THE SERIES #3
Foreword by Lindsay: Another newbie joins the blog. Ryan Partridge, a musician on the indie Toronto scene gives his 'best of 2008'.
A long time listener / first time caller here, weighing in on the year end lists for 2008. In a year that started off with Jeff (another blog contributor) ripping up "photograph" at late night karaoke, it was safe to say that this one was going to be different. Without the benefit of much hindsight yet, I'm going to say this; while there were many good albums, there was nothing monumental for me this year. Still, while I wait for another "Boxer" or "Drum's Not Dead", I do consider the year that passed. I'll skirt the whole subjective nature of music disclaimer and just say that the following are some albums and songs that were important to me in 2008.
The Albums:
Bon Iver - For Emma Forever Ago
I'm guessing we've all heard the romance involved in creating this album. Holing up in a cabin for 9 months of steady winter and living of melted icicles (or some such story). All to create the intimate, haunted sound we hear on this album. Point of this being that this album moves in directions I can't imagine we would have seen had he been working with a producer de jour or been on the clock in the studio. He harmonizes with himself in a way that I can't see any other person being able to enhance. He arranges these songs with drones from everything he has and sets it all mostly to just a kick drum. These songs capture the lo-fi acoustic guitar sounds that are familiar to anyone who's recorded demos on their old school beat box but unlike those demos you created as a teenager, he's not too pitchy to let anyone else hear. I've heard others describe this album as a slow burn for them but I fell for it right away and keep going back. I guess it could be considered an updated version of Nebraska without the running narrative.
Why? - Alopecia
This one hit a sweet spot for me. Its unabashed mash of middle class white-boy rap and indie pop sings or ummm talks to me. Knocking off one-liners like I haven't heard since Isaac Brock started making money and name dropping the Silver Jews - How could I not like it? The lyrics come off as a defining component. I wouldn't call it catharsis, there seems to be no conscience or confession more so like an absent minded smattering of facts that I can't play too loud in the office. Fills a hole for me that was left by the Arab Strap.
Nick Cave - Dig Lazarus Dig
I've never been on a proper Nick Cave kick. I've picked at his albums over the years, had a few favorite songs but never really stuck with it much. After last year's Grinderman and this album here I'm becoming more compelled. For me, this is one of the most listenable albums of the year. I don't know if it's an age thing, growing up in front of the TV or my tendency to make sure I always have ten different distractions within hands reach at any given time but my attention to virtually all things has waned in the last few years. This means that movies get easily abandoned, books get left open at page sixty for months and albums may not make it past track five. This album doesn't chase me away. If I'm not paying attention to the sounds coming in and out in the background then I'm digging the stories. I have one issue with this album that I can't let go of - the excessive packaging. A decent 8 page lyric book would do the trick.
The Songs:
MGMT - "Time to Pretend"
I think this may be my favorite catchy pop song of the year. They seem to have nailed it on this with the great dirty synth sounds and excellent production. I may have heard it in something like a Zellers commercial too many times but I still love it.
Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal"
There's not much that both bores me and grates on my nerves more than CS&N style vocal harmonies so I'm surprised that this made my list. Maybe it's the extra reverb but it comes off somehow more tasteful. I love the circular feel of the vocals and the round that never actually happens. The drums are somehow kickass too but I don't think I could ever defend that in any sort of quantitative way.
Times New Viking - "DROP-OUT"
Wait, maybe this is my favorite catchy pop song of the year. I know they went out of their way to make the whole album harsh and keep the songs under two minutes but I say thank you.
The Hold Steady - "Stay Positive"
This song personifies what I go to the hold steady for - fist pumping bar rock that I can only take in limited amounts. I think he lyrically references just about every song they've done before either directly or in content in an effort to find a way for the indie kids to age gracefully.
The Mae Shi - "Run to your grave"
They're not doing anything that you haven't heard before but this song is a killer jam. The cheap synth gallop, cheerleader verses and what I think is 7 different people competing with synth stabs in the choruses all come together to make me wish I was at the party.
Leona Lewis - "Bleeding Love"
I'm in for at least one of these a year. It starts like Sinead’s "nothing compares..." rips it up for 2 minutes then dives into a requisite shitty bridge. They pull it out of the fire with a half time chorus and a sprint to the finish. I think she won some Idol or X-Factor contest and while this is no "since you've been gone" let alone "umbrella" it will have to do this year.
Stephen Malkmus - "Hopscotch Wille"
This guy can't seem to fuck it up. He releases an album that on paper I should avoid (bluesy guitar solos and extended jams) but here I am eating it up. This is my favorite track on an album that may have made the list above had I taken more time to digest it.
Ryan Partridge