Certain Songs

BEST SHOWS/SETS I SAW IN 2008:
5) Langhorne Slim (Columbus)
4) The Hold Steady (Cleveland)
3) My Morning Jacket (Coachella and Columbus)
2) The Swell Season (Coachella and Columbus)
1) Prince (Coachella)


BEST SONGS I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD GET A CHANCE TO HEAR LIVE, THAT I DID ACTUALLY GET TO HEAR IN 2008
4) 'Cactus'(Pixies cover) - The Swell Season @ Coachella



3) 'It Could Be Sweet' - Portishead @ Coachella
2) 'Bittersweet Symphony' - The Verve @ Coachella
1) 'Creep'(Radiohead cover) - Prince @ Coachella

BEST STALKING OPPORTUNITY REALIZED IN 2008
1) Minnie Driver @ the Hotel Cafe in Hollywood (And I didn't even rush the stage...I was really proud of myself)

* Minnie Driver - 'Down' MP3

MOST PLEASANT LIVE MUSIC SURPRISE OF 2008
1) Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip @ Coachella - I wandered over to their stage most accidentally and was blown away!
* Dan Le Sac VS Scroobius Pip - 'Rappers Battles' MP3

BIGGEST LIVE MUSIC DISAPPOINTMENT OF 2008
1) Jens Lekman @ Coachella - Maybe it was too early in the day, or maybe I built him up too much in my music obsessive mind...either way, it just fell flat :-(

LOUDEST SHOW OF 2008
1) Stephen Malkmus @ Coachella - What??? Seriously...my ears haven't been the same since April.


BEST STAGE BANTER OF 2008
1) Glen Hansard - In a LANDSLIDE! I have never seen somebody so genuinley happy to be on a stage playing music in all my life.

WORST STAGE PRESENCE I WITNESSED IN 2008
1) Bill Callahan - I LOVE your music Bill, I really do...you just looked painfully uncomfortable up there. To make it up to you I will play one of my favorite songs of yours.

* Smog - 'Dress Sexy At My Funeral' MP3




In conclusion...it was a very,very, VERY good year! Can't wait to start all over again in 2009

*Los Campesinos! - 'My Year In Lists' MP3

Los Campesinos! - a band responsible for some of the catchiest songs(and even catchier song TITLES) in recent pop music history - are back with their second album of 2008.

Here is a tune from the October 13 release 'We Are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.' You have to love the idea of starting an album off with the lyrics "I think it's fair to say that I chose hopelessness and afflicted it on the rest of us...but at least I've come to terms with my own mortality."

Los Campesinos! - 'Ways To Make It Through The Wall' MP3

Los Campesinos - 'This Is How You Spell "HAHAHA, We Destroyed The Hopes And Dreams Of A Generation Of Faux-Romantics"

In a landslide!