Best Music of 2008

Here is my first post on yet another blog. This blog will be dedicated to the writings I produce continuously in journals and on scraps of paper throughout my life. I thought I would start with a little criticism. I hope you are so inclined to pick up any of the CDs I mention below (the titles provide links to Amazon.com) and I would love to hear your opinions and lists as well.

Best Music of 2008 – Top 15 and Honorable Mentions

1. Death Cab for Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Say what you will, but these guys can rock psychedelic or croon precious harmonies and melodies like no other. I anticipated this release more than anything else in recent years and I was not disappointed. From sprawling jams to tight pop, this record will not let you down.

2. Ben Nichols – The Last Pale Light in the West
Ben is the lead singer of one of my favorite bands, Lucero. His first solo release (and from what I hear a prelude to a broader release) is based on the Cormac McCarthy novel Blood Meridian. These songs are some of the strongest Ben has ever written.

3. Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
Formally known as the lead singer of Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis forever escapes the band’s shadow with her sophomore solo release. Acid Tongue is a beautifully complicated record. I was lucky enough to see Jenny and her band during her most recent tour and the songs were just as compelling live as on the record.

4. Drexel and the Bootleggers – Green Sky
One of my great pleasures in life is to be able to work with Drexel and his art. I have been listening to these songs as they developed for a couple of years and they are still fresh and new in the final recordings.

5. R.E.M. – Accelerate
Finally a return to basic rock from one of the bands who defined my youth. Accelerate is as strong as earlier releases such as Monster and Document.

6. Fleet Foxes –Sun Giant E.P.
Thanks to my friend Pete for turning me on to this release. Just a great collection of songs with no filler.

7. Nada Surf - Lucky
This band never gets the attention they deserve and at the same time will never disappoint. The lyrics and melodies are as beautiful as they can be poignant.

8. The Breeders – Mountain Battles
I have to admit that when I first heard there was going to be a new Breeders CD, I was suspicious that the Deal sisters were cashing in on the recent Pixies revival. Boy was I wrong. I was hooked from the early viral stream of the record via a recorded CD release party at the VFW in Columbus, OH. Understated and powerful, and as good as the first Breeders release only all grown up.

9. She & Him – Volume One
One of the undying rules of rock is that actors cannot make important music. Many can sing, but being an actor usually does not lend itself to study of personal inner thoughts and feelings that good music insists upon. Zooey Deschanel makes an exception here. Not only is she an incredibly unique vocalist, but the songs portray pure independent rock spirit. Take that Scarlet Johansson.

10. My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
Although more experimental than previous releases, Evil Urges is still an incredible collection of songs and not to be missed.

11. Deer Tick – War Elephant
Rarely does an opening act that is unknown to me strike me the way Deer Tick did when I saw them open for Jenny Lewis. An amazing mixture of Americana and Folk and a lead singer with rare charisma in today’s “too cool” indie scene. This reissue of their debut sends shivers up my spine and echoes everything from the Woody Guthrie to Bob Dylan to Uncle Tupelo.

12. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
The full length follow up to the incredible EP mentioned above takes the group to the next level with a collection of entirely new songs.

13. Ryan Adams - Cardinology
Admittedly not the strongest release from Ryan Adams, but the first 4 songs could be on a future Best Of release.

14. Bob Mould – District Line
Bob’s releases over the last few years have run hot and cold. The latest is still a strong set of songs and will not disappoint the fan.

15. Whiskey Town – Stranger Almanac (Deluxe Edition)
From one of the all time best bands you may never have heard of (or at least listened to), this deluxe re-issue shows why they should be discussed alongside groups like Wilco and Son Volt.

Honorable Mention
1. Duffy – Rockferry
2. Paul Westerberg – 49:00
3. Joan as Police Woman – To Survive
4. Bob Dylan – Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series, vol. 8
5. Lucinda Williams – Little Honey

Guilty Pleasure of the Year
Katy Perry – “Hot and Cold”

Told You So of the Year
Guns N’ Roses – Chinese Democracy

Enough Already of the Year
Weezer – (Red Album)

Biggest Disappointment of the Year
Ben Folds – Way to Normal

Hem's Way Part 1 (started on Blackberry 7/23/07)

It is awfully easy to be hard boiled about everything in the daylight, but at night it's another thing altogether. In other words he was fooling himself. It would never be the same no matter the time and attention that was paid. What was that stupid saying? The only this that is constant is that things always change. For months now he railed against that trite yet true phrase. He felt that by shear will he could keep his life in order, but no more. He knew that it was time to let go and accept his new surroundings. Fact, he had lost his job. Fact, his wife had left and taken the kids. Fact, he was drinking too much. Fact, the severance was about to run out and he was in no shape to start looking for work. So a crossroads was upon him. A paradox of bad choices where no one would win and only he could lose. His wife certainly did not want him back, and in five short month she was dating and the kids had a new "uncle". His industry was not exactly calling for his return either. Especially not since he showed up at that Brotherhood of Architects event in a day old suit with twigs in his hair from passing out in Gramercy Park the night before. Hold on for that tale.

He was the talk of the party though. As popular a subject as he had ever been although this time in spite of any achievements or accolades. No longer the golden boy, but now the result of the golden rule. Do shitty unto others and shit will follow you. So now still in that suit and still with bits of shrubbery from that exclusive oasis in his hair and, he just discovered, in both suit coat pockets, he began mulling over the next step. Now let's not give our boy too much credit for confronting his demons because he was considering these choices hovering over a glass of whiskey not three blocks from that aforementioned park that forced his current consideration. As with any hardship it all began because of a girl. His name was Francis Hems. The family legend says it was shortened by some bureaucrat at Ellis Island from the more ethnic Heimlich. His Great Grandfather did not even notice until the bull from the shoe factory read the document pinned to his cheap Eastern European jacket out loud before herding him onto the bus with the rest of that day's recruits. Most of these new employees wouldn't even last as long as the bus ride to Maine. Finally succumbing to illness picked up either crossing the Atlantic from Amsterdam or the week it took to get through the lines and quarantine in the shadow of the Statue of Liberty. Ironically the same symbol that lured most of them to this new land.

Time

I checked my watch for the tenth time and again I did not register the hour. Nervous habit. I just looked at the face each time like one glances at the sky worrying the clouds.