06.01.09
Well its that time again.
As 2008 bows out and 2009 makes its way into the spotlight everyone with a pulse and an opinion digs through their playlists and music collections to find bits of sound they deem worthy of accolades, just like how my mom (any I suspect, many other mothers) will dig through a years worth of good & bad just to find the best tidbits to put in the yearly Christmas letter.
I’m not knocking the tradition mind you, “best-of” lists are how I’ve come across lots of great music. That being said, I have constructed my best-of-the-year countdown in the hopes that perhaps someone will like what they hear and discover a new sound to get excited about.
Here are my top 20 albums of two thousand and eight, with twitter-inspired 140 character or less* descriptions to aid in digestibility:
*Actually that is a lie…there isn’t a word counter in Wordpress…so I just made the descriptions short.
20) TV On The Radio – Dear Science
Why it rocks: NYC bohemian funk, mashed up with falsettos and hand claps nicked straight from a church choir. Makes hipsters want to shimmy – enough said.
Listen to: Golden Age, Family Tree, Dancing Choose
19) Tokyo Police Club – Elephant Shell
Why it rocks: Dreamy, fuzzy indie with a flair for uptempo rhythm and down tempo vocals. Full of intricate instrumentation and jazzy guitars. Perfect driving music.
Listen to: In A Cave, Your English Is Good, Tessellate
18) Aspirations – EP
Why it rocks: Gritty, throaty hip-hop spit by an ex-member of Daggermouth backed up ever-evolving beats and countered by lovely female vocals.
Listen to: Get F***ed, 10729 King George Hwy
17) Fujiya & Miyagi – Lightbulbs
Why it rocks: Heavily influenced by krautrock & early 90’s electronic bands like Aphex Twin, this album holds a near-perfect combination of indie and electro.
Listen to: Collarbone, Ankle Injuries, Knickerbocker
16) The Maple State – Say Scientist EP
Why it rocks: Catchier then the flu, this young British quartet matches quirky lyrics with massive hooks and a pinch of synth to craft songs anyone can relate to.
Listen to: We Swear By The Night Life, You and Me and An X-Ray Machine
15) Spark Is A Diamond – Try This On For Size
Why it rocks: Imagine if the spirit of Death From Above 1979 rose from the grave and embodied a female-fronted hardcore band. Yup, it rocks that much.
Listen to: President of the Wrong Crowd, Try This On For Size, ___ ___ Has a Death Wish
14) Late of The Pier – Fantasy Black Channel
Why it rocks: These guys said they wanted to make music that makes drugs redundant – mission accomplished. This schizophrenic “new-rave’ album rocks just like The Klaxons LP did last year.
Listen to: Hearbeat, Focker, Bathroom Gurgle, Space And The Woods
13) Cancer Bats – Hail Destroyer
Why it rocks: People always ask me for recommendations of “angry music”. After this came out its all I would ever have to say. This juggernaut of straight up hardcore comes at you so fast and furiously you’ll be gasping for air when its done.
Listen to: Hail Destroyer, Sorceress, Lucifer’s Rocking Chair, Regret
12) La Dispute – Somewhere At The Bottom Of The River Between Vega And Altair
Why it rocks: Experimental rock at its finest. Encourages the listener to expand their notions of music and art by exploring time signatures, tempos, and song structures.
Listen to: Said The King, To The River, Bury Your Flame, Andria
11) Why? – Alopecia
Why it rocks: What the heck is this? Indie? Hip-hop? Spoken word? How about all of the above. Twisting word and melody into the most incredible stories I heard all year.
Listen to: The Hollows, The Fall of Mr.Fifths, By Torpedo or Chron’s
Why it rocks: Entertainment Weekly summed it up best: “The Virgins is punchy and slinky and over before you know it, but good, dirty fun while it lasts.”
Listen to: Hey Hey Girl, Rich Girls, Private Affair
9) Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Why it rocks: A cross-over album that seamlessly blends 80s vogue with new hip. It also holds true to its namesake, the sound can best be described as “ethereal”.
Listen to: Hearts on Fire, Out There On The Ice, Far Away
8) The Cool Kids – The Bake Sale EP
Why it rocks: Reminds of Run-DMC, what more can I say. Rhymes about everyday living and having fun laid over simple beats instead of drug-referencing bar anthems.
Listen to: Black Mags, A Little Bit Cooler, Basement Party, What Up Man
Why it rocks: Crafted to make you feel 15 & angsty again without all the goth, and easily accomplishes it while creating hugely atmospheric tracks.
Listen to: Graveyard Girl, Kim & Jessie, We Own The Sky
Why it rocks: Quirky & charming piano-pop that you can’t help but sing along to, no matter how hard you try – also has some of the most hilariously snarky lyrics in years.
Listen to: You Don’t Know Me, The Frown Song, Effington
Why it rocks: Besides winning the award for creepiest album art (in my opinion) this album proves that artsy indie & fluttery instrumentals are the bees knees in 2008.
Listen to: Cassius, Red Socks Pugie, The French Open, Olympics Airways
4) Means – To Keep Me From Sinking
Why it rocks: Abrasive and beautiful, this final LP was Means finest work – combining perfectly complimenting vocal styles, inspiring lyrics, and devastating sound.
Listen to: Breaking In, Blackout, Refuge, We Dwell In Possibility
3) Look See Proof – Between Here And There
Why it rocks: “The sound of skinny jeans, youthful vigour and guitars worn up around the collar bone, ‘Between Here And There’ is as suitable an accompaniment to summer as barbecues and beach wear.” That sums it up perfectly.
Listen to: Obstruction, Casualty, Local Hero, You Don’t Get It
2) Dance Gavin Dance – Untitled (The Death Star Album)
Why it rocks: If the incredible musicianship doesn’t floor, then the unique song structures or dynamic competing vocals will. Oh, and its been call “The Death Star Album” ROCK.
Listen to: Uneasy Hearts Weigh The Most, Me and Zoloft Get Along Just Fine, Preprogramming Mental Reprogramming
1) Does It Offend You, Yeah? – You Have No Idea What You Are Getting You’re Self Into
Why it rocks: You could spin this album at a rock show, a hipster gig, or a club, and everyone would like it every single time. Each song is its own little gem that criss-crosses genres to create something amazing and infectious no matter what the audience.
Listen to: Every song on the disc…but if I had to choose – Being Bad Feels Pretty Good, Lets Make Out, We Are Rockstars, Dawn of The Dead, With A Heavy Heart
Agree with these choices? Hate them? Have your own? Let me know.
Nice list, found some new (to me) stuff. Thanks!