My Fab Favez of 2008 LOL

OK, keeping with the music vein, here's my so-far list of the best of 2008. Bear in mind that I haven't actually heard these (except for Portishead) in their entirety, since I can't afford to be buying music at this point, but I have heard enough offerings on the radio to make an informed evaluation.

In no particular order...


Portishead Third
A hypnotic, dissonant, spare sampling of trip-hop for the 00's. If you liked Portishead in the 90's, you'll be blown away by this. It makes you feel like you're lost in between dimensions of space and time, surrounded by sorrowful ghosts.

Atlas Sound Let The Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel
Solo effort from Deerhunter frontman Bradford Cox. Sounds a lot like Deerhunter, in that it's a mix of ambient explorations and psychedelic pop. That's a good thing.

Los Campesinos! Hold On Now, Youngster
This is a big year for post-punk dance bands from the UK. But I find the infectious enthusiasm and sense of humor from these guys to tower over the efforts of more electro-dependent bands like Hot Chip and Ghostland Observatory (actually from Austin). Another decent record in this category is Foals' Antidote.

Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
Light, ruthlessly catchy, toe-tappy, head-bobby, smart indie pop. The rhythm section is fantastic. Another decent record in this category is Born Ruffians' Red, Yellow and Blue.

Erykah Badu New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War)
I've always had a thing for Badu. A)She's totally hot. B)She rewrites the book on what a female hip hop vocalist can do with every offering, without ridiculous vocal acrobatics. Everything that I've heard off this record indicates that nothing has changed.

These New Puritans Beat Pyramid
Another UK post-punk dance band, but harder edged and more meaty than some of the others -- kind of like how Midnight Oil and The Clash were '80s bands with more substance. In this case, however, it's not due to politics nearly as much as attitude.

I also have enjoyed what I've heard from the 2008 releases by...

Noise pop
Magnetic Fields
The Raveonettes
M83

Space Folk
Plants and Animals
Beach House

Indie Blues
Cat Power
Black Mountain



Did not have much use for...

The Mountain Goats Heretic Pride
Maybe I'm just tired of the Mountain Goats. Maybe I would like to hear the band with a different vocalist. As it is, I can't shake the feeling that I'm listening to a somewhat more literate Barenaked Ladies.

Sons and Daughters This Gift
I just don't see the point of this. The DJs are really loving it, but to me, it's just straightforward, forgettable pop.

Finally, some of my favorite quotes from Metacritic...

Some Racing, Some Stopping by Headlights
“It is a slender, limber album, blissfully aware of itself and not daring to overstay its welcome.” --cokemachineglow.com

Dive Deep by Morcheeba
“This album has no focus, so the instrumentals are left hanging on like scabby Band-Aids after a swim. – popmatters.com

Reality Check by The Teenagers
“If you’ve got the savvy to work out how some of Reality Check is actually occasionally brilliant, then you should also be able to figure out it’s also absolute s**t.” – drownedinsound.com