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| From | "Jeff Shelton" <AssociationWorks@comcast.net> |
| Subject | Faves of 2008...and then some! |
| Date | Sun, 21 Dec 2008 10:56:23 -0800 |
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Here we go....
1. SOMEONE STILL LOVES YOU BORIS YELTSIN - Pershing
www.myspace.com/boris
From the fertile soils of Springfield, Missouri!! If the Shins made sunnier,
more accessible pop and if Death Cab gave their overwrought sentiments a
rest and focused more on good songs they might sound something like this
band. There is not one dud on this debut album. Perfect uncomplicated, yet
supremely well crafted. Just as good pop album should be.
2. FRIENDLY FOES - Born Radical
www.myspace.com/friendlyfoes
Wow! Straight outta left field comes this Detroit band with pure
balls-to-the-wall melodic assault that recalls the New Pornographers and
their most spastic ("Electric Version" era) and TSAR at the their most
melodic. There's a lot to embrace here - the pure, unbridled energy of a
brand new band getting their groove on and not holding back.
3. GREG POPE - Popmonster
www.gregpope.net
This former Edmunds Crown leader's solo debut is chock full of pure power
pop bravado with absolutely no filler. I was floored! The Shazam, Badfinger,
Matthew Sweet (at his best) are clear reference points, but all in all this
is solid, original power pop of the highest order.
4. PETER ADAMS - I Woke With The Planets In My Face
www.peteradamsmusic.com
I touted the virtues of this Cincinnati kid's (he's still in his 20's so
he's a kid to me!) debut "The Spiral Eyes" several years ago. He's outdone
himself with this new one. A kaleidoscope of complex, orchestral pop...with
delicate song structures, arrangements and orchestrations that would make
the Beatles or Brian Wilson weep. Seriously...IT'S THAT GOOD. If this guy's
stuff don't move you...check your pulse!
5. NADA SURF - Lucky
www.myspace.com/nadasurf
While not as strong as 2005's "The Weight Is a Gift" or 2002's phenomenal
"Let Go", Nada Surf still has the bar set high when it comes to wonderfully
calculated and dynamic songcraft. The album reels through dynamic chord and
tempo changes and highlights the band's penchant for maximizing the sonic
space with a rather minimalist approach.
6. THE WELL WISHERS - Jigsaw Days
www.myspace.com/thewellwishers
If you can't love yourself.who can you love?
7. FRANK CIAMPI - Big Top Woman
www.myspace.com/frankciampi
List-member Matt C. turned me on to this guy from Boston. A supremely
talented pop songsmith in the truest classic tradition. Hints of the Beach
Boys, Beatles, Jellyfish, Queen are all over this record. While his
influences are obvious, Frank is careful not to be totally consumed by them.
www.myspace.com/frankciampi
8. SLOAN - Parallel Play
www.sloanmusic.com
Even at their most mediocre, Sloan is better than most pop bands of their
ilk. This is very average album by Sloan standards.but still damn good and
great candy for the ears.
9. MATTHEW SWEET - Sunshine Lies
www.matthewsweet.com
While nowhere near the power pop greatness of "Girlfriend" or "100% Fun",
this is easily Sweet's best album since the 90s. Stellar tracks like
Byrdgirl, Let's Love and the title track give this album its unshaking
melodic bite and remind us of what Sweet can do with a god song when he puts
his heart and soul into it.
10. SANTOGOLD - Santogold
www.myspace.com/santogold
I was surprised how much I liked this album. Totally out of the power pop
paradigm, but an engaging blend of new wave, dub, and electro-pop
highlighted by Ms. S's sweetly soulful vocals.
11. R.E.M. - Accelerate
www.remhq.com
Easily the best album they've made in the last 15 years..maybe even 20!
Simple, straightforward, emotive and powerful without being too pretentious.
12. BOB MOULD - District Line
www.bobmould.com
Bob's still got it!
13. LIAM FINN - I'll Be Lightning
http://www.myspace.com/theliamfinn
It's definitely in the genes! If young Liam is this good now.just wait
another 10 or 15 years. Impressive debut!
14. SUPERGRASS - Diamond Hoo Ha
www.myspace.com/supergrass
As with most of their previous albums, Supergrass proudly displays their
affection for 70s pop and glam - with piano and guitar laden romps that mine
the best of Bowie and T. Rex. Not quite as memorable as "Life On Other
Planets", but a good one.
15. OASIS - Dig Out Your Soul
www.oasisinet.com
Another great comeback from a band whose work the last 10 years has been
spotty - at best.
16. MINIATURE TIGERS - Tell It To The Volcano
The song Cannibal Queen alone is enough to qualify this album for a best of
2008 list. Best pop song of the year!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrUrv7CBbN4
17. ROGER JOSEPH MANNING JR. - Catnip Dynamite
www.rogerjosephmanningjr.com
While RJM's boyish vocals and uber-glammy song structures can be a bit
kitschy there's no denying his talent at mining the best that 70s pop rock
had to offer.
18. THE JELLYBRICKS - Goodnight To Everyone
www.myspace.com/thejellybricks
Glad this Philly-area band is still around making music. Warm, bright
splashy and supremely catchy power pop of the highest caliber!
19. ROB BONFIGLIO - Bring On The Happy
www.myspace.com/robbonfigliomusic
Former Wanderlust/Skies of American virtuoso. A recent addition to my
year-end list, but an impressive debut solo record. Classic 70's inspired
pop textures laced with piano, guitar and sublime melodies.
20. CLASS THREE OVERBITE - Horses For Courses
www.myspace.com/classthreeoverbite
A supremely talented duo from the Detroit area. I was pleased to see NotLame
touting this album as one of their fave releases for 2008. Uber-crafty
70's-inspired glam pop. If you liked the last L.E.O. album...as well as ELO,
Queen, Jellyfish, Imperial Drag you have to dig this band
**HONROABLE MENTIONS**
THE JULIE OCEAN - Long Gone and Nearly There
THE 88 - Not Only.But Also
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
MIGHTY FAIRLY - Big Words and Power Chords
PANIC AT THE DISCO - Pretty.Odd
(pretty Beatle-esque if you ask me. Who knew the emo kids had it in 'em!)
THE MARY ONETTES - s/t
(Derivative beyond reproach, but beautifully sums up everything great
about 80s post
punk and modern rock (Echo & The Bunnymen, Chameleons, Joy Division/New
Order, etc)
www.myspace.com/themaryonettes
THE DRESS WHITES - My God, The Shame
ROCKFOUR - Memories of the Never Happened
THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURES - Ripe For The Burning
SLOW RUNNER - Mermaids
TIM MYERS - The Good Life EP
THE WHIGS - Mission Control
BEN FOLDS - Way To Normal
PINK SPIDERS - Sweat It Out
TELEPATHIC BUTTERFLIES - Breakfast In Suburbia
M83 - Saturdays = Youth
JEREMY MESSERSMITH - The Silver City
** Most Disappointing **
WEEZER - Red Album
Does anyone know what happened to Weezer? Like a fine wine - I was hoping
they would grow better with age. This album is almost unbearable.salvaged
only by the juvenile mediocrity of the single "Pork and Beans".
THE DANDY WARHOLS - Earth To.
The Dandys have always been a rather one-dimensional band - a group that
tends to sacrifice songcraft for an aesthetic of neo-psychedelic
soundscapes, trippy beats, and droning repetitive chord patterns. Most of
this album is faceless, background noise for heshers and ravers looking for
their next audio contact high.
FLEET FOXES - This band is way too precious for their own good. I know every
indie snob and scarf wearing blogger from Brooklyn to Berkeley is raving
about this album. I tried. I gave it fair shake. I almost grew a beard and
dusted off my Chuck Taylors - but in reality, this shit just made me want to
go to sleep.
VAMPIRE WEEKEND - s/t
Afro-pop. Seriously? The Police and Paul Simon did it much better in the
80s!
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