So it's that time of year again when the Christmas decorations come out and every one gets silly for the loose end of the year. 2008 was an epic year for the Australian music scene with bands like Cut Copy, The Presets, The Midnight Juggernauts, Ladyhawke and Van She all releasing acclaimed albums and making serious dents into the international music scene. The amount of great music coming from all over Australia is fucking ace and I can wait to see what 2009 brings.
As the other half of made the grade has decided to go to the Congo for the uni break and I'm off the US and Europe its going to be pretty quiet around here with infrequent posts. Hopefully we can find some time to keep our own part of the internet here at madethegrade updated but as always time will tell!
B1 & B2's Favourite albums of 2008 - Very roughly done :) Merry Christmas and happy new years to everyone!
11.
Coming in at just over 28 mins Elephant Shell delivers a sweet slice of indie pop rock proving to be both a lyrical and musical delight. One for the Sunday afternoon drives.
Myspace: Toyko Police Club Purchase via Amazon: Elephant Shell
10. Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line
The Rhumb Line is the full length debut from Ra Ra Riot and is filled of upbeat indie rock. Wes Miles sweet voice is complemented by their very own strings section comprised of violinist Rebecca Zeller and Cellist Alexandra Lawn. WTF you say? Strings in indie rock? Ohh Noes every1 iz goin all arcade FirE on Our ArsE (that’s not a bad thing by any means). However Ra Ra Riot are not bandwagon jumpers and pull it off delightfully making one of the debuts of 2008.
Myspace: Ra Ra Riot Purchase via Amazon: The Rhumb Line
9. Lykke Li – Youth Novels
Another debut jumps in at number nine. This time from Swedish 22 year old Lykke Li. She approaches her music with a stripped back minimalist approach which enhances her enchanting and delicate voice. Her lo-fi pop is probably not everyone’s cup of tea but with songs like Little Bit and Dance Dance Dance being highly catchy in her own unorthodox style I found Youth Novels to be highly enjoyable.
There are heaps of good remixes floating around of her songs but this mash up/cover is pretty fucking dope if you’re a fan of her or the Kings of Leon.
Lykke Li V. Kings Of Leon - Knocked Up via HIPSTER RUNOFF
Myspace: Lykke Li Purchase via Amazon: Youth Novels
8. Ladyhawke – Ladyhawke
Ladyhawke is the cat obsessed kiwi who cranks out 80s tinged pop tunes. Her debut on modular is full of killer pop tunes filled to the brim with catchy hooks and oodles of synths. I honestly recon there isn’t one filler on the whole album as its all v good pop. Miss Pip Brown lives up to the hype and does not disappoint!
Myspace: Ladyhawke Purchase via Amazon: Ladyhakwe
7. The Killers – Day & Age
I’m not going to lie; I was very sceptical about this latest offering from the killers. Truth be told, I thought Sam’s Town was a bit of a piece. Yeah, some good songs but filled with a fair amount of wank. It sounded almost forced. I don’t think I could have been more surprised. The Killers actually sounded like, well, The Killers and not some impersonation of greats gone by. Day & Age presents an eclectic mix of tracks, both upbeat and solemn, a pastiche of a band exploring their musical boundaries yet not straying too far from the proven formula that brought us one of the debuts of the decade. Fucking kudos.
Myspace: The Killers Purchase via Amazon: Day and Age
6. Mercy Arms – Mercy Arms
Going from buzz band to almost forgotten it seemed Mercy Arms had really shot themselves in the foot. However, after dropping the single Half Right (possibly my favourite track of the year) the album release garnered a fair bit of anticipation. It did not disappoint. Not quite as upbeat as the first single the album displayed luscious amounts of reverb, depth and a song-writing maturity far beyond its years. I don’t think
Myspace: Mercy Arms Purchase vi Waterfront Records: Mercy Arms
5. Late of the Pier – Fantasy Black Channel
Where do I begin with these guys! Their debut Fantasy Black Channel is so all over the fucking shop I don’t even know where to start. First and foremost Late of the Pier don’t sound like anything around at the moment and the closest band I could draw parallels at would probably be klaxons. However even this is clutching at straws. Late of the Pier want to make music which makes drugs redundant. And after listening to Fantasy Black Channel that next white line may just be redundant. LOTP sound schizophrenic. Their sound is always progressing and changing leaving you guessing where it’s heading next. It’s full of energy from the heavy guitars, blasting synths and other eccentric sounds from random electronic bleeps to glass smashing, spoons hitting cups and drum sticks being beaten on the wooden slats of a bed! Why stick to the book when you sound this good. Late of the Pier do things their own way and the result is fucking ace!
Myspace: Late of the Pier Purchase via Amazon: Fantasy Black Channel
4. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
Blog darlings – yep. Scene – yep. Fuck the backlash, its just so damn good. Light, confident and optimistic. The singles alone laid the foundation of every night out I had this year. The perfect summer pop record combined with the perfect club room jams.
Grab sands of time over from hyperbole. serious next level shit, wait for drop at 1:06 fuckin epic!
Myspace: Cut Copy Purchase via Amazon: In Ghost Colours
3. Mystery Jets – Twenty One
The Mystery Jets return for their second album with a full blown, unashamed 80s inspired pop record. With their new more radio friendly sound they have made a seriously awesome album. There’s the indie pop of young love with Laura Marling, the tear jerker veiled in grey and even a Christmas carolesque epic song by the name of flakes. Twenty One is filled to the brim with catchy choruses and well crafted pop songs about love and life and Mystery Jets have surprised everyone with a splendid pop album.
Mystery jets covering bleeding love by leona lewis via the world forgot.
Myspace: Mystery Jets Purchase via Amazon: Twenty One
2. Foals - Antidotes
Foals distinctive sound is not the most approachable and I recon would polarise many people’s opinions. But to me I find it just mesmerising. From the eerie drones of sound on the first track “the French open” which slowly builds up to the drums kicking in and the chanting begins. The music seems to have mesmerising urgency and rhythm which just takes me away to another place when listening to it. Antidotes is jam-packed full of high energy and spaced out tracks filled with mirrored guitars, repeated lyrics, tribal rhythmic drums , blasts from horns with electronic beats scattered around for good measure. This combination makes a highly addictive and mesmerising sound which takes you away from where ever you are to a different place. And a journey with foals is a very enjoyable one indeed.
Myspace: Foals Purchase via Amazon: Antidotes
1. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
Who gives a fuck about an oxford comma?
Who gives a fuck about anything when you have Vampire Weekend?
I don’t think I have ever seen so much happiness, so many smiles, than at the Vampire Weekend set at Splendour in the Grass this year (not just due to certain substances). With their afro-beat inspired brand of pop Vampire Weekend will arguably go down as the band of 2008. Their debut sounded so refreshingly laidback and uncomplicated it stood out like, yes, Is This It did back in 2001. Thankyou Vampire Weekend for providing a decent 21st soundtrack.
Heres a couple of covers including a radiohead and fleetwood mac cover and the unreleased track ottoman via The World Forgot
Myspace: Vampire Weekend Purchase via Amazon: Vampire Weekend
Final thoughts on whos going to be big next year or release killer albums next year:
- White Lies
- Magistrates
- The temper trap
- The Holidays
- Passion Pit
- We Have Band (maybe?)
Peace out ya'll and have a good christmas and new year and an awesome 2009!
2 comments:
What about In Rainbows by a band called Radiohead? That's one of the top albums of 08 without a doubt!
In Rainbows = soo 2007!
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