best records of 2008 (so far) Part 2

The Ting Tings - We Started Nothing

having one of your songs in an itunes commercial has got to be one of the biggest breaks for a band now days. that was when i first heard the ting tings and their song "shut up and let me go". thinking it may just be some poppy teenage girl, i never moved on to check them out. then i heard the song "fruit machine" on a podcast and decided to give the record a listen. yes it's very poppy. yes it's all very catchy, but it's so good. this duo is a reverse white stripes with the guy on drums and the girl on guitar and vocals. while the album sounds great i have yet to see how they come across as a live act. way more music going on here besides drums and one guitar, but i have yet to experience that.

choosing a song and video was tough on this one cuz it's full of great stuff, so here are three videos for you to enjoy. you decide what the best one is.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K8AH7yYQpro

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StP-yIQeT2o&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GF5wvycotuo





start with these tracks:
great dj
we walk
fruit machine shut up and let me go
that's not my name

where i want to be

best records of 2008 (so far)

2008 is half over, and what am i loving right now? this begins my list of my favorite records
so far from 2008 (in no particular order).




Estelle - Shine

at first glances you wouldn't believe that i would dig this record, and neither did i. 99% of the music my wife hands me ain't my bag. this however was something very different. what should have been this summers biggest hit machine has stayed relatively quiet. my only guess is that this but beautifully crafted and soulful album has more substance musically and in style than most of it's contemporaries.

this has a big 60's sound which is a likable trend as in duffy's record "rockferry". but it's not a complete throwback. it's still very much a 2008 sounding record. yeah, this is a strange recommendation from me, and it's the only one like it on this list, but check it out guys.

start with these tracks:
pretty please (love me) (featuring cee-lo of gnarls barkley)
more than friends
american boy (featuring kanye west)





Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend

before these guys take over the world (well at least the hipster world), let me just say that i was into vampire weekend way before all their recent and well deserved attention. nothing makes me happier than to hear fantastic new bands get recognized. vampire weekend's self titled debut has been all the buzz around indie stations & hangouts lately. if you do not own this record than pause this blog right now and run out to your local... just go to itunes and get it.

these ivy league kids are the furthest thing from what seems would be cool, but their beautiful, simple, paul simon, african sound is all that i am listing to right now ( and i consider myself way cool).

i have told you to go get the record & i'm not going to do a review of this. just go get it. don't believe me? go to itunes and sample oxford comma, bryn & cape cod kwassa kwassa. you will see what i am talking about.

enjoy these two amazing videos. a-punk may be my favorite new video.







that was my review from earlier this year. the buzz seems to have settled down, but i think it's still a great record. i look forward very much to their next offering.

heroes & villains

something i never thought could be so fun was given to me on my 28th birthday. guitar hero, no matter how stupid it looks, no matter how stupid you look while playing, is hellamazing. i just made up a word? anyway, it's the perfect way to use up your precious and import evenings, weekends, or every waking hour. and then, you lay your head down and drift into a dreamland of red green yellow blue orange blue orange red green red blue..........

sunday night, 12:00 am, mi casa.......

.....i'm bringing it back....again.....for the second time

sometimes i get busy for a few months at a time. i know you miss me, so i'm coming back.