New year, new blog. However, before we get too absorbed in 2009, we shall fare a trip back into the year previous. I found the absences of Operator Please and the Killers (oh, did anyone actually bother about their oh so terrible grammar) rather enjoyable; I enjoyed the presence of some great artists, both old and new to the scene, many of which are mentioned below.
Album lists - horrible things they are; how the enduring voice in my head oved to question my decisions. I don't see the lists below as final, music is an ever-changing mix of wet concrete, as some may like to put it, me included. It sounds swell.
1) AIR FRANCE - No Way Down EP
Summer. Sweden. 'Beauty and the Beast' samples. What more could a boy want? Each track screamed out perfection and pineapples, and while listening to this twenty-something minute record, I could not help but feel a burning desire somewhere to roam the meadows of Europe and waters of Tropicalia. Sounds pretentious? Yep. And prety true, too.
2) CONOR OBERST - S/T
I promised myself I wouldn't, but I streamed the entire album on his MySpace before it was released on CD. I simply couldn't wait those extra two days - I had been anticipating this album for a matter of weeks, the two tracks released weeks before the album had captivated me. I wanetd more. The verdict: The president wasn't talking to God this time; nor was Conor. Instead, the album, recorded in Mexico, was one massive road trip destined wherever - perhaps a fitting soundtrack to the ventures of Sal Paradise. To word 'rollicking' had appeared countless times in reviews describing to essence of 'I Dont Want To Die (In the Hospital)', the track in which Conor explores his American roots, and I found that no other word could simply describe it more accurately. I don't dance, but I sure wanted to whenever listening to this track (not that anyone else would wish to see me at it).
Throughout the rest of the album, the hella indie kid has delved into themes of escapism, thrown in a few Mexican quotes, and even though I don't know he's even singing about the rest of the time, I don't care. It's brilliant. It's rollicking.
3) SHE & HIM - Volume One
Almost every song sounds like a cover, but who's counting? Zooey's voice flows smoothly, Matt provides us with some captivating acoustic guitar licks, and the vocal harmonies top it off (NB: 'This Is Not A Test'). Though there are a number of terrific up-temp country rockers, it's the slower songs which get you, exemplified by 'Change Is Hard,' perhaps so sad that I feel happy. Counting down the days until Volume Two.
I didn't listen to very many albums this year; however, out of the ones I did, Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend, the Hold Steady and Augie March were others which stood out.
Track of the year was easily Hold Steady's "Constructive Summer". Craig Finn kinda sings on their latest album -certainly a change - and even though this track may not be heavy on vocal melody, it doesn't need to, the lyrics are the most prominent element of this track. 'Let this be my annual reminder/ That we can all be something bigger,' the line which Finn sings with a tad of guilt, a tad of regret, though a great deal of optimism, leads into a sequence of piano chords that grow into one final chorus, which goes on to reference Joe Strummer and makes me realise that this is rock and roll. And that's what the Hold Steady make you do.
Cat Power's "Song To Bobby"(technically a 2007 single but released on her half-there 'Jukebox' album this year) comes in at second, while 'No Excuses' by Swedish duo Air France found a place at third. Honorable mentions go to
Lost Coastlines - Okkervil River
The Summer - Josh Pyke
Tiger Mountain Peasant Song - Fleet Foxes
Unforgettable Season - Cut Copy
Oxford Comma - Vampire Weekend
While I enjoyed 2008's releases, I will remember the year for my discovery of so many brilliant artists and albums from previous years. These discoveries started at roughly one in the morning on the first day of the year, when Pavement's "Cut Your Hair" video made an appearance on Rage. This led on to a dear love of Pavement (and in particular, their Crooked Rain album, which I finally bought the physical CD of today after a year of listening to a ripped Library copy).
I've created my 'discoveries' list by means of songs, and it goes a bit like this:
1) Gold Soundz - Pavement
2) The Dream of Evan and Chan - Postal Service
3) Forkes and Knives- Beirut
4) Pink Moon - Nick Drake
5) Random Rules - Silver Jews
6) All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
7) Lived In Bars - Cat Power
8) Your Arms Around Me - Jens Lekman
9) This Time Tommorow - The Kinks
10) PJ Harvey - Good Fortune
2008. Good times.
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