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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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The Run Down – Sunday & Monday November 16-17, 2008

There’s a bunch of sweet shows tonight and one great one on Monday worth mentioning. Tonight down south in DC the Foreign Exchange and Mark De Clive-Lowe play the Black Cat while a great new band for me, Hooray For Earth plays the Velvet Lounge with Kidnapkin. Up north in Philly Sweden’s Fredrik play the Khyber (don’t miss it!) while Kings Of Leon, We Are Scientists, and The Whigs play the Electric Factory.

mp3: Kings Of Leon – Tranny

mp3: Hooray For Earth – Heartbeat

mp3: The Foreign Exchange – Daykeeper featuring Muhsinah

mp3: Fredrik – 1986

On Monday down in Arlington, Iota has a show too good to not mention. Don’t miss out on Junestar, Michael Jantz and the Davenports, and Curly and the Rockets. Enjoy!

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Video – Fredrik “11 Years”

If you haven’t checked out Sweden’s Fredrik (they just played a free show at the Metro Gallery here in town and we posted a review of them here) then shame on you.  Luckily they’ve just released a new video for the sweet song “11 Years” to get you in the know.  The video was directed by Dutch filmaker Iris Piers and was shot entirely frame by frame with a still photo camera on an abandoned transit train.  I’m quite fond of the syncopation of the frame change with the strum of the acoustic guitar.  It almost feels like a train rolling down the tracks.

mp3: Fredrik – 11 Years
Fredrik – 11 Years from The Kora Records on Vimeo.

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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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The Run Down – Wednesday November 5, 2008

After a few days of calmness the shows really start to pick up around the area.  Tonight in DC The Subjects play the Red and the Black while Fredrik, Meredith Bragg, and Pree play an awesome show at DC9.  Also in DC is a sweet hip hop show with Brother Ali, BK One, Toki Wright, MR. Lif, and Educated Consumers.  Up in Philly, the Gutter Twins perform at the Fillmore at the TLA while the Toadies and People in Planes play the Trocadero.  Also up north is a great show at World Cafe Live with the Brakes, as well as Deerhunterand Times New Viking performing at the First Unitarian Church.

mp3: The Subjects – Goldenshire Mastered

mp3: Fredrik – Na Na Ni

mp3: Meredith Bragg – My Absent Will

mp3: Toadies – Tyler

mp3: Mr. Lif – Earthcrusher

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Fredrik

I am a big supporter of Sweden’s electro pop duo The LK, but it was definitely a surprise to know that Fredrik is a side project of the two.  Fredrik has lush rhythms and poignant pop vocals much like The LK, but without the heavy use of electronics.  Fredrik takes them out of the city and into the woods where big wooden drums, xylophones, and large circles of friends chant and sing these wonderful soul filled tunes found on their debut LP Na Na Ni.  The album is due out on October 28th on The Kora Records and keep an eye out in November because the plan to tour the US for the first time.

mp3: Fredrik – Black Fur

mp3: Fredrik – 1986

Continue reading ‘Fredrik’

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