various | tba picks of 2008

i'm not one for compiling meticulous best of lists, my listening approach is far too scattershot for that. but this year has seen some excellent albums. it's also seen a resurgence in vinyl sales, something few people predicted when the ipod was first released. so it seems traditional formats are surviving the digital age, even if actual physical sales continue their decline. what that means for the future of the music industry is relevant only to those in its direct employ; for the rest of us, the main thing is that the music continues...

anyway, here's a list in no particular order, of albums i've enjoyed this year. these are the ones i listened to most, got most excited about.

there are plenty of others that would probably be in this list if i'd given them more ear time (hello clinic, bon iver, roots manuva, neon neon, mercury rev, johann johansson, growing, fuck buttons...).

anyway, i'd better post this before i change my mind.

::: ra ra riot - the rhumb line (oh, la)
::: the verve - forth (appalachian springs)
::: darker my love - 2 (two ways out)
::: coldplay - viva la vida (lovers in japan/reign of love)
::: fleet foxes - fleet foxes (tiger mountain peasant song)
::: vampire weekend - vampire weekend (bryn)
::: deerhunter - microcastle (little kids)
::: stephen malkmus & the jicks - real emotional trash (out of reaches)
::: portishead - third (machine gun)
::: uzi & ari - headworms (headworms)
::: sarandon - kill twee pop! (joe's record)
::: lykke li - youth novels (little bit)
::: james blackshaw - litany of echoes (gate of ivory)
::: flight of the conchords - flight of the conchords (the most beautiful girl)
::: the great leap forward - finished unfinished business (tolerance and respect)
::: beatnik filmstars - the purple fez club social 72 (scrabbling)
::: the dodos - visiter (red and purple)
::: frightened rabbit - the midnight organ fight (i feel better)

zipped 1 and 2.

and finally, two biggest disappointments this year came from mogwai (it just hasn't got me excited, despite batcat) and plush (just a bit dull really). oh and death cab for cutie get points for trying to prove the oc hasn't ruined them, but really they tried just a little bit too hard and forgot to write any decent songs.

and finally finally, missing in action because i haven't got hold of them yet are new albums by desalvo (i hear it's a monster) and james orr complex.

the great leap forward | finished unfinished business

big*flame, a witness, sarandon... what do all three of those bands have in common? alan brown, that's what. officially the nicest man in the post punk/spikey/beefheartian/not-twee-c86/ron jonson/indie scene, alan has dusted off his largely solo creation, the great leap forward, and finally released a second album.

i first met alan went he came to see sarandon play in leeds. we ate pizza. he bought us beers. and most importantly he looked genuinely excited when we played. but then alan is one of the major reasons sarandon exist. so it was only fitting that he took over bass duties when i shipped out.

anyway, those of you familiar with big*flame et al, may be surprised at just how harmonious the songs on "finished unfinished business" are. it's funny, but first listen through and already the songs sound like old friends. it's the 80s/early 90s feel to them, the new order major key pop edge, with a smattering of pet shop boys (honest) thrown in. maybe it's that while the songs have decidedly indie feel, they have a grander melodic sweep to them. so a first listen turned to many.

here's the opening two tracks:

::: the great leap forward - tolerance and respect
::: the great leap forward - the freedom of the street

archived.

you can buy the album and previous releases direct from the great leap forward website. and so you should.