Stay Positive (Part 1)

As promised, I'm back to the 2008 retrospective stuff. I've decided the best of/worst of approach is getting a little played out and might reflect too much of pessimistic perspective. So from here on in, I'm gonna view the cup half full. Maybe this is a resolution I'll carry out into the new year -- who knows. I am just going to list the tops for the remaining major categories. These will be in traditional countdown fashion, as you'll see:

Top 10 Shows of 2008

Honorable Mention: The Gaslight Anthem @ Roseland Ballroom 10/13/08

Granted this band was designated the opening slot for a four-band bill, it might be a little controversial to to place in the top ten. However, this just goes to show how much I believe in the Gaslight Anthem. I'll give them my honorable mention spot. Churning out a majority of The '59 Sound's Jersey Shore-inspired catalog in the allotted 40 minutes, this was a make-or-break show for me. The fact that I continually rave about them will tell you how well that went. People are still talking about Gaslight's recent performance on Conan, so I think 2009 will only keep the momentum going for one of my new favorite bands.

10) Fountains of Wayne @ The Highline Ballroom 2/8/08

The saddest thing to consider about this New Jersey power-pop quartet is that they will likely go down in the annals of history as one-hit wonders for "Stacey's Mom." But like comrades Nada Surf, this band has produced some of the best pop-rock for the better part of the decade, and has been critically received for every album that's been put out. When I saw these guys in February, it was my first time at the Highline Ballroom (one of the better venues in Manhattan), so I was blown away by the sheer intimacy of venue as well as the slew of upbeat 3 and half minute beauties that were churned out with ease. Can't wait to see these guys again.

9) The Killers @ The Highline Ballroom 7/29/08

Same venue, MUCH different band. I was skeptical about the validity of this secret show because it was mysteriously easy to get tickets. As everyone knows, this is an arena-sized band -- for them to play the 600 person capacity Highline Ballroom was a little bit of a head scratcher. But when they did eventually come on, they knocked it out of the park. Combining the usual suspects with b-sides, lesser known tracks, and new songs "Spaceman" and "Neon Tiger," this show restored my faith in the band I hadn't really been into since college.

8) Ryan Adams & The Cardinals @ The Apollo Theatre 10/31/08

I know, I know. For someone who's a little too obsessed with this guy, the eight spot might seem a little out of place. This just goes to show how brilliant 2008 was for me in terms of concert attendance. Don't get me wrong; this was yet another classic Ryan Adams Halloween show -- the fact that it was at the legendary Apollo Theater was worth the trip alone. Skewing mostly new material, Adams decided it was a good idea to avoid the very songs that helped to build his strong fan base. I don't know how well this strategy was received by those in attendance, but it worked for me. His clean attitude has surely led to spot-on singing/guitar playing.

7) The National @ Brooklyn Academy of Music 2/23/08

Another legendary venue, another soon-to-be legendary band. This marked the first show of the year I'd been to outside of Manhattan, and let's just say it was worth the borough crossover. Matt Berninger's morose baritone set the tone for a memorably bleak winter evening (in a good way). Playing most of the songs off of many critics' top 2007 pick (Boxer), as well as host of old material I was admittedly unfamiliar with, this show officially made me a believer. I'm looking forward to this band's follow-up, which will hopefully see an '09 release.

6) Mark Kozelek @ The Highline Ballroom 6/13/08

I think it's pretty apparent which New York venue wins MVP this year for me. I think this show takes the cake for most anticipated concert of the year. Ghosts of the Great Highway remains one of the best records of all time for me, and by June I was REALLY getting into the most recent Sun Kil Moon album, April. Not to mention Kozelek's solo stuff AND his catalog with former '90's band Red House Painters. So yeah, a lot to look forward to. Mark was dead on -- distributing equally from all of his projects with finger-picking ease. "Lost Verses" was hauntingly beautiful. Enough said.

5) My Morning Jacket @ Radio City Music Hall 6/20/08

Without a doubt, this show was the most important performance ever for Jim James and crew. I remember seeing My Morning Jacket just three short years ago a D.C.'s 930 club -- a show that didn't even sell out. Since then, a lot has changed. I was skeptical about the band's booking at such a large venue, but after seeing James tear down the house with a near 3-hour performance, I knew there was no turning back. Shortly after, the band was booked for an MSG New Year's show. If you've got no New Year's plans just yet and don't want to spend the absurd $100+ "all you can drink" bar fee, this is definitely a worthwhile alternative. Live album surely to follow.

4) TV On The Radio @ Brooklyn Masonic Temple 10/13/08

For TVOTR to clock in at number four, this just goes to show how stiff the competition was this year. Definitely the most interesting venue of the year. The Brooklyn Masonic Temple is exactly how it sounds -- the performance space resembled the appearance and size of an elementary school gymnasium. This being said, it was impossible to not like this show. The band played the perfect blend of old and new on an evening that featured a full horn section for the majority of the show. Considering the hype that surrounds this band, I have a feeling it will be a while before I see them at a temple again.

3) Neil Young & Wilco @ MSG 12/16/08

Not to cut corners here, but I just saw this show last week and went into great detail a couple posts ago. Just scroll down to read all about it.

2) Fleet Foxes @ The Grand Ballroom at The Manhattan Center 10/4/08

Don't be deceived by the venue's name; there's nothing colossal about this ballroom located above the Hammerstein Ballroom. And quite frankly this is what made this show so special to me. The Fleet Foxes are hands down the most exciting success story of 2008. To see them play at such a tiny standing room venue was absolutely mind-blowing. These guys are about as hyped as Vampire Weekend, but unlike their '08 amigos, they are legitimately worthy of all this praise. Sweet harmonizing, precocious arrangements, brilliant musicianship, and the best possible attitude for a hipster-approved band are only a few things that make this Northwest quintet the best thing ever. Bonus points for the legendary beards.

1) Sigur Rós @ The Museum of Modern Art 6/17/08

This show will go down as the most transcendent in my book. For this was just not aural ecstasy by one of the best bands in the world; those who were in attendance we treated to a visual art exhibit beforehand by fellow Icelandic countryman Olafur Eliasson. The free Grolsch beer didn't hurt in helping to set the tone. Definitely the best cultural experience of 2008 for me. Refering back to an earlier post, "throughout the course of the night, the guys brought out their standard surprises, which included a full horn section, a wind section, and singer Jónsi Birgisson's trademark falsetto vocals/bow guitar playing abilities." A life-changing combination which easily made this the best show of the year.

Something To Love

Taken from the FOW website:

"On Wednesday, September 10, Fountains of Wayne will participate in a benefit show at NYC's Knitting Factory for Kelly Buchanan, a friend and singer/songwriter who was recently injured and is suffering from traumatic brain damage. Also appearing will be Nada Surf, Measure, and an "All-Star Band" featuring Mike Viola and others. Each artist will play approximately four to five songs and also cover one of Kelly's songs. Doors at 7pm. Tickets are $25, All Ages. for more info see kellybuchanan.com."

Reasons you should go to this:

1) Fountains of Wayne AND Nada Surf at one of the city's best venues.

2) Knitting Factory is moving to Brooklyn, so catch it while you can.

3) Who doesn't love power pop?!

3) It's a great cause.

The List (Part 9)

For 100-91 (Part 1), click HERE.
For 90-81 (Part 2), click HERE.
For 80-71 (Part 3), click HERE.
For 70-61 (Part 4), click HERE.
For 60-51 (Part 5), click HERE.
For 50-41 (Part 6), click HERE.
For 40-31 (Part 7), click HERE.
For 30-21 (Part 8), click HERE.

20) Outkast - Stankonia (2000)
Put quite simply, Stankonia is the album that transformed this Atlanta hip-hop duo into one of greatest acts of all time. This record got the ball rolling for Andre 3000 and Big Boi, who followed up with the near perfect Speakerboxxx/The Love Below. In an time when Southern rap oozed mediocrity (Juvenile, B.G., Hot Boys), this band was a breath of fresh air. And who would have thought these guys were clairvoyant? Three years before the Iraq debacle, Outkast rocked our world with the jarring anthem "Bombs Over Baghdad". But it didn't stop there. Follow-up R&B-inspired singles "Ms. Jackson" and "So Fresh, So Clean" occupied some pretty prime real estate on the Billboard charts a year later. Stankonia never got even one bad review -- chalking up an unheard of 95 score on Metacritic.


19) Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes (2008)
Seattle's Fleet Foxes are perhaps the most exciting new band of the year (yes, more so than Vampire Weekend). And sure, it might be a little bold to throw these guys in the top 20, but I have this much faith that we are going to be hearing great things from this band for years to come. If you take a listen to their self-titled debut, you'll discover that this band is mature beyond their years. They've definitely done all their homework in Neil Young 101, and have already learned to perfect a country/folk sound that rivals even the mighty My Morning Jacket. Combine this with the songwriting sincerity of Mark Kozelek, and you get a band that's pretty difficult to criticize.


18) Queens of The Stone Age - Songs For The Deaf (2002)
When Queens of The Stone Age's Rated R was released in 2000, I remember reading in numerous publications that this was a band to watch. And although these guys scored some radio credentials with "The Lost Art of Keeping A Secret," their breakout album went largely unnoticed by the general public. But this must have only fueled the band's creative fire. Josh Homme and gang went on a tear with their follow-up magnum opus, Songs For Deaf. Recruiting Dave Grohl for drumming duties, the band put on a rock and roll clinic that spawned several smash singles that included "No One Know," "Go With The Flow," and "First It Giveth". Unfortunately all this success couldn't prevent the internal drama. The only other original member, bassist Nick Oliveri, was kicked out of the band shortly after Songs For The Deaf hit it big.


17) The Hold Steady - Stay Positive (2008)
I think I've made my sentiments abundantly clear about this album. Stay Positive is my undisputed pick for record of the year. There, I went ahead and said it. I don't care if some critics claim that this one's awfully similar-sounding to their last record; if you've got a great thing going on, why mess around with it? The Hold Steady are everything that's good about music -- excellent songwriting, top-notch musicianship, infectious charisma, zero pretentiousness, and a great attitude. For my (comprehensive) review of Stay Positive click HERE. Nuff said.


16) Spoon - Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga (2007)
If Stay Positive is this year's pick for record of the year, then Spoon's Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga is 2007's tour de force. This band's consistency is something that should be applauded, and any mainstream exposure they've achieved as of late is definitely well-deserved (the record debuted at #10 on the charts). If you haven't caught these guys on the Letterman or Saturday Night Live circuit, then you've more than likely heard "The Underdog" on the radio or during some obscure movie trailer. And yes, you have heard it before -- the horn section in this song is just too infectious to resist. In case you were wondering, the album's title used to be the temporary name of one of their songs, "The Ghost of You Lingers". They scrapped the nonsensical song title, and instead opted to make it a nonsensical album title.


15) Fountains of Wayne - Welcome Interstate Managers (2003)
It's a shame that the commoner will always associate Fountains of Wayne with that song about Stacey's mom (no thanks to those Sunny D commercials). And while there's no denying that this song is as catchy as it is corny, this really doesn't do justice to the album or the band. In all its glory, Welcome Interstate Managers is a loose concept album that follows the doldrums of suburbanites placed in less than ideal situations. Whether it's North Jersey-dwelling contractors, alcoholic sales executives, or recently fired United Airlines employees, Managers perfectly juxtaposes FOW's shimmering power pop with the dark nature of everyday living. We haven't heard three-and-a-half minutes storytelling this perfect since "Eleanor Rigby" or "Oh-Bla-Di, Oh-Bla-Da". By the way, "interstate manager" is a nice way of saying toll taker.


14) Death Cab For Cutie - Transatlanticism (2003)
Although I may have originally had some reservations about Death Cab's most recent offering, this was hardly the case for this band's 2003 breakout, Transatlanticism. It's no wonder why Ben Gibbard and crew were finally able to break the mold of anonymity from their first three disappointing efforts. Transtlanticism is much more emotionally charged than some of Death Cab's earlier work and this allows the band to soar, as evidenced on standout songs "The New Year", "Title and Registration," and "The Sound of Settling". This album soon became a cult smash thanks in part to its content's inclusion on countless movie and television soundtracks. Before long, it would go gold. Their 2005 follow-up, Plans, is not a particularly bad record, but certainly doesn't have the same consistency as Transatlanticism.


13) Sufjan Stevens - Illinois (2005)
You've got artists who come out with concept albums, and then you've got Sufjan Stevens. After releasing a record entirely dedicated to the people, places, and things from his home state of Michigan in 2003, Stevens decided it would be a good idea to keep the state thing going. In 2005, he released Illinois to unanimously positive acclaim. In fact, if you look at its score on Metacritic, you'll see it's the best-rated album of that year. And quite frankly, it's not too difficult to see why. This album is a musical explosion -- frequently utilizing strings, horns, and harmonized vocals. Illinois was so well-received, that a year later, Sufjan released an album of songs that just didn't quite make the cut. There's no resting on laurels, however. Stevens has made the bold assertion that he plans on releasing an album dedicated to each of the 50 states. He better get back to work.


12) Arcade Fire - Funeral (2004)
The Arcade Fire are a really strange band for me. When I first heard this record back in college, it didn't really do anything for me. I thought, "eh". But after it was received as the best thing since sliced bread, I gave it another shot and then gradually became hooked. It goes without saying that I expected big things for last year's follow-up, "Neon Bible". And despite critics' overflowing positive feedback a second time around, I didn't think it was anything special. But then again, I guess one out of two ain't bad. I've never seen this army of a band in concert, but supposedly it is quite the spectacle. Hey, if Springsteen thinks highly of the Arcade Fire, maybe there's something I'm missing.


11) Elliott Smith - Figure 8 (2000)
Although From A Basement On The Hill was nearly completed at the time of his death, many consider Figure 8 to be Elliott Smith's last official album. After releasing several amazingly stripped down, simplistic records, this was definitely the most ambitious effort of Smith's tragically short career. Unlike most of Smith's catalog, Figure 8 features complex instrumentation and detailed arrangements as evidenced on the remarkable "Son of Sam". While this one garnered some mixed reviews at first, Figure 8 has aged like a fine wine. Like most of rock's legends, Elliott left us way too soon.

No Better Place

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.