The Alternative Star.com

My Favourite Releases of 2008

Making lists is in so I thought I’d share which releases ended up on my iPod and actually stayed there. Here they are, starting with my least favourite. I could get some criticism for my favourite record of the year but I don’t care. I like what I like and I’m not ashamed to like good pop music. I’d rather listen to it then some obscure Pitchfork band any day.

#10 The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound

Released: August 19, 2008 on Side One Dummy

Usually when bands are hyped, I get really high standards for them and I discover I don’t think they are that great but that didn’t happen with the Gaslight Anthem. When this record came out, everyone was going on about how it was revolutionary and how it was the best record and everything so eventually I found myself checking out. I mean, how could I not? I will fully admit that I had never paid attention to this band until that point but it seems everyone was listening; even a customer came through my till at Zellers wearing one of their shirts. While I don’t think it’s my favourite release to come out this year, I still think that its hype is understandable so I figured to kick my list off with them. If there is a chance you haven’t already heard, the band take punk and mesh it with rock from the 50’s and it surprisingly is a cool combination. Great vocals, musicianship and lyrics make it a solid choice. Plus there are some pretty unavoidable hooks scattered throughout.

Favourite Songs: I had “Old White Lincoln” stuck in my head for longer than I should have; honourable mention is the title track.

#9 Valencia – We All Need a Reason to Believe

Released: August 26, 2008 on Columbia Records

It’s no secret that I love pop punk and in my opinion, Valencia is one of the best bands. This is just your standard stuff but it’s still absolutely amazing. 2008 saw the genre became even more over produced and perhaps even “neonified” but that didn’t happen to these guys. Girls may be a popular topic for their lyrics still but the rawness that is lacking from their peers in bands like The Maine and Boys Like Girls is what sets them apart. Plus, this record is filled with the killer vocal harmonies and the sing along choruses I love them for. There isn’t really much to say, other than this record has proved Valencia were one of the better pop punk bands to release a record this year.

Favourite Song: “Holiday” has some sweet harmonies; “All At Once” is the honourable mention.

#8 Protest the Hero – Fortress

Released:  January 29, 2008 on Underground Operations/Vagrant

To be entirely honest, I wasn’t anticipating much when 2008 began. Aside from once the new Fall Out Boy record was announced, I was only eagerly awaiting two. One was the sophomore effort from Set Your Goals which never did see the light of day. The other was the sophomore effort from Protest the Hero which did. I saw Protest the Hero back in 2004 opening up for Sum 41 and they totally blew me away. To this day they are one of the only bands to turn me into a fan based on a live performance alone. Luckily for them, their records are great too and this one isn’t an exception. I can only hope that one day I will be able to play one of their songs on my Epiphone. The lyrics are overly original too and Rody Walker’s voice can hit all the right notes. Compared to Kezia, their new record has even heavier heavy parts and even softer melodic parts. My only problem is the use of really low grunting screaming like on the single “Sequoia Throne” for example. I called out Bring Me the Horizon for sounding like an Orc for screaming like that so I’m afraid I have to call out PTH too, luckily there isn’t much of it though.

Favourite Song: “Wretch” because of the guitar intro, “Bloodmeat” is the honourable mention.

#7 Carpenter – Law of the Land

Released: June 3, 2008 on Smallman Records

Take the old rock sounds of John Mellencamp then toss them in with 90’s emo greats like The Promise Ring and you’ll have something that sounds like Carpenter. This band write great melodies and aren’t afraid to talk about topics most guys in bands could care less about such as sustainable farming. Along with harmonica solos, this band is just a little different than what else is out there and that’s what helped them catch my eye in 2008. I can only hope the future is bright for them because this band has great songs with memorable hooks that shouldn’t remain underrated.

Favourite Song: “Until the Sun’s Up” is a great song that shows their punk side, “Help Me Out” is an honourable mention.

#6 La Dispute – Somewhere At the Bottom of the River Between Vega and Altair

Released: November 11, 2008 on No Sleep Records

I got a decent amount of new music this year through The Alternative Star, most of it wasn’t anything memorable but the debut from La Dispute is the exception because it really is something new. I enjoy heavier music but I find myself drifting further and further away from it because I find it overly boring and oversaturated but La Dispute do not fall into that category. They are hypnotically serene yet brutally harsh at the same time, vocalist Jordan Dreyer recites his lyrics like a poem, sings them and then brutally screams them all within the same song. As you’ve probably gathered, I’m more of a music person than a lyrics person and yes, this CD has some great riffs, many of which that are perfect for the pit.

Favourite Song: “Andria” shows how this band can write songs that are both heavy yet melodic well. The heavier “Damaged Goods” is the honourable mention.

#5 Pomegranates – Everything is Alive

Released: May 13, 2008 on Lujo Records

I’ll be the first person to say right now that indie rock usually bores me; I just think most of it is too boring and pretentious. I don’t care how uncool it is, I like my sing along choruses and if there is none to be found, then my attention is likely to wane. Pomegranates are the exception though; they manage to be experimental but do not lose their pop charm at all. Each song is a happy, glimmering, upbeat tune, none of which are that long since it only clocks in at around the half hour mark. I love the super clean guitar riffs under the keyboards. The only thing that took getting used to is the dual vocals, the one dude sounds awfully girly but somehow it didn’t ruin it for me. Probably because I really like the guitars and the poppy melodies, one of their songs is next on my list to learn on guitar.

Favourite Song: “In the Kitchen” has a superb guitar riff and some of the better vocals present throughout the disc, “Appreciations” is the honourable mention.

#4 Jet Lag Gemini – Fire the Cannons

Released: January 22, 2008 on Doghouse Records

I love standard four chord pop punk but sometimes it’s nice to switch it up a little bit and Jet Lag Gemini do just that. Don’t be fooled, there are still plenty of crunchy chords but there are also a lot of amazing guitar solos that could land them in the next version of Guitar Hero. Seriously, this band can shred and to me, it adds an awesome addition to a great pop punk tune. I have to admit I’ve had a lot of fun learning some of these songs on guitar myself this year. The lyrics could use a bit of work but the vocals and musicianship is so tight it almost doesn’t even matter, this is still by far one of the better pop punk releases of 2008.

Favourite Song: I just love the lead guitar in “Bittersweet”, “Every Minute” is the honourable mention.

#3 Tigers Jaw – Tigers Jaw

Released: September 23, 2008 on Prison Jazz Records

Yet another band I discovered through The Alternative Star and I have to say I was surprised that I liked them as much as I did. The band specializes in playing gritty power chords over the odd keyboard line, also it isn’t overly polished and this is always a plus in my books.  Ben Walsh and Adam McIIwee are great singers and the vocal harmonies the two come up with are excellent. Overall Tigers Jaw also have great lyrics and just catchy hooks you’ll be humming in your head, I legitimately hope this band doesn’t stay too underground for too long.

Favourite Song: “The Sun” is a great introduction to what this band is all about, “I Never Was Your Boyfriend” is an honourable mention.

#2 Fall Out Boy – Folie à Deux

Released: December 16, 2008 on Decaydance/Island Records

Not going to lie, when I realized that Fall Out Boy were releasing a record in 2008 just after they released one in 2007, I was pretty stoked. Everyone who knows me knows I love them so the second place spot may not be too big of a surprise but whatever, if this sucked it wouldn’t have made the cut, trust me. I mean, IOH came in at #12 and FUCT didn’t even make the cut in 2005 so this isn’t just because it’s Fall Out Boy, it’s because it’s just that good. I still can’t believe how awesome it truly is. It will likely never hold a special place in my 14 year old heart like Take This To Your Grave did but I have to say that it comes close and is the second best CD this band has released. In some ways, it’s even better. I am amazed at Patrick’s voice, it sounds so good and for once, overly confident. The band experiment with horns and piano for a nice touch but Andy, Pete, Joe and Patrick don’t forget what makes me love them in the first place. It’s also proof why I’ve stood by them, regardless of how uncool it has been to like Fall Out Boy over the last few years. Their last two records may have been a little more on the filler side but this one isn’t and it proves that they still got it. FOB write some of the best pop songs and even if Pete Wentz looks pathetic wearing blue eyeliner in the CD booklet pictures, this band can do no wrong to me.

Favourite Song: “The (Shipped) Gold Standard” because of the lyrics, plus the guitars, drums and Patrick’s awesome voice shine. Honourable mention goes to “America’s Suitehearts”.

#1 Panic At The Disco – Pretty. Odd.

Released: March 25, 2008 on Fueled by Ramen/Decaydance

You know, I never would have predicted Panic At The Disco could possibly churn out my favourite record of 2008 but there you go. I hated A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out and I thought they were simply a cheesy gimmick, in fact the only way I was proved wrong was because Warner Canada sent me a copy of their new CD in the mail. I had avoided it entirely, I had no idea dropping the exclamation mark meant they turned an entire 180 but it’s true that they had. The first listen I hated it, the second listen I hated it less, by the third listen I liked it, by the fourth listen I really liked it and by the fifth listen I pressed the repeat button out of my own will. Pretty. Odd. tops my list because it turned a hater into a fan. Also, it’s different than what I usually listen too, I usually hate bands that have too many orchestral arrangements but somehow PATD pull it off. Brendon Urie’s voice also shines and every song is a pop gem, as an aside I also got their live CD for Christmas and let me say that stripped down to piano, bass, drums and guitar, the songs are just as good if not better. These guys really are talented and it’s a shame that the majority of people, including myself at first, wrote them off for their circus act and annoying techno beats and never bothered to check them out further.

Favourite Song: Probably “Northern Downpour”, it was a great choice as the third single and it’s just a beautiful song. Honourable mention goes to “She’s a Handsome Woman”.

Biggest Disappointments

As I explained before, I really wasn’t anticipating much in 2008 so it was kind of hard for me to be disappointed. I did get my fair share of bad CDs in the mail but whatever, just because I didn’t like it means pretty much nothing.

What I would like to do is highlight the demise of Modern Life is War, probably the only present day hardcore band I enjoyed. Their loss truly is a sad occasion, all three of their records have been great plus the band has some of my favourite lyrics. So needless to say, MLIW breaking up was a huge disappointment for me in 2008. Also, Coheed and Cambria’s live show. I don’t think I’ve ever been to a show that was so boring I felt like leaving but it happened that night. Even more, I wasn’t expecting it, I enjoyed their records and I thought they’d actually be good but they really weren’t.    

Favourite Shows Attended

I didn’t go to nearly as many shows this year but it wasn’t because the Free Press was no longer spoiling me with free tickets. Rather it was because Winnipeg had a pretty bad drought though there were still some stellar performances:

#5 Henry Rollins at the Burton Cummings Theatre on March 16, 2008

-Not music but the other three shows I went to aren’t worthy of this spot. I’ve been a fan of Rollins for awhile; some of his poems really truly sound like they could have been written about my own life so it was really cool to see him in person and listen to him speak. Plus he totally lived up to my expectations, they were high as it was but he didn’t let me down.

#4 Less Than Jake, Reel Big Fish, The Flatliners and The Real Deal at the Garrick on September 23, 2008

-I hate ska but I love Less Than Jake. Played a great set with tunes from all their records except In With the Out Crowd. Confetti cannons, amusing banter plus Jesus and George Bush fighting on stage make for a good show. I wasn’t impressed by Reel Big Fish or The Real Deal though. I liked the Flatliners but I’ve seen a few times already. Apparently before LTJ came up to Canada they were touring with Rancid, why couldn’t they have brought them across the border with them? That would have been almost too awesome.

#3 Lagwagon/MxPx and TAT at the Pyramid on September 1, 2008

The crowd at this show sucked and Lagwagon weren’t as good as I was expecting but MxPx made up for it. Their set was filled with fan favourites and it was cool to finally see them. TAT opened and they really impressed me, it’s not every day you see a girl throw down and play a guitar solo. There certainly needs to be more of that.

#2 Motion City Soundtrack, The Spill Canvas and Sing It Loud at the Garrick on July 17, 2008

-After borrowing I Am the Movie from a friend this year, MCS have been in heavy rotation for me. They are great performers and their set list was great, I couldn’t believe they played “Indoor Living” but they did. Sing It Loud weren’t as great but still fun but I didn’t like The Spill Canvas.

#1 Protest the Hero/Chiodos, The Fall of Troy and Sick City at the Burton Cummings Theatre on April 16, 2008

-My reason is really short and sweet. All bands delivered great sets and for once, I actually liked all the bands on the bill which is why it was my favourite. I’m really picky about line ups and even if bands I like don’t choose good supporters, I’ll certainly question going.

*List compiled by Deborah Remus