2008: Everything Else

Reprinted from the Facebook Archives, with permission from the author.


I had a blog once (although based on the readership, you could make a pretty decent argument against its very existence). When I was into it, I was really into it -- it was a great way to be creative or blow off steam or talk about music or whatever. A welcome outlet for a guy who doesn't write for pleasure nearly as often as he should. Problem was, I was only into it about five or six times. So I'm gonna try it here as part of the Grand Facebook Experiment I have embarked upon. Facebook doesn't have the dizzying array of dodgy-to-ehh backgrounds that Blogger sports, but I'll try to rise above that with the writing. Or not. (Editor's note: the aesthetics have won, which is why you're reading this here instead of there. Carry on.)

That's right. A mission statement.

Now, since (as we all know) the deadline for music criticism for any year is January 31 of the following year -- it's like the fiscal year that way, or Orthodox Christmas -- I still have a bit of time to talk about 2008 In Music. I can't decide if it was just a down year or if I finally took a few steps down the Relevance Ladder, but since it's my damn blog I'm going with the former. I have a Top 10 records list, but there just wasn't enough quality to pad it to 20, which is a first. So before we get to the official Best Of, let's spend some time with Everything Else. Or, if you prefer, The Top However Many Records That I Just Couldn't Get Enough Time With Or Weren't Amazing Enough To Demand My Attention 2008.

Audience Award
Metallica Death Magnetic
Runaway winner for Album I Loved (But Not The Whole Thing division), and hands down my kids' Album Of The Year, which is worth an award in and of itself: "Dad, can we listen to metal?" YES WE CAN.

I was never a die-hard Metallica guy -- I came on board with "One" and the Black Album, just like every other Metalli-poseur -- but I always kinda paid attention to what they were up to. So when I heard that they were giving Rick Rubin the bridge, my inner riff freak was delighted. And for the most part, they didn't disappoint. Even though I really wasn't a fan of Side 2 -- save the ultrafast closer "My Apocalypse" -- Side 1 was a pitch-perfect mix of Metallica old and new. Kickass riffery all around. Extra points for shredding every night onstage well into their 40s, which is way more physically demanding than anyone realizes. Plus, the six songs that I loved clock in at just under 45 minutes -- longer than some of my top 10 albums.

Ehhhhhhhhh...No: Just Outside The Top 10 Records
Sigur Ros Whatever The Mess It Was Called In Icelandic, And Don't Act Like You Care
Beautiful as always, and easily their most accessible record. A really interesting directional shift that makes me really excited about the next record. Plus, butts on the cover!

Kings of Leon Only By The Night
Since when did touring with U2 and being obvoiusly influenced by them for your next two records become a liability? Caleb Followill's voice is still straight from Nashville, and that makes the record that much more interesting. Maybe on the cusp of a truly great record. (I'm sensing a theme here.)

Gary Louris Vagabonds
Or not. Gary makes his '70s L.A. record. Just a ton of really solid tunes and a great singer. It works every time...and his new record with Mark Olson just came out. Oh yeah. Side note: I never got to see the Olson/Louris Jayhawks live, but the guys did a duo tour a few years back that the missus and I went to see. Astounding. I have never heard harmonies like that from people that weren't blood relations.

Might Have Distinguished Themselves Given The Time: The I-Feel-Bad Records
The Cure 4:13 Dream
I have a feeling I'm really gonna like this one in the long run. It's raw -- they toured the record without keyboards! -- and rocking. Just didn't get to spin it enough.

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
Cave demands your attention, that's for sure. And so do kids. And there's some stuff you just can't play when they're in the car. Or in the house. Is that all I've got? I can't believe I just wrote that. How inescapably lame.

I Just Couldn't Get There: Records I Reeeeeeeeally Wanted To Like More Than I Did
My Morning Jacket Evil Urges
I've become enamored lately of taking albums that were almost great and rehabbing them in iTunes. Cutting tracks, changing sequences...I've become quite the post-producer. Urges will likely get that treatment. I absolutely believe that right now, they're the American Radiohead and one of our finest live acts, and there's some A++ stuff here, but the album's a few tracks heavy.

TV on the Radio Dear Science
This may be the textbook definition of "I Just Couldn't Get There": critically acclaimed (although less so than Return To Cookie Mountain, and I was kinda shocked to see it top both the Rolling Stone and Spin year-end lists), timely, innovative...and I just couldn't get there. I really have no reason why.