These are reviews of the 2008 released records that I bought in 2008.
1. Goldfrapp – Seventh Tree.
Goldfrapp step away from the dancefloor, embrace the pastoral and produce my favourite record of 2008. Shout out to Matthew Perpetua’s Fluxblog without which I wouldn’t have ended up obsessed with A&E and consequently this fabulous record.
Best thing on it?
A&E.
2. Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid.
Finally the album that pushes them to a public profile that their genius deserves. Not one bad song and several quite brilliant.
Best thing on it?
One Day Like This
3.The Black Keys – Attack and Release.
The pre-emininent blues rock duo of our time record their masterpiece. Every track is outstanding.
Best thing on it?
Currently I’d say All You Ever Wanted.
4.She & Him – Volume One.
The deeply unlikely partnership between Matt Ward and Zooey Deschanel somehow produced an album of restrained and timeless beauty. This is something genuinely worth celebrating.
Best thing on it?
This is not a test.
5.R.E.M. – Accelerate.
Almost anything would seem like a return to form after the utterly lifeless Around The Sun. That this is their best album in more than a decade is such a relief. Being a hardcore REM fan had stopped being any fun – but this beast brought the fun back in spades. Short sharp and packed with classic songs that dared to sound a bit like REM!
Best thing on it?
Currently Houston is my go to track, but about half the album is good enough to win this accolade.
6.Portishead – Third.
An astonishing return, making a record that sounds entirely like Portishead without using any of their old sonic footprint. Both scary and tender it’s unlike anything else released this year.
Best thing on it?
The nearly heavy metal Threads.
7.Shearwater – Rook.
Utterly gorgeous piano based folk-pop ballads occasionally enlivened with glorious blasts of brass. This is a really beautiful record.
Best thing on it?
The brass flecked title song, Rooks, though The Snow Leopard runs it close.
8.Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes.
Another album that nearly drowned in the flood of praise that has come it’s way over the course of the year, but it’s sheer beauty is undeniable. Oddly bits of it remind me of David Crosby’s fucked up masterpiece If Only I Could Remember My Name – that’s a recommendation by the way.
Best thing on it?
Heard Them Stirring
9.TV On The Radio – Dear Science.
This latest release has been wildly praised in critical circles. I don’t think it’s any better than their last release – which is good thing because Return To Cookie Mountain was great!
Best thing on it?
10.Grace Jones – Hurricane.
The diva’s comeback after a decade plus out of the spotlight produces the song of her career in Williams Blood. Nothing on the record is quite that good but it’s a strong body of work.
Best thing on it?
The almighty Williams Blood.
11.Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago.
Almost crushed by media hype and praise, the sheer loveliness and claustrophobia of the songs wins through.
Best thing on it?
Skinny Love
12.My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges.
Some found it a disappointment, personally I think it’s the best thing that MMJ have ever done. Less earnest and more funky than before this record really gets under your skin.
Best thing on it?
Evil Urges.
13.Dr Dog – Fate.
This psychedelic Philadelphian outfit make music that’s modern yet somehow could easily fit in the late 60s output of The Band. A real grower.
Best thing on it?
Army of Ancients
14.Eliza Carthy – Dreams of Breathing Underwater.
The prodigiously talented offspring of the 60s folk revival’s pre-eminent couple makes an album that mixes musical styles with a real relish and love for life.
Best thing on it?
Simple Things.
15.Robert Forster – The Evangelist.
Forster’s first release since the premature death of his Go-Betweens partner Grant McLennan is still very much haunted by his presence including 3 songs co-written by McLennan.
Best thing on it?
Demon Days is perhaps one of the finest of Forster and MacLennan’s collaborations.
16.Vic Chesnutt – Dark Developments.
This collaboration with Elf Power reinvigorated Mr Chesnutt’s songwriting to a level rarely seen since his first few albums. In other words -it’s bloody good.
Best thing on it?
We Are Mean
17.Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend.
Lovely sunny, African rhythm rich indie pop songs can inspire joy!
Best thing on it?
Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa has a delightful guitar hook.
18.The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound.
New Jersey boys make album of sweeping passionate rock that invites rave reviews. There’s definitely something there but I’m not sure it’s flowered properly yet.
Best thing on it?
Even Cowgirls Get The Blues.
19.The Long Blondes – Couples.
This second album takes a more electronic tack than their debut – to largely winning effect. The lyrics are also much more disappointed and cynical than before – which is actually some feat!
Best thing on it?
Too Clever By Half.
20.The Gutter Twins – Saturnalia.
Lanegan and Dulli finally properly team up and produce one of the best records of both their careers.
Best thing on it?
Who Will Lead Us.
The following are sorted without preference in an alphabetical order
Adele – 19.
Interesting debut by big voiced Londoner, which unfortunately tends towards the bland. The no1 Chasing Pavements and single Hometown Glory are highlights.
Best thing on it?
Her sweet cover of Dylan’s To Make You Feel My Love.
American Princes – Other People.
Anglophilic sons of Arkansas produce catchy post-punk indie pop.
Best thing on it?
The very GBV Kid Incinerator
The Baseball Project – Frozen Ropes and Dying Quails.
A bunch of great American indie artists get together to make an album of songs about the great and not-so-great of baseball history – surely it’s a quirky mess? No in fact it’s a lot of fun – especially if you know a bit about the sport.
Best thing on it?
The Yankee Flipper.
Beck – Modern Guilt.
This low key effort is something of a return to form after his recent wayward releases. Expertly juggling musical genres to excellent effect this has deserved more notice than it received..
Best thing on it?
Chemtrails.
Belle & Sebastian – BBC Sessions.
This collection captures the Glasgow masters of twee as they grow from a ramshackle delight into polished purveyors of pop. The extra live disc is non-essential, but still it’s a nice addition.
Best thing on it?
Magic of a Kind Word.
Black Mountain – In The Future.
More stoner-rock, sadly just not as memorable as on their eponymous release.
Best thing on it?
Wucan.
Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy – Is It The Sea.
Fascinating live performance blending Oldham’s heartbroken songs with the scottish folk instrumentation and harmonies of Harem Scarem and Alex Neilson. This BBC release is mostly exquisite.
Best thing on it?
Master and Everyone.
Bowerbirds – Hymns For A Dark Horse.
Lovely acoustic music, with a spare and moving feel.
Best thing on it?
Bur Oak
The Breeders – Mountain Battles.
This album seemed to get lost in the end of year shuffle in the magazines. Sure, it lacks the spark of the band’s greatest work but even an average Breeders record is worth listening to.
Best thing on it?
I like the country folk of Here No More.
Cat Power – Jukebox.
Chan returns to the well that brought the career changing Covers Record only to see her produce her least interesting record so far.
Best thing on it?
The odd but gorgeous Song To Bobby
Catnip – Mirror.
Largely forgettable but very pretty Australian post rock with dreamy female vocals.
Best thing on it?
Probably Stay.
Coldplay – Viva La Vida.
One more more than competent set of stadium rock sees the band trying, albeit carefully to expand their sonic palette. I find them hard to hate, but equally hard to love.
Best thing on it?
Probably the first single Viva La Vida, which is really interesting sonically – especially the bells.
Colin Meloy – Sings Live.
The Decemberists frontman delivers an excellent, if typical, solo performance before a besotted audience. The horrendous Dracula’s Daughter, which works as a joke the first few times, inevitably ends up ruining the flow of the record.
Best thing on it?
I really like the live version of The Engine Driver.
Damien Jurado – Caught In The Trees.
One of my favourite artists of the past decade or so returns with another album of great songs. It’s just not quite up with his very best work.
Best thing on it?
Coats of Ice
Dead Meadow – Old Growth.
Stoner Blues Rock, to be honest I’ve barely listened to it.
Best thing on it?
From a cursory listen it’s Down Here a pretty acoustic tune.
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs.
I only picked this up the other day and mainly because I saw a segment about them on Current TV. I loved some of the tracks on Transatlanticism and this mines a similar furrow to far less success.
Best thing on it?
The epic
Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords.
The New Zealand duo totally master the comic song. Much better than the DVD as a reminder of the series.
Best thing on it?
The Pet Shop Boys parody Inner City Pressure.
Frightened Rabbit – The Midnight Organ Fight.
Beloved of the Scottish indie scene, apparently this lot are on the way to great things. In my opinion the album is very patchy.
Best thing on it?
By far the amazing Floating In The Forth.
Hamell On Trial – Rant ‘n’ Roll.
This recording of his 2007 live show The Terrorism of Everyday Life is ragingly angry, sublimely funny and heartbreaking. I can’t wait for the DVD.
Best thing on it?
Father’s Advice.
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive.
Another solid release by the likable but over hyped bar band.
Best thing on it?
Lord, I’m Discouraged.
Ida Maria – Fortress Around My Heart.
The album’s patchy but the singles Stella and I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked are bloody fab.
Best thing on it?
Stella
Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan – Sunday At Devil Dirt.
The second Lanegan record of the year and the second collaboration between him and Campbell. It’s actually a better record than that first release. The so lightweight she’d fly away voice and persona of Campbell gets badly needed gravitas from his voice singing her words. Maybe the next go will see them hit gold consistently.
Best thing on it?
Back Burner really grabs hold and won’t let you go.
James Yorkston – When the Haar Rolls In.
Best album title of the year. Brings the Fence collective member interesting new collaborators in the form of the Watersons and yet more beautiful low key music.
Best thing on it?
Tortoise Regrets Hare.
Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue.
Maybe not as consistent as her collaboration with the Watson Twins for her first solo release this still has moments of beauty.
Best thing on it?
The title song, Acid Tongue.
Joan As Policewoman – To Survive.
Sadly a poor shadow of the magnificent Real Life debut album. It’s just a bit bland and boring.
Best thing on it?
To Survive
Laura Marling – Alas I Cannot Swim.
Startlingly pretty debut album by the absurdly young Ms Marling. Composed mainly of lovely acoustic pieces I suspect it’s a grower – but since I’ve only had a copy for a few days!
Best thing on it?
At the minute it’s Tap At Your Window
Lowgold – Promise Lands.
Dolorous alt rock – nothing remarkable – but kind of comforting and familiar.
Best thing on it?
Flame.
Martha Wainwright – I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too.
Definitely more AOR than her debut this record does have it’s moments but they are fewer than before.
Best thing on it?
Jesus and Mary.
Meursault – Pissing On Bonfires/Kissing With Tongues.
I only got this out of curiosity as I’m friends with someone who knows his ex-girlfriend. Not listened to it yet.
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Oh how I resisted buying this record. I’ve been burned by Mr Cave a few too many times of late and yet, and yet!
This is a magnificent record. Alive and vital in a way that I suspected he’d lost.
Best thing on it?
The title track, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul.
A surprisingly consistent and enjoyable record from the mega-selling Mancunians who have put out a lot of dross over the last ten years.
Best thing on it?
I’m shocked but it’s the Liam penned I’m Outta Time that stands out.
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping.
More fucked up pop from the Canadians. Both too clever and too catchy – it’s a infuriating mix. One day they’re going to produce a monster single and conquer the charts.
Best thing on it?
Maybe St. Exquisite’s Confessions.
Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins.
As the remainder of the songs from the Stage Names sessions this record never seems to come to a focus or to the heights that I’ve come to expect from this band.
Best thing on it?
Lost Coastlines.
Oneida – Preteen Weaponry.
A suite consisting of three dense slabs of rock noise, this is not your typical rock record. Surprisingly listenable for a beast of this nature.
Best thing on it?
Preteen Weaponry pt 3
Retribution Gospel Choir – Retribution Gospel Choir.
Low frontman Alan Sparhawk’s other band release their first album. Not entirely surprisingly it sounds like Low with the guitars turned up. This is a very good thing!
Best thing on it?
Easy Prey.
Rose Kemp – Unholy Majesty.
The second daughter of folk royalty in this list (her Mum’s Maddy Prior and her Dad is Rick Kemp) and this record couldn’t be more different from Eliza Carthy’s. It’s a full blown rock record, heavy on the drama and theatrics. She’s also obviously a fan of Kate Bush. Gifted with an incredible voice you get the feeling that she’ll make something astonishing once she finds her own voice.
Best thing on it?
Bitter and Sweet.
Santogold – Santogold.
Smart and classy electro-pop incorporating a number of surprising musical elements.
Best thing on it?
L.E.S. Artistes.
Sigur Ros – Með suð à eyrum við spilum endalaust.
The latest from the Icelandic masters of the epic is entirely forgettable.
Best thing on it?
Nothing sticks in the mind, to be honest. Oh, OK, All alright is actually quite pretty.
Sun Kil Moon – April.
Oh dear. The very blandest thing that Kozelek has ever released.
Best thing on it?
The Watson Twins – Fire Songs.
The twins follow up their record with Jenny Lewis with a consistently listenable album of alt county
Best thing on it?
Lady Love Me
The Week That Was – The Week That Was.
Fascinating and electic mix of pop styles by ex-member of Field Music.
Best thing on it?
Yesterday’s papers.