So I guess we do this every year, so we might as well start now. Favorites for 2008?
Mine are:
Flowering Blight - As if there was any doubt, this unexpected gem tops my list. Didn’t think it would ever come out and then… one day it just gets released without warning. Unlike so many albums with this kind of anticipation, it absolutely exceeded expectations. It’s got everything I love about Paul’s songwriting and was executed perfectly. My absolute favorite for the year and I’m sure it’ll be on several other lists.
Leatherstrip - Retention Vol 2 - The first disc is just Claus’ second album remastered, nothing amazing there. And I was pretty skeptical when I heard that the second disc was simply rerecorded versions of the songs from the first disc. Luckily I happened to catch the rerecorded version of GAWM and was absolutely hooked. These songs are all much-improved and in some cases unrecognizable (in a good way). Imagine Al rewriting and rerecording Twitch and somehow making it better. This is the equivalent for Strip-fans.
Die Warzau - Vinyl 88 - This one was way underpromoted (I just discovered that it came out a few weeks ago) and contains a lot of previously released tracks, but at least it’s all remixed and I’ll take what DW I can get. Now if only they’d come out with the promised full-length or the long-anticipated Republic.
Imatem - Journey - I thought it odd that the singer for Project Pitchfork would come out with an album full of guest-vocalists, but it really works. Some real stand-outs on this one, if you’re into the Pitchfork/VNV type thing.
Imperative reaction - Minus All - These guys have really impressed me with their last few releases. This one doesn’t disappoint.
Marnie Stern - This Is It - Don’t know why I like this one. It’s certainly outside my normal listening realm. Just enough weirdness to keep me interested, I guess.
Information Society - Apocryphon - I thought I’d like this more than I did, but it’s still worth it for the new version of Wrongful Death.
Leatherstrip - Civil Disobedience - Like the last couple albums, I really like the new Leatherstip sound. Claus keeps turning it our 2 and 3 discs at a time, which is just fine by me.
Psy’aviah - Entertainment Industries - I don’t usually like female vocals in electronic music, but this one’s a strong enough album to suck me in anyway.
REM - Accelerate - Yeah, I like REM. Not as good as the old classics, but definitely stronger than any of their past few albums.
Revco - Sexo Olympico - I guess it’s not really out yet, but who hasn’t heard it yet? Anyway, I like this one. Or at least most of it. You can tell that much of it was written by the Stayte guys. Parts almost seem like Al gave them topics to write about and let them pen the songs. Way better than the last album.
System Syn - End - I’ve been a fan of this guy’s since I heard his cover of Mentallo & The Fixer’s Ruthless. This one’s in the same vein, but different enough to still be interesting.
That’s a short list. This year I’ve really overwhelmed myself with music, so there are quite a few albums I haven’t had a chance to really delve into that will probably end up on there like Conor Oberst’s solo album, new Babyland, Cyanotic, Fixmer & McCarthy, Acumen’s second Artifacts compilation and Coil’s New Backwards.
Anyone else?