Monday, December 15, 2008

My Top 25 of 2008


I tried hard to make my own top 25 list before a lot of the major lists came out... I didn't want to be influenced by them, while at the same time understanding that some credit must be given to outside sources, such as my counter part Jeffrey. So I finished my top 25 with little help from the outside and upon conclusion and further research I discovered that I had some similarities but even more differences from other lists.

The more and more I make these lists, the more I believe much of them are based on opinion and popular view. If one album gets a low review by a popular blog/website, a lot of times it doesn't see the light of day. While on the other hand, if an album begins to be championed by a certain popular blog/website, suddenly it is all the rage. Much of this is connected to the big money machine on the internet and the desire for everyone to get a piece of the action.

Knowing this, we are left basically to opinion... and I have found it comforting that I have been able to find people with similar opinions and have been able to share music with them and them with me.

Preston's Top 25 2008

25. High Places - S/T

24. Jay Reatard - Matador Singles '08

23. Blitzen Trappen - Furr

22. Shearwater - Rook

21. The Mumler - Thickets and Stitches

20. El Guincho - Allegranza!

19. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah pt. One (4th World War)

18. So So Glos - Tourism/Terrorism

17. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

16. Vampire Weekend - S/T

15. Foot Ox - It’s Like Our Little Machine

14. Super Furry Animals - Hey Venus!

13. Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP

12. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs

11. Dodos - Visiter

10. Horse Feathers - House With No Home

9. Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride

8. Frightened Rabbits - Midnight Organ Fight

7. Mount Eerie - Lost Wisdom

6. The Tallest Man on Earth - Shallow Graves

5. Delta Spirit - Ode to Sunshine

4. The Dutchess AND The Duke - She’s the Dutchess, He’s the Duke

3. French Quarter - S/T

2. Sigur Ros - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust

1. Dr Dog - Fate

6 comments:

Jeffrey Benson said...

This full list makes me extremely happy. I had previously seen your top 10, but this list is wonderful. I'll check out The Mumler, I haven't heard that one yet.

Hyder Ali said...

So I have a lot of work to do if I'm going to check everyone on your list out. I think you may have possibly made up several of these artists. heehee!

Anonymous said...

i love this list. i could put like them all on shuffle and have this moment of good music bliss! lol.

raffleckt said...

PRESTON! I love Dr. Dog! Thank you for spreading the love of good music across the world. Nice.

afton said...

i'm always amazed by the amount of "unknown" bands that you know. trying to keep up with them all hurts my head to just think about. i'm sure they are all good though (i trust your opinion fully). i on the other hand am simplifying my music collection. downgrading in ipod size and trying to hold on to only those bands i truly love. then hopefully i can introduce more at a smaller pace and actually get to know them and listen to their stuff instead of just let it sit in my itunes unbeknown to me. anyway... thanks for the list i fully agree with a lot on there!

(remember when we use to see each other? where have you been? ...where have i been?!)

Preston Smith said...

afton, afton, afton...

This is a good idea, simplifying... i just need to find a way to organize better. i admit that much of what i listen to i disregard fairly quickly... and the more and more i get into the scene, the more disinfranchised i am by the whole thing. i mean, i came here to find something that wasn't tied to money and corporate symantics... and what do i get? the same crap! anyway, that is just me venting...

remember you went to paris! and I went to Ireland, that is where we have been. i told you dad i saw that you were alive because you were posting on facebook and he was pretty bent... i think that is why he got on facebook... lol