Two Thousand and Eight.

Another fucking album list to glance at, just because I made one to give myself a New Year's Eve buzz... Looking at it, I think the top (baker's) dozen or so are ones which I'll still be listening to in years to come. That's a successful year, I think... 1. Islands - Arm's Way 2. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend 3. So Cow - I'm Siding With My Captors 4. Times New Viking - Rip it Off 5. Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle 6. Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances 7. El Guincho - Alegranza! 8. No Age - Nouns 9. Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion 10. Why? - Alopecia 11. The Mae Shi - HLLLYH 12. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie 13. Jape - Ritual 14. Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow and Blue 15. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer 16. David Turpin - The Sweet Used-to-be 17. Nobunny - Love Visions 18. The Spinto Band - Moonwink 19. Adam Green - Sixes and Sevens 20. Dodos - Visiter 21. Jonathan Richman - Because Her Beauty Is Raw and Wild 22. Andy's Airport of Love - Ballad of the Aleutian Sea Otter 23. Psychedelic Horseshit - Magic Flowers Droned 24. Jason the Swamp - Jason the Swamp 25. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride 26. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash 27. Jeremy Jay - A Place Where We Could Go 28. Cheap Time - Cheap Time 29. Wavves - Wavves 30. Minor Constellations - Ten Things Interesting Observation Not a single British band. And this isn't some stubborn "you stole our taters" thing on my part. Just to prove it... Best British Band Let's Wrestle Annnnnnnd... As soon as I typed that, I remembered that Pete and the Pirates' Little Death came out this year and is very good. I'm not going back. Olé olé olé. Addendum I didn't include either of Jay Reatard's singles collections because I've only ever heard the songs from them as they were on the EPs. They'd be there otherwise, I promise. P.P.S. I didn't include Wackity Schmackity Doo for the same load of reasons which I suggest in that review. Best Show La Casa Azul at FIB/Animal Collective at Whelan's/Islands at Róisín Dubh (you'll have the share the trophy, you champs) 'Unacknowledged Genius' Award Nicholas Thorburn - made stellar albums as Islands, Human Highway and Reefer. Drew amusing comic strips. Was a swell dude. Got slated lots. Best EP Grand Pocket Orchestra - Make Happy War Best Single The Barbaras - Summertime Road Best New Band The Barbaras Best New Old Band Jan and Dean Band of 2009 The Barbaras C'mon da babs. The Barbaras - Heaven Hangs Human Highway - The Sound Abba - Happy New Year