2008 Best Of and 2009 LOOK OUT!!!

The end of the year draws closer and closer. It's a nice time of year to look back and think of all the things that have happened in the last 12 months. Personally, I had a pretty solid year. Setting PR's in the 10k and Marathon distance, made my first attempt at the Death Race which was a success in some ways and a failure in others. I was able to manage my time fairly well this year so I could train and still spend time with my friends and family. I also heard some great great music, which is why you are all here reading this.

Now, we saw some fun things this year. Bands reunited, Kanye West had tantrums, Festivals were attended and New bands were discovered. That is always one of the top highlights of the year, is discovering new bands, and maybe not even new bands but bands I am just catching up on as well.

Indie music made a big leap to closer to becoming mainstream, more so this year I believe then in years past. With the use of indie music in commercials and indie bands being spotlighted on teenage drama shows this genre is getting more and more popular. We are in the midst of a musical shift with the popularity of satellite radio, internet radio and ipods. So does this mean that conventional City radio stations are dying??? Well, perhaps they will gain back some success with the downturn in the economy and people not being able to afford the iPods and satellite radio.

Now, I don't like top ten lists, mainly because they are really hard to create, there is always a battle between number 10 and 11. I like top 3's better, because there isn't often a challenge in the top stops for me it is pretty clear cut. I have quite a few categories that I would like to cover, it was a little hard to decide on the top three because I had to remember what exactly came out in 2008 and not late 2007, because at least for me this year went by really really quick. So here are the winners this year as the top of their respective musical areas.

Best Reunion/Comeback:

3. Blur - No Album Yet

2. Tricky - Knowle West Boy

1. Portishead - Third

Unlike such releases like GnR, Portishead's return after a prolonged hiatus was freakin' awesome. Third was highlighted with great tracks such as "Machine Gun", "The Rip" and "We Carry On". The entire album is beautifully crafted as the pioneers of trip-hop showed why they helped create a genre and are amazing at what they do.

Trip-hop saw their heroes return, not only did Portishead release a new album, but Tricky also returned with a great (not as great as Vulnerable) return with Knowles West Boy. The often controversial artist had his album delayed due to a dispute with an alleged co-producer who wanted credit on the album. The new album was very well produced and the stand out tracks were "C'mon Baby", "Far Away" and "Past Mistake". Hopefully from both the these great artists we don't have to wait years for their next album.

Finally, rounding it up was the late in the year that Blur is reuniting and we will be working on new material in 2009, so maybe we will or won't hear from the band in 2009, but we can hope. Exciting news anyway and let's face it GnR doesn't deserve to be in the top 100 of Band reunions given their horrid release after a 17 year wait...

Best New Artist/Band

Please note: I declare a New Artist/Band as someone who released a debut full-length album in 2008.

3. Fleet Foxes

2. Cool Kids

1. Vampire Weekend

No other band took over the way Vampire Weekend did with their release of their self-titled debut. They began to get noticed in mid-2007 and toured with the Shins in late 2007. This was an album that received much praise through the year, but due to it's early release in January of this year by the summer people were beginning to wonder if the hype was too much. After seeing Vampire Weekend in Pemberton, their live show certainly needs some work but their music is truly solid and they will continue to be a force in the coming years.

The Cool Kids are exactly that, cool kids. They were able to get people who don't generally like hip-hop to pick up their album due to it's 80's style throw back. Their laid back flow was infectious in the good way. Their simple beats were great party tracks, "Bassment Party", "A Little Bit Cooler" and "Black Mags" received a lot of attention and rightly so. The Cool Kids brought back the simpleness that can make hip-hop so great. To quote " Did you know I made this beat with my mouth and a bell/ Just and F.Y.I., I'm F-L-Y and for those that can't spell I'm a pretty swell guy"

Fleet Foxes they received a number of Album of the Year praises from various music sources (hint: they won't be mine). I can certainly understand why, they are tremendous musicians. The reason I won't place them higher is because it wasn't an album that I could listen to constantly, the soft, almost ambient melodies they produced didn't make for an everyday kind of album, more like a Sunday morning drinking coffee kind of disc. But oh those Sunday mornings were good this year thanks to those Fleet Foxes....

Best New Discovery
Every year we all find someone new that we have never heard of that maybe has been around for years.
3. Kate Nash
2. Tilly and the Wall
1. Electrelane

I stumbled on Electrelane by accident. I was reading a review of an album called Guitargument, a collab from Electrelane guitarist Mia Clarke (who is pretty hot) and DJ Andy Moor. Electrelane is a noise pop rock indie band that has been around who have been around since 1998. They are four girls from England who began with a release in 2000. After some personnel changes they released their debut album Rock It To The Moon in 2001. They release 4 studio albums leading up to 2007, when the band announced that they were going on indefinite hiatus. With strong influences from the Velvet Underground, Stereolab and Sonic Youth they made 4 tremendous albums.

Tilly and the Wall was a not so accidental stumbling upon. I was reading a review on Pitchfork of their 2008 release O it was a glowing review so I thought I would check them out. I am glad I did, they have no drummer but instead have a tap dancer as their percussion section. They make indie pop music and do it well, so well in fact they were on Sesame Street performing the alphabet song. Their 2006 release Bottoms of Barrels is my favorite of their albums that I have picked up. They have a great arrangement on their albums from start to finish and sound awesome on vinyl.

I have a think for Brits, not sure what it is. Maybe the accent, certainly not the teeth. Kate Nash is a British pop artist, but she certainly doesn't put out your typical Hilary Duff type songs. Not afraid to toss some profanity into her songs or knock down those bubble gum tracks she makes highly entertaining pop music. Her debut 2007 release Made of Bricks was a hit in the UK and made some headway in the US market but not much. Great tracks on the album include "Birds", "Pumpkin Soup" and "Foundations". We can expect big things from this young singer-songwriter and I think with age she will only get better.

Honourable Mentions
I know you are all waiting to see what the Album of the Year is, well you could just scroll down, but first I thought I would mention this year's honourable mentions. Every year albums just don't make the cut, not to say they aren't great albums but they just weren't the best.

Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III - A good rap album and one of the best selling albums of the year. Lots of solid tracks, certainly not for everyone but rap fans love it and rightly so. Also, this album has the best cover art of the year.

Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Ahh, Stephen Malkmus great show and great album but just not great enough to make the top three. The entire album is great and I have the autographed vinyl that I picked up when seeing them at the Warehouse on my birthday. It was a good day. This album is one that should be in every one's collection.

Black Mountain - In the Future - Another great album. I saw this band twice live this year once at the Warehouse and then again at Pemberton. The show at Pemberton was better and I was able to see "Tyrants" live which is amazing as it has one of the best lead ups I have heard. I really liked Black Mountain because of their almost Led Zepplin-esc big sound.

Jamie Lidell - Jim - For a white guy, his vocals in soul are out of this world!! And I hear his live performance is pretty wicked too. This entire album is great and it was certainly the album of the summer this year. "Another Day" is still one of my favorite tracks of the year.

The Subways - All or Nothing - I was very eager to hear this album produced by the legendary Butch Vig who has produced Nirvana, Smashing Pumpkins and is the drummer of Garbage. Billy Lunn and the very very hot Charlotte Cooper were once engaged and made beautiful music together when they released Young for Eternity. They announced that they had split while recording the new album but that the band would carry on. All or Nothing grew on me as the year went on and made a very close run to cracking the top three. The production is great, they hold true to their rock and roll genre and their songwriting has improved drastically since their debut. I stand by my initial thoughts that if they make it to 5 albums their 5th album will be a Rock and Roll classic for future generations. They have so much energy and passion for their music is is amazing. Great tracks to check out are "Strawberry Blonde", "Shake, Shake" and the title track "All or Nothing".

There are many many more that should be on here but it would take me all of 2009 to write about the good music that came out this year. There was some bad as well such as: GnR's - Chinese Democracy, Black Kids - Partie Traumatic and m83 - saturdays = youth. But we won't dwell on these disappointments and finally I will let you know my picks for album of the year.

Album of the Year
3. Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
2. Black Keys - Attack and Release
1. TV on the Radio - Dear Science

It is not surprising the TV on the Radio got top spot. Their well crafted Dear Science was slotted in top spot on many many of the music sites best of 08 list. With good reason it is a f'ing awesome album. With amazing tracks like "Dancing Choose" and "Family Tree" the amazing lyrics and musical arrangement this was a very easy pick for the best album of the year. Do not be surprised to see more from TVOTR in 2009 and expect it to be just as good if not better then Dear Science.

The Black Keys sounds like they could open for Led Zepplin, plucked straight out of the 1970's this album was a hit. Ranked as the number 1 selling band on vinyl in the US, there is a reason. The Black Keys don't belong on digital, you need to hear the full vibrant sound that vinyl brings to hear the deep guitar and the drums...oh god the drums. Amazing. "Physchotic Girl" and "Remember When" both Side A and B are unreal. Patrick Carney and Dan Auerbach make up the duo that is The Black Keys and from video their live show is something worth seeing. A tremendous album, so much so that I have picked up all their previous albums and they do not disappoint.

Kings of Leon...I honestly didn't think this album would be in my top three, I am actually surprised I didn't have any hip hop or rap in it as there was some good stuff put out. But, this album killed it. They took all their fame from the UK and their lack of interest from US fans and decided to blow everyone out of the water with an terrific album. All the songs with their bluesy rock influences get in your head and stay there. They are getting a ton of radio play and press, with hugely positive reviews. So many good songs on the album I would say all the songs are equally as good. If they continue with a solid follow up to this album those North American fans will jump on board with what the Brits already know...this guys are great!

This was a great great year in music, and there is plenty to look forward for next year. Here are a few artists to keep an eye on and a few artists who will be releasing new music that I can't wait for.

Kid Cudi - Partnering with the likes of Kanye West and releasing a very successful mix tape he will be releasing his debut album next spring.

Mia Clarke - Word is that she is working on a new project in Chicago and people are very excited, as a freelance writer as well for such great music sites like Pitchfork I am very excited to see what her new project will be.

K'Naan - That's right! A new album in being released next month and there are new tracks (which are great) available on iTunes. Produced with the Marleys in Jamaica this album should be a great follow-up to Dusty Foot Philosopher.

Weezer - After a long wait to get the Red Album, they will be releasing the currently titled "yellow album" next year. Although, Rivers is crazy so don't bet on it. But man if they do release a new album for the love of all that is good TOUR CANADA!!!!

Well kids, I hope you have enjoyed New Music Tuesday the newsletter and now the blog. It will continue and hopefully be more regular in the new year. Due to work and moving things haven't been as consistent as I would have liked. And with me moving to Toronto, I may need some help from my friends in Calgary to occasionally update us all on new music in the great Calgary music scene (don't scoff, bands like Chad VanGaalen and Women are wicked awesome). I will be taking a break till January, but will update things if anything important pops up. Hopefully, I have introduced you to some new bands that you have fallen in love with.

Have a Safe and Happy Holidays Everyone! And Enjoy the Tunes!

- Dave