2008: OUR YEAR IN ALBUMS – PART 3

Part three sees us mull over offerings from Fleet Foxes, TV On The Radio, Zombie Zombie, Times New Viking and several other assorted accompaniments.
FLEET FOXES - FLEET FOXES
Fleet Foxes is an album with so many different sonic layers, jangly agrarian guitar chords, distant-sounding flutes and reverb soaked vocal harmonies all make for a dense full-sounding listen. And, like the Pieter Breugel painting on the cover, there's a glowing 'other-timely' quality to the mix. Some of songs, brilliantly evoke the 70s folk/pop sentimentalities of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young or Joni Mitchell whilst others like Red Squirrel/Sun Rises or Tiger Mountain Peasant Song evoke an era long since lost.

The buzz building around this Seattle five-piece is no longer so much a buzz but an ear-bleeding loud, wizard-on-a-misty-mountain-style roar. Praise and critical acclaim have flooded in from almost every major website, magazine, blog and newspaper. Thankfully, the album definitely lives up to the swell of hype its generated, the bright guitars, shimmering keyboards and full, warm vocals blend together to make a refreshingly enjoyable listen. One thing is for sure, Fleet Foxes is an extremely exciting debut from a band already touted as the great white hope for American rock music. Not bad for a band barely into their twenties.

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THE CAVE SINGERS - INVITATION SONGS
It doesn't scream Jo Wiley, nor will it wow those prog rock enthusiasts or excite your mum. What it does do is create an album full of beautiful moments, slow builds, emotive vocal lines and catchy motifs. It's a subtle gem of an album that takes folk music a step towards the new generations and is an absolute joy to sit alone and listen to.

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SCREAMING TEA PARTY - GOLDEN BLUE EP
If you're sick of the same old shit leaking out of Radio One's towers and you're looking to shake up your music collection; I suggest you let Screaming Tea Party chuck you into their international punk world; it's unlikely you'll be turning back.

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TIMES NEW VIKING - RIP IT OFF
Times New Viking drag intelligent indie pop into the realm of DIY punk ethics and the noise experimentation of Daydream Nation era Sonic Youth to strange and wonderful effect. Taking lo-fi recording to its extreme limit gives the listener the impression of a band caught in a blizzard, as heard from a phonograph, whilst wearing ear muffs.

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ZOMBIE ZOMBIE - A LAND FOR RENEGADES
French duo Etienne Jaumet and Cosmic Neman, aka Zombie Zombie, indulge their love of cult horror films and experimental noise in the construction of a dark cinematic soundtrack to their vivid imaginations. Eerie and hypnotic, this album is best listened to from start to finish. Highlights are 'Psychic Harmonia 2' and the epic title track, clocking in at over nine minutes long. There is even a cover of Iggy Pop's 'Night Clubbing.' A version he surely would approve of. File between Silver Apples and Daft Punk, with Kraftwerk close by.

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PUERTO MUERTO - I WAS A SWALLOW
This is a beautiful record that deserves to be revered as a record of the year. Puerto Muerto are unlikely to achieve great chart success, but buy this record, pretend you're a little avant garde and rejoice in its splendour.

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SHEARWATER - ROOK
This is not just an album, it's a musical story, a journey. A mind blowing album combining a multitude of different sounds, paces and emotions. This is an album that is unearthly in its grandeur and it deserves your respect.

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THE KILLS - MIDNIGHT BOOM
Finally 2008 brought us the album that properly catapulted the ingenuous pairing that is The Kills to the forefront of the collective conciousness (without the help of Kate Moss). Garage rock filthier than a tramps underpants, 'U R A Fever' was one of the singles of the year from an album where every track was every bit as good as the next. Everything about The Kills oozes cool from every oraphis.

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TV ON THE RADIO - DEAR SCIENCE
One of the most critically acclaimed albums of the year and rightly so! Some might say It's not as accessible as some of the album this year but for any time spent with it, it rewards massively. Once again the boys from the home of Hip-Hop take us on a wondrous journey through their diverse and uniquely crafted Art Rock cosmos.

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WHITE DENIM - WORKOUT HOLIDAY
The breakout record from Austin, Texas trio White Denim, offering an exciting fuse of Garage Rock, Blues, Jazz and a host of other genres. Intricate production,great guitar and rhythmic work, well thought out lyrics; quite simply buy a White Denim T shirt before every one else starts wearing them.

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Not long until part four boys and girls, don't go away!