Having listened to little else since I managed to get hold of it last week, I have absolutely no doubt that M. Ward's Hold Time will be appearing at nosebleed-inducing heights in next year's 'Best of '09' lists.
While the long-awaited follow up to Post War is not actually out until mid-February, this atmospheric video for the albums title track has surfaced on t'net and provides a perfect taster. Featuring the black and white meanderings of cable cars it is ideal for January reflection and even gives you an inisght on the lyrics.
As good an indie pop album as any released for many a year, the shouty, witty, sing-along, boy-girl brilliance of the much-anticipated debut from Los Campesinos! was also among the finest albums of 2008 full stop. The blend of Darren Hayman-esque self-deprecating bitterness, Eddie Argos-equalling wit and Stuart Murdoch’s ear for a tune (and eye for a song title) comes together perfectly in songs like ‘Broken Heartbeats Sound Like Breakbeats’ and ‘This Is How You Spell...’ – but there really isn’t a dud on the whole album.
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound (#64)
While the Hold Steady took most of the blue collar rock plaudits in ’08 with the solid Stay Positive, this debut from New Jersey’s The Gaslight Anthem snuck up on the inside to out-Springsteen all comers, adding a harder punk edge to melodies inspired by the Boss. With timeless rock’n’rollers like ‘Old White Lincoln’, ‘Great Expectations’ and none better than the title track, The ’59 Sound was one of the few releases in 2008 that made you want to dust off the leather jacket and get a Joe Strummer haircut. Which can only be a good thing, can’t it?
The Acorn – Glory Hope Mountain (#60)
It was only early in 2008 that I got hold of The Pink Ghosts, The Acorn’s excellent 2004 debut. An intriguing blend of acoustic electro-folk, the thought of an ‘evolution’ from this (and the two subsequent EPs) into a concept album based on the life and local music of Acorn main-man Rolf Klausener’s Honduran mother, merely served to multiply that intrigue exponentially. And the Ontarians didn’t disappoint, with sprawling latin ballads based on interviews conducted with Mom and set to music influenced by that of her home. As well-executed a project as it was genuinely touching, Glory Hope Mountain provided a welcome reminder of the redemptive power that music can have.
The War On Drugs – Wagonwheel Blues (#51)
Yet another band of young Americans summoning up the spirit of Springsteen on their debut, The War on Drugs did so in a more interesting, successful and, frankly, bloody brilliant way than most in 2008. The glorious Boss-meets-Dylan harmonica-drenched ramblings of ‘Arms Like Boulders’ is surely one of the finest album openings of the year. But the exhilaration of this introduction hides more than just a collection of backward-looking pop-rock songs. Sonically-speaking Wagonwheel Blues ranges from the lo-fi ballad ‘Barrel of Batteries’ to the waves of guitar of ten minute album centre-piece ‘Show Me The Coast’, with much more in between. There are ideas, textures and timeless tunes a plenty on what is a remarkably impressive debut.
Calexico – Carried To Dust (#43)
Joey Burns and John Convertino’s sixth studio album was a welcome return to top form after the more mainstream stylings of Garden Ruin. Back came the brass, the mesmerising instrumentals, the mariachi storytelling, and, above all, songs to rate among the bands best. As the title implies and as all the best Calexico records do, Carried to Dust instantly transports the listener to the dusty American South with a sound like no other, and is easily as good as anything the Arizonans have produced to date.
Los Campesinos! – We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed (#39)
Los Campesinos! not only get props for releasing two full-lengthers in 2008, there should also be the sound of 14 hands patting seven backs reverberating around Cardiff for the combined brilliance of both Hold On Now Youngster and We Are Beautiful.... 10 more tongue in cheek quotidien tales of the disaffected and heartbroken more than complement their debut, on this limited-run-no-single-once-it’s-gone-it’s-gone album, with more great songs a plenty and a title track to absolutely die for.
Born Ruffians – Red, Yellow & Blue (#7)
One of the more interesting guitar albums of 2008, Red, Yellow and Blue was also one of the best (you’d expect nothing less of Canadians signed to Warp) and quite how it never exploded, I have no idea. Led by Luke LaLonde’s strained vocals, the trio mixed scruffy, infectious guitar hooks with Animal Collective-like production (courtesy of Rusty Santos) and a whole range of quirkiness, from a capella breaks to song titles like ‘Badonkadonkey’ and ‘Foxes Mate For Life’. Bursting with childish exuberance and a couple of the songs of the year (‘Hummingbird’ and ‘I Need A Life’) it is a quite brilliant record.
