Top 10 Releases of 2008

Jackson has yet to learn how to operate wordpress so I am still forced to do his post for him. Who says doing a best of 2008, half way into 2009 is a little late. But we don’t mind. In no particular order….

Admiral Angry – Buster

Coldplay- Viva La Vida

Copeland- You Are My Sunshine

Gregor Sams-Rest

Intronaut – Prehistoricisms

Meshuggah-Obzen

Spitfire- Cult Fiction

This Town Needs Guns- Animals

This Will Destroy You- s/t

Thrice-The Alchemy Index 3&4

This town needs guns – Animals

Outstanding indie music that proves good musicianship needs not be wasted. While it’s not for everyone, fans of minus the bear will find this to be a breath of fresh air that proves technical music can still be emotional and sincere.                    

 

Spitfire – Cult Fiction

Ridiculously heavy music that will make the average Joe cringe. While the future of the band is nonexistent, Spitfire leaves us with an album that’s honesty will haunt you, a cd that brings heavy music back to it’s original purpose, while still bringing so much more to the table.

 

Copeland – You Are My Sunshine

Eat Sleep Repeat was a great direction for Copeland after their sophomore release of In Motion, in which I almost gave up on this band. However, You are My Sunshine proved to be the band’s best album yet, full of melodies that are not only catchy but have true and original substance.

 

Meshuggah – Obzen

Meshuggah is the best at what they do, ridiculous rhythms that will sound unorganized to most listeners but are a real treat to people who are able to keep up. Although there’s not anything particularly special about this Meshuggah album is comparison to others with the exception of the song “Bleed”, it is definitely a release worthy of repeated listens.

 

Gregor Samsa – Rest

Gregor Samsa’s myspace says “slow and sad, or slow and happy, but never fast and anything” Gregor Samsa is not a band that ever “picks up” and it’s true, it might put you to sleep. But I guarantee you this will be the best sleep you’ll ever get, as the band carries the listener through beautiful atmospheres that carry the intent and real understanding of mellow music truly lacking in so many bands nowadays. This album will give you chills on first listen if you have the patience to stay awake.

 

Admiral Angry – Buster

No, this is not just on the top ten list because I am friends with Admiral Angry, this album is atrocious, in the best ways possible, it is so disgusting that you’ll want to shower after listening. Although the cover art may suggest something much more contemporary, Buster will take you on a journey full of addiction and filth, a cd so relentless that it hurts.

 

Thrice – The Alchemy Index (Water)

Thrice is a band we’ve all grown up with, and while I can no longer even stand the earlier Thrice that I used to so much enjoy, Water proves to be a release that stands for musical maturity. Through the uses of lyrical story telling and outstanding variety, this will be six songs you’ll find on frequent repeat if given an honest chance.

 

This Will Destroy You – This Will Destroy You

Post rock: the new metalcore, but hey,  what’s so wrong with that? This album has all the common predicaments of a post rock album yet it is executed so incredibly well that it’s not a problem. Although post rock is starting to be over done, This Will Destroy You is so good at what they do that I’m hoping that they’re here to stay.

 

Intronaut – Prehistoricisms

Although I have some grief about the production of this album in comparison to Challenger, Intronaut wrote an album that the listener must pay very close attention to detail. Even though the album is full of elements that musicians may only notice, it is done in a way subtle enough that most listeners will not find overbearing

 

Coldplay – Viva La Vida

I almost had to take this album off the list after listening to Coldplay’s more recent collaboration with Jay Z. What were they thinking? Viva La Vida is however a fantastic release that proves that mainstream music can still be genuine, with song writing approaches that are far from cliché. It’s on television, radio, and you’ll hear it at your local grocery store, but don’t write this album off just for that, there is real music behind all the bullshit associated with Coldplay.

 

Close runner ups:

Protest the hero – Fortress

Capsule – Blue

Cult of Luna – Eternal Kingdom

Why? – Alopecia

Bayside – Shudder