Herkesin sevgilisi Pitchfork Beach House'tan Diplo'ya favori isimlerine 2008'in en iyilerini sorgulatmış. Marnie Stern 1. Ponytail: Ice Cream Spiritual2. Zach Hill: Astrological Straits3. Krallice: Krallice4. Talk Normal: Talk Normal5. Gang Gang Dance: Saint Dymphna6. Extra Life: Secular Works7. Pterodactyl: Blue Jay and Upcoming Pterodactyl Record8. Women: Women9. High Places: High Places10. Gay Beast: 2nd 3" CD-R Fucked UpBlank Dogs: "The Crystal Ladies"Mind Eraser: "Collective Consciousness"Sex Vid: "Always Home"Lindstrøm: "Where You Go I Go Too"Crystal Stilts: "The SinKing"Betty and the Werewolves: "Francis"Catatonic Youth: "Out of Control"Adam K: "Twilight"Strange Boys: "To Turn a Tune or Two"Vivian Girls: "I Believe in Nothing"Deerhunter: "Nothing Ever Happened"Douglas Sound: "Do Right"James Talk: "Remote (Deadmau5 Remix)"Nodzzz: "In the City"Gun Outfit: "Troubles like Mine"Katie Stelmanis: "I'm Sick"Let's Wrestle: "I Won't Lie to You"Mystery Jets: "Young Love"No Age: "Teen Creeps"Richard Bartz: "Diamond Girl"Justice: "Planisphere, Pt. 3" Anthony Gonzalez, M831. Chairlift: Does You Inspire You2. MGMT: Oracular Spectacular3. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes4. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend5. Hercules and Love Affair: Hercules and Love Affair6. Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours7. No Age: Nouns8. Free Kitten: Inherit9. James Blunt: All the Lost Souls10. Sun Kil Moon: April Matthew Woodley, Plants and AnimalsBonnie "Prince" Billy: Lie Down in the LightWolf Parade: At Mount ZoomerBlack Mountain: In the FutureVarious Artists: Nigeria Special: Modern Highlife, Afro-Sounds and Nigerian BluesBon Iver: For Emma, Forever AgoRadio Radio: Cliché HotPortishead: ThirdChad VanGaalen: Soft AirplaneLand of Talk: Some Are LakesFleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes Tom Lunt, Minister of Culture, The Numero GroupIt's frustrating trying to cobble together a list of the 10 best records of the year, largely because I'm up to my ears trying to produce at least six good ones myself so forgive my myopia if I begin by throwing some favor to a few projects I had a hand in.Eccentric Soul: The Young DisciplesI was born in Detroit, but did most of my growing up in St. Louis, where the taps run hot, cold, and soul. Trouble is, no one outside the county line has drawn so much as a a sip of the show-band dynasties that ruled the local CYC dances and teen towns in the 1960s and early 70s. These tracks, from Allen Merry's YoDi and Gateway labels, scarcely got any play, but here they are, and they do put my head in personal history mode. Like the St. Louis area itself, they seem more Southern than they actually are, but still make me feel like representing what we locals call "the nexus of negritude" every time I spin a track.Eccentric Soul: Twinight's Lunar Rotation (vinyl edition)And then there's my second home, Chicago. If the Twinight artists had been scouted by the the Jerry Wexlers of the world, soul would forever be thought of as strictly a Midwestern thing. This little label that nearly could gets back to vinyl, where it sounds absolutely born-again.Wee: You Can Fly on My AeroplaneThis should have been a hit. I mean, it could almost be a hit today, except that, outside of hip-hop and country, there's not really any such thing as a hit. C'mon, John Legend, cover "Try Me".Plush: Fed [Broken Horse]Full disclosure: I'm doing his new record. Fed still has no U.S. release, but then again, no U.S. demand-- he has a serious following in the UK and Japan. The whole back story on Fed is highly mythic, by the way. It didn't cost nearly as much as reported, yes, it took five years, but not five continuous years. What, like he was in the studio every day? I mean, c'mon. Basically, most of what you've read about this record isn't true. Unless you've read it's a masterpiece. No. 2 at Metacritic, all of a sudden, for what that's worth. New release, "Bright Penny" soon. We finish next month. You'll like.Raphael Saadiq: The Way I See ItLike Motown, this is great pop. Almost perfect, though a bit of a Civil War re-enactment. Raphael, we have a basement full of songs you should take for a spin. Write us and get 25 records for free!Doll By Doll: Gypsy BloodAhhh...You haven't heard this, have you? This reissue from vinyl (the tapes are forever lost) of the UK band's 1979 sophomore effort is a psych-rock masterpiece. Read Julian Cope's rave review.Dennis Wilson: Pacific Ocean BlueAbout time. The best tune on the record, "It's Not Too Late", a duet with Carl Wilson not written by either brother, but by Carli Muñoz, the Beach Boys' touring keyboardist, is a cry for comfort from beyond the grave. Best single track I've heard all year.No current indie? Hey, this is the Numero Group. I'll get into the Fleet Foxes when we reissue them 20 years from now. Ken Shipley, The Numero GroupBest swaps this year:Dennis Wilson: Pacific Ocean Blue A record we tried to do, but couldn't get out the gate, finally gets the treatment it deserves. I've had this stuff for years on LP and have worn through two copies. My Bambu bootleg sounds like ass, and Legacy did a bang up job making that sound good. Packaging is gorgeous, but long term durability will be an issue. One question: Why the fuck is the drummer from the Foo Fighters singing on one of these tracks?Mission of Burma: Signals, Calls and Marches Having worked for the company who reissued this the first time around, it comes as no surprise that Matador's version blows the doors off the previous Ryko edition. The wealth of ephemera, quality of the vinyl, hell, the quality of the entire package, makes this the only version to own. If your local used shop will even take the junky, green jewel boxed CD for a quarter, I say take it.Art Ensemble of Chicago: Les Stances a SophieComplaints surfaced around the office that Soul Jazz used the inferior cover, but big ups to them for printing their jackets at Stoughton in California and having them shipped all the way to the UK. You know you've got a strong currency when freight costs are of little concern. I could care less about the DVD, but this album is a repeat visitor to the turntable.Various Artists: Give Me Love: Songs of the Brokenhearted, Baghdad, 1925-1929I could easily throw Honest Jon's' Living Is Hard and Sprigs of Time LPs on this list, but Brokenhearted is the true field recording discovery of the year. Ethnic recordings have come to life this year on a plethora of start-ups, but Mark Ainley and Co. are looking like the real deal in this seemingly infinite world.Arabian Prince: Innovative Life: The Anthology, 1984-1989Outsider 1980s boogie-rap that Egon at Stones Throw sent over. This didn't seem essential until the fourth listen, now it's a certifiable keeper. Their early rap 45 labels t-shirt has become a staple of my wardrobe.Replacements reissues (well, six and half of them anyway)Our pal Matt Slifkin at Ryko Distribution has kept us well stocked in two things this year: bootleg Korean soft-core DVDs and the Replacements. After bungling Sorry, Ma, Stink, Hootenanny, and Let It Be the first time around with some bogus yellow oval advertising "remastered sound," Ryko, by way of Rhino, got it right with these. Strong bonus material, thoughtful liners, and great looking packages. All Shook Down and half of Don't Tell A Soul have never been my cup of tea, call me a purist, but they sound counterfeit in comparison to the rest of the catalog (save "Talent Show", which is probably their last great moment). Lastly, there's four versions of "Can't Hardly Wait" here. Is there some kind of Jennifer Love Hewitt renaissance going on that I'm not aware of?Michael Chapman: Time Past Time PassingTerrible cover, great record. John Allen says Chapman has a Yankee cap on in the picture and he did his best to crop it. Tompkins Square should have put this out. Instead, they issued Richard Crandell's In The Flower Of Our Youth on LP only. Two brilliant guitar records that no one will buy.Metallica vinyl reissuesBilly Fields at WEA picked my brain about their launch back into vinyl and sent me all of these as thanks. This is more Metallica than I ever thought I'd own, but it's hard to resist the ridiculously thick spines and 180 gram 45rpm vinyl. I don't know who needs six LPs of ...And Justice For All, but it's out there and it looks great. Michael Slaboch, Tape Archivist, The Numero GroupIn no particular order:Various Artists: Well Hung [Finders Keepers]Various Artists: 70's Algerian Proto-Rai Underground [Sublime Frequencies]Michael Chapman: Time Past Time Passing [Electric Ragtime]Sun Ra & His Solar Arkestra: Secrets Of The SunVarious Artists: Nigeria Disco Funk SpecialCooley-Munson: In DebtPlush: FedO.W.L.: Of Wonderous LegendsKaren Dalton: Green Rocky RoadVarious Artists: Andy Votel Presents Brazilika Luomo In no particular order:Erykah Badu: New Amerykah Part One: 4th World WarAl Green: Lay It DownTricky: Knowle West BoyØ (Mika Vainio): OlevaRihanna: "Disturbia"MGMT: Oracular SpectacularMetallica: Death MagneticBrian Blade & the Fellowship Band: Season of ChangesForthcoming .snd album on Raster-NotonAGF/Delay: Symptoms [BPitch 2009 release] Lindstrøm:1. Department of Eagles: In Ear Park2. Dungen: 43. Scarlett Johansson: Anywhere I Lay My Head4. Motorpsycho: Little Lucid Moments5. S.T. Mikael: In Harmony6. Beyond the Wizard's Sleeve7. Beach House: Devotion8. Juana Molina: Un Día9. Carl Craig & Moritz von Oswald: Recomposed Vol. 3: Music by Maurice Ravel & Modest Mussorgsky10. Morgan Geist: Double Night Time Sam Amidon1. The-Dream: LovehateI think that technically this came out at the very end of 2007, but I heard it for the first time during soundcheck for a show with Nico Muhly at the Kitchen in March. When Nico and Thomas Bartlett (Doveman) and I went on tour in August, it was ALL we listened to. His vocal harmonies are insanely beautiful! He doesn't need a hook for that shit.2. R. Kelly: 12 Play: Fourth QuarterIs this album even out yet? R. Kelly's is the major songwriting achievement of the decade. Album highlights: he dabbles in Schumann-style lieder on "Son of a Bitch", expresses existential angst on "Playas Get Lonely", and wholeheartedly denies reality in the way that only he can on "Relief" ("What a relief to know that we are one/ What a relief to know that the war is over").3. Ceramic Dog: Party IntellectualsMy friend Shahzad Ismaily, who once pulled a U-turn in Manhattan while steering with his left foot, braking and accelerating with his right foot, and playing the banjo with his hands-- all in full view of a policeman-- is the bass player in Marc Ribot's new power trio. The band forges an alternate musical reality that diverged from ours sometime around the end of the no-wave era; amid all the funky noise it's wistful and lonesome.4. GZA/Genius: Pro ToolsStill our #1 verbal assassin.5. Jeff Davis: Some Fabulous YonderJeff Davis is one of my folk music gurus. This is his first record in about two decades, since his classic collaborations with Jeff Warner from the 1980s. The Daniel Craig of folk singers.Special Mention: Ronald Jenkees: The last 10 videos he put up on YouTube; Barack Obama: "A More Perfect Union" ($9.99 on iTunes!); Nas: Untitled; Mitch Hedberg: Do You Believe in Gosh?Best Song: "Re: Stacks" by Bon IverBest Movie: Rachel Getting Married. Or was it Cloverfield?Best Album That Wasn't Released in 2008: Worldwide Underground by Erykah BaduBest Book (Hand-Drawn): Best of Stuntology by Sam BartlettBest Book (Printed): Born Standing Up: A Comic's Life by Steve Martin. A fellow banjoist (he once told me "my guess is that banjo is not your first instrument," and I had to admit that he was right) looks back at his standup comedy years.Good year! John Darnielle, Mountain GoatsWetnurse: Invisible City [Seventh Rule]Larkin Grimm: Parplar [Young God]Tata Young: One Love [Sony BMG]Kaki King: Dreaming of Revenge [Velour]Aura Noir: Hades Rise [Peaceville/Tyrant Syndicate]CeCe Winans: Thy Kingdom Come [EMI Gospel]Killer Mike: I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II [SMC]The Breeders: Mountain Battles [4AD]Blood Ceremony: Blood Ceremony [Rise Above]DJ Muggs & Planet Asia: Pain Language [Gold Dust Media]Extremely honorable mentions who'd be in the top 10 on any given day: American Music Club, Enslaved, The Donkeys, Coffins, Hate Eternal, Origin, Prostitute Disfigurement, Amon Amarth, Jucifer, GZA, Jamie Liddell. Labels who wait 'til November to unleash your heavy hitters: November is too late for a great record to really be able to assert itself, so get that stuff out by September. You may not have noticed but it's a new world.Notes on the list:Wetnurse album towers over all other metal albums this year, nobody else trying half as hard let alone succeeding; best Winans-related song of the year was acutally the BeBe-assisted "I'm Going Up" from Dionne Warwick's Why We Sing album, but CeCe's full-length hit harder; I still haven't heard the new Darkthrone, but Aura Noir scratches that itch hard enough to draw blood; Asia/Muggs-- while great-- ought to have been a little greater, however if you can't feel "Black Mask Men" and/or "Lions in the Forest" then you are a dead-eyed zombie and will be hunted down when the final days come; Tata Young's "One Love" got the most plays of any song from 2008, no competition; Larkin Grimm is remarkable. Zach HillIn no particular order:Wavves: WavvesNisennenmondai: Neji/ToriKrallice: KralliceZomby: Where Were U in '92?Darkthrone: Frostland TapesSantogold/Diplo: Top RankingDeerhoof: Offend MaggieThee Oh Sees: The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending a Night InMarnie Stern: This Is It...No Age: Nouns Dylan Carlson, EarthWoelv: Tout Seul Dans La Forêt en Plein Jour, Avez-Vous Peur?Black Tide: Light From AboveNick Cave & the Bad Seeds: Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!! Jacob Cooper, the Mae ShiThe Bumblebeez: Prince Umberto and the Sister of IllDeerhoof: Offend MaggieEl Guincho: Alegranza!These New Puritans: Beat PyramidFuck Buttons: Street HorrrsingTim Fite: Fair Ain't FairLil Wayne: Tha Carter IIILate of the Pier: Fantasy Black ChannelMetronomy: Nights OutNotwist: The Devil, You + MeBritney Spears: Circus Bill Gray, the Mae ShiAdam Payne: OrganBipolar Bear: Mountain DewdGene Clark: Silverado '75, Live and UnreleasedThe Howling Hex: Earth JunkAbe Vigoda: SkeletonNo Age: NounsPopo: PopoUUVVWWZ: UUVVWWZPonytail: Ice Cream SpiritualBad Dudes: Eat DrugsHawnay Troof: Islands of AyleLove Tan: Misc. Night FeelingsMegafuckers: Megafuckers' 7"sRodent Plague: Rodent PlagueAkimbo: Jersey ShoresFoot Village: Anti-MagicWidow Babies: The Mike Watt E.P. Sébastien TellierEstelle [ft. Kanye West]: "American Boy"Mr. Oizo: "Positif"Lil Wayne: "Lollipop"Vampire Weekend: Vampire WeekendSebastiAn: "Motor" Truckasauras1. Autechre: Quaristice2. Matmos: Supreme Balloon3. Portishead: Third4. Geto Boys: We Can't Be Stopped [bootleg reissue]5. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes Edward Droste, Grizzly Bear1. Beach House: Devotion2. Department of Eagles: In Ear Park3. Portishead: Third4. Nico Muhly: Mothertongue5. Final Fantasy EPs6. Hercules and Love Affair: Hercules and Love Affair7. M83: Saturdays=Youth8. Ssion: Fool's Gold9. The Chap: Mega Breakfast10. John Maus: Love Is Real Crystal Stilts1. Various Artists: Victrola Favorites: Artifacts from Bygone Days2. Randy Newman: Harps and Angels3. Eric Copeland: Alien in a Garbage Dump4. Comet Gain: "Love Without Lies"/"Books of California" 7"5. Rail Band: Belle Epoque Volume 2: Mansa6. Wooden Shjips: Volume 17. Jack Rose: Dr. Ragtime & Pals/Self Titled8. caUSE co-MOTION!: It's Time! Singles and EPs 2005-20089. Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1986-200610. Henry Flynt: Dharma Warriors WaleThe Game: L.A.X.Young Jeezy: The RecessionLil Wayne: Tha Carter IIIPlies: Definition of RealN.E.R.D.: Seeing SoundsSeun Kuti: Many ThingsT.I.: Paper TrailColdplay: Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsDuffy: RockferryAl Green: Lay It DownSantogold: SantogoldBun B: II TrillJohn Legend: EvolverNe-Yo: Year of the GentlemanLeona Lewis: SpiritNas: UntitledJames Morrison: Undiscovered Erik Menteer, Blitzen TrapperBeach House: DevotionWe listened to this record at least seven times in a row while driving through Belgium this spring, and I've been addicted to it ever since. Drew Laughery, Blitzen TrapperI hate listening to new music in the van on tour. If I haven't heard the album, it becomes an excercise in frustration trying to figure out through the van noise what I am hearing. Yet, this year we got the chance to tour with two great bands that also have amazing releases, Fleet Foxes' self-titled album and Real Emotional Trash by Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks. Watching these bands rip it every night was one of my highlights for 2008, and it is always better to hear new music live. Ryan McPhun, the Ruby SunsI usually have a hard time compiling tidy "top" lists. So I'll just mention a few things that I can think of at the moment that I've been into this year. At the beginning of the year I was listening to the El Guincho album Alegranza! a lot. That was released in 07 in Spain though. In June we played with Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit, which was real fun. All their stuff is really nice. I think the band is called "The Very Best" now. I met A.J. Holmes through those guys, and he does a weird new kind of hilife guitar music. Really interesting and groovy.Another Londoner I found out about this year is Arch M, one of my favorite discoveries this year. Mountain Tan Commercials is the name of the album. Really good. I just heard some stuff by a Brazilian guy [São Paulo vocalist Claudio --Ed.] called Babe, Terror. really interesting vocal loops and droney stuff. Reminds me of a guy we met in Glasgow called Wounded Knee, who also does loopy droney vocal stuff. When he played he just stood on stage and basically chanted for 30 minutes into a loop pedal. It was pretty other-worldly. Like the Bobby McFerrin album Circlesongs. Though his other-worldliness seems to be compacted into shorter "songs." That reminds me that I've been listening to a lot of Enya this year. There's such an eerieness to her songs and voice, but it's really soothing at the same time. The video for "Amarantine" reminds me of that film Legend.Been listening to the new Architecture in Helsinki single, which is catchy and fun. The Radioclit remixes are really good, too. Also, AiH have done some remixes this year that I've really enjoyed. I'm interested to see what their next album sounds like. I've only heard one song from the Present's album, but I really liked it. Just listened to the new Gang Gang Dance album, and on first listen sounded real nice, too. Have to listen to it more though. I heard some unfinished stuff by signer Bevan Smith (from NZ) and it's sounding awesome. That's going to be an amazing album. I guess that's all I can think of right now. There's lots of super good stuff happening that I'm leaving out but I'm in a van and my computer battery is about to run out! M. Ward My favorite new songs by artists that were new to me in 2008:Becky Stark: "Ocean and Ground"Fleet Foxes: "White Winter Hymnal"T-Pain [ft. Lil Wayne]: "Can't Believe It" Lykke LiBon Iver: For Emma, Forever AgoThis is the album of they year. I can only take one at a time and this is it, the voice, the lyrics, the song. In a way this is the equivalent to the D'Angelo: Voodoo album. It will never go out of style 'cause love is all around us and love hurts. His voice kills me.Håkan Hellström: För Sent För EdelweissThis man is the king back home in Sweden, almost like Elvis Presley. You might have to be Swedish to understand it but its music shot from the hip and heart!When I come to think about it this is honestly the only records I've listened to that came out this year. Other than that I have to recommend:Mahalia Jackson Sings Gospel; A Tribe Called Quest: People's Instinctive Travels & The Paths Of Rhythm; Nina Simone: Bad Habits; Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill; Arthur Russel: Another Thought; Reservoir Dogs Soundtrack and various mixtapes my friends give me. SubtleMitch Hedberg: Do You Believe In Gosh?Genghis Tron: Board Up the HousePattern Is Movement: All TogetherThe Notwist: The Devil, You + MeZach Hill: Astrological StraightsRodriguez: Cold FactRestiform Bodies: TV Loves You BackDungen: 4Portishead: ThirdTobacco: Fucked Up Friends Air FranceIt's always hard to rank things, especially with memories hollowed by bwingobwango all year 'round. But so far...Amadou and Mariam: "Sabali"Jules et Jim: "Pure Shores"Toumani Diabaté: "Elyne Road"Taken By Trees: "Sweetness"Durutti Column: "Glimpse"Wave Machines: "The Greatest Escape We Ever Made"The Tough Alliance: "Lucky"High Places: "Vision's the First..."Chanel: "Dance (Fish & Chips Remix)"Bandjo: "Black Corner"Mark Brown [ft. Sarah Cracknell]: "The Journey Continues"Nite Jewel: "Weak 4 Me"Andy and Muzz: "Lights When I Close my Eyes"Håkan Hellström: "Långa Vägar"Memory Cassette: "Asleep at a Party"The Radio Dept.: "Freddie and the Trojan Horse" Gareth, Los Campesinos!Parenthetical Girls: EntanglementsGrouper: Dragging a Dead Deer Up a HillDananananaykroyd: Sissy HitsThe Organ: ThievesWHY?: AlopeciaGang Gang Dance: Saint DymphnaAbe Vigoda: SkeletonXiu Xiu: Women as LoversNo Kids: Come Into My HouseNew Bloods: The Secret LifeI intended to write words about each of these releases, but it all just sounded stupid. The important things are that Entanglements is my favorite album of the year, and also the Ribbon's album is going to be amazing, but it's not released until after I email this in, so I won't include it yet. Tom, Los Campesinos!No Age: NounsLackthereof: Your AnchorLovvers: Think EPSun Kil Moon: AprilWHY?: AlopeciaDeerhoof: Offend MaggieMarnie Stern: This Is It...The Dodos: VisiterNeon Neon: Stainless StyleTimes New Viking: Stay Awake EP, Rip It Off The DodosGroup Inerane: Guitars From Agadez: Music of NigerThis is technically a reissue, but I think this is the first time available in the U.S. so fuck it. The omnipresent vocal trills might be a little harsh at first, but soon they'll just drift into the background behind a stew of hypnotic guitars and drums. Very repetitive, very beautiful.The Dutchess and the Duke: She's the Dutchess, He's the DukeWatching Joe (who plays the vibraphone) listen to this record is like watching a toddler play with a puppy in a field of poppies.Growing: All the WayThese weirdo underdogs rip another album from the gurgling subconscious of the outer limits. While not quite as rad as my personal fave His Return, I still find it easy to love these guys' confused yet joyful sounds.The Ruby Suns: Sea LionAwesome. Great job.Thee Oh Sees: The Master's Bedroom Is Worth Spending A Night InEvery album by these hometown homies is good and sounds different from the others, but this one rocks the hardest.Times New Viking: Rip It OffVery good.TV on the Radio: Dear ScienceThese guys just care. They care about writing good songs, they care about good production and they care about having a good time doing it. "Family Tree" is the jam. Jamie Stewart, Xiu XiuMy Top 10 Records From 2008 and Top 10 Records Permeating My 2008:These are not in any order. It has been a rare pleasure to make this list as, to my great relief, it was not the struggle it frequently can be. That sounds like a rotten thing to say, but it is actually a testament to music being great this year. Each review will as well be a testament to a flavor(ing) and a living creature.OF 2008Prurient: Cocaine Death (piss & pit viper)Larsen: La Fever Lit (clove & camel)Autechre: Quaristice (lime & avocet)Matmos: Supreme Ballon (licorice & sperm whale)HEALTH: HEALTH (popsicle & otter)Diamanda Galás: Guilty Guilty Guilty (rose water & maggot)Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles (sumac & hornet)Windy Weber: I Hate People (mold & fluke)Einstürzende Neubauten: Alles Wieder Offen (smoke & leviathan)Deerhoof: Offend Maggie (lady grey tea & deer)PERMEATING 2008Cecil Taylor: Air Above Mountains <> (lemon grass & swan)Arvo Pärt: Moscow Virtuosi (almond & elk)Clan of Xymox: Clan of Xymox (horehound & snowy egret)Nico: The Classic Years (sugar & oyster)The Birthday Party: Hits (burnt & burnt)Michael Gira: Drainland (apple & anna's hummingbird)John Cage: Early Piano Music (date & fox)Françoise Hardy: Ma Jeunesse Fout Le Camp (vodka & unicorn)Music of Islam (Celestial Harmonies Series): Music of Islam, Vol. 15: Muslim Music of Indonesia (cinnamon & human)The Chameleons: Script of the Bridge (red wine & chameleon) Ches Smith, Xiu XiuDevin Hoff: Solo BassDevin knows how to mix emotive tonality and atonality very effectively. Also, composition and improvisation. The composed/improvised dynamic of these pieces could be seen to illustrate a political view: a personal discipline which, if everyone developed, might allow us all to live free of coersion.Frisner Augustin And La Troupe Makandal: PrepareI am not actually sure when this came out, I got into it this year. Frisner Augustin was one of my teacher's teachers. John Amira played with Augustin's group long ago. It is interesting for me what of this is familiar to me, and what is not-- i.e., what Amira retained and passed along, and what alternate solutions he sought. It actually gives me a view into Amira's logic, apart from it being an amazing record in its own right.Kool Keith: Tashan DorrsettWhat the hell is going on here, and who produced these tracks?! This is how music should be constructed.Evangelista: Hello, VoyagerCarla Bozulich is the most passionate advocate of music and people I know. It comes through on this record. She has a deep understanding of the most important things: Death, love, honesty, friendship. I'm glad she found Tara (Weaponz), Dominic, and co. Also, check out Shahzad Ismaily's drumming.Marc Ribot: Exercises in FutilityEtudes for solo guitar. Some of these pieces work with the tension between opposite poles. In others, familiar references are set in a new context. Many layers of meaning exist simultaneously in each piece, just as throughout Ribot's body of work. Titus AndronicusIn alphabetical order:Abe Vigoda: SkeletonBeach House: DevotionHayes Carll: Trouble in MindLos Campesinos!: Hold on Now, Youngster…Mount Eerie: Black Wooden Ceiling OpeningPonytail: Ice Cream SpiritualSpanish Bombs: Spanish Bombs EPThe Tallest Man on Earth: Shallow GravesVetiver: Thing of the PastThe Walkmen: You & MeNOTE:None of the above-mentioned albums is actually our favorite of 2008. That album is Spider Bags' Midnight Moving Skies. That particular album, however, will not see official release until the spring of 2009, making it ineligible for this list. It really is the best one, though. Dan Whitford, Cut CopyArp: In LightDeerhunter: Weird Era Cont.Lindstrøm: Where You Go I Go TooHercules and Love Affair: Hercules and Love AffairThomas Bullock: Welcome StrangerSébastien Tellier: SexualityMercy Arms: Mercy ArmsOptimo: SleepwalkTV on the Radio: Dear ScienceFleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes Britt Daniels, SpoonCrooked Fingers: Forfeit/FortuneThe Heavenly States: DelayerJay Reatard: Matador Singles '08Carbon/Silicon: The Last PostWolf Parade: At Mount ZoomerDeerhunter: MicrocastleQ-Tip: The RenaissanceCoin Under Tongue: Coin Under TongueEarles and Jensen: Just Farr a Laugh, Vol. 1 & 2: The Greatest Prank Phone Calls Ever!The Walkmen: You & Me Dan Bejar, Destroyer1. Liam Hayes and Plush: "Take a Chance"/"If I Could"2. Josephine Foster: This Coming Gladness3. The Clientele: That Night, A Forest Grew (Jesus owes me 500 Euros, but that's no reason not to plug this record. It's really good, as usual.)4. Soft Abuse Recordings (I think Chris is on a real roll, makes me wanna check the mail...)5. Cat Power: Jukebox (The band is really really good, the production super-classy, and I'm really starting to get into her singing, the way she throws her voice around, you know, like Bob Dylan...people say this is too adult contemporary or something, but to me that's just code word for "70s"...don't really like a lot of the songs, but whatever...)6. Sun Kil Moon: AprilHaven't heard it, but I generally enjoy this man's work.7. The Howling Hex: Earth JunkHaven't heard it, but I generally enjoy this man's work.8. Some Psychedelic Horseshit song I heard, which was really really good, like a lot of their songs can be...9. Devon Williams: Carefree, Paul Weller: 22 DreamsThese guys have been tying for ninth for years...10. A bunch of records I've heard in various states of completion comin' out in early 2009, specifically Blackout Beach, Andre Ethier, Pink Mountaintops, Colossal Yes... John Dieterich, DeerhoofCaetano Veloso: CêI'm putting this one first because it actually was released in late 2007, but I didn't hear it until 2008. I was on an airplane, and after skipping through all of these smooth world fusion recordings (what else do you do on a 10-hour flight?), this came on, and I just couldn't believe how raw it was. No frills here, just amazing songs and Caetano's voice right up close in your ear. "Minhas Lágrimas" has become one of my favorite songs of all time.Father Murphy: ...And He Told Us to Turn to the SunI played a show at a warehouse near the shipyards in Oakland with Carla Bozulich and Devin Hoff, and the Italian band Father Murphy was one of the other bands that played. They just completely slew. Truly masterfully put together, amazing songs with tons of space and utterly original arrangements. I got the CD that night, expecting it wouldn't measure up (how could it!), and was amazed at how great it was. Just an incredible album.Mary Halvorson Trio: Dragon's HeadI have been a fan of Mary's playing for years and have heard her in many different contexts, but in a way I felt like I was hearing her for the first time on this album. It really feels like her compositional language and improvising are one idea here, they just come from the same place, and it's something to behold. And such a group! I got to see her live with the quartet with Jessica Pavone, Devin Hoff, and Ches Smith (who also plays on this album) in an outdoor show at a park by my house, and it was amazing to see little kids happen by and start dancing in circles to their music.Singer: UnhistoriesI found out about this album while in Japan, and I was speaking to someone about my love for US Maple, and he informed me about this new band that some of the members had. There's something about the harmony in this music that I can really relate to. It just makes sense.Cryptacize: Dig That TreasureI got to see Cryptacize's first show in the same park that I saw Mary and co. play recently. They set up with battery-powered amplifiers and played to a pretty large crowd, and the music was communicated perfectly and clearly even in that difficult environment. There's more space in one of these songs than most bands allow in an entire album, and I think that makes some people uncomfortable. All I can say is that the more you listen to it, the more it makes sense, and the less other music makes sense. I can't wait to hear their new album.Flying: Faces of the NightWe had the great fortune to tour with Flying on this last tour, at least until their van broke down and Fertile Crescent (Sara and Eben from Flying's amazing new duo) finished out the rest of it. I just love these songs and admire the way they put them together. It's very elegant and clear, and they're always stretching in a new direction.Devin Hoff: Solo BassSolo bass can be a hard sell for people, but I have to say that this is an incredible record that I recommend very highly. I'm a little biased because I am such a superfan. Still, I know amazing music when I hear it, and it's all here. Such great songs and just a remarkable musical ear. Few musicians can speak through their instruments in the way he can.Evangelista: Hello, VoyagerI only heard this for the first time a few days ago, while driving in the middle of the night from Los Angeles to Oakland, and I was truly blown away. It seemed just right, driving in utter blackness at 3 in the morning in the middle of the desert. Brutal in the best possible way and optimistic, as well.L'Ocelle Mare: Porte D'OctobreThis is the name french guitar virtuoso Thomas Bonvalet (formerly of Cheval de Frise) has given his solo music. I'm a great fan of most everything Thomas has done, but I really was taken aback by this recording. It really sounds to me like a new language being born. He's digging deep into his own creative well, and the result is something truly beautiful and unique.KIT: Live concert in Tempe, Arizona.This one's real fresh in my mind as we just finished a tour with them. We pulled up to the club, and there were all these kids running by us, looking very tired, and I assumed it was a high school gym class. Turns out, there was an Army/Navy/Marines recruitment center in the same mini-mall as the club. Hard to believe these children, and I mean children, would be shipped off to Iraq soon. Anyway, KIT set up on the floor this night, and they played what was one of the most mindbending sets I've seen. It was so joyous and scary and totally out of control. Amazing people, amazing music. Dean Spundt, No Age1. Silk Flowers 7" (self-released)Awesome new band from New York kinda like Kraftwerk meets the Misfits "Cough/Cool" single. Very incredible. Going to be on PPM early next year.2. Deerhunter: MicrocastleThis record blew my mind. We first met Moses and Bradford when Randy and I were in WIVES, we played with Lightning Bolt in Atlanta, and after the show they made us follow them to a bar for an after party. On the way they threw a gallon of water at our car while we were driving. We love these guys. They killed it here!3. Pocahaunted: ChainsFeathery drone town. L.A. awesomeness for just relaxing and closing your eyes and dreaming.4. Harmony Korine: The Collected FanzinesJust incredible. Mark Gonzales and Harmony made such awesome zine-age and having them all in a book (or in a box set if you are a big spender) is so rad!!!!!5. Harry Pussy: You'll Never Play This Town AgainThis band kinda changed my life the first time I heard it, I was fully overwhelmed and confused, I love it, and Load rules, too!6. Abe Vigoda: Skeleton and Gun Outfit: Gun Outfit 7"Two things I put out on my label so we will stick them together, tell me if this is too weird, but I love this stuff so much that I put it out! Abe Vigoda are amazing, and this record captures them in a great moment. The Gun Outfit single is incredible, one of my favorite new bands. Okay, no more PPM stuff on the list...7. Nerves: One Way TicketTwenty tracks from one of the best bands ever! They are probably most known for writing "Hanging on the Telephone", which Blondie later covered. Do yourself a favor and pick this up now!8. Eat Skull: Sick to DeathThis band rules. We got to play with them in Portland and they were so incredible, about to fall apart pop with great amounts of SCUZZ. The best.9. Mika Miko: Sub Pop Singles Club 7"These two new tracks are so good, Sub Pop scored by getting them on the Singles Club, shredding tracks.10. The Hospitals: Hairdryer PeaceI love this band from San Francisco. This LP is so good, new music for new times that will burn your face off! Randy Randall, No AgeAbe Vigoda: SkeletonLovvers: Think EPInfinite BodySoft Circle: Full BloomKing Kahn and the ShrinesFucked Up: The Chemistry of Common LifeDeerhunter: MicrocastleMika Miko: Sub Pop Singles Club 7"Times New Viking: Stay Awake EPHigh Places: High Places School of Seven BellsIn no particular order:Earth: The Bees Made Honey In The Lion's SkullFennesz: Black SeaErykah Badu: New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)Portishead: ThirdMadlib: Beat Konducta Vol. 5+6Beach House: DevotionM83: Saturdays = YouthVarious Artists: Ghostly SwimTim and Eric: The "Brownie Mountain" song (We know this isn't an album, but we wish it was.)Gas: Nah und FernRobert Wyatt: Shleep Molly Siegel, PonytailHigh Places: High PlacesSoooo good! I can't wait for the club remixes to roll in.Air Waves: Lightning EPI usually listen to this every day.Chairlift: Does You Inspire YouBeautiful. No more haters.Lloyd and Michael: Just as God Made UsL.A. female duo. This hits me deep.Telepathe: Chrome's On It EPOtherworldly. Jeremy Hyman, Ponytail (drums)Lucky Dragons: Dream Island Laughing LanguageLucky Dragons turned rocks into sound. That's crazo!Marnie Stern: This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is ThatI think I put this on once a week, but only make it through a few songs at a time. Marnie's music is an arrangement of every idea too crazy for your average bear. I am drawn back to it all the time because of its originality and humility.Matmos: Supreme BalloonConceptual techno fetishism meets prog funk. I got a chance to see them live this summer. When they played Supreme Balloon I almost cried.Cex: DannibalThis is my record of the year. There was always something really cool about Steely Dan, and Imean cool as in cold, icy smooth, not a break in consistency anywhere. Dannibal is an album that melts that ice and displays the fiery beast that was trapped within. Ken Seeno, Ponytail (guitar)1. Earth: The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull2. Animal Collective: Water Curses EP3. Growing: All The Way Dustin Wong, Ponytail (guitar)High Places: High PlacesA wonderful record to listen to with headphones, the panning, out of phase constructions are a blissful experience to the ears. Mary's voice compliments the music so well yet blends in like a drop of ink in a glass of milk.Abe Vigoda: SkeletonThe moment that took me over the top with this album is "The Garden". As a guitar fetishist I can't help but drool over the blooming guitars in the climax of this song.Thank You: Terrible TwoThe mallets rolling on the toms in "Self With Yourself" emulating a natural low pass like of trance transitions in dance music just makes me want to yell. The keyboards that ride right on top of this driving force are so sinister and before you know it the changes the band makes as a whole is an incredibly pleasurable experience.Inca Ore & Grouper: SplitA beautiful record, sounds that sound like blankets and warm tea. It intrigues me how sonically the song can be warm yet be engulfed by a chill of minor chords.Indica Ritual, Tour Demo CDIndica Ritual is a band we played with in the UK, and they totally blew me away with their live performance. I was watching them from the side and the band members were just waving back and forth like a bunch of sails. "Seamless Ejaculation" is a great track. Beach HouseIn no particular order:Tickley Feather: Tickley FeatherAdventure: AdventureLil Wayne: Tha Carter IIIAbe Vigoda: SkeletonDavid Byrne & Brian Eno: Everything That Happens Will Happen TodayEd Schrader: The Choir InsideFleet Foxes: Fleet FoxesLexie Mountain Boys: Sacred VacationFuture Islands: Waves Like HomePonytail: Ice Cream SpiritualBritney Spears: Circus Bradford Cox, Deerhunter1. Animal Collective: Water Curses EP2. Stereolab: Chemical Chords3. The Breeders: Mountain Battles4. Crystal Stilts: Alight of Night5. No Age: Nouns6. Lil Wayne: Tha Carter III7. Vivian Girls: Vivian Girls8. Grouper: Dragging a Dead Deer Up a Hill9. TV on the Radio: Dear Science10. Windy & Carl: Songs for the Broken Hearted Vampire Weekend"Ten Things We Liked This Year"Contributor's initials after each one:CT = Christopher TomsonEK = Ezra KoenigCB = Chris BaioRB = Rostam BatmanglijIn no particular order:Hot churros with the chocolate dipping sauce at Rose's Lariat in Rawlins, WY (CT)The "Ras Trent" song by Andy Samberg (EK)Yamaha VSS-30 Keyboard (RB)"The Wire", Season Five (CB)Seeing Kanye's "Glow in the Dark" tour (all)Early 90s Patagonia fleece reissues (EK)Miles Davis Live at the Cellar Door 12/70 (CT)Taco Bell's Volcano Taco* (all)"Mad Men" (RB)Going to Norway (CB)* We haven't actually tried this, but it looks awesome. Justin Vernon, Bon IverBowerbirds: Hymns for a Dark HorseCollections of Colonies of Bees: BirdsBlack Mountain: In the FutureThe War on Drugs: Wagonwheel BluesKathleen Edwards: Asking for FlowersMegafaun: Bury the SquareThe Rosebuds: Life LikeLand of Talk: Some Are LakesPhosphorescent: PrideDennis Wilson: Pacific Ocean Blue DJ/rupture1. Various Artists: Gaza Lords Vol. 1 and Vol. 2 (compiled by Mode Raw)New eerie synthed-up reggae, lots of Stephen "Di Genius" production, plus all these amazing singjays. Hot. And very useful now that Jamaican vinyl production fell off practically overnight. You can hear Mavado's huge influence in the younger generation of MCs who bend otherworldly melodies into gangsta-sufferation lyrics. Long live hood synthetics! Tunes by B.o.B and Boy Better Know push this international.2. Paavoharju: Laulu Laakson KukistaForget High Places and other neo-hippie loopers; this is the real deal, goth like the Brothers Quay, with incredible nonlinear post-production. Uncanny religious or pseudo-religious Finnish digital-handmade weirdness. Very romantic. Sounds the way memory feels.3. Maga Bo: ArchipelagoesLow-end whooomp from Rio's finest via African collabs. Hiphop, ragga, taarab, bass.4. Various Artists: Urban Rai 200837 recent rai hits? With a bunch of Maghrebi rap and R&B for good measure?! Yes please. Usually when I buy this music in Paris I'm looking for less popular stuff, and the Arab girls make fun of me.5. Balla et Ses Balladins: The Syliphone YearsGorgeous 70s guitar music from post-independence Guinea. You've had 30 years-- don't sleep now.6. Squincy Jones: NintendubLast summer Neil Landstrum and I were playing at this insane rural festival in Ireland where our tent's manager-person had lost the power of speech and was last seen wandering away with a vodka bottle and a distant look. Anyhow Neil said something like, "Dubstep? I call it snoozestep!" The further you go from London the less respect yoou have for "dubstep." The best is when we slap American rap on top, preferably singsong chants or shouting from the dirty South. Crunkstep! Says Squincy of his free mix: "I'm very proud of it. It combines three of the raddest things to ever happen to music: Dubstep, 8bit Nintendo Loops, Rap."7. Toumani Diabate: The Mande VariationsMr. Diabate was responsible for the most incredible concert performance I saw all year. He also wins the "Best Dressed Performer of the Year Award", brother looked downright royal in his celestial blue fly-traditional Malian robes.8. Various Artists: Give Me Love: Songs of the Broken Hearted, Baghdad 1925-29This was a good year for what I call "scratchy old stuff"-- CD compilations of 78s. This one sounds lovely, and the curatorial focus is on-point. In a short time a city can swing from open to closed, from something fluid and made of multiples to occupied, divided, entrenched. What awaits us? BJ Warshaw, Parts and LaborHarvey Milk: Life... The Best Game in Town [Hydra Head]This isn't the best Harvey Milk record (I submit Courtesy And Goodwill Toward Men for that honor), but it's better than most other new records I've heard this year. Harvey Milk was already one of the heaviest bands around, creating winding and twisted sludge metal with an intelligence that's all too rare for the subgenre. We were lucky enough to play some shows with these guys in Europe this year. Holy shit are they good.The Mae Shi: HLLLYH [Team Shi]There's so much fun, synthy punk these days, but the Mae Shi do it better, and smarter, than anybody else. I'm still picking apart this album, a concept record about the Book of Revelations, with each song sung from a different person's point of view: the chaste, the sinners, I think the Devil himself. "Run to Your Grave" is probably my favorite pop song of the year. And I even, eventually, got turned around on the 18+ minute techno track that splits up the album and essentially remixes every other song on the record. Atheists: reconsider?The Lord Dog Bird: The Lord Dog Bird [Jagjaguwar]Beautiful solo outing from Colin McCann, guitarist for Baltimore's Wilderness. Lovely drones, nimble repetitive guitar, and deceptively captivating vocal melodies. This record sounds already aged and wise, maybe it's the hiss of the four-track recorder, maybe it's just the simple, unpretentious nature of the songs. Perfect Sunday morning music. Why aren't more people making personal, stunning music like this?Alexander Tucker: Portal [ATP/R]Tucker mixes spacey drones with deft finger-picked guitar, finding connections between the free improvisation and the folk music from decades ago, singing over it all dreamily. He echoes some of his elder UK folkbearers, like Bill Fay, or even Nick Drake, but there's a soothing wake-and-bake ease that characterizes his repetitive, hymn-like melodies. Alex and Colin McCann should bro down.El Guincho: Alegranza! [XL]While on tour in Barcelona last winter, we stopped in this rad little craft store called Dudua Dudua. They had some local music, and the cover of El Guincho's record leapt out at me. I picked it up, fell in love with its simple neo-tropicalia, played it incessantly, and wasn't the least bit surprised when XL reissued the album this year to critical acclaim.Torche: Meanderthal [Hydra Head]What's not to like? Crushing yet fun, heavy yet pretty, anthemic stoner metal. This album sees Torche veering engagingly close to pop territory. In an interview I read these guys were name dropping indie bands like Sonic Youth as a direct influence on this record. Music like this gets me psyched, the genre walls melt as Torche takes the best from (at least) two unfortunately segregated worlds.The Bug: London Zoo [Ninja Tune]This sounds like the future. Not like the flying cars future I dreamed of as a kid, but the future we're stuck in, the future of perpetual fear and imminent catastrophe. The tracks with Warrior Queen are the standouts, her bravado on "Poison Dart" kicks my ass. I love The Bug's mixture of harsh, robo-industrial sounds with minimal dancehall beats, and though this isn't quite as weird and mindblowing as his last album, Pressure, it still trumps most all the other electronic music I've heard lately.David Byrne & Brian Eno: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today [self-released]About the most I can hope for as a musician is that I'm still finding new ways to create, and collaborate, when I've done it for as long as these two gentlemen have. This is progressive music making, both in form and in function, at its best. Inspirational.Lindsey Buckingham: Gift of Screws [Reprise]I'm convinced Animal Collective learned most of what they know from this guy, an elder craftsman of pop and weird and weird pop. Throw on track two; Buckingham somehow makes his guitar sound like an army of harps, like what I imagine Tyondai Braxton's next solo album might sound like. Alright, so a lot of this record veers off into cheesy, adult contemporary territory. But I'm a sucker for old Fleetwood Mac, so even that stuff doesn't bug me that much. The hippest unhip record to come out all year. Dan Friel, Parts and LaborKRS-One: East Village Radio Fest (New York, NY)Dead C/Sightings/Northampton Wools: Bowery Ballroom (New York, NY)Cacaw: The Annex Theater (Baltimore, MD)Japanther: Guerrilla Williamsburg Bridge Bike Path Show (East River, NY)Diagram A: The People's Pint (Greenfield, MA)Gowns: The Smell (Los Angeles, CA)Bob Mould: All Tomorrow's Parties (Monticello, NY)Ed Schrader: Cake Shop (New York, NY)Extra Life: Less Artists More Condos (New York, NY)Harvey Milk: Festsaal Kreuzberg (Berlin, Germany)White Fang: Election Night @ UC Irvine (Irvine, CA) Sarah Lispstate, Parts and LaborIn no particular order:Dan Burke and Thomas Dimuzio: Upcoming EventsEvangelista: Hello, VoyagerCarlos Giffoni: Adult LifePonytail: Ice Cream SpiritualRhys Chatham & His Guitar Trio All-Stars: Guitar Trio is My Life!Xiu Xiu: Women as LoversOkkyung Lee: I Saw the Ghost of an Unknown Soul and It Said...Dan Friel: Ghost TownFavorite show of 2008:Harvey Milk: 7/8/08 Kreuzberg Festsaal, BerlinLoudest show of 2008:Kikuri: 7/13/08 Supersonic Festival, Birmingham, UK Fleet FoxesIn no particular order:Department of Eagles: In Ear ParkYou know how at the supermarket you can fill out a little piece of paper at the deli counter, making a sandwich to your exact desires and specifications? If they had those at record stores I would fill one out and this is the record they'd hand me back.Blitzen Trapper: FurrMore than any other record this one seems like a collection of long lost standards. "Echo/Always On/EZ Con", "Furr", "Not Your Lover", "Lady on the Water"...I listened back to Wild Mountain Nation after listening to this all the way through and it's a huge huge jump forward. Also the sweetest guys in the entire world who we miss on a daily basis.The Dutchess and the Duke: She's the Dutchess, He's the DukeI love the lyrics on this one-- it's like Aftermath by the Rolling Stones without the misogyny or Ogdens' Nut Gone Flake without the narration. I love this band.Beach House: DevotionBest chords of the year and beautiful songs.The Walkmen: You & MeBest wailing of the year by the best singer of nowadays. IT'S GONNA BE A GOOD YEAR! RARRARARAJLKRJALKEHARHAERNo Age: NounsAny world where the general public is so aware, down-for-the-cause, and tuned in that No Age can appear on TV shows and in magazines is a truly amazing one-- infinitely superior to the one we lived in but a few years ago. Congratulations to everybody for being rad and No Age for being an awesome band and for giving me tips on vegan restaurants across the globe.Deerhunter: MicrocastleDitto. Seriously, now is an amazing time in music!!!!!!!!!!!!Dungen: 4I love this band so much and my biggest regret of the year is not being in Seattle to see them when they played here. I also love that this is basically an instrumental jazz album. I really admire any band that follows whatever path they want without regard for anything else and I feel like Dungen is that kind of group.Bonnie "Prince" Billy: Lie Down in the LightThere's a path, there's a beach, there's a horseshoe crab, there's my brother, my girlfriend, my mom and my dad, and there's me, and that's all there needs to be.Suarasama: Fajar Di Atas AwanMy pretentious "head" choice. Sorry.Various Artists: Awake My Soul: The Original SoundtrackThis stuff is creepy to me and it is excellent "confuse the crowd" house music to play before going on stage at a show. Alex Knost, Japanese Motors1. The Sweet Sweet Things: We're Not CoolIt's a super group from my home town with amazing songs, they write a new song almost every day and have never been signed to a label, they can barely afford food, but don't give a damn, they just wanna make great songs. We're Not Cool sums it all up, at least for me. If you have a label sign these dudes ASAP...I would.2. The Muslims: The MuslimsAgain, great people making tunes with the best art direction and attitude to spare. Every song on this record rules.3. The Raveonettes: Lust Lust LustIt's funnier than fuck 'cause I never listened to this band ever, even though it's a Vice band, til' one night like a month ago it was playin' at Christopher from Vice's house and I was like, "What is this? This song is insane." He called me a loser, I then bought it, now I'm super down.4. The Growlers: The Greatest HitsMy friend's band. They are awesome and it's their debut release...5. Adam Green: Sixes & SevensThis should have been number three on my list...this is the best Adam Green stuff I've ever heard...the production, the songs, the everything is awesome on this. There is no way I could ever make a record like this. For that I am so excited to listen to it every day. Sebastien GraingerThe Walkmen: "In the New Year"They have such a clear and perfect attitude on this song. That haunting bell/guitar/organ sound that launches upwards during the "chorus" is mystifying.Lil Wayne: Tha Carter IIIFuck the cameos, he's at his best when he's all alone. "A Milli" is a freestyle single. C'mon Dad! At least PRETEND to like rap...King Khan and the Shrines: The Supreme Genius of King Khan and the Shrines"Burnin' Inside" is a hit. Most of the songs on this record have a real good place in the world. If King Khan and BBQ got into a fight King Khan would win (probably just by stealing BBQ's hat).Teenanger: Teenanger / Banned from the BeaverTwo awesome releases from Toronto's best garage band. The got more grit fire and guts than any other band in the city.Sébastien Tellier: SexualitySuper smooth synth pop made by a total dirtbag. Pretty good right? Eva and I were in the front row at his Toronto show, and I'm pretty sure he farted on stage. It was gross until he fellated the mic while rubbing the mic's anus, which until then, I didn't know existed. The Watson TwinsElbow: The Seldom Seen Kid.Guy Garvey and crew transport the souls of Manchester England straight in to your sonic world.Everest: Ghost Notes.Deep cuts with flavors of the decades.Chicha Libre: ¡Sonido Amazonico!Brooklyn feista jams.My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges.This is a little suspicious..."Peanut Butter Pulitzer Prize"Cat Power: Jukebox.This ones on constant rotation on our jukebox.Radiohead: In Rainbows.We are Pices diggin' on the "Weird Fishes".David Byrne & Brian Eno: Everything That Happens Will Happen Today."Strange Overtones" kept popping up on our radio cruzin' round the States on the Billy Bragg tour...it will get stuck in your head.Jenny Lewis: Acid Tongue.Cobblers and carpetbaggers...the salt of the earth.Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 8: Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1986-2006.Road jams for miles. Hearts RevolutionMGMTThe SadsLil WayneCrystal CastlesSébastien Tellier Sune Rose Wagner, the RaveonettesGlasvegas: "Geraldine".Catchy riff and great words about social works in Glasgow makes for the perfect single.Ladyhawke: "My Delirium".Love her voice on this one, and terrific sing-a-long chorus.MGMT: Oracular Spectacular.A brilliant blend of progressive and electro makes this a 2008 favorite.Crystal Castles: Crystal Castles.Messed up Atari electro with a gritty voice you can only love.M.I.A.: "Paper Planes".Brilliant words and fantastic delivery, need I say more.Vivian Girls: "Tell The World".I love how this one drives along and you don't want it to end ever. Fred Nicolaus, Department of EaglesIn no particular order:1. The Walkmen: You & Me2. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes3. John Adams: Hallelujah Junction This is a career retrospective, not a proper album exactly, but it's a great intro to John Adams. He's incredible. The first track on the first disc is the first movement from a piece with a title that is impossible to spell (without looking it up, my best guess is "Harmonielihre" ["Harmonielehre" --Ed.]). If you caught John Adams on the street I doubt he could spell it. But it's one of the best openers of all time. If we ever do another album I want to start it off like this, with a full orchestra playing an E minor chord twenty times in a row at full volume.4. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend5. WHY?: Alopecia6. Glass Ghost: Unreleased tracks on MyspaceI'm not sure if they have this one up there but there's this tender ballad they do called "Solemn Glow" that is one of my favorite things done this year. It sounds like a song from the musical Annie, but weird and lo-fi. It's great.8. Shugo Tokumaru: Exit9. Coldplay: Viva la Vida or Death and All His FriendsWhatever it's fun I enjoyed it.10. Gestural Breezeway: Flow: The Early Tapes Jonny Bell, Crystal AntlersMagic Lantern: High BeamsChairlift: Does You Inspire YouAbe Vigoda: SkeletonFucked Up: The Chemistry of Common LifeEnablers: TundraAND ALSO BEEN LISTENING TO A LOT OF THIS:Rudimentary Peni: The EPs of RPDella Humphrey: "Don't Make the Good Girls Go Bad"Helene Smith: "You Got to be a Man"Crime: San Francisco's STILL DoomedLink Wray: Link WrayThe Sleepers: Seventh World EP Terry LynnNo particular order, I was so entrenched with the stress down here I didn't get to hear as much as I hoped I could. Tell everyone/anyone to send music, I'll send back the same love.Kanye West: His new direction. Not because it's popular, he's doing what he wants sonically, in his heart, against the grain.Busy P: "Chop Suey". He's crazy. I want to jump to this. Heard it from the net, oh wait til' you hear us pop off a sex track.Alicia Keys: A songwriter and real musician. I rate her, heartfelt, to the point.Santogold: Heard some of her music and was gratefully surprised. Interesting, real, she seems cool.M.I.A.: I guess I came late to it, people kept telling me. I just love her breaking of barriers and freedom in her spirit. Love. DiploMr. Oizo: Lambs AngerMujava: Township FunkSantogold/Diplo: Top RankingJ Dilla: Ruff Draft (Stones Throw reissue)Benzi and Diplo Present Paper Route Recordz: Fear and Loathing in HuntsVegasLil Wayne: Tha Carter IIIDJ Negro: Bersa Discos EPBusy Signal: LoadedTobacco: Fucked Up FriendsMGMT: Oracular SpectacularBeck: Modern GuiltHot Chip: Made in the DarkA Tribe Called Quest: The Best Of A Tribe Called QuestM83: Saturdays=Youth Yoni Wolf, WHY?Subtle: ExitingARMLil Wayne: Tha Carter IIIMount Eerie with Julie Doiron and Fred Squire: Lost WisdomAnathallo: Canopy GlowAmpLive: Radiohead Rainydayz RemixesKarl Blau: AMDepartment Of Eagles: In Ear ParkSerena Maneesh: SM BackwardsChairlift: Does You Inspire YouBonnie "Prince" Billy: Lie Down in the Light NOMOKasai All Stars: In the 7th Moon, the Chief Turned Into a Swimming Fish and Ate the Head of His Enemy by MagicThe opening track of this record does not cease to amaze me after many repeated listens. The combination of sounds is incredible. The guitar sounds are amazing, and of course, those likembes are inspirational. They were slated to play at WOMEX in 2006, when we were there, but had trouble with their visas, so sadly we didn't get to see them. Hopefully they'll make it to the States soon.High Places: 03/07-09/07I'm not one of those "I only like the first 7"" kind of guys, but with High Places, this stuff really is so great. Fred Thomas took me to see them play at a Todd P street party in Brooklyn, and I've been in love with their sound ever since. I actually bought all of their 7" releases, but somehow have lost them, so I'm glad this came out! I'm never a big remix fan, but I'd love to hear what they could do with some NOMO mixes.TV on the Radio: Dear ScienceAnother band that makes me think it might be necessary to relocate to Brooklyn. I love the communal spirit that they capture. It's a product of the sound of the record, and the people that they use to capture that sound. Several of our friends turned up on this one, and I love the way they put the horn section to use.Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever AgoMy uncle Bart hipped us to Bon Iver at the start of our summer tour. Erik bought the disc and it became a great soundtrack to some long stretches of the tour. I think that as winter comes on, this one will stay in heavy rotation. It feels like he really captures the spirit of isolation and desperation and yet somehow stays hopeful.Sun Ra: The Complete Detroit Jazz Center Residency26 hours of Sun Ra! It has all of our favorites, and it's recorded in Detroit. What more could you ask for? It's actually very cheap for the amount of music here. It's a historic document of a great band with a tremendous repertoire.Cains & Abels: Call Me UpWe were able to watch this record come together over the last few months because Erik recorded it. Their songs have haunting melodies, and they are delivered with such directness that I get chills during each listen. The imagery here is great: bones, birds, hearts, holes, skin, and telephones-- somehow it all resonates together beautifully. Look for this one in early '09.Santogold: SantogoldThere are so many good jams on this one. It was rumored that Erik was going to be auditioning for her band this fall, so we listened to this one on repeat while he practiced his drum fills. We're pretty glad that he's still signed on to team NOMO for the time being. We have to finish our new record!Lykke Li: Youth NovelsWe saw her at CMJ, and then in Boston. Her songs have been stuck in our heads ever since. She's a strange and wonderful combination of elements, but her voice is what gets me-- the way that she sings behind the beat so beautifully. Bjorn's production is great as always.Anathallo: Canopy GlowI recently caught a glimpse into the uber-cooperative that is this band. They are a many-limbed machine that gets so much done on their own! They should write a book about how to have a band. They are the only band I know that is also a great handbell choir. The Tim Lowly painting on the cover of their record is amazing too.Gang Gang Dance: Saint DymphnaI liked reading their interview in which they talked about Francis Bebey and Don Cherry. Those two artists are both huge influences in our music as well, so it made me feel like we were somehow kindred spirits. It changed the way that I listen to their record. Mary Pearson, High PlacesGrouper: Dragging a Dead Deer Up a HillIf I were better at controlling my dreams, I would make them sound like this album.Awesome Color: Electric AboriginesPerhaps I have a soft spot for New Yorkers with Michigan roots, but this band is seriously g.o.o.d.Krallice: KralliceI have never been disappointed by a Mick Barr project. Krallice is my current favorite.David Byrne & Brian Eno: Everything That Happens Will Happen TodayThis dream team collabo still feels like hallowed ground.Ponytail: Ice Cream SpiritualLife Without Buildings meets American Football meets something else.Lucky Dragons: Dream Island Laughing LanguageLovely companion on my morning jogs.Hercules and Love Affair: Hercules and Love AffairQuintessential dance album.Antony and the Johnsons: Another World EPAntony is the music world's King Midas. Robert Barber, High PlacesMary got up earlier and therefore wrote her list first. Everything on her list is highly recommended by me as well.Lichens live, and the Robert A.A. Lowe & Rose Lazar: Gyromancy book/CDRob blows me away every time he opens his mouth, sometimes there is guitar too, loops upon loops created live with one of the most unique voices around. Last time we played with him, his set morphed out of the end of Matteah Baim's set with birds chirping. What sounded like field recordings, or even the window left open, was actually just Rob, sitting very still in the dark! Then there is the book/CD with Rose Lazar, the most inspirational, and in-love creative collaboration of all time! Rose and Rob created an amazing and seamless collection of their drawings with an other worldly soundtrack that maybe only Korla Pandit could've envisioned.Infinite Body: A Series of False AwakeningsI can't remember where I first met Kyle. I think at a show for my solo project at the Smell. Brendan Fowler first told me about him. From what friends tell me, the live set is something else. I loved what I heard on his other releases, but this record just came in the mail from him today, and my jaw hit the floor. I have listened to it six times already. A fabulous combination of his electronic and acoustic pieces, mixed perfectly with (I am guessing) field recordings of his days.Soft Circle: Live and unreleased new jamsHisham is basically the most talented person I know. His visual art rules. He has played in some of my favorite bands of the last 10 years. Between playing with him collaboratively and sharing many bills, I have learned so much from him. He is also the most positive and balanced person I know, and have traveled with. Soft Circle has always ruled, but every time I see him play, it is 10x better than the last. This is the future of dance. You just can't help it moving, but it's dense and dreamy too.Chris Johanson's "Totalities" solo show @ Deitch ProjectsHe was basically in NYC working on this thing for a year, and boy did it ever show. If you were ever curious what it would be like if Chris was the mayor of a small town, here is your answer. Hopefully you didn't sleep on this and got to see it.PPM Records: "New Video Works" DVDI lost my high school yearbook. I did not like high school. This is is my new yearbook. I want everybody to sign it. Thank you Dean for putting this out. The whole thing rules, but highlights include the Soft Circle video (almost wet myself at the end), Lucky Dragons, and Soiled Mattress videos.Pit Er Pat: High TimesOK, I am sorry for name checking a second Thrill Jockey release, but this record is serious! Awesome range in this record, warm and vast, emotive, great playing. The works. Timeless too! If I didn't already know, I wouldn't be able to tell you when this record came out. It is the best of the past, present and future.We Are The World liveI know so little about this band. Hecuba (who are awesome too, check them!) told me about them, and then I saw them play Cakeshop (which was a total agoraphobic nightmare zone to see them in) and I was totally in shock. I am personally a very shy performer, but jeez-oh-man, these folks blew my mind. Granted you probably won't see me playing in a Mennonite/burka outfit anytime soon, bu
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8/1 on December 11, 2008
