LIGHT IN THE ATTIC 2ND ANNUAL YEAR END EXTRAVAGANZA!
As the year rumbles to another cliff-hanging conclusion, we here at Light In The Attic are reminded of a few things. First, we’ve got a a lot of people who’ve helped us out this year and last year and all the many years that have come before. Second, we don’t have the money to buy each of them a gold plated Rolls Royce like we wish we could. And finally, we reached out to these solid gold peeps last year and asked them to help us out with a little something we called THE LIGHT IN THE ATTIC YEAR END EXTRAVAGANZA!
Well, we’re just as damn thankful this year, so we reached out again, and asked just one thing: give us a Year End List. It doesn’t matter the subject, the length, the allusions to your past lovers - we just want to know what made you smile, made you happy, made you exist this year. Again, we’ve received a staggering amount of amazing lists from a diverse and wonderful group of people including musicians, record store owners, publicists, authors, bloggers and on and on and on …
Once again, thanks to the always brilliant Drew Christie for putting together another staggeringly cool Year End Extravaganza banner. You’re the best Drew, and we promise we’ll give you back your medicine now.
So, please, sit down, take a deep breath, ’cause here we go again:
THE SECOND ANNUAL LIGHT IN THE ATTIC YEAR END EXTRAVAGANZA!
I know I’m from the old century, but I still like to hear what all the young bloods are listening to today. There’s Duffy’s Mercy and the new album by David Holmes. I’ve listened to tracks by the Arctic Monkeys, The Liars and Deerhoof…there’s just so much out there! Of course, there’s always great sounds from the past like Buffy Sainte-Marie (who I saw play in Detroit earlier this year) and really early Dylan or Jimmy Reed. I still like to listen to Ike Turner’s Rocket 88 or anything that features Dennis Coffey. He played lead guitar on my album Cold Fact. Then there’s his own classic piece Scorpio. There’s also a DJ from Paris called Space Cowboy. He turned my tune Sugar Man into his own song called These Dreams and it really gets people dancing! It’s all international now. I hear bhangra tracks from India, fado from Portugal and ballads from Sweden. Sometimes I don’t understand the language, but I still like to hear it. It all has musical value to me.
Sipreano,
Writer, Producer, DJ (Jamaica-Toronto and beyond…)
1) Roti - My (almost) daily bread here in Toronto. Locals or folks visiting should go to Ali’s West Indian Roti Shop on Queen West for some Trini goodness (loving Barb’s out in Mississauga too!!!).
2) Looking ahead - 2009 is shaping up to be a good one with Doug Randle’s Songs For The New Industrial State (LITA/Kanata/CBC) reissue hitting the shelves shortly (January 27, iTunes on the 13th). It’s the then 40-year-old composer’s personal What’s Going On (recorded a year before!!!) and an all-time twisted sunshine pop favorite (David Axelrod meets the Free Design??? also featuring Laurie Bower from the Mutual Understanding and Tommy Ambrose on vocals, w/ jazz legend Gene Lees and super producer Dave Bird involvement). Please support this reissue! Keep your eyes peeled to www.lightintheattic.net for more information.
3) Travel - NYC (Black Mountain live!!!), Detroit (see below), Vancouver (miss my friends, especially on the beach or at any number of killer eateries), Seattle (hanging w/ dad, free lunch w/ LITA honcho Matt Sullivan is always top, seeing Josh and rest of LITA posse, Big Chan session, participating at the EMP Pop Conference, amazing burritos at the Burlington Tacos Guaymas on the way back north), Winnipeg (Birdapres “Toothpaste” EP, Alycia’s, Portage and Main not 15 below), Regina (Western Pizza, architecture), Saskatoon (Prairie fire), and a few trips to Montreal (JA/TDOT live, poutine, ODB, and zoomer walks)…
4) Blogs are killing it (w/ free music and more, sup Kamandi??? Kaewonder???), but LPs, 12″s, and 7″s just sound (look and feel) so much better (Kam and Kae know this too!!!): Comus-First Utterance, dozens of oddball non-charting Canadian singles (my ever growing obsession, “German Stalker”??? WTF???), nuff reggae bits and bobs, 80s UK, vintage electronic pop/dance, Quebecois (”Je me souviens”), Pacific Northwest Oceanic (small-hole Capilano, thanks Morgan!!!), dusted bar rock, more MOR, Warpig-s/t, and so on. My vinyl addiction is in full swing again…
5) Rodriguez and The Monks - Gotta shout out to Sixto and Regan Rodriguez for hosting me in Detroit (time to bundle up), showing me the sights, breaking bread, and sharing your history. It was a total honor and I’m really looking forward to the re-release of Coming From Reality. Live soon. Also stoked to rap w/ the remaining Monks for two upcoming LITA reissues. Black Monk Time (and The Monks’ Demos) really penetrated my brain’s grey matter (and should enter yours too)!!!
6) T&T - My favorite (hangover) hang-out in Toronto (bar Pope’s kitchen). Samples, cafe-style eats, tunes, and so many rad Asian groceries.
7) Sandinista/2Step - Japanese family from way back. Thanks for letting me do yet another mix for y’all (”Share The Land”, CDN folk, psych, space, and mellow). http://www.sndnst.com/music_mixer.html. Also wanna shout to Fuku at Nonnative for the mad support!!!
8) Truth & Soul and Rostarr - Big ups for the HIGH EXPLOSION podcast link (and photo magic from Ro vs. Decaf!!!)…
9) Black Mountain, Ladyhawk, and Ice Palace - Love hanging with these fine folks anywhere. Your music inspires me (somebody please release IP’s For The Birds, produced by BM’s Josh Wells, best album you’ve never heard… yet)…
10) Flickr - Thanks to Decaf from WZRDRY (and fellow music/photo maestro Chris Frey) I jumped on the Flickr bandwagon. Love taking snaps.
Tilson,
The Saturday Knights
1. Made it into the July issue of Ukrainian Playboy
2. Was a model for The Goods product catalog
3. Met Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings – has pictures, still needs to print them
4. Wyclef show at The Showbox (the first time he played Seattle, not the second)
5. Definitely will be playing Santa at a party in the immediate future - no details as to where
6. Says he got a “dope, dope, dope Circa Backpack”
7. In the works: clothes are being designed for him
8. Got to do shows… got to be on TV (w/ Nancy Guppy)
9. Went to a lot of meetings, as he says “It means you’re about to do something…”
10. Got Boondocks box-set
11. Was elected Mayor… of his own imagination.
*Honorable mention: Lost a commercial spot to the RZA:
“It happens.” - Tilson
LIGHT IN THE ATTIC PEOPLE:
Matt Harrow,
All-Seeing, All-Knowing
Top 5 Oasis Songs of 2008:
1. Falling Down
2. Soldier On
3. The Rapture
4. Get off Your High Horse Lady
5. Bag It Up
Noah Sanders,
Blogspert
Top Six Reasons Why I Survived Another Year:
1. Let The Right One In - the Swedes seemingly know two things: outstandingly tall, gorgeous blondes and awkwardly endearing flicks about 12 year old boys falling in love with ageless vampires. A strange combination of gore and heart string yanking that makes for one of the better movies I’ve seen in a while.
2. Sub Pop 20 - I’ve been to a lot of festivals and never before have I experienced such a since of shared community and history. Also, I was on the VIP list, and having a mansion full of booze and chow at my disposal (and boy oh boy did I take advantage of that) really put a sunny glow on the whole occasion.
3. Mad Men - I’ve been talking up The Sopranos as the best show in the world for a while now, but if Mad Men can keep up the brilliance of it’s first two seasons, I’m ready to throw my hat in that ring. Don Draper is as sexy a man as I’ll admit, and each and every word in this series is licensed to kill. If you’re missing it you’re dumb. That is all.
4. Sifting through Matt Sullivan’s CD/Record Wall - Sullivan has this shelf in his office where he just has this amazing, random assortment of albums. I’ll make up some excuse to go in there and just babble away while I sift through all of his fantastic music. Sullivan gets edgy after a while, but raise a fist to the little guy and he’ll quiet right down.
5. NYC - There’s a lot of hype about the Big Apple and each and every word of it is completely and totally deserved. This is the greatest city in America and fuck any and all who worry about it’s overwhelming size or the rudeness of people. Hopefully at some point my future lands me there.
6. Criterion Quest - If you don’t know, now you know …
Matt Sullivan,
Co-Head Honcho
TOP 18: THANK A HIGHER POWER FOR…
1) Rodriguez, Rodriguez, Rodriguez
2) Skagit River Ranch Bacon - best bacon I have ever tasted
3) Harold & Maude Soundtrack - Vinyl Films couldn’t have done it any better
4) The Wire: the epic, final season aka the greatest show on any planet, ever made, ever.
5) Mad Men - runner up for the greatest show ever
6) Aaron Zon & Music Manufacturing Services in Toronto. Thank the lord above!
7) Charles Aaron on Labi Siffre at EMP Pop Conference, Seattle, WA, April 12th
8) Rancho Bravo - tasty tacos of the finest caliber
9) The Saturday Knights 2008 Doughnut Eating Contest - long live Billy The Fridge!
10) Stop Smiling Magazine - best magazine ever
11) The Emerald City making a much needed comeback - Moondoggies, TSK, Curious Mystery, Fleet Foxes, Dyme Def…
12) The Vaselines (with Belle & Sebastian as Frances & Eugene’s back-up band), Sub Pop 20 Festival (aka most organized festival ever), Marymoor Park, Redmond, WA, July 11th
13) Roky Erickson & The Black Angels - Tour of the Century
14) Ocho, Ballard, WA - tapas and drinks. Get the Chorizo de la Mancha and the Patatas Bravas
15) Vetiver - Thing Of The Past
16) The Meeting: Rodriguez & Stephen John Kalinich - 11:15pm PST, Fri, Nov 21st, 2008
17) Dolly Parton at WAMU Theater, Seattle, August 8th
18) Black Mountain - In The Future
19) Randy Newman - Good Old Boys - thank you Mr. Johnny Horn for showing me the light
TOP 7: PLEASE MAKE ME FORGET…
1) Thingmakers - the shittiest manufacturer on planet earth. And the worst decision we ever made. Whatever you do, find another manufacturer.
2) Sarah Palin - America almost went nuts. Almost.
3) Speaking to mom and pops about politics
4) The Wire - HOW CAN IT BE OVER?
5) Mad Men - And how will one survive 12 months without Don Draper and Christina Hendricks?
6) Drunk bicycling
7) George Jr.
Sandy Wilson,
He Of The Television
1) The Black Angels “You On The Run” in the upcoming Jim Jarmusch film THE LIMITS OF CONTROL
2) Getting 2 placements on WEEDS this year, The Free Design’s “Love You” on the season 4 finale and The Soul Swingers “Brighter Tomorrow” on episode 2.
3) Brent Amaker & The Rodeo’s “You Call Me The Devil” on season 2 / episode 6 of Showtime’s Californication
4) The Black Angels “Young Men Dead” on the 1st episode of J.J. Abrams’s new FOX series FRINGE
5) When The Free Design’s “Love You” scored another killer foreign commercial - this time for Norway’s FREIA Chocolate ‘SMIL’ spot
6) When The Free Design scored yet another spot on a German spot (”I Found Love” from the Re-Designed comp) for CAMPINA dairy products
7) …and then The Free Design scored another Australian spot - this time for Cadbury Spring Juices.
8) And even another Australian spot - but this time for The Sound Carriers “I Had A Girl” for McCain’s Pizza
9) Every time that Tilson came by the office to hang out and cast his rays of sunshine upon us - or any of the times that The Blakes came by and brought booze.
Josh Wright,
Mr. Distribution
Fav 10 from 08′
1. Apple Cup
2. Eric Levin’s AIMS speech
3. TSK & The Budos Band live!
4. Rodriguez @ Joe’s Pub
5. Albert Walker
6. Paseo
7. Midem
8. Ph*sh reuniting (shhh)
9. Agua Verde
10. Suck out’s
Akoustik Anarkhy,
DJs, Record Label
1. Our new home The Deaf Institute in Manchester
2. Beyond The Wizards Sleeve - Ark 1
3. Ruby Suns appearance at aA and their album Sea Lion
4. New bands ‘the animal collective’ - its a buffalo, Cats In Paris, Slag Rabbit, Three Trapped Tigers and more obvious Fleet Foxes
5. BBC Radiophonic Reissues
6. Fujiya & Miyagi’s remix of Mercury Rev
7. Neil Young live in Amsterdam, Hop Farm, the BBC documentary, upcoming Sugar Mountain release and the hope of the archives in 09
8. Lexie Mountain Boys
9. DJ Mujava - Township Funk
10. Fleetwood Mac – ‘Never Going Back Again’ (Tom Croose Edit)
Shawn Anderson,
Bumpershine, Thus Spake Drake
I’ve still got a bit of a blindspot to the first half of 2008…
5. Early 90’s guitar bending bands reunite/tour (My Bloody Valentine, Polvo, Swervedriver)
4. Sundance’s Spectacle: Elvis Costello with… is the best thing to happen to music on tv since Night Music.
3. Sub Pop 20 festival - seeing all the kids of us old rockers playing together added to the nostalgia
2. News that Guided By Voices songs are to be the basis for a Steven Soderburgh 3D musical about Cleopatra. 3D!
1. November 4, 2008
Andy & Jen,
Band In Boston
Song we can’t wait to hear on an album:
Akudama - Johnny Appleseed
Best Bands You Should Know
Akudama
Doomstar
The Soft Drugs
Low Red Land
Best Album
Apollo Sunshine - Shall Noise Upon
Angie,
Strictly Discs (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
Delta Spirit – Ode to Sunshine
Nick Cave - Dig, Lazarus, Dig
Carrie Rodriguez – She Ain’t Me
Jason Collett - Here’s To Being Here
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
The Black Keys – Attack & Release
David Byrne/Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Rodriguez – Cold Fact
Next 5:
Jim White – Transnormal Skiparoo
Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree
Dr. Dog – Fate
Calexico – Carried to Dust
Ray LaMontagne – Gossip in the Grain
Doug Arnold
Owner, Dusty Groove
Top Records of 2008
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War) Motown
Bo Diddley - Road Runner — The Chess Masters 1959 to 1960 Chess/Hip-O Select (reissue)
Giant Sand - proVisions Yep Roc
Jay Reatard - Matador Singles ‘08 Matador
Portishead - Third Mercury
Gene Shaw - Break Through Argo/Dusty Groove (reissue)
Nabil Ayers,
The Control Group, Sonic Boom Records, The Long Winters
ALBUMS I ENJOYED
El Perro Del Mar - From The Valley To The Stars
Black Mountain - In The Future
Lykke Li - Youth Novels
Marnie Stern - This Is It And I Am It…
Harvey Milk - Life… The Best Game In Town
Deerhunter - Microcastle
The Raveonettes - Lust Lust Lust
SONGS I REALLY LIKED
Santogold “L.E.S. Artistes”
MGMT “Time To Pretend”
Sons & Daughters “Gilt Complex”
TV On The Radio “Crying”
Death Cab For Cutie “I Will Possess Your Heart”
SHOWS THAT WERE GREAT
Deerhoof @ Irving Plaza
Black Mountain @ Jon Treneff’s house
Lykke Li @ Le Poisson Rouge
El Perro Del Mar @ El Rey
Bad Brains @ Irving Plaza
Kinski @ Sub Pop Festival
Teenage Fanclub @ some festival in Barcelona
Lavender Diamond @ my wedding
Matthew Bailey
Virgin Music
1. Bell X1 – Flock
2. Nada Surf – Lucky
3. Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke
4. Robyn – Robyn
5. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
6. Sia – Some People Have Real Problems
7. Amy MacDonald – This Is The Life
8. Jason Mraz – We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
9. Earlimart – Hymn and Her
10. Martha Wainwright – I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings, Too
11. Adele – 19
12. Ron Sexsmith – Exit Strategy for the Soul
13. The Weepies – Hideaway
14. Duffy – Rockferry
15. Beck – Modern Guilt
16. Paddy Casey – Addicted to Company
17. Peter Bradley Adams – Leavetaking
18. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
19. Sunny Levine – Love Rhino
20. The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely
Noteworthy Tracks
1. “Giggling Again for No Reason” – Alanis Morrissette
2. “Orbiting” – The Weepies
3. “Move for Me” – Kaskade
4. “28 Butts” – Little Jackie
5. “Where I Stood” – Missy Higgins
6. “A New Sky” – The Presets
7. “Lost!” – Coldplay
8. “Great DJ” – The Ting Tings
9. “I Want You to…” – Jem
10. “Brittle Bones” – Richard Walters
11. “Trouble Is a Friend” – Lenka
12. “Freeway” – Aimee Mann
13. “You Don’t See Me” – Keane
14. “Fish in a Womb” – The Faint
15. “I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance” – Black Kids
16. “Everybody but Me” – Lykke Li
17. “Pretty Please (Love Me)” – Estelle featuring Cee-Lo
18. “Devil Wouldn’t Recognize You” – Madonna
19. “All I See” – Kylie Minogue
20. “My Baby…” – Juliana Hatfield
Kevin Barker,
Currituck Co.
1. As I’m sure many others here will note, Barack Obama and Joe Biden defeat Sarah Palin and some other dude in history’s most important World Series.
2. As I’m sure no one else here will note, the Philadelphia Phillies defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in history’s 847th most important World Series.
3. Fire Joe Morgan blog - the sadly ended blog by a couple of writers from the American Office and their buddies about how blockheaded baseball writers and commentators are. Along with reading Michael Lewis’s Moneyball, this blog made me wish I actually followed baseball.
4. Vetiver - Thing of the Past - sure, I’m biased, since I played a couple licks on this album, but seriously: Show me a better record released this year and I’ll…I’ll…I guess download it illegally off the internet?
5. The part in Forgetting Sarah Marshall where Paul Rudd goes, “I wonder if the carpet matches her pubes.” Also watching Sarah Palin eat shit in Katie Couric’s interview. I don’t know which of the two were funnier so I put them both. Note to Saturday Night Live, don’t try to do a Forgetting Sarah Palin sketch, because I just made it up, right here while typing this list, and I’m registering it with the WGA as we speak.
Brian Barr,
Writer, Seattle Weekly
1) Saiva Siddhantha Hindu Temple, Kaua’i, Hawaii: The weather was hot and thick and the mosquitoes were vicious. But that all faded away as we knelt down in the temple to meditate.
2) Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy - Lie Down in the Light: What all great records are made of: Singing songs of god, nature, and family, while pleading for a woman to suck you off in public.
3) Dana Goodyear’s profile of Gary Snyder in The New Yorker: “Being Buddhist doesn’t necessarily mean being a good Buddhist.”
4) Hillary Clinton: What can I say? I dig powerful women. Catherine the Great. Queen Hatshepsut, Cleopatra, Empress Wu Zeitan, Isabella of Castile, The Iroquois decision-makers, I could go on and on.
5) Mudhoney: Standing there in the Sunset Tavern, watching Mark Arm and Steve Turner scorch the faces off of every pickle-faced hipster in the joint with their timeless psychededelic-gut-bowl-blues-raunch. The kinda music that puts hair on your chest.
6) West Seattle and Easy Street Records: Imagine an entire neighborhood anchored by an incredible independent record store.
7) Georgetown Brewing Company: Growlers refills for $6! Plus they come cask-conditioned so the beer won’t go flat by the time you get it home.
8) Erykah Badu - New Amerykah (Part One): I’m also a sucker for freak genius women who make great records and offer zero apologies for being who they are.
9) The New Yorker’s George Packer: My professor once told me “Good writing is just clear thinking on the page.”
10) The Saturday Knights - Mingle
Interviewing Bill Cosby for 30 Minutes
Vince Guaraldi - A Charlie Brown Christmas Soundtrack
Wayne Shorter - Speak No Evil
Lou Reed - The Bells
Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Thomas Pynchon Against the Day (took me 2 years, but I finally finshed it)
John Cale: “Dying on the Vine”
Lillian Ross Portrait of Hemingway
Abe Rosenthal Thirty-Eight Witnesses
William T. Vollmann The Rifles and Riding Toward Everywhere
Norman Mailer (R.I.P.) Miami and the Siege of Chicago
Nick Tosches The Devil and Sonny Liston
Harold Pinter Old Times
Finding Gary Snyder’s translation of Cold Mountain Poems at that bookstore in Hanapepe.
Elana Berman,
Rhapsody
My top 5 at age 25
Fave new artist: Ben Sollee (a talented classically trained cellist turned folk singer songwriter works it out)
Fave new song: Kid Kudi “Day N Nite” (get into it here: play.rhapsody.com/kidcudi/daynnite)
Fave new town: Nashville, TN (I hope to live there one day)
Fave concert: JJ Grey & Mofro at The Independent in SF, CA
Fave new restaurant: Mi Lindo Peru Restaurant (a small hole in the wall gem in the Outer Mission District)
Andy Beta,
Writer Extraordinaire
2008 was not just a blur, but a dreamy one at that. From starting off the new year with a bang in Bangkok to having my ears (and mind) blown out at the My Bloody Valentine ATP Festival, it was one of the more profound calendars of my life, which a Top Five can just scarcely skim the surface of. Anyhow, peeps like listicles…
5) Pad Thai in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven in Bangkok.
About to head to Suvarnabhumi International Airport (way before protests shut ‘em down), a friend took me to the dopest street eat spot around. Set up (no shit) in the parking lot of a 7-Eleven, this was the most bomb Pad Thai I’ve ever eaten in my life. The locals flipped for it too and the vendor would sell out massive batches of the stuff in under five minutes. I probably saw them mix up five huge batches while I ate. Spicy, fresh, aswim with these dried shrimps, I bought another parcel of it to eat during the 17-hour flight home.
4) Disco dancing at the No Ordinary Monkey party
I’ve written a few articles about the renaissance of this music and keep digging deeper into the grooves. Euphoric, hedonistic, covert, cheesy as shit, I dug everything from the disco edits of Pilooski and Betty Botox to scores of Claire’s “High On Love,” Boney M, and Sylvia Striplin, to the late-night parties of N.O.M. Favorite tunes dropped at this Chinatown dinner buffet party palace: Lime “On the Grid,” Slim Harpo’s “Shake Your Hips” (as edited by Thom of Rub-n-Tug) and Gloria Gaynor’s “Do It Yourself.”
3) In-N-Out Burger
I sat in four hours of traffic out in LA, and then sat in the drive-thru lane at In-N-Out Burger for another 45 minutes. Totally worth it after spending heaps of dough buying –what else?– disco records at the dreamlike Amoeba store on Sunset Blvd.
2) All My Friends
Not the LCD Soundsystem song (though that’s glorious as well), just the people I got around me these days. Love ‘em to death. Being with them up at ATP Festival in Monticello was three days of the most delightful strains of madness.
1) Election Night
And then to see them all openly weeping on this night gave me a great sense of peace and hope. And natch, we then set it off and danced to “All My Friends.”
Bill Bentley,
Sonic Boomers
Best Albums of 2008
Bobby Charles - Homemade Songs (Rice ‘N’ Gravy)
Carlene Carter - Stronger (Yep Roc)
Shelby Lynne - Just A Little Lovin’ (Lost Highway)
Brett Dennen - Hope For The Hopeless (Dualtone)
Bon Iver - For Emma, Long Ago (Jagjaguwar)
Bo Ramsey - Fragile (BRR)
Al Green - Lay It Down (Blue Note)
James Jackson Toth - Waiting In Vain (Rykodisc)
Debashish Bhattacharya - Calcutta Chronicles: Indian Slide Guitar Odyssey (Riverboat)
Delta Spirit - Ode To Sunshine (Rounder)
Heather Browne,
I Am Fuel, You Are Friends
Favorite Things of 2008
Albums:
Nada Surf - Lucky
Frightened Rabbit - Midnight Organ Fight
Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago
Hold Steady - Stay Positive
The Gaslight Anthem - The ‘59 Sound
Delta Spirit - Ode To Sunshine
Centro-matic/South San Gabriel - Dual Hawks
Neil Halstead - Oh! Mighty Engine
Everything Absent or Distorted - The Great Collapse
Little Joy - Little Joy
Favorite EPs:
The Avett Brothers - Second Gleam EP
Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers - Confiscation EP
Honorary/should have been on last year’s damn list:
Radiohead - In Rainbows (physical release)
Film/documentary: Rape of Europa
Jenny Bulley,
MOJO
New albums
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
The Week That Was – The Week That Was
Foals - Antidotes
Reissues:
New Order - Movement
Mudhoney - Superfuzz Big Muff
My Bloody Valentine – Loveless
Rodriguez – Cold Fact
Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue
1. Theo Parrish - Love Triumpant / Goin’ Downstairs (Sound Signature Sounds)
2. Koushik - Out My Window (Stones Throw)
3. Thai Orchestra - Thai Orchestra (Mississippi Records) [reissue]
4. Benge - Twenty Systems (Expanding Records)
5. Valerio Cosi - Collected Works (Porter Records)
Drew Christie,
Artist, Scholar, Genius
1. Listening to Folk Songs of Idaho and Utah (by Rosalie and Jim Sorrels-Folkways 1961) while driving down the Oregon coast with my sweetheart.
2. Playing Michael Hurley’s Candolin (fiddle/mandolin made out of a paint can)
3. Getting tips from Mike Seeger on building instruments
4. Finding two Roy Bookbinder albums at Bop Street
5. Seeing Leon Redbone play from 5 feet away
Claire,
Strictly Discs (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Be Your Own Pet – Get Awkward
Nick Cave - Dig, Lazarus, Dig
Beck – Modern Guilt
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Justice – (Cross)
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Cat Power – Jukebox
The Black Keys – Attack & Release
Ratatat – LP3
Next 5:
David Byrne & Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
The Black Angels - Directions to See A Ghost
Eagles of Death Metal - Heart On
Justin Cosby,
Head Honcho, Intertia Distribution (Australia)
** DISCLAIMER – Delivered & selected under extreme duress.
Top 10 Records
Alberta Cross – The Thief & The Heartbreaker
Amazing Baby – Infinite Cross
A Place To Bury Strangers - A Place To Bury Strangers
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Burial - Untrue
Frightened Rabbit – Midnight Organ Fight
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Nick Cave – Dig Lazarus Dig
Plants & Animals – Parc Avenue
We Were Promised Jet Packs – Quiet Little Voices EP
Deerhunter – Cryptograms
Terry Currier,
Owner, Music Millennium (Portland, OR)
Top Records
1) Derby - Posters Fade
2) David Grissom - Loud Music
3) Alejandro Escovedo - Real Animal
4) Helio Sequence -Keep Your Eyes Ahead
5) Blitzen Trapper - Furr
6) Darker My Love - 2
7) Love Psychedelico - This Is
8) Patty Loveless - Sleepless Nights
9) Paul Thorn - Love Way From Tupelo
10) The Strawbs - Broken Hearted Bride
Top Reissues
1) Van Duren - Are You Serious
2) Eddie Bo - In The Pocket With Eddie Bo
3) Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue
4) Larry Norman - Anthology
Tony Davis,
CIMS Music
Top 10 Records of 2009
1. Nightmarchers - See You In Magic - Swami Records
2. Radiohead - Wed 27 August 2008 Cricket Wireless Amphitheatre, Chula Vista, CA, USA
3. My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges - ATO Records
4. TV on the Radio - Dear Science - Interscope
5. Gutter Twins, July 10, 2008 Roxy in Los Angeles
6. Ladies and Gentlemen, The Fabulous Stains DVD
7. Portishead - Third
8. Obits -One Cross Apiece 7 inch
9. Dengue Fever - Venus on Earth
10. Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue Pak
David Dickenson,
Suicide Squeeze
10 highlights from 2008
(In no particular order and excluding Suicide Squeeze related shit)
Successful back surgery for my dog Mary
My surprise birthday trip to Los Angeles (thanks beast!)
Deerhunter - Microcastle/Weird Era Cont. [Kranky Records]
Al moving to Seattle
Flying Lotus - Los Angeles [Warp Records]
Barack Obama
Late night drives with Adam at SXSW 2008
Gang Gang Dance live at The Triple Door
Pineapple Express day trip
Adele “Chasing Pavements” {single}
DJ Supreme LA Rock
5. DJs selling their OG Vinyl because they use MP3’s now
4. The Resurrection of my “Soul, Style & Truth” Radio Show
3. The ltd. edition TITS x DJ Supreme Collaboration T - Shirt
2. 7″ 45rpm vinyl serato controllers
1. Barack Obama winning the election
Martin Doyle
Ivy League
Best Albums Of 2008
1. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours
3. Wooden Shjips – Volume 1
4. The Black Angels – Directions To See A Ghost
5. Black Mountain - In The Future
6. David Vandervelde – Waiting For The Sunrise
7. Pivot – O Soundtrack My Hear‘
8. Santogold – S/T
9. Diplo/Santogold – Top Ranking
10. The Bug – London Zoo
Best Lost and Found Discoveries of 2008
1. Spacemen 3 - The Perfect Prescription
2. Rodriguez - Cold Fact
3. Mulatu Astatke - Ethiopiques 4 (2nd year running)
4. Alice Coltrance - Journey In Satchidananda
5. Champion Jack Dupree - Blues From The Gutter
6. Ten Years After - Self Titled
7. Brian Jonestown Massacre - Their Satanic Majesties Second Request
8. Neil Young - Greatest Hits
9. Leaf Hound - Growers Of Mushrooms
10. The Velvet Underground – The Velvet Underground & Nico
Greg Dulli,
Twilight Singers, Afghan Whigs, Gutter Twins
1. Frisky Dingo Seasons 1 and 2. Hands down the greatest cartoon of all time. If I were to answer the Proust Questionnaire query about my favorite hero of fiction; my answer would be Killface, the shallowest, deepest and most conflicted and tortured soul ever committed to whatever cartoons are committed to. I cannot adequetely describe the genius that is consistently on display every second of every episode. Adam Reed, the creator (and voice of Killface, Xander Crews, Wendell, Ronnie the Xtacle and Nearl (”Is this really Babar’s House?”), has apparently pulled a Dave Chappelle and gone on walkabout. I can only hope that he pulls it together to give us Season Three. Please God.
2. Istanbul. What can I say about the most beautiful city in Europe/Asia? Have breakfast in Europe and then cross the Bosphorus for lunch in Asia Minor. It is the jam. There are mosques next door to discos and everybody smokes. Muslim extremists could learn a thing or two from their more laid back brethren. I think it was that fact and being able to smoke legally in an elevator that made me finally quit smoking cigarettes. What more had I to do as a smoker? I had reached the pinnacle.
3. Terry Callier. I not only got to see him perform for the first time in Ireland this summer, but he sat with Lanegan and I before his set and answered all our fanboy questions like a kindly uncle. Then he got up, walked to the stage and tore the motherfucker down. Terry Callier is a giant among men.
4. Tinariwen. Have loved their records for years and finally got to see them at the same Irish festival. They are mesmerizing, hypnotic, transcendent and all the things you want a band to be when you’re doing mushrooms on the side of their stage.
5. Slumdog Millionaire. You know how it’s going to end in the first ten minutes and you don’t care. You just take the ride and watch the fairy tale unfold. It’s like Great Expectations and Oliver Twist transported to modern India and it is electric.
A great film by a great director and the kids at the beginning are fucking priceless. I loved it.
Chris Estey,
Writer, Publicist
420 & A COP’S SKULL FULL OF RUM OF THE SOUL:
Artist of the Year: LoveLand - The Beautiful Truth
Musical Comeback of the Year/Reissue Album: Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Spoken Word Reissue: Iceberg Slim - Reflections
TV show: Mad Men
Book(s): Carl Wilson’s 33 1/3 on Celine Dion; BOMP by Greg and Suzy Shaw
Live show: The Saturday Knights at Bumbershoot
Indie rock album: Damien Jurado’s - Caught In The Trees
Film Comeback: RocknRolla (Guy Ritchie)
Pop Con Performance: Greil Marcus on the Roots
Bumbershoot Performance (other than TSK): Old 97s
Block Party Performance: See Me River (Triumph of Lethargy ruled too)
Comics: Marvel Zombies, Hotwire #2
Booze: Bacardi Silver
Wife: Heidi
Joe,
Euclid’s Records
CD/LP
Starling Electric - Clouded Staircase
Sam Phillips - Don’t Do Anything
Troubador Dali - Troubador Dali
Loudon Wainwright III - Recovery
Prisonshake - Dirty Moods
Future Clouds & Radar - Peoria
Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs
Patricia Barber - The Cole Porter Mix
Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Terry Adams - Love Letters to Andromeda
REM - Accelerate
Chris Ligon - Crazy Dazy
CONCERTS:
Bob Pollard Boston Spaceships - Bluebird, St. Louis
Big Jay McNeely - New Orleans Jazzfest
The Gourds - Wood House Concert, St. Louis
Charlie Louvin - Gazebo Concert Series, Webster Groves, MO
Bruce Springsteen - Savis Center, St. Louis
Ronnie Spector - House of Blues New Orleans
Alison Krause - Robert Plant - New Orleans Jazzfest
Ponderosa Stomp 2008 - House of Blues New Orleans
The Hard Lessons - Darwin’s Pub, Austin
Steely Dan - Fox Theater, St. Louis
Terry Adams Rock and Roll Quartet - Wood House Concert, St. Louis
Steve Wynn & The Miracle 3 - Euclid Records
Future Clouds & Radar - Off Broadway
Return to Forever - Fox Theater, St. Louis
REM - Austin City Limits Studios
Robbie Fulks - Wood House Concert, St. Louis
Guy Forsyth - Euclid Records
Ian McLagan & The Bump Band - The Duck Room, St. Louis
The Collins Kids - House of Blues New Orleans
Ben Fasman,
Stop Smiling Magazine
1. The High On Fire burger at Kuma’s Corner - 1/2 pound burger on a pretzel roll with Siracha hot sauce, proscuitto, roasted red pepper, grilled pineapple and sweet chili sauce. (Runner-up: The specials at Hot Dougs. So unfuckwithable)
2. Templeton Rye - The secret to staying warm in Chicago winters. (Runner-up: Bulleit Bourbon)
3. Accidents At Home and How They Happen - A brilliant, hilarious, sad, moving film by video artist / filmmaker Jennifer Reeder. Her earlier experimental video work won her a spot in the Whitney Bienniel and all sorts of attention, but this is her first narrative film. While it follows a narrative structure, it clearly has its roots in video art, with long, lush shots, able to sift the enormity of experience into the smallest of gestures and, perhaps even more impressively, vice-versa. Killer original score by Jeremy Boyle. (Runner-up: Let The Right One In)
4. Sheer Magic - First Wednesday of every month at Danny’s Tavern in Chicago - Famed record collector Dante Carfagna and partner-in-crime Cortland Green have been throwing their monthly funk and soul night for a decade, aka way before you and everyone that you know was a “soul DJ”. They still throw the best funk and soul party that I’ve ever been to. (Runner-up: Tuesdays at Rodan w/ Jeff Parker, John Herndon & Josh Abrams. I still can’t believe this thing isn’t packed to the gills every Tuesday)
5. BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA (or at least the sentiment that he inspired in millions of people over the past year). (Runner-up: Tina Fey’s Sarah Palin impressions.)
Honorable Mentions, aka Other Things That Brought Me Joy This Year - Falling in love, the reissue labels all stepping up their game and putting out some incredible releases, moving into the treehouse, Rebecca Fasman, Jon Fasman, Double Dee & Steinski’s “Who Owns Culture” live set, DJing on election night after the acceptance speech and playing my “Fight The Power” 12″ and having the entire bar rush the dancefloor and half of them were crying, getting taught a lesson in humility when a 4 year old spit on me for being mean, bloody mary’s with a shorty of beer, MRT, Lynn Williams - “Don’t Be Surprise” [sic], seeing Getachew Mekuria & The Ex play at Grant Park, Thomas Hooper’s tattoo work, Phil Cohran’s “Singles” collection, Brutal Truth, Pig Destroyer, Eddie Hinton, wool socks, continual inspiration from the illest friends anyone could ever ask for, and so much more.
Jesse Flores,
Promotions, Easy St. Records (Seattle, WA)
Top 6 In Store Performances of 08:
#1 Wanda Jackson - She was as gracious and amazing as a living legend could and should be. And boy can she sing!
#2 Natalie Portman Shaved Head - They killed it and had the crowd dancing in the isles.
#3 Carlene Carter - She was so funny, she could do stand up, but then she sang and you knew you were amongst royalty.
#4 Star Anna, Mark Pickerel & Jesse Sykes & The Sweet Hereafter - First ever Record Store Day Performance. Amazing to have all these great people helping us celebrate. Jesse looked gorgeous.
#5 Karl Blau - Although there were a few technical difficulties, Karl shone through. What an amazing talent.
#6 Mudhoney - because they are fuckin Mudhoney, that’s why!
Jesse’s top 6 records in no particular order:
Kasey Chambers & Shane Nicholson - Rattlin Bones
Isobel Campbell & Mark Lanegan - Sunday at Devil Dirts
Star Anna - Crooked Path
Mark Pickerel - Cody’s Dream
Karl Blau - Natures Got Away
Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
Jesse’s 6 kick ass shows of 08
The Breeders @ Neumos
Carolyn Mark & The Meat Purveyors @ The Tractor Tavern
Exile In Imaginary Girlville - Three Imaginary Girls Tribute to Liz Phair’s Exile in Guyville
Lucinda Williams @ The Showbox (first night)
Neko Case @ Bumbershoot
Moondoggies @ Reverb Fest.
John Garcia
Buyer, Amoeba Music (San Francisco, CA)
Anthony Braxton - The Complete Arista Recordings
Carlos “Zingaro”/Dominique Regef/Wilbert De Joode - Spectrum
Kayhan Kalhour/Brooklyn Rider - Silent City
Getachaw Mekurya/The Ex - Moa Anbessa
Ingebrigt Haker-Flaten Quintet - The Year Of The Boar
Robbie Basho - “Bonn Ist Supreme” Live At The Kulturforum, Bonn, Germany, 11/24/80
V.A. Give Me Love: Songs Of The Brokenhearted - Baghdad 1925-29
Mike Osbourne - All Night Long
Curlew - Curlew/Live At CBGB’s 1980
Rachel Unthank & The Winterset - The Bairns
Britt Govea,
(((folkYEAH!))) Presents
in a random order:
1. Cluster finally playing live in CA! (LA, Big Sur, SC Mountain, SF)
2. Bonnie “Prince” Billy live sets in Big Sur and SF (Swedish Music Hall)
3. Entrance Band live sets @ Festival in the Forest
4. Phillip Glass live @ Henry Miller Library in Big Sur.
5. Rodriguez w/The Fresh & Only’s/Matt Baldwin Electric Band/Sleepy Sun live sets @ GAMH in SF!!!!
((serious runner up)) Howlin Rain live set @ Hammerstien Ballroom in NYC
Dawn Greany,
Manager, Twist & Shout Records (Denver, CO)
Lord Dog Bird - Lord Dog Bird
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Sigur Ros - Heima (DVD)
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Ten Kens - Ten Kens
All The Saints - Fire On Corridor X
Pacific UV - Longplay V.2
Dead End Armory - Hope You’re Good
Tindersticks - Hungry Saw
Russian Circles - Station
Duke Spirit - Neptune
Great Northwest - Widespread Reign of the Great Northwest
Whisper in the Noise - Dry Land
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
Thalia Zedek - Liars & Prayers
Portishead - Third
LOCAL:
Slim Cessna’s Auto Club - Cipher
Wovenhand - Ten Stones
Rabbit is a Sphere - Hope is a Cinder That Blinks Quietly Until You Die
Devotchka - Mad & Faithful Telling
Everything Absent or Distorted - Great Collapse
Nancy Guppy,
Seattle Channel’s Art Zone
TOP TWO FAVORITE THINGS FROM 2008, PLUS EIGHT MORE IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER:
Barack Obama winning the Presidency of the United States, (fall 2008)
Sarah Palin returning to Wasilla, Alaska, (fall 2008)
The “Fleet Foxes” show at The Moore Theatre, (fall 2008)
Paul Morgan Stetler’s performance in “The Adding Machine”, the inaugural play from New Century Theatre Company, (fall 2008)
Discovering “NARS” brand bronzing powder, color: “Laguna”, (summer 2008)
The “Red Dress” show at Egan’s Jam House the day after Thanksgiving, (fall 2008)
“Photographs from the Inside of a Whale”, Isaac Layman’s show of photography at Lawrimore Project, (summer 2008)
“The Saturday Knights” performance at Top Pot Donuts, (summer 2008)
“Lost Action”, modern dance performance choreographed by Crystal Pite for Kidd Pivot at On the Boards, (fall 2008)
The debut of the weekly local arts show “Art Zone In Studio” on the Seattle Channel 21, (winter 2008)
Heather H.
Sonic Boom Records (Seattle, WA)
in no particular order:
1. ludacris theater of the mind
2. ice cube the predator
3. my biff
4. “special” treats
5. dj randy travis
Gerald Hammil,
Other Music
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS, 2008:
My son’s first birthday. He wasn’t so much into the birthday cake as he was the celery
Election Night!!!
Slow Food
MUSIC (IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER)
Arthur Russell - Wild Combination DVD (Plexifilm)
Atlas Sound - Let the Blind Lead Those Who See but Cannot Feel (Kranky)
El Guincho - Ale Granza (Discoteca Oceana)
Fripp & Eno - No Pussyfooting (Water)
Helios - Caesura (Type)
Hercules & Love Affair - s/t (DFA)
FAVORITE SONGS:
Jeff Britton “Rub Out”
Tom Tom Club “Lorelei”
LIVE
No Age on the Lamar Pedestrian Bridge – Austin, TX (3/15)
Manuel Göttsching @ Lincoln Center – NYC (8/15)
Actually a highlight and disappointment all in one. I only caught the last part of his performance of “E2-E4″ (still enough to make it on my year end list), but Rhys Chatham’s “200 Guitars” was scrapped due to bad weather.
My Bloody Valentine @ The Roseland - NYC (9/22) My ears are still ringing.
Liquid Liquid @ Santo’s Party House – NYC (11/19)
Johnny Horn,
Producer, Musician, DJ, host KEXP’s Preachin’ The Blues, and Wicked & Wild on Thursday nights at The War Room. New project is a soul instrumental group called The Satellite 4
* The Upsetter Movie
Someone finally did it right, the life story of Lee “SCRATCH” Perry. I was floored during a recent Seattle premiere, the exclusive photos and footage of Perry at the Black Ark were augmented with surprisingly coherent commentary from the man himself and noted others like Jamaican actor Carl Bradshaw- Free designer beer and popcorn made the thing a well attended EVENT
* Menahan Street Band
Bringing Bushwick’s moody, heavy vibes to vinyl via real tape in a real studio, these cats are some of the recent additions to Daptone’s Brooklyn-based stable- I got their first forty five quite a while back, and was eager to hear more- The full length set doesn’t disappoint, it even includes a hidden song
* Crap Jazz Covers
This site is ridiculous, they have posted tons of god-awful jazz lp covers that will make you laugh, cry or kill- They are particularly merciless to Richie Cole- Take a look when you need a good escape from life’s daily stress
* North Shore Hawaiian BBQ in Seattle
Located right in the city at Yesler and Boren in the old Lloyd’s Rocket building, this place offers a full Hawaiian style menu of Asian and Island delicacies- They have all the details and good prices, and it’s not way out of the way
* Alcatraz Authentic Mexican Food is one of many many places like it on Seattle’s southend, but opened recently and has a refreshing regional style that I can’t pinpoint
* Up on Beacon Ave. is another favorite: El Quetzel, a family place with incredible food
* Versions Galore
A creative blog that collects cover versions with great presentation- “I know loads of cover versions that are regarded as being better than the original” –John Peel
* La Lupe
Born in Cuba as Guadalupe Victoria Yolí Raymond, this singer of boleros, guarachas and latin soul had a remarkable life story- She is gone now, but her voice is spellbinding, dripping with emotion that is missing from most music- Check out her story, her music and her life- She was TOO HOT
* Hot Mama’s Pizza- Still the best in town, making soggy Tutta Bella look ridiculous!
* Wheedle’s Groove- Kearney Barton - Maybe I’m prejudiced, since I’m involved in this forthcoming Light In The Attic release, but an era of Seattle’s soul music was documented with taste on this record.
Wes Howerton,
Barsuk
My top 10 Albums of 2008
1. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
2. Black Mountain – In the Future
3. Why? - Alopeica
4. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
6. Rodriguez – Cold Fact
7. Retribution Gospel Choir - S/T
8. Richard Swift – Ground Trouble Jaw
9. Department of Eagles – In Ear Park
10. Damien Jurado – Caught in Trees
Other records by “The” bands that I loved:
The Whigs - Mission Control
The Constantines – Kensington Heights
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
The Moondoggies – Don’t Be A Stranger
The Muslims – S/T
The Black Keys – Attack & Release
The Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely
Top 10 Songs of 08:
1. Richard Swift – Lady Luck
2. The Whigs – Right Hand on My Heart
3. Flash Lightnin – Coming on Strong
4. T- Pain – Can’t Believe It
5. Estelle – American Boy
6. Flo- Rida – Low
7. Usher – Love In This Club
8. Death Cab for Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
9. Damien Jurado – Best Dress
10. The Muslims – Beside Myself
Carlos Icaza,
Los Fancy Free, Evil Hippie, El Pan Blanco, Las Comadrejas
SHOWS:
Kampion, Daedalus and Marlowe, terraza CCE, downtown México City
Harmonia live at le Poisson Rouge, NYC
Ariel Pink´s Haunted Graffiti at El Imperial, México City
The Cannanes at El Garage, Monterrey, México
Phenomenal Handclap Band at 205 Christie, NYC
Damo Suzuki & Evil Hippie at Pasaje America, México City
Daptone Records fundraising party for Obama at Southpaw, NYC
RECORDS:
best reissue of the year: Rodriguez: Cold Fact (light in the attic, hats off!)
BEST MEXICAN RECORDS:
Los Guanábana - heartbeats
Los Margaritos - Rocanrolandia
jessy bulbo: Taras Bulba (nuevos ricos)
los fancy free: nevergreens vol 2 (silicon carne)
Gustavo Pimentel - percusiones (orfeon, 1966)
Monna Bell - De Repente (orfeon, 1974)
BEST TACOS:
la Superior, berry & south second, Williamsburg NYC
taqueria cocula, lopez and delicias, downtown, mexico city.
taqueria bagdad, downtown, Puebla, mexico.
BRAZILIAN FOOD:
Salada Record, downtown Sao Paulo: ask for virado paulista.
BRAZILIAN MUSIC:
Astronete Bar, Matias Aires btw. Augusta and Haddock Lobo Sao Paulo. simply the coolest bar in the world. in NY: brazilian brooklyn beats, sundays at black betty, brooklyn.
Michael Jaworski,
Mt. Fuji Records, The Cops, The Sunset Tavern, Al’s Tavern, and all taverns the world over!
1. Being alive to witness and participate in the election of Barack Obama as the next president of the United States.
2. Having great tours with my band, The Cops, and getting to play with some amazing bands like The Blind Shake, Big Business, Red Fang, The End of the World, The Long Winters, Spiral Stairs, and The A-Sides, among others.
3. Spending 2 weeks in Costa Rica with my lovely lady. Mucho gusto!
4. Having another happy and healthy year with my family and friends who continue to inspire and amaze me.
5. Getting to hear great new records by the following (in no particular order, and I’m positive that I’m forgetting a hundred more):
The Roots - Rising Down
Tobacco - Fucked Up Friends
Point Juncture, WA - Heart to Elk
The Muslims - The Muslims
They’ve since changed their name to The Soft Pack. Great band from San Diego.
The Night Marchers - See You in Magic
The Whore Moans - Hello from the Radio Wasteland!
The Oh Sees - The Master’s Bedroom is Worth Spending a Night In
The Blind Shake - Caramel
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Past Lives - Strange Symmetry
Here’s to 2009!
Andy K.
Sub Pop
Ranking Baker’s Dozen—Top singles picked up in ‘08
13. King Kong—Niceness 7″ (Black Scorpio)
12. Eric Bubbles—Rebel Lion 7″ (Decendence)
11. Mike Brooks—Come One Come All 7″ (Coptic Lion)
10. Billy Boyo in the Area/Yellowman—Lost Mi Love 7″ (Jah Guidance)
9. Knowledge/Tapper Zukie—What’s Yours 12″ (Stars)
8. Al Campbell—Repatriation 7″ (Well Charge)
7. Junior Byles—Lorna Banana 7″ (Pressure Sounds)
6. Jackie Edwards—So Jah Say 7″ (Gorgon)
5. Peter Tosh—Oh Bumbo Claat 7″ (Intel-Diplo)
4. Prince Alla—Heaven Is My Roof/Rod Taylor—Don’t Give Up 12″ (Archive)
3. Tenor Saw—Golden Hen 7″ (Hummingbird)
2. Nicodemus—Eagles’ Feather 7″ (Jammy’s)
1. Michael Palmer—Don’t Smoke the Seed 12″ (Hitbound/Channel One)
Ethan Kallet,
Berkeley Place
http://www.berkeleyplaceblog.com/the-best-of-2008-so-far/
Khal,
Rock the Dub
01/Elzhi ft. Royce Da 5’9 “Motown 25”
02/Elucid “Automatic Writing”
03/Presto ft. Sadat X, O.C. & Large Professor “Conquer Mentally”
04/The Roots “75 Bars (Black’s Reconstruction)”
05/Pete Rock ft. Jim Jones & Max B “We Roll”
06/Akrobatik ft. Talib Kweli “Put Ya Stamp On It”
07/Big Boi ft. Raekwon & Andre3000 “Royal Flush”
08/Nas ft. Busta Rhymes “Fried Chicken”
09/MAGr “Dealings”
10/Heltah Skeltah “The Art of Disrespekinazation”
Ever Kipp,
Barsuk
Asparagus + Morels = awesome
Black Keys – Attack & Release = hugeness from the former rubber capitol of the world
Babies, specifically Violet Merriweather Minton-Kipp
Russian Circles – Station = massive
Michael Chabon – Gentlemen of the Road = Jews with swords
Jon Kirby,
Wax Poetics
5 Favorite Things of 2008.
New York Club that Feels like a New York Club: Santos.
Santos has a great sound system and pretty clever programing. I went there to see Q-Tip and Rich Medina. The bass was so deep, I felt like I could see the air vibrating. Like heat over hot asphalt. The first time I went here was on my birthday (May 23rd) and that thing happens where you walk through the corridor and everything starts happening in slow motion. Popular people give you high fives and pretty girls give you euro kisses. I think for that reason, it will always hold a special place in my party heart.
Dark Horse Lunch Spot: Vegetarian Ginger
Like most people with office bound work weeks, I am violently sick of the available lunch spots in DUMBO, Brooklyn. Whenever I see guys from Turntable Lab or Fat Beats, I see the proximity pain in their eyes. Vegetarian Ginger opened in the neighboring barrio of Brooklyn Heights and I am thrilled! It looks super nice, the lunch specials are 6 dollars, and come with all the veg-friendly trimmings. Me and Idris have to deal with the hippie-based hazing from our co-workers, but until the imaginary Pulled-Pork Emporium starts delivering, chill.
Favorite Piece of Reissue: Carolina Funk.
A bit biased, me being a Tarheel and all, but this thing is incredible. Jason Perlmutter really outdid himself here. Not only did this Carolina-educated Chemistry major provide insightful descriptions of each record and the circumstances surrounding them, but identified the instrumental regions of both Carolinas, tying the whole compilation together into one cozy quilt of Southern funk. And the music? Incredible!
North American Travel Destination: Mexico City.
I been singing Montreal’s praises for many minutes, but Mexico City is exploding with cultural expression. It reminds me of the South a bit: Country good, but city quick. There is food everywhere, as if to say, “Yeah, we’re cooking a pig on this park bench…And?” Everything is affordable, public transit is near magical, and the folks are, for the most part, friendly. Carlos Icaza tour guided me around the city on a recent Mexodus and I couldn’t have had a better time. “Chido” is the 80s equivalent of “Rad,” and like Visa, it’s everywhere you want to be.
Best, “Dude, you got to hear this” band of 2008: Francis and the Lights:
I feel in most instances, the more these artists are touted, the more likely we are to tune them out. For the sake of brevity, Francis is the authentic Prince of blue-eyed soul. My favorite instance of the word “strawberry” ever incorporated into metered rhyme. It’s harder than you think.
Mark Klebeck,
Top Pot Doughnuts
BEST CD: The Saturday Knights – Mingle (My wife and I play this over and over and over…)
BEST RESTAURANT: Machiavelli (Some of the best Italian food in the nation served by the friendliest staff)
BEST DJ: John Richards (Same as last year…There’s nobody better)
BEST ILLUSTRATOR: Ed Fotheringham (I love his work)
BEST PIZZA: MOD Pizza (Corner of 6th and University downtown)
BEST GRAPHIC DESIGN: Todd Hardman (at Whiz-Bang…great soccer goalie too!)
BEST WEB DESIGNER: Christine Godlewski (at Genius Creative)
BEST SCRATCH BAR: Sun Liquor (Yeah, I know…biased)
BEST BREAKFAST: PORTAGE BAY CAFÉ (Great breakfast!)
BEST RECORD STORE: Sonic Boom (Great independent place for music!)
Jon Kurtzer,
KEXP, Zune
Top 10 Albums of the year -
Umalali - The Garfina Women’s Collective
DJ Dolores - Real
Buena Vista Social Club - Live at Carnegie Hall
Seun Kuti - Suen Kuti and Fela’s Egypt 80
Chiwoniso - Rebel Women
Justin Adams - Soul Science
Dub Colossus - A Town Called Addis
Hector Zazou and Swara - In The House of Mirrors
Debashish Battacharya - Calcultta Chronicles
Toumani Diabete - The Mande Variations
John Laird,
Side One: Track One
All of us in the SOTO family (which includes LITA’s own Mr. Noah Sanders) have completely listed ourselves to the point of no return, so instead of music or film, I present to you five of the best ways that I wasted my time this year in Austin, TX.
The Alamo Drafthouse (the best theater in the world)
Halo 3/Left 4 Dead/Gears Of War 2 (violent video games are such a blast)
The Flying Saucer (beer is good)
ESPN 1/2/News/The Ocho (sports are fun…to watch while on the couch)
Gmail Chat (probably the slickest way to look like I’m working)
That’s it.
Feel free to join me in these activities at any point in 2009!
Kevin Ledoux,
Seattle Subsonic
TOP BEARDS OF 2008
http://www.seattlesubsonic.com/2008/12/12/the-era-of-the-new-hair-band-top-beards-of-2008/
Beau Levitt,
Five Bucks On By-Tor
The 10 Best Old Canadian Records I Found In 2008 (in alphabetical order):
The Bob Brooks Music Co. and Chorus - To Keep This Land Alive: Winnipeg trucking company film soundtrack split evenly between folk and ’70s-era electronica.
Ron Harrison - Moods Of The Wild: Easy-listening nature film soundtrack tracks with a funky edge.
Jerry Jerome & The Cardells - Hot Steel: Rootsy covers of Bob Marley, Tower Of Power and Nancy Sinatra by a Rexdale hotel band.
Kensington Market - Avenue Road: Late-’60s Toronto psych band.
Claude Leveillee et Andre Gagnon - Leveillee-Gagnon: Stately instrumental Quebecois classical/jazz.
Maestro Fresh Wes - Symphony In Effect: Classic LP by the godfather of Canadian hip-hop.
Jackie Mittoo - Let’s Put It All Together: Reggae-fied pop by Jamaican-born keyboard maestro who lived in Toronto throughout the ’70s.
Marg Osburne - The Best Of Marg Osburne: Country and folk with a jazzy touch by a powerhouse singer.
Syrinx - Long Lost Relatives: Way ahead-of-its-time prog album.
David Clayton Thomas and The Shays - A Go-Go: Surprisingly gritty garage rock and blues by the future Blood, Sweat & Tears frontman and a Toronto r&b group.
Eric Levin
Owner/Founder, Criminal Records, AIMS Coalition
Top 10 Records of 2008
1. Anna Kramer & The Lost Cause - Rustic Contemporary Sounds of…
2. Augustus Pablo - The Rockers Story
3. Bauhaus - Go Away White
4. Earth, Roots & Water - Innocent Youths
5. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah (Part One)
6. Gentlemen Jesse & His Men - S/T
7. Lady Dottie & The Diamonds - S/T
8. Noot D’Noot - Goofer Dust
9. Rodriguez - Cold Fact
10. Warren Zevon - S/T (deluxe reissue)
Lawrence Lui,
Astralwerks
Top 25 in no order!
1) Portishead - Third (best album)
2) Howlin Rain - Magnificent Fiend (second best album)
3) Smoke Feathers (best unsigned band)
4) Esau Mwanwaya & Radioclit (best mixtape)
5) Rodriguez - Cold Fact (best reissue)
6) Septicflesh - Communion (best metal record with massive orchestral flourishes)
7) Dreadzone ‘For A Reason’ (best song to put a smile on your face)
8) Vira - Demo (best unsigned metal act)
9) Guilty Simpson (most slept on)
10) RZA ‘Long Time Coming’ & GZA ‘0% Finance’ (best Wu Tang Clan tracks)
11) Prince @ Coachella (best festival gig)
12) The Ex with Gétatchèw Mèkurya @ Lincoln Center NYC (best free show)
13) Seun Kuti @ Summerstage NYC (second best free show)
14) Mavis Staples @ BB Kings (best show at an awful venue)
15) WangWen @ The Spot Festival (best Chinese spacerock show in Denmark)
16) Bob Dylan ‘Cocaine Blues’ (best live vocal performance on a record)
17) Girl Talk - Feed The Animals (guiltiest pleasure)
18) Sunday Best, Brooklyn (best Brooklyn party)
19) Special Disco Version, NYC (best Manhattan party)
20) Times New Viking - Rip It Off (lowest-fi)
21) Buenos Aires, Argentina (best trip)
22) Duffy (best excuse not to miss Amy Winehouse)
23) My Bloody Valentine - Live @ ICA 6/13/08 (best bootleg)
24) Substantula.com (best shameless plug for my blog)
25) Obama (best reason to be hopeful)
Jennifer Maas,
Evil Bunny Films
Top Five Food Things
1. Black Bean Soup with Apples
This Black Bean Soup is based on a recipe from the Herbfarm Cookbook. Soak two cups of beans in 6 cups of water for a couple of hours. Cook 6 pieces of finely chopped bacon over medium until most of the fat is rendered, but not yet crispy. Add or remove enough fat to make 1/3 cup. … Read MorePut in a finely chopped onion, four finely chopped celery stalks, and 3 finely chopped garlic cloves. Cook for a few minutes until they are soft. Add two tablespoons of ginger, a teaspoon of allspice and a half a teaspoon of cayenne. Stir around for a second. Add 7 cups of chicken broth, a couple of bay leaves, and the beans. Boil, then simmer for two hours or so until the beans are soft. Add 3 apples (I used two granny smith and a fuji) in small cubes, two tablespoons of maple syrup, a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, two tablespoons finely chopped each of rosemary and thyme, and cook until apples are soft (about 10 minutes). I think that’s it.
2. Ruby on Rails
Okay, it’s not a food thing as much as it is a programming language / web framework. I really love it, but if I start talking about I’ll just sound like a brainwashed cult member, and your eyes will be frantically looking around the room for a way out of the conversation. I’ll just say that it’s everything I ever wanted in a programming language. Word. And if there were any way to eat it, I’m sure it would be very delicious.
3. Hurricane Ike Turkey Tacos
My parents got hit pretty bad by Hurricane Ike, so my brother and sister and I all rushed down to help pick up the pieces a few days later. We actually had a blast that week, and my brother and I made ground turkey tacos one night from the random stuff that the grocery store had left after the storm. This recipe is best made using a hotplate run by a generator. Saute a chopped onion in oil (this will take a while with on a hot plate), then add the ground turkey, some cumin, a little chili powder, some salt, and cook until turkey is done. On a second hotplate, heat some oil, and fry up a few cans of black beans. Make enough guacamole to go swimming in (guac is good for morale). Serve with chips, chopped tomatoes, and tortillas. Also, even though it’s kind of a pain to do dishes with no hot water, use real dishes!
4. Chipotle Chilies
I bought a bag in Mexico City last November, and they have taken my Tex Mex game to a new level this year. They are smoky and flavorful and hot and perfect.
5. Homemade Chicken Stock
I save my onion, carrot, and celery scraps in the freezer. When I have a chicken carcass, I put it in a stock pot with my vegetable scraps (and some fresh veggies if I’ve got them), sprig of thyme, a bay leaf, and a spring of parsley. I cover the mess with water, bring to a boil, skim the gross stuff off the top, and then let it simmer for a few hours. My process is nowhere near perfect, but the result is still ridiculously great. And I swear it cures colds in a day and makes your hair grow about three times faster.
Michael Maly,
Sonic Itch Music
I feel fortunate to have a life full of wonderful music related moments, and putting together a list of the more memorable or relevant, is a bit of a daunting task. But, how can one resist the invitation from the fine folks @ Light in The Attic?
Some of my most memorable music related experiences from 2008 as best as my memory can serve.
In no particular order of relevance.
My Morning Jacket @ The Parish (400 capacity venue) in March:
This is the first venue that I saw the band perform live, back in 2003 I believe, and I was completely blown away then. The lineup has changed, the hair is gone, but the magic still exists, and experiencing it in this environment is how it should be.
Fleet Foxes self titled album:
Being a fan of guitar forward rock-n-roll, this album was an unexpected beautiful surprise and delight. Simple, complex, and incredibly touching this band is and just so amazing on so many levels.
Cat Power @ Stubbs:
My faith and appreciation for Chan Marshall was all but shattered after a dismal performance @ the 2007 Fun Fun Fun Fest, but the girl rebounded nicely. Marshall shined in a performance that showcased her stage presence, working the crowd with her sensual vocal delivery along with her ability to connect to the listener.
Fun Fun Fun Fest 2008:
Set in Waterloo Park in the middle of downtown Austin, TX. Fun Fun Fun Fest showcases some of the best up and coming in the music scene, while paying tribute to some of those who paved the way in earlier years. The venue is great, the vibe is awesome, and there’s a ton of great music. You’ll experience it soon enough.
The Walkmen @ The Parish:
Always a bit curious about the records and enjoying them to an extent, the band’s live performance was nothing less than stellar. In a day and age when most bands rely on electronic compliments, The Walkmen are pure and almost completely straight forward. An amazing performance reproducing the stripped down, classic sounds on the albums, with classic guitars and amps. The Walkmen seem to exist in a time almost forgotten, but deliver sounds that fit in the now.
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago:
Justin Vernon spent time away from the society most of us know, and the end result reads like a musical recap of each and every detail of that experience. You can feel the isolation of the soul, the voices of the wind in the trees, the chill of the winter, and the crackle of the wood burning stove.
Colour Revolt @ Austin City Limits Festival:
Three days of crowds, heat, and performances that walked the line of mediocrity at best were rescued by the performance of Mississippi’s Colour Revolt. Beautiful guitars, passionate screaming, and songs wrapped in dark introspective lyrics have never been so welcomed. A truly underrated band, whose time in the spotlight may never come to the fruition that it should.
Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball:
Standing on the shoulders of giants they may, as many do in this day and age, but to infinite glory this band has created an amazing rock record. Rock might be an unpopular subject these days, but I’m still a believer.
Spoon @ The Parish:
I’ve been a fan from the first recording, and have seen the band as many times as convenience would allow. It’s been a long relationship most recently accented with this performance in which Brit Daniel and company killed the new material live and reached back into their lengthy catalog of seemingly never ending hits. A fine reminder of how much the band has been and still remains relevant in the current modern music scene.
Mark,
Strictly Discs (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
Black Crowes – Warpaint
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Cold War Kids – Loyalty to Loyalty
Dr. Dog – Fate
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Gary Louris – Acoustic Vagabonds
Next 5:
Thievery Corporation – Radio Retaliation
King Kahn – Supreme Genius of King Kahn
Kings of Leon – Only By the Night
Trey Anastasio – Original Boardwalk Style
David Byrne/Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Martin, Adam, Pish, Dorian and Leonore
The Soundcarriers
The Soundcarriers debut album will be released March 2009
Record: The Natural Yogurt Band – ‘Away With Melancholy’ (Jazzman Records)
With a definite nod towards classic library composers [Hawkshaw, Mansfield, Moorhouse], debut LP Away With Melancholy features a hole array of vintage instruments and production techniques, resulting in a warm sounding, groove-filled, unpretentious masterpiece, recorded under totally analogue conditions. Brilliant!
DVD: O Lucky Man [dir. Lindsay Anderson 1973]
Malcolm McDowell stars in this, probably the best of the Anderson trilogy. With many of the cast playing multiple roles, Arthur Lowe, Jeremy Bulloch and Helen Mirren, the film itself is a series of movies within movies. A story of corruption and lies, a highly influential yet often over-looked film, finally has its digital release. As well as a cameo role, Alan Price provides the killer soundtrack. Surreal
Film: London Loves, BFI Outdoor Screening, Trafalgar Square
Outdoor large screen viewing under Nelson’s Column on a clear, winter’s night, watching recently unearthed delights of familiar London sights, to the more bizarre aspects of city life, the programme included The Smallest Car in the Largest City in the World (1913) in which a miniature Cadillac dodges the city’s omnibuses while young Hackney residents can be seen enjoying a spot of competitive bun-eating in beautiful colour home movies shot by Lt. James in the early 1950s; accompanied with live piano, violin and drums. Priceless
Gig: The Pentangle [original line-up/UK tour]
An incredible, and probably never to be repeated evening in the company of the band’s original line-up: Bert Jansch, Terry Cox, John Renbourn, Jacqui McShee and Danny Thompson. A well chosen set-list, including tracks Wedding Dress, Light Flight, Sweet Child, Bruton Town; performed by this magical, influential, ground-breaking band, sounding as timeless as on record. Masterful musicianship, retaining all subtleties. For once, a reformed band who kept it real.
Radio: Bob Dylan’s Theme Time Radio Hour
How could Bob’s radio show disappoint? Courtesy of XM Satellite Radio, 6 Music lets the UK listen in on these eclectic hand-picked selections from the man himself. Deep
Music Festival: Supersonic, Custard Factory, Birmingham (July)
Leonore’s favourite avant-garde noise fest; and she’s not alone, voted ‘the best organised and most wisely curated festival’ by Plan B magazine. Best band of the festival: Fuck Buttons
Shop: Selectadisc, 21 Market Street, Nottingham, NG1 6HX
This national institution entered 2008 under uncertain terms, but lives to fight another day after being bought out be Sister Ray. Trading since 1966, a much loved independent high street store, which, in its lifetime has played host to many instore gigs (Soledad Brothers, The Clash, Magic Numbers) keeps on supplying diverse and extensive record and CD buyer’s needs, while its commitment to keeping vinyl a viable commodity is above and beyond the call of duty.
Re-Issue: The Inner Dialogue – The Inner Dialogue
Not sure exactly when this LP was re-issued, but I didn’t hear of it until this year. On a Free Design, 5th Dimension, Sound Of Feeling tip, soft-psyche sound with clunky bass and tuff drums. Original release on Ranwood Records RLP-8050 from 1969. Sunshine
Restaurant: Gourmet San, 261 Bethnal Green Road, London E2
After reading Jay Rayner’s recommendation in The Observer Magazine, I really had to check this place out. And it didn’t disappoint. My words can’t do this place justice, so I’ll let you read the original review: I took Jay Rayner’s advice, and ordered the Chilli Crab and Pig’s Trotters, and not only did the food live up to the review, it wouldn’t even fit on the table! A fascinating and affordable Szechuan menu, probably not for the faint hearted, featuring Waist of Rabbit, Chilli Frog’s Legs and Cow’s Stomach.
Pub: Old Olive Bush, Flecknoe, Warwickshire, CV23 8AT
I probably shouldn’t really be plugging this unspoilt gem, just in case it doesn’t stay that way. Val, the landlady, will give you the warmest welcome, be you a local, walker, tourist, boater, whatever, to this wonderful true public house. In the space the size no bigger than most people’s living room, customers are shoehorned in the bar, clutching caramel coloured pints of local brew, faces red from the open fire. No music. Just chit chat. In summer, the rolling garden overlooks the beautiful valley below, whilst you’re sat with a pint of IPA amongst bumble bee’s favourite fauna. Recommended: pint of Hooky and a home-grown pickled egg
Bar: Dulcimer, 567 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 0AE
Fine Ales and Fine Folk! Owned by partner of B-Music/Finders’ Keepers Records, The Dulcimer is a wonderful antique filled, acid folk drenched busy bar and live music venue. An incredible line-up of acts have played here: Dando Shaft, Tudor Lodge, Meic Stevens, Heather Jones, Magic Carpet, Robin Williamson (Incredible String Band), Spirogyra and regular DJs include Lee Janda and Andy Votel. Friendly staff and atmosphere; recommended: Thwaites Flying Shuttle 4.6% Cask
Theatre: Noel Coward’s Brief Encounter [Kneehigh Theatre production]
A humorous, affectionate and detailed adaptation of Coward’s 1930s classic playlet ‘Still Life’. With wonderful detail, Kneehigh take you back to a 1930s style cinema, with actors showing people to their seats while musicians stroll around the auditorium singing songs such as Roll Out The Barrel and Run Rabbit Run. Innovative and imaginative.
News: Barack Obama
What’s left to say?
City: Berlin
Art Exhibition: Cold War Modern: Design 1945-1970. Victoria and Albert Museum, London.
Incredible exhibition of art and culture from ‘both sides of the Iron Curtain’. This is still on until mid Jan 09, well worth checking, exhibits include: a Sputnik and an Apollo Mission space suit, films by Stanley Kubrick, paintings by Robert Rauschenberg and Gerhard Richter, fashion by Paco Rabanne, designs by Charles and Ray Eames and Dieter Rams, architecture by Le Corbusier, Richard Buckminster Fuller and Archigram, and vehicles including a Messerschmidt micro-car. Cold
Art Installation: Cildo Meireles, Tate Modern
Encompassing work from this Brazilian artist over the last four decades. Highlight: Fontes 1992/2008, a structure of 6000 rulers, 1000 ticking clocks and 500000 vinyl numbers following the spiral formation of the Milky Way, draws you into a maze-like world, with its hypnotic ticking soundtrack.
Art Festival: Whitley Arts Festival
A free local festival of Art, Music, Dance, Drama, Film, encouraging participation from the local residents of Reading.
Highlight: The Experimental Film Evening.
Traders: Candle Bridge Carrying Co.
We met Tom, skipper, at Watford last March on one of those typical still, icy-cold, sun-filled winter sundays, and what a sight for sore eyes: a pair of historic working narrowboats, brimming to the gunwhales with coal for sale! He truly saved the day along a barron stretch of canal, with our own coal supply rapidly depleteing. School-leaver Tom had just bought the pair of boats to become a proper working boatman, supplying heating fuel for boats moored along the southern Grand Union Canal and London. We wish him, and dog Maggie, good luck in keeping this tradition alive without becoming a tourist attraction. His beautiful boats, Archimedes and Ara (1935 Star Class) can be seen here in their former glory.
Matt,
Strictly Disc (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
TV on the Radio – Dear Science
Sleeping in the Aviary – Expensive Vomit in a Cheap Hotel
Okkervil River – The Stand Ins
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
The Walkmen – You & Me
Mount Eerie – Lost Wisdom
Silver Jews – The Joos
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Flying Lotus – Los Angeles
Next 5:
Hot Chip – Made in the Dark
Islands – Arm’s Way
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
The Notwist – The Devil, You + Me
Spiritualized – Songs in A&E
Ben “Mouse” McShane,
Classical Geek Theatre
Classical Geek Theatre’s Top 10 Albums from LA Bands 2008
1. The Henry Clay People - For Cheap or For Free
The normal kids were listening to Coldplay and Radiohead, the cool kids were listening to No Age and MGMT, and The Henry Clay People released an indie rock record that references Neil Young, CCR, and Tom Petty before borrowing from Pavement and The Replacements. In other words, For Cheap or For Free is a rockists’ wet dream, a poptimists’ envy, and a finger in the eye of the Pitchfork aesthetic. Those are three great reasons to own it. (Buy This Record)
2. No Age - Nouns
For teenagers and twentysomethings living in the 21st century, Nouns is the musical recording equivalent of Henry David Thoreau Walden. This is an “It will set you free” kind of record, and probably the most culturally relevant release of 2008. (Buy This Record)
3. The Mae Shi - HLLLYH
LA’s most angular noisepunk band becomes LA’s catchiest electropop act. All of the the guys in the band (who are a mix of atheists, agnostics, and a true-believing Christian) wrote songs about the nature of god. Then they put a 14 minute long dance mix of the record in the middle, specifically so you would skip a track, emulating a “Side A and Side B” vinyl effect on CD. Genius. (Buy This Record)
4. The Airborne Toxic Event - self titled
It’s the best “epic indie rock” record of the year, from LA or otherwise. Music snobs dismissed this one as a poor man’s Interpol, but the lyrical content is so much more genuine and cathartic, perfectly complimented by the dynamic instrumentals. Airborne had already broken-out when the record was released, but it was the live performances of these songs that launched their career. (Buy This Record)
5. The Movies - Based on a True Story
Based on a True Story only came-out last week but it’s an instant Silverlake classic. Nobody makes synthesizers sleazy like these guys do. If only the world wanted rock stars… (Available at Spaceland every Monday in December)
6. Thailand - The Remote Controller Absorbs the Place (EP)
Brutal synth rock by subtraction. This five-song EP is a constant battle between the band’s passionate expressions and their totalitarian songwriting discipline. There’s anger in the quiet spaces, and that’s not easy to do. (Buy This Record)
7. Divisadero - Lefty
California desert rock is dime a dozen, but California desert rock as a concept album telling the story of a retired boxer? Not so common. This full-length is beautiful, dark, twisted stuff. I can never aptly describe it because every listen is like a half-forgotten dream. (Buy This Record)
8. The Happy Hollows - Imaginary EP
Los Angeles’ premiere artrock outfit finally released a collection of songs worthy of their electric live performances. It’s phenomenal, mind bending stuff… and these are the five songs that didn’t make the upcoming full-length?! (Buy This Record)
9. Death to Anders - Fictitious Business
Death to Anders worships at the altar of Stephen Malkmus, Thurston Moore, and Thom Yorke… but they make records that have more in common with a Cohen Brothers movie. Cinematic alt-indie with an alt-country twang. (Buy This Record)
10. The Mezzanine Owls - self titled (EP)
Breathtakingly majestic shoegaze. Six songs torturously too short. “Temporary Health” makes my top 5 songs of the year list. Released as a 7″ vinyl with a digital download card. (Buy This Record)
Trent Moorman,
The Stranger, The Saturday Knights, Head Like A Kite
Top 5 Albums to Listen to While Driving a Tour Van Late at Night:
(through miles and miles of open road and the night sky, when no one
else is awake in the van except you and the stereo):
1) Miles Davis – Panthalassa
2) Rachel’s – Systems & Layers
3) Trans Am – Sex Change
4) Ry Cooder – Paris, Texas
5) Yume Bitsu – The Golden Vessyl of Sound
Top 5 Breakfast Cereals:
1) Fruity Pebbles
2) Peanut Butter Cap’n Crunch
3) Cinnamon Life
4) Cracklin Oat Bran
5) Count Chocula
Tarin Muir
Promotions, Amoeba Music (San Francisco, CA)
Top 10 things that I liked for 2008 -
1. Great American Music Hall in San Francisco
2. Obama, Obama, Obama.
3. Radiohead - In Rainbows… I cant stop listening to it.
4. Crown Royal
5. Nirvana Thai Restaurant in the Castro
6. Britney Spears acting sane again… yeah right!
7. The Glass Castle - Book
8. Kathy Griffin
9. Sexy Straight San Franciscan men who like to dance to Cindy Lauper! :-)
HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
http://themusicslut.com/2008/12/tms-presents-matts-top-25-singles-of-2008/
http://themusicslut.com/2008/12/the-music-slut-presents-matts-top-50-lps-of-2008/
Ruben Mz,
Coconut Coolouts, Sonic Boom Records,
Haunted Horse Records, The Shackles
TOP ten…er… TOP 16 …. 7″s from 2008.
1. Barbaras - Summertime Road (Goner)
2. The Dutchess and the Duke- Scorpio (Horizontal Action)
3. Wounded Lion- Carol Cloud (S-S Records)
4. Catatonic Youth (Horizontal Action)
5. Vivian Girls - Wild Eyes (Plays With Dolls)
6. Johnny and the Limelites/Slippery Slope - Summer of Fun Split Single (Florida’s Dying)
7. World’s Lousy With Ideas Compilations #1-6 *****all of them****(Almost Ready Records)
8. LOVETAN (Sweet Rot Records)
9. Batman and Robin- I’m a Bat, I’m a Rock N Roll Animal (Bachelor Records)
10. Catatonic Youth - Piss Scene (Horizontal Action)
Jon Naito,
Writer, Seattle P.I.
Beach House - Devotion
Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Department of Eagles - In Ear Park
The Walkmen - You & Me
Elzhi - The Preface
Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls
V/A - Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds, and Nigerian Blues 1970-6
V/A - Titan: It’s All Pop!
The Dutchess and the Duke - She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke
M83 - Saturday = Youth
Arthur Russell - Love Is Overtaking Me
A couple of hip-hop mixtapes: Paper Route Gangstaz - Fear and Loathing in Hunts Vegas and Wafeek - The Aristocrats Mixtape
Nate,
Strictly Discs (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
TV on the Radio – Dear Science
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Santogold - Santogold
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
The Roots – Rising Down
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
The Cool Kids – Bake Sale
Deerhunter – Microcastle
Next 5:
The Dodo’s – Visiter
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
Blitzen Trapper - Furr
Eagles of Death Metal – Heart On
Kings of Leon – Only By the Night
Chad Nelson
Sales Rep/Great Guy, Super D
TEN THINGS I LIKED IN 2008
1. Rodriguez - Cold Fact reissue on Light in the Attic
(Even if this wasn’t their website, I’d still put this as my number one. I got to see him twice in New York—THE comeback story of the year!)
2. Delta Spirit - “Trashcan” (good, sloppy rock’n'roll the way it’s meant to be played)
3. Noah & the Whale - “5 Years Time”
4. The Heavy - “Girl”
5. Elbow - ‘The Seldom Seen Kid’ and live
6. Honeydrips - “I Wouldn’t Know What to Do”
7. Hardly Strictly Bluegrass 2008 - Golden Gate Park, San Francisco
(Robert Plant & Alison Krauss, Richard Thompson, Elvis Costello doing ‘Friend of the Devil’ and a frail, but strong-voiced Odetta were the highlights of the incredible festival)
8. The Shortwave Set - ‘Replica Sun Machine’
9. Nick Lowe - Jesus of Cool on Yeproc (even my kids love this!)
10. Madmen-Season 2 on AMC (preferably with a highball in my hand)
Nate Nelson,
Stones Throw
Favorite TV Show: Ken Burns The West
Favorite Guilty Pleasure: “Electric Feel” MGMT (Justice Remix)
Favorite Gadget To Pass The Time: Nike + iPod Running Combo
Favorite Trainwreck To Watch: Sarah Palin
Favorite New Beer: American Ale by Budweiser (shit is good. I mean for realz)
Favorite Seed to Watch Grow: East Los Angeles, CA
Favorite Shout Out To Light In The Attic: “suuuuuuuuugar man”
Molly Neuman,
Label Director, eMusic
What I liked in 2009 -
The Teenagers - Reality Check
Deastro - Keepers
Delorean’s re-mixes of The Teenagers, Big Pink and Lemonade
www.Desparrame.blogspot.com
www.simplesocialgraces.blogspot.com
Natural Gourmet Institute- Chef’s Training Program
www.dessertofthemonthclub.blogspot.com
Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul
Nicaragua, El Salvador and Mexico
Sapelo Island, GA
Mike Nipper,
The Stranger
1. My tiny Canadian friend Bay Bay
2. Falling on my face biking home in August and getting a black eye
3. Nice titties
4. Having a much more smiling baby and not much of a crying baby
5. My component CD burner
Grant Olsen,
Arthur & Yu
Top 5 more perplexing and interesting quagmires than the Great Economic Doom Crisis of 2008:
5) The Seattle Windshield Pitting Epidemic of 1954
4) The Dancing Plague of 1518
3) The 1962 Laughter Epidemic of Tanganyika
2) The Penis Panic Manias of Asia and Africa (various times in history)
1) The Nun Biting Hysteria of 1844
Peanut Butter Wolf,
Stones Throw
Top 10 DJs in LA you may not know if you don’t live here. These gys keep the party moving without resorting to the obvious hits. In no particular order.
1) Kutmah - One of those guys that always has me running up to the turntables asking “what was that?”. Possibly too known outside of LA for this list, but oh well.
2) Coleman - When he’s not taking photos for the Madvillain album cover, he’s rocking various weeklies and house parties around the city and reads the crowd perfectly. He stole the show at my friend’s going away party.
3,4,5) Randy Watson/Laroj/Billy Goods - They all hold down Funkmosphere along with Dam-Funk. No hits.
6) Max - He’s got good taste for the soulful stuff from every era. He should spin out more.
7) Jun - He’s been doin it for years and doin it well. Almost doesn’t count for this list also cuz he’s too known.
8) Mona Lisa - Been in the music industry for years, but just started spinning out. Hearing her, you’d never know it though.
9) DJ Jedi - not only is he a good DJ, but he brings the energy when he’s not spinning as well. I’m gonna have to start hiring him to stand in the crowd during my gigs to cheer so everyone else does.
10)J Logic - might be too known to be on the list as well, but he won with his 80s rock set at Do-Over a couple of weeks ago.
There’s plenty of others so if I left you off, I either haven’t heard you spin lately or you’re too known. Sorry.
Dave Pehling aka Sasquatch Barracho
SF Weekly contributor, Web editor for KTVU.com and part-time DJ
Best albums
Cloud Cult - Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
Craig Minowa and company mixed soaring orchestrations, existential lyrics and the odd glitchy beat for one of the most emotionally intense albums of the year, Pitchfork haters be damned.
Dub Trio – Another Sound Is Dying
Blindingly heavy and engagingly tuneful while still exploring the spacious sound of their namesake style.
Gojira – The Way of All Flesh
The most frighteningly talented heavy band this side of Mastodon and Meshuggah, these eco-minded French prog/death metallers dealt out crushing brutality that didn’t shy away from ambient experimentation or an urgent message to save the planet.
Jay Reatard – Matador Singles
Between this and the In the Red comp spanning singles from the two previous years, fans got an avalanche of Reatard’s brilliant feral punk vs. jittery new wave menace. If the guy can just manage to extend his live sets to something approaching an hour, he’ll take over the universe.
Melvins – Nude With Boots
Since bringing in young sensei from Big Business, the Melvins have produced not one but two of their best albums ever. More bands should hit this kind of an apex a quarter century into their careers.
Best live shows
Gilberto Gil at Masonic Auditorium
While seeing one of Brazil’s living legends backed by a full band didn’t quite match the transcendent magic of his solo acoustic show in Berkeley last year, Gil remains one of the warmest, most engaging stage performers alive.
Melvins at Slim’s
As good as the studio stuff is, hearing the eight-limbed percussive beast that is Cody Willis and Dale Crover propelling the big ‘fro frontman tandem of Jared Warren and King Buzzo onstage elevates the songs to a whole new realm.
Opeth at the Grand Ballroom
Neck-snapping death metal with elegiac Pink Floyd atmospheres and some of the most hilarious deadpan stage banter ever from main man Mikael Akerfeldt made this a night to remember.
Rodriguez with Sleepy Sun at the Great American Music Hall
Hearing Sixto Rodriguez perform songs from his lost classic Cold Fact live ruled, but local psych juggernaut Sleepy Sun had me kicking myself for not discovering their bluesy, Black Mountain-style epics long ago.
Triclops! at multiple venues
One of San Francisco’s best live bands, Triclops! deals out churning, corrosive prog-punk that serves as a launching point for frontman John Mink’s hallucinatory lyrics and unhinged onstage antics. They never disappoint.
Matthew Perpetua,
Fluxblog
Top 5 Comics
1. Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together by Bryan Lee O’Malley
2. All Star Superman by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely
3. Achewood by Chris Onstad
4. Bottomless Belly Button by Dash Shaw
5. Final Crisis by Grant Morrison, J.G. Jones, and Carlos Pacheco
Top 5 Blogs That Are Not Read By Nearly Enough People
1. What A Fool Believes
2. For Your Pleasure
3. Attentiondeficitdisorderly Too Flat
4. Mindless Ones
5. The Knowledge For Thirst
Pat Riley,
Domino Records
This is in no particular order
Joe Higgs - Life Of Contradiction - An incredible reissue by the criminally underrated 60’s and 70’s reggae great. I first heard him on a Jimmy Cliff live record as a back up singer and was just blown away by his voice. LOC was originally released in 1975 and is brilliant.
The Secret Machines - Secret Machines - I just really like this band.
Fucked Up - The Chemistry Of A Common Life - As my friend Morgan says “Whenever I listen to the Fucked Up record the only thing I want to do is listen to the Fucked Up record again.”
The Stills - Oceans Will Rise - This is an amalgam of the hooks of the first album and the depth of the second album. They were awesome live at the Music Hall of Williamsburg this fall.
Motorhead live at Stubbs in Austin, TX- It was just tremendous. I can’t wait for the Lemmy the Movie to be released in 2009. The trailer looks awesome!
Daddy “Santa Claus” Roberto,
Owner, Goodfellas Distribution
*20 records I heard a lot this year:*
Seun Kuti - Many Things (Tout Ou Tard)
Karl Hector & The Malcouns - Sahara Swing (Now Again)
Dusk + Blackdown - Margins Music (Keysounds Recordings)
Pete Molinari - A Virtual Landslide (Damaged Goods)
Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing (ATP Recordings)
Black Mountain - In The Future (Jagjaguwar)
Wildbirds & Peacedrums - Heartcorem (The Leaf Label)
Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost (Light In The Attic)
Pinch - Underwater Dancehall (Tectonic)
Eli Paperboy Reed - Roll With You (Q Division Media)
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War) (Universal Motown)
Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It (Sony)
Menahan Street Band - Make The Road By Walking (Daptone Records)
Herbie Hancock - Hear O Israel (Jonny)
Rodriguez - Cold Fact (Light In The Attic)
Mary Queenie Lyons - Soul Fever (Vampisoul)
Tony Allen - Afro Disco Beat (Vampisoul)
V/A - Reggae Anthology: Randy’s 50th Anniversary (VP Records)
Mulatu Astatke - Mulatu Of Ethiopia (Worthy)
V/A - 1970’s Algerian Proto-Rai Underground (Sublime Frequencies)
*Mixtapes I Like:*
Santogold vs. Diplo - Top Ranking (Mad Decent)
DJ Nuts Embalo- Joven Mochilla Ent.
DJ Rupture - Uproot (The Agriculture)
*Movie/Book:*
Roberto Saviano - Gomorrah
*Sport:*
A.S. Roma Football Club
bless
Daddy “Santa Claus” Roberto
Travis Ritter,
Sonic Boom Records, The Stranger
Five Points on The Best Music of 2008
1. #1 Band in Heaven
Why wasn’t Sparks nominated for a Grammy this year? 2008 was a pinnacle year for the legendary, serious-not-serious rock band. Playing twenty-one shows in London, performing every album they’ve recorded in sequential order is no easy task (by my calculation, that’s around 260 songs they had to relearn and store in their musical memory!). They closed with the live unveiling of their latest pop masterpiece, Exotic Creatures of the Deep, which is fantastic. I simply can’t wait to see them play that and Kimono My House in LA on Valentine’s Day! They are the #1 Band in Heaven living on Earth.
2. Two Discoveries
R. Stevie Moore - 4 From Phonography EP
R. Stevie Moore should be the sole rightful owner to the term “Do-It-Yourself. The lo-fi power pop extraordinaire from Nashville was at least a decade ahead of future 4-tracking oddballs. This super rare 4 song EP from 1976 is evidence of that. It was found in an unclaimed box full of 45s that was in my garage while moving out. Many people couldn’t avoid hearing me proclaim the genius of this treasure I found in that box. (Other finds: a really early Husker Du 45, a Rollins Band Sup Pop Singles Club w/ test pressing, and a mysterious recording of two people having sex on a 45 labeled “Young Girl” b/w “Experienced Woman.”). YouTubers should seek R. Stevie Moore videos out immediately.
Crystal Antlers – EP (Touch and Go)
Like Pleasure Forever and Comets on Fire having druggy love sex with one another, wrapped up in a sonic bed sheet. Organ-asmic delights. Demands repeat back-to-back listens, a million times over.
3. Three Words For Three Records That Move Me
Hauschka - Ferndorf (Fat Cat)
Willowy prepared piano
Atlas Sound – Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel (Kranky)
Narcotic midnight lullabies
Leila – Blood Looms and Blooms (Warp)
Liquefying aural expansions
4. Four For The Floor
Hercules & Love Affair – Hercules & Love Affair (DFA)
Smart, super gay, and utterly divine disco with feeling.
Doc Delay - Eastern Block Party (self-released)
NYC mixtape messiah Doctor Delay flavors up some golden era rap a capellas with the some former communist block rock. Hot.
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours (Modular)
These Australian magical makers of melody aim at heart and feet, and make a direct hit. Cheesy but aged and flavorful.
Michna – Magic Monday (Ghostly)
Fresh beats and city streets make my skateboard wheels roll ahead.
5. “High” Five
Indian Jewelry – Free Gold (We Are Free)
Flying Lotus – Los Angeles (Warp)
Kurt Vile – Constant Hitmaker (Gulcher)
Boredoms – Super Roots 9 (Thrill Jockey)
La Dusseldorf – Viva and La Dusseldorf reissues (Water/4 Men With Beards)
Ron,
Strictly Discs (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
David Byrne/Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Jason Collett - Here’s To Being Here
The Dears – Missiles
Jim White – Transnormal Skiparoo
V/A - Nigeria Disco Funk Special: Sound of the Underground Lagos
Delta Spirit – Ode to Sunshine
Belleruche – The Express
Dr. Dog – Fate
Gecko Turner – Manipulado
Carrie Rodriguez – She Ain’t Me
Next 5:
Snow Patrol – A Hundred Million Suns
Bob Dylan – Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Sings
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Calexico – Carried to Dust
Langhorne Slim – Langhorne Slim
Ryan,
Strictly Discs (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
Okkervil River - The Stand Ins
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Q-Tip - The Renaissance
She and Him - Volume One
Sun Kil Moon - April
The Roots - Rising Down
Santogold & Diplo - Top Ranking
Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreaks
Jason Collett - Here’s To Being Here
Next 5:
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Shawn Jackson – First of All
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah
Nick Cave - Dig, Lazarus, Dig
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Melanie S.
Manager, Sonic Boom Records (Seattle, WA)
MY 10 - In no particular order :
* My Daryl Hall-way (of Hall & Oates. His album covers adorn the wall in my entryway)
* My blog about Football - melFL.com
* My DJ night at Hazelwood; where else are you gonna hear “We didn’t Start the Fire” by Billy Joel?
* My boyfriend taking me to see Cirque Du Soleil. If you think you’re too cool for this shit, you’re wrong.
* My dudes - Josh and Matt - finagling me into a sold-out Budos Band/Saturday Knights show. HOT!
* And for reissuing Rodriguez. HOT HOT!
* My trip to Xilitla, Mexico. Surrealistic Sculpture Garden in a jungle village. Amazing.
* My Halloween outfit as San Diego Charger Defensive Lineman Igor Olshansky. (see attached photo.)
* My Top Ten! (see attached) Get your own copy of it in the Sonic Boom Holiday Zine. Its Free!
* My file folder at work filled with pictures of cute aminals. There is nothing in the world that will make you feel better than otters holding hands.
* My Caffe Fiore Hot Chocolates. I have at least one EVERY DAY. That’s why I look so good. : )
Naomi Salazar
Promo Manager, Amoeba Music (San Francisco, CA)
Top Tizzle
I. The Fresh & Only’s
II. Rodriguez - Cold Fact
III. Vivian Girls - Tell The World
IIII. Boy A (both the book and DVD)
IIIII. Let the Right One In
IIIIII. Brent Cash - How Will I Know If I’m Awake
IIIIIII. Victrola Favorites - V/A
IIIIIIII. Spaced: The Complete Series - Season 1, Directed by Edgar Wright
IIIIIIIII. The Tamale Girl (Oakland, CA)
IIIIIIIIII. The Bug - Poison Dart
IIIIIIIIIII. Resident Advisor Podcast
IIIIIIIIIIII. Gary Panter - Gary Panter Book
IIIIIIIIIIIII. HG Lewis at Amoeba, SF
Bob Schick,
Head Buyer, Plan 9 Music
1. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig (Mute)
2. Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago (jagjaguar)
3. Fucked UP - Chemistry of Common Life (Matador)
4. Drive By Truckers - Brighter Than Creation’s Dark (New West)
5. Joe Higgs - Life of Contradiction (Pressure Sounds)
6. Woody Herman - Complete 1945-1947 Columbia Recordings (Mosiac)
7. Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 8 (Columbia)
8. Rodriguez - Cold Fact (Light In The Attic)
9. Sigur Ros Med Sud…. (Matador)
Strath Shepard,
Art Director/Graphic Designer
Millions of images going online with new archives from Life Magazine, the Smithsonian, and the City of Seattle.
Tacos from Rockaway Taco and The Saint
The Brooklyn Flea Market in Fort Greene
Mitzi Jerman’s bar, Cleveland
Driving across the country. I was lucky enough to do it twice this year (once in three days, and once in three weeks) and there’s no way to pick a highlight, the whole experience is epic and overwhelming.
Marc Silverman,
ADA
The Skull Defekts - Blood Spirits & Drums Are Singing
Fuck Buttons - Street Horsing
Black Lips - Good Bad Not Evil
The Bug - London Zoo
Fabulous Counts - Jan Jan reissue
Thee Oh Sees - The Masters Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night In
Tricky - Knowle West Boy
Haunted George - Pile ‘O Meat
Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings - 100 Days 100 Nights –also the best live performances of the year.
Isaac Slusarenko,
Owner, Jackpot Records (Portland, OR)
MY TOP FIVE RECORDS OF 2008: ( in no particular order)
5. Tobacco - Fucked Up Friends
4. The Mohawks - The Champ - funk reissue from 1968 on Vampi Soul
3. Young Widows - Old Wounds
2. Metallica - Death Magnetic - yes I know let the debate begin
1. Carbon Whales - South
Matthew Smith,
Outrageous Cherry, Rodriguez, Nathaniel Mayer
1. Rodriguez’ first proper gig in his hometown, The Park Bar, Detroit, 9/20/08
I got to play lead guitar with one of my favorite artists. Great performance, awesome audience. Rodriguez sounded fantastic!
2. The Plastic People of the Universe at The Blind Pig, Ann Arbor, 9/8/08
Czech psych freaks with screaming violin and sax, famous for being jailed often in the 70’s by the Czech authorities. Their fans got together and plotted the overthrow of the government and then took over the country! Even today, these guys drone and blast with the intensity of early Hawkwind and Gong.
3. Jandek. Lydia Mendelssohn Theatre, Ann Arbor, 5/16/08
A free Jandek show. After an hour or so of weird and disturbing sounds, the audience began to realize that Jandek didn’t exactly come to entertain them. A three hour symphony of claustrophobia and psychic collapse unleashed on a bewildered audience. Brilliant.
4. Peter Hammill. The Magic Bag, Ferndale, MI, 10/9/08
Alone with acoustic guitar and grand piano, Hammill hammered at the piano like Cecil Taylor. The perfect accompaniment to the most extreme voice in progressive rock.
5. Jack Scott at some weird suburban carnival in Warren, MI, 9/27/08
Jack Scott still sounds as great as he did in the 50’s. He’s as legendary as Johnny Cash or Elvis Presley. I think he’s used the same guitar amp since the 50’s. He keeps a low profile in the Detroit area. This appearance in Warren, MI was SPELLBINDING. He’s an intimidating, dangerous-looking 50’s rocker obsessed with Hank Williams who deserves a wider audience.
Spense,
Strictly Discs (Madison, WI)
Top 10:
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Marty Finkel - The Good Life
TV on the Radio - Dear Science
The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely
Flight of the Conchords - Flight of the Conchords
The Kills - Midnight Boom
Coldplay - Viva La Vida
James Hunter - The Hard Way
Saul Williams - The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust
Next 5:
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
Ween - At the Cat’s Cradle, 1992
Tricky - Knowle West Boy
El Guincho - Alegranza
Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue
Mike Stax,
Ugly Things
Best new album:
Clinic – Do It! (Domino) These surgically masked Scousers really hit their stride on this, their fifth full-length release. Echoes of the 13th Floor Elevators, Seeds, Electric Prunes, VU and Syd’s Floyd, but with a slightly disturbed spin that is all their own.
Best live show:
Roky Erickson and the Black Angels at the El Rey Theatre in Hollywood on Halloween night. After turning in a pretty great set of their own, the Black Angels did a fantastic job of backing Roky on a selection of favorites from his back catalog, including 13th Floor Elevators songs he hadn’t performed in 40 years, like “Roller Coaster” and “Reverberation,” complete with jug! Roky’s voice can still send chills up your spine. When he hit the middle eight of “Splash One” the emotional punch almost sent me to the floor.
Best reissue:
The Masters Apprentices – Apprenticeship in the Garage, 1966 (Nickoff) A second volume of early ’66 rehearsal tapes by these Aussie garage-punk-R&B behemoths. Recorded live on a reel-to-reel tape recorder sitting atop a car in a dingy garage in Adelaide. Jaw-dropping versions of Chuck, Bo, Wolf, Pretty Things and Stones tracks, plus a newly discovered rockin’ original, “Bye Bye Baby.”
Best reading:
Lawrence Durrell: The Alexandria Quartet. Durrell’s masterful series of novels set in Alexandria, Egypt just before WWII was the best thing I read this year. Justine, Balthazar, Mountolive and Clea (written 1957-60) take place in the same general place and time, with a similar cast of characters, but each book observes and explains the events from a completely different perspective creating an utterly absorbing multi-layered, multi-plotted mystery/thriller/romance.
Best moment of 2008:
Election night. Whatever happens next, we shared a euphoric moment in history that will never be forgotten.
Lucas Steuerwald
Label Rep, Inertia Distribution
Top 10 albums of the year
1. Eddie Current Suppression Ring – Primary Colours
2. M83 – Saturday = Youth
3. Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree
4. The Greasers – The Greasers
5. Endless Boogie – Focus Level
6. Suarasama – Fajar Di Atas Awan
7. Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
8. Empire of the Sun – Walking On A Dream
9. Neon Neon – Stainless Style
10. Deerhunter – Microcastle
Craig Stewart,
SXSW
any Allan King flick (Canadian filmmaker)
Richard Bausch shorts
Otis Taylor
Coloured Balls
K-Rino
Lou Bond
crazy Vizslas
Kang
Tom T. Hall & Miss Dixie’s new album
Laura Studarus,
Confessions of a Would-Be Hipster
The Would-Be Hipsters (wouldbehipster.com) are traditionalists and thus are saving our official “best of” lists until the actual END of the year. And so, we present a very untraditional list of our top ten favorite bits of 2008, as dictated by LMS, lmc, ako and L.A.R. (m.a.b. sends her regrets from the design dungens where we last saw her.)
10. Favorite album: Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer
9. Favorite LA bar conducive to good times over PBR: The Cha-Cha Lounge, Silverlake, CA
8. Favorite Show: Sunset Rubdown @ the Black Cat in Washington DC
7. Favorite Tea: Swedish Southern Blend (if anyone in America knows how to get this I can be reached via Wouldbehipster@gmail.com)
6. Favorite unnecessarily vague figure in Spanish-American history: Don Gaspar de ?
5. Favorite French Electro-Pop Album: Sebastien Tellier - Sexuality
4. Favorite Reason to get out of bed in the morning: Pizza
3. Favorite Post-Concert jaunt: House of Pies
2. Favorite chord: Cadd9
1. Favorite Shameless Self-Promotion: Buy our Charity Album Please!
Terrible Chris,
Les Enfants Terribles
Top 10 Top 10 Lists of 2008
10. Top 10 Numbers Between 1 and 10
9. Top 10 Mimes
8. Top 10 Crayola Colors That Need to be Invented
7. Top 10 Phrases that Appear Sexually Explicit at First Glance (But Aren’t Really)
6. Top 10 80s Cartoons
5. Top 10 Breakdancing Moves
4. Top 10 Ninja Moves
3. Top 10 People Named “Fred”
2. Top 10 Minor Star Wars Characters
1. Top 10 Smurf Names that Sound Vaguely Dirty
Terrible Megan,
Les Enfants Terribles
8 Things to Love about 2008
In no particular order…
1. Richmond – I moved from the DC metro to VA’s capital a little over a year ago, and I’ve loved just about every minute of it. I could wax on and on and on about RVA for a good long while, but I’ll abbreviate. Richmond’s got great people, tons of local pride, gorgeous architecture, and a burgeoning music scene (be on the lookout for bands like Hot Lava, Cinemasophia, and Snack Truck to name but a few). What else could anybody need in a place to call home?
2. All Tomorrow’s Parties – By far my favorite concert of the year. Summer camp meets the Shining meets a time-warped parallel universe in which My Bloody Valentine and Mercury Rev not only play but walk among us regular people. Garish wallpaper, strong drinks, and amazing performances by every single band I was fortunate enough to see. I’m already excited about next year.
3. The Black Angels – I’d have to say these Austinites are my favorite band of the year. Between their killer second album Directions to See a Ghost and the DC show they put on back in July (that damn near rendered me deaf), I’m completely in smit.
4. Control – I didn’t make it to the movies too often this year, but I’m fairly certain Control would’ve been my favorite movie even if I had seen hundreds of flicks. It’s one of the stories you know the ending of, but keep wishing up until the bitter end for the fickle finger of fate to point in a different direction. Well-acted, well-shot, and a great testament to the spirit of Ian Curtis and Joy Division.
5. My cat, Bear Bryant – As of the end of August, I’ve got a new man in my life. He’s wearing a black and white tuxedo, he’s got furry tufts between his paws, and his tail is reminiscent of a feather duster. He’s my new hellion of a cat, Bear Bryant, named in honor of the greatest football coach my alma mater (Roll Tide), and the college universe in general, has ever seen, Paul “Bear” Bryant. He’s pretty much the cutest cat ever.
6. Biographies – I began the year reading about Madame Pompadour, Mary Queen of Scots, and Bob Dylan, the latter of which (”Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan” by Howard Sounes) was probably the best bio I’ve ever read. I’ve since acquired bios on Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Dick Cavett, Rock Hudson, Terry Bradshaw, and Dolly Parton, and am constantly on the prowl for more.
7. Brian Wilson – The man, the myth, the legend. Seeing him in concert was incredible enough, meeting the man ranks as ten of the best, most heart-stopping seconds of my life.
8. Records – I’m finally paying attention to vinyl and stockpiling a collection. Richmond is making it easy for me by having serious stashes hither and thither to plunder. I’ve bought close to 40 records in a little over a week, and see no end in sight to my newest obsession.
Mike Toppe
General Manager, Revolver USA
Music:
The Week That Was
Santogold vs Diplo
Tobacco - Fucked Up Friends
Rodriguez - Cold Fact
Grace Jones “Corporate Cannibal’ Video
Movies:
My Winnipeg
Happy Go Lucky
Reads:
Pale Blue Eye by Louis Bayard
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell
Paul Krugman in NY Times
And 2008 would have been a total drag without THIS.
Adam Tutty,
Manager, Easy Street Records (Seattle, WA)
TOP 10 CD’s for the year:
10. Girl Talk – Feed the Animals
9. Thao – We Brave Bee Stings & All
8. The Baseball Project – Volume 1:Frozen Ropes & Dying Quales
7. My Morning jacket – Evil Urges
6. Old 97’s – Blame It On Gravity
5. R.E.M. - Accelerate
4. Vampire Weekend – s/t
3. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals – Cardinology
2. The Moondoggies – Don’t Be A Stranger
1. Liam Finn – I’ll Be Lightning
A few of my DVD’s of the year:
BOTTLE ROCKET (CRITERION COLLECTION EDITION)
IT’S ALWAYS SUNNY IN PHILADELPHIA SEASON 3
ROBOT CHICKEN – STAR WARS
Our Number One winner for 2008, with 11 votes:
Portishead – Third
Our Number Two placer for 2008, with 9 votes:
Dungen – 4
Our Number Three shower for 2008, with 6 votes:
TV on the Radio – Dear Science
Our Number Four mentions for 2008, tied with 5 votes each:
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
Flying Lotus – Los Angeles
Raphael Saadiq – The Way I See It
Our Number Five mentions for 2008, tied with 4 votes each:
Black Mountain – In the Future
Eagles of Death Metal – Heart On
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Santogold – Santogold
Silver Jews – Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
Will Tyler,
Shade of Soul, 385 Forest Avenue
As I look back-over this past year a lot has changed in my life. I moved to a different state, got a divorce, lost all my money, almost was knighted, gained 30lbs, lost 30lbs, my dog got hit with a chainsaw, but through it all I have kept a smile. Not for the fact that I have been basically fucked all year, but rather because its time again for LITAs top lists again. So sit back, sip on some thug passion, cause I’m gonna hit you like 2 day old crack……..peace
Top 10 Most listened to Albums of 08′
* Madvillain - The Remixes
* Portishead - Third
* TSK - Mingle
* Compilation - The Soul of Black county Vol. 1*Common / be
* Pete Rock - Petestrumentals
* G Love - Lemonade
* Pantera - Vulgar Display of Power
* The Helliocentics - Out There
* J Dilla - Ruff Draft
* N.E.R.D - In Search Of….
Top Anthem song for 08′
* TSK / Nobody Beats Us (get some bitches)
Top 5 Interests of 08′
* Magic
* Hayrides
* Politics
* The Hills
* Alpaccas
Top 5 TV Shows
* True Blood (ole sookie sookie)
* Dexter (I like his ways; I don’t like you, I kill you)
* The Shield ( what a guy with a fucked up life, the show makes my chest hurt)
* Chelsea Lately (mad funny and she is mad hot to boot)
* The Hills (I am really worried about LC, Heidi, and Audrina)
My Top 5 Playlists that I rock on my ipod
* Mike Fuller Experience Vols 1-7 / Most are 25 tracks (only dopeness for the masses; from the lounge to the club…jaylib, common, tribe called quest…)
* Beef-A-Ronie Throwdown / 18 tracks ( Merle Haggard to Public Enemy. Every time I listen to it I get too drunk and piss off the side of my back deck)
* Armadillo On My Back Porch / 23 tracks (G Love, Marshall Tucker, Robert Bradley, Ben Harper, etc…(makes me feel cooler than I really am)
* Word Up Bits! / 12 tracks (Pantera, Ozzy, SlipKnot, Korn…makes me want to kick the cat)
* Killa Couga Mix Vols 1 & 2 / 50 tracks ( The Roots, Floetry, Mos Def…songs to get ‘em on the floor then to take em’ down on the brass bed yo)
Top 5 Things I purchased from the Walmart Pharmacy
* Cialis 5 pack
* the second pill
* the third pill
* the fourth pill
* the fifth pill (boo-yah)
Top Cougars to get with
* Mrs. Robinson (ultimate cougar smack-down)
* Linda Tripp ( the only chick Clinton didn’t turn out)
* That hoe from Golden Girls (word up trick)
* Barbara Bush (in the right light, after 5 jager bombs, and with enough X in my system.*side note* she made the list due to my recent addiction to mature porn*)
* All of the OG Charlie’s Angels (all them ladies got mad skillz. It would be like a cougar sandwich)
Top 5 songs that I didn’t write and perform due to various reasons
* Happy Birthday. (If I owned points on it I would have more loot than the beatles)
* stevie wonder / hey love ( no funny comment my favorite stevie song of all time makes me want have deep thoughts and get laid)
* 2 live crew / if you believe in having sex. (When u think about it who can sing about some raunchy ass shizzle and get the dance floor, house party, or general throw down session going. This aint am gold bitches)
* the black angels / doves and surf city (these are songs that would play in a serial killers head).
* the saturday knights / 45. ( I can’t rhyme but I can nod my head like a white boy. Yeah baby back that azz up on big will t)
Top 5 Accomplishments of ‘08
* Voted for OBAMA
* Didn’t vote for McCain
* Stripped my life all my material goods ( the divorce helped me with that, but dam it felt good to get rid of everything **PS Kept my record collection**)
* Requested to be knighted by TSK (word up…did I get in?)
* Told my ex wife to take a hike.
DJ Nobody
DJ
Top Psych Discoveries 2008
1. Mandrake Memorial - Puzzle LP (1969) I had 2 songs off of this LP on a mixtape and had been searching for years. I found it this year and was not rprepared for the total awesomeness. This LP instantly entered my top 10.
2. US 69 - Yesterday’s Folks LP (1969) Cool Chris at Groove Merchant hipped me to this LP. The song Space Odyssey is a masterpiece, ending with an ambient outro that sounds like it was made this century. Stunning!
3. Waterproof Candle - Electrically Heated Child 45 (1968) My co-host on She Comes in Colours hipped me to this. A perfect pop-psych ballad with twisted lyrics.
4. Donnie and Joe Emerson - Dreamin’ Wild (1979) Two brothers locked in a barn with 70’s home recording gear and an equal love for Sabbath and Motown soul, yet coming out more like a super stoned Shuggie Otis record.
5. 70’s psych - Oh yes, even I was not aware that the lysergic vibes continued well into the 70’s, tucked away secretly on albums of early metal and glam. Scorpion “Evening Wind” and Styx “Man of Miracles” come to mind.
Dan Ubick aka Connie Price
Producer, Musician: The Keystones, The Lions, Big Daddy Kane
Top 5 LP’s of the last year:
1. COLD FACT (Re-issue) by Rodriguez
2. NINETEEN SIXTY-SIX by Little Willie John
3. ESPERANZA by Esperanza Spaulding
4. PERSEVERANCE by Percee P/Madlib
5. SHADES OF BROWN (Re-Issue) by S.O.B.
Greg Vandy,
Host, KEXP - The Roadhouse
The Best:
1) Obama
2) Dexter Street Stompers
3) Michael Shelly, Saturdays WFMU
4) Chris Rock @ Paramount
5) The Saint (tequila!)
Honorable: The Sonics @ Paramount; Chilly’s wedding in Tulum, Mexico; The Mighty Hannibal @ Ponderosa Stomp in New Orleans; SlackFest in Skagit Co; King Kahn @ Chop Suey; NW Washington Fair in Lynden (old-timey!), Hayes Carll @ Sunset, Keith Olberman special comments, Karl from Aqua Teen Hunger Force
The Worst:
1) Seattle Sports
2) Howard Shultz (The Wheedle Grooves No More, thanks Howard)
3) Taj Mahal in The Roadhouse (total dick)
4) Palin
5) McCain
Miserable: My Fantasy Football team (The Hand Bananas)
Fabienne Van Koninxloo,
Label Manager, PIAS Belgium
Top 5 : (very high fidelity)
1. Javier Guzman : stand-up comedy show
2. Carissa’s Weird : Songs About Leaving (whole album : every year again)
3. MGMT : “Kids”
4. Whitest Boy Alive @ Dour Festival (concert)
5. Part Of The Weekend Never Dies (documentary)
Allison Wasilewski
General Manager, Carrot Top
Top Records of 2009
Portishead - Third (Mercury)
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago (Jagjaguwar)
Notwist - The Devil, You & Me (Domino)
Sigur Ros - Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust (XL)
School of Seven Bells - Alpinisms (Ghostly International)
Anathallo - Canopy Glow (Anticon)
Love Is All - A Hundred Things Keep Me Up At Night (What’s Your Rupture)
Deerhunter - Microcastle (Kranky)
Santagold - S/T (Downtown)
Fredrik - Na Na Ni (Kora)
Lindstrom - Where You Go I Go Too (Smalltown Supersound)
Windy & Carl - Songs For The Broken Hearted (Kranky)
Gregor Samsa - Rest (Kora)
Silver Jews - Lookout Mountain (Drag City)
Spiritualized - Songs in A & E (Fontana)
Jennie Wasserman,
Joe’s Pub
* Most transcendent on-stage moment: backing Maxine Brown and Baby Washington with the Sweet Divines at Joe’s Pub - 6/7/08
* Best NYC bar/restaurant/jukebox combo: Great Jones Café
* Fave Joe’s Pub show: Gilberto Gil solo acoustic - 9/23/08
* Fave TV show: Mad Men
* Most magical, impromptu performance: Grandma’s Hands by Bill Withers and Cornel Dupree at Celebrate Brooklyn! - 8/9/08
* Best Broadway show: Passing Strange
* Fave indie rock show: Fleet Foxes at Bowery Ballroom - 7/9/08
* Fave vacation experience: going to NOLA for Ponderosa Stomp
* Fave outdoor summer concert: Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings at Central Par Summerstage - 8/17/08
* Fave reissues: Rodriguez - Cold Fact!!
Mason Williams,
Rhino
Endless Boogie - Focus Level
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
The Black Angels - Directions To See A Ghost (not kissing your ass or anything, you know how much I love them)
The Sword - Gods of Earth
Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple
Willy Wilson,
Magic Bag Publicity
Top Eleven New Releases (not in any order):
Buffalo Killers - Let It Ride - Alive Records
Hank Williams - The Unreleased Recordings - Time Life
Plastic Crimewave Sound - Plastic Crimewave Sound - Prophase Music
Graham Day & The Gaolers - Traveled & Unraveled - Damaged Goods
Dirtbombs - We Have You Surrounded - In The Red
Willie Nelson & Wynton Marsalis - Two Men With The Blues - Blue Note
Elvis Costello & The Imposters - Momofuku - Lost Highway
Black Keys - Attack & Release - Nonesuch
Blanche - Last Year’s Leaves - Little Amber Bottles - Original Sound
Yohowa 13 - Song Portation - Prophase Music
Paul Weller - 22 Dreams - Yep Rock
Top Reissues (not in any order):
Polk Miller & His Old South Quartette - Tompkins Square Music
Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Band - Puckey Puckey: Jams &
Outtakes - Rhino Handmade
Willie Nelson - One Hell Of A Ride - Columbia/Legacy
Elton John - Elton John/Tumbelweed Connection (Deluxe Editions) - Geffen
The Coasters - There’s A Riot Goin’ On: Complete Atco Recordings - Rhino
Handmade Squeeze - Argybargy (Deluxe Edition) - A&M UK
Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue (Legacy Edition) - Columbia/Legacy
Otis Redding - Otis Blue (Expanded Edition) - Rhino
George Jones - The Hits. Then ‘Til Now - Time Life
Roy Orbison - The Soul Of Rock & Roll - Monument/Orbison/Legacy
Black Sabbath - Rules Of Hell (Dio Years) - Rhino
Bo Diddley - Road Runner: The Chess Masters 1959-60 - Hip-O Select
Various Artists - Atlantic Vocal Groups 1951-63 - Rhino
Handmade Love - Forever Changes (Expanded Edition) - Rhino
Gladys Knight & The Pips - Claudine/Pipe Dreams - Shout Factory
Little Willie John - 1966 (The Axelrod & HP Barnum Sessions) - Ace
Rodriguez - Cold Fact - Light In The Attic
Fave Local Releases so far. (not in any order and not including 45’s):
The Pop Project - Stars of Stage and Screen - Suburban Sprawl
Mick Bassett & The Martha’s - Here’s The Whirlwind - Self Released
Javelins - Heavy Meadows - Suburban Sprawl
JSB Squad - Blue Circle, Rubber Bands - Self Released
Grayling - Spilling Over - Self Released
Various Artists - A Squared (Of Course) - Ace/Big Beat Deanne Iovan - Just Like You & Me - MoPop
Hot Club of Detroit - Night Town - Mack Avenue
The Muggs - On With The Show - Self Released
Nomo - Ghost Rock - Ubiquity
Mazinga - Open The Blast Doors - Transmission
Fave shows for 2008 so far:
Creepy Rick’s Birthday Bash with Fortune & Maltese, The Hentchmen and The
Meltdowns at the Berkley Front Simply Saucer/Human Eye at the Bohemian National Club The Muggs (Private Party) at the Auto Show
Tom Petty & Steve Winwood at the Palace Anti-Freeze Blues Festival featuring Bettye LaVette & The Hodge Brothers at
the Magic Bag
Powertrane featuring Deniz Tek at the Elbow Room
The Romantics at the Stars & Stripes Festival
Big Block/Grayling/Drinking Problem at Smalls Grande Nationals/Gorvette/Silverghost/Dial Tones at the Magic Bag
Rodriguez at the Park Bar
Eagles Of Death Metal at Smalls
Cheech & Chong at the Fillmore (Detroit)
CHANDAN NAIK said,
December 22, 2008 @ 10:38 pm
I NEED VERY HOT GIRLS , LOOKING FOR VERY SEXY WHO CAN SATISFY ME SEXUALLY.
rogerio said,
December 13, 2009 @ 6:46 am
nouxter nou veno