Today we talk music.
There were a ton of great albums this year and some very hopeful things as far as new singer songwriters.
But I have high standards and I did not want to come up with a top 10 because I honestly think that some great albums were a little uneven. And a lot of the albums i listened to this year were older releases so it was actually hard to find 2008 releases. This year I also used a neat thing on itunes to refresh me how much I loved an album. I sorted my music library by "playcount" (the number of times you play a song) and it was enlightening. I found out how much I listened to David Bowie and The Kinks. And I also realized how much the music of Tom Petty has meant to me. But lets stick to the new stuff so here are my 5 best albums this year according to my ears and playcount. I also included one of my favorite lyrics/moments from each one.
5b."Elvis Costello: Momofuku
Nice to hear a pairing of the talents of Jenny Lewis (Rilo Kiley) and Elvis. His voice is getting better with age if thats possible:-)
FAVORITE QUOTE"Next time someone wants to hurt you
Or set alight your effigy
Don't call on me to help you out
Don't come crying to me sympathy
You stay there with your daubs
And scratches
While I summon up the red machine
I'll handing someone matches
And carrying a can of kerosene"
5a. Michael Franti & Spearhead: All Rebel Rockers
A different album for them. Lots of anthems. Lots of sing-a-long stuff. Infectious But very musical.
And the album sounded even better live.
FAVORITE QUOTE"I was born with a sword in my hand
and a microphone sent to this land
with an amplifier I set on fire
4. KD Lang: Watershed
These songs are proof that the singer songwriter is alive and well. An album that went under the radar. She wrote it. Arranged it. Produced it. And hit it out of the park. And its one of the few albums where I would say the "bonus material" is amazing.
FAVORITE QUOTE"I am happily indifferent to the ones
who have consistantly been wrong
and all that once confined us
like minutiae at its finest now is gone"?
3.Bob Dylan:Tell Tale Signs
I almost didnt include this. I am a superfan and wanted to be unbiased. And it was not technically new material. But the boston globe said it best "this is not extra Dylan...It's essential Dylan." Three versions of "Mississippi." "Someday Baby." Perfect collection..Except for the ridiculous pricing. To get the third disc you have to buy the bonus package for $130. STUPID STUPID STUPID
FAVORITE QUOTE "My sword's in my hand/and I'm next in command/in this version of Death called Life."?
2.Ryan Adams & The Cardinals: Cardinology
I think Ryan Adams has what about 800 songs in 10 years? And of the 800 maybe..What 4 are not that good? So He suffers from a curse that he has to top himself every album. And I also think the stuff he cuts and throws away would be super hits for anyone else. This album has been a friend to me over the past few months. I got this album, a bunch of kinks albums,and the lucinda williams "little honey" album all the same day. I was not that excited about it because he comes out with new stuff every year and as I mentioned we get overloaded. I listened to it 3 times and felt it was "good." The fourth time the song "cobwebs" grabbed me. And then "fix it." And then that magical thing that happens when the melodies and lines stick in your head and move you.
FAVORITE QUOTE "I know its not a game/But it feels like losing when someone you love/Throws you away"
1.Amos Lee: Last Days At The Lodge
There are not enough superlatives for this collection. I have been a casual fan of his since his first album. I thought 1st album great. 2nd album...Decent follow up. I expected more of the same on this one. Which would've been O.K. What I did not expect was for him to literally transform from "newbie with potential" to this masterful bold seasoned artist. I believe this is because of a few things. He toured and toured and toured as opening act for great artists like Dylan and Costello. That has to rub off on you. Also, he was not some 20 year old coffee house jack johnson wanna be trying to pick up chicks. He was a little older when he started out. He was a school teacher. He lived life a little. These songs are not political nor are they complicated arrangements. They are simple songs about relationships. About love. Revenge. Hate. Envy. Cheating. Desire. Friendship. Isolation. This young guy from Philadelphia has written 11 songs that could have been written years ago and I'm sure will sound great years from now. Above all it was personal and every song connected with me. Best album of the year!
FAVORITE QUOTE"Stood around while you dated that old fool Marcus"?
I searched youtube to find a way to share a song from the album with everyone. I found concert bootlegs. Homemade itunes visualization videos. Record company promos. And then I found a very cool homemade one. Its just a kid listening to the song.
"What's Been Going On?" Enjoy