Year-End Critics' Polls '08

For some reason people keep namedropping Vampire Weekend on Natural Snow Buildings reviews, when I can't hear any musical connection between them, anybody knows if they share a member or come from the same place or something?

no, natural snow buildings are french, and are really just two people. As far as I can tell there is absolutely not connection, musically or otherwise. people are crazy.

Actually all I've read over and over is 'Better than Vampire Weekend'... I suppose it's some sort of joke then.

I think the problem everyone is having this year is that there hasnt been a definitive album which both mainstream and critics may agree on like say 'In Rainbows' or 'Person Pitch' last year. It hasn't been a very good year for pop or mainstream.

Only someone with Paavoharju on their list would say that Person Pitch had mainstream resonance.

^ Wasn't it a global lovefest after pitchfork named it album of the year? I suppose I'm more forlorn than I thought I was :(

Are you dissing on Paavoharju?

Whiney's just does a victory dance anytime he finds someone indier than him.

Wasn't it a global lovefest after pitchfork named it album of the year?

Maybe on some indie-leaning message boards, but I don't think Rolling Stone readers know Panda Bear from Grizzly Bear because of that. Also, Paavoharju's all right.

Whiney's just does a victory dance anytime he finds someone indier than him.

some dude and the art of feigned ignorance.

I wasn't making fun of his choices, I was just saying his thinking that blog-hyped indie rock bands having some sort of mainstream push may be because he dwells so intensely in deep cuts.

Only someone with Paavoharju on their list would say that Person Pitch had mainstream resonance.

Yeah, I thought the same thing. I thought maybe he meant to say Sound of Silver.

(Or, for that matter, Graduation.)

Is there still such thing as "blog-hyped indie rock?" What blogs are still considered taste-makers?

I know someone says this every year on these threads, but: it's impossible to keep up with every frickin' album that comes out in a given year. In addition to the gazillion albums that came out in 2008 that I didn't buy, download illegally, or receive as promos, there are a lot that I did get as promos but never had a free moment to play because I was too busy listening to other stuff for reviews or just living life generally. All of which is to say that there's no such thing as a totally wide-open top 10 list and there never will be, until, perhaps, Multivac is invented. And even then probably not.

Is there still such thing as "blog-hyped indie rock?" What blogs are still considered taste-makers?

My point exactly

Oh yes, 'Sound of Silver' is a better example I guess, but anyways you got the point. Everyone already knew by November what album was ranking on the first place for them and this year it's been very harsh pleasing everyone by the choices, critics seem confused. The best records this year are too offbeat or strange for mainstream audience yet the pop releases have been very bland.

PS: I'm a girl.

As for music blogs which could be considered 'taste-makers' I'd nominate gorillavsbear.

gotta second these noms for avant albums of the year...

paavoharju - laulu laakson kukista
natural snow buildings - laurie bird
emeralds – solar bridge
burning star core - challenger
the goslings – occasion

a few suggestions...

demons/hatred - split lp
liquid metal - alternative soundtrack to digital overdrive
u.s. girls - introducing...
teotihuacan - live smokeshows from inside the ciguri cave hazed diamonds with windswept hair
bulbs - light ships

no more... fuck buttons, please.

i kinda like pocahaunted, even though i'd choose mi ami over them any day of the week. speaking of which, add mi ami - african rhythms 12" to that suggestions list.

i would really hope gvb doesn't influence anyone's taste
sorry if anyone on that site is here but i really dislike that blog

xp

The best records this year are too offbeat or strange for mainstream audience yet the pop releases have been very bland.

let's just talk about those offbeat ones then?!

I usually compile a top list and stick it on Last Fm but i dont think I can be bothered this year as There's just too much to choose from for me.
Of course maybe in january I'll end up making one like last year.

I think gorillavsbear is only run by Chris and I doubt he visits this board. Personally I think it he tries to cover too much ground without really exploring anything but to his favor I'll say he has a strong personal taste, not that I agree with all of it but he seems to me more like an influence-maker than your average blogger. Also he receives Pitchfork's love and support every now and then so I assume half of pitchfork's readership is on to him.

xp

let's just talk about those offbeat ones then?!

― psychgawsple, martes 25 de noviembre de 2008 20:58 (6 minutes ago)

I don't know if this is the right thread for it :P

xpost to psychgawsple: that Mi Ami 12" was pretty great, although I listened to it a lot more at 33 than 45 (don't ask). I remember hearing Burning Star Core and liking it, but not as much as I had hoped I would. how is the Demons/Hatred split? vinyl-only? I liked Evocation a lot, didn't know they had anything new out.

and I just now noticed Genghis Tron at number 3 on Decibel's list. I mean, I like that album, but... seriously?

gotta second these noms for avant albums of the year...

paavoharju - laulu laakson kukista
natural snow buildings - laurie bird
emeralds – solar bridge
burning star core - challenger
the goslings – occasion

a few suggestions...

demons/hatred - split lp
liquid metal - alternative soundtrack to digital overdrive
u.s. girls - introducing...
teotihuacan - live smokeshows from inside the ciguri cave hazed diamonds with windswept hair
bulbs - light ships

no more... fuck buttons, please.

i kinda like pocahaunted, even though i'd choose mi ami over them any day of the week. speaking of which, add mi ami - african rhythms 12" to that suggestions list.

I couldn't get into the Burning Star Core there's a trio of tracks I really enjoyed (Challenger, Mezzo Forte and Mysteries of the organ) but the rest is not as good. Same goes with Fuck Buttons, a couple of good tracks but that's it. Lot of those seem like they'll wind up on TinyMixtapes list.

I like the staff pick lists on Dusted Magazine. Every year they turn me on to some great record that went under my radar.

Screw magazines, where can I see some ilx people's lists?

i can post a tentative top 100 if anyone cares, or should that be another thread?

Answered my own question:

So we're halfway through 2008; what are your top 10 albums of this year, so far?

it sounds great at 33 rpm! i did this on accident a couple times, and the room full of people i was with was fooled into liking the 33 rpm as well. makes the normal version seem so hyper, but obv they're both good.

i realllllly like that demons/hatred split, esp if you dug evocation.

also, it's funny when metal turns electronic. genghis tron and zombi are good examples of bands where metal kids hear something a little different and flip their shit for it, probably because they get so bogged down with technicality/musicianship/doooooom. i think this crosspollination is great though, although i'll admit to liking zombi much more than genghis tron

^ See I could never play something like Burning Star Core to anyone I know without them asking me to play something else. I need new friends.

moka- tinymixtapes' eureka list and the dusted ones usually have some good picks, but i'd peruse the picks that volcanic tongue and aquarius have been making this year to maybe even predict what those will turn out like

^ links please?

here's my "indie rock" best of. totally boring! what can i say? i likes what i likes.
1. Robert Forster – The Evangelist
2. Pas/Cal – I Was Raised On Matthew Mark, Luke & Laura
3. James Blackshaw – Litany of Echoes
4. Stephen Malkmus – Real Emotional Trash
5. Earth – The Bees Made Honey In The Lion’s Skull
6. Destroyer – Trouble In Dreams
7. Lambchop – OH (Ohio)
8. Stereolab – Chemical Chords
9. Silver Jews – Lookout Mountain Lookout Sea
10. Lindstrom – Where You Go I Go Too

tylerw: How's that Lindstrom album? I loved the collaborative album with Prins Thomas released two years ago but for no real reason I haven't given this one a chance and I've been seeing it pop up on several lists.

any rap lists?

it's great! the lindstrom i mean. as perhaps the rest of my list suggests, it's not entirely my area of expertise, but it might be the new album i've listened to the most in the latter half of this year.

been looking for that Pas/Cal thing for months now, was beginning to wonder if ti had even been released...

it's funny, i like the burning star core album more in an eno/tangerine dream kind of way more than anything else. even though arp's 'in light' is better in that respect (and way smooother)

oh, here are the links-
http://www.volcanictongue.com/?cat=1
http://www.aquariusrecords.org/

they're record stores that take the time to pick their favorite albums and write about them and every other release they choose to add to their shop. great resource

loved the lindstrom as well. just realized that the vinyl version is 3/4 prins thomas edits, as someone pointed out in the thread for that album.

Thanks for the links. Will check that lindstrom album then.

Also released this year is this great Nigerian Highlife Compilation on soundway:

http://kinosport.tv/notebook/wp-content/uploads/2008/03/nigerian-special.jpg

Great song selection and beautiful artwork.

we should make a reissues of the year thread

I don't even know if I could make a top 10 out of things I heard this year, but...

people need to quit sleeping on the bug CD

I couldn't get into a mountain of one until the other day when I had a massive hangover and it was the only thing in the pile that made any sense. how is it not on any of these lists? also liked:

landed - how little will it take?
naked on the vague - blood pressure sessions
teeth mountain
some of that destroyer album

things I need to spend more time with: endless boogie, prurient

things I still haven't heard: the ex & getatchew mekurya, indian jewelry, made in mexico, usaisamonster, growing, no age, cut copy

things I tried to listen to but stopped because it felt like homework: marnie stern, ponytail, portishead, times new viking, guns n roses, vampire weekend

oh shit I meant to put that on the other thread

Uncut magazine

Top 20

1. Third - Portishead
2. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
3. Dear Science - TV On The Radio
4. For Emma, Forever Ago - Bon Iver
5. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
6. The Seldom Seen Kid - Elbow
7. Stainless Style – Neon Neon
8. Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
9. Only By The Night - Kings Of Leon
10 22 Dreams - Paul Weller
11. Brighter Than Creation's Dark - Drive-by Truckers
12. Stay Positive - The Hold Steady
13. Litany of Echoes - James Blackshaw
14. Harps and Angels - Randy Newman
15. Made In The Dark - Hot Chip
16. Limbo, Panto - Wild Beasts
17. Seventh Tree - Goldfrapp
18. Real Emotional Trash - Stephen Malkmus
19. Rook - Shearwater
20. Evil Urges - My Morning Jacket

Very pleased to see James Blackshaw at number 13 on the Uncut list.

I didn't buy too much new suff this year, but the Nothing People LP stands out as something that would be in any lists I made.

i understand it's totally cliche to be like "omg yall lists suxxorz" but what is up with these? i'm glad RET is getting love though.

Fleet Foxes failing to get #1 in Uncut must be regarded as some sort of catastrophe for their PR people.

Seriously, what is up with My Morning Jacket making so many of these lists? That album had two or three good tracks and twelve average-to-total-shit songs. Any album that contains "The Librarian" and "Highly Suspicious" belongs nowhere near a best-of-year list.

Fleet Foxes payback innit.

They did get the inaugural Uncut Music Award however!

http://www.uncut.co.uk/blog/index.php?blog=13&p=1026&more=1&c=1&tb=1&pb=1

Since Dave Stelfox left Pitchfork I don't think they've gotten a new dancehall/reggae columnist so that means even less year-end critic coverage of reggae/dancehall

Pitchfork year-end reggae/dancehall coverage went up today here.