Year End: 2008
Where oh were does the time go. 2008 has already passed the point of no return and is just about to reach 88 miles per hour. But before a pair of fiery tracks leave us smack dab in 2009, let us reflect on the year that has been. As usual, order of ascension rules apply
Artists & Albums That Did Kick Ass In This Year Of Our Lord: 2008
Fleet Foxes – S/T & Sun Giant EP
Liam Finn – I’ll Be Lightning
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
The Walkmen – You & Me
She & Him – Volume One
Sigur Ros – Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
Brendan Canning – Something For All of Us
Sun Kil Moon - April
My favorite/most listened to band this year actually released two things this year. First listened to the fleet foxes cause they were the openers for wilco at a show I regretfully did not attend earlier this year. After falling in love with the Sun Giant EP I went ahead a bought their self titled album and was equally blown away by it. They possess this incredibly dynamic quiet sound that just flows from track to track. Its equal parts familiar and refreshing. I really cant wait to hear more from theses gentlemen, and am still kicking myself for not going to the show this year.
A close second to the fleet was the son of Neil Finn, Liam and his stunning debut album “Ill Be Lightening”. This one was on the outskirts of my musical radar till my good friend and musical compatriot Kevin gave it an outstanding recommendation. The praise he garnered for this album was truly justified as it remained in my cd player for damn near 3 solid weeks. In fact if I have a album that encapsulated the spring of this year, its this one.
The hodgepodge of sound that Kevin Barns and the rest of Of Montreal sexed together on Skeletal Lamping just grew and grew on me this year. At first listen I didn’t like it at much as there previous album, but shining moments of musical genius drew me into this freaked out landscape of sound. Now I cant help but listen to it from start to finish each time.
You and Me by the walkmen could be the most ominous album Ive heard this year. Everything sounds far away, like it was played down the hall from microphones recording it. And yet its startlingly intimate in its lyrics, vocal delivery and elegantly distorted guitar work. Been listening to it for months now and still find new things to love in it.
She & Him is easily the most sunny and upbeat thing that has made it on my list this year. Chock full of great pop Americana, M Ward and Zoony Dechenzel have spun together an album that sounds classic and fresh at the same time. Vol. 2 cant come soon enough (fortunately M. Ward’s new album is due early 2009)
Sigur Ros continues to create epic music that plays perfectly to the film of your life.”Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust” runs the gamut of heartbreaking to inspirational without looking back. Its been a great year for the band with this album and high profile releases like Prince of Persia and Slumdog Millionare featuring their music in there trailers. Hearing them in those things will only lead more people towards the band and this album, which is a great thing all around.
Of the two Broken Social Scene solo albums, I have to say I enjoy “Something for All of Us” far more than last years “Spirit If” Brendan Canning crafts some truly great rock that incorporates elements of the BSS without drowning the songs in complication . Its far more stripped down and raw. This album and the Walkmen make the guitar seem like an vital instrument again, instead of something that just happens to be there in the studio while recording.
And my final pick of the year goes to Sun Kil Moon’s “April”. Hauntingly beautiful melancholy captured in song. Mark Kozeleks vocals invoke sorrow, longing and love with the lightest whisper. Great sunset/early evening album.
Artists & Albums That Still Deserve Mention For 2008
Beck – Modern Guilt
Black Keys – Attack & Release
REM - Accelerate
Lou Reed – Berlin Live
David Bowie – Live: Santa Monica 72
Beck, Black Keys & REM are very close to my top 8 for 2008. In fact I might just be my current mood that has them here instead of up there. Modern Guilt is a good Beck album, but not a great beck album. I really dug this black keys album more than their previous one and REM didn’t leave my car for weeks and weeks. I think the thing that kept them out most is that even though I really like these albums….those above were better.
Lou & Bowie bow in cause these are two freaking fantastic live albums. If you are a fan of Bowie at all and didn’t pick up Live: Santa Monica 72 this year, kick yourself to the nearest store that would have it, or to Amazon and order it. The track listing is amazing, sound quality phenomenal. The price is…high, but completely worth it. Live Bowie at the height of his powers. I cant recommend this enough. And Lou + Live Berlin = Robbie overjoyed. Berlin has been my favorite Lou Reed album for years, and to hear this near perfect live recreation of this beautifully depressing masterwork is something ive been waiting for ever since the rumors of these shows first surfaced a few years ago.
Artists & Albums That Dropped The Ball In 2008
Ray Davies – Working Mans Café
Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
Matthew Sweet – Sunshine Lies
This is mildly depressing. These are the three artists that were on my most anticipated releases for 2008 when I made last years list. Keep in mind that info on albums coming out in 2008 in late December is limited, but still to have all three end up disappointing me is unheard of.
Artists & Albums That Are Most Anticipated For 2009
M. Ward
Beirut
Minus 5
Lets just hope that these three impending releases in 2009 don’t suffer the same fate as last years three.
Albums I Should Have Listened to more in 2008
Magnetic Fields – Distortion
Mark Kozelek – Finally
Calexico – Carried To Dust
Both the Calexico and Magnetic Fields were in my car enough, but didn’t have the umph to get in the cd player over some others…and the Mark Kozelek just suffered from “purchased with Christmas money recently and hasn’t been absorbed yet” fate.
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Phase 2:
Films That Did Kick Ass In This Year Of Our Lord: 2008
The Dark Knight
Wall-E
Iron Man
Burn After Reading
Forgetting Sarah Marshall
In Bruges
Cloverfield
Gonzo: Life & Times of HST
Let me start by saying, this list will change. I have yet to see some fairly high profile titles this year and know that some of the above will be shuffled down the list. And im a stickler for only listing things I have seen this year, not thing I wished I could have seen already. But one thing that will not change is the Dark Knight as my favorite film this year. Hands down, nothing else comes close.
Films That Still Deserve Mention For 2008
Zack & Miri Make a Porno
Hellboy 2
Tropic Thunder
All good, but you can only have one favorite comedy of the year. And hellboy 2 just faced to much overwhelming greatness in the comic movie realm this year.
Films That I Really DID Want To See In 2008
Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Wrestler
Slumdog Millionaire
Let the Right One In
When? When will we get the Wrestler & Slumdog Millionaire??? I keep hoping and we keep getting bedtime stories, Madagascar 2, Four Christmases or Delgo… DELGO…worst box office opening of ALL TIME delgo. and we got that one the week it opened. As for the Curious Case of Benjamin Button, we just haven’t been able to find a time that was good to check it out yet.
Film That Im Proud to Have Missed In 2008
Mamma Mia
There were a lot of movies Im glad to have missed this year, but this easily takes top prize. There is only so much ABBA you should put yourself through in one lifetime…and I met and breached that requirement about middle of seeing the trailer the first time.
Films That Dropped The Ball In 2008
Indiana Jones & Kingdom of the Crystal Suck
Nuked the Fridge. Nuff Said.
Most Anticipated Theatrical Releases for 2009
WATCHMEN
Harry Potter & Half Blood Prince
Star Trek
Let me star by saying. Fuck fox, fuck warners and fuck paramount. Fuck Fox for being bitches and potentially killing Watchmen’s release at all. And Fuck warner & paramount for pushing back Potter 6 and Star Trek to 09 instead of the holiday 2008 releases they were supposed to be.
Those grievances aside, Ill be in theaters day one for all of these.
Phase 3:
DVD's That Did Kick Ass In This Year Of Our Lord: 2008
Cowboy Bebop: REMIX Complete Collection
L.A. Confidential SE
Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Movie
Space Ghost Coast to Coast: Vol. 5
Hellsing Ultimate: Vol. 5 SE
Samurai 7: Complete Series Viridian Collection
Iron Man: SE
Zodiac: Directors Cut
I found myself being way more choosey with the stuff I purchased, but this year did yield some really great stuff. The long awaited LA Con SE, the re-release of MST3K: the movie, and the epic 1999 season of Space Ghost Coast To Coast. The complete set of Cowboy Bebop is by far my favorite release of the year, in fact the new practice of reasonably priced complete series or season anime sets is the best thing to happen to DVD in 2008
DVD's That I Really Ment To Get In 2008
Bottle Rocket: CC
High & Low: CC
Cool Hand Luke
The Economy has curbed my purchases of Criterion Collection titles. That’s what Id like to say, but the truth is the inevitability of getting a Blu Ray player is the primary reason these, and other titles remain out of my grasp. Im sure an upgrade of equipment is in my future…so buying things that are getting simultaneously released on blu ray would just be a waste of money.
Most Anticipated DVD Releases for 2009
Here is where the crystal ball gets murky ladies and gentlemen. I have to say that outside of several anime titles and sets, I have no anticipated DVD titles for 2009. In fact the practices of DVD releases in 2008 has just about killed my enthusiasm for the format. The biggest detractor has been “Digital Copy Disks” that are completely unnecessary and usually add upwards of 10 bucks to the price of a DVD. Add to that decline in features and disk quality in general, it makes the allure of getting things on Blu Ray harder to resist. So buy now and buy again later…or don’t buy at all, those are the options my friends. And im weighing them carefully with each title released.
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HA! finished with two hours to spare!
Current Mood:
accomplished