2008 (part 1)

Part 1 involves the all-important best-of lists. These are not meant to stand as proof of any superior taste on my part. Any 'unknown random stuff' is present because, in my humble opinion, it deserves to be. It is all the stuff that has provoked the biggest emotional response within me, as ultimately this is the only feasible criterion to use when compiling what are invariably subjective lists. Anyone who pretends otherwise is an idiot.

Top 10 Albums:

1. Eugene McGuinness - Eugene McGuinness

This was a latecomer to my musical fold, as it only came into my possession around Christmas time (thanks schmem!) but it's been a real grower. When I first listened I thought it was ok, but that none of the tracks lived up to the single I had downloaded for free off iTunes. Repeated plays, however, reaped numerous rewards, as I would hear new things each time in the often quite complex arrangements, all deceptively presented as 3 minute pop songs. His vocals sound at times like Damon Albarn attempting a rat-pack croon (that's a good thing, by the way) which serves to emphasise the tongue-in-cheek, witty lyricism. Ultimately, this is just a fantastic left-field indie-pop album that you can dance like a loon to in the privacy of your room ( not that I've ever done that, of course...).

2. Elbow - The Seldom-Seen Kid

Not sure what I can say about this album that I haven't already said over and over again in an attempt to convince many of my friends what they're missing out on by shunning Elbow. None of them listened of course, but that's ok. It means I can enjoy this fine, moving, thoughtfully arranged music the same way I did back when they released their criminally overlooked debut in 2001. Guy Garvey's lyrical prowess never fails to impress me (whilst simultaneously filling me with intense envy):

"How dare the premier ignore my invitation/ He'll have to go/ So too the bunch he luncheons with/ It's second on my list of things to do./ At the top is stopping by/ your place of work and acting like/ I haven't dreamed of you and I/ and marriage in an orange grove./ You are the only thing in every room you're ever in./ I'm stubborn, selfish and too old."

If that's not one of the finest lyrical openers on any album this year, I don't know what is.

3. Chris Wood - Trespasser

And while we're on the subject of great songwriters, Chris Wood trumped his excellent debut with this superb album. Cleverly mixing self-penned material with traditional song, Wood provides world-weary commentary on the state of present-day England. What impresses me most about his songwriting is that it's never overtly didactic (take note Mr Bragg), but instead allows the listener to draw his or her own conclusions from the exquisite storytelling. He keeps arrangements simple too, utilising only subtle guitar and fiddle along with his and Karine Polwart's sublime vocal harmonizing, all of which makes for a gritty, moving, and important album.

4. TV on the Radio - Dear Science

I have to admit that I was turned onto this band by the media hype to some extent, but it was after seeing them on Jools Holland that I decided they'd be worth a punt. If Prince could write good music it might sound like this. I suppose loosely it's kind of a funk album, but thankfully there's no slap bass to be found. There's also a hip-hop feel, only with proper choruses and filthy brass. I believe they use the term post-rock , whatever the fuck that is. Top marks for the inclusion of token geeky white boy too.
Hurrah!

5. Tori Amos - Legs & Boots - Live in Clearwater, Fl. '07

It's perhaps a bit of a cheat to include a live album in this list, but 1) it's my list, and 2) it's been so long since Tori Amos has released anything good enough to get close to a best of the year list that it's a relief to be reminded that she can still be awesome. This is an official bootleg from her last tour (from a series of about 20 in total) that was finally made available to European fans this year on iTunes. Listening to this transported me back to 1998 when Tori Amos first toured with a full band and it's remarkable that the 45 year old Amos can rock out the same as she did back then. This gig is particularly noteworthy for the cunt-ridden opener 'Cruel' (the studio version is very much cunt-free). Hurray for cunts, I say!

6. Caroline Mary - A Tray of Fancies

Not just present here because she happens to be a friend of mine, but also because it's a hugely enjoyable country-tinged acoustic album, featuring songs about pet allergies, small black pigs, suicide bombers, Eskimos, fandango-ing cats and imaginary horses, amongst others. All of these are sung sweetly amid a musical backdrop of gently strummed guitar, banjo, violin, bassoon, glockenspiel, musical saw, paper, and mouth-popping! Genuinely eclectic and touching, without taking itself in any way too seriously.

7. Ida Maria - Fortress round my heart

The first Scandinavian entry is a bit of a surprise, even to me, but I really love this album. No envelopes are being pushed here, just brilliant pop/rock songs, delivered with an addictive vocal intensity that remains just the right side of tuneful.

8. Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires

Though already aware of them through eMusic.com, it was again an impressive appearance on Jools Holland that swayed me here. Retro 80's synth rock with a 2008 twist. That makes them sound shit, doesn't it?

They're not.

Honest.

9. Marching Band - Spark Large

The second scando band in the list was a relatively random download from eMusic. I remember at the time I was pretty down about my job/financial situation and this album completely cheered me up. I played it over and over. It's one of those annoyingly happy indie-pop albums that you really ought to hate, yet instead manages to push all the right buttons.

(Incidentally, this album is not listed on HMV's computer system, which speaks volumes).

10. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago

I resisted listening to this for a long time because I feared it would never live up to the media hype. Thankfully it does. The exquisite production really is key here, completely transforming what would otherwise be fairly dull acoustic mumblings into things of heartbreaking beauty.

Most overrated album:

Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes

Top Gigs:

1. Elbow at the Sage

2. Radiohead at Glasgow Green

3. Johnny Flynn at the Dog & Parrot

4. The Bays & Heritage Orchestra at the Sage

5. Cherry Poppin' Daddies at Legends

6. Kings of Leon at Summercase

7. Chris Wood at the Sage

8. Grinderman at Summercase

9. Ida Maria at Academy 2

10. Martha Wainwright at the Sage

Favourite Tracks of '08 (in no particular order):

Mirrorball - Elbow

Cottager's Reply - Chris Wood

Chip of a Star - Chatham County Line

Leftovers - Johnny Flynn

Nightshift - Eugene McGuinness

Love Dog - TV on the Radio

The Bully - Richard Swift

Heart's a Mess - Gotye

Clowns - Goldfrapp

On Board - Friendly Fires

Furious - Joan As Policewoman

Crawl - Kings Of Leon

Most annoying track:

I kissed a Girl - Katy Perry