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| From | Matt Whitby <matt.whitby@gmail.com> |
| Subject | Re: Top 10 Of 2008 (and some other stuff) |
| Date | Mon, 29 Dec 2008 23:57:29 +0000 |
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On 29 Dec 2008, at 22:37, John Micek <jlmicek@verizon.net> wrote:
> I know I may be a little late to the party, but I couldn't let
> another year lapse without submitting my list.
> All the records mentioned below were released in this calendar year,
> and were pretty much in constant rotation in my car CD-player and
> iPod.
>
> 1. Kate Nash, "Made of Bricks.": Technically, this record was really
> released in 2007, but didn't get released stateside until last
> January, so I'm including it on my list. There are some who deride
> the whole Lilly Allen/BRIT School/ LDN Axis, but in "Foundations,"
> and "Birds," Nash shows herself to be a deft lyricist, and the tunes
> are so hooky they stick in your head all day long.
>
> 1. Vampire Weekend, s/t: And we have a tie for first. These Ivy
> Leaguers melded Talking Heads' polyrhthyms with indie rock
> sensibility to create one of the most compulsively listenable
> records of the year. Can't miss: "Cape Cod Kwasa Kwasa," and "Oxford
> Comma."
>
> 2. REM, "Accelerate.": There are still records that I buy
> reflexively, and that includes anything by REM, even though they've
> spent the better part of a decade consistently breaking my heart. I
> nearly gave up after "Around the Sun," but as soon as I heard
> "Supernatural, Superserious," I knew they were finding their way out
> of the wilderness. They're not all the way out yet, and could still
> well remain lost in the weeds, but this is a healthy sign of a
> creative resurgence. This record was also one of two that I played
> pretty much constantly to get me through long road trips during
> Campaign 2008. As a newspaper reporter, I logged more car miles than
> I care to remember. At least the driving was made a little more
> pleasant.
>
> 3. Bob Mould, "District Line.": Another "reflexive-buy" artist, and
> another cure to long road trip blues. This record is worth it for
> the sonic blast of "The Silence Between Us" alone.
>
> 4. Tim Lee 3, Good 2B3: Since coming out of quasi-retirement in
> 2001, the former Windbreakers' co-leader has been quietly putting
> out some of the best roots-pop around. The latest record finds Lee's
> band pared to a trio that includes bassist/wife Susan Bauer Lee (who
> also takes some vocal turns). The reduced line-up means that Lee's
> guitar-work is front and center. And it's stunning. Key tune:
> "Saving Gracie."
> (Dept. of Full Disclosure: Lee and I are label-mates on Paisley Pop;
> he co-wrote a tune on the first Milkshake Jones EP, and Susan Lee
> did the graphix work for our last release "Gala Days." Therefore, I
> challenge to a duel anyone who doesn't see the genius of this man.)
>
> 5. Steve Wynn, "Crossing Dragon Bridge": Wynn's first record after
> his "desert" trilogy is a much more stripped-down affair that
> reminds me of his 1994 disc "Fluorescent." Most tunes are Wynn and
> his acoustic and some strings. It's a welcome departure, even if it
> is a little inconsistent in parts.
>
> 6. The Streets, "Everything Is Borrowed." I'd nearly given up on
> Mike Skinner after "The Hardest Way To Make An Easy Living." This
> one doesn't come anywhere close to "Original Pirate Material," or
> his masterwork "A Grand Don't Come for Free," but it's still damned
> good.
>
> 7. Marty Willson-Piper, "Nightjar." It's the first solo record in
> eight years for the guitarist for The Church. Of all the members of
> the veteran Aussie psych-rock unit, Willson-Piper has always had the
> poppiest sensibilities. And that shows through on tunes like
> "Lullaby for the Lonely," and "High Down Below."
>
> 8. Steve Kilbey, "Painkiller." Another solo entry from The Church
> camp. This is Kilbey's first proper solo record since 2001's
> "Dabble," and, notably, his first since pretty much kicking a
> debilitating drug habit and immersing himself fully in Yoga and
> vegetarianism. He's clearly the better for it. His voice has never
> sounded better. And, joined by musicians such as Ricky Maymi (Brian
> Jonestown Massacre) and bandmate, drummer Tim Powles, his songs have
> never been sharper. This is Kilbey's best solo record.
>
> 9. Jeff Heiskell, Clip on Nose Ring: The newest solo record from the
> former lead-singer of The Judybats. The 'Bats were a favorite of
> mine in the mid-1990s, courtesy of a young woman I was dating at the
> time. The 'Bats tune "Daylight" ranks somewhere on my list of top 20
> pop tunes of all time. This effort is a little different, and finds
> Heiskell exploring his identity as a gay man -- and in quite vivid
> terms. That might turn away some listeners, but the songs are so
> well done, that, after a while, it really doesn't matter at all. The
> disc has the added benefit of being produced by my old pal Tim Lee,
> as well.
>
> 10. The Reducers, Guitar, Bass and Drums: I grew up listening to
> these guys when I was but a young slip of a lad in Connecticut. In
> fact, they were the first interview I ever conducted. I vividly
> remember convincing my mom to drive me up to UConn one rainy
> Saturday night from my home in Canton, Conn. I was 16, and didn't
> have my license yet. They were gracious, warm and funny. Moreover,
> they took me seriously. I'll never forget that. Of all their early
> LPs, "Let's Go," remains my all-time favorite. There's not much new
> ground broken here, but hell, these guys know what they do well, and
> they do it amazingly on this record.
>
>
> Debut of the Year: Duffy, "Rockferry." I couldn't get this one out
> of the car stereo this summer either. It would have been in the top
> 10, but I decided to give her a category all her own.
>
> Return to Form Award: Oasis, "Dig Out Yer Soul." I loved the first
> two records, cried at the third and fourth, and watched as they
> spent the next two finding their way out of the wilderness. They're
> back. Now, if only they'd let Andy Bell sing.
>
> Records I Resolve To Listen to in 2009:
> Cliff Hillis' newie, Michael Carpenter and the Cuban Heels, The Well-
> Wishers and Chris Difford's "The Last Temptation of Chris."
>
> Top 30 Tracks:
> As a creature of the Internet age, I now mostly listen to single
> tunes. Here's the ones that were the favorites:
>
> 1. "Cape Cod Kwasa Kwasa," Vampire Weekend
> 2. "Constructive Summer," The Hold Steady
> 3. "I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You," Black
> Kids
> 4. "The Silence Between Us," Bob Mould
> 5. "Supernatural Superserious," REM
> 6. "Foundations," Kate Nash
> 7. "Mercy," Duffy
> 8. "All I Want To Do," Sugarland (Dept. of Full Disclosure: I played
> bass in one of Kristian Bush's high school bands. Gotta give it up
> for an old classmate)
> 9. "The Shock of the Lightning," Oasis
> 10. "Love Song," Sara Bareilles (ear-worm of the year)
> 11. "Tu Es Ma Came," Carla Bruni (zut alors!)
> 12. "Golden Age," TV on The Radio
> 13. "Daddy's Gone," Glasvegas
> 14. "You Could Make The Four Walls Cry," The Zutons
> 15. "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me," Annie
> 16. "I Was Made For You," She and Him
> 17. "Viva La Vida," Coldplay
> 18. "I Will Possess Your Heart," Death Cab for Cutie
> 19. "Train Ride," Tahiti 80
> 20. "High Down Below," Marty Willson-Piper
> 21. "The Escapist," The Streets
> 22. "Strange Overtones," Byrne/Eno
> 23. "Crystalline Rush," Steve Kilbey
> 24. "That's Not My Name," The Ting-Tings
> 25. "Juno," Tokyo Police Club
> 27. "Carpetbaggers," Jenny Lewis and Elvis Costello
> 28. "And I Was a Boy From School," Hot Chip
> 29. "Guilt," The Long Blondes
> 30. "Dying Is Fine," Ra Ra Riot
>
> Records That Made My 3-Year-Old Daughter Dance:
> Yo Gabba Gabba Soundtrack
> "You Make Me Feel Like Dancing," The Wiggles
> "Good 2B3," The Tim Lee 3
> "Reggae Hit LA," The Aggrolites
> And anything by her Daddy.
>
> Favorite Music Podcasts:
> Guardian Music Weekly
> Sound Opinions
> Sub-FM Podcast (the best in dub-step)
> Iain Lee on Absolute Radio
> Russell Brand on the BBC (until that ugly bit at the end with Manuel)
>
> Favorite Comic Books (this should make Joe Field very happy!):
> The Vinyl Underground
> The Young Liars
> Unknown Soldier
> The Spirit
> Project Superpowers
> Justice Society of America
> Supergirl (now that Sterling Gates has taken over)
> Teen Titans Year One
> Teen Titans Standalone Special
>
>
> Wow, in reflection, it was quite a year. Here's hoping for an even
> bigger 2009.
> Happy Holidays and Merry New Year,
>
> john micek
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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