Am I Missing Something? Music of 2008
As the mid point of 2008 has arrived, I started to think about what recordings from this year are leading in my list of favs for the year, and found myself struggling to feel real strong about anything much that I’ve heard this year. I’m not saying that there hasn’t been any good music released this year, but last year at this time, the scene was a buzz with releases by Feist, Spoon, The National, Grizzly Bear, and more. Although I may not have felt as strongly about some of these releases as some other folks, just out of personal preferences, they had a huge impact on the scene in mid 2o07. Undeniable. What do we have this year?
- My Morning Jacket’s recent beat laden release Evil Urges hasn’t quite made the splash with the critics that die-hard fans would have liked, and quite a few die-hard fans are still on the fence in regards to this release. It seems to be exposing the band to a new generation of listeners, which is great for the band, but is it the album some were hoping for? I personally enjoy the record for what it is, but the recording as a whole, falls short of the greatness that we come to expect from MMJ. Maybe some of us expect too much?
- Fleet Foxes self-titled release on Sub Pop is one of this year’s more promising releases, reminding me a bit of 2007′s Yellow House by Grizzly Bear, with it’s uniquely familiar, strange and beautiful sounds.
- I am quite fond of the Scottish folk indie-rock sounds found on Frightened Rabbit‘s effort The Midnight Organ Fight, and would highly recommend the recording to anyone, but it’s not blowing my mind.
- I do like the guitar heavy, drenched in despair (I stole the despair comment from someone else) recording Plunder, Beg, and Curse from the southern band Colour Revolt. It’s extremely dense and complex in it’s structure, and flat out rocks. This one might be one for a year-end list.
- Portishead, The Gutter Twins, The Black Angels, Tokyo Police Club? All have made respectable recordings released this year, but still nothing I’m getting too excited about.
Maybe it’s me? Maybe I’m becoming an old jaded blogger who will start to argue that the best music has already been made and there is no hope for the future of rock-n-roll. I don’t think so. I just think that musically 2008 has a bit of catching up to do, if it is going to dare to live up to the year of 2007. 2007 does have Radiohead on it’s side, so it might be a tough haul.
If there is something out there that you think I’m missing, that might just change my mind about 2008, then I beg of you…..please let me know. I’m thirsty, and we’re in a bit of a drought. Not dying by any means, just looking to get shook to my core by someone.
some of my favorites thus far:
Jason Collett – Here’s To Being Here
Rue Royale – Rue Royale
Langhorne Slim – Diamonds and Gold
Sigur Rós – Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
She & Him – Volume One
Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
looking forward to:
Vandevander
Beau Jennings
Colourmusic
Straight Lines
The Verve – Forth
Cold War Kids
David Gray
Doves
Phoenix
Bloc Party
The Radio Dept.
Keane
Plants and Animals – Parc Avenue
Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer
Islands – Arms Way
Hercules and Love Affair – S/T
The Ruby Suns – Sea Lion
Fuck Buttons – Street Horrrsing
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
Titus Andronicus – The Airing of Grievances
Los Campesinos! – Hold On Now Youngster…
The Dodos – Visiter
Why? – Alopecia
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
Devotchka – A Mad and Faithful Telling
Have a Nice Life – Deathconsciousness
Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Cloud Cult – Feel Good Ghosts (Tea-Partying Through Tornadoes)
Santogold – Santogold
Shearwater – Rook
Beach House – Devotion
El Guincho – Alegranza
Black Mountain – In the Future
All great choices above. I also think The Black Keys had a strong release and worse case scenario Radiohead did technically release In Rainbows on Jan 1 as well? Ha Ha…
I agree with some of these like MGMT, MMJ, and Tokyo Police Club. A couple more that stand out to me are:
Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Love Cut Copy, they’re from Australia.
The years only halfway done. More to come kidds!
A couple of my favorites from this year, which still has several potential album-of-the-year’s yet to be released…..
Drive-By Truckers – Brighter than Creation’s Dark
Melvins – Nude with Boots
Black Mountain – In the Future
Monotonix – Body Language
The Mars Volta – Bedlam in Goliath
Torche – Meanderthal
Click linky below for my annoying video list of the mid-year top 10 albums of 2008:
http://ondeafears.wordpress.com/2008/06/20/jasons-mid-year-top-ten-albums-of-2008-your-guide-to-new-music-that-doesnt-suck/
Yeah, yeah, I know #1 was technically self-released in 2007, but Jagjaguwar didn’t kick it out until this year.
Good call on Pete and the Pirates…can’t believe I forgot them.
Also, just remembered:
Bodies of Water – A Certain Feeling
Noah and the Whale – Peaceful, The World Lays Me Down
Get Well Soon – Rest Now Weary Head You Will Get Well Soon
A new find for me…
I caught Hymns (Brooklyn, NY) in Tulsa last night and was really impressed. They released a full length back in March called ‘Travel In Herds.’ Definitely worth checking out — http://www.myspace.com/hymnsband
Don’t forget about Dead Confederate’s “The Wrecking Ball” slated to drop mid-September. Could be the album of the decade!!
Oh…I’m not forgetting about Dead Confederate. Thanks for the album title Nic. As much as I love the Dead Confed, album of the decade is a strong statement. You must really like those guys.
I know…could be a stretch, but I do think it will be a landmark moment for the past 8 years. It’s not that often that a new band bursts on the scene with a totally fresh and totally unique sound, coupled with the ability to go mainstream, yet still maintain “street cred”. I’m talking about bands like Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Smashing Pumpkins, 311, The Strokes, Kings of Leon, etc. Even if you don’t like some of these bands, they all possesed a “raw” and hard rocking freshman album, then graduated to a more watered down sophmore and jr albums, while still maintaining some type of “underground” feel to them. If DC plays their cards right, and I think they will(Gary Gersh), we could see the same type of growth with the previous mentioned bands. All I know is it will be fun to watch and listen to the future of Dead Confederate.