Not a bad year for music, it had its ups and downs, hopefully 2009 brings more reunion albums and presidential elections.
In no particular order, I present to thee, the most relevant music released over the last year (in my opinion) . Be forewarned however, that everything in this post will be aligned to the centre!
Don't leave any comments cause I won't read em.
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Deerhunter - Microcastle ( Kranky)
Compared to their previous effort, Deerhunter takes a more relaxed and downtempo approach. The result is a more calculated, layered, softer yet experimental masterpiece.
The Apes - Ghost Games ( Gypsy Eyes Records )
Definitely one of the strangest albums on this best of 2008 list. This is messy, unpredictable, psychedelic garage rock.
Lightspeed Champion - Falling Of The Lavender Bridge ( Domino Records )
Acoustic guitar driven, this album has a happy modest indie pop feel, without sounding over-produced. Simply: good.
Kaki King - Dreaming of Revenge
The guitar master Khaki King paints mainly instrumental spacey, melodically powerful textures on this new album. Can anyone who has heard this music really be a bad person?
John Zorn - The Dreamers ( Tzadik Records )
John Zorn is God.
Avishai Cohen Trio - Gently Disturbed
Bassist/Composer/Band Leader Avishai Cohen proves to us that even at the age of 21, he can show us he has a very powerful creative vision. Gently Disturbed features young, upcoming jazz stars and stellar compositions.
Radiohead - In Rainbows
Abandoning EMI, Radiohead's first indie venture was nothing less than a great success. Another classic from some of the most creative guys in music, still today.
Bohren & der Club of Gore - Dolores ( PIAS )
I discovered this dark jazz album hung over on a Sunday Morning. It was one of the best Sundays ever. Gloomy, heavy and slow... is what this dark jazz album amplifies. The second track on the album, Karin, is one of my favourite tracks of the year.
Department of Eagles - In Ear Park ( 4AD )
Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen reunites with his old bandmate Fred Nicolaus to record a gritty and powerful album. The vocals are stellar and so are the arrangements, creating one of the most unique sounds of the year. No one does it like you.
Don't leave any comments cause I won't read em.
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Deerhunter - Microcastle ( Kranky)Compared to their previous effort, Deerhunter takes a more relaxed and downtempo approach. The result is a more calculated, layered, softer yet experimental masterpiece.
The Apes - Ghost Games ( Gypsy Eyes Records )Definitely one of the strangest albums on this best of 2008 list. This is messy, unpredictable, psychedelic garage rock.
Lightspeed Champion - Falling Of The Lavender Bridge ( Domino Records )Acoustic guitar driven, this album has a happy modest indie pop feel, without sounding over-produced. Simply: good.
Kaki King - Dreaming of RevengeThe guitar master Khaki King paints mainly instrumental spacey, melodically powerful textures on this new album. Can anyone who has heard this music really be a bad person?
John Zorn - The Dreamers ( Tzadik Records )John Zorn is God.
Avishai Cohen Trio - Gently DisturbedBassist/Composer/Band Leader Avishai Cohen proves to us that even at the age of 21, he can show us he has a very powerful creative vision. Gently Disturbed features young, upcoming jazz stars and stellar compositions.
Radiohead - In RainbowsAbandoning EMI, Radiohead's first indie venture was nothing less than a great success. Another classic from some of the most creative guys in music, still today.
Bohren & der Club of Gore - Dolores ( PIAS )I discovered this dark jazz album hung over on a Sunday Morning. It was one of the best Sundays ever. Gloomy, heavy and slow... is what this dark jazz album amplifies. The second track on the album, Karin, is one of my favourite tracks of the year.
Department of Eagles - In Ear Park ( 4AD )Grizzly Bear's Daniel Rossen reunites with his old bandmate Fred Nicolaus to record a gritty and powerful album. The vocals are stellar and so are the arrangements, creating one of the most unique sounds of the year. No one does it like you.
Bodies Of Water - A Certain Feeling (Secretly Canadian)
An album that some might say sounds like The Arcade Fire, but I would add that it at least doesn't sound like Pulp. Filled with tantalizing vocal harmonies and visceral musical arrangements, A Certain Feeling brings its listener on a somewhat-progressive epic musical saga.
Anoraak - Nightdrive With You ( endless summer)
The experts are unanimous: the French have been coming up with most of the best electro in recent times. To pay my respects, I chose to include this underdog production from a member of the Valérie collective in my top 20. Sometimes funky, sometimes dark, Nightdrive With You is a 80s synth pop inspired concoction. I've never appreciated the sound of arpeggios this much! Much respect to Minitel Rose also, who's put out a solid album this year.
Dungen - 4 ( subliminal )
4 picks up precisely where Tio Bitar left us last year as Gustav Ejstes keeps the course on his psychedelic space explorations but with a little more instrumentals. I have to give special mentions to the drummer Johan Holmegard, who sounds and plays marvellously on every track.
Dungen's uniquely vintage yet modern sound prevails again!
Young and Sexy - The Arc ( Mint Records )
I listened to this album a lot this year. The Arc is melodically rich and full of anthemic compositions featuring dynamic vocal harmonies. Canadians do it better. Young and Sexy has evolved into unpretentious indie rock underdogs!
Black Mountain - In The Future ( Jagjaguar )
Stephen McBean does it again! Heavy, psychedelic and epic: just the way I like it. Great live also!
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
These guys surprised me earlier this year, as they offered their listeners are carefully blended mix of psychedelia and pop to create some of this year's best songs and ultimately the most remixed.
Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue ( Secret City )
Montreal's finest, Plants and Animals dedicate this album to their great city. How I also wish i was there now. Great album, disappointing live.
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Until next year!
The experts are unanimous: the French have been coming up with most of the best electro in recent times. To pay my respects, I chose to include this underdog production from a member of the Valérie collective in my top 20. Sometimes funky, sometimes dark, Nightdrive With You is a 80s synth pop inspired concoction. I've never appreciated the sound of arpeggios this much! Much respect to Minitel Rose also, who's put out a solid album this year.
Dungen - 4 ( subliminal )Dungen's uniquely vintage yet modern sound prevails again!
Young and Sexy - The Arc ( Mint Records )I listened to this album a lot this year. The Arc is melodically rich and full of anthemic compositions featuring dynamic vocal harmonies. Canadians do it better. Young and Sexy has evolved into unpretentious indie rock underdogs!
Black Mountain - In The Future ( Jagjaguar )Stephen McBean does it again! Heavy, psychedelic and epic: just the way I like it. Great live also!
MGMT - Oracular SpectacularThese guys surprised me earlier this year, as they offered their listeners are carefully blended mix of psychedelia and pop to create some of this year's best songs and ultimately the most remixed.
Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue ( Secret City )Montreal's finest, Plants and Animals dedicate this album to their great city. How I also wish i was there now. Great album, disappointing live.
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Until next year!
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