Photographs of abandoned London (Christmas morning).
(Hat tip to Kottke).

My Top 20 Albums of 2008

No real introduction, but just the list:

1. Bon Iver: For Emma, Forever Ago
   This definitely reflects my predilections this year: a preference for mellow, low-key recordings. The songs are gentle and reflective, and I kept returning to the album again and again throughout the year.
   
   
2. Shearwater: Rook
   OK, so I’m in the tank for these guys. Something about music from Austin right now really speaks to me (see #9). I’m sure an Explosions in the Sky album would have ranked quite highly this year as well. This album is perfect for commuting on the train.
   
   
3. Frightened Rabbit: Midnight Organ Fight
   Departing from the norm a bit here, in that its harder edged than my other top picks. This one has been rocking my iPod since it came out.
   
   
4. Wolf Parade: At Mount Zoomer
   This album took a couple of listens, but when I got it, I dug it. Perhaps the concert helped (Thanks for finally coming to Atlanta!). “Kissing the Beehive” alone is worth the price of admission.
   
   
5. TV on the Radio: Dear Science
   The more I think of it, the more TV on the Radio are charting the course for the next great rock band for the new millennium. Consistently smart and catchy at the same time, these guys can seemingly do no wrong.
   
   
6. The Walkmen: You & Me
   The surprise of the year for me. I didn’t expect this album to be this good. I expected a middling effort, but this is the best they’ve sounded in years. The only thing keeping this outside of the top 5 is the absence of a song like “The Rat.”
   
   
7. Sigur Rós: Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust
   Wow. Their most commercial sounding effort to date, they didn’t skimp on the beauty and majesty one would expect from Sigur Rós. If I had any musical talent, I think I would like to live in Iceland since it seems such fertile musical ground.
   
   
8. Okkervil River: The Stand Ins
   Last year’s The Stage Names raced up my list, and Will Sheff and company followed it up well with what sounds a lot like a companion album. It’s almost the reverse side of the sentiments expressed in The Stage Names.
   
   
9. Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes
   A lot of people had this as their best album of the year. It was good. Really good. “White Winter Hymnal” may be in my top two or three songs of the year. Unfortunately, the rest of the album doesn’t fit to that standard, even as good as it is.
   
   
10. Silver Jews: Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea
    Another new find. This album evokes Nick Cave and Johnny Cash in equal regards.
    
    
11. Elbow: The Seldom Seen Kid
    
    
12. The Mountain Goats: Heretic Pride
    
    
13. Deerhunter: Microcastle
    
    
14. Ra Ra Riot: Rhumb Line
    
    
15. The Raveonettes: Lust Lust Lust
    
    
16. My Morning Jacket: Evil Urges
    
    
17. The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
    
    
18. The Dodos – Visiter
    
    
19. She and Him: Volume One
    
    
20. Vampire Weekend: Vampire Weekend

Honorable mentions: R.E.M. - Accelerate (the fact that I'd even consider an R.E.M. album speaks volumes), Yeahsayer - All Hours Cymbals, Atlas Sound - Let the Blind Lead Those Who Can See But Cannot Feel.

More good music news. The Stone Roses are set to re-form.

The periodic table of awesomeness.

Project management lingo. Unfortunately, I hear a lot of these every day. UPDATE: Now with Bingo!

Blur are reforming for rehearsals, and Graham Coxon is included.

“It’s All Gonna Break”: Broken Social Scene + Land of Talk

Variety Playhouse, November 19, 2008

It seems like it’s been far too long since I attended a show of any sort, but what a perfect occasion to get back in the habit—Broken Social Scene at the Variety Playhouse. (The tickets may have been the most creative wedding gift we received.)

We arrived shortly after the opening act, Land of Talk, took the stage. I had heard of Land of Talk, a three-piece from Montreal, from a sample song played on the “All Songs Considered” podcast. I liked what I heard then, but was unable to locate the album on e-music (and it’s still not there as of today). So, when I got to the show and saw they were the opening act, I was pleasantly surprised.

I definitely enjoyed their set. The music at times was reminiscent of Guided by Voices, while the vocals reminded me a bit of Bettie Serveert, though both these comparisons are based on an immediate gut check—I have no idea how valid they actually are. I’d need to spend more time with the band’s music first. And that’s something I intend to do, as soon as I can get my hands on a copy of their latest (I did pick up their EP, which was available on e-music, today). I’d say that’s pretty high praise for an opening band coming from me.

After a quick smoke and short wait, Broken Social Scene, in all their masses took the stage. I had not seen them play live before, so I had no idea exactly what to expect, but I was definitely looking forward to the show. For last night’s show, the band consisted of anywhere between three and eight members at various times.

For the first few songs, the entire group took the stage (without Feist who is a little busy with other things I’d imagine—like the Colbert Christmas Special). Elizabeth Powell, the singer/guitarist from Land of Talk, however, picked up the slack quite nicely. To be honest, I was a bit concerned during the first song. With so many members on stage, they seemed to have a hard time getting in sync. This didn’t last though. By mid-way through the second song, just when they would have to really get together, they did. And how. And it was like this for the rest of the night. They were a beautiful, shambolic, chaotic, creative, powerful mess. Therein lies the power of their music. Though it was interesting to see as many as seven people looking as if they were wandering aimlessly about the stage, even though, in retrospect, it was a highly choreographed exercise, since they barely put one note wrong the entire night.

This was also a learning experience. Many times I wondered when listening to their songs, just where something had come from—seemingly from the blue as I listened. Well, now I know. At various points last night, during the middle of a song, another band member would wander out from backstage, grab an instrument, and seamlessly bring a whole new sound to the party.
I’m really terrible about remembering and dictating set lists, but I heard everything song I could think of by them that I really wanted to hear, from “Place=Time” , to “Stars and Sons”, to an incredibly energetic and, at times, frenetic “It’s All Gonna Break”.

What else can I say? This has to be one of the more memorable shows I’ve seen in the last few years.

UPDATE: Now with links!