Have You Heard?

[Editorial Note: this is part 1 of a year-in-review series]

I have been inspired by a fellow bloggist, Corey J*, over at YES. YES IT IS. He showed me I too can assemble a music in review list. This list has been one year in the making.

Enjoy.

25. Lenka
Playful and cute pop songs from this Aussie. Hey good music is good music
Key track: “The Show”

24. Her Space Holiday – XOXO, Panda and the New Revival
This gives me a Juno [soundtrack] vibe but more intricate and refined
Key track: “Sleepy Tigers”

23. Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
This could easily be #1 on anyone’s list and though I like many songs, I find myself sleeping through half the album
Key track: “For Emma”

22. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Not going to lie, I was disappointed with this record and almost left it off the list completely. It’s grown on me, but I’m not going to give it a ringing endorsement
Key Track: “Talking Bird”

21. Conor Oberst
Bright Eyes singer to help emphasize your depression
Key Tracks: “Cape Canaveral” and “Moab”

20. Sigur Rós - Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
I love this band. They are still not the best Icelandic artist (Björk holds this title) but this album easily ranks as my favorite from them
Key Track: “Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur”

19. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
Key Tracks: “Halfway Home”

18. Vampire Weekend
Key Tracks: “Oxford Comma” and “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance”

17. Japanese Motors
Key Track: “Single Fins & Safety Pins”

16. Santogold
Oh yeah, this one will get you going. First time I heard L.E.S. Artistes I dismissed it, but then it grabbed me and sucked me into its trance. Great album.
Key Track: “L.E.S. Artistes”

15. Peter Gabriel – Big Blue Ball
This album features everyone and most you’ve never heard of. It’s a great tour through the stylings of Peter Gabriel.
Key Track: “Big Blue Ball”

14. The Killers – Day & Age
Like all Killers albums, it takes a few listenings to get a beat on it. Not even The Killers know what direction they want to go in. The thing is, they make solid songs even if they are ear worms.
Key Track: “Spaceman” (no song stands out but all are solid)

13. MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
Key Track: “Time to Pretend”

12. David Byrne & Brian Eno – Everything That Happens will Happen Today
Anything from these guys should be welcomed with open arms. I am disappointed at few songs but overall I like the album
Key Track: “Home” and “One Fine Day”

11. Coldplay – Viva la Vida or Death and All his friends
I did not accept this album at first. I think Chris Martin tried to force the issue of making a great album. For example, they over recorded, hired Brian Eno, made each song too complex, and could not stick to a concept. Having said that, the album has many great songs worth our attention.
Key Track: “Lovers in Japan”


Reflecting on this year in music, I cannot help but compare 2008 to 1968, arguably two of the most historically fascinating years in recent American history. The music of ’68 reflected the Vietnam War, political assassinations, cultural shifts, Civil Rights, and the list goes on. Many songs were highly charged political messages demanding change. In looking at this list, I see one maybe two politically charged album and a few other inadvertent political messages scattered throughout. It speaks to the stability of America today despite what has happened this year. The Olympics in ’68 saw a couple black leather gloves held proudly in the air. This year we had stories of Michael Phelps’ eating habits. '68 had Woodstock. '08 had several indistinct festivals all featuring similar lineups.

Where was the music? Sure we had a few Election inspired tours, but how much new music came out that really mattered? We had the non-threatening little kids singing “You Can Vote However You Like.” And who is more non-threatening than Hannah Montana or American Idol or the Jonas Brothers? These artists don’t bring about change.

I digress. Let’s get back to the list…

10. Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Helping solidify the ‘Year of the Beard’ comeback, this Oregon troop will help define a sound and culture for the next five years.
Key Tracks: “Furr”

9. Fleet Foxes
See Blitzen Trapper note, repeat. Their sound is more avant-garde but it works very well. This is one of the more surprisingly great albums of the year.
Key Tracks: “White Winter Hymnal”

8. Wolf Parade – At Mount Zoomer
This is a good example of how rock has progressed and evolved over the past few decades. Albums and recordings heard hear show the new standard in rock music.
Key Tracks: “Fine Young Cannibals” and “California Dreamer”

7. She & Him – Volume One
How can you not love Zooey’s voice? This album is a mix of covers and originals each moving amongst each other in a logical progression without reference to time or boundaries. If you like the singing in the shower scene in Elf, then this is a must.
Key Tracks: “You Really Got a Hold on Me” and “Sweet Darlin” (all of them)

6. Radiohead – In Rainbows
Still the golden standard of bands pushing rock to the next level. Radiohead practically gave this album away before they told people to buy it. Highly successful and the music business is still scratching their heads (well, they're idiots regardless).
Key Track: “House of Cards” (the single best recording of the year)

5. Dr. Dog – Fate
Fun and serious. Raw and polished. They have intertwined too many great things to develop this sound. I love it
Key Tracks: “100 Years” and “My Friends”

4. Mates of State – Re-Arrange Us
The parental duo matured a little more musically for this album. This has been one of my top listens all year.
Key Tracks: “The Re-arranger” and “Get Better”

3. Kings of Leon – Only By The Night
See Wolf Parade comments. This band knows exactly what they are doing with each song and what they need to accomplish. It’s a kind of hypnotic rock, hard and slow at the same time. Solid album that should be on the top 10 of everyone’s list.
Key Tracks: “Cold Desert,” “Manhattan,” “Notion,” and “Sex on Fire”

2. R.E.M. – Accelerate
They’re back! This album is why R.E.M. has resurfaced as my favorite band. Accelerate has the heaviness, vision, and political messages that you should expect from only the best R.EM. records. I am extremely disappointed this has flown under the radar of the music media outlets who rate these kinds of things – I’m looking at you All Songs Considered and Rolling Stone.
Key Tracks: “Living Well is the Best Revenge,” “Accelerate,” and “I’m Gonna DJ”

1. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
Bar none the greatest release of the year. However, you won’t find this band on Corey’s list EVER which blindly discredits him. The album is as in-your-face as it is emotional. The messages are smart, non-confrontational, and often vague yet driven. The band itself comes from strong Southern roots and their music reflects a rooted history of gospel, bluegrass, and Southern rock. They have great live performances, a strong singer with range, pouring of emotion, experimental, authentic, distinctive sound, etc. In short, MMJ encompasses every aspect I look for in a band.
Key Tracks: “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream, pt. 2,” “Librarian,” “Smokin From Shootin’” (all tracks incredible except ‘Highly Suspicious, which sucks)


Your Words Senator Smith:

"I know what I'm gonna do tomorrow, and the next day, and the next year, and the year after that. I'm shakin' the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I'm gonna see the world. Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the Colosseum. Then, I'm comin' back here and go to college and see what they know... And then I'm gonna build things. I'm gonna build airfields, I'm gonna build skyscrapers a hundred stories high, I'm gonna build bridges a mile long."

"To my brother George, the richest man in town."

"Every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."

"Zuzu's petals. You've been given a great gift, George. A chance to see what the world would be like without you."

*Corey, you made a great list. I just wanted to say that