David's Best of 2008

David Obenour
Co-publisher and Managing Editor

1		Robert Pollard – is Off to Business & Superman Was a Rocker / Boston Spaceships – Brown Submarine / Circus Devils – Ataxia / Psycho and the Birds – We’ve Moved (Happy Jack Rock, Guided By Voices) I know as an editor I’m supposed to hide my fanboy-esque tendencies, but why front? This has been the year of Pollard and I’ve been gassed for all 365 days.

2		Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Dig Lazarus Dig (Anti-) I was beginning to lose the plot after the kind of namby pamby wanderings of Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus, but then we had Grinderman and all seems crazier and spastic once again.

3		Neil Hamburger – Sings Country Winners (Drag City) The only thing I love more then listening to this album is singing with it. I haven’t had this much fun impersonating a ridiculous voice since the last Morrissey record.

4		This Moment in Black History – Raw Black Power (Insect Records) The cream of the crop to come from the musical odes to our president elect, this 7” also includes a cover of Gaunt’s “Jim Motherfucker.” What more can you possibly want?

5		The Ergs – Hindsight is 20/20 My Friend (Dirtnap) I know this just a collection album, but I thought I had to include something from these guys this year. The best thing to never come from Gillman Street, it’s practically a crime these guys called it quits.

6		Silver Jews – Lookout Mountain, Lookout Sea (Drag City) A lot of people aren’t too keen on Berman’s new found affinity with “song structure” and “melody.” A lot of people are indie twits.

7		Vast Aire – Deuces Wild (One Records) I’m late to the band wagon on this guy (in fact, the parade might have even already come to an end for most), but this is a dope, dope old school album.

8		Kelley Polar – I Need You To Hold On While The Sky Is Falling (Environ) Kind of like if Isaac Asimov were way more into cheesey disco then writing books. Genius either way.

9		Lemuria – Get Better (Asian Man) All the tags I could think of (Weezer, Lemonheads, etc) make this kind of feel like a guilty pleasure… if it weren’t for the fact that it was done so damn well.

10		Atmosphere – When Live Gives You Lemons… (Rhymesayers) You gotta respect Atmosphere and thank god they didn’t do anything whack like a duet with the dude from the Mountain Goats.

11		Dead Child – Attack (Quarter Stick) Makes you wanna pop open one of those new wide mouth beers with the ventilation nipples for maximum intake. Hell yea!

12		The Breeders – Mountain Battles (4AD) I wasn’t really expecting this one. I mean, the Deal sisters are solid no doubt, but the stripped down version worked even better.

13		British Sea Power – Do You Like Rock Music? (Rough Trade) I do. Thanks for asking.

14		Cordero – De Donde Eres (Bloodshot) Calexico hasn’t been doing it for me as much since I started listening to these guys. The whole album’s sung in Spanish too, so if you aren’t lingual enough you can make up different meanings every time!

15		The Sea & Cake – Car Alarm (Thrill Jockey) The only reason this album is this low, is – if we’re being completely honest with ourselves – it feels more like a part two to last year’s Everybody then a new album. Still, kinda feel like I’m looking a gift horse in the mouth.