RSR's Equivalent of The Clipshow

This is the point when I realize I neglected my blog all day. So, with nothing better to write about, let's do a quick recap of what's been happening in music in 2008. Or, more appropriately, what I think people should be listening to.

The Mountain Goats continued their ridiculously productive discography with Heretic Pride. While in my review of this album, I dinged John Darnielle for his high-pitched and annoying voice, I will concede that this album and all its quirks has grown on me. I still maintain my reservations and withhold a full and unrestrained recommendation, but you could do a hell of a lot worse than checking this out. Another grower is Earth's The Bees Made Honey in the Lion's Skull. Droning sludge that evokes the Old West makes me want to slap iron and down whiskey from unlabeled bottles.

Nine Inch Nails wowed us with two releases thus far: Ghosts I-IV and The Slip. Also amazing is that these two releases went two entirely different directions with Ghosts running gleefully into new and exciting territory and The Slip walking ground so trodden we can navigate it blindfolded. Supposedly, the second part of Year Zero will be coming out this year at some point, but I really couldn't care less since Year Zero grew very tiresome, very fast the first time around.

The Kills, a band I had never heard of until this year, brought a pleasant surprise in the form of Midnight Boom, a release that is delightfully trashy and completely fun. As it currently stands, Midnight Boom is in my personal running for top album this year. Also released the same day was Thee Silver Mt. Zion Memorial Etc.'s 13 Blues for Thirteen Moons. Unfortunately, I have yet to acquire this, but I have heard it was a disappointment from a friend with trusted taste in music. However, both Silver Mt. Zion and godspeed you! black emperor are known to cause great differences in opinion among their fans, so I reserve any judgments until I actually hear it.

Bryan Adams proved he will never grow up with his eleventh album of new material, cleverly titled 11, but I'll let you know the day I actually listen to this man's music and find myself enjoying it. I was subject to enough of his old tracks (thanks to my brother) that I could probably recite "Summer of '69" verbatim (not that it's a hard song to memorize). NO. NEVER AGAIN. BRYAN ADAMS IS BANNED IN MY PRESENCE. If you see a review of 11 here at Rum-Soaked Review, it's because someone gave it to me gratis; I would never spend money on this sh#t. Another one that I refuse to fork over cash for the sole purpose of tearing apart is Scarlett Johansson's abomination that for some reason required the songs of Tom Waits. Anywhere I Lay My Head may bring more people to the fold of Tom Waits worship, but those of us that are fans already don't need to deal with this.

It appears that 2008 was the year of reunions and releases long after the bands in question were thought to have drifted away on the wind. The B-52's, Portishead, and others all presented new material a decade plus after their previous full-length releases of original material, with mixed results. I have been recommended The B-52's Funplex, and Portishead's Third succeeds on some levels but deviates significantly from their original sound. Bauhaus' much-anticipated first album in a quarter of a century, Go Away White, was such a horrendous disappointment that I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I am not alone when I say that many wish Go Away White had gone away before even being released.

A group that seems to finally have grown into their own, The National, followed last year's sleeper hit Boxer with the short film and EP compilation set A Skin, A Night/The Virginia EP. The music CD is quite good and enjoyable as a compilation of b-sides and oddities, but the film served as a good introduction to a filmmaker that I now know to avoid in the future. While Boxer was a sleeper hit, A Skin, A Night succeeds at being just a sleeper. Ask me about how loud I snored.

Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds rocked our socks with Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, a departure from the usual Bad Seeds production, but entirely welcome. This is another album that sits high on the list of best albums thus far on 2008. The only thing that could possibly unseat Dig, Lazaus, Dig!!! and Midnight Boom from their standings is if Tom Waits and Scott Walker sucker-punched us in the fourth quarter. I understand Brendan Perry of Dead Can Dance fame has another solo album in the works that might be released this year, so that would round out a pretty potent top five in the Rum-Soaked Review books. Unlikely, but a man can dream, can't he?

Part of the problem here is that 2006 and 2007 spoiled us with some really great stuff. Grinderman (s/t 2007), His Name Is Alive (Detrola 2006 and Xmmer 2007), Scott Walker (The Drift 2006 and And Who Shall Go To The Ball? And What Shall Go To The Ball? 2007), Tom Waits (Orphans: Brawlers, Bawlers, and Bastards 2006), and others really set the bar high. It seems that Tuesday (release day in the U.S. for those not familiar) is lacking luster this year, and the next half of the year doesn't look promising. I can only hope that there will be announcements for things that really blow back the top of the head soon. Or, that something completely unfamiliar turns into that sleeper hit for this year.

There's also a large number of things I haven't gotten to yet. I've been meaning to tackle The Flight of the Conchords, The Black Angels' Directions to See a Ghost, Wire's Object 47, and others here and there. If there are things that are downright fantastic (or awful) that you feel should be covered, feel free to tell me about them. Depending on my cash flow at the time, I might actually get to them.

If you are in a band and would like to take the chances at a review, feel free to email, comment, whatever. I will get back to you as soon as possible.