Archives: 2009

Whilst I was working on my top 10 list, I was thinking whether I would consider 2008 to be a great year for music? There were certainly some good albums, but if I look at 2009 there are some MAJOR releases coming our way which could brighten the days. In fact, there is even some serious reasoning as to why a year ending in ‘9’ will always be a GREAT year for music.

Some albums which I think will be important (some for different reasons) in 2009:

Antony and the Johnsons – Crying Light (I’ve heard this – and its amazing)
Kings of Convenience – Quiet is the new Loud (apparently that’s the working title despite it being the same as the old album!). Update – The Kings of Convenience site is a bit rubbish – but this post tells the full story. (Thanks Rick!)
Morrissey – Years of Refusal (even a bad Morrissey album is an event)
The Decemberists – Hazards of Love
Depeche Mode – I haven’t seen an official title, but due to drop in 2009
Lily Allen – It’s not me, it’s you (not sure what to think of this – expected to hate it, but the first single sounds quite fresh…regardless of what you think of her, this will be everywhere)

Also – releases from Animal Collective (all over your favourite torrent engine), U2, Starsailor (are they still with us?), Imogen Heap and Placebo…

What albums are you hankering for at the start of 2009?

By: mattr Category: music

Best of 2008

6 Jan 2009

2 Comments

Last year wasn’t much to write home about, a few notable highlights – but much that begs to be forgotten about. Thankfully, there was some good music to brighten the days.

Once again – impossible to pick a favourite of the year – my last.fm stats tell me that I played Yoav – Charmed and Strange – the most during the year, but that could be because I listened to Where is My Mind quite a lot.

So, in no particular order – my top ten albums of 2008. All download links are to Amazon (MP3 store where possible)

	Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago (Download) Apparently written in a cabin in Vermont – and you can truly feel the loneliness and isolation – falsetto vocals, plaintiff guitar and amazing writing. Stand out Track : Skinny Love
	Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid (Download) Awesome 4th album for the Bury boys – tracking this album from early concerts to the M ercury prize has not diminished how amazing this work is. Stand out track : Mirrorball
	Johann Johansson – Fordlandia (Download) Strange concept – an album about a tract of land in Brazil which Henry Ford made to grow rubber for tyres. Modern classical at is absolute peak – majestic. Stand out track : Fordlandia
	Yoav – Charmed and Strange (Download) Israeli/South African sing songwriter with an album entirely constructed around his guitar and vocals. First seen on Jools Holland. Extraordinary. Stand out track : Club Thing
	Laura Marling – Alas, I cannot swim (Download) Luckily though, she can write songs. Hailing from Reading, but sound like she spent a lot of time on the beach somewhere. Perfect modern British folk Music. Stand out track: Night Terror
	British Sea Power – Do you like rock music? (Download) Ever so slightly mental – but stunningly written and performed. Brightons finest export produce an album of epic, pompous, flag waving genius. Stand out track : No Lucifer
	Kings of Leon – Only by the Night (Download) Almost ubiquitous by the end of the year, but still irresistibly good. The Followill boys of Nashville do their family name proud with a fantastic stompy album. Stand out track : Revelry
	Sun Kil Moon – April (Buy @ Amazon) Spartan, atmospheric music that refuses any of the usual genres. Mark Kozelek produces a superb sound, allied with sublim songwriting skills. Essential. Stand out track : Moorestown
	Sigur Ros – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust (Buy at Amazon) Absolutely everywhere – but none the less for it, Icelandic cool, but with a more playful excitable element thrown in. One reviewer says practically perfect – who am I to disagree? Stand out track : Ara Batur (Rowing Boat)
	Shearwater – Rooks (Download) Not withstanding the bird spotting references, quieter than their other band (okkervil River) this album of contemplative, indie-folk is a fine example of the genre: Stand Out Track : Snow Leopard