SCOTT EVANS Mostly about pointing microphones at loud things.

records i liked in 2008

Jan 1 2009

Another year of heaviness. I gotta snap out of that. Maybe.

  • Helms Alee – Night Terrors. A few years ago my favorite record was Autolux Future Perfect. This is like that. Burly, but hooky and pretty. Like Autolux it’s all there: tones, production, songs. Really nice.
  • Young Widows – Old Wounds. Mathy noise rock. Cool production, great record.
  • 2 Foot Yard – Borrowed Arms. Smart and musical, as expected.
  • Akimbo – Jersey Shores. I love a good side project. Which this record isn’t, technically, but it feels like one given how it was made and how it came out. Total ass kickage.
  • Torche – Meanderthal. Yeah, this record is on pretty much every other top 10 list this year. I prefer the In Return EP, but this one’s pretty great too. Heavy / hooky.
  • Baroness – Red Album. Yeah, 2007. But I listened to it like crazy this year. Riffs, followed by additional riffs, interspersed by jams.
  • KEN Mode – Mennonite. I just found out that this record exists. The band released it themselves with little fanfare. It’s not as consistent as Reprisal (which blew my mind) but it still rules.
  • Made Out of Babies – The Ruiner. Spastic, heavy, weird, good.
  • Elbow – The Seldom Seen Kid. I love these guys. They’re like a British Radiohead. No, wait. Anyway, they made another really nice record. And they produce themselves. Respect.
  • Leatherback – H is for Hospital. My friend Sean made this record in February. I admit that my take on it is colored by knowing Sean, but so what? Like I said a few months ago, “it’s a mostly instrumental wide-eyed take on King Crimson and lo-fi pop, and I really love it”. It’s free, go get it.
  • Cursed – III: Architects Of Troubled Sleep. Distorted distortion. Yes.

Honorable mentions:

  • Black Elk – Always A Six, Never A Nine
  • Clouds – We Are Above You
  • Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge
  • Portishead – Third
  • Black Ships – Omens
  • Wetnurse – Invisible City
  • Meshuggah – ObZen
2 comments | music

2 Comments so far

  1. Russ Jungman January 9th, 2009 10:05 pm

    heard ‘Who Killed Amanda Palmer?’—smart music. If you like it there’s also the Dresden Dolls ‘Yes Virginia’
    Pinback ‘Autumn of the Seraphs’? (2007 but still)
    Sun Kil Moon’s ‘April’ has some good songs if you’re into the sound (Heron Blue and Lost Verses)
    and definately not 2008 but Trespassers William ‘Having’

  2. Steve Jones January 12th, 2009 1:35 am

    British Sea Power made a good record this year. They get linked to Elbow a lot on my genius playlists. Maybe more like a British Smiths though.

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