2008 The Albums-Honorable Mentions

Here it is, the first of three end of the year lists to indulge in. I must say 2008 has been one hell of a year for music, many great artists (new and old) have delivered some great material these past 12 months. It excites me to start announcing these lists and records. This list is made up of the honorable mentions of 2008, albums that were good but not good enough to crack the top 10 best of list (or at least in my opinion). Here is a look at six records that are definitely worth a few listens and attention, as always here is the list in short then long form.

Short list:

2008 Honorable Mentions (In No Particular Order)

Gnarles Barkley - The Odd Couple

Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

NERD - Seeing Sounds

The Fratellis - Here We Stand

Kings of Leon - Only by the Night

Metallica - Death Magnetic

Now Long Form with Explanations:

Gnarles Barkley - The Odd Couple

I really do not think anything will ever compare to the first time I ever put on this duo's first album, St. Elsewhere. The places St. Elsewhere went were just unbelievable, it was a remarkable record pushing the envelope musically as much as it could. The Odd Couple, though not as strong or as its predecessor still stands out to some degree. The last record was the two musical brainiacs hard at work, where this record shows Danger Mouse spreading himself too thin over the past year as a producer for not just his own band but for Beck, Black Keys and many others. Yet, Cee-Lo's voice just explodes from his big body of soul on The Odd Couple making it worth the listen and time.

Key Tracks: Open Book, Surprise

Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

I am a huge fan of the band's last record 2005's Don't Believe the Truth. Dig Out Your Soul was one of the most anticipated albums for me this year considering Oasis are one of my favorite bands of all time. Critically here in the U.S. I believe they have shut up all of the naysayers and created a great rock and roll record. I would like to call this "Abbey Revolution," if you will. Taking over the famous Beatles studio in London and mixing the record in California, Oasis have finally learned how to work as a team and have created a great psychedelic rock record. One that all must check out.

Key Tracks: The Shock of the Lightening, Waiting for the Rapture

NERD - Seeing Sounds

After having an over impressive debut, then releasing one of the worst albums I ever herd Fly or Die in 2003. NERD had a lot to prove before I wrote them off. They not only proved it but Pharell and Co, delivered one of the best hip-hop/dance hybrids not only of year but of the decade. They proved what talented musicians, producers and performers they truly are. Seeing Sounds is certainly one to check out and it will keep you moving for hours.

Key Tracks: Everyone Nose, Anti-Matter

The Fratellis - Here We Stand

This record is a declaration, that the Scottish trio known as The Fratellis are not going anywhere. The essential follow up to last years Costello Music, Here We Stand may not be as poppy but it rocks just as hard. This was the perfect summertime fun in the sun album, one that you could put your speakers out your windows, annoy your neighbors and just rock out to.

Key Tracks: Mistress Mabel, Look Out Sunshine

Kings of Leon - Only by the Night

The music industries favorite band has released four albums in five years (including this one) and are finally getting the attention they truly deserve in their own country. Nashville's Kings of Leon mix the perfect blend of southern rock with a European flair on this album. This is without a doubt their most solid work to date and I cannot wait to see what will be next for the fraternity of Followills.

Key Tracks: Sex on Fire, Cold Dessert

Metallica - Death Magnetic

Honestly, call me crazy, but who knew they still had it in them? Oh, Rick Rubin did that's right! The San Fransisco Legends finest hour in almost two decades, the metal Gods still prove they are legends for a reason. For anyone that ever wrote Metallica off in the twilight of their career are certainly eating their words now, this is one heavy, in your face, intense album. Death Magnetic is a return to form for the metal giants and hope they stay at the top where they belong.

Key Tracks: The Was Just Your Life, All Nightmare Long

So that is the first of three lists for now. I hope you enjoyed my pics thus far, stay tuned next week as I will be posting the coveted "League of Their Own" award.....

Reunions and Separations...

It has been confirmed that No Doubt will reunite in 2009 and hit the studio as well as the road next summer. The band is already booked to headline this years Bamboozle festival in New Jersey in May.

God only knows how many times this has been said but Blur are getting back together. This time Damon Albarn makes it legit by telling the BBC "Blur are certainly going to rehearse and see if we're into it." They will enter the studio after the holidays and work together for the first time since 2003's Think Tank. Lets hope they make something grand.

The original bar band The Faces featuring Ron Wood and Rod Stewart have been in a rehearsal studio for about a week now and are ready and willing to hit the road next year. This will be the first time The Faces have played together in almost four decades.

As great as all these reunions and tours may seem, sad news to report, my favorite unsigned band from New York City has split. The Fire Flies whose amazing two records Baobabs in the Basement and Two New Sciences, as well as brilliant live shows will be a memory. The members of the band are currently hard at work on other projects. I wish them all the best of luck in their future endevours.

Newsletter

Hey Everyone,

Just wanted to give a rundown on what will be happening for the end of the year before I begin to publish my list of 2008 - The Albums from the "Top 10," "League of Their Own" and "Honorable Mentions." Here is a breakdown on when to expect what list:

Thanksgiving / Black Friday - Honorable Mentions
Dec 7 - League of Their Own
Dec 14 - 10 Best Albums of 2008

***Just a reminder, my list for the 10 best films of the year comes in February right before the Oscars****

One other note, I would like to take this time to mention the passing of one of my best friends and supporter of this site. The passing of my close friend Phil Duerr has sidelined me, I will miss him dearly. His kind words of encouragement, and friendship proved he was much more than a friend but a brother. Phil - I love and miss you, see you on the other side......

Kanye West "Heartless" Video

Heartless from kwest on Vimeo.

Does Kanye need to prove it anymore why he is THE GREATEST! Here is the latest video from Mr. West off 808's and Heartbreak, it was directed by Hype Williams. Just call it the video of NEXT year....

Playlist

Here is a playlist of songs to check out and indulge in...

Coldplay feat Jay-Z - "Lost +"
Bloc Party - "One Month Off"
Tripwires - "In Times of Trouble"
The Killers - "Human"
Glasvegas - "Go Square Go"
Pulp - "Like a Friend"
Joy Division - "She's Lost Control"
Airborne Toxic Event - "Sometime Around Midnight"
The Knux - "Cappuccino"
Daggers - "Jealousy"

Coldplay Game

Check out the game tie in for Coldplay's Prospekt's March EP coming out next week!

New Boss Tracklisting!

Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band have confirmed the release date and track listing for their latest, Working on a Dream. The Brendon O'Brien produced album is slated to come out January 27, just in time before the bands big performance at this years Super Bowl Half Time Show. The Boss had this to say in a press statement “Towards the end of recording Magic, excited by the return to pop production sounds, I continued writing [...] I hope Working on a Dream has caught the energy of the band fresh off the road from some of the most exciting shows we’ve ever done. All the songs were written quickly, we usually used one of our first few takes, and we all had a blast making this one from beginning to end.”
The record will feature 12 songs and two bonus songs, "The Wrestler," the title track to the upcoming Mickey Rourke film and "A Night with the Jersey Devil," the song Bruce gave away for free on Halloween. See the rest of the listing below:

1. “Outlaw Pete”
2. “My Lucky Day”
3. “Working on a Dream”
4. “Queen of the Supermarket”
5. “What Love Can Do”
6. “This Life”
7. “Good Eye”
8. “Tomorrow Never Knows”
9. “Life Itself”
10. “Kingdom of Days”
11. “Surprise, Surprise”
12. “The Last Carnival”

Live Review - Girl Talk @ Terminal 5

Honestly, I really have no idea even where to begin with this review. Last night's bordello of musical mash-ups, dancing, and an entire room of 3,000 plus people running on pure adrenaline, left me not only exhausted, but speechless. A former chemical engineer from Pittsburgh, Gregg Gillis would spend his weekdays at his desk and would turn into the night ripper by the weekend DJing sold out gigs all over the world under the name Girl Talk. His popularity has risen this past year with the release of his latest mixtape / mash up album Feed the Animals. Girl Talk has become the biggest American DJ since the hayday of Moby. Mashing up songs from everyone from Blackstreet to Radiohead to Jay-Z to The Verve to Biggie Smalls to Elton John, combining a non-stop fist pumping, dance party.

Last night was the first of three sold out shows at New York's Terminal 5, and for an unusual warm November night in New York, the heat cranked up full blast in the venue. It was a no holds bar full out extravaganza equip with fans dressed as bears, bananas (yes, some dude was in a banana costume), confetti and toilet paper streaming across the crowd. Girl Talk is known for his wild shows, but at a place like Terminal 5 where security is so tight, it could not stop him and his fans from going nuts. Inviting hordes of people on stage to dance around him, Girl Talk didn't break his concentration as he put on one of the most entertaining shows I have ever witnessed. He broke out new mash ups featuring NERD's "Everybody Nose," to Jay-Z's "Jockin Jay-Z" to Kanye's "Love Lockdown." No word on when his next record will drop, but Girl Talk is a sight to be seen. I can not even call this a concert, it was an experience.

Kanye West Tracklisting!

Aside from being arrested today in the UK, Kanye West released the track listing to 808's and Heartbreak which is set for release Nov 24. Check it out below:

01 Welcome to Heartbreak
02 Heartless
03 Love Lockdown
04 Robocop
05 Anyway
06 Streetlights
07 Say You Will
08 Real Bad News
09 Amazing [ft. Young Jeezy]
10 Tell Everybody That You Know [ft. Lil Wayne]
11 Coldest Winter

Gnarls Barkley Cover Radiohead!!!!

A real gem on Youtube that I found. Gnarls Barkley doing an amazing live cover of Radiohead's "Reckoner"!

Read! READ! Read!

A few new awesome blogs have popped up that I feel I need to share with my audience...check them out here..

Hindsighting - A blog comprised of former WQAQ DJ's I used to work with, think of it as a Village Voice told through the eyes of twenty-something year old's. It features everything from film reviews, concert reviews, TV, news, editorials, restaurants and new music. Even yours truly is a contributing writer. Check it out at http://hindsighting.blogspot.com/

Because I Can't Always Talk On The Radio - An insiders look into pop culture from my dear friend Valentine. It will be one of those sites you will constantly be checking for updates and seeing what is going down in Tinseltown. Check it out at http://valsyummyblog.blogspot.com/

Sweet and Sour - Ever wonder what its like to be an aspiring model in New York City? Watch and read as it is told through the eyes of a young woman in this blog. My friend Candice is the voice on the other end, she will discuss the highs and lows of her life, while professing her love for President - Elect Barack Obama. Check it out at http://dancewithcandy.blogspot.com/

Slumdog Millionaire

One of my favorite directors of all time Danny Boyle is back with his latest film Slumdog Millionaire. It is already getting Oscar Buzz, check it out as it opens in theaters this week!

Quick News

As Tall As Lions have confirmed their studio ambitions will go forth in 2009. The band will enter a Los Angeles recording studio at the beginning of January to master and finish recording their follow up to 2006's brilliant self titled sophomore disc. The latest record currently titled You Can't Take it With You, will be produced by Clap Your Hands Say Yeah producer Adam Lasus.

Seminal 90's post-hardcore band Far reunited a few weeks ago in California. Far featuring front man Jonah Matranga had sworn off rumors of a reunion last year when every band under the sun were getting back together. They played a surprise show at the Troubadour and are now doing shows in Europe. Fingers crossed for a New York appearance.

In another surprise move, The Killers were the surprise opening act to Glasvegas this weekend in England. Before the Scottish band took the stage, Brandon Flowers and Co. did a surprise acoustic set featuring some new songs as well as classics. Also in Killers news, the bands latest Day and Age was push up a day and will now be released Nov. 24.

He is a singer, a poet, filmmaker, writer, an activist now REM's Michael Stipe can add fashion designer to his resume. Stipe has designed a polo for French clothing company Lacoste for their Spring collection. The shirt can be seen below

Glasvegas in a Stairwell

Indeed the title of this post maybe a little obtuse, however, it is a brilliant video. It is Glasvegas singer James Allen in typical black shades performing an acoustic version of "Geraldine," for a European TV network.

Live Review-The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5

What a week it has been, it would only be fitting to cap it off in celebration. The pride of New York would headline one of the biggest homecoming concerts they have done in some time. Brooklyn rockers The Hold Steady and Alabama's Drive By Truckers Co-Headlining the "Rock and Roll Means Well Tour," arrived in a two night stay at Terminal 5. Hell's Kitchen was ablaze on the sold out final night of a pure good old fashion rock and roll show. Coming out guns a-blazing The Hold Steady opened with "Constructive Summer," a song of furious rock epic proportions about life, love and music supplied with a simple prayer to Joe Strummer it would platform the rest of the night. Hold Steady front man Craig Finn showed off his pure front man brilliance. Finn is part Shakespearean actor, part slam poet and using his guitar and mic stand for prop purposes only, his arms flailing around in the air with a smile from ear to ear. Finn was celebrating not only the victory of coming home to a big audience, his band successes, a new President, he was celebrating the idea that his words have reached out to so many in a time when words mean so much.
The Hold Steady are not just your typical band singing about angst. It is the angst that drives us day in and day out at every age on why their music hits so many demographics and groups of people. If you are 15, 25, 35, 45 years old, you can find something to relate to and have the songs become your own. Finn is not just the only one in the band offering something or someone to watch, guitarist Tab Kubler is one of the best his generation has put out. An underrated guitarist with the talent of his idols, he shreds and strums like an animal. Pianist Franz Nicolay (who is looking more like Italian Actor Alberto Sordi and less like Porn Star Ron Jeramey), swigs from his bottle of wine while jumping and dancing in place. The rhythm section of Bobby Drake (drums) and Galen Polivka (bass) are the back bone keeping the band in line. Playing for almost two hours, including a joint venture on stage during the encore with members of Drive By Truckers and The Loved Ones (who were in the audience, but not on the bill), Finn was two sheets to the wind by the end of the night, slurring his words and thoughts. While the musicians showed camaraderie while showing to their audience, Rock and Roll really does mean well.
Clearly a band who in the end of all of this will prove their longevity. The reality is clear after following them for a few years now, The Hold Steady are here to make true American thought provoking rock and roll music proud once again in a music world dominated by commercial distortion.

Set List: The Hold Steady @ Terminal 5 11/7/08
“Constructive Summer”
“You Gotta Dance (With Who You Came to the Dance With)”
“Multitude of Casualties”
“Chips Ahoy!”
“Sequestered in Memphis”
“One for the Cutters”
“Cheyenne Sunrise”
“Ask Her for Adderall”
“Magazines”
“Arms & Hearts”
“Stevie Nix”
“Massive Nights”
“Party Pit”
“Lord, I’m Discouraged”
“Hornets! Hornets!”
“Your Little Hoodrat Friend”
“Most People Are DJs”
“Slapped Actress”
“How a Resurrection Really Feels”
Encore:
“First Night”
“Stay Positive”
“History Lesson Part II”
“Ride On” (AC/DC Cover with members of Drive By Truckers)
“Burnin’ For You” (Blue Oyster Cult Cover with members of Drive By Truckers)
“Killer Parties” (with members of Drive By Truckers and The Loved Ones)

Quantum of Solace

In a week from today Bond returns to US theaters!

Mr. November

"If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer." -

Barack Obama

"I'm the new blue blood, I'm the great white hope, I'm the new blue blood. I won't fuck us over, I'm Mr. November, I'm Mr. November" -

The National "Mr November"

Listen to The KNUX!

Two brothers that left New Orleans after Katrina made a life for themselves in Hollywood. Sick beats and great rhymes...think Clipse meets Cool Kids meets Old Outkast!

500th Post / 2 Year Anniversary

This is a monumental posting as November marks the Two year Anniversary of this site, but this is also my 500th Post!! I am very proud to have seen where this blog has gone and taken itself. With readers as far south as Brazil and Argentina to all over Europe to Canada and as far west as California, "With This I Think I'm Officially A Yuppie," is getting read in places I never thought possible.

This has been a great year for the blog and I must take the time to thank some for helping me make it so big. Thanks to: Coldplaying.com, thevervelive.blogspot.com, Brooklyn Vegan, The Editors, Jonny Cragg of Spacehog, Glasvegas, Arthur Kremer of Stellastarr*, to artists making good music and films and giving me something to write about. Most importantly I need to thank you the reader above anyone else. Without you this site would not be going as strong as it has and I promise this next year will outdo this past one!

Thanks again for the support!

Much love,
Sal

Rising Artist - Daggers

Somethings in life just go together; like Cigarettes and Alcohol, Coffee and sweets, and of course Europe and Electro music. The combination of the two have been companions for some time now, yet the next wave of Euro-electro is here and that is Manchester, England's Daggers. The band describes themselves as "Extra spectral popular song, distorted atmospherics and apocalyptic electronics." England's Independent have said "If you want to gauge Daggers' potential, you aren't just looking at the Manchester scene, or the indie scene, or anything so irrelevant. You're looking at Planet Earth." They are a small band with very big potential, their influences are laid out in their music. Think Gary Numan fronting Nine Inch Nails or Simon LaBon fronting The Sounds. It is dark as it is poppy and it certainly needs to be listened to, they will have you dancing in your seat while waving your hands in the air. Check them out HERE

Movie of the Month - La Vie En Rose

After watching this film I realized every other biopic I had seen before December 2007 was nothing compared to La Vie En Rose. This is the single greatest biopic about an person ever put on screen. The French can do more than just put people in seats, but they engross the audience in a full blow piece of art. La Vie En Rose is the story of the famous French World War II singer Edith Piaf. The film goes through her trials and tribulations as a child just trying to survive, then as a singer just trying to stay alive and not fall to addiction. Piaf was the Amy Winehouse of her day, if you will, but how her story is laid out is one of more tragedy than triumph. Piaf is portrayed by the beautiful and talented Marion Cotillard in the role that won her an Oscar at this past years Academy Awards. Cotiallard transforms herself into Piaf from not only her voice but her look as well. Take a split screen of the both of them and you will not be able to tell the difference. Of course the film is chock full of Piaf music, and I promise you will become a fan of the famous French singer. A beautiful soundtrack to a beautiful film about a tragic figure. La Vie En Rose is a must for those that have not seen witnessed it.

Underrated Classic - Thursday "War All the Time"

You may look at this post and say it is too recent of a record to call a classic, let alone an overlooked classic. If anything War All the Time is one of those albums that has been given to us and needs to be discussed now more than ever.

The release of New Jersey's Thursday third record, but first major label, was met with very mixed reviews and much struggle. Thursday nearly broke up recording this record and then after a successful tour with Thrice and Coheed and Cambria, they went on hiatus. Unlike its predecessor Full Collapse, the record that gained the band national attention, War All the Time was a much more musical and melodic record. The title reflects both current times and the struggles we face at everyday life. Opening with the rip roaring "For the Workforce," the welcoming Thursday gave to fans was just a straight punch to the face. Not holding back, the record does move the listener unlike anything any Thursday fan was used to. Songs such as "Steps Ascending," "This Song Brought to You by a Falling Bomb," and "M.Shepard," showed the bands poetic side but not soft side, considering the topics of war, religion and sexuality were heavy in idea. War All the Time will open a listeners mind and in a time of change here in the U.S. it is one to start spinning again.