Two Bears in a Record Store

10: MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

MGMT sits at 10, I would love to put this album higher but the back 1/3 of this album really lets it down. Oracular Spectacular has produced 3 of the biggest, most exciting songs of 2008 – Time to Pretend, Electric Feel, Kids. Time to Pretend caught me by surprise , it was like tasting something new for the first time. You heard it and you had good feeling about this. Electric Feel had me wrapped in a groove from the first listen – that Flute!!!!. I love this song, it epitomises this band – funky, weird, hip shaking and fun!

Unfortunately the last 3 or 4 songs bring this album down. They seem out of place and these sorta soft, accousticy slow ballady songs are beyond this band just right now. But withstanding this album is worth getting a hold of simply because the first 7 or so tracks are a wicked good time.

 

9: Coldplay - Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends

Does anyone else this its weird death is now a man ? Coldplay’s newest baby is a step forward for the band and its fans. New instruments, new rhythms, new sound but still maintaining a sound that resonates with the classic Coldplay sound. This is the glue of Viva La Vida. The melodic overtones of the piano or Chris Martin’s crooning are the glue which hold the old and new Coldplay together. This records pushes its fans  into new territory but does it gently.  The instruments are allowed room to breath, the rhythms are given time to evolve.

With a dash of Latin flavour Viva la Vida is truly a album, its enjoyed to its fullest as whole. Each track is a new chapter of a great book. Each track is different and distinct, but each is crafted in every aspect. Every song has distinctive sounds, the chink-chink of the guitar on Lost!, the dunt-dunt-dunlt of the drums on Cemeteries of London. Such great care has been taken with this album and rightfully so it’s a true album from beginning to end.

 

8: The Fratelli’s - Here We Stand

Those who caught the Fratelli’s 2006 release Costello’s Music your in for much the same. Here We Stand is a excellent rowdy English rock ‘n’ roll album with a mischievous tone.  These songs while simple from a musician ship point of view are an energetic shot of rock for any fan, perfect for anytime with your mates causing some trouble. They don’t try to be tricky, all they want are their songs stuck in your head all day. Stragglers Moon sparkles with tinges of  “Strange Days” Doors while Mistress Mabel has the energy and charisma of a cocky English band  who wants to pull you out of your seat. There’s no theme, some songs sound the same but each song is a rollicking good time for any scallywag.

 

7: The Ting Ting’s - We Started Nothing

RED ALERT! – Unapologetic Pop alert!

The Ting Tings have landed and crashed landed in your face.  They started nothing but they started something huge, an uncontrollable collection of short melodic guitar tunes. With an album coming in at a mere 37 minutes its hard to make an impact but the Ting Tings have exploded world wide and I cant help but love them. There’s an infectious quality in these tracks , it might be the cute vocals or it’s the catchy-ness of each song.

That’s Not My Name has been heard in every corner of the Earth but still I cant stop listening to it.  There’s something in her voice that says I wont be a pushover and we’re going to do things my way, and that’s kinda cool. Great DJ , Shut Up & Let Me Go have filtered around the airwaves and provide a solid base for this album but it’s surrounding cast – tracks like; Keep Your Head, Traffic Light, and We Started Nothing that push this album further and turn it into something great. It wont be remembered as the greatest debut album ever but it’s a damn catchy unavoidable and totally enjoyable album!

6: Sparkadia Postcards

This is easily my favourite Aussie album of 2008, there’s so much to it. It has depth beyond their experience and musical maturity.  Its so lush and atmospheric while stilling driving at full speed.  The word nice describes this album perfectly. Its not in your face , abrupt or demanding. Its enjoyable at any volume and after hundreds of listens its just as interesting , warm and deep as its first listen.

There’s the 5 instant singles which are spectacular – Too Much To Do, Kiss of Death, Morning Light , Animals and Jealousy. Each of these is unescapable on any playlist or album they hold the album together and like the Ting Tings propel them to something great. The other 7 tracks are the like the soundtrack to a amazing movie, they are just there you notice them but until you pay attention to them you miss how important they are, how they give structure to the album .In the case of Sparkadia these 7 tracks have allowed the band to experiment with their song writing and pace. Proving that slow or fast, hard or melodic, Sparkadia has the goods, I cant recommend this album enough.