14.
French Kicks
Swimming
Vagrant

Swimming is the fourth LP from the gentlemen of French Kicks, and it is their best – their OK Computer; their Blonde On Blonde. A blend of melancholy pop ala Elvis Costello & The Attractions with nuances of British Invasion mod pop, this is an essential release that oozes with cool timelessness. I can easily see myself throwing this on in ten years and still loving every bit of it. There is a blanket of reverb that everything seems to envelop everything on Swimming, making it seem like it’s much older record than it really is. And I think that’s part of its charm. It’s a nostalgic record that still sounds fresh. 
 

13.
+/- (Plus/Minus)
Xs On Your Eyes
Absolutely Kosher

When I started compiling this list I never considered that any record included would boast a touring member of Kelly Clarkson’s band – but thanks to drummer Chris Deaner of Plus/Minus, I see otherwise. Xs on Your Eyes - the band’s fourth full length and second on Absolutely Kosher – shows the boys really stretching out and getting a little weird, but ultimately better. The album opens with “Tired Eyes”; after a few moments of soothing mellotron and xylophone tones it switches pace with crashing guitars and drumming bombast at full tilt.  When other bands try to incorporate electronics or beats, it usually ends up being top heavy. Plus/Minus strike a balance in ways only Radiohead knows. Xs On Your Eyes is an ambitious record, but to me it is 48 minutes of math rock brilliance that I suggest it to any fans of Jawbox, Frodus or Pinback.

12.
No Age
Nouns
Sub Pop

Sub Pop – the label that brought grunge to the mainstream – has managed to release the first neo-grunge record of the naughty oughties. It takes L.A.-based duo Randy Randall and Dean Spunt all of 15 or 20 seconds to melt your face clean off in “Miner”. I can safely say that most of the songs on Nouns could have easily been released in the 90s alongside music from the likes of Nirvana and Mudhoney.  Sparser songs like “Things I Did When I Was Dead” or the white noise trance of “Keechie” owe more to Sonic Youth than Melvins.  Nouns surely keeps it interesting for the listener all the way through, making it one my favorites of 2008. If you like what you hear, see them live. Their live show is the real deal. For serious. 
 

11.
Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
Dig, Lazarus, Dig! 
MUTE 

Only Nick Cave can take the biblical story of Lazarus’ rise from the grave, set it in NYC, throw in some homage to Harry Houdini and come out with a cohesive and thoroughly amazing record. Dig, Lazarus, Dig! finds Cave fronting what is essentially the same band from his most recent musical outlet, Grinderman, plus the the stripped-down rawness we remember from his days in the seminal post-punk outfit The Birthday Party.  This is the 14th album from the Bad Seeds, but it’s also the second record without the presence of guitarist Blixa Bargeld (formally of Einstürzende Neubauten); frankly, I don’t notice any changes.  If you enjoyed the Grinderman record, then you’re more than likely going to love this. It’s dirty and dark, full of string sections that invoke hysterics over and over again. If you’re unfamiliar with Nick Cave then I suggest you look at those who wear his influence pretty plainly – bands like Murder City Devils, The Make Up and the circus-like Man Man. I really love Dig, Lazarus, Dig! It may take some time for you to warm up to the half-waning croon of Nick Cave, but once you do you’ll be down for life (or death).

To be continued!

Tags: 2008