With a whole year of exciting new music ahead of us, here is a quick look at the stuff that got stuck in my musical mind in 2008. Just like last year I stick to my concept of gigs, albums and tracks (= tracks not appearing on my top albums) in one list.
A happy Two-Oh-Nine to all of you!
___________________________________
The Gigs
1. Portishead @ Vorst Nationaal
It was a match they had already won before they even started the gig. Highly anticipated, a sold out vorst full of fans and absolutely spine chilling moments from all their albums. Very obscure and very gripping at same time: I actually cried as Beth was singing Roads. Unique concert to cherish for a long time!
2. Yeasayer @ Zebrastraat
One of my favourite bands of the last three years played a small gig in Ghent, the day after they played at pukkelpop. The tent in the zebrastraat was boiling with their cleverly concocted songs thus proving their awesome live reputation. The tired yet superfriendly band did a divine job for the small crowd that was there. I was there too and I loved it!
3. The Last Shadow Puppets @ Koninklijk Circus
Read the Review
4. Band Of Horses @ Botanique
5. Sigur Rós @ Vorst Nationaal
6. The Dø @ (Les Nuits) Botanique
7. One day @ Pukkelpop (Santogold! Editors! Mercury Rev! The Flaming Lips!)
8. Leonard Cohen @ Vorst Nationaal
9. Elbow @ AB
10. Sebadoh @ Handelsbeurs
___________________________________
The Albums
1. Portishead - Third
THE return album of 2008 after a long wait of 11 years!!! Hope never faded and Portishead did what they had to do. They burned the triphop genre to the ground and hit us all in the face with a dark and grim album with Beth Gibbons' voice as our only hope to cling onto... M.A.S.T.E.R.P.I.E.C.E.
2. Tv On The Radio - Dear Science
Bloody hot and ultra cool at the same time. Dear Science is the only worthy followup to Return To Cookie Mountain. More of everything TVOTR stands for but more diverse and with even more quality.
3. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Never would have thought that one of most original sounds of 2008 would sound this 'old'. Awesome harmonies, skilled songwriting and some true emotion poured into a lovely little timeless gem of an album.
4. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
Probably one of the most special albums in my list. You love it or you hate it. Slow drones, screaming voices, beautiful yet subtle arrangements. Pain, happiness, extasy, reality... everything is in here.
5. Portugal. The Man - Censored Colors
No they are not from Portugal. They are four guys from Alaska who have made album that almost drowns in its own ambition, it is that ridiculously good to me.
6. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
7. Calexico - Carried To Dust
8. Ray Lamontagne - Gossip in the Grain
9. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
10. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
11. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
12. Deerhunter - Microcastle / Weird Era Cont
13. The Dø - A Mouthful
14. Bodies of Water - A Certain Feeling
15. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
16. Pivot - O Soundtrack My Heart
17. Santogold - Santogold
18. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
19. Jamie Lidell - Jim
20. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
___________________________________
The Tracks
1. Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
From their Sun Giant EP, Fleet Foxes give us the best song of 2008. Highly addictive because of its great harmonies and awesome ending!
2. White Rabbits -
Kid on My Shoulders
A catchy riff, an unstoppable drum, a half screaming voice and great lyrics make this one heck of a song. Even though it is a 2007 song it only reached my ears in 2008.
3. Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum
Unlike all the stuff our icelandic nymph has done before. almost impossible not to get into a good mood when you hear this song!
4. Grinderman - No Pussy Blues (Adam Freeland Remix)
Most unexpected dance floor filler of the year! Never thought it would be possible to make a remix of a Grinderman song. All props to mr Adam Freeland!
5. Barbie Bangkok -New Delhi
The award for most catchy belgian single goes to these guys. Irresistible pop tune! Don't take my word for it, convince yourself, you can listen to the full track for free!
6. Jason Mraz -I'm Yours
7. Cibelle - White Hair
8. Blood Red Shoes - It's Getting Boring By The Sea
9. Amadou & Mariam - Sabali
10. Hercules and Love Affair - Blind
11. Girls in Hawaii - This Farm Will End up in Fire
12. Conor Oberst - Cape Canaveral
13. Burial -Archangel
14. Glasvegas -Geraldine
15. Kings Of Leon -Sex On Fire
16. Goldfrapp -A&E (Gui Boratto Remix)
17. The Dodos -Fools
18. Headphone - She is electric
19. Yael Naim - New Soul
20. Silver Jews - Suffering Jukebox
21. M83 - Kim & Jessie
22. Duffy -Rockferry
23. dEUS - Eternal Woman
24. The Uglysuit - Chicago
25. The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful (SebastiAn Remix)
26. The Raconteurs - Many Shades of Black
27. Hot Chip -Ready For The Floor
28. Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
29. Hannelore Bedert -Altijd Nooit Meer
30. Wolf Parade - Fine Young Cannibals
A happy Two-Oh-Nine to all of you!
___________________________________
The Gigs
1. Portishead @ Vorst Nationaal
It was a match they had already won before they even started the gig. Highly anticipated, a sold out vorst full of fans and absolutely spine chilling moments from all their albums. Very obscure and very gripping at same time: I actually cried as Beth was singing Roads. Unique concert to cherish for a long time!
2. Yeasayer @ Zebrastraat
One of my favourite bands of the last three years played a small gig in Ghent, the day after they played at pukkelpop. The tent in the zebrastraat was boiling with their cleverly concocted songs thus proving their awesome live reputation. The tired yet superfriendly band did a divine job for the small crowd that was there. I was there too and I loved it!
3. The Last Shadow Puppets @ Koninklijk Circus
Read the Review
4. Band Of Horses @ Botanique
5. Sigur Rós @ Vorst Nationaal
6. The Dø @ (Les Nuits) Botanique
7. One day @ Pukkelpop (Santogold! Editors! Mercury Rev! The Flaming Lips!)
8. Leonard Cohen @ Vorst Nationaal
9. Elbow @ AB
10. Sebadoh @ Handelsbeurs
___________________________________
The Albums
1. Portishead - Third
THE return album of 2008 after a long wait of 11 years!!! Hope never faded and Portishead did what they had to do. They burned the triphop genre to the ground and hit us all in the face with a dark and grim album with Beth Gibbons' voice as our only hope to cling onto... M.A.S.T.E.R.P.I.E.C.E.
2. Tv On The Radio - Dear Science
Bloody hot and ultra cool at the same time. Dear Science is the only worthy followup to Return To Cookie Mountain. More of everything TVOTR stands for but more diverse and with even more quality.
3. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
Never would have thought that one of most original sounds of 2008 would sound this 'old'. Awesome harmonies, skilled songwriting and some true emotion poured into a lovely little timeless gem of an album.
4. Fuck Buttons - Street Horrrsing
Probably one of the most special albums in my list. You love it or you hate it. Slow drones, screaming voices, beautiful yet subtle arrangements. Pain, happiness, extasy, reality... everything is in here.
5. Portugal. The Man - Censored Colors
No they are not from Portugal. They are four guys from Alaska who have made album that almost drowns in its own ambition, it is that ridiculously good to me.
6. Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
7. Calexico - Carried To Dust
8. Ray Lamontagne - Gossip in the Grain
9. The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age of the Understatement
10. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
11. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
12. Deerhunter - Microcastle / Weird Era Cont
13. The Dø - A Mouthful
14. Bodies of Water - A Certain Feeling
15. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
16. Pivot - O Soundtrack My Heart
17. Santogold - Santogold
18. Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
19. Jamie Lidell - Jim
20. Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue
___________________________________
The Tracks
1. Fleet Foxes - Mykonos
From their Sun Giant EP, Fleet Foxes give us the best song of 2008. Highly addictive because of its great harmonies and awesome ending!
2. White Rabbits -
Kid on My ShouldersA catchy riff, an unstoppable drum, a half screaming voice and great lyrics make this one heck of a song. Even though it is a 2007 song it only reached my ears in 2008.
3. Emiliana Torrini - Jungle Drum
Unlike all the stuff our icelandic nymph has done before. almost impossible not to get into a good mood when you hear this song!
4. Grinderman - No Pussy Blues (Adam Freeland Remix)
Most unexpected dance floor filler of the year! Never thought it would be possible to make a remix of a Grinderman song. All props to mr Adam Freeland!
5. Barbie Bangkok -
New DelhiThe award for most catchy belgian single goes to these guys. Irresistible pop tune! Don't take my word for it, convince yourself, you can listen to the full track for free!
6. Jason Mraz -
I'm Yours7. Cibelle - White Hair
8. Blood Red Shoes - It's Getting Boring By The Sea
9. Amadou & Mariam - Sabali
10. Hercules and Love Affair - Blind
11. Girls in Hawaii - This Farm Will End up in Fire
12. Conor Oberst - Cape Canaveral
13. Burial -
Archangel14. Glasvegas -
Geraldine15. Kings Of Leon -
Sex On Fire16. Goldfrapp -
A&E (Gui Boratto Remix)17. The Dodos -
Fools18. Headphone - She is electric
19. Yael Naim - New Soul
20. Silver Jews - Suffering Jukebox
21. M83 - Kim & Jessie
22. Duffy -
Rockferry23. dEUS - Eternal Woman
24. The Uglysuit - Chicago
25. The Kills - Cheap and Cheerful (SebastiAn Remix)
26. The Raconteurs - Many Shades of Black
27. Hot Chip -
Ready For The Floor28. Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
29. Hannelore Bedert -
Altijd Nooit Meer30. Wolf Parade - Fine Young Cannibals
