Best of 2008 – Part IV: The First Five
The Best Albums of 2008: 5-1
5. Empire of the Sun – Walking on a Dream
The debut of Pnau genuis’ other project, Empire of the Sun, is a gorgeous space-glam opera. Australia is really full of bands now who can mix this dreamwave-indie-pop into the nu-disco with taste. In addition, Walking on a Dream has a great concept both musically and visually and conjures a world that you can nearly taste and touch. The vocals even remind me of Michael Jackson or Prince… 80s are so loveable resurrected here that you just wanna close your eyes, pop a xanax and make this your dream-soundtrack.
Empire of the Sun – We are the People [zshare] // [ysi]
4. TV on the Radio – Dear Science,
How do we come to terms and digest the past? TV on the Radio provides the depressing answer on the new album. They are followed by ghosts and they need the perfect expression of being haunted: the need of communication produces the ambivalence and beauty of this album, namely, the already mentioned thin line or weird dimensional space between art and pop. Dear Science, is one of the greatests this year because this is the record that found the best unique way between tradition and nonconformism, popularity and experimental aesthetics. You can’t stop listening to the noise they make.
TV on the Radio – Family Tree [zshare] // [ysi]
3. Spiritualized – Songs in A&E
An opus from the beginning to the end, Spiritualized‘s new album is like a conversation with someone you love. Jason Pierce manages to grab the listener and hold her close until the album’s over. Personal and intimate, the tone of Songs in A&E is impossible to resist. Psychedelia and folkish sound goes hand in hand here but they don’t result in some weird unapproachable something but you feel like someone’s crying on your shoulder sometimes tears of joy, other times of sadness. Beautiful, setting souls on fire.
Spiritualized – Sweet Talk [zshare] // [ysi]
2. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
What the fuck should I say? It’s Cut Fucking Copy! Feel the love!
Cut Copy – Unforgettable Season [zshare] // [ysi]
1. The Kills – Midnight Boom
This year’s best album is Midnight Boom by The Kills. Neurotic sexiness, dirty possessive love, mental disorders, drugs, garage rock and they like shout in your ears: “have fun on the ruins of the world!” The lyrics and vocals symbol a disappearing voice in the big void of overdosed euphoria… Can’t really find the words, Midnight Boom has it’s own articulation and somehow it seems that in the big plan of God for the world that this articulation is one with the objective purpose of rock n roll: to keep the joy when everything around you falls apart. You can either sit on the ground smoking with a half-smile, or air-guitar on the dancefloor, it doesn’t matter as long as you notice that the furniture, the buildings and fields slowly disintegrate into deep space.
The Kills – Black Balloon [zshare] // [ysi]
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Btw I decided not to do a tracks list. We’ve been posting about the best tracks throughtout the year so it would be pointless.
freedom and stuff produced a lot of avantgarde-ish lyrics and concepts. Following the tradition of NYC, the sound of TVOTR is hard to categorize. Both experimental and arty, their songs are full of different moods and atmospheres. You can find anything here, from the noise of Sonic Youth to the electro of !!! and to Bloc Party’s more experimental indie. The new album is gonna live up to the expectations after the brilliant Return to Cookie Mountain. You should definetly buy…both. My favourite song now is Crying. It’s light and bittersweet, perfect for a rainy afternoon around this time of the year. Maybe I’ll love Family Tree or Lover’s Day more tomorrow.