GOODBYE 2008, HELLO 2009

I'm a little bit late on this, but I figure it is better late than never.

2008 was a pretty amazing year for music! I got to enjoy it with my favourite people in the world, and while there was a LOT of shit going on there were also a lot of good times as well. I got my first taste of the music industry and, uh, hated it pretty much. But it did open up a lot of doors and opportunities that will hopefully see a lot of aims of mine come to fruition in 2009.

So this blog is basically a top 10 blog - a massive pile of lists.

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2008
1. Controller - Misery Signals
2. Seizures In Barren Places - Trap Them
3. Severed Ties - The Amity Affliction
4. Aggression - Verse
5. Declaration - Bleeding Through
6. Invasions Of The Mind - Energy
7. III - The Bronx
8. Narrow Stairs - Death Cab For Cutie
9. Tail Swallower & Dove - These Arms Are Snakes
10. The Chemistry Of Common Life - Fucked Up

TOP 10 MOST ANTICIPATED ALBUMS OF 2009
1. NEW GLASSJAW! A new track has been released (leaked) so HOPEFULLY the album will actually see the light of day this year!
2. Hollow Crown - Architects
3. New Distances - Narrows
4. Common Existence - Thursday
5. New Dillinger Escape Plan
6. New Alexisonfire
7. New Darkest Hour
8. New Poison The Well
9. Crack The Skye - Mastodon
10. New Anime Fire EP

TOP 10 GIGS OF 2008
1. Dillinger Escape Plan @ UNSW Roundhouse
2. Gorilla Biscuits @ Annandale Hotel
3. Henry Rollins @ Seymour Theatre
4. I Killed The Prom Queen Farewell Tour @ HiFi Bar
5. Thursday & The Receiving End Of Sirens @ The Forum
6. The Arcade Fire @ Enmore Theatre
7. Thrice @ The Metro
8. The Bronx @ Manning Bar
9. Dizzee Rascal @ The Metro
10. The Gaslight Anthem @ Annandale Hotel

MASTODON - CRACK THE SKYE

John Doran of The Quietus has posted a track-by-track review of the forthcoming album, "Crack The Skye".Check out the review here.

Crack The Skye is Mastodon's fourth album, and having tackled concepts like Herman Melville's Moby Dick on previous albums ("Leviathan" is still their best album!) this time around they are grappling with Tsarist Russia.

I'm stoked and can't wait to get my doom-laden prog on! Definitely one of my most anticipated releases for 2009!

Blood & Thunder - Mastodon

POISON THE WELL LIVE IN NORWAY

Nerdy (aka best Poison The Well song ever)

You can view more live clips from that show here.

TRAP THEM

Seizures In Barren Praise is THE hardcore album of 2008 in my opinion. I haven't stopped playing it all week!

United Nations MySpace Deleted

New York 'emo power-violence' supergroup United Nations have involuntarily had their Myspace page deleted.

This isn't the first time this has happened either, as earlier in the year they had their Facebook profile deleted. Looks like the Government can't handle a little harsh criticism any more...

The band features Glassjaw/Head Automatica's Darryl Palumbo, Thursday's Geoff Rickley and Converge's Ben Koller. They have released a self titled LP (through Eyeball Records) and the 'Never Mind the Bombings, Here's Your Six Figures' 7-inch (soon to be released through Deathwish).

The LP is brilliant and features one of the most clever song titles ever ('The Shape Of Punk That Never Came').


They are also a band that seems to be shrouded in controversy, and not just for their name. The official lineup is unknown due to the contractual obligations of the members' other bands; the self-titled debut's artwork features essentially the same photo used for the iconic cover of The Beatles' Abbey Road, with the exception of The Beatles engulfed in flames and walking to the left rather than the right; and the follow-up 7-inch faces similar potential copyright infringement issues due to the title and artwork parodying the Sex Pistols' Never Mind The Bollocks, Here's The Sex Pistols.

Paramore - Decode

I love Paramore, but this song is REALLY excellent! It's probably one of the most listened to songs on my iTunes at the moment.

Lily Allen Apreesh

SO EPIC!

After 50 years as an industry leader, LEGO has become a staple in any kids toy box. In more recent times the mini-figs and legendary building blocks have been used to recreate famous landmarks, classic photographs and now: 20 Classic Hip Hop Album Covers Recreated in LEGO.

You can see the whole 20 over at Kanye West's Blog (I don't know where he stole them from) but below are a few of my faves!

Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty

Common - Be

Nas - Stillmatic

Outkast - Stankonia

Thrice - Alchemy Index Vinyl Boxset

I WANT THIS!

Thrice have announced plans to release a special edition 'Alchemy Index' vinyl box set in February 2009.

The box set will be limited to 3000 copies and will feature both albums 'The Alchemy Index: Volumes I & II: Fire & Water' and 'The Alchemy Index: Volumes III & IV: Air & Earth' pressed on four EPs.

All 4 EP's will be pressed on 10" colored vinyl -the Fire EP is red, Water is blue, Earth is brown and Air is on clear vinyl. Each coming with notes, lyrics and commentary from the band.

Digital Sea

New Alexisonfire Album

Popular Canadian punk band Alexisonfire will be banding back together to work on their fourth studio album in 2009. Guitarist Wade McNeil spoke to Metal Hammer about it...

"For the first time ever we have too many songs. We usually come off the road. Kiss our girlfriends, do our laundry, write a record in a month, record it in a month, then leave for tour."

McNeil also promised that the new album will be "fucking heavy."

The band last released 'Crisis' in 2006.

Hey, It's Your Funeral Mama