Lostmusic Blog

2008 - a ramble through the last 12 months

2008 was a good year for music wasn’t it?

Here is a run down, in no real order of the musical goings on that have captured my heart in 2008.

I thought I’d start with the Manhattan Love Suicides, who are arguably my favourite band of the last few years and 2008 has been no exception - whether it’s their 27 song retrospective ‘Burnt Out Landscapes’ -  or their blistering live shows - not to mention their continued assualt on our senses with what seems like a single every 8 weeks or so - the band have been one of the undoubted highlights of 2008.   Here’s hoping 2009 will bring more of the same and that elusive 2nd LP proper.

If the Manhattan Love Suicides were close to being the best live band I have seen live this year - this next lot - The Pains of Being Pure At Heart were probably the closest thing to heaven this year.   Two UK tours; one at the start of the year and one at the end - provided the perfect fuzzpop bookends to a year.  This New York 4 piece won mine and many others hearts with the exuberant brand of fuzzy guitar pop.  Songs like ‘Young Adult Friction’,  ‘Come Saturday’ and ‘Kurt Cobain’s Cardigan’ have been on pretty much constant rotation.  Their début LP is due for a full release in February 2009 (on Fortona! Pop in Europe and Slumberland in the USA) - those lucky to catch their December UK dates were able to pick up an advance copy.  For those that haven’t heard it, you are in for a treat.

We were also treated to the debut LP of the British three piece Sarandon.  ‘Kill Twee Pop!’ was a viscious and jerky blast of pop music.   Led by the always sharp Crayola the band took aim at the fashionistas that seem intent in over running the booming indiepop scene and scored a direct hit.   The LP also showed the band expanding beyond their sub 2 minute manifesto with great results.   This LP is chock full of sure fire pop songs ‘The Discotheque Is My Lover’, ‘Mike’s Dollar’ and ‘Welcome’ being three of the finest songs I have had the pleasure of playing at pop shows this year.

Slow Down Tallahassee released the simply wonderful ‘The Beautiful Light’ this year.  An LP that was brimful of pop tunes that were a soundtrack to the summer we never had.   If only their live show could have touched the dizzy heights of their recorded output - but a fine LP can not be denied by a few dodgy live outings.

Elsewhere America has fired out some of the best new bands to emerge this year,  The Muslims (recently renamed The Soft Pack),  Titus Andronicus, Vivian Girls, Knight School, Cause Co-Motion, Baby Shakes  and Crystal Stilts all released songs that have made me think that there is something happening over the pond.  The coming year should be great as The Soft Pack and Crystal Stilts are due to hit our shores in early 2009.  I hope a few more of these bands make it over to the UK some time soon.

And just to prove that the UK wasn’t lagging behind - the folks at Indietracks - assembled a summer festival bill to have every indiepop fan bursting with excitement with a line up that included  The Smittens, The Parallelograms, The Manhattan Love Suicides, The Wedding Present, Red Pony Clock, Je Suis Animal, The Just Joans and Town Bike.   The performance of the weekend, for me, came from an old London favourite, Pocketbooks, who stole the show.  It was a pleasure to see the ‘books flower into a beautiful pop band before my very eyes.   As weekends go,  Indietracks is pretty damn hard to beat.

A contender for most surprising and rewarding band of the year must go to Maupa.   Their 2nd long player came out to little notice - but Run Run Sleep - is one of those records that defies classification - it’s pop, it’s rock, - it’s a huge sprawling record that takes chances and plays with your perceptions of pop music.

A special mention to Cars Can Be Blue, who suffered the worst luck combined with some of the worst planning of the year, that saw their UK tour cancelled by immigration officials at Manchester airport - as the band were denied entry to the country in early December.  Their LP ‘Doubly Unbeatable’ was a fine slab of punky garage pop and not many songs have beaten the glam stomp of ‘Eyeballs’ for sheer fun this year.

I’ll finish on a Lostmusic note - we only managed one single this year and it is one we are immensly proud of.   The Platform Zero EP by Pete Green was a labour of love and we’re delighted with the songs Pete wrote and peformed.   On the pop show front we’ve played host to some great bands in 2008, so a big thanks to all the bands/performers that have helped make our shows some of the most fun times I have had this year.

Tags: 2008, Cars Can Be Blue, Indietracks, Manhattan Love Suicides, Pete Green, Pocketbooks, Sarandon, Slow Down Tallahassee, The Pains of being pure at heart