It has been far too long since I last graced you with a bit of nothingness by way of the Charm School Graduate Blog. So here, I reinstate my role as a 'blogger' with hopes and resolutions of being a bit more consistent with the updates in the New Year. Before we address 2009, however, I'm closing out 2008 with my Top Ten Albums. These lists have been circulating for weeks now. There is nothing special or out of the ordinary with my own. But for me, few things in the world can take me back to such a specific time or place than a specific song. Without question, when I hear any of these albums listed below in 5 days, weeks or years, they will undoubtedly evoke some sort of memory (good or bad) from 2008.
10. Grand Archives: Grand Archives. Led by former Band of Horses guitarist, Mat Broooke, this album is light and simple. It lies somewhere where folk meets pop. But you know, not in a pop-ish way.
The one track I listened to 200+ times: Sleepdriving
9. The Dutchess & The Duke: She's the Dutchess, He's the Duke. This album is as bare bones as it gets. It's short and sweet. It's a guy-girl duo who produced an album with not much other than two acoustic guitars and their voices. There are heavy influences from both The Stones and Dylan. It sounds like simple 60s Rock and Roll.
The one track I listened to 200+ times: Out of Time
8. She & Him: Volume One. Well, it seems that 2008 was the year for guy-girl duos. Zooey Deschanel and M. Ward teamed up to put out this dreamy little 60s Pop Album, with a whole lot of Country Twang on the side. From song to song, I think the album is a little disjointed, but individually, each track is truly a standout gem.
Two-way tie for the track(s) I listened to 200+ times: Sentimental Heart + Change is Hard
7. Death Cab for Cutie: Narrow Stairs. Before Matt Berninger and before Justin Vernon, my heart belonged—wholeheartedly —to Ben Gibbard. But over time, I got over it, moved on, and found other musical/romantic interests. All of my old Death Cab albums began to collect dust in the deep dark corners of my i-pod. I didn't get hyped up when this came out, in fact, it was several months after the release that I even sampled a song or two. But like a moth to a flame, I could not stay away. There is nothing remarkable or earth-shattering about this album—nothing that really makes it stand out from their earlier works. After a couple samplings though, it felt comfortable, like home. Like that one ex-boyfriend's number you refuse to delete from your phone, I just can't seem to quit you, Ben Gibbard.
The one track I listened to 200+ times: Grapevine Fires
6. Handsome Furs: Plague Park. Led by Wolf Parade's frontman, Dan Boeckner, I think this album blew At Mount Zoomer out of the water. It's filled with somewhat heavy, driving, even primal beats...somehow elegantly juxtaposed against mechanical/techy rhythms. This album was a sleeper for me. I didn't love it at first, but over time, found myself singing along to every word, and picking up on every nuance. Now, I love it, and it was a struggle to have to place it so low on this list.
The one track I listened to 200+ times: Sing! Captain
5. The Helio Sequence: Keep Your Eyes Ahead. Four years after their last release, the Oregon based duo released this album at the beginning of '08. I'd heard bits and pieces of it from different people throughout the first half of the year, then finally bought it in its entirety this summer. It's safe to say that this album became the anthem of my August.
The one track I listened to 200+ times: Back to This
4. M83: Saturdays = Youth. This album is amazing. It's not that kind of "I feel like hearing Track 3 from that M83 album" sort of a deal. This is one you have to play beginning to end...and it's worth every minute.
I would be contradicting myself if I listed one track that got more play than the rest, but if I had to choose one, it would undoubtedly be: Kim & Jessie
3. Fleet Foxes: Ragged Wood. Another sleeper, it took a while for me to warm up to this album. But once I turned the corner from "like" to "love", there was no turning back. While I don't generally consider the i-Tunes reviews as my written code, I think they nailed it when they said, "Fleet Foxes feel like a ray of winter sun falling on the sofa on a Sunday afternoon. You want to curl up in it for a while, and shut everything else out." No doubt, I've done my fair share of just that, so I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to my upstairs neighbor, for having to involuntarily listen to this album over and over and over and over again.
The one track I listened to 200+ times: Mykonos
2. Little Joy: Little Joy. This came out of nowhere and blew me away. Well, it didn't come out of nowhere, exactly. It's a little side project of Fabrizio Moretti, and it is gold. You can definitely pick up some Strokes-like undertones, but not in a sellout kind of way. It's a darling, vintage-y, bossa nova-y, tryst. A little musical tryst. Or maybe it just makes you want to have a tryst. Or a mojito.
The one track I listened to 200+ times: Brand New Start
1. Bon Iver: For Emma Forever Ago. This album has been reviewed to death, and there's nothing I could possibly add to or take away from the countless commentaries. All I'll say is that with all of the music I listened to throughout the year, this is the one album I found myself consistently coming back to. Day or night. Winter or Summer. Hot or Cold. Happy or Sad. In love or in hate. Perhaps Bon Iver's moniker would more aptly named: Bon Anée.
Two-way tie for the track(s) I listened to 200+ times: Skinny Love + For Emma
