It took a long time to write this, mainly because I was busy, but also because 2008 was one of the worst years in popular music ever. Seriously, would anyone even give a shit about Britney Spears 15 years ago? She would have been Paula Abdul, big on the radio but no one else would give a fuck. Anyways, heres hoping for a better 2009.
Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend
I hate hype as much as the next guy, so I went into this disc more scared than that chick in “The Blair Witch Project“. The cover of Spin before an album even comes out…come on! I guess Chuck D was wrong thing time, and the album delivers. VW somehow succeeds in mashing up the best parts of New Wave energy with an African beat and making pure pop like “A-Punk” and “The Kids Don’t Stand a Chance.”
Kings Of Leon- “Only By The Night”
We continue our story where the four kinsman set out to claim their homeland with epics about sex on fire girls who rock R&B tunes and like to be used. Would it shock you if I told you that the boys DID actually conquer (album hits #4, “Sex On Fire” hits #1 Modern Rock)? KOL always had the skuzzy rock thing down, but by making an album full of slow burning rockers, they morph into the monster rock band that was always lurking.
The Roots-”Rising Down”
Dark, political, questioning pretty much everything that has happened from 9/11 on, “Rising Down” is also catchy as hell at points. Jams like “Get Busy”, “I Can’t Help It” and “I Will Not Apologize” deserved to be bigger hits, but the pop audience doesn’t want to hear about African Genocide even if it is rapped in a funky little sonic wrapper. Overhyped Weezy has to declare “Motherfucker I’m ill” but this is an unspoken truth for Black Thought and the rest of the crew.
The Gaslight Anthem- “The ‘59 Sound”
Sometimes wearing your influences on your sleeve is a good thing. These gutter rats from Bruce’s neighborhood made the best Jersey album (and maybe the only Jersey album) since “Born To Run” by telling stories about young friends passing on and rough boys with sailor tattoos. Some may claim rip off, but it feels authentic and life affirming at once.
Little Joy- Little Joy
A summertime mashup of 60s pop, garage rock and Brazil that had the misfortune of coming out in the fall, when all that was cold and the grills weren’t cooking. Who would have thought songs so light and catchy as “Brand New Start” would have come from a dude who used to date Drew Barrymore?
The Hold Steady-”Stay Positive”
In which our hero, a hometown lad from Cakeeaterville, decides to quit writing about Gideon, Charlemagne, and Holly and starts writing about other nameless characters. Everything meshes oh so well, and “Lord I’m Discouraged” stings harder than any power ballad has in years. But then, the lad tells us to “Stay Positive” and dammit, I will.
Singles:
“Electric Feel” MGMT
This song takes some of the best things from the past 25 years (“Running Up That Hill” by Kate Bush, day-glo, the term “baby girl”, falsetto vocals sung by fey boys) and puts that shit in a blender set to Frappe. The result is as awesome as an Orange Julius when they could still throw the raw egg in.
“My Drive Thru” Santogold, Julian Casablancas and Pharrell
One should turn off the radio when they hear that a song was commissioned for shoes (Chucks in this case). But one washed up artist (Pharrell) one MIA (Mr Stroke) and one hype princess (Santogold) make a mash up jam that sounds like summer and could make a dead man shake it like Ben Stiller.
“I’m Not Over” Carolina Liar
To paraphrase Goat Boy, “Hey, remember the 90s?” That was a magical era in rock radio when one trick ponies could throw out that one big radio song and then disappear (see Possum Dixon “Watch The Girl Destroy Me“, The Nixons “Sister” and Tripping Daisy “I’ve Got A Girl” for examples). Well, Carolina Liar did just that this year, putting out a glimmering pop song about a girl they aren’t over “just yet.”
“Sex On Fire” Kings Of Leon
All churning and wanting and fiery fucking, this is finally the radio hit the true believers knew that KOL would write.
“Highly Suspicious” My Morning Jacket
Where the hell did this come from? Hairy southern rockers get all Symbolina on our collective ass, and drop the choicest funk since god knows when. Peanut butter pudding surprise, indeed.
Reissue of the Year:
“Pacific Ocean Blue (Legacy Edition)” Dennis Wilson
When one thinks of music in California in the 70s, one tends to dwell on the excesses of Fleetwood Mac and the Eagles. Dennis Wilson was all about excesses in life, but his music was tender and pure and not full of those demons. Dreamlike at times, always beautiful, it puts the former Beach Boy in the same category as his brother Brian: genius.
Video of the Year:
Erykah Badu “Honey”
Previous Badu videos don’t really stick out in my mental video library. “On and On” may have been a Levis commercial. “Tyrone” was live. And there may have been one with Common where he wore a crocheted sweater. But the “Honey” video rocks, with the setting being a local record store and Badu taking the place on such classic album sleeves as “Maggot Brain” “Three Feet High and Rising” and “Let It Be.” And the song grew on me too.
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