2008 CDS by Jamie Watson
1. ONLY BY THE NIGHT by THE KINGS OF LEON
OK, this is my least favorite of the 4 KOL albums, and it's still hot enough to be #1.
It has the usual rockers, also ballads. (What I have always referred to as "fast then slow." or "quiet then loud.")
I am now willing to say that they are nearly equal to the Afghan Whigs in my heart. There are so many similarities - the kinda dirty rock, and dirty love ballads. The lead singer that is inexplicably sexy. In fact, if you look at the two sexiest tv stars of 2008 - I see Greg Dulli as a Don Draper type, sexy(although not conventionally so) womanizer who you KNOW you shouldn't want, but you do despite yourself. Whereas Caleb Followill is more of a Jason Stackhouse - a big redneck who might not be that bright, but oozes sexuality.
Ok, but seriously, I can't think of any other band who has put out 4 cds in 5 years and kept it at such an hot level. The best band of the 21st century.
2. PARTIE TRAUMATIC by BLACK KIDS
On the whole though, with the above exceptions, I basically only like happy music. Life sucks enough without wallowing in it. I've never been one to cry and listen to Leonard Cohen or Tom Waits, I'm more likely to play old Soundgarden or house music when I'm in a bad mood to kick my ass and lift my spirits. This record is ALL ABOUT THE HAPPY. They're like a less annoying Go Team, with handclaps, and harmonies YAY!! Happy happy joy joy. I drug the husband to the Ottobar to see their happy happy live show and he WOULD HAVE liked them if I hadn't told him before they came on that half of them used to be in a Christian band. They're from JACKSONVILLE, this shouldn't surprise you.
3. SANTOGOLD by SANTOGOLD
Suck it M.I.A.
4. VIVA LA VIDA by COLDPLAY
This one concerns me. Am I getting old and complacent? Or is this REALLY that good?
5. ORACULAR SPECTACULAR by MGMT
I liked each of the songs individually but couldn't really figure out how it fit together. Til I heard the Dave Fridmann produced cd and decided it was the best Flaming Lips cd of 2008.
6. HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR by HERCULES AND LOVE AFFAIR
Disco + Antony = AWESOME.
7. X by KYLIE MINOGUE
I think this came out in the US in 2008. Isn't Kylie FAB?
CDs I that might make it once I'd played them more:
DEAR SCIENCE by TV ON THE RADIO
808S AND HEARTBREAK by KANYE WEST
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Over the next several weeks, we will be regularly posting Year End Wrap Up lists from our friends, readers, and regular Shank contributors. So please stay tuned...
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