novak's albums of 2008

i know i know, it's march. we're over 60 days into 2009. but you know, who doesn't love meaningless, subjective lists? also, i don't believe that there was enough attention paid to the fact that 2008 was an utterly useless year in terms of new musical output. remember the good not-so-old days when the strokes made 'indie rock'
'cool' and when yeah yeah yeahs introduced the baddest woman in rock to the world or when kings of leon were still human beings and not the stadium rocking, u2 channeling androids they are now? now we just have artists like MGMT wowing the world and paving the way for musical abortions like empire of the sun.

it's a bad sign that the majority of the albums i downloaded (or 'stole' if you will) in 2008 were previously released albums that i had miss when they were originally released (silversun pickups, dappled cities, electrelane, devo). so i did in fact discover a lot of great music in 2008 that was completely new to me, but they weren't actually released in that rather pitiful year.

nevertheless, there were still some rough gems in the mix last year. granted there are quite a few 2008 albums that i haven't gotten around to properly listening to and that have gotten positive reviews (friendly fires, portishead, of montreal...). so if there is a glaring omission from this list, then that's probably the reason. either that, or you're wrong and i'm right. so here you go...

X. MODERN GUILT - Beck

i've never been a massive beck fan, he's one of those artists that was a little before my time, and thus had way too much back catalogue to go through by the time i started liking this kind of music. fortunately for me, he's still releasing new, interesting material. with the addition of danger mouse as producer, beck has created a really solid LP.

Modern Guilt - Beck

IX. CRYSTAL CASTLES - Crystal Castles

ok. about a year ago i was always the one going "oh my god, shut up about crystal castles already. it's all the same sound, it's too intense for me, bla bla bla. and while i somewhat still stand by what i would've ranted on and on about (their EP was just too crazy for me), the release of their debut album has put me in my place. there is a really good mix of the aforementioned crazy up-tempo songs and less intense tracks such as 'vanished' and 'crimewave'.

Courtship Dating - Crystal Castles

VIII. LITTLE JOY - Little Joy

i love the strokes. i don't care what anyone says, i love 'em. so usually i would have a problem with so many strokes 'side projects' releasing material, as it would further delay the fruition of the strokes 4th LP. BUT, little joy make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. had someone handed me a cd and told me "hey listen to this, it's a couple of dudes and a chick singing some folky tunes with a brazilian flavour." i would have responded with a wholehearted 'meh'. but these are some of the sweetest songs i've heard in a while. simple maybe, but i dare to try to listen to this without feeling a little bit better about the world afterwards.

No One's Better Sake - Little Joy

VII. DEAR SCIENCE - TV On The Radio

yes, we've all heard it. we all love it. it's the greatest album ever. not really. but it is indeed really good. i still prefer 'return to cookie mountain' and even their first LP, but this definitely stands up alongside of the other TVOTR efforts. but i swear if i ever hear 'family tree' played at a party or event, i will do unspeakable things. it's a slow song, i'm not going to dance to it.

Dancing Choose (Live on Jools) - TV On The Radio

VI. NIGHTS OUT - Metronomy

just another indie dance album filled with songs about girls. luckily enough, these are some of the catchiest songs ever heard. they will probably go the way of klaxons, but gosh darn are those songs fun.

A Thing For Me - Metronomy

V. ANTIDOTES - Foals

math rock. i still don't know what that means. all i know is i like it.

Balloons (Live on Jools) - Foals

IV. ELEPHANT SHELL - Tokyo Police Club

corny, juvenile, lame. all words i have heard being used to describe tokyo police club. while there is a hint of youthful corniness to their songs, i can still take it seriously, and love it. the album is like 5 or 6 minutes long. each song is a 2 minute bundle of energy, packed with punky poppy goodness.

Your English Is Good - Tokyo Police Club

III. FOR EMMA, FOREVER AGO - Bon Iver

come on bon iverrr just last the yearrrr. i have a feeling mr. justin vernon will get very old, very fast. you can see the signs of monotony in his recent EP. it's fine, it's just that his sound is very distinct and low key, and it's hard to keep that sounding fresh instead of 'same old'-ey after a couple of releases. having said that. this album is brilliant. i cried, there i said it.

Flume (Concert a Emporter) - Bon Iver
For Emma (Concert a Emporter) - Bon Iver

II. MERCY ARMS - Mercy Arms

again, me about two years ago: "i really don't get mercy arms. they're so self indulgent and kind of boring." i do it all the time. i didn't even really dig the album when it was first released. but i have recently learned how to give something another go despite not grabbing me after first play. and now my itunes most played list contains most songs from this album.

Kilby (MTV Lair) - Mercy Arms
Half Right - Mercy Arms

I. BLACK FANTASY CHANNEL - Late Of The Pier

i wanna be your friiieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeend ooohh yeaaaaah.
had LOTP only put the last minute or so of the track 'focker' on a cd and released that as their debut album, i would still have it on the top of this list. it is just pure electronic cheesy goodness. i am the worst dancer in the world, but i'm freaking michael jackson when these songs are playing. well, i feel like MJ. they're just plain fun tunes. and you would probably expect these songs to get old quickly, just like the electro indie songs on klaxons 'myths of a near future'. but they still haven't ceased to excite me. perhaps its the omission of klaxons persistent falsetto.

Bathroom Gurgle - Late Of The Pier
The Bears Are Coming (Live BBC) - Late Of The Pier
Focker (Boys Noize Terror Remix) - Late Of The Pier

Honorable Mentions:
At Mount Zoomer - Wolf Parade
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Made In The Dark - Hot Chip
Microcastle - Deerhunter
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Oracular Spectacular - MGMT
Surfing - Megapuss
Postcards - Sparkadia