Tame Impala – Antares Mira Sun – EP 5 Tracks, 5 pieces of art. Each carefully constructed. Tame Impala must be congratulated for creating a rock n roll rollercoaster stretching across decades of musical influence. There is a strong classic rock & psychedelic rock vintage to this band and it’s done so well that it’s refreshing compared to some of the rubbish on the radio these days .There are tinges of The Beatles in the vocals and even an appearance by a sitar on ‘Slide Through My Fingers’, which is wild. VB. 
For me it’s such a change and it’s really really enjoyable. At 5 songs it’s just the right amount, but it left me wanting more of this sound. I’ll be very keen to hear what Tame Impala produce when they get around to producing a full-length album
5: Booka Shade - The Sun & Neon Light
The 3rd album of Booka Shade’s short but prolific career is their best. They have grown and changed into a complete outfit. The Sun & Neon Light is their maturation. Incredibly atmospheric it exists just before sunrise in the pre-dawn light, hazy, moody and relaxed. It lies strongly within the electronic music genre but it has the depth of a folk album. Its beyond a storming dance floor stormer, it has life and actually invokes more then just euphoria.
The Sun & neon Light has been compared by many as Booka’s attempt to be Depeche Mode. I couldn’t disagree more. It has the melancholy, sombre atmosphere I’ve never heard before in any electronic release, while retaining in some tracks a stomping rhythm (‘Charlotte)’. I struggle to describe this album anything more then a complete emotional, album by a duo filled with melody. Whatever it is it filled many nights of mine and I think its worth a real solid listen.
Booka Shade - Control Me
Booka Shade - Dusty Boots
4: The Killers - Day & Age
Only a very recent release from the Americans but this album could almost be a best of. Its as if it combines all the best elements from their first releases, the glittery electropop/rock and then slide off the shoulder their best dress and reveal just a little more- a glimpse into their future. The coolest aspect of this album is The Killers ability to take a chance and for that chance to pay off – aka the Caribbean rhythms scattered amongst this album & opening bars of the album featuring horns!!!. Human was the first single and perhaps the best because it leads the album off with a bang, the energy so lacking from Sam’s Town.
For The Killers it’s a brand new day but there’s still so many more listeners to conquer and win over yet, this is definitely one of my favourite and more most enjoyable albums of the year.
The Killers - Joy Ride
The Killers - A Crippling Blow
3: Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
If you haven’t heard of this album by now, just heard of it, you must have been living under a rock …… or listening to delightful commercial radio. As such pretty there isn’t much left to say about this album except like a Beach Boys, Beatles, Coldplay or any folk album its easy to listen to and easy to get into.
It’s full of lush warm melodies and it’s a pleasure to listen to. Nothing else to say. Go out , get it and thank me later.
Fleet Foxes - Quiet Houses
Fleet Foxes - Your Protector
2: Kings of Leon - Only By The Night
This is the definitive album for the Kings. Within this album are the hallmarks of each previous release. The slow brooding guitar tunes of ‘Because of the Times, the crooning from ‘Aha Shake’ and the youthful brashness of ‘Youth & Youngman Hood’. Only by the Night is a band who has grown and become so confident that they can produce a medium paced album that is still full of life and still grows on the listener after countless hearings.
Unfortunately as mentioned by CB it has copped some criticism for being branded as a sell-out album, but its that those cries were not heard when their previous album was released considering many of the stadium sounds were trialled on ‘Because of the Times’. Regardless this is the must own album of 2008!
Kings of Leon - Closer
Kings of Leon - Crawl
1: The Presets - Apocalypso
Possibly best electronic album ever? Pretty close . This album is wild. Like Booka Shade this album lies somewhere between the chaos of night and day, but it must be turned up after dark it will not let you turn it down. Its messy, its loud, its crazy its fluro, it’s the shizzle!. Its dark, its moody yet its faster and harder then any record I’ve heard all year. Its unrelenting and thank god!.
Kicking & Screaming is an entrée for My People which will pound you into submission with its ultra crunchy synth. Then Apocalypso will turn around and hug you while side stepping to the beats of A New Sky. This Boys in Love is the hands in the air fluro classic that it is, featuring one of the coolest lyrics of the year “We stole the keys to the sky”. Its one of the most euphoric points of the album, and the commercial success it achieved should not be underestimated.
Yippiyo-ay is a 4 and a half minute glimpse into the future of a new genre – electrofunk!. Its got groove and still a dirty beat.
The vampiric opening to Talk Like That is now as well know as the sun rising in the East and setting in the West, you cant turn on a radio without hearing it. Its catchy its got a killer beat which grabs you and refuses to let go and quirky synths scattered throughout -totally irresistible. If I Know You is The Presets in Depeche Mode disguise and my oh my it works it’s the wonky synth combining with Julian’s voice that make this a tale of heartbreak and it still isn’t out of place on such a great dance record. Closing the album is Anywhere. The darkest, moodiest track on the album. The last hoorah, The Presets saying good bye and thank you for your time in their own way.
This is easily my favourite album of the year, perhaps cause of the success it achieved – it was such a surprise . I know that this has won over many of my friends who didn’t really care for The Presets before and that says a lot to me.
The Presets - Yippiyo-ay
Talk Like That
Thanks for reading. Please feel free, we implore you to send us your top 10 of 2008 albums or songs.
In the coming day's myself and Choc will try and post our top 10 song of 2008 also, so check back and please once again send us your top albums and songs of 2008!
Adios!
Here is my top 5 albums of 2008:
5. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
4. Sparkadia – Postcards
3. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
2. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
1. Little Red – Listen to Little Red
5. Kings of Leon – Only by the Night
A lot has been said about this album and about this band since Only by the Night was released in late September, but the success of the singles ‘Sex on Fire’ and ‘Use Somebody’ truly speak for themselves.
I have been a fan of this band since Aha Shake Heartbreak, and I think that album will always hold a special place in my heart but I am not afraid of change. A lot of long terms fans have dismissed this latest offering as a commercial sellout, a grab for mass appeal, and a push for unnecessary stadium filling power but I can’t blame a band for trying to broaden its fan base, and when they make music as infectious as the tracks on this album it isn’t hard to see why this has truly been the break-through year for Kings. Apart from the obvious top tracks, I think ‘Cold Desert’ is a brilliant final track that makes me want to see the live show more every time I listen to it.
4. Sparkadia – Postcards
Postcards is a fantastic album, and Sparkadia have proven themselves as one of the bright up and coming bands in Australia, backed by exposure in the US and Europe.
Postcards is full of songs that make you want to sing along because they manage to capture so well the challenges of everyday life, and particularly relationships. Highlights for me are ‘Jealousy’, and the softer, slower ‘Connected’.
3. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
While labels of being preppy, sweater wearing, University educated might have impeded a lesser rock act, Vampire Weekend have risen to the hype that started at Columbia University to become world conquerors in the space of a year.
The self titled album that has introduced the masses to Vampire Weekend combines clever lyrics, afro beats, beautiful string accompaniments, all tied together by an unerring sense of fun and an abundance of confidence. The entire album flows in a is strong, with songs such as ‘M79’, ‘Oxford Comma’, and ‘Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa’ standing out as my highlights – if only for the combination of infectious melodies and creative lyrics in each of these.
2. TV on the Radio – Dear Science
With a Metacritic rating of 88 out of 100, and with almost universal acclaim, Dear Science goes a long way in shifting the perception of TV on the Radio from being indie darlings to their rightful position as rulers of the alternative music scene.
The most exciting this about TV on the Radio from the outset was the incredible amounts of talent pouring from each member of the band, and this new album looks to further exploit this talent, exploring a range of musical influences and genres and harnessing all that has been good about previous releases, particularly the breakthrough record, Return to Cookie Mountain. The highlight of the album is also the biggest surprise – Family Tree. The song reminds me of Coldplay in the emotion and inspiration it conveys, and the lyrics help to paint an incredibly vivid picture.
1. Little Red – Listen to Little Red
If you haven’t heard of these guys, it is your loss – seriously. Get aboard the Little Red train. This young Melbourne quintet has had a steady rise in popularity over the past year, and the release of their debut has helped them become a standard on the Australian music festival scene.
The sound of Little Red harkens back to the simpler, younger days of rock, with the band utilising beautiful harmonies and catchy tunes to best effect. This is an album with no swearing, and no reference to the seedier underbelly of life – a happy escape from the stark reality we are otherwise faced with. The album has great variety, but the highlight for me is still undoubtedly the crowd pleaser ‘Coca Cola’.
Hey thought I might post a nice little poll from Rolling Stone, its their readers top 30 albums of 2008, its interesting to note the difference between the Rolling Stone Top Albums and its readers top albums. Have a look.
Rolling Stone Top Albums of 2008:
http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/12/15/rock-list-readers-top-30-albums-of-2008/
Cheers VB
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