I have a guilty pleasure. I like to give (awesome) computers as gifts and record the unboxing. The first time I gave someone a Mini, I recorded a movie of it and it was pure gold. To this day watch it occasionally. It always makes me smile.
When my aunt, father and I decided that my grandfather – affectionately known as HAPPY – needed a new computer I immediately knew the Mini would be another great gift.
The first time around when Ashley unboxed her Mini I was a bit unprepared her reaction. This time I was more than ready to capture the hilarity that ensued.
Over the last couple months I’ve been comprising some of my top music for 2008 to consolidate some of my recommendations. I was planning on making something to incorporate into Tune Muncher, but time has not been on my side. Nonetheless, I didn’t want to see my efforts go to waste. Here are my recommendations.
Impressive Debuts
Flobots
The Black Ghosts
MGMT grew on me. I didn’t like at first, glad I came back
Artists I listen to who put out strong albums in 2009.
The Black Keys – Attack & Release, my vote for top album of 2008
Beck – Modern Guilt
We Are Scientists – Brain Thrust Mastery, sophomore release just as awesome as With Love and Squalor
Radiohead – In Rainbows
Thievery Corporation – Radio Retaliation
Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul
Panic at the Disco – Pretty. Odd., I’ll be first to admit I hated this album when it first came out. It completely lacked the energy and intensity that I loved in the first PATD album, but it grew on me over time. There are some excellent tracks on this disc.
The Best Tracks
Infinite Repeat
The Tings Tings – “Shut Up And Let Me Go”
MGMT – “Kids Oracular”
Estelle – “American Boy Ft. Kanye West”
Kings of Leon – “Sex On Fire”
My Morning Jacket – “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Part 2″, best beginning and ending to a song released in ‘08
1 requirement – strong from start to finish, never skip a track.
Beck – Modern Guilt
The Black Ghosts – The Black Ghosts
My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Kings of Leon – Only By Night
M83 – Saturdays = Youth
Let Downs
Cold War Kids – Loyalty To Loyalty, didn’t hold my attention
The Dears – Missiles, totally changed their sound, no good tracks. Can’t keep members together: Wikipedia.
Fujiya & Miyagi – Lightbulbs, same sound only, nothing new, not as good
The Presets – Apocalypso, no stand out tracks like “Girl and the Sea” or “Steamworks” on their previous album.
Ratatat – LP3, I falls way short compared to Classics
Dungen – Tio Bitar, doesn’t compare to Ta Det Lungt
Taproot – Our Long Way Home, doesn’t compare to their previous releases.
Hot Chip – Made in the Dark, I had high expectations for this album because I played “Ready For The Floor” x 100000, but the rest of the album is meh.
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs, maybe I’m being harsh but I was looking for an album to rival Transatlanticism and never got it.
EPIC FAIL
The Killers – Day & Age
I’m always waiting for The Killers to bring me back to the heyday of Hot Fuss. I always leave disappointed. On the first single “Human” Brandon Flowers asks “are we human or are we dancer” a play on a Hunter S Thompson proverb. What a stupid song. The horns in “I Can’t Stay” was horrid enough to stick hot needles through my ear drums. The Epic Failure of another piece of crap album by a band I once loved is enough to turn off the dial permanently. I am never listening to The Killers again. What an EPIC waste.
Best Concerts of 2008
The Black Keys @ The Orpheium
VAST @ Harper’s Ferry
Ambulance LTD @ The Middle East
Band of Horses @ The Paradise
Rogue Wave @ The Paradise
The Go! Team @ The Paradise
Best Compilations
Lounge Anthology
Indie Rock Playlists
Where Are They?
The Avalanches – Air France reminded me of them
Sean Lennon, 8 years between his debut (1998) and his sophomore release (2006), I’m not holding my breath
Muse
Rediscovered
Back from the dead. Oldies but goodies.
311 – 311, I still could sing along with “T&P Combo”. That surprised the hell out of me.
VAST
Sean Lennon – Friendly Fire
Second Coming – Second Coming, “Soft”
Music Resources
Give a listen to some of the artists/albums/tracks I’ve mentioned on these sites.
