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Figs records of the year '08

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Allright suckers here's some records for your digestion. 2008 had a weird vibe, on a personal level, and all the terrible stuff that went on elsewhere. Here are some hot picks to soothe you into 2009, which looks like another bad trip...do check them out as there this some truly awesome stuff out there:

BlackJoker - Watch Out! ( Pacific City , cassette)
Black Joker, a new project of Spencer Clark of The Skaters/VodkaSoap etc, dropped this one as The Skaters hit Europe earlier this year on tour. Watch Out! is his only release under this moniker and what a monster it is. Truly beautifully slow movements of minimal psychtones and drones that hit you like the savage heat of a humid jungle. This is pure Fourth Wolrd exotica, a kind of lo-fi cerebal sci-fi safari that sounds like Philip K. Dick descending on the tropics. For fans of theEno/Hassell records who want to ride further into the heart of darkness. Recently re-released on a limited run of cds, so hunt it down and get it.

The Hospitals - Hairdryer Peace (nolabel, lp)
The Hospitals, based in San Francisco, had previously offered up some garage rock moves, much in the vein of Sic Alps, of which several members cross over. This, though, blows the whole lot away...quite like nothing I have really heard before. Melodies drop in and out, and then totally destroyed in a massive wall of no-wave wonderous fuzz; the way the big blitzkreig riff comes in at the end of side A is as damaging as the throw-away-drunk-forever lyrics from the Ace of Spades - heavy damage indeed. This has to be the bench mark for all rock to come. Don't read this this, get it. Just been re-released in a run of 500 so move your ass bubba...

Gary War - New Raytheonport (Shdwply Records, lp)
An unknown classic emerging through the mists of time? Is it 1974? 1982? No you damn fiend its 2008, and Gary War really pulled out the stops on this one. New Raytheonport could be from any of the previous said eras, and the word is that if this was released back then, it would be a stone cold classic by now. Primal drum machines, new-wave synth moves and West Coast melodies circa '68, this could be the 13th Floor Elevators hanging out in the 80s; man, what a sound they cooked up on this one, real unique. Side A, track 2, 'Good Clues' has the immediate heartbreak and soul of anything and everything that's ever touched your sorry ass, much in the way of the melancholy funk moves of sun tinted West Coast masters Quicksilver Messenger Service...touches of early Pink Floyd in this psychedelic, sedated funky instant classic. Get yourself introduced to Gary War...

Modern Shit - Will Make you Ill (Alga Marghen, cd)
Xentos Bentos, co-pioneer of the Xerox punk movement in Daleston and Deptford in the late 70s/early 80s that included essential listening such as The Homosexuals, Sara Goes Pop, Milk From Cheltenham etc...released Modern Shit and it's a wild ride through some dodgy 80s pop moments. Bentos had a studio in his flat in Brixton and to pay the rent would record bands that had desires on the charts. When said bands had left the studio, Bentos would then remix and mangle the recordings into a strange mash up of pop and his own special additions. 37 untitled tracks of continous music, this is a true gem from the underground. Now only available from American record sites, which seems truly rediculous as it was only recorded down the road, so get smart and get the Modern Shit.

Pantera - Vulger Display of Power (Atco, cd)
Okay, this record came out in '92, but features under the 2008 guide due its shear power and fucking weight in the cold year of our lord, '08. The first four tracks are so brutal and savage, it's an instant back against the wall moment with your brain going into overdrive as the first 15 minutes of Faust's first record...it's that good. A dear friend of mine said that it sounded like someone throwing dustbins around, and they're right...it's such a pissed off sound - one of those moments where music really sums up all the anger but you've never had the balls to do anything about it. 'Fucking Hostile' is about as good as it gets, and the gang vocals on 'Walk' are just brutal...beautiful stuff.

Special mention for records released in '08...or not, but played to death:
This Heat - Deceit
'Shine' by Motorhead
Wild at Heart soundtrack (Powermad especially)
Eat Skull - Sick to Death
Black Flag - My War/Slip it In
Harmonia/Cluster
Frank Zappa - Joe's Garage (some truly rediculous moments on this record)
Lamborghini Crystal/James Ferraro