Top Albums of 2008/Top Concerts of 2008

[hodgeswm]

MMJ high on both lists. Check out my lists and share your opinion:

digmusiccitylive.blogspot.com

Top 13 Albums of 2008

13. Love As Laughter- Holy

12. The Wood Brothers- Loaded

11. David Byrne and Brian Eno- Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

10. Sigur Rós- Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

9. Lil Wayne- Tha Carter III

8. Delta Spirit- Ode To Sunshine

T-6. Fleet Foxes- Fleet Foxes

T-6. The Raconteurs- Consolers of the Lonely

T-4. Dead Confederate- Wrecking Ball

T-4. The Whigs- Mission Control

3. Stephen Malkmus and The Jicks- Real Emotional Trash

2. My Morning Jacket- Evil Urges

1. Dr. Dog- Fate

Honorable Mention: moe.- Sticks and Stones, Howlin' Rain- Magnificient Fiend, Beck- Modern Guilt, Blitzen Trapper- Furr, R.E.M.- Accelerate, Cold War Kids- - Loyalty To Loyalty, Secret Machines - Secret Machines, Booka Shade- The Sun and the Neon Light, Widespread Panic- Free Somehow


Top 16 concerts of 2008

I rung in 2008 from the crowded floor of The Tabernacle taking in the 3rd set of STS9's marathon New Year's Show in Atlanta. This year I plan on ringing in '09 in the pit at Madison Square Garden at My Morning Jacket.

On to the list:

16. Moon Taxi- 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN on September 14th

15. Ben Cameron and the T.V.A.- Christopher Pizza in Nashville, TN on January 25th

14. Metallica- Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN on June 13th

13. moe. - City Hall in Nashville, TN on April 2nd- I got to join the band on-stage during the encore as part of the chorus for "Raise A Glass"

12. Dr. Dog and Delta Spirit- 3rd and Lindsley in Nashville, TN on September 7th

11. Widespread Panic- Bonnaroo Music Festival, What Stage in Manchester, TN on June 15th. Great special guests, great covers.

T-8th. The Whigs- Mercy Lounge in Nashville, TN on February 23rd

T-8th. Band of Horses-Exit/In in Nashville, TN on January 29th

T-8th. Black Mountain- Exit/In in Nashville, TN on March 10th

7. The Dexateens- The End in Nashville, TN on September 12th

6. Sound Tribe Sector 9 (STS9)- House of Blues in Chicago, IL on July 19th

5. What Made Milwaukee Famous- WRVU 91.1 FM In-Studio performance on Any Colour You Like Radio Show in Nashville, TN

4. Tiesto- Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN on June 13th.

T-2. My Morning Jacket- Riverfront Park in Nashville, TN on August 15th. The Fireworks during War Begun solo...

T-2. Wilco- Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN on March 2nd

#1 Best Concert in History of them. My Morning Jacket- Bonnaroo Music Festival in Manchester, TN on June 13th on Which Stage from 12 a.m. to 4 a.m. in the driving rain.

[smalltown79]

I would add the Raconteurs and Pearl Jam from Bonnaroo to the concert list.  Pearl Jam smoked Metallica on the Main Stage IMO.  That's the largest crowd I've ever seen at a concert, the thousands of lighters during "betterman" was a sublime moment for a huge festival show.  I saw the Raconteurs twice this year and they are the fire.

Dead Confederate is a great call.  One of my fav albums of the year by far.  My album list is very similar but you have to throw the Black Keys' "Attack and Release" in there.  Coner Oberst's self-titled record isn't quite Cassadega, but it's a pretty fine record as well.

[lasvegas]

I would add the Raconteurs and Pearl Jam from Bonnaroo to the concert list.  Pearl Jam smoked Metallica on the Main Stage IMO.  That's the largest crowd I've ever seen at a concert, the thousands of lighters during "betterman" was a sublime moment for a huge festival show.  I saw the Raconteurs twice this year and they are the fire.

both pearl jam and raconteurs at bonnaroo were unreal.

add in mmj show there, and they are three of my top 5 for the year.

[hodgeswm]

I had never seen Metallica before and was impressed by their raw power. I like Pearl Jam, but this show (which many hardcore PJ fans would call "legendary") just didn't do it for me, I think it was Eddie Vedder's overpoliticized drunken stage banter that put me off...To each his own, that's why I love reading these lists every year. The Raconteurs show would probably be on there, but I was too exhausted from the MMJ/Tiesto marathon the night before and only stayed for about half of it.

[LEATHER KID]

I would add the Raconteurs and Pearl Jam from Bonnaroo to the concert list.  Pearl Jam smoked Metallica on the Main Stage IMO.  That's the largest crowd I've ever seen at a concert, the thousands of lighters during "betterman" was a sublime moment for a huge festival show.  I saw the Raconteurs twice this year and they are the fire.

both pearl jam and raconteurs at bonnaroo were unreal.

add in mmj show there, and they are three of my top 5 for the year.

Jack White taking the dive into the monitor during Blue Veins was one of the most "Rock and Roll" acts I've ever seen.

[lasvegas]

I would add the Raconteurs and Pearl Jam from Bonnaroo to the concert list.  Pearl Jam smoked Metallica on the Main Stage IMO.  That's the largest crowd I've ever seen at a concert, the thousands of lighters during "betterman" was a sublime moment for a huge festival show.  I saw the Raconteurs twice this year and they are the fire.

both pearl jam and raconteurs at bonnaroo were unreal.

add in mmj show there, and they are three of my top 5 for the year.

Jack White taking the dive into the monitor during Blue Veins was one of the most "Rock and Roll" acts I've ever seen.

agreed.

i put it right up there with jj flying up and down the rafters at RCMH. i'll never forget him literally standing over the top of my head shredding my face off. amazing.

and hodgeswm - overpoliticized drunken stage banter is eddies MO.  ;D

[ManNamedTruth]

Lil Wayne? Really?
I don't get how these indie heavy lists have Lil Wayne thrown in there. That Lollipop song is the worst thing I've ever heard and album sales shouldn't equal "best".

[Penny Lane]

Didn't see many shows this past year because the ones I saw were EPIC.

April 29th/April 30th  THE VERVE   reunion shows   MSG THEATER
 
MMJ Shows -BONNAROO, Radio City, Philly, Boston

Elbow--April 26, Webster Hall

Yo La Tengo-Hannukuh show w/Alex Chilton

Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes (weird venue but good show)



NYE 2008----- :D

[ALady]

I know! I've been hesitant to make a best-of-'08 concert list because I have a feeling NYE will top them all...

Off the top of my head, I'd say MMJ at Austin Music Hall, Bon Iver at the Lakeshore Theater, the Whigs at the Crystal Ballroom, Fleet Foxes at Schubas, Blitzen Trapper at Schubas, Drive-by Truckers Austin City Limits taping, Band of Horses at the Parish, Jessica Lea Mayfield at the Basement, Ryan Adams at the Overture...argh.  

[spinyn]

Where in the heck is The Hold Steady's "Stay Positive"?  I played that as much as any new CD this year.

Here are some more I liked, in no order:

1. Evil Urges - MMJ (of course)
2. Tell Tale Signs - Bob Dylan
3. From The Reach - Sonny Landreth
4. Miss Understood - Carolyn Wonderland
5. City That Care Forgot - Dr. John and The Lower 911
6. Giving Up The Ghost - Jackie Greene
7. Seeing Things - Jakob Dylan
8. Mo Hippa - Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen
9. Time The Conqueror - Jackson Browne

Live shows I loved this year:

1. Levon Helm - Bonnaroo in June
2. Robert Plant & Alison Krause - NO Jazz & Heritage Festival in April
3. The Hold Steady - Chelsea's, Baton Rouge in August
4. Steve Kimock - Great American Music Hall, SF in March
5. Phil and Friends - "Aoxomoxoa"/"Live Dead" Warfield, SF in May
6. Royal Fingerbowl - One Eyed Jacks, NOLA in July
7. Santana - NO Jazz & Heritage Festival in May
8. Bruce Springsteen and The E Street Band - Sacramento in April
9. My Morning Jacket - Stubbs BBQ, Austin in August
10. Herbie Hancock - Monterey Jazz Festival in September

Mark from NOLA

[kydiddle]

I'm too indecisive to make best of lists for my favorite albums. I'm still buying new music that I like...

As far as shows, here's what I saw this year:

R.E.M. w/ Modest Mouse & The National in Columbia, MD -- Great show and a ton of fun. I watched this crazy bastard dancing like no one was watching, except everyone was watching and all the people around him (including me) were videotaping.
Dave Matthews Band -- He comes to Hershey every year and is pretty much an excuse to get really drunk and talk to fellow drunkards. I did both. And he played a really awesome version of 'So Damn Lucky'.
Counting Crows & Maroon 5 @ Hershey -- I loathe Maroon 5, but had to sit through them to get to CC. And yes, I am a huge Counting Crows fan. No, it is not 1994, but I don't care. They played an acoustic show and it was so satisfying.
Ingrid Michaelson @ Messiah College -- Pretty good.
Kathleen Edwards & John Doe in York -- I took my mom to this one and now she's a fan.
Fleet Foxes @ Grand Ballroom --  :)
Sia, Kings of Leon & Radiohead @ APW -- Uhm. Yeah. Radiohead. This was a great day. Beautiful night, great view of the Statue of Liberty. Fantastic setlist. Just...wonderful...

I have a tentative Bon Iver show in Philly on Dec. 15 and of course MMJ.

[The DARK]

3. From The Reach - Sonny Landreth

Thought I was alone...it's very good to hear this, brother.  ;)

[.Walt]

album sales shouldn't equal "best".

like Ahmet Ertegun once said, "Just because you've sold millions of records doesn't mean you're good. McDonald's sells a lot of hamburgers."

[Sassbox]

My Top 13:

1. Spiritualized - Songs in A&E
2. The Black Angels - Directions to See A Ghost
3. Portishead - Third
4. Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball
5. Lucinda Williams - Little Honey
6. Stephen Malkmus & The Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
7. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
8. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds - Dig Lazarus Dig
9. TV on the Radio - Dear Science
10. The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely
11. Al Green - Lay It Down
12. Foals - Antidotes
13. Bonnie "Prince" Billy - Lie Down in the Light
           
Best Live Performances of 2008      - Top 5

1. My Morning Jacket - June 2008 - Bonnaroo - Manchester, TN
2. Spiritualized - September 2008 - ACL - Austin, TX
3. Wilco - February 2008 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
4. Nick Cave & TBS - October 2008 - 9:30 Club - Washington, DC
5. Billy Bragg - November 2008 - Rams Head Live - Baltimore, MD

I've will have seen MMJ 12 times in 9 months on New Year's Eve and each of those shows falls under my #1 above.   ;)

[Ghosts_on_TV]

Didn't see many shows this past year because the ones I saw were EPIC.

April 29th/April 30th  THE VERVE   reunion shows   MSG THEATER
 
MMJ Shows -BONNAROO, Radio City, Philly, Boston

Elbow--April 26, Webster Hall

Yo La Tengo-Hannukuh show w/Alex Chilton

Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes (weird venue but good show)



NYE 2008----- :D

Bonnaroo got 2 thumbs up...

[Sassbox]

Hey Ghosts, I'm pretty sure I met you at Bonnaroo, over in VIP camping (I was with Bunny, Dan, Ecupirate, Idioteque and that motley crew).  Our camp had the flag with a pic of RedVelvet on it.

[Ghosts_on_TV]

Hey Ghosts, I'm pretty sure I met you at Bonnaroo, over in VIP camping (I was with Bunny, Dan, Ecupirate, Idioteque and that motley crew).  Our camp had the flag with a pic of RedVelvet on it.

Right across the street from us?

[Sassbox]

Hey Ghosts, I'm pretty sure I met you at Bonnaroo, over in VIP camping (I was with Bunny, Dan, Ecupirate, Idioteque and that motley crew).  Our camp had the flag with a pic of RedVelvet on it.

Right across the street from us?

Well, I'm not sure where you were, but maybe?  We had a huge camp set up...about 12 or so tents -- flags with RedVelvet, a Louisiana flag, Corncat, and we had a tiki bar in the center...I definitely remember you being there a couple of times.

[ALady]

I've will have seen MMJ 12 times in 9 months on New Year's Eve and each of those shows falls under my #1 above.   ;)

But...but...NYE is gonna top Roo, right?   :'(

*berates self yet again for skipping Roo against all sensible advice*

My top 13 records:

1 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
2 Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - Real Emotional Trash
3 Blitzen Trapper - Furr
4 Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
5 Plants and Animals - Parc Avenue
6 My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
7 Erykah Badu - New Amerykah: Part One (4th World War)
8 Destroyer - Trouble in Dreams
9 TV on the Radio - Dear Science
10 The Dodos - Visiter
11 William Fitzsimmons - The Sparrow & The Crow
12 Al Green - Lay It Down
13 The Acorn - Glory Hope Mountain

honorable mention:
R.E.M. - Accelerate
Vic Chesnutt/Elf Power/Amorphous Strums - Dark Developments
Marie Queenie Lyons - Soul Fever (1970 reissue)


and official top live performances:

1 My Morning Jacket, Yo La Tengo, the Whigs Austin Music Hall, Austin, TX, 3.13.08
2 Ed Vedder, Auditorium Theater, Chicago, IL, 8.22.08
3 Drive-by Truckers Austin City Limits taping, Austin, TX, 9.26
4 Ryan Adams, The Overture Center, Madison, WI, 10.5.08  
5 Band of Horses, The Parish, Austin, TX, 9.27.08

Honorable mentions:

My Morning Jacket, Riverfront Park, Louisville, KY, 8.15.08
R.E.M., United Center, Chicago, IL, 6.6.08
Destroyer, Logan Square Auditorium, Chicago, IL, 4.17.08
Fleet Foxes, Sasquatch! Festival, George, WA, 5.24.08
Radiohead, Lollapalooza Festival, Chicago, IL, 8.1.08
Beirut, Sasquatch! Festival, George, WA, 5.24.08
Blitzen Trapper, Schubas, Chicago, IL, 11.9.08
Jesse Sykes & the Sweet Hereafter, Empty Bottle, Chicago, IL, 9.19.08
The Roots, SoCo Music Experience, Madison, WI, 9.6.08

[getinthevan]

Still working on my lists...  I'm having a hard time remembering which of my favorite CDs that I bought this year actually came out this year.