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=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: brennser on December 10, 2008, 04:59:29 pm
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As Dupek would say, poast yer picks.....(or are we too cool to do that)
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I'll get us off on the wrong foot....
Katy Perry - One of the Boys
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TV on the Radio - Dear Science
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Beck - Modern Guilt
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TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Rolling Stone agrees with you (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/24958695/albums_of_the_year)
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Records I really enjoyed:
Chad VanGaalen - Soft Airplane
Gaslight Anthem - '59 Sound
Jennifer O'Connor - Here with You
American Music Club - Golden Age
Los Campesinos - Hold on now Youngster
Felice Brothers
Incredibly overrated albums I'm tired of hearing about:
Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes
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Bon Iver is criminally overrated.
My pretty well-cemented top 5:
Lindstrom - Where You Go I Go Too
Carla Bozulich's Evangelista - Hello, Voyager
Raccoo-oo-oon - Raccoo-oo-oon
Matmos - Supreme Balloon
James Blackshaw - Litany of Echoes
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Glad I'm not the only one who doesn't get the Bon Iver record (or the Vampire Weekend for that matter).
I need to think about this more but hands down #1 album of the year for me was
Elbow 'The Seldom Seen Kid'
nothing else even came close
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With you on the Vampire Weekend album, too.
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Eagles of Death Metal -- Heart On
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Rest of my top 10 after thinking about it a little more:
Brightblack Morning Light - Motion to Rejoin
Secret Chiefs 3 - Xaphan
Rusalnaia - Rusalnaia
Grails - Doomsdayer's Holiday
Jay Reatard - Matador Singles '08
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My top 20 for the year.
1. Sun Kil Moon ? April
2. Bonnie Prince Billy ? Lie Down in the Light
3. Paul Westerberg ? 49:00
4. Metallica ? Death Magnetic
5. Erykah Badu ? New Amerykah Part One
6. Made Out of Babies ? The Ruiner
7. Lindsey Buckingham ? Gift of Screws
8. Titus Andronicus ? The Airing of Grievances
9. Black Elk ? Always a Six Never a Nine
10. Cheap Time ? Cheap Time
11. Harvey Milk ? Life?
12. Times New Viking ? Rip it Off
13. Ladytron ? Velocifero
14. Dr. Dog ? Fate
15. Dodos ? Visitor
16. Magnetic Fields - Distortion
17. Fabulous Diamonds ? Fabulous Diamonds
18. Grand Archives ? S/T
19. Blood on the Wall - Liferz
20. Gang Gang Dance ? Saint Dymphna
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Damn...totally forgot about that Magnetic Fields album. It's definitely in my top 20 somewhere. Finally got around to that Harvey Milk album a few days ago; liked it a lot.
Did you catch Fabulous Diamonds at Snailhook's (former :() house over the summer? They're even better live.
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1. The Walkmen - You & Me
2. Oxford Collapse - Bits
3. British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
4. Vampire Weekend - s/t
5. Hot Chip - Made in the Dark
6. Flight of the Conchords - s/t
Honorable Mention: Nick Lowe - Jesus of Cool [reissue]
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I'm still using my trusty abacus to count my totals and compile my list, but all i can say is damn you all. My list has grown more indie-centric over the years since I joined this board. It's all your fault.
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Impressive...you all are mentioning albums/artist I haven't seen discussed here...(Where's the Que Escuchando thread?)
Others have already been mentioned....
Steve Reynolds - The Carnival Papers
Old 97s - Blame It On Gravity
Nada Surf - Lucky
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Yeah, I haven't played MF's Distortion in a couple months, but I was all over that for the first six months of the year. Was kind of surprised to see it tagged as 2008 in iTunes because that feels like so long ago.
I would've loved to see Fab Diamonds in that kind of setting, but alas, I didn't. I really love that album and play it constantly.
Others that didn't make the cut but came damn close:
Parts & Labor ? Receivers
GZA ? Pro Tools
NaS - The N Tape
Santogold ? Santogold
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
Meshuggah ? obZen
Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
Black Mountain ? In the Future
School of Seven Bells ? Alpinisms
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based on my Last.fm, I've listened to these the most:
1) Nada Surf - Lucky
2) Fleet Foxes - S/T
3) The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
4) +/- - Xs On Your Eyes
5) The Gutter Twins - Adorata
6) Bon Iver ? For Emma, Forever Ago
7) David Bazan - DVD Bonus Material
8) Mogwai - The Hawk Is Howling
9) The Cassettes - Countach
10) Nada Surf ? Vinyl Box Set 1994-2008 Bonus Download
Tons of stuff in between, but released from before 2008. Lots of 2007 still creeping around. Lots of 1993 creeping around too.
I'm not sure how Bon Iver placed so well. I only really like the first 2 songs on the album. Lump Sum is excellent. I guess I kept giving it 'another chance.' His clangy over use of the e-bow on acoustic guitars wears thin on me.
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Off the top of my head...........
1) Blitzen Trapper - Furr
2) Malkmus/Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
3) Beck - Modern Guilt
4) Pas/cal - We Were Raised on Matthew, Mark, Luke, and Laura
5) Vampire Weekend - s/t
6) EofDM - Heart On
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Foxboro Hot Tubs
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- Charlatans: You Cross My Path
- Boys Noize - Bugged Out Suck My Deck
- Soulwax: Live at Fabric
- Friendly Fires: S/T
- The Whip: X-Marks Destination
- Digitalism: Kitsuné Tabloid
- Late of the Pier: Fantasy Black Channel
- The Last Shadow Puppets: Age of the Understatement
- Justice: A Cross the Universe
- Hot Chip: Made in the Dark
- The Delays - Everything's the Rush
best one-off album from the UK magazine Mixmag is Riton's mix album: The Warehouse Project
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She & Him - Vol. 1
hands down.
other notables: tv on the radio, vampire weekend, the kills, hot chip, flight of the conchords
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That's my wife's favorite, too. Must be a chick thing.
She & Him - Vol. 1
hands down.
other notables: tv on the radio, vampire weekend, the kills, hot chip, flight of the conchords
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That's my wife's favorite, too. Must be a chick thing.
She & Him - Vol. 1
hands down.
other notables: tv on the radio, vampire weekend, the kills, hot chip, flight of the conchords
I think so too, PASTE magazine lists it as their number 1 album of the year as well.
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meh. I can't stand Zooey's voice! it makes me want to commit ear violence on myself. I don't get it. But whatever, people don't like the music I like...
I think it was an awful year for music and I have very few faves (but I haven't heard a lot of things that people rave about)
Nada Surf's Lucky is my favorite by far. Neptune by The Duke Spirit is second on my list. I think I only have two on my list. Honorable mentions go to Hercules & Love Affair, Spiritualized and Ani Difranco. Everything else was...alright I guess...even bands that I like put out only so-so albums. meh.
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I was just about to start the "bands I like that disappointed me this year" thread.
TVOTR
Boris (Japanese version of Smile got many listens from me but the American version was a watered down piece of crap)
Man Man
Wooden Wand aka James Jackson Toth (although he's been on the road to Jeff Tweedy wannabe land for a while now)
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Bon Iver's voice bugs the hell out of me.
Incredibly overrated albums I'm tired of hearing about:
Bon Iver
Fleet Foxes
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anything devendra did in 2008, whether it walking/talking/writing his bike.
me like me some of of that blitzen trapper disk.
but best of the best, is that four disk box set that the dead roy orbison put out. awesome. damn good awesome.
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Actually a pretty weak music year all around. My faves:
M83- Saturdays= Youth
Herbie Hancock- River
Goldfrapp- Seventh Tree
Killers- Day and Age
And OK I relent, Coldplay and TV on the Radio (which although good and I don't get the hype)
And the Cure 4:13 Dream, b/c they are the Cure.
Really dissapointed by the new Bloc Party, and very weak hip-hop offerings this year...
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Hip-hop has pretty much been flatlined for all of '07 and '08, sadly.
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Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!! - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
&
The Living & the Dead - Jolie Holland
are both masterpieces. Pretty much shoot everything else out of the water for me.
Also love Summer Rains - The Ditty Bops...especially the packaging. They're up for a Grammy. Hurrah for pop up boobs!
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My top 15 of the year.
1. Cloud Cult ? Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
2. Mates of State ? Re-Arrange Us
3. Foals ? Antidotes
4. Deerhunter ? Microcastle
5. Blitzen Trapper ? Furr
6. Fujiya & Miyagi ? Lightbulbs
7. The Whigs ? Mission Control
8. Sigur Rós - Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
9. Tim Fite ? Fair Aint Fair
10. My Morning Jacket ? Evil Urges
11. The Watson Twins ? Fire Songs
12. Flight of the Conchords ? S/T
13. Wolf Parade ? At Mount Zoomer
14. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
15. Sons and Daughters ? This Gift
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1.) Cat Power - Jukebox
2.) The Black Keys - Attack & Release
3.) The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
4.) Spiritualized - Songs in A&E
5.) TV on the Radio - Dear Science
6.) Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
7.) She & Him - Volume One
8.) Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On
9.) Nicole Atkins & The Sea - Digs Other People's Songs
10.) CSS - Donkey
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Ah yes of course, Endalaust & Songs in A&E also belong in the second tier of favorites. Both are albums I listen to while studying/napping so they get lodged in my unconscious brain.
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Can't can't can't stop listening to the Little Joy s/t
others:
The Raconteurs
Vampire Weekend
Eagles of Death Metal
The Black Keys
Sebastien Grainger & The Mountains
Kings of Leon
Noah & The Whale
The Whip
CSS
The Presets
Cut Copy
Does It Offend You, Yeah?
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Pitchfork should take a lesson from Dusted:
"We?ve decided yet again to not publish a definitive list of records that would rank the past year?s harvest. With a staff surpassing 40, our tastes differ to a degree that would reward the mediocre records among us. Instead, Dusted will feature individual year-end reviews from 20 of our writers, two features per day from Dec. 8-12 and Dec. 15-19. Click on the link in the headline above to see the growing list. We hope these prove more interesting, if less convenient, than a simple "best of" list."
Yeah I know Pitchfork posts their writers' lists separately but most of the emphasis is put on the site's list which does, more often than not, reward the mediocre albums.
Dusted's lists thus far (http://www.dustedmagazine.com/features/category/33)
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top 15:
Foals - Antidotes
The Black Keys - Attack and Release
Ten Kens - s/t
Santogold - s/t
Ladyhawk - Shots
TV On the Radio - Dear Science,
The Knux - Remind Me In 3 Days...
The Black Ghosts - s/t
Black Affair - Pleasure Pressure Point
Hot Chip - Made In the Dark
Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig
Black Milk - Tronic
Constantines - Kensington Heights
White Denim - Workout Holiday
The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
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Pitchfork should take a lesson from Dusted:
"We?ve decided yet again to not publish a definitive list of records that would rank the past year?s harvest. With a staff surpassing 40, our tastes differ to a degree that would reward the mediocre records among us. Instead, Dusted will feature individual year-end reviews from 20 of our writers, two features per day from Dec. 8-12 and Dec. 15-19. Click on the link in the headline above to see the growing list. We hope these prove more interesting, if less convenient, than a simple "best of" list."
I think that's pretty dumb. The only way a record makes it to the top of a group list is if a lot of people vote it high, meaning that it's not mediocre or at least that it had fans. That's the value of it. I don't consider the list from Joe Blow from Dusted or Magnet or Pitchfork or Popmatters to be any different than, say, someone on this board. But a collected group and ranking from a publication *is* interesting because it represents a collective of (somewhat) informed opinions. The most interesting end-of-year read for me is the final list of the Sound Opinions Message Board, which will be a grouping of around 50-60 music obsessives. I'll look at the individual lists, but the fun will be to see how the group voted, to see which titles fought their way to the top. And that is why college football needs a playoff format.
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"Black Affair - Pleasure Pressure Point"
Oooooooooh I didn't even know this came out.
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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus! Dig!
Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
Nada Surf - Lucky
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Juana Molina - Un Dia (!!!!!!!!)
Arthur Russell - Love is Overtaking Me
Parenthetical Girls - Entanglements
Hercules and Love Affair - s/t
Juliana Hatfield - How to Walk Away
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Part 1: 4th World War
That's my top 10 in no certain order.
(Did the Drive-By Truckers album come out this year? I just got into them this year, but I *really* think it's good.)
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I forgot about that Parenthetical girls.
That's a pretty cool album.
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so, what, is this like a mini-series?
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dandy warhols - earth to the dandy warhols
electric touch - s/t
coldplay - viva la vida
foals - antidotes
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this just makes me want to crawl in a hole and die. music fucking sucks lately, as i have learned from this post. god the new nada surf isnt even good. this is so pathetic.
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Best DVD of the year- New Order Live in Glasgow, sure they look old as dirt but a great show with definitive versions of many of their best songs...
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this just makes me want to crawl in a hole and die. music fucking sucks lately, as i have learned from this post. god the new nada surf isnt even good. this is so pathetic.
There was plenty of good music this year. Maybe you should stop whining and start checking out new stuff.
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The new Fire on Fire album that just came out last week is excellent. Just heard it last night.
Damn...I might have to rethink part of my list now.
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Is that the band on Gira's label?
The new Fire on Fire album that just came out last week is excellent. Just heard it last night.
Damn...I might have to rethink part of my list now.
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Yes.
It includes the two main members of Big Blood, Micah Blue Smaldone and two other dudes.
Myspace (http://myspace.com/fireonfiremusic)
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Sure, there was some good music this year. But the older stuff that I discovered this year definitely gets way more rotation than anything new.
The Feelies -- Only Life (SO underrated...I infinitely prefer this to the first Feelies record)
Devo -- Duty Now for the Future (actually probably my favorite Devo LP)
The Stranglers -- Rattus Norvegicus (don't know how I missed that one...it's amazing)
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Just now giving this Sunn O))) album Domkirke a full and focused listen.
Listened to one track months ago, meant to go back to it and totally forgot about it until now. I had no idea music could be this awesomely dark and evil. Shit's just downright scary at points.
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finally got around to doing a top 10....
always nice to see other folks lists....
10. My Brother Woody - Its A Long Way From That Sort of Thing You Were Raised
9. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
8. Ladytron - Velicofero
7. Santogold
6. Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
5. Julie Ocean - Long Gone and Nearly There
4. TVOTR - Dear Science
3. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
2. She & Him - Volume I
and.....
1. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
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she and him - volume one (and i think this is winning accross the board [pun intended] as AMAZING)
nada surf - lucky
miniature tigers - tell it to the volcano
jenny lewis - acid tounge
animal collective - water curses ep
sebastien tellier - sexuality
fleet foxes - ragged wood. i don't care what everyone says. this is a great album.
coldplay - viva la vida
beach house - devotion
the kills - midnight boom
pwrfl power - s/t
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I would've included the AC EP if I knew we were counting EP's.
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ha! i don't know that we are.
but i listened to a ton of old music this year and not so much new stuff so i thought i'd throw it in because it is awesome, and came out this year.
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Yes, it is awesome.
Holy shit. I just looked for the "Animal Collective are racist" Water Curses review on dusted so I could link it here in case you haven't seen it and it seems to have been removed. Maybe they finally got rid of that asshole writer and pulled down all of his ridiculous nonsensical reviews.
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Yes, it is awesome.
Holy shit. I just looked for the "Animal Collective are racist" Water Curses review on dusted so I could link it here in case you haven't seen it and it seems to have been removed. Maybe they finally got rid of that asshole writer and pulled down all of his ridiculous nonsensical reviews.
For possibly the first time in my life, I exercised my right to be a nitpicky douchebag with no life and I.... WROTE A LETTER. Told the editor that the review reflected badly on him, his family, and everything he holds dear.
Damn, it got some results. I might have to do this more often.
THE SYSTEM WORKS
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Dear 9:30 Forum,
Will someone please man up and compile all of these lists into one master 9:30 Best of 2008 List for me to read at my leisure. That would be super.
Thanks,
All My Love
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Ditto...but remove any albums that already hate or am inclined to hate.
Dear 9:30 Forum,
Will someone please man up and compile all of these lists into one master 9:30 Best of 2008 List for me to read at my leisure. That would be super.
Thanks,
All My Love
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Yes, it is awesome.
Holy shit. I just looked for the "Animal Collective are racist" Water Curses review on dusted so I could link it here in case you haven't seen it and it seems to have been removed. Maybe they finally got rid of that asshole writer and pulled down all of his ridiculous nonsensical reviews.
For possibly the first time in my life, I exercised my right to be a nitpicky douchebag with no life and I.... WROTE A LETTER. Told the editor that the review reflected badly on him, his family, and everything he holds dear.
Damn, it got some results. I might have to do this more often.
THE SYSTEM WORKS
whoa, i never read that article. sounds tasty. what did it say? racist?
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Found it.
Ahh...good ol' google cache (http://74.125.47.132/search?q=cache:Xu4EnV5jOQkJ:www.dustedmagazine.com/reviews/4276+%22dusted+magazine%22+%22water+curses%22+racist&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us)
One of the most absurd things I've ever read.
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According to Itunes, these were my favorites
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
Vampire Weekend
Katy Perry - One of the Boys
Dr. Dog - Fate
TVOTR - Dear Science
AC/DC - Black Ice
Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
Santogold
REM - Accelerate
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Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus! Dig!
Goldfrapp - Seventh Tree
Nada Surf - Lucky
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Juana Molina - Un Dia (!!!!!!!!)
Arthur Russell - Love is Overtaking Me
Parenthetical Girls - Entanglements
Hercules and Love Affair - s/t
Juliana Hatfield - How to Walk Away
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah, Part 1: 4th World War
That's my top 10 in no certain order.
(Did the Drive-By Truckers album come out this year? I just got into them this year, but I *really* think it's good.)
UGHHHHHH, I totally left off:
-Kelley Polar, "I Need You to Hold On While the Sky is Falling"
-Martina Topley-Bird, "The Blue God"
-Dido, "Safe Trip Home"
-Morgan Geist, "Double Night Time"
All four of those are prime examples of phenomenal, overlooked music this year.
That Kelley Polar record is the most ambitious, experimental dance record of the year, and it has totally grown on me exponentially.
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Usually I avoid creating best of lists mostly because I can never remember everything and inadvertantly leave a lot of good stuff off. Also, there are always those releases that didn't come into your life until the following year that were a best of for the year for you but some anal retentive type will make a point of noting that any given album was actually released in the UK 2 years prior.
Anyway, the following are far from my only faves of 2008 but getting listed here solely to be noted as some of my favorties of 2008.
Tears Run Rings - Always, Sometimes, Seldom, Never
Soundpool - Dichotomies & Dreamland
The Ruling Class - Tour de Force (7" w/ EP CD)
93MillionMilesFromTheSun - 93MillionMilesFromTheSun (Promo full length)
The Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost
The Fakes - I know You Are Smiling Because You Are Asleep
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Not to mention all the 2008 stuff you'll hear for the first time after the year has ended.
I just found this, for instance:
Hans-Joachim Roedelius & Tim Story - Inlandish
Very pretty synth/strings compositions.
Edit: Didn't Hammock - Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow come out this year?
That was pretty great.
Edit2: This Roedelius/Story is really, really good!
Must-hear for fans of anything Roedelius has done.
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Edit: Didn't Hammock - Maybe They Will Sing For Us Tomorrow come out this year?
Yes.
In fact, I totally forget to note Hammock in my best live shows of 2008 along with God Is An Astronaut. Most embarrasing part of that is that God publically thanked me for something I did for them and dedicated a song to me. Dementia is such a bitch sometimes. ::)
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1. Fleet Foxes- The self titled debut+ the Sun Giant e.p.
When I first read about this band, with comparisons to CSNY, the Moody Blues, and the acoustic side of Zeppelin, I thought "No thanks." Then I read comparisons to the Beach Boys and Neil Young (minus the CSN), so I figured I'd give it a shot. And boy was I rewarded. Each song sounds timeless as well as fresh. And unlike most indie rockers, these Seattle boys can actually sing. Some of the lyrics would be downright corny coming from anybody else, but it's perfect coming from their mouths. A runaway for my favorite album of the year, as well as a critical favorite and listener poll favorite.
2. Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson- Rattlin Bones
Kasey Chambers has always had one of those squeaky voices where any more than a little goes alot too far. Her alt-country leanings were fine, though neither alt nor country enough to pique my interest. Happily, those two complaints were remedied with this album. Her voice is tempered and toned when combined and complemented with that of her husband, fellow Aussie Shane Nicholson. Together, they opt to put the emphasis on the COUNTRY rather than the ALT, a decision that serves them well. Some voices were made to sing together: George and Tammy, Gram and Emmylou, Conway and Loretta, Clay and Celine (nah, forget that one); these two must be added to the list. This album went #1 in Australia and won all kinds of awards there, but won't make a dent here. Our loss.
3. Shearwater- Rook
Admittedly, what little I knew about this band before their latest album was that they were some sort of arty offshoot of Okkervil River. Then I saw that they were playing Millenium Stage, so I gave them a listen and though it sounded a little bit prettier and a tad more fey than my typical tastes, I was intrigued. Then I saw them live, and forgive the cliche', but I was darn near close to being blown away. I later read an article about the lead singer's side gig passion for ornithology, and that explains all of the wildlife imagery contained in this song cycle. Long story short: imagine Jeff Buckley singing songs about birds, with much more interesting musical accompaniment, and you have your introduction to this one.
4.Drive By Truckers- Brighter Than Creation's Dark
DBT made two of my favorite three albums of this decade, but their last one won't even land in my top 100. This one is a fine step back in the right direction. It more or less leaves behind the Stones/Faces/Replacements vibe of the last album (which DBT did reasonably well, but what band doesn't?) amd returns to the more country-ish roots of their earliest week. And even without guitar god Jason Isbell they still crank out one of the two best rawk shows (along with Wilco) of any band out there.
5. Dr. Dog- Fate
I was exposed to Dr. Dog accidentally, early in their career when I caught them opening for Bobby Bare. A solid live act, but their eight track power pop actually felt too underproduced when I heard the recorded version. This record was one where the increased production sheen actually helped me like it more. Shades of the Band, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and Wilco. Ok, nothing at all innovative here, but there's little innovation in chocolate ice cream, but I'll eat a well produced bowl of that any day you stick it in my face.
6. Death Cab for Cutie- Narrow Stairs
I've never been able to make sense of this bands appeal...their music always sounded much less melodic and acessible than their less successful brethren Nada Surf. Less accessible yet not terribly interesting, to me. Despite that, this album clicked for me. The one-two starter punch of Bixby Canyon Bridge and I Will Possess Zooey's Heart is followed by a solid set of (for me) more melodic and accessible songs, including the poignant breakup lyrics of Your New Twin Sized Bed.
7. Santogold- Santogold
A 30something chick from Philly who previously worked on the business side of the record industry and seemingly got her shit from MIA, I'm all over that one. Just kidding. Based on the bio, I didn't want to like her. But musically, she's more realized than MIA; combining elements of hip hop, reggae, punk, new wave, dance and soul into a delicious melange of modern music. Oh, and check out the album cover. This chick can puke alot of gold.
8. Okkervil River- The Stand Ins
Rhett Miller was once the poster boy for twangy literate pretty boys writing and hiccuping out heartbreaking tales that intertwined the perils of the road and the woes of failed romance for alt-country fans who probably didn't really like country music. And somehow he'd write that last sentence in both a more poetic and more coherent way than I did. But then The Fool went and got a beautiful wife and made beautiful children and mediocre, more blandly written happy music. Thankfully the world has his less pretty cross state compatriot Will Sheff to pick up and advance the hiccup singer flag for him. This album is the sequel to 2007's great album the Stage Names. It doesn't quite measure up to that one, but doesn't need to.
9. Frigthened Rabbit- Midnight Organ Fight
Another one that I almost missed, but then I found it. Imagine John Roderick of the Long Winters singing painfully honest and sometime brutal (like the security guards in a French museum) breakup lyrics, accompanied by the guitar stylings of early 80's era Edge (but don't imagine Adam Clayton's bass, because this three guitar band doesn't use one). Some might say this record is a tad generic, but the key to winning when you're generic is being better than your competition, and these guys are.
10. The Walkmen- You and Me
This is another band that I've always managed to avoid before this year. They sounded like Dylan fronting the Strokes and they had DC prep school origins. Reasons enough to avoid them. But this album seemed less Dylan AND less Strokes, and more Joe Henry, and just a plain old good listen start to finish. One of those albums where the sum was greater than the parts. No stellar singles, but the songs just blend seemlessly together.
11. Calexico- Carried To Dust
A two pronged band that combines very cool mariachi inspired Southwestern flavored songs with blander alt-rock fare. That would describe these guys. Fortunately, this records tips in the direction of the former, and makes it a winner.
12. Liam Finn- I'll Be Lightning
This album for me instantly exceeded it's two touchpoints, the Beatles and Crowded House. Though admittedly, I've always felt rather neutral regarding both of those acts (give me the Stones (or the Kinks or the Who) over the Beatles any day). But once I saw his disappointing one man, slightly larger but musically less than one woman live act, my love for his album came back to earth. Nonetheless, a very solid tuneful pop album, and the world could use more of those.
13. Dengue Fever- Venus on Earth
You can take a Cambodian pop star out or Cambodia and throw her in a room of Silver Lake hipsters, but she'll still make you a lovely album of loungey, surf, garagey psychedically groovy ditties. This one slightly exceeds their previous excellent effort Escape from Dragon House, including a couple of (for the first time, I think) English language songs.
14. Patty Loveless- Sleepless Nights
Patty Loveless has long had one of the best singing voices in mainstream country. Put it with the right material and right production, in this case a bevy of classic country tunes, and of course you're going to get a strong record.
15. Nada Surf- Lucky
Those whose tastes never progressed beyond the 90's will no doubt recall this Popular band. If you were Lucky enough to have missed them in the 90's and picked up on them in THIS decade, you probably already know that they delivered their second straight strong (yet unspectacular) collection of shimmering power pop following 2002's spectacular Let Go.
16. Devotchka- A Mad and Faitful Telling
For those unfamiliar: Little Miss Sunshine. Though 2004's classic How It Ends remains the one Devotchka album you really need to own, this one would be good to have in case your one year old moves How It Ends to someplace where it can't be located. Forget Gogol Bordello and Beirut, this is Eastern European gypsy music for the 2000's and beyond.
17. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down- We Brave Bee Stings and All.
She first came across as a less earthy indie version of Jolie Holland who had been listening to alot of Feist. Then I found out she was an Asian chick (actually her name sort of clued be in on that part from the getgo) from the same suburban DC county I live in. Since we got nothing new from Feist this year, this was the next best thing.
18. She and Him- Volume One
Actress Zooey Deschanel) advanced up the food chain of musical boyfriends...some guy from Maroon 5, Jason Schwartzman, all the way to M. Ward, to finally settling for Ben Gibbard. She also wrote some hearfelt pop/alt-countryish tunes and then the great M. managed to successfully dress up her less than beautiful voice and make her sound like a real musician much, much moreso than that TV on the Radio guy did for Scarlett johansen.
19. Hayden- In Town and Field
Hayden, like Nada Surf, is to some seemingly a relic of the 90's. Undoubtedly, he's a more minor character in the music of that decade as well as the current one. Nonetheless, his output has improved as albums have come, so much so that this one lands on my list. The world needs more wistful singer-songwriter stuff like it needs a global financial crisis. But if Josh Rouse's genius has gone the way of my 401K, I'll take replacements like this.
20. Jamie Lidell- Jim
I'm a sucker for old Motown/Stax retro soul sounds. So is Raphael Saadiq. He left the new jack behind and went retro with his latest. Jamie Lidell is as well. He left his modern electronica sounds behind to make a totally retro album too. And what do you know? The white guy from England winehoused (that's definition #1 of 5 in the dictionary for the use of winehouse as a verb) the black guy from Oakland, putting out a better record from start to finish.
Best reissues/best ofs/live albums etc: Josh Rouse-Rykodisk Years, Belle and Sebastian-BBC Sessions, Nick Lowe-Jesus of Cool, Neil Young-Live and Canterbury House
Most overrated albums (by critics) TV on the Radio, Portishead, the Hold Steady, Kings of Leon
Most Disappointing albums, though not surprisingly so: Old 97's, the Hold Steady, Of Montreal
Best live shows: Wilco-9:30 Club, DBT-9:30 Club, Old 97's-Tractor Tavern, Shearwater-Millenium Stage Nada Surf-all three times I saw them.
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heres my best of mix cd for 08
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IEZ2XYI5
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heres my best of mix cd for 08
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IEZ2XYI5
That's so yesterday's news (hehe).....and here I thought I was the only one that liked the new REM.
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hahaha for the select few - this is old news. for everyone else - not so much. and im sure most people will hate about half the songs :) and i loved the new REM album! :) of course we also liked coldplay. must be a california thing!
heres my best of mix cd for 08
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=IEZ2XYI5
That's so yesterday's news (hehe).....and here I thought I was the only one that liked the new REM.
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Do you write for PASTE magazine or FILTER? ;D
1. Fleet Foxes- The self titled debut+ the Sun Giant e.p.
When I first read about this band, with comparisons to CSNY, the Moody Blues, and the acoustic side of Zeppelin, I thought "No thanks." Then I read comparisons to the Beach Boys and Neil Young (minus the CSN), so I figured I'd give it a shot. And boy was I rewarded. Each song sounds timeless as well as fresh. And unlike most indie rockers, these Seattle boys can actually sing. Some of the lyrics would be downright corny coming from anybody else, but it's perfect coming from their mouths. A runaway for my favorite album of the year, as well as a critical favorite and listener poll favorite.
2. Kasey Chambers and Shane Nicholson- Rattlin Bones
Kasey Chambers has always had one of those squeaky voices where any more than a little goes alot too far. Her alt-country leanings were fine, though neither alt nor country enough to pique my interest. Happily, those two complaints were remedied with this album. Her voice is tempered and toned when combined and complemented with that of her husband, fellow Aussie Shane Nicholson. Together, they opt to put the emphasis on the COUNTRY rather than the ALT, a decision that serves them well. Some voices were made to sing together: George and Tammy, Gram and Emmylou, Conway and Loretta, Clay and Celine (nah, forget that one); these two must be added to the list. This album went #1 in Australia and won all kinds of awards there, but won't make a dent here. Our loss.
3. Shearwater- Rook
Admittedly, what little I knew about this band before their latest album was that they were some sort of arty offshoot of Okkervil River. Then I saw that they were playing Millenium Stage, so I gave them a listen and though it sounded a little bit prettier and a tad more fey than my typical tastes, I was intrigued. Then I saw them live, and forgive the cliche', but I was darn near close to being blown away. I later read an article about the lead singer's side gig passion for ornithology, and that explains all of the wildlife imagery contained in this song cycle. Long story short: imagine Jeff Buckley singing songs about birds, with much more interesting musical accompaniment, and you have your introduction to this one.
4.Drive By Truckers- Brighter Than Creation's Dark
DBT made two of my favorite three albums of this decade, but their last one won't even land in my top 100. This one is a fine step back in the right direction. It more or less leaves behind the Stones/Faces/Replacements vibe of the last album (which DBT did reasonably well, but what band doesn't?) amd returns to the more country-ish roots of their earliest week. And even without guitar god Jason Isbell they still crank out one of the two best rawk shows (along with Wilco) of any band out there.
5. Dr. Dog- Fate
I was exposed to Dr. Dog accidentally, early in their career when I caught them opening for Bobby Bare. A solid live act, but their eight track power pop actually felt too underproduced when I heard the recorded version. This record was one where the increased production sheen actually helped me like it more. Shades of the Band, the Beach Boys, the Beatles, and Wilco. Ok, nothing at all innovative here, but there's little innovation in chocolate ice cream, but I'll eat a well produced bowl of that any day you stick it in my face.
6. Death Cab for Cutie- Narrow Stairs
I've never been able to make sense of this bands appeal...their music always sounded much less melodic and acessible than their less successful brethren Nada Surf. Less accessible yet not terribly interesting, to me. Despite that, this album clicked for me. The one-two starter punch of Bixby Canyon Bridge and I Will Possess Zooey's Heart is followed by a solid set of (for me) more melodic and accessible songs, including the poignant breakup lyrics of Your New Twin Sized Bed.
7. Santogold- Santogold
A 30something chick from Philly who previously worked on the business side of the record industry and seemingly got her shit from MIA, I'm all over that one. Just kidding. Based on the bio, I didn't want to like her. But musically, she's more realized than MIA; combining elements of hip hop, reggae, punk, new wave, dance and soul into a delicious melange of modern music. Oh, and check out the album cover. This chick can puke alot of gold.
8. Okkervil River- The Stand Ins
Rhett Miller was once the poster boy for twangy literate pretty boys writing and hiccuping out heartbreaking tales that intertwined the perils of the road and the woes of failed romance for alt-country fans who probably didn't really like country music. And somehow he'd write that last sentence in both a more poetic and more coherent way than I did. But then The Fool went and got a beautiful wife and made beautiful children and mediocre, more blandly written happy music. Thankfully the world has his less pretty cross state compatriot Will Sheff to pick up and advance the hiccup singer flag for him. This album is the sequel to 2007's great album the Stage Names. It doesn't quite measure up to that one, but doesn't need to.
9. Frigthened Rabbit- Midnight Organ Fight
Another one that I almost missed, but then I found it. Imagine John Roderick of the Long Winters singing painfully honest and sometime brutal (like the security guards in a French museum) breakup lyrics, accompanied by the guitar stylings of early 80's era Edge (but don't imagine Adam Clayton's bass, because this three guitar band doesn't use one). Some might say this record is a tad generic, but the key to winning when you're generic is being better than your competition, and these guys are.
10. The Walkmen- You and Me
This is another band that I've always managed to avoid before this year. They sounded like Dylan fronting the Strokes and they had DC prep school origins. Reasons enough to avoid them. But this album seemed less Dylan AND less Strokes, and more Joe Henry, and just a plain old good listen start to finish. One of those albums where the sum was greater than the parts. No stellar singles, but the songs just blend seemlessly together.
11. Calexico- Carried To Dust
A two pronged band that combines very cool mariachi inspired Southwestern flavored songs with blander alt-rock fare. That would describe these guys. Fortunately, this records tips in the direction of the former, and makes it a winner.
12. Liam Finn- I'll Be Lightning
This album for me instantly exceeded it's two touchpoints, the Beatles and Crowded House. Though admittedly, I've always felt rather neutral regarding both of those acts (give me the Stones (or the Kinks or the Who) over the Beatles any day). But once I saw his disappointing one man, slightly larger but musically less than one woman live act, my love for his album came back to earth. Nonetheless, a very solid tuneful pop album, and the world could use more of those.
13. Dengue Fever- Venus on Earth
You can take a Cambodian pop star out or Cambodia and throw her in a room of Silver Lake hipsters, but she'll still make you a lovely album of loungey, surf, garagey psychedically groovy ditties. This one slightly exceeds their previous excellent effort Escape from Dragon House, including a couple of (for the first time, I think) English language songs.
14. Patty Loveless- Sleepless Nights
Patty Loveless has long had one of the best singing voices in mainstream country. Put it with the right material and right production, in this case a bevy of classic country tunes, and of course you're going to get a strong record.
15. Nada Surf- Lucky
Those whose tastes never progressed beyond the 90's will no doubt recall this Popular band. If you were Lucky enough to have missed them in the 90's and picked up on them in THIS decade, you probably already know that they delivered their second straight strong (yet unspectacular) collection of shimmering power pop following 2002's spectacular Let Go.
16. Devotchka- A Mad and Faitful Telling
For those unfamiliar: Little Miss Sunshine. Though 2004's classic How It Ends remains the one Devotchka album you really need to own, this one would be good to have in case your one year old moves How It Ends to someplace where it can't be located. Forget Gogol Bordello and Beirut, this is Eastern European gypsy music for the 2000's and beyond.
17. Thao and the Get Down Stay Down- We Brave Bee Stings and All.
She first came across as a less earthy indie version of Jolie Holland who had been listening to alot of Feist. Then I found out she was an Asian chick (actually her name sort of clued be in on that part from the getgo) from the same suburban DC county I live in. Since we got nothing new from Feist this year, this was the next best thing.
18. She and Him- Volume One
Actress Zooey Deschanel) advanced up the food chain of musical boyfriends...some guy from Maroon 5, Jason Schwartzman, all the way to M. Ward, to finally settling for Ben Gibbard. She also wrote some hearfelt pop/alt-countryish tunes and then the great M. managed to successfully dress up her less than beautiful voice and make her sound like a real musician much, much moreso than that TV on the Radio guy did for Scarlett johansen.
19. Hayden- In Town and Field
Hayden, like Nada Surf, is to some seemingly a relic of the 90's. Undoubtedly, he's a more minor character in the music of that decade as well as the current one. Nonetheless, his output has improved as albums have come, so much so that this one lands on my list. The world needs more wistful singer-songwriter stuff like it needs a global financial crisis. But if Josh Rouse's genius has gone the way of my 401K, I'll take replacements like this.
20. Jamie Lidell- Jim
I'm a sucker for old Motown/Stax retro soul sounds. So is Raphael Saadiq. He left the new jack behind and went retro with his latest. Jamie Lidell is as well. He left his modern electronica sounds behind to make a totally retro album too. And what do you know? The white guy from England winehoused (that's definition #1 of 5 in the dictionary for the use of winehouse as a verb) the black guy from Oakland, putting out a better record from start to finish.
Best reissues/best ofs/live albums etc: Josh Rouse-Rykodisk Years, Belle and Sebastian-BBC Sessions, Nick Lowe-Jesus of Cool, Neil Young-Live and Canterbury House
Most overrated albums (by critics) TV on the Radio, Portishead, the Hold Steady, Kings of Leon
Most Disappointing albums, though not surprisingly so: Old 97's, the Hold Steady, Of Montreal
Best live shows: Wilco-9:30 Club, DBT-9:30 Club, Old 97's-Tractor Tavern, Shearwater-Millenium Stage Nada Surf-all three times I saw them.
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Do you write for PASTE magazine or FILTER? ;D
Now now, this was an unusually generous post that actually dealt with music. I applaud you Mister Man.
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1. Songs In A&E-Spiritualized
2. Where You Go I Go Too-Lindstrom
3. The Astral Projections Of Starlight ? Woolfy vs Projections
4. Live at 013 Tilburg-The Heads
5. Vol. 1-Wooden Shjips
6. The Holy Pictures-David Holmes
7. Colors Of The Sun-Hatchback
8. Doomsdayer's Holiday-Grails
9. Indian Giver-Spectrum Meets Captain Memphis
10. Luna-The Aliens
My favorite song of the year is Don't Turn Away (From My Love) by Lovelock from my favortie comp of the year Cosmic Balearic Beats Vol. 1.
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1. Songs In A&E-Spiritualized
2. Where You Go I Go Too-Lindstrom
3. The Astral Projections Of Starlight ? Woolfy vs Projections
4. Live at 013 Tilburg-The Heads
5. Vol. 1-Wooden Shjips
6. The Holy Pictures-David Holmes
7. Colors Of The Sun-Hatchback
8. Doomsdayer's Holiday-Grails
9. Indian Giver-Spectrum Meets Captain Memphis
10. Luna-The Aliens
My favorite song of the year is Don't Turn Away (From My Love) by Lovelock from my favortie comp of the year Cosmic Balearic Beats Vol. 1.
This must be the most obscure top 10 I've ever seen ? Who are these people???? I recognize Holmes and spiritualized but the rest???
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5. Vol. 1-Wooden Shjips
I had no clue they put out an album this year.
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Not an album. It was a collection of their 7"'s.
Hutch, that's a very solid top 10.
I started that Woolfy V. Projections album a few weeks ago but never finished it.
And Wooden Shjips still not having played a show in DC is a travesty that needs to be remedied soon.
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Oh, i think i forgot to do this!!! curses!
10. Little Jackie - The Stoop
9. What Made Milkwaukee Famous - "What Doesn't Kill Us"
8. Del the Funkee Homosapien - "The Eleventh Hour"
7. Beach House - "Devotion"
6. Kaiser Chiefs - "Off With Their Heads"
5. God Is An Astronaut - "God Is An Astronaut"
4. M83 - "Saturdays = Youth"
3. Roots, the - "Rising Down"
2. Black Angels - "Directions To See A Ghost"
and the best album is so far in a class by itself. it was also my favourite show of the year...and i saw Radiohead 3 times!
1. Elbow - "Grounds For Divorce"
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Huh...had no clue. Looks like I completely missed this on eMusic.
Not an album. It was a collection of their 7"'s.
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that's what happens when you solely rely on pitchfork ;D
Huh...had no clue. Looks like I completely missed this on eMusic.
Not an album. It was a collection of their 7"'s.
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I normally try to rely on you, but that was before I realized the scenester-ism outweighed you actually being able to judge good music ;D
that's what happens when you solely rely on pitchfork ;D
Huh...had no clue. Looks like I completely missed this on eMusic.
Not an album. It was a collection of their 7"'s.
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Haven't seen this on here, and I really dug it:
Mugison - Mugiboogie
Check it out: http://www.myspace.com/mugison
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yeah good album...too bad when he played at DC9 I was at another show at the 930...
Haven't seen this on here, and I really dug it:
Mugison - Mugiboogie
Check it out: http://www.myspace.com/mugison
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yeah good album...too bad when he played at DC9 I was at another show at the 930...
Haven't seen this on here, and I really dug it:
Mugison - Mugiboogie
Check it out: http://www.myspace.com/mugison
DAMN IT. When was this?
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http://metromusicscene.blogspot.com/2008/09/mugisonbellman-barker-dc9-tuesday.html
09/23/08
and he was with a full band!
I was at Built to Spill/Meat Puppets...
yeah good album...too bad when he played at DC9 I was at another show at the 930...
Haven't seen this on here, and I really dug it:
Mugison - Mugiboogie
Check it out: http://www.myspace.com/mugison
DAMN IT. When was this?
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Pazz & Jop 2008 list (top 50 only)
1 TV on the Radio, Dear Science
2 Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend
3 Portishead, Third
4 Erykah Badu, New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War
5 Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes
6 Lil Wayne, Tha Carter III
7 Santogold, Santogold
8 Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago *
9 Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
10 Kanye West, 808s & Heartbreak
11 Deerhunter, Microcastle/Weird Era Continued
12 Randy Newman, Harps and Angels
13 The Hold Steady, Stay Positive
14 No Age, Nouns
15 Girl Talk, Feed the Animals
16 My Morning Jacket, Evil Urges
17 MGMT, Oracular Spectacular *
18 Hercules and Love Affair, Hercules and Love Affair
19 Raphael Saadiq, The Way I See It
20 Bob Dylan, The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs - Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006
21 Coldplay, Viva La Vida, or Death and All His Friends
22 Los Campesinos!, Hold On Now, Youngster...
23 Cut Copy, In Ghost Colours
24 The Gaslight Anthem, The '59 Sound
25 R.E.M., Accelerate
26 Q-Tip, The Renaissance
27 Drive-By Truckers, Brighter Than Creation's Dark
28 M83, Saturdays=Youth
29 David Byrne & Brian Eno, Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
30 She & Him, Volume One
31 Torche, Meanderthal
32 The Walkmen, You & Me
33 Hot Chip, Made in the Dark
34 Frightened Rabbit, The Midnight Organ Fight
35 Kings Of Leon, Only by the Night
36 Alejandro Escovedo, Real Animal
37 Metallica, Death Magnetic
38 Fucked Up, The Chemistry of Common Life
39 Roots, Rising Down
40 T.I., Paper Trail
41 Beck, Modern Guilt
42 Blitzen Trapper, Furr
43 Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks, Real Emotional Trash
44 Gang Gang Dance, Saint Dymphna
45 Elbow, The Seldom Seen Kid
46 Death Cab For Cutie, Narrow Stairs
47 Al Green, Lay It Down
48 Young Jeezy, The Recession
49 The Magnetic Fields, Distortion
50 Vivian Girls, Vivian Girls
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I refuse to believe that Blitzen Trapper's Furr is at #42 and Elbow at #45.
:'(
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And Metallica is at #37.
BELIEVE THAT BITCHES
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BARF oh, Coldplay at #21, that's double barf.
And Metallica is at #37.
BELIEVE THAT BITCHES
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three months shy and it would have been
1. smokey rolls down thunder canyon.
believe it bitches