I Have Better Taste than You: The Top 15 Albums of 2008

15) Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles



14) The Black Keys - Attack and Release



13) Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend



12) My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges



11) Girl Talk - Feed the Animals



10) The Hold Steady - Stay Positive



9) Vivian Girls - Vivian Girls



8) M83 - Saturdays = Youth



7) Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever



6) The Walkmen - You & Me



5) No Age - Nouns



4) Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes



3) Fucked Up - The Chemistry of Common Life



2) Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!



1) TV on the Radio -Dear Science

A Broken Wing and Nothing More

I'm really digging the album from Isobel Campbell and Mark Lanegan, "Sunday at Devil Dirt." The sweet voice from the Belle and Sebastian alum is the perfect counterpoint to the former Screaming Tree's brooding intensity. "Sunday" feels feels a bit like an album of Nick Cave ballads but that's not a bad thing at all. Their songs make me want to join the merchant marines and set out on an adventure full of fisticuffs, deals with Satan, and pale and tragic women. What can I say? I'm a romantic.

Here's the debauched and NSFW video to "Ramblin' Man" off their debut:

My Heart's in the Strangest Place

I'm loving the new video for The Walkmen's "In the New Year." Check it out:

Their new album "You and Me" is out now. It's a real return to form for the band from NYC. I've always maintained that the song "The Rat" from "Bows and Arrows" should have been a massive hit.

I Live a lot of Places

Calgary's own Woodpigeon is really starting to make a name for themselves. They're one of those bands who sounds exactly like their name implies. Check out their myspace for some solid folk music. You can also download their EP "Houndstooth" from their website for free.

Here they are on Calgary Breakfast Television:

Subpoenaed in Texas, Sequestered in Memphis

The best bar band in the world are back. The Hold Steady's latest record "Stay Positive" has dropped and it does not disappont. Very few bands can match the Hold Steady for sheer rocking ability and the album's two opening tracks prove it. "Constructive Summer" recalls the youthful optimism of a new summer and the adventures that can be had, "We're going to build something, this summer." However, this optimism is tempered by the realization that these days are shortlived, "Getting older makes it harder to remember... we are our only saviors." Don't let the album's explicitly positive title fool you - The Hold Steady have not gone all saccharine on their fourth album. "Stay Positive" is as bittersweet as the band's breakthough "Boys and Girls in America." The usual themes of youth, religion, rebellion. and partying are all there - sharing the stage with some sweet guitar solos. The album is classic Hold Steady - wordy and cathartic. If you really want to experience the Hold Steady, though, you gotta see them live. Perhaps, in Ybor city with Charlemagne and Holly.

100th Post: Your Life in Music

Sorry for no post on Friday but I wanted my 100th post to be legendary. So, I suggest that all you music junkies try playing this game: choose your favourite album from each year you've been alive and list them. Some interesting trends emerge:

My list:

1985: Rain Dogs - Tom Waits

1986: The Queen is Dead - The Smiths

1987: You're Living All Over Me - Dinosaur Jr.

1988: Daydream Nation - Sonic Youth

1989: Dolittle - Pixies

1990: Violator - Depeche Mode

1991: Loveless - My Bloody Valentine

1992: The Future - Leonard Cohen

1993: In Utero - Nirvana

1994: Weezer - Weezer

1995: Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness - The Smashing Pumpkins

1996: Endtroducing.... - DJ Shadow

1997: OK Computer - Radiohead

1998: Neutral Milk Hotel - In the Aeroplane over the Sea

1999: The Soft Bulletin - The Flaming Lips

2000: The Moon and Antartcica - Modest Mouse

2001: Is this it? - The Strokes

2002: Yankee Hotel Foxtrot - Wilco

2003: You Forgot it in People - Broken Social Scene

2004: Funeral - Arcade Fire

2005: Apologies to the Queen Mary - Wolf Parade

2006: Everything All the Time - Band of Horses

2007: Boxer - The National

2008 (so far): My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges

Walkers of the World Unite

As someone who is too poor and incompetent to own a car and too scared to bicycle in the city, I pretty much walk everywhere. Truth be told, there is nothing I love more than a good long walk. As a result, I have adopted My Morning Jacket's "Sec Walkin" as my new personal theme song. It nicely encampsulates my transportation philosophy:

Left leg, right leg

One leg at a time I keep on walking

I keep on walking

Red light, green light

First light I see tonight I am walking

Oh, yeah I am walking

Fever, breathe in your own cool, blue air

Look for eyes that hypnotize and sparkle

Look for eyes that hypnotize and sparkle everywhere

Brother, brother, don't you care?

Brother, brother, don't you care?

Left leg, right leg

One leg at a time I keep on walking

I keep on walking

Red light, green light

First light I see tonight I am walking

Oh, yeah I am walking

Fever, breathe in your own cool, blue air

Demon eyes, demon eyes are watching

Demon eyes, demon eyes are watching everywhere

Brother, brother, don't you care?

Brother, brother, don't you care?

You can read my full review of MMJ's latest effort here.

Wild and Wicked Sleep

The Acorn are an indie folk band out of Ottawa, ON. There latest album "Glory Hope Mountain" is a concept album about the life of lead singer Rolf Klausener's Honduran mother. I'm not sure how I feel about their music yet but one thing that is for sure is that made a wicked video for the first single off that album "Flood Pt.1." I suggest you watch in full screen:

Quick Note

The Montreal Jazz Fest is awesome and mostly free. Check it out.

Oh, Give Us Your Votes

New music week continues: Unlike Wolf Parade, Tokyo Police Club didn't have a successful debut to live up to. However, they had something much, much worse: unbearable hype. Hype is a strange thing; it is often as much an albatross as it is a blessing. Judging by their latest release "Elephant Shell," TPC tried to avoid the next big thing curse by sticking to what they do best; short, catchy and quirky rock. Their debut is practically another EP, clocking in at just under 28 minutes so it is as aerodynamic as it is danceable. While I believe that "Elephant Shell" lacks the unity of their earlier EPs like "A Lesson in Crime," songs like "Your English is Good" and "Tesselate" deliver on the promise of their early hype.

Hipsters frolicking: The video for "Your English is Good"

As if you didn't know that it would sting

New CD Review week continues: The infamous sophomore jinx; the pressure to follow up a succesful debut has crippled many bands. Luckily, this is not the case for Montreal's Wolf Parade. The band's debut "Apologies to the Queen Mary" is nothing short of spectacular and cut through the indie rock landscape (including many other bands with "Wolf" in their names) in 2006. "At Mount Zoomer," the band's second offering doesn't quite approach the classic status of the first album but it is still quite an accomplishment nonetheless. Songs like "Soldier's Grin" and "Call it a ritual" sting with the urgency of the first album. However, it is the album's closer "Kissing the Beehive," a ten minute epic written by both of WP's main songwriters, that nudges "At Mount Zoomer" towards greatness.

Here's my favourite song of the last album, "I'll Believe in Anything":

The Storm still Rages...

Lazy music critics often describe Kentucky's My Morning Jacket as "Southern Rock" or banty about the name Lynyrd Skynyrd in their reviews. Easy labels like these don't nearly capture My Morning Jacket's eclecticism and appeal. Their eclectic nature is on full display on the band latest album "Evil Urges." Although the reviews for MMJ's 5th album have been positive they have often described "Evil Urges" as a fall off from the band's previous two albums, "It Still Moves" and "Z." I happen to think both those records are modern classics but there's something about "Evil Urges" that really grabs me. From the Prince-esque opening track to softer fare like "Librarian" and "Thank You Too," listening to "Evil Urges" in its entirety is a joy. In my opinion, it matches and perhaps surpasses any of the band's previous work. I'm so mad at myself for cheaping out on seeing live in Montreal last week. There's always next time.

Here's some making of footage for "Evil Urges."

My Favourite Springsteen Song

My City of Ruins

"Now theres tears on the pillow / Darling where we slept / And you took my heart when you left / Without your sweet kiss / My soul is lost, my friend / Now tell me how do I begin again?"

Illegal Art

Now, I thought the whole mash up trend jumped the shark in about 2004 but long time readers of the Buddha will remember that I'm a big admirer of superstar DJ and former biomedical engineer Gregg Gillis aka Girl Talk. Yesterday, Girl Talk released his second full length album of sample based dance music and after just one listen "Feed The Animals" is as excited as his debut "Night Ripper." The album is available to download via his label Illegal Art. Even better news is that Girl Talk is releasing it Radiohead style so you cab pay what you see fit for it. However, if you decide to pay nothing, you better be prepared to be guilted. If you enter a price of $0.00 this is the question you'll be asked why and presented with these options:

- I may donate later

- I can't afford to pay

- I don't really like Girl Talk

- I don't believe in paying for music

- I have already purchased this album

- I don't value music made from sampling

- I am part of the press, radio, or music industry

- Other reasons

I paid a dollar so I know I'll sleep at night. Can you?

The cage doesn't seem to open very wide at all...

I became a fan of Martha Wainwright when I saw her last summer at the Osheaga festival. She was so charming and disarming that no one cared when she stopped mid song to demand a joint from the audience (noticed said joint nestled in her guitar in the above photo). Well, Ms. Wainwright is in fine form again on her new album, "I Know You're Married But I have Feelings Too." The usual subjects are covered; love, lust, insecurity and fragility. Despite being recently married, Martha is certainly not letting the male of the species off the hook, "You got a girlfriend and I can only talk about her for so very long". It's good to know that the angry young woman of "Bloody Motherfucking Asshole" is still around. I will say that the new album does, at times, seem to be overpolished which diminishes the emotional intensity of the first record. Still, I would recommend giving it a listen.

Hold Steady Streams new LP

Minnesota heroes The Hold Steady are streaming their entire new album "Stay Positive" on their MySpace page right now as you read this. Who knows how long it will be up so you better hurry up and listen. I've listened to it all the way through only once so I'll have to wait awhile before I write a proper review but I gotta say that I like what I hear. It doesn't have the same unity as "Boys and Girls in America" or "Almost Killed Me" but the epic scope is certainly still there. Craig Finn and the best bar band in the world really seem to be experimenting with their sound a little as well. Is that a lute I hear? Like the band's famous "Southtown Girls," "Stay Positive" might not blow you away but you know that it'll stay...

The Hold Steady - Stuck Between Stations:

I Don't Give a Hoot

Oh Weezer, what has happened to you? My once favourite rock band has devolved into a novelty act. As far as I'm concerned, Weezer's first two albums are untouchable classics and I had such high hopes that their third eponymous album would be a return to form for Rivers & Co. after hearing the epic first single "Pork and Beans" and seeing its snarky video. However, this tease only makes the "Red" album more disappointing. The album's first three songs, "Troublemaker," "The Greatest Man that Ever Lived," and "Pork and Beans" wouldn't seem out of place on Weezer's better efforts but after that, the songs are completely bereft of any emotion. What made the "Blue" album and Pinkerton so remarkable was that the band's detached irony was coupled with a real emotional centre. The "Red" album is even worse than 2006's "Make Believe" because head songwriter Rivers Cuomo has become a pure mathematician, crafting catchy pop songs that are vapid at best.

Skip this one and watch this to remember happier days:



If you must watch a new Weezer video, make it this one featuring Brian Bell and Internet sensation Tay Zonday:

Ring the Bells that Still can Ring

Usually, legends have to wait until they die before they receive the type of adulation they deserve. The only good thing about Leonard Cohen's financial troubles is that he has a year of multiple standing ovations to look forward to. I was fortunate enough to attend the June 6th kick off of Mr. Cohen's first tour in 15 years at Toronto's Sony Centre. The multi-generational crowd showered Cohen with affection for the show's impressive 3 hour length. Yes, any worries that Cohen, at 73 years old, may have lost a step were quickly assuaged as he launched into his 1984 classic "Dance me to the End of Love." Cohen's set (posted below) was littered with of 40 years of classics. His arresting recitation of his poem "A Thousand Kisses Deep" was a personal highlight. "Hallelujah," "Suzanne," "Bird on a Wire" and "Everybody Knows" all delivered. Lenny's hair may be grey, he may ache in the places where he used to play but Friday night proved that he's still got charisma to burn and a voice to leave with you goosebumps three days later.

I Came So Far for Beauty

I don't believe in heroes but if I did Leonard Cohen would certainly be one of them. Tomorrow night, I'm going to see the man himself at Toronto's Sony Centre. Needless to say, I'm so excited I could plotz.

Expect a full review of the show on Monday.

Cohen performs "Avalanche" in 1988:

Coldplay Makes Politicians Dance

Now, I've never been the biggest Coldplay fan. I never felt Coldplay adequately filled the gap left by Radiohead when they renounced their guitars in favour of robots. However, no one can deny that Chris Martin and co. can craft a solid hook and make a good video. The official video for "Violet Hill," the lead single off their new LP "Viva la Vida" is quite boring but the band approved, Mat Whitecross directed viral video is inspired. The video features stock footage of politicians like Bush, Blair, Castro, and Yeltsin dancing and rocking out. Almost makes them seem human...

Check it out:




Boring official video here: