13. Little Joy - S/T

A good little album from a side band of the Strokes and Los Hermanos. The album is short but sweet. Clocked in at about a half hour. Inspired by Brazilian samba, folk, and alternative rock. Enjoy here.

14. Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip - Angles

Silly, smart, and smarmy hip hop from a duo from East Essex. Pitchfork gave this album a .2 I think, apparently only they can say things like "The Beatles were just a band....Radiohead just a band...the next big thing is just a band". I just chalked it up to media company full of tight assed elitists, who if hear anything that make jabs at what they worship, they will give a bad review. Anyway the album is great a good example of British Hip Hop. They even rap the periodical table of elements.

Funny Pitchfork review here.

Enjoy Here.

Top 15 of the year.

Well its the end of 2008, a pretty great year for music. Only tainted by the lack of a back end albums. As my list stands here.

15. The Black Keys - Attack & Release
14. Dan Le Sac vs. Scroobius Pip - Angles
13. Little Joy - S/T
12. M83 - Saturdays = Youth
11. Momo - Buscador
10. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash
9. Atmosphere - When Life Hands You Lemons...
8. TV On The Radio - Dear Science
7. She & Him - Volume 1
6. Wise Blood - Wise Blood
5. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
4. Fleet Foxes - S/T
3. My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
2. Why? - Alopecia
1. AA Bondy - American Hearts

Tobacco - Fucked Up Friends

Have been listening to this while playing video games or playing ping pong. A good mostly instrumental independent gritty hip hop sounds, courtesy of Anticon records. Enjoy.

T.V. On The Radio - Dear Science

A spectacular album, sorry for being late with posting this. This may be one of my favorites of the year. The band blends 70's rock, soul, dance, and funk altogether to make a beautiful new piece of music. Enjoy

Bon Iver - Blood Bank

Follow up EP to Bon Iver's debut classic "For Emma, Forever Ago". Enjoy.

Wise Blood update

My friend Karl has uploaded his album to a site, where you can download many different sizes and qualities of the album. Also on their you can play a track straight off, so if you are on the border take a listen. You should check it out. Also he is working on a new album and has 2 new songs recorded that can be found on his myspace.

Download site

Myspace

Momo - Buscador

I was sent this album from a friend and reader of the blog. Sometimes I am not sure what to think if I get sent something. Its hard to give something the attention it needs when i have no knowledge of the music or background of the artists, but this album "Buscador" from Momo a Brazilian band didn't ask for my attention it took it. The emailer who I have to thank, made a great comparison to Pink Floyd in terms of the guitars and crashing drums. This however is much more than that, the songs seem to flow really well together, this is an album in the truest of terms. It is not one song to the next but a complete album with a focus, its hard for me to grasp the meanings of the songs, as I believe they're sung in Portuguese. But you dont have to have the lyrics to understand or relate to the music. Try this album, I implore you, you'll never look back. My favorites are "Preciso Ser Pedra", "Irmãos", and "Tristeza", but the whole thing is exotic and beautiful. Enjoy

The bands site.

Thanks to Jairo.

The Tallest Man On Earth - Shallow Graves

A folk gem from a musician in Sweden. I first heard about him from the "When You Awake" blog. I found his album and gave it a listen and was really surprised how good it is. If you are unfamiliar than you will hear the similarity between the voices of Kristian Matsson (Tallest Man) and Bob Dylan. This album looks like it fits between "John Wesley Harding" and "Nashville Skyline". You will love the intimate feel of the album, you will hear the fingernails on the strings, and noises of birds outside. This year has been really good for folk or americana, or what have you. This is another example of that, and with the beauty of the internet we can all hear how good foreign musicians are. Enjoy My favorites are "The Blizzard's Never Seen The Desert Sands", "Pistol Dreams", and "This Wind".

Les Savy Fav - Lets Stay Friends

A great band, I wish I had seen them live when they came to Cincy. There is something intrinsic about their music, it is blatant rock n' roll but there is something else there. Les Savy Fav is widely known as one of the forefathers of modern independent rock. The sounds and effects you hear on this album are all proof of that. Every song on this album goes in so many directions that you could make an album out of each one. If you haven't heard Les Savy Fav before please download this, it will become your new favorite band. This is a perfect album to listen to while taking out a 12 pack of PBR. My favorite tracks are Pots & Pans, Brace Yourself, and What Wolves Would Do. Enjoy.