My year in music, 2008. Part 1
I wouldn’t necessarily call it a “best of” list. Especially since I bought a lot less new music this year than I usually do. Partly because two of my favorite local record stores closed down…Partly because of the depression (Wall St. and the Main St. kind).
So I’m sure there are noticable gaps in my exposure to the best that 2008 had to offer, and I have yet to fill them in. But these are some of the records that kept finding their way into my stereo - compiled and annotated by me, in no particular order and as I think of them.
Part 1 (Or, “Together we fill gaps.”):
Constantines, Kensington Heights
A solid rock and roll album. Sounds like The National’s toughass older brother.
TV on the Radio, Dear Science
Sexy, funky, groovy…blahblahblah. Good front to back.
Jim Noir, Self-Titled
I can’t remember how I got turned on to this guy. The future sound of the Beatles great-grandkids can be yours today. (That makes no sense) Also, in the running for coolest album cover of the year.
Jay Reatard, Matador Singles ‘08
Sort of a polarizing figure I guess, but I’m on the pro side. Prolific. Short hooky songs. Cool voice. Medium-Fi. Plenty to like.
Beck, Modern Guilt
Is there anyone else who has had a more simultaneously underrated and overexposed career? Probably…I’m not going to break a sweat thinking about it.
Mogwai, The Hawk Is Howling
If you are at all a fan of them and what they do, you can’t not like this album. (Even if ‘Batcat’ sort of looks and sounds like Tool.)
The Jealous Girlfriends, Self-Titled
Frank Yang from Chromewaves talked these guys up all year and I finally bought in.
The Breeders, Mountain Battles
Here’s what is real
Ba ba ba ba
Just want a girl
as cool as Kim Deal
The Raveonettes, Lust Lust Lust
He may look like John Mark Karr. She may look like a bodysnatcher. I don’t care…I like 60’s girl groups, I like fuzzed-out ripoffs of 60’s girl groups.
That’s enough for now I guess…like those old Johnny Carson bumpers say, “More to Come”