Oh, 2008. It’s been an alright year, musically speaking. Of course, there are the naysayers who will always and forever moan about the state of the current musical landscape whether they are in 1978 or 2008, but in reality this year’s produced a healthy amount of GOOD MUSIC. Not only that, but GOOD NEW MUSIC too. Below are my “top 5” (aka five songs that have been released this year that I think are right good and sprang to mind quite quickly after settling down to write this article) of this wonderful year so far. Here’s hoping the quality will continue for the next couple of months and into 2009.
Johnny Foreigner – Salt, Peppa and Spinderella
Just how are you meant to spell ‘pepper’ in the context of this song? I’ve seen every combination under the sun used when writing about this, JoFo’s summer smash hit that never was. Damn you, general public. From Alexei’s spoken word ending to the way the track gently creeps into existence, what’s not to love about it?
Los Campesinos! – Its Never that Easy Though, Is It? (Song for the Other Kurt)
Two albums in the space of eight months is pretty good going. Especially when both are absolutely rammed full of glockenspiel-bashing tunes. This, from the second Los Camp! record of 2008, features Gareth discussing his romantic techniques as well as pretty much the Verse of the Year, with “As if I walked into the room to see my ex-girlfriend
Who by the way, I’m still in love with
Sucking the face of some pretty boy
With my favourite band’s most popular song in the background
Is it wrong that I can’t decide which bothers me most?
In the forefront of my mind it’s the thought
Not of you underneath, but me coming out looking worse”.
The All New Adventures of Us – The Wide Eyed Led Us Home
So, we all have our bands, right? Those ones we love with all our hearts and tell absolutely everybody about because we want everyone else to be able to experience their wonder too. The ones that we – because we are all paradoxical snobs really – hate the thought of being on the front cover of magazines or even, whisper it, in the fucking charts. TANAOU are like that for me and ‘The Wide Eyed Led Us Home’ is a perfect example of why I feel like that about them; a chorus that reaches euphoric highs, beautifully poetic lyrics and an air of eternal freshness – every listen brings some new sound to your attention.
Frank Turner – Substitute
Thankfully, not a Who cover.
Frank Turner writes songs that perfectly articulate my thoughts, beliefs and feelings. It’s like there’s a telepathic connection there and I’m sending Frank all my innermost. Love, Ire & Song is pretty flawless, to be honest, so choosing one song off it is quite a hard task. ‘Substitute’ wins, purely for the way nearly every line makes me sigh really deeply every time I hear it. Plus, it’s pretty magic to listen to on the night bus as it goes over the Westminster Bridge.
Tilly & the Wall – Beat Control
There is no reason for this other than its super fun and ridiculously catchy. Incessantly so, even.
Rhian Daly
1 response so far ↓
1 Ymmit // Oct 30, 2008 at 5:02 pm
Glad to see their is another TANAOU appreciator out there!
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