Albums of the Year...

[3-LockBox]

They're pretty good for 2008-versions of this type of sound but they can't touch the stuff they're referencing. Seeing them live? sure, I'd do that, but best album of the year? That was Fairport Convention's Unhalfbricking in 1969.

If you don't mind the retro thing, and you liked Denny's vocal style, then you may want to check out this band, Kingfisher Sky http://www.myspace.com/kingfishersky, albeit their sound isn't exactly Fairport Convention, but not full-blown metal either. By the looks of their website you'd think they're yet another Within Temptation or Evenessence, but they dabble a little more into folk than others in the genre. Plus, the vocalist always keeps her voice reined in, rather than going the vocal acrobatics that others indulge in. (If you click on the link, check out songs Hallway Of Dreams and November).

[Mr MidFi]

This was the year I totally fell off the indie-hipster bandwagon. Some would say that I was only hanging onto its back-bumper in the first place, but in any event…I’m off. I mean, the Fleet Farking Foxes? Are you f-ing kidding me? Or that bastard love-child of Jim Morrison and Brother Jed who calls himself Woven Hand? Yeesh. And be honest now…how often are you still listening to Vampire Weekend (assuming you ever did)?

In a year without a new release from Wilco, Built to Spill, Spoon, New Pornos, Interpol, The National, Andrew Bird (no, early leaked releases don’t count), or Radiohead (and no, 2007 releases don’t count either), the coolness was severely lacking from this dreary crop. This is the year I went retro, baby, and I’m glad I did. I ended up buying a lot of stuff from 5-to-10 years ago that I’ve always been meaning to pick up (like OK Computer, finally, and You Forgot It in People, and Tomorrow the Green Grass, and The Dears’ Gang of Losers, etc.). But even the new releases I picked up bore a decidedly retro stamp.

So without further curmudgeonly preamble…

1. REM – Accelerate
Far and away the best release of 2008, and their strongest disc in over a decade. If I wasn’t already a ravening fan-boy, I would have loved this one anyway. It’s short, punchy, to-the-point, tuneful and engaging from start to finish. Not sure why it hasn’t gotten more love from the press (or around here), but fark it. I know what I like.

2. Secret Machines – s/t
Harkening back to their first major release, Now Here Is Nowhere, Brandon Curtis and his buds (minus brother Ben) set the phasers to stun and deliver another subtlety-deprived, Floyd-esque sonic supernova. The last track is distastefully plodding and turgid, but the rest of it is full of the kind of un-self-aware bombast that doesn’t even realize it lacks self-awareness (recursive sentence is recursive). Some people hate that sort of thing. But as I said before…fark it. I know what I like.

3. Beck – Modern Guilt
I really like this one the first 2 times I heard it. Then, it started to fade on me. But then something interesting happened…my teenage daughter discovered it and started playing it. And the more she got into it, the more it started to grow on me again. There’s a lot to like here. It’s not as playful or groovy as Odelay, but it’s definitely more enjoyable than Guero or The Information.

4. Steve Winwood – Nine Lives
Thank god, he’s not trying to write hit songs anymore. Instead, he’s channeling his inner coffee house with bongos, acoustic guitars and organ complementing his rich, soulful and unique voice. Is it exciting stuff? No. But it’s a damn fine recording from a master of the craft.

5. Foxboro Hot Tubs – Stop, Drop & Roll
Green Day’s wacky side project was initially released as a download in the waning days of 2007, but virtually everyone considers it a 2008 release (and so do I). There’s not much to explain here; it’s pure Brit-vasion nostalgia. Is it a rip-off of the Kinks, or an homage? The only meaningful answer to that question is “shut up and dance”.

6. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
My biggest disappointment of the year. After their remarkable 2006 disc, Z, and their captivating live set in 2007, and with Jim James’ cameo stealing the show in that “I’m Not There” Dylan movie…I felt certain they were primed for a huge breakthrough masterwork. And sure enough, they pushed the envelope and swung for the epic fences on this one. And when it works, it sounds great (like on the single, “I’m Amazed” and the rollicking rocker “Aluminum Park”). But man, some of it just flat-out sucks. “Highly Suspicious” is the worst moment from a band that I really like since that 10-minute simulated migraine on Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born. No, wait. It’s worse than that.

7. Coldplay/Brian Eno – Viva La Vida
OK, I admit it. These guys have an ear for melody, and I have to respect that. Layer that catchy tunefulness on top of a sturdy structure of Eno sound textures, and you have something that’s not-quite-U2. But this time, it’s the Unforgettable Fire-era U2 that they’re not quite getting right. And so it works for me. Kinda. Sorta. OK?

8. David Bowie – Live in Santa Monica, 1971
Available this year for the first time as an “official” release. What this bootleg lacks in sonic quality, it more than makes up for in performance. This is an all-time great performer and band, at the peak of their abilities, on a legendary tour…and on a particularly good night on that tour. But be advised: it’s a boot. And it sounds like one.

9. Various Artists – Lollapalooza 2008 (downloads)
Your ticket to the big-ass Chicago music fest also entitles you to 25 free d/l’s from iTunes by some of the featured artists. I put them together into an "album" of sorts. An eclectic as hell mix, but some of it is great, great stuff. The Whigs’ “Right Hand on My Heart” is among the better tracks, as is the neo-soul of Sharon Jones & the Dap Kings’ “100 Days, 100 Nights”.

10. Elbow – Seldom Seen Kid
This one will undoubtedly move up the list in the coming weeks and months, since I haven’t actually purchased it or even listened to all of it yet. But I’m liking what I’ve heard so far.

The aforementioned Andrew Bird leak has been getting plenty of play around the MidFi household lately, so watch for that one to appear on my 2009 list 365 days from now (and a big thanks, again, to the mysterious leaker who I won’t name).

Happy Holidays, everyone!

[ForeverAutumn]

5. Foxboro Hot Tubs – Stop, Drop & Roll
Green Day’s wacky side project was initially released as a download in the waning days of 2007, but virtually everyone considers it a 2008 release (and so do I). There’s not much to explain here; it’s pure Brit-vasion nostalgia. Is it a rip-off of the Kinks, or an homage? The only meaningful answer to that question is “shut up and dance”.

Happy Holidays, everyone!

Huh? What's this? Green Day side project you say? How come I haven't heard 'bout this? I'll have to check this out.

I love a list that makes me laugh. Thanks for the entertaining descriptions.

[3-LockBox]

This was the year I totally fell off the indie-hipster bandwagon.

This is a year I jumped fully on, but that's prolly cuz I jumped off the prog bandwagon. In fact, it could be said that many of my fave prog albums blur the lines twix prog and indie anyway. Yeah, the love affair for Fleet Foxes is somewhat puzzling to me, but it seems like every year a band becomes the darlings of the critics. Like Ryan Adams from a few years ago or Jack Johnson. Ok acts, but not the be-all-end-all.

But then you picked Secret Machines...hhmmm....I like it, but it feels so wrong

I never was much a fan of REM ('80s indie-hipster darlings)

My copy of Radiohead's In Rainbows says 2008 (I didn't do the download thing and opted for the hard copy), so I consider it a 2008 release. I couldn't pull the trigger and say it was one of my top ten albums, but its stayed in MP3 rotation for a long time.

Yeah man, love that Elbow - not a deft tune on the whole album. Sophisticated and adult, like a Peter Gabriel album, only interesting.

And yer spot on reguarding Evil Urges. Its a love-it, hate-it album, from song to song.

“Highly Suspicious” is the worst moment from a band that I really like since that 10-minute simulated migraine on Wilco’s A Ghost Is Born. No, wait. It’s worse than that.

Are you referring to Less Than You Think? if so I agree - I like Wilco's last album, and bits and pieces of their last three, but they should leave the experimental art rock stuff alone, I mean, what are they thinking? Evil Urges is like that - sounding like the artist/s became way too pleased with themselves, thinking anything they do is gold. Its like they caught a bad case of Britches Brewitis. Sometimes you gotta go with the old saying, If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[Mr MidFi]

FA -- I'm surprised as hell you don't know about that FHT disc. It's goofy fun, and I know you're a fan. Check it out.

3LB -- I was, indeed, referring to "Less Than You Think." But I'm not necessarily slagging off all of Wilco's noisy/arty stuff. I really love YHF and most of Ghost, actually.