Dry Humour on the Wet Coast

It’s about that time of year again, and because I’m not really in the mood to post a full top ten, here’s my Top 5 Albums of 2008. Remember; taste is subjective, but not all opinions are created equal.

Here we go…

5 – No Age – Nouns
The follow up to the critically acclaimed “Weirdo Rippers”, the LA drone rockers returned with Nouns, a triumphant fuzz bomb that melted faces around the globe. It evokes scenes of at-punk parties and downhill-racing on BMXs. A summer time record if there ever was one. Now, the shoe-gazing feast may not be for everyone, but if you’re already in market, this kicks ass.

4 – Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow & Blue
The Midland, Ontario, indie-popsters managed to craft an album superior to anything they’re elder predecessors could have hoped to conjure up. With references to the works of Kurt Vonnegut Jr, nation building, and ridiculous titled tracks like “Badonkadonkey” they show that the best stuff in Ontario is never in Toronto. So it goes.

3- Sigur Ros – Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

Quite possibly the most positive sound album to come from the group yet. Usually known for somber sounding songs that could easily fit in as the score for a dystopian future, this time around the Icelandic artists lended their hoplandic lyrics towards sunnier sights. It’s as though they captured the essence of the world turning a corner, with brighter days to come. However, it should be noted that they seems to make music that’s the opposite of the current societal conditions of their native Iceland. Times are pretty tough on the island right now, what with the complete financial collapse of the nation.

2- Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane
Soft Airplane is the continued exponential growth of Calgary’s number 1 son. Dancing around from folkish tracks, to blurry sonic distortions, Chad VanGaalen once again makes an album worth remembering. It’s not surprising to hear a track singing about Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle masks from a guy whole was on David Letterman’s Stupid Human Trick. Google that. You won’t be sorry.

1- Fleet Foxes – SELF TITLED

An early offering in the year, it was never dethroned from it’s top spot. Like My Morning Jacket’s Z, Ragged Wood stands head and shoulders above the rabble, showing it’s influences while creating a new archetype that should prove as ripe picking grounds for uncreative groups in the future (I’m looking at you Band of Horses).
Robust and full, the western, yet not twangy, tunes have a baroque feel, while maintaining an accessible minimalistic approach. Like the title may suggest, everything about the album feels organic, warm, somewhat mysterious. The double-step drum pacing evokes steam-engines dashing across the plains, the choral vocals stir up shadows of chivalry and mossy grey fortresses, with an end result feeling like something that straddles difference between larping and a spaghetti western.
Now time for some hyperbole: Fleet Foxes are, while not better than, the best thing to come out of the Pacific Northwest since Nirvana.

The Big Disappointment of the Year:

My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges
What the hell is this. When the album leaked a month or so prior to the the official release, there were people out there whole were convinced that this had to be a prank Jim James was playing on the pirates of the internet. Highly Suspicious sounds like Faith No More backing Prince. A song about a Librarian with lyrics seemingly written in a High School poetry class. And what was with the Two Halves psuedo-country patriotic wank fest?
Sadly when the album dropped and it turned out to be no different from the abomination circling the interwebs, hearts dropped.
Sure Touch Me I’m Going to Scream was a decent track, but you’d expect so much more from the band to gave us Z, At Dawn and It Still Moves.
Jim James, give you head a shake.