TV On The Radio - Dear Science
Oh, Lord. To think that four months ago I had never heard a TV On The Radio album before.
Life has actually improved, thanks to the blistering rants of Dancing Choose and Red Dress, or the touching melancholy of Love Dog and Family Tree.
Every song stops you in your tracks. Each and every one is so different, so set apart from everything else 2008 had to offer. It is an utterly remarkable listen.
Once I finally drag myself away from Dear Science, 2009's first task will be to explore their previous, less commercial works. In the meantime you just go buy this. Now.
MGMT - Time To Pretend
Do-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-doooooo
Do-do-do-do-doo-do-do-do-doooooo
Take the hook of the year, surround it in a psychedelic pop casing, furnish it with knowing lyrics of escaping the ratrace for the 'dream' of fame (yeah it's overwhelming/but what else can we do?/get jobs in offices/and wake up for the morning commute?), and you've got the unquestionable single of the year.
And what of the hoards of teens drawn to Oracular Spectacular by these tightly woven singles? They were battered by an eclectic waves of music. Not all worked (the NME naming it Album of the Year was a joke), but when it did (The Youth, Of Moons, Birds and Monsters) it lived up to the lead single's promise.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
the second best album and single of 2008
Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
2008 was undoubtedly Elbow's year. I was lucky enough to see them at the album's preview gig in
And then the thrilling stomp of lead single Grounds For Divorce didn't garner the attention it deserved, and following a collective shrug, everybody stayed put for a couple of months assuming the monumental One Day Like This would go stratospheric. Again inexplicably, it was only a minor hit.
Then
But it's difficult to overstate just what a stunning album this was. The two aforementioned singles grabbed the attention, but each track was a beautifully crafted, distinct wonder in itself.
Sample the majestic Loneliness of a Tower Crane Driver, the literate detailing of love in An Audience With The Pope, or the classy comedy of The Fix. 2008 was a lucky year.
Some people just have the knack for creating the tunes of the decade. This perfect 4 minutes can be laid down right next to Mr. Brightside as a track that will be adored for many years to come.
It raised the hope that the album Day & Age might be full of similar indie-electro dancefloor classics, instead of the assuredly silly pop we were left with.
After getting over such a shock, it proved a thoroughly enjoyable listen, better than the remarkably overrated Hot Fuss (has there ever been a greater contrast between a stunning first half of an album and a dire second half?) but not quite as good as the remarkably underrated Sam's Town.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
the third best album and single of 2008
Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death And All His Friends
Their most consistent work since Parachutes, album #4 saw Coldplay successfully better themselves in all areas of album creation.
Cemeteries of London improves upon What If?. There's nothing as instantly skipable as Low or Twisted Logic off X&Y, or Daylight and A Whisper off the oft-acclaimed A Rush of Blood to the Head. And Strawberry Swing would've been the best song on Parachutes.
Violet Hill is a terrific and original track, the aural imaging of a giant robot rolling across the Spanish countryside. Chinese Sleep Chant is five fold better than the aforementioned Twisted Logic, and Viva La Vida very nearly tops Fix You as the best song they've ever written.
A scattergun album that is their most complete to date, from one of the planets' best selling bands, yet that now seem artistically underrated. Curious.
Eric Prydz - Pjanoo
Or: where Mr. Prydz takes the filthy wealth he made from the adequate but horrifically attention seeking Call On Me, and decides that credibility should be his next aim, magically releasing the club anthem of the year in the process.
Repeating that irresistible hook alternately between piano and gorgeous trance strings, it built and crashed over six dazzling minutes (so long as you avoid the castrated radio edit).
More of this sort of thing please, Eric.
I'm counting down my 10 best albums and singles of 2008. An act can only be named in either list once. Also take a look at last years top 10's.
Their most consistent work since Parachutes, album #4 saw Coldplay successfully better themselves in all areas of album creation.
Cemeteries of London improves upon What If?. There's nothing as instantly skipable as Low or Twisted Logic off X&Y, or Daylight and A Whisper off the oft-acclaimed A Rush of Blood to the Head. And Strawberry Swing would've been the best song on Parachutes.
Violet Hill is a terrific and original track, the aural imaging of a giant robot rolling across the Spanish countryside. Chinese Sleep Chant is five fold better than the aforementioned Twisted Logic, and Viva La Vida very nearly tops Fix You as the best song they've ever written.
A scattergun album that is their most complete to date, from one of the planets' best selling bands, yet that now seem artistically underrated. Curious.
Eric Prydz - Pjanoo
Or: where Mr. Prydz takes the filthy wealth he made from the adequate but horrifically attention seeking Call On Me, and decides that credibility should be his next aim, magically releasing the club anthem of the year in the process.
Repeating that irresistible hook alternately between piano and gorgeous trance strings, it built and crashed over six dazzling minutes (so long as you avoid the castrated radio edit).
More of this sort of thing please, Eric.
I'm counting down my 10 best albums and singles of 2008. An act can only be named in either list once. Also take a look at last years top 10's.
the fourth best album and single of 2008
Bloc Party - Intimacy
The creators of 2007's album of the year return, somehow making much less impact than with their last album.
It's difficult to tell why, as this glorious mix of early Bloc Party urgency, A Weekend In The City ambition, and Chemical Brothers inspired beats should have had students up and down the land foaming at the mouth.
It's the album Silent Alarm would have been if it was all as good as the opening five tracks. Here is a band that get stronger and more interesting with each album.
Bloc Party: the kings of modern indie.
White Lies - Death
Staying on the indie dancefloor, this perfectly crafted single is like (in the spirit of lazy NME journalist cliché) Smile Like You Mean It on crack.
It's the kind of track that makes you want to hijack DJ booths to play. Will be huge in 2009 if they've got a couple more singles this good.
The creators of 2007's album of the year return, somehow making much less impact than with their last album.
It's difficult to tell why, as this glorious mix of early Bloc Party urgency, A Weekend In The City ambition, and Chemical Brothers inspired beats should have had students up and down the land foaming at the mouth.
It's the album Silent Alarm would have been if it was all as good as the opening five tracks. Here is a band that get stronger and more interesting with each album.
Bloc Party: the kings of modern indie.
White Lies - Death
Staying on the indie dancefloor, this perfectly crafted single is like (in the spirit of lazy NME journalist cliché) Smile Like You Mean It on crack.
It's the kind of track that makes you want to hijack DJ booths to play. Will be huge in 2009 if they've got a couple more singles this good.
Saturday, December 27, 2008
the fifth best album and single of 2008
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Lyrically the album of the year, its strengths were in its vivid depiction of East Glasgow life, and the honesty of which lead singer James Allen let you see into his own soul.
The utter highlight was It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry, a stunning work where James Allan is the jealous, adulterous, paranoid, womanizing, hypocritical villain approaching his comeuppance.
Superb Christmas EP too, which suggests this class act have much further to travel yet. Exciting times.
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor
Still sounding fresh and unique 12 months later, here Hot Chip took the mania of breakthrough track Over and Over and had the confidence to strip back, slow down the tempo, and add extra groove.
The album was overstocked with balladry for personal tastes, but this utterly creative, utterly danceable track was sheer joy to the ears.
Lyrically the album of the year, its strengths were in its vivid depiction of East Glasgow life, and the honesty of which lead singer James Allen let you see into his own soul.
The utter highlight was It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry, a stunning work where James Allan is the jealous, adulterous, paranoid, womanizing, hypocritical villain approaching his comeuppance.
Superb Christmas EP too, which suggests this class act have much further to travel yet. Exciting times.
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor
Still sounding fresh and unique 12 months later, here Hot Chip took the mania of breakthrough track Over and Over and had the confidence to strip back, slow down the tempo, and add extra groove.
The album was overstocked with balladry for personal tastes, but this utterly creative, utterly danceable track was sheer joy to the ears.
Friday, December 26, 2008
the sixth best album and single of 2008
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
An album where the backstory is as well known as the record itself. Guy beaks up with girl, guy flees to solitary confinement at father's log cabin with only guitar for company, guy writes one of the very best albums of the year.
Simple acoustic tales of heartbreak, then, but this is perfection of the genre. The heartbreak is so very real, the reflection and isolation always apparent.
The perfect album for your own moments of reclusion.
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
Something like their 9th classic single, here KOL took a leaf out of The Killers book and by taking the purposeful guitar work they were always known for and mixing in just the right amount of absurdity and radio-friendliness to create their long-overdue ubiquitous hit.
Deservedly so, but if you're thinking of buying the album on the strength of this and Use Somebody don't: just download them, and then either buy Because of The Times or stick with The Killers and buy Sam's Town instead. They are the absurdity/radio friendly masters.
An album where the backstory is as well known as the record itself. Guy beaks up with girl, guy flees to solitary confinement at father's log cabin with only guitar for company, guy writes one of the very best albums of the year.
Simple acoustic tales of heartbreak, then, but this is perfection of the genre. The heartbreak is so very real, the reflection and isolation always apparent.
The perfect album for your own moments of reclusion.
Kings of Leon - Sex on Fire
Something like their 9th classic single, here KOL took a leaf out of The Killers book and by taking the purposeful guitar work they were always known for and mixing in just the right amount of absurdity and radio-friendliness to create their long-overdue ubiquitous hit.
Deservedly so, but if you're thinking of buying the album on the strength of this and Use Somebody don't: just download them, and then either buy Because of The Times or stick with The Killers and buy Sam's Town instead. They are the absurdity/radio friendly masters.
Thursday, December 25, 2008
the seventh best album and single of 2008
The Music - Strength in Numbers
How best-song-they've-ever-done Drugs went completely ignored will remain one of 2008's greatest mysteries. It's the standout track on the third brilliant album from the forgotten Leeds band.
Elsewhere there's another bank of solid rock here, tracks like Fire and Vision won't set the world alight, but they add further to the band's increasingly dependable legacy.
And before it breathes it's last, just wait until you witness the new prog destroy-all-its-in-path monster that is the secret track. Think Led Zepperlin crossed with the Muse classic Knights of Cydonia.
Since Elbow finally found success, the country's most underrated band.
Benga & Coki - Night
The pinnacle of dubstep in 2008, despite being released back in February. It's all thanks to one simple hook that had a level of addictiveness somewhere between blueberry muffins and heroin.
12 months ago every underground dancefloor was awash with people wanting to know what 'that' track was. We personally sang it round and round for 20 minutes whilst walking back from seeing Benga at Glastonbury at 3am, much to the amusement/bemusement/occasional irritation of our fellow festival goers. Sorry if any of you are reading this, musical heroin does that to you.
How best-song-they've-ever-done Drugs went completely ignored will remain one of 2008's greatest mysteries. It's the standout track on the third brilliant album from the forgotten Leeds band.
Elsewhere there's another bank of solid rock here, tracks like Fire and Vision won't set the world alight, but they add further to the band's increasingly dependable legacy.
And before it breathes it's last, just wait until you witness the new prog destroy-all-its-in-path monster that is the secret track. Think Led Zepperlin crossed with the Muse classic Knights of Cydonia.
Since Elbow finally found success, the country's most underrated band.
Benga & Coki - Night
The pinnacle of dubstep in 2008, despite being released back in February. It's all thanks to one simple hook that had a level of addictiveness somewhere between blueberry muffins and heroin.
12 months ago every underground dancefloor was awash with people wanting to know what 'that' track was. We personally sang it round and round for 20 minutes whilst walking back from seeing Benga at Glastonbury at 3am, much to the amusement/bemusement/
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
the eighth best single and album of 2008
Chase and Status - More Than A Lot
Let's rewind 12 months. One of my most anticipated albums of 2008 was from Pendulum, following their superb debut album it was reasonably expected that album two would see them rise to become the next Prodigy, not as the turned out, some appalling mashup of their first album and Nickelback.
Kind thanks then, to Chase & Status. The Drum and Bass producers have quietly come to dominate every bass heavy clubnight over the last 3 months, with any of the 12 tracks here going down fittingly well at the peak of the night. Smash TV in the pinnacle - a simple tease and release joy based around a wall-toppling bass hook.
Not that this is a one trick album. Hip hop and jungle are present and strong, whilst the two dubstep tracks (the Bollywood-tinged Eastern Jam, and Running - the track surely to take dubstep into the mainstream in 2009) are exemplery samples of the genre. Pendulum who?
Middle Class Rut - Busy Bein' Born
Superb debut rock single from some bunch of Californians, that somehow seem to have so far gone fairly unnoticed (Only 4,000 Youtube video hits? Really?).
Weird, as to these ears this glorious racket should be playing at every rock clubnight across the country. Simple, brutal fun.
Let's rewind 12 months. One of my most anticipated albums of 2008 was from Pendulum, following their superb debut album it was reasonably expected that album two would see them rise to become the next Prodigy, not as the turned out, some appalling mashup of their first album and Nickelback.
Kind thanks then, to Chase & Status. The Drum and Bass producers have quietly come to dominate every bass heavy clubnight over the last 3 months, with any of the 12 tracks here going down fittingly well at the peak of the night. Smash TV in the pinnacle - a simple tease and release joy based around a wall-toppling bass hook.
Not that this is a one trick album. Hip hop and jungle are present and strong, whilst the two dubstep tracks (the Bollywood-tinged Eastern Jam, and Running - the track surely to take dubstep into the mainstream in 2009) are exemplery samples of the genre. Pendulum who?
Middle Class Rut - Busy Bein' Born
Superb debut rock single from some bunch of Californians, that somehow seem to have so far gone fairly unnoticed (Only 4,000 Youtube video hits? Really?).
Weird, as to these ears this glorious racket should be playing at every rock clubnight across the country. Simple, brutal fun.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
the ninth best album and single of 2008
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
The reviews way back in January seemed unanimous, "best work yet", "up there with Arcade Fire", "better than kicking a tramp", and indeed those were persuasion enough for British Sea Power to come along and fill the Arcade Fire-shaped hole in my life.
Highlights drip from every corner of this album. From the glorious single-ready duo of No Lucifer and Waving Flags, through the beautiful building instrumental joy of Golden Skua, to the building climax that is Atom, and alongside every winning track that infects you along the way, it's an album that reeks quality.
Red Light Company - Meccano
Although in all honesty it could have been any of the three Grade A singles they released this year (them being With Lights Out and Scheme Eugene).
On the strength of those, Red Light Company deserve to be as big as Vampire Weekend or Scouting for Girls in 2009. It's classic indie-pop, like a more anthemic, bigger version of The Kooks.
Fluffy, addictive, and with a little kick to it. It's the musical equivalent of lemon and raisin pancakes.
I'm counting down my 10 best albums and singles of 2008, and this year doing a bit of writing about each one. An act can only be named in either list once. Also take a look at last years top 10's.
The reviews way back in January seemed unanimous, "best work yet", "up there with Arcade Fire", "better than kicking a tramp", and indeed those were persuasion enough for British Sea Power to come along and fill the Arcade Fire-shaped hole in my life.
Highlights drip from every corner of this album. From the glorious single-ready duo of No Lucifer and Waving Flags, through the beautiful building instrumental joy of Golden Skua, to the building climax that is Atom, and alongside every winning track that infects you along the way, it's an album that reeks quality.
Red Light Company - Meccano
Although in all honesty it could have been any of the three Grade A singles they released this year (them being With Lights Out and Scheme Eugene).
On the strength of those, Red Light Company deserve to be as big as Vampire Weekend or Scouting for Girls in 2009. It's classic indie-pop, like a more anthemic, bigger version of The Kooks.
Fluffy, addictive, and with a little kick to it. It's the musical equivalent of lemon and raisin pancakes.
I'm counting down my 10 best albums and singles of 2008, and this year doing a bit of writing about each one. An act can only be named in either list once. Also take a look at last years top 10's.
Monday, December 22, 2008
the tenth best album and single of 2008
Hello. I'm going to count down my 10 best albums and singles of 2008, a pair of them each day until NYE.
10. Port O Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing
Evidence if ever it were needed that great trials inspire great art, this album is based around the lead singer's enforced summers spent on his father's fishing trawler in Alaska every summer whilst growing up. The theme runs throughout the record, as Van Pierszalowski dreams of escaping the alpha-male, 20-hour day environment he finds himself in. Part British Sea Power, part Stephen Fretwell and part David Attenborough arctic special, it's simple tales-of-isolation are of the highest quality.
10. Tilly and The Wall - Beat Control
The best pure pop moment of 2008 (narrowly beating Dizzee & Calvin and Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let Me Go into this countdown), this happy little pop tune would've put a smile on Johnathon Ross's sullen face this winter. Why it didn't bother the Top 10 like the aforementioned modern pop gems is anybody's guess. Bright, bouncy, and makes it's point in less than 3 minutes so that by the end all you want to do is play it again. Ace.
I'm counting down my 10 best albums and singles of 2008, and this year doing a bit of writing about each one. An act can only be named in either list once. Also take a look at last years top 10's.
10. Port O Brien - All We Could Do Was Sing
Evidence if ever it were needed that great trials inspire great art, this album is based around the lead singer's enforced summers spent on his father's fishing trawler in Alaska every summer whilst growing up. The theme runs throughout the record, as Van Pierszalowski dreams of escaping the alpha-male, 20-hour day environment he finds himself in. Part British Sea Power, part Stephen Fretwell and part David Attenborough arctic special, it's simple tales-of-isolation are of the highest quality.
10. Tilly and The Wall - Beat Control
The best pure pop moment of 2008 (narrowly beating Dizzee & Calvin and Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let Me Go into this countdown), this happy little pop tune would've put a smile on Johnathon Ross's sullen face this winter. Why it didn't bother the Top 10 like the aforementioned modern pop gems is anybody's guess. Bright, bouncy, and makes it's point in less than 3 minutes so that by the end all you want to do is play it again. Ace.
I'm counting down my 10 best albums and singles of 2008, and this year doing a bit of writing about each one. An act can only be named in either list once. Also take a look at last years top 10's.
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