Friday 19 December - As is customary at this time of year I'd like to give a quick musical retropective of 2008 from a personal point of view, both live gigs and albums released this year.
I've probably been to see at least one band every week of the year. OK, many of them were covers bands, and I saw some more than once, but there was a fair sprinkling of original bands. Of the gigs that don't make it into my top 10, special mention must go to; Black Diamond Heavies who were certainly original, Acid house crusties Alabama 3, Lecorum and Royworld who have the decency to be original sounding Indie bands, Wild Messiah for being a bit wild, With One Last Breath for being loud, and Tidal Fury and Heaven's Basement 'cos I like 'em. So here is my top 10 countdown for live gigs in 2008, in reverse order:
10 The Corrections - saw them supporting Make Model at The Junction when they blew away the headline act.
9 Yards/Runaway Sons/Jim Gipson - their combined gig at The Post Office Club when everyone was on top form.
8 Longview - did almost the entire gig at The Duchess using un-released material. Still so good that I forked out for their one (and so far only) album, Mercury.
7 Hope&Social - TAFKAFDH (The Artists Formerly Known As Four Day Hombre), perennial favourites, played The Duchess and Fibbers and I caught them both.
6 Black Stone Cherry - southern fried rock with attitude. I had their first album before seeing them at Fibbers, then got the second one as well! Brilliant.
5 Chantel McGregor - I'm running out of superlatives for this girl. OK she does covers, but; Steve Vai, Joe Bonamassa, Joe Satriana, Robin Trower, Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton... and she really does sound like them! Caught her for the first time in June at The Roman Bath and went back for a second helping at the same place in September.
4 Breathing Space - a band that have matured incredibly in this last year, Livvy's voice is superb. I caught them twice at The Roman Bath, in February and November. Thanks to Tim Hall for pointing out that John Hart (sax and Yamaha WX7 wind synthesizer) is now a full-time member of the band, I wasn't aware of that when I blogged them last time.
3 Mostly Autumn - one of a prog rock tangle of bands, Livvy and Iain from Breathing Space are also in this band. They release a fine album this year, Glass Shadows, and I thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas show in November at The Grand Opera House.
2 Mexicolas - Birmingham power-trio that released their debut album, X, in February and I saw them in March at Fibbers. Fantastic music. Volume turned to eleven but delivered with clear vocals and superb instrumental work. Incredibly, they were better live then their awesome album.
1 Uriah Heep - I really wasn't expecting this one. A bunch of '70s proggers turned in the best album of 2008 and delivered a blistering live set at The Duchess in November which has me wondering if anything in 2009 can possibly top it. I look forward to finding out!
And so to the second half of my musings, my top 10 albums. Obviously not everything released in 2008 passed by my ears so I can only rate those albums that I actually acquired. I think I only made one duff purchase this year, and even that, Elliott Minor, wasn't too duff. Mention in despatches for; Pendulum In Silico for an album that I liked in a genre that I don't, Duels The Barbarians Move In for living up to expectations with their second album, The Dodos Visiter for wearing weird on their sleeves, Fleet Foxes Fleet Foxes for wearing whimsy on their sleeves, The Mars Volta The Bedlam in Goliath for wearing surreal on their sleeves, and Sigur Rós Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust for wearing sleeves. So here is my top 10 countdown of album in 2008, in reverse order:
10 Oasis Dig Out Your Soul - the Gallagher bros dish up their finest effort since Definitely Maybe and (What's the Story) Morning Glory? A true return to form.
9 Kings of Leon Only By The Night - If you like KoL, you'll like this.
8 Mostly Autumn Glass Shadows - yes it's a bit Pink Floyd, yes it's a bit Genesis, but overall, mostly it's brilliant.
7 Elbow The Seldom Seen Kid - Mercury prize winner and deservedly so.
6 Black Stone Cherry Folklore & Superstition - a fantastic follow up to their eponymous debut.
5 Feeder Silent Cry - Feeder losing the whinging attitude of their last couple of lbums and coming on much heavier.
4 Guns n' Roses Chinese Democracy - massively over-produced. Bit of The Darkness, bit of Linkin Park, but over-arching everything is Axl's distinctive vocals (well it is practically a solo project). A real grower.
3 Thunder Bang! - Thunder kicking back at a world that likes to kick them, then ignore them. Shades of the '90s, but Thunder continue to evolve their sound and songs and once more prove to be at the forefront of classic British rock.
2 Mexicolas X - a sprinkle of The Police, a pinch of Red Hot Chili Peppers choppy guitars, a generous bunch of Stereophonics vocals, and a ladleful of singalong-a-QOTSA choruses. Mix well and serve with a side salad of Feeder. Thirteen fantastically constructed tracks, packed with swagger, big riffs and gravely vocals.
1 Uriah Heep Wake The Sleeper - Their first studio album for almost ten years, produced by Mike Paxman, and it's simply stunning. Not a duff track in sight. They are Deep Purple for the '00s. Huge.
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