my top reviews 2008
from my shelves to your desktop

2008 was a pretty cool year for music. Despite taking December off review Christmas music I managed to review 120 albums (CDs, mp3s or whatever the heck the term is nowadays) and although the year is over, there is still a pretty big pile of stuff I meant to get around to writing up: some of them no doubt would have made this list if I'd not been so lazy.

About this list - I don't really have a set of hard and fast rules that include or exclude items from eligibility. Frankly no one would really give a crap, and I'm not good with rules at the best of times. I will say this year I did put a little more emphasis on new releases rather than lean toward old stuff I've finally gotten around to writing up. I also decided not to include re-issues of discs I've previously reviewed.

Other than that it is what it is.

I've included two new bits: "Near Misses" and "Oops They Did it Again"

Starting with the so bad it's good but still bad and not in a bad way good. Let me state once again for the record that I like these guys, and frankly have just about everything they've released. If there is a musical equivalent of a car crash these guys are it. I can't look away ...

Somehow Mutt Lange's magic touch has gone a bit south. The music is still great cheesy fun, but the lyrics are so embarrassingly puerile at times I can't bring myself to listen to some of the songs. Let's be honest these guys aren't going to be mistaken for Dylan anytime soon.

... and ending with when good is excellent. Some albums are so amazing that the first time around only a hand full of people are in on the secret. Twenty years after literally changing my musical landscape forever Daniel Amos' brilliant Darn Floor Big Bite gets a royal make over, and it's a thing of beauty. Completely remastered, and contains a second disc with interviews and demos.

The Black Crowes

Warpaint (©2008)

After years of not really giving a flying fig about these guys I suffered a bout of under dog syndrome and picked this up and was blown away. I actually listened to this quite a bit before writing my review. An album that made me a fan.

Rick Springfield

Venus in Overdrive (©2008)

Stop sniggering ... this is better than you'd think and besides I've long liked Rick's solo work and he's an under rated pop singer. The title track here is as good as anything he's ever done.

Journey

Revelation (©2008)

Some would argue that this is the best Journey cover band there ever was, and they'd be right ... and wrong at the same time. The boys emerged this year with yet another Perry-lite clone, but unlike the last couple of efforts from the band, the songs this time out are really good and while the guys will never ever be able to step out from Perry's shadow, this one comes close.

This collection includes a disc of covers (bad move), a disc of new songs (good move), and a concert DVD (best move). All of this for under 15 bucks, how can you lose?

Lucky (©2008)

Nada Surf's Lucky is one of those great Chinese Food albums. Wonderful while you're listening to it, and then a half hour later it's like you never listened to it. To be honest other than the half dozen times I listened to it earlier in the year I'd forgotten about it, and when I was combing through the stuff from 2008 I figured I should brush up on some of the more forgotten releases - and I was pleasantly surprised all over again.

This is really quite good, and although I'm pretty sure it'll go right through me (again) it's really yummy while it's playing.

James

Hey Ma (©2008)

James has long been one of my favourite bands and when I heard Tim Booth was back with the band I eagerly awaited this one. While it didn't exactly blow my socks off, it was a welcome return from one of pop's most criminally overlooked bands. With Hey Ma the band was in the unenviable position of having to try and pick up where they left off while trying and rekindle their creative spark. For the most part they succeeded.

Steve Lukather

Ever Changing Times (©2008)

"Number 5 is alive!" Luke releases his first solo album in many years, and he's at the top of his game. The man is one of the great players on the planet, has a killer voice and gets all the respect a hot dog vendor gets at a restaurant convention.

Which is a shame.

Aimee Mann

@#%&*! Smilers (©2008)

A new album by Aimee Mann is always a cause to celebrate. I'm not sure if Aimee's best work is ahead or behind her - but this is another stellar album from one of pop music's best writers.

ZedHead

Texas Cufflinks (©2006)

One of the best surprises of the year. Released somewhat under the table a while back, this little gem with the shitty cover was produced by Terry Brown. Neil Chapman's blistering guitar work is showcased, and FogHorn Leghorn ... er, Fog Johnny can growl out the Texas boogie with the best of them.

Apparently this was huge in France ... it should have been huge here too.

2

AC/DC

Black Ice (©2008)

Don't roll your eyes at me, this was as much a surprise to me as it is to you. If you'd told me at the beginning of the year one of my favourite albums of the year would be the new AC/DC I would have laughed in your face. Like this "HA" and there would have been a little bit of spittle thrown in for emphasis.

Earlier in the year I'd picked up Airbourne, and it was the best AC/DC album I'd heard in ages. Then Black Ice dropped, and I wasn't going to bother, but it was on sale, and I figured what the heck "Why not?"

Sure the guys are old as dirt now, but holy kermole the old men of rock are back, and showing the kids how it's done. For those about to rock indeed!

POPMONSTER (©2008)

Greg Pope is an artist from Nashville who has quietly been releasing some of the best pop music you've never heard for years. How is it this guy isn't famous? PopMonster is Greg's attempt to pull off a Mike Oldfieldish one man band thing. Where Mike Oldfield will wank his tubular balls (that was on purpose) Greg created a pop masterpiece that sounds and feels like a band effort.