 2008)

Conchi (Kontxi) Diez of Músicas del Mundo/World Music Central (Spain):

• Capercaillie - Roses and Tears
• Devotchka - A Mad and Faithful Telling
• John McCusker - Yella Hoose/Goodnight Ginger
• Lau - Liv
• Loreena McKennitt - A Midwinter Night's Dream
• Martha Wainwright - I Know You're Married But I've Got Feelings Too
• Noa - Genes & Jeans
• Ruper Ordorika - Hamar t'erdietan
• Sharon Shannon - Galway Girl: The Best of Sharon Shannon
• Shooglenifty - Troots
• Spiers & Boden - Vagabond
• Teddy Thompson - A Piece of What You Need

Patricia Herlevi, host of The Whole Music Experience blog and regular contributor of World Music Central (USA):

• Natacha Atlas, Ana Hina, World Village
• Julie Fowlis, Cuilidh, Shoeshine Records
• Gabriel Ayala, Portraits: Music for Classical Guitar, Canyon Records
• Kevin Locke, Earth Gift, Ixtlan Recording Consortium
• Mayra Andrade, Navega, Stern's Music
• Shastriya Syndicate, Syndicated, Sense World Music
• Sasha, Tappa Journey, Sense World Music
• Conjunto Jardin, Yerba Buena, independent
• The Tiptons Sax Quartet, Laws of Motion, independent-Seattle
• Jayme Stone & Mansa Sissoko, Africa to Appalachia, independent-Canada

Jill Turner of Gondwana Sound and World Music Central (UK):

• African Scream Contest - compiled by Samy Ben Redjeb - Analog Africa
• Dub colossus In a Town Called Addis- Real World
• Warsaw Village Band - Infinity (Jaro)
• Aly Keita - Akwabe Inisene (Contre Jour)
• Experience Morocco - compiled by DJ Umb (Nascente)
• Princes Amongst Men: Journeys with Gypsy Musicians - compiled by Garth Cartwright (Asphalt Tango)
• Inka Mbing - Ga-Ga (Trees Music)
• The Rail Band - Belle Epoque, Vol. 2: Mansa (Sterns)
• Broadcaster  - Primary Transmission (Red Grape)
• 10. Toumani Diabate - The Mande Variations (World Circuit)

Read more at www.gondwanasound.co.uk/node/288

Rafael Mieses, Músicas del Mundo (USA)

• Plena Libre “ Plena al salsero” (Ritmo Artists/GN Music)
• Concha Buika “Niña de Fuego” (Wea Internacional)
• Papo Vázquez -The Mighty Pirates  “Marooned” (Picaro Records)
• Esperanza Spalding “Esperanza” (Heads Up)
• McCoy Tyner “Guitars” (Half Note)
• Taj Mahal “Maestro” (Heads Up)
• Lila Downs “Shake away”(Manhattan Records)
• David Sánchez “Cultural Survival” (Concord Picante)
• Lionel Loueke “Karabu”( Blue Note)
• Raya Yarbrough (Telarc)