Spring Break
Top eight of 2008
Cat Potter
Issue date: 1/13/09 Section: Features
Looking back on 2008, I realized that there were a multitude of notable musical endeavors and I had the unfortunate task of only being able to choose eight of the best. After careful listening, I chose my "top eight of 2008," and here they are (in no particular order):
Artist: Vampire Weekend
Album: Vampire Weekend
Release Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Must Hear Songs: "Bryn," "A-Punk," "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," "Oxford Comma."
Thoughts: I stumbled across this album over the summer while listening to a station on Pandora.com. The song I heard was "Oxford Comma," and immediately fell in love. After hearing this song I bought the album and have been playing it ever since. To sum this album up in one word, I would have to say: fun. The lyrics are zany and the music is upbeat. This was definitely one of my favorite albums of 2008.
Artist: Blitzen Trapper
Album: Furr
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2008
Must Hear Songs: "Echo/Always On/Easy Con," "Furr," "Lady On the Water," "Not Your Lover."
Thoughts: Ah Blitzen Trapper! If for a moment I had stopped believing in the possibility of good, new music-this band certainly proved that it is out there, and continues to get better with each album. Although if I absolutely had to choose, Wild Mountain Nation would probably be my favorite release from the Portland-based band, but Furr is right there with it. The tracks that make up Furr are completely original, and extremely refreshing compared to other releases of 2008. Blitzen Trapper stands out among artists and is definitely my new favorite band.
Artist: Bon Iver
Album: For Emma, Forever Ago
Release Date: Feb. 19, 2008
Must Hear Songs: "Re: Stacks," "Flume," "Skinny Love," "Blindsided."
Thoughts: My boyfriend told me about Bon Iver a while back and after a few MySpace listens I wouldn't say that I was absolutely awestruck. Maybe it just wasn't my day, because when I walked into a Starbucks a few months later and heard this album playing on the speakers, I waited in line again just to ask the barista who it was and if they were selling it. This album was completely captivating and with it's simplistic style and sound I am still listening to it months later and can't take it out of my CD player for more than a week without having to put it back in and listen again. If you haven't heard it, you're doing yourself a major injustice.
Artist: Vampire Weekend
Album: Vampire Weekend
Release Date: Jan. 29, 2008
Must Hear Songs: "Bryn," "A-Punk," "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa," "Oxford Comma."
Thoughts: I stumbled across this album over the summer while listening to a station on Pandora.com. The song I heard was "Oxford Comma," and immediately fell in love. After hearing this song I bought the album and have been playing it ever since. To sum this album up in one word, I would have to say: fun. The lyrics are zany and the music is upbeat. This was definitely one of my favorite albums of 2008.
Artist: Blitzen Trapper
Album: Furr
Release Date: Sept. 23, 2008
Must Hear Songs: "Echo/Always On/Easy Con," "Furr," "Lady On the Water," "Not Your Lover."
Thoughts: Ah Blitzen Trapper! If for a moment I had stopped believing in the possibility of good, new music-this band certainly proved that it is out there, and continues to get better with each album. Although if I absolutely had to choose, Wild Mountain Nation would probably be my favorite release from the Portland-based band, but Furr is right there with it. The tracks that make up Furr are completely original, and extremely refreshing compared to other releases of 2008. Blitzen Trapper stands out among artists and is definitely my new favorite band.
Artist: Bon Iver
Album: For Emma, Forever Ago
Release Date: Feb. 19, 2008
Must Hear Songs: "Re: Stacks," "Flume," "Skinny Love," "Blindsided."
Thoughts: My boyfriend told me about Bon Iver a while back and after a few MySpace listens I wouldn't say that I was absolutely awestruck. Maybe it just wasn't my day, because when I walked into a Starbucks a few months later and heard this album playing on the speakers, I waited in line again just to ask the barista who it was and if they were selling it. This album was completely captivating and with it's simplistic style and sound I am still listening to it months later and can't take it out of my CD player for more than a week without having to put it back in and listen again. If you haven't heard it, you're doing yourself a major injustice.
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