Best New Rock Albums of 2008, part 4
My last week looking back at the new rock albums. Here are ##31-40.
On their most compelling album ever, the sound is up to date yet completely identifiable as Portishead thanks to Beth Gibbons’ distinctive voice and their trademark coolness, but conveying more tension via edgier beats and using more grating, contrasting timbres.
I’m a sucker for power pop, everyone knows that, but these guys are really good at it, and singer Justin Kennedy’s voice evokes fond memories of Mega City Four and Let’s Active. Pete Thomas (Attractions) sits in on drums.
Aside from Fripp & Eno, an entirely different kettle of fish, this was my favorite instrumental rock album of the year (yes, even better than Mogwai).
Okay, this isn’t exactly a rock album, but it definitely rocks. T Bone Burnett gives King the most imaginative production he’s had in decades, somebody picked a fine dozen of vintage blues tunes (none of which King has previously recorded, and most of which are not overly familiar), and the band – with Dr. John on piano and Jim Keltner on drums especially fine – makes the blues sound fresh.
Nothing new, nothing spectacular, just more of that cool, jangly post-rock they do so well.
Not as raucous as a decade or two ago, but no less intense. Trumpet and violin offer effective timbral touchs.
As he continues his style-switching of recent years, Stephin Merritt’s Jesus & Mary Chain move produces his grittiest music yet, but the witty lyrics and unshakeable hooks remain.
Yes, 2008 saw a trip-hop mini-revival as Tricky delivered his best album in 15 years, and his most personal lyrics.
Nicely atmospheric, droning post-rock with arty touches. Most of this, nearly half of which is instrumentals, reminds me of the later and quieter recordings of Talk Talk.
Sometimes a little like Akron/Family chanting Franz Ferdinand songs, sometimes more like the Rapture playing TV on the Radio. There are quirky horn charts, and the twirling, percussive guitar lines sometimes sound like they were transcribed from African 45s or, drenched in effects, like shoegazers dropped into the middle of a disco-punk-ska party.
