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Pasta Primavera’s Favorite Albums of 2008

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Before I start this thing off let me just say that I hate making lists.  I’m more of a pile person.  So you won’t see any numbers in the list of albums, rather my top five followed by my other favorites.  So here it goes.

Nada Surf has been a favorite band of mine since their first album (that was a ways back).  It’s amazing how much their sound has matured since then, and Lucky truly shows that they’re on top of their game.  It’s indie pop rock at it’s best.  And they’re killer live!

mp3: Nada Surf – The Fox

Buy Lucky (bonus track version)

For a while there Department Of Eagles’ In Ear Park was all I was listening to.  Daniel Rossen and friends put together a gem of an album that took elements of Grizzly Bear and mashed them up with some McCartney-like pop.

mp3: Department Of Eagles – Herring Bone

Buy In Ear Park

The Walkmen’s You & Me took them from a band that I casually enjoyed from time to time, to a full on wonder that I try to set aside time to listen to when ever I can.  The Walkmen have always had an interesting sound that travels from a dark alleyway to an extravagant cathedral, but You & Me magnifies it even more and leaves me in awe.  It’s powerful.

mp3: The Walkmen – On The Water

Buy You & Me

It’s rare that an album or person lives up to the hype.  Lykke Li and her album Youth Novels does just that.  I fell in love with her sound quickly then pushed over the edge with her amazing energy that she puts into her live performances.   Despite the insane amount of remixes and radio plays, Youth Novels still hasn’t grown old to me and that’s also rare.

mp3: Lykke Li – Little Bit

Buy Youth Novels

I can’t quite explain why I took to Glasvegas’ debut S/T album his year.  Perhaps it was the Beach Boys/Earth Angel/Smiths halo surrounding their black and white sound that enamored me.  It might not have a struck others the same way, but for me this album made an lasting impression.

mp3: Glasvegas – Daddy’s Gone

Buy Glasvegas

Those were the main highlights for me, but these albums also brought much joy to me throughout the year:

mp3: Eureka Birds – The Still Life

Buy Eureka Birds

mp3: Beck – Walls

Buy Modern Guilt

mp3: Mates Of State – My Only Offer

Buy Re-Arrange Us

mp3: The War On Drugs – Taking The Farm

Buy Wagonwheel Blues

mp3: Ratatat – Mirando

Buy LP3

mp3: Wye Oak – Family Glue

Buy If Children

mp3: Cadence Weapon – real estate

Buy Afterparty Babies

mp3: Arizona – Ghost

Buy Glowing Bird

mp3: The Uglysuit – Happy Yellow Rainbow

Buy The Uglysuit

mp3: TV On The Radio – Golden Age

Buy Dear Science,

mp3: Fredrik – 1986

Buy Na Na Ni

mp3: El Guincho – Palmitos Park

Buy Alegranza

mp3: Friendly Fires – In The Hospital

Buy Friendly Fires

mp3: Takka Takka – Lion In The Waves

Buy Migration

mp3: The Little Ones – Like A Spoke On A Wheel

Buy Morning Tide

mp3: Mason Proper – Lock And Key

Buy Olly Oxen Free

mp3: Tobacco – Tape Eater

Buy Fucked Up Friends

mp3: Arms – Kids Aflame

Buy Kids Aflame

mp3: Ra Ra Riot – Ghost Under Rocks

Buy The Rhumb Line

mp3: MGMT – Time To Pretend

Buy Oracular Spectacular

Of course there was so much good music flowing out this year it was hard to narrow it down.  What were your faves?


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Arizona “Glowing Bird”

Arizona is a Brooklyn via Asheville, NC band that I’ve been following since I fell in love with their first album Welcome Back Dear Children.  They’ve recently released a new album entitled Glowing Bird (Echo Mountain Records).  With this new LP Arizona has put together their deepest, broadest and most emotionally charged batch of songs to date.  Produced (again) by Danny Kadar (My Morning Jacket, Iggy Pop, The Avett Brothers), Glowing Bird was set in motion when the band decided to shack up together in a rural North Carolina farmhouse to record the new songs.  I’m guessing this marinated time together swelled to a mountain of experimentation and creativity.  Glowing Bird really packs a punch with rolling hill Decemberists-like acoustic tales and midnight stars rock bliss numbers fusing Man Man with Rush.  Truly a gorgeous and entertaining album.

mp3: Arizona – Heath

mp3: Arizona – You Were Right

Buy Arizona from Amazon

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The Run Down – Wednesday Novemeber 12, 2008

Tonight marks day two of the Smashing Pumpkins performances at Constitution Hall in DC.  Also in DC are Colour Revolt and Rose Hill Drive who play DC9 while Diplo’s tour rolls into town at the Black Cat with No Age, Abe Vigoda, 8 Bit Boy, and Telepathe.  Over at the Velvet Lounge, The Sounds of Kaleidescope perform with Gildon Works while Arizona, The Shackeltons and Prisms take on the Red and the Black.  Up in Philly don’t miss Little Joy and The Dead Trees at the Khyber.  Finally don’t forget about Bombadil at Messiah College.

mp3: Little Joy – Unattainable

mp3: Colour Revolt – Swamp

mp3: Santogold – Starstruck (Diplo Remix)

mp3: Telepathe – Bells (Free Blood Remix)

mp3: Gildon Works – Artful Rifle

mp3: Arizona – Ghost

photo by Jevon Feinblatt

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The Run Down – Thursday November 6, 2008

Tonight in Baltimore Metro Gallery has an awesome FREE show with Sweden’s Fredrik.  If you had hip hop on your mind, check out Mr. Lif, Mickey Factz, Cubbie Bear, Bad Habit, and DJ Remedy at Bedrock.  Down in DC The Mountain Goats and Kaki King play the 9:30 Club.  Finally there’s a smattering of shows up north in Philly.  The Shackeltons, Arizona, and The Bye Byes play the M Room while Matthew Sweet and The Bridges take down the Trocadero.  There’s an amazing show at the Fire with Fresh Cut Salads, The Bloodsugars, The New Motels, The Neighborhood Choir, and The Lisps while The Shaky Hands and The Chimeras play Johnny Brenda’s.

mp3: The Shackeltons – Your Movement

mp3: Arizona – Colors

mp3: The Bye Byes – Leftover Lois

mp3: The Bloodsugars – Cinderella

mp3: The Lisps – Pepper Spray

mp3: Fredrik – Black Fur

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