Dec 15 2008

The Best Music of 2008

Category: Life As I See It, Music In My Ears — dryvetyme @ 09:00

Let’s get straight to the point: this post is all about what I personally consider to be the Best Music of 2008. We’re beginning with the Top Ten Albums of 2008, moving into a rundown of my other favorite albums from 2008, talking about some other music news, and generally wrapping up all that is 2008.

Over the course of 2008, with my 1/3 and 2/3 Editions, I’ve kept my readers updated on what I feel are the best records of 2008. Hopefully, you’ve appreciated them. As with those, I’ve included some albums that I have really and thoroughly enjoyed, but aren’t quite worthy of being included in the actual Top Ten. My desire is to give credit where credit is due, as opposed to constructing a Top Twenty or Thirty. I don’t want to parse hairs and create some inane list just for the sake of numbering things. As usual, I want you, my dear readers, to feel free to chip in your thoughts on my list, and share any albums that would be in your Top 10, but I haven’t included in mine. I’m a fan of group participation. Enjoy!

The Best of 2008
**In Alphabetical Order**


Beach House – Devotion
(My review was found in the March 2008 issue of ENVY Magazine.)


Buxton – A Family Light
(My review was found in the February 2008 issue of ENVY Magazine.)


Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes


Hercules &and Love Affair – Hercules and Love Affair
(My Review)


Lil’ Wayne – Tha Carter III
(My review of the leaked mixtape back in February)


M83 – Saturdays = Youth
(My Review)


Portishead – Third


Spiritualized – Songs in A&E
(My review of this album appeared in the June 2008 issue of ENVY Magazine.)

TVOTR - Dear Science
TV On The Radio – Dear Science,


A Weather – Cove
(My Review)

Honorable Mentions include:
Animal Collective – Water Curses EP
Erykah Badu – New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War
Blind Pilot – 3 Rounds and a Sound
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
The Bug – London Zoo
Bun B – II Trill
(Broken Social Scene Presents) Brendan Canning – Something For All Of Us
Cheap Girls – Find Me a Drink Home
The Cool Kids – The Bake Sale
Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Deerhoof – Offend Maggie
Evangelista – Hello, Voyager!
Fleet Foxes – Sun Giant EP
Girl Talk – Feed The Animals
Al Green – Lay It Down
Headlights – Some Racing, Some Stopping
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Joy Electric – My Grandfather, The Cubist
Damien Jurado – Caught In The Trees
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
The Mountain Goats – Heretic Pride
Of Montreal – Skeletal Lamping
Ponytail – Ice Cream Spiritual
Peachcake – What Year Will You Have The World?
Q-Tip – The Renaissance
The Raveonettes – Lust, Lust, Lust
The Roots – Rising Down
School Of Seven Bells – Alpinisms
She & Him – Volume One
Showbread – Anorexia Nervosa
Slingshot Dakota – Their Dreams are Dead, but Ours is the Golden Ghost
Starflyer 59 – Dial M
Subrosa – Strega
Tambersauro – Theories of Delusional Origins
Tigers Jaw – Tigers Jaw
Times New Viking – Rip It Off
Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend

In other music news, much of the talk centerd around the ever-present free (or pay-whatever-you-think-is-fair) album download. This entire means of doing business was brought into the forefront in 2007 by Radiohead (In Rainbows) and Trent Reznor (working with either Nine Inch Nails or Saul Williams), but it came to greater prominence in 2008, led by acts such as Girl Talk (with Feed The Animals) or Bloc Party (with Intimacy), whether it was to purely get the music out to the public as fast as possible (Girl Talk) or to get the music out to the public before it could be jacked by the torrents and distributed without compensating the band (Bloc Party).

Also, even with the concept of the mashup on a bit of a downward spiral, there were two primary vehicles for said tracks in 2008: 1) The Hood Internet still found ways to combine the top indie rock and hip-hop tracks together in fresh and intelligent ways, releasing two slamming mixtapes to the masses, including one devoted exclusively to artists from the DJ’s hometown of Chicago; and 2) M.I.A. saw two tracks – “Boyz” and “Paper Planes” – from her stellar, new classic Kala chopped, spliced, and reworked by damn near everyone (including Jay-Z remixing “Boyz” towards the end of the year), prompting top-flight DJ Mad Decent to declare those two tracks as “retired” (which I assume is DJ code for “I’m tired of people killing a great song with over-exposure in the clubs.”).

All in all, it was a great year for music. 2009 promises to bring along a host of new albums from iconic artists, including Wilco and Morrissey.

I want to extend to my readers my wholehearted appreciation for following along with Dryvetyme Onlyne during the course of 2008. It’s been a great year and I have all of you to thank for it!

I shall return on Monday, January 5th, 2009.

Peace.

APN.

Dec 14 2008

The Summer Wardrobe – Cajun Prairie Fire

Category: Music In My Ears — dryvetyme @ 13:00

The Summer Wardrobe
Cajun Prairie Fire
Sauspop; 2008

These days, the concept of “Southern Rock” is quite dubious and the struggle to locate a decent product can be rather tough. While some are on perpetual lookout for the next Lynyrd Skynyrd, others are desirous to find a group like The Byrds, and still others pine away for the next Johnny Cash and/or Elvis. On one hand, it’s a fruitless search, because anyone who attempts to crib from those iconic acts will only come across as a rank amateur at best and an outright thief at worst. On the other, the quest is a noble one, as the genre abounds with all manner of excellent music that needs to be perpetuated into present and future generations.

Thus, as this reviewer feels that the hunt for quality Southern Rock in the 21st century is a righteous one, more bands need to follow the example set by The Summer Wardrobe on their new album, Cajun Prairie Fire. This Austin, TX-based quartet manages to meld together a wide swath of influences, ranging from country, rock, and ‘70s folk-pop all the way to quirky psychedelia, creating a sound that is both retro-fitted for honky-tonks and forward-looking with its vision. Lyrically, the record calls to mind the trippy, Southwestern, not-quite-apocalyptic imagery of Cormac McCarthy, but the music on the album is much warmer and fuller than the creepy, futuristic subject matter might denote. With key tracks like “Highs in the Mid ‘90s,” “Baby, Let’s Switch Graves,” and “When You Died” giving off a Spiritualized-meets-country-pop feel that should appeal to fans of Centro-matic, the rushing waves of guitars on Cajun Prairie Fire from The Summer Wardrobe provides the listener with a much-needed touchstone on the road to bring worthwhile Southern Rock to this generation.

Dec 14 2008

Black Tie Dynasty – Down Like Anyone

Category: Music In My Ears — dryvetyme @ 09:00

Black Tie Dynasty
Down Like Anyone
Self-Released; 2008

The best music is that which encourages the listener to create a visceral, personal reaction to it – if a song doesn’t hit me in my gut and provoke a feeling, then I’m less inclined to pay that band any attention. Moreover, music of this nature is attractive to me because I enjoy sympathizing and empathizing with my favorite bands, since it allows me the opportunity to pretend as if the people in the band are my friends. Thus, I must admit that I am a fan of ‘80s pop music; specifically, I prefer music of a darker thematic and lyrical variety: give me creeping bass lines, a painfully evocative voice, and mysterious minor key melodies over happy, sappy sing-alongs any day of the week. It’s not that I desire to feel pain, but more that I like music that supports me engaging my emotions.

Hailing from Fort Worth, TX, Black Tie Dynasty makes such emotive ‘80s-loving music, and do so by employing ominous aural landscapes created by their sumptuous keyboards, Robert Smith-style vocals, and pretty pop guitar work. Their new record, entitled Down Like Anyone, is replete with influences ranging from The Cure and Depeche Mode to Hot Fuss-era The Killers, but do so without sounding like cheap copycats. They accomplish such a heady task by relying on their own songwriting chops, crafting cuts like “The Cruel Canopy,” “Lay Low,” and the title track which equally tug at one’s heartstrings and compel the slipping on of dancing shoes. There are times when the rhythms and pacing of certain songs becomes a bit safe and predictable, but, by and large, fans of ‘80s-esque bands who manage to balance being sensitive while writing substantive pop music will find much to enjoy with Black Tie Dynasty.

Dec 13 2008

I Am The Branch – Drink Tea EP

Category: Music In My Ears — dryvetyme @ 13:00

I Am The Branch
Drink Tea EP
Count Your Lucky Stars; 2008

There are a great many faces to contemporary folk music: some lean to country for inspiration, others call upon pop and rock themes, while others tour their music backed by a 20+-person orchestra. Nevertheless, the majority of these artists are still rooted in the classic motif of a lonely singer-songwriter composing poetry upon his/her instrument of choice, barren upon a stage for all the world to see. There’s an intimacy in that level of exposure that few groups can create effectively and it’s that intimacy that serves as the vehicle for the music of I Am The Branch.

Originally designed as the stage name for the solo musings of Robbie Pieschke, his quiet reflections have expanded to include a full band (drums, keys, bass, and cello), but retain all of the deeply personal introspection one desires from their favorite singer-songwriters. The sparse production work on the six-song Drink Tea EP immediately calls to mind early-to-mid-period Iron and Wine, down to how the supporting instruments always give way to the hushed vocals.

Admittedly, for every beautiful track like “The Science of Silence” and “Like Cathedrals,” there’s a clattering song like “Charlevoix” to upset the delicately balanced sound of such a brief project. Also, while a plugged-in cut like “Fight” attempts to show a greater range for the band, there are aspects of this record that are simply too wearily familiar. On the whole, Robbie and crew are capable musicians who excel in writing songs that set a cozy atmosphere; it would be rather easy to sip a hot, honeyed beverage to the sounds of Drink Tea.

Dec 13 2008

Jive White Boy – Knives That Stab Your Face EP

Category: Music In My Ears — dryvetyme @ 09:00

Jive White Boy
Knives That Stab Your Face EP
Self-Released; 2008

Having started this website as a mere Blogspot almost four years ago now, I hold a special place in my heart for anyone and everyone who has set out on their own to chase down their dreams. I have gone to great lengths to support organic, independent music in all its forms and genres, primarily because the political scientist in me is convinced that all real change comes up from the grassroots. The world needs more people with DIY aesthetics who are out to buck the system, not for their share of the economic pie, but because they want to prove that there are other paths available than that provided by the “powers that be.”

This is the spirit evinced by Jive White Boy, the musical creation of Portland, OR-based singer/songwriter Brian Senesac, on his debut project – Knives That Stab Your Face. True, his brand of white-boy-acoustic-soul music might not change the world, but it could change his street and neighborhood, and that’s exactly the point. The subject matter of his songs are replete with ruminations on familiar topics – the pains of adolescence and growing up, struggles against the machine that is the daily grind, and concerns with family life – but the transparency of his lyrics, not to mention the honest warmth of his voice, keep the songs from dipping too deeply into cliché. The EP’s title track, “Slowly,” and “The Great Depression” serve as standout cuts on what is an overall solid debut release. I look forward to what Brian’s pen and guitar produce next.

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