Danny's Lists

2008...it didn't kill me.

Long Ones:

20. Life Long Tragedy- Runaways
All my friends hate this band but fuck, it's a solid record. Compare this to their last record and define progress. However, seeing this band (and the singer's dick) live was one of the single worst performances I've ever seen.

19. The Loved Ones- Build & Burn
Really anthemic with heavy Springsteen and americana. That's all you need to know.


18. I 100% slept on this band until this release. I saw them with Clouds (see #11) and I'm glad I did.


17. Annihilation Time- III: Tales of the Ancient Age
Pretty standard AT formula- Black Flag + Black Sabbath. Don't fix what ain't broke.


16. Altus- All The Way Down
This made my list, not only because my friends are in this band, or because one of said friends put out my band's record, but because it's really good. No one else in Texas makes music like this. The 90s were the best.

15. The Black Keys- Attack & Release
Everything Danger Mouse touches turns to gold.

14. City and Colour- Bring Me Your Love
Pretty simplistic, mostly acoustic tunes about hopeless romance and insomnia. I have to be in the right mood for this album, but when I am...fuck.

13. No Harm Done- Escape
I think all the current bands ripping off Set Your Goals think that they will sound like this- a perfect blend of hardcore and pop punk. That's BLEND, not hardcore half of the time and pop punk half of the time.

12. On My Side- Grow
Again, not just because they're my friends. Because the title is true, it is growth . Listening to this is exciting. It's been a while since I've been excited about a straight up hardcore record.

11. Clouds- We Are Above You
As far as I'm concerned, Clouds should be the new Zeppelin for this generation. Total mind blow.This album is ALL over the place, and they're all fucking rad places.

10. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
I keep reading reviews about how The Hold Steady are "the best bar band in America." I don't know what that means, but it sounds stupid. This is just a really great band with a song for pretty much any kind of wayward feeling. "Constructive Summer" makes me want to go climb tall things with my friends and throw shit off.
Perfect album for being an idiot and feeling bad about it half of the time. Also, lots of continued Springsteen influences.

9. Have Heart- Songs To Scream At The Sun
I thought their first LP was ok, but this is a masterpiece in comparison. I haven't listened to it in about six months because I played it so much initially. Pat's a great lyricist and the music is awesome.

8. Transit- This Will Not Define Us
It's so refreshing for me to find a band like this. The influences are somewhat obvious (Lifetime, Braid, Get Up Kids), but who cares, when it's bands like that? And anyway, it's an original record for any time, let alone 2008. Bands like this are too few and far between.

7. Beestings- Where It Goes
This band mellows me out so much. Really good mix of 90's style midwesteren emo and super chill indie rock, plus a lot of lyrics about space. I took an astronomy class this semester and every time I had to study, I put this on.

6. Tigers Jaw- Tigers Jaw
Bands like this are even more refreshing to find. I don't know who to compare them to. I don't know what their influences are. I couldn't pin them to any one genre. This is the best band you've never heard of. "I Saw Water" and "Between Your Band and the Other Band" are so dense and meaningful, it gives me chills.

5. The Gaslight Anthem- The '59 Sound
Again with bands that like The Boss. This band is incapable of writing a bad song. It's a massive achievement for them to come up with 12 songs that impress me even more than their last EP and LP. Not just for punks with good taste anymore. This band will be (should be) huge.

4. Memorial- The Creative Process/Berlin
I really miss Renee Heartfelt, and this helps fill the void. Memorial is exactly what post-hardcore should sound like. It's like a Rev back catalog from the mid 90s, and a near perfect album. Too bad their label are deadbeats and never mailed it to me. Thank you iTunes.

3. Polar Bear Club- Sometimes Things Just Disappear.
Just about every song on this gets me psyched and makes me scream in my car. The chorus of "As Twere The Mirror" is a fucking Vinnie Paul quote.

2. Paint It Black- New Lexicon
Dan Yemin will forever be in the top 10 of my life. Somehow PIB keeps getting better and more original and innovative. This is the best band in hardcore right now, hands down. Don't argue.

1. Technically, this came out December 2007. But only in the UK, where I wouldn't have gotten much exposure to it. The American release is 2008, so I'm counting it. That said, this was a tough choice to make. I'm a sucker for indie music with a punk background (see Walter Schreifels, The Weakerthans). I definitely listened to this more than anything else this year, and for very good reasons. Every song has so much character and soul, I feel like I know Dave House. And I feel like I'd move in with Dave House and rent movies with him. I'd cook for Dave House. I'd take care of Dave House's dog while he was out of town. I'd probably go through Dave House's closet and borrow his t-shirts on occasion.


Short Ones:

10. The Domino Theory- Language
9. Title Fight- Kingston
8. Candybomb- Candybomb
7. Aspirations- EP!
6. Ghost Town Electric- Nowhere
5. Lie and Wait- Awakening
4. Shook Ones/End of a Year Split
3. Feed- Demo Tape 2008
2. Agent- Awake In Their World
1. The Gaslight Anthem- Senor and the Queen


Movies:
I can't remember all the movies I saw but I liked these, in no particular order:
The Dark Knight
Step Brothers
Milk
Pineapple Express
Slumdog Millionaire
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Burn After Reading
Forgetting Sarah Marshall


If you read all this, you are a trooper and I hope we're friends.

Happy 2009