From Christmas until now I have been thinking about the music of 2008. Throughout the last year I have been listening to alternative pop and indie with a healthy dose of electronic, drum n’ bass and hip-hop. The albums of my top ten may not be critically acclaimed, however they have had a degree of high rotation through my stereo speakers. In fact if you asked my family they would say they have heard them a little too much. I believe I was told to “..turn off that bloody music I don’t want to listen to Laura Marling AGAIN.”
Without too much ado, I give you my top ten music albums of 2008.
10. Jazz Liberatorz “Clin d’oeil” I have always had a fascination with jazz and hip-hop fusions. In my opinion the best hip-hop is slightly jazzy, like The Fugees or Jurassic 5. I quite liked the Jazzmatazz albums by Guru but I quickly became sick of only his voice and looked for some variety. I also felt that they were a little hip-hop oriented and didn’t incorporate the jazz to its full extent. The variety and jazz came within this album by the Jazz Liberatorz. From what I can gather the Jazz Liberatorz are a group of producers from Paris who have invited guests vocalists to perform on their album. The album is a perfect fusion of jazz and hip-hop and perfect to chill out to on these hot summers days. For me the stand out tracks are: Vacation (featuring J-Live), The Return (featuring Sadat X), I Am Hip Hop (featuring Asheru). This being said the whole album is brilliant. Highly recommended.
9. Amadou and Mariam “Welcome to Mali”This album was created by a blind couple from Mali and carries a strong African influence. This being said, it does not bring with it the usual connotations that are associated with “World” music. The melodies are simple, beautiful and often inspired by western pop music. Damon Albarn (from Blur and Gorillaz fame) produced the opening track Sabali adding slight electronic eighties pop to African Folk/Blues. The stand out tracks are: Sabali, Masiteladi, and Je Te Kiffe. This album is poignant and relevant within our western world and culture. Four stars
8. The Bug “London Zoo”By this time you the reader must be thinking “Tom, where is your party spirit? Let loose the party animal.” Well this album by The Bug is full of bangin’ party tunes. At the start of 2008 I was introduced to the musical style of Dubstep. This introduction changed the way that I listened to music. It’s awesome. (On a side note if you are interested in Dubstep you should check out the music of Skream and Benga.) “London Zoo” is dark, political, grimy and raw. My favourite tracks are: Poison Dart, Skeng, and Murder We.
7. Max Richter “24 Postcards in Full Colour” Having gone to a Steiner School I should have an appreciations for “classical” music, however this was not the case until I heard the work of Max Richter. After listening to Richter I began to listen to classical music on purpose. Initially what attracted me to “24 Postcards in Full Colour” was the method through which one could listen to the music online. http://www.24postcards.co.uk/ displays 24 images that when selected play a song from the album. All the songs are short, very simple and eloquent. They are designed as art for mobile phones. (I have a fascination with phone art; see “Art within the Digital Age” within this blog.) Richter fuses many of the traditional elements of classical music with modern technology and sound manipulation. 24 Postcards in Full Colour is the perfect blending of new technology with a traditional from of art. Beautiful and wonderful.
6. TV On The Radio “Dear Science”TV On The Radio have greatly matured since their previous album “Return To Cookie Mountain.” Dear Science is a hive of creativity and good times. Strings and horns are placed above driving rhythms that insight random acts of flamboyant and energetic public displays of dance. The stand out tracks are: Stork and Owl, Golden Age, and Halfway Home. Highly recommended to those that enjoy a good dose of creativity with fun times.
5. Fleet Foxes “Fleet Foxes”The Fleet Foxes describe their music as "baroque harmonic pop jams," however this does not accurately portray the beauty that is revealed within the album. Originally from Seattle (a city that is renowned for such acts as Nirvana and Pearl Jam) the Fleet Foxes have created an album that defies modern music categorising. With a mixture of folk music with baroque harmonies that invokes meadows of luscious grass and woodlands in the summer, and indie folk that is similar to the likes of Bon Iver, and Iron and Wine, Fleet Foxes have created a classic that will transport the listener into simpler times. Highly recommended.
4. Pendulum “In Silico”Those that know me will know that I can’t go past a good meaty drum n bass album. Pendulum has made it into my top ten this year because they helped me to relieve stress throughout the Uni year. They were a welcome distraction from homework and readings.
The music is very different from their previous album. It is created with a huge rock influence that makes the tracks even more epic then before. It is also a very dark record with dark lyrics and music. There still is the distinctive sound of the bass lines and the drums that attracted me to their first album “Hold Your Colour.” What a great way to be transported out of uni life and into one that has never-ending hype and parties. I am so looking forward to seeing Pendulum at the Big Day Out. This album ROCKS
3. Vampire Weekend “Vampire Weekend”Fun and happy indie pop cannot help but gladden the heart, happy fun indie pop that has a recorder in it no less. There are many catchy songs that are great to dance to as well as to put on wanting to be relieved of all of your troubles. I like most of the songs within this album but the standouts are: Oxford Comma, A-Punk, and One (Blakes Got A New Face). This is sunny pop for all occasions and is great to listen to on a hot afternoon with a beer in the backyard.
2. Mystery Jets “Twenty One”I have noticed that I can be easily wooed with simple and beautiful pop melodies. “Twenty One” is full of stories about being young, carefree and in love. The music reflects the songs well at time being cheeky and mischievous with beautiful harmonies, and at times holding the stark sound that is associated with British guitar based Indie. For me the best song on the album is the first single, that features Laura Marling, called Young Love. This song is so musically and lyrically relevant to my life at the moment. It is this album that kept me sane throughout the year at Uni last year. I love it. 5 out of 5
1. Laura Marling “Alas I Cannot Swim”Alas I Cannot Swim is amazing. Laura Marling is a beautiful singer/songwriter from the UK. Her debut album is created with remarkable confidence; she was 18 when the album was released, with songs that have me hooked at every moment. The stories that are portrayed within the songs are both relevant to the youth of today as well as those that are more mature. Again the songs are simple with an almost organic feel that comes with the minimal arrangements. This album makes me think of love, youth and life. For me, listening to this record can lock me within the moment an all of life’s troubles become simple trivialities that are no longer relevant or important. The whole album is magnificent however I feel that the best tracks are: Ghosts, You’re No God, Failure, and My Manic And I.
