Albums of 2008

10 - Subtle - ExitingARM

My favorite "wtf is going on?!" album. Indie hip hop, ambient, shoe gaze, post-whatever. It's just a mess of sounds that I don't quite understand, but it works.

9 - Kaki King - Dreaming Of Revenge

Technical guitar wizzardry at its finest, a truly dynamic talent... on record, or even live.

8 - Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

Fun indie pop. Easy on the ears. Feel-good music.

7 - We Are Scientists - Brain Thrust Mastery

Danceable indie at its finest. I enjoyed "Lethal Enforcer" and "That's What Counts" alot while showering before going out, and "After Hours" on the way home from a great night.

6 - Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow & Blue

Another reason to love Canadians, aside from the whole mayonnaise on french fries thing. I listened to this record alot, almost to the point of feeling bad to have neglected my other mp3s.

5 - Caithlin De Marrais - My Magic City

Ex-Rainer Maria frontwoman attempts solo shit and puts out something brilliant. I hope she never stops singing, cuz her voice is better than I remember.

4 - TV On The Radio - Dear Science

Awesome. No need to discuss this further. Still sour about missing their live show, though. Hmph.

3 - Earlimart - Hymn and Her

Wins the award for "Best Make-Out Music Of 2008." This album is so good, with or without the making out.

2 - Girl Talk - Feed The Animals

Party jams to the max. This guy ripped my LastFM top artists a new one, quickly climbing the charts with no end in sight. This music is like crack, except it's the opposite of whack. As in, it's good.

1 - Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer

This was a given, considering I saw them live 3 times this year and hung out with them at their last show. Drunken fools, but brilliant musicians. I highly anticipate their newest LP... whenever that will be. Sigh.

Singles of 2008

5 - Bloc Party - "Signs"

Romantic. Stunning. Pretty. Gorgeous. Scintillating. Induces tingles. This song is just luminous.

4 - Metro Station - "Shake It"

My guilty pleasure. Such a fun, get-up-and-dance song. Perfect for jumping around in your room alone while still high off a really great date (or something).

3 - The Morning Benders - "Dreams (Fleetwood Mac)" cover

The song that got me into these guys. Honorable mention is the Whiskeytown cover, as well. Recorded in 1997, but available on Strangers Almanac's 2008 Bonus re-release, but yeah. Both effin rock.

2 - TV On The Radio - "Crying"

Couldn't stop listening to this song, blasting it, putting it on loop. Much like "ExitingARM" by Subtle.

1 - Chris Brown - "Forever" vs. Usher - "Love In This Club"

I couldn't decide, but both are awesome. In the club, in your whip, whether switching 4 lanes with or without the top down, they are classic summer anthems.

Albums before 2008

5 - Gregory and The Hawk (2003 - current)

All her EP and LP work. She rocks, and I'll be listening to this her well into '09.

4 - Modest Mouse - Building Nothing Out Of Something (2000)

Never fully got the chance to properly go through their entire discography, but glad I finally did start with this compilation of A and B-sides. Orgasmically amazing sounds.

3 - Cowboy Junkies - The Trinity Session (1988)

Aside from "Sweet Jane" and Margo Timmins' voice giving me chills each and every time, but "Blue Moon Revisited (Song For Elvis)" is sonic perfection. Why aren't/weren't they more popular!? Jeez.

2 - Nick Drake - Pink Moon (1972)

Oh man, I love him. I just got back into him and have been asking myself why I ever stopped listening? Sorry Nick!

1 - Sorry, it's a 4-way tie of "Albums I Never Get Tired Of, From Start To Finish"

PJ Harvey - Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea (2000). Ryan Adams - Rock N' Roll (2003). The Replacements - Let It Be (1984) and Tim (1985). Get them, own them, looove them.

Best concert of 2008

Fleet Foxes @ Webster Hall, NYC: 10-5-08

Why can't all bands harmonize the way these cats do? Seeing them live is incredible enough to turn a nay-sayer into a newly crazed fan. Promise.

Biggest musical dissapointment 2008

Death Cab For Cutie - Plans

I think it's time someone develops a drug problem or they part ways due to "creative differences." It sounds like a diss, but it's not. I'm only upset because I expect brilliance from them, so really, it's still a compliment laced in with a diss.

2008 | site by itscalledlove.com