Javids Top 10 of 2008: Pt 1

Another year has passed us by and those of us no longer enjoying the innocence of youth just feel older and slightly more depressed. Its a time to make resolutions and I'm sure part of our collective aim will be to get this blog up and running again after a pretty slow 2008. It was still good but just.. slow.

So now Im going to entertain you with my own, personally selected 'Top 10' of 2008. Before we get into it I would just like to say that the views perpetuated in the following paragraphs are strictly MY OWN. They do not represent the views of any other member of the dancefloor, they are not correct, and they are not better than whatever you think. Its my list, my selection. You want to make one go and start a blog..

Anyway, lets get this show on the road - Today #10-#6;

10. Metallica - Death Magnetic
Oh shut it. Yes thats right, you, electro boy or pop wannabe who just let out a load groan at seeing this album #10 on the list. I dont care if you dont like Metallica. One cannot deny the musicianship and juggernaut of commercial access to metal that these guys developed back in the day. Yes, St Anger was SHIT and we can all acknowledge that - so yes I was more than sceptical when I heard this was in the works. Rick Rubin had the hopes and dreams of every Metallica fan on his shoulders with this one and thank god he delivered. Its not exactly breakthrough material for the band but they have their edge back with solid tracks and pretty good composition too. No matter what era of Metallica you like this album has something that will appeal to you and if you dont like Metallica, and dont like metal, you've probably stopped reading by now anyway.

09. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular

When I first heard (and heard of) these guys I certainly wouldnt have ranked myself amongst their fans. Just like Muscles and other acts in the years before they initially just annoyed the shit out of me and I dismissed them as products of an endless young hype machine with songs all over the radio. Unlike Katy Perry though these guys have a bit of talent and by the end of the year I had the CD and not only listened to it but enjoyed it as well. While 'Kids' and 'Time To Pretend' captured the audiences on the airwaves much of the album comes from a kind of eerie, stoner perspective. Like a much less hectic Mars Volta even. Solid.

08. Racontuers - Consolers Of The Lonely

While we may have to call them the Saboteurs over here because of some other band - Ive certainly never heard the other band and will hence refer to this collection of southern minstrels by their proper name. If you haven't heard these guys before its a project featuring Brendan Benson and none other than Jack White. The guitars and loud and soulful, the songs are a mix between drunken and blue and the genius of it all is absolutely undeniable. The first release - 'Broken Boy Soldiers' is one of my all time favourites and while this album may not reach the same epic heights its still standing close enough to the edge to give me vertigo. The closing track - 'Carolina Drama' tells one of the greatest stories I've ever heard through song.


07. Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

I've been an Oasis fan many years and I'm sure some of you will say that this automatically makes this albums position biased, that I should remove it altogether, flallegate myself for doing such a thing and then destroy this list completely. I think you should calm down. Where Metallica saved their careers by tightening things up Oasis have gone a bit all over the place with this album but in a way that only Oasis can. The whole band are writing songs now, the Gallaghers have stopped fighting and this album doesnt just punch you, it envelops you with a sound big enough to fill a stadium but its also takes the listener to places that might make you forget you're even on an Oasis record. Amazing that (despite the peaks and troughs) this band have managed to almost constantly excel on record (apart from ..Giants but we can forgive that), and this is another fresh take on a trademark sound.

06. Kaiser Cheifs - Off With Their Heads

Everyone I know loves a good dance, loves a good sing along and basically just likes a good hook. The Kaiser Chiefs provide enough hooks on this one to go fishing with Andrew Symonds and Rex Hunt for a month. While I started off looking for the epic suburban grandeur of 'Yours Truly, Angry Mob' it took me a while to realise that this is a much different album. Pop with guitars. The lyrics are still poignant enough about urban life but if you can't (under)stand the lyrics the music is enough. 'Good Days, Bad Days' will be one of the anthems of early 09. Trust me. Would I lie? One of the funnest albums of last year.

So thats it. What will take out number one? What will cop a bagging from me? Im sure you've got ideas in your head and I'm sure at least one of them is wrong. So please.. come back sometime in the next few days (hopefully) and we'll continue where we left off shall we? Also be on the lookout for other 08 related posts from the guys.

Peace!
(and happy new year)