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No, not Christmas. Christmas can bite me. I’m talking about the time for end-of-year Top 10 lists. I love a good top 10 list and have always wanted a venue on which to present one. When I was thinking of starting a blog, and this is true, one of the things that motivated me to get it together was that I would finally be able to put together a list of my 10 favorite albums of the year. Just like the magazines. Except nobody cares about mine.
Bit of a twist this year. Because of my loosely enforced boycott of the major labels, this year’s top ten list will be the Top 10 Albums from Unsigned Artists or Artists Associated with Independent Record Labels.* Catchy title, eh? I don’t want to give any press to the Big 4, so I’m going to focus on the little guys. Guys that may not get the attention of an R.E.M. or a Kings of Leon but may be making better music. Now, I don’t own every album that was released in 2008, so this list is really just personal favorites. I’ll feature one of my Top 10 every couple of days until the end of the month.
Christmas blows but I’m not completely opposed to the Season of Giving concept. I’m working on a repeat of last year’s musical giveaways and am hoping to scale it up a bit this year. So, stay tuned for some reader rewards that will hopefully give me a chance to say thanks to those of you that enjoy the music that you find here at A Free Man.
So, we’ll start off today with the Honorable Mention albums:
The Pharmacy – “Choose Yr Own Adventure”: I fell in love with this cheeky Seattle trio earlier this year. I’m a sucker for the harpsichord as well as Kinky psych-pop and The Pharmacy has both. Their debut LP is a Buy it directly from Don’t Stop Believin’ Records or download from 
.
MP3: The Pharmacy – “Black Ice Cream”
Motel Motel – “New Denver”: I get a load of music through my inbox, the bulk of which goes pretty rapidly into my trash. If something doesn’t make me sit up and take notice on the first listen then it rarely gets another shot. So, the unsigned bands that I feature on this site are the ones that make it to the second listen. Every now and again, one gets a third or fourth or fifth. One of those is Brooklyn’s Motel Motel. The album is kind of all over the place, but when these guys are good they’re damn good. Check out their debut LP, “New Denver” available from .
Cat Power – “Jukebox”: I love Chan Marshall. She is my rock and roll fantasy girlfriend. But her record company, Matador, has been heavy handed with bloggers. This is really a shame, because they’ve got some great acts in their stable. Matador, I’d like to be friends, really I would. But until you make an effort to be friendly to bloggers, I’m afraid I have to treat you as a Major label. At any rate, Cat Power put out one of the best records of 2006 with “The Greatest”, but this follow up pales a bit. It’s kind of a step backwards for Chan. Still pretty good, though and certainly worthy of mention. As Matador will send the sheriff after me if I link to a song from “Jukebox” here’s an excellent live version of”New York, New York”.
MP3: Cat Power – “New York, New York” (Live)
We Grow Up – “Night Kitchen”: There seems to be a real movement in music right now toward simple, almost primitive, melodic pop. I’ve got to tell you, this makes me happy. I ran across an unsigned Aussie band from right here in Adelaide a while back and was immediately enchanted. Their sophomore LP, “Night Kitchen” is just a joy to listen to and they’re surprisingly mature songwriters for a young band. They’ve signed with Half A Cow and “Night Kitchen” is available from the label.
The Mountain Goats – “Heretic Pride”: John Darnielle, the brain behind The Mountain Goats, has a discography stretching back to the early 1990’s but he just really got on my radar this year with the lyrically stunning “Heretic Pride”. Two of my favorite music bloggers are huge fans and convinced me to have a proper listen. Man, am I glad that I did. I’ve always been a lyrics man and Darnielle is a poet. Have a listen to “Autoclave” and if you like what you hear, you won’t be disappointed by the LP. Buy it from 4AD.
MP3: The Mountain Goats – “Autoclave”
Bon Iver – “For Emma, Forever Ago”: Another folky, lyrical guy is Justin Vernon of Bon Iver. He’s making spare, slightly spooky and gently ethereal music that is perfect for lullabies, among other things. I have a bit of experience. But beyond its usefulness to parents, Bon Iver makes beautiful and subtle music and “For Emma, Forever Ago” (Jagjaguwar) is a treat. Buy the record direcly from the label. By the way, remember that name (Jagjaguwar) you’ll be seeing these guys again, they’ve got some fantastic artists in their stable.
Super XX Man – “Volume XII: There’ll Be Diamonds”: Must be something about the rain in Portland, because that city is home to some wonderfully wistful, lo-fi artists here at the end of the 00’s. The latest to make me long for the Pacific Northwest is Super XX Man. The musical vehicle for Scott Gerrard is prolific, with their latest “Volume XII: There’ll Be Diamonds” (Tender Loving Empire) marking their twelfth (or so) long player. It’s addictively and simply charming and is available from the band.
MP3: Super XX Man – “There’ll Be Diamonds”
The Bell – “Make Some Quiet”: One of the unexpected, and pleasant, surprises of spending so much time in Sweden over the last few years was the discovery that Sweden right now is to melodious, beautifully crafted pop music what Florence in the 1400’s was to religious painting. There’s just an amazing number of incredibly talented pop bands coming out of the frozen north. One of my favorites is Stockholm’s The Bell, an heavily 80’s inspired trio. Their debut LP, “Make Some Quiet”, made some noise earlier this year and if you’ve got a taste for some of the darker music from the totally awesome decade it may just be for you. Check out my interview with Matthias Strömberg and if you like what you hear, buy their record from .
MP3: The Bell – “Do You Know How To Feel”
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* Independent means really independent. No boutique labels, no distribution deals (see Sub Pop).
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uh Scrouge, I hate to put a dampener on your whole anti-record company thang, but haven’t you still been featuring songs from those nasty, greedy companies since you went on your rant?
oh yeah, yesterday i got a photo of z sitting on father christmas’s knee:)
“Scrooge” is spelled with two o’s. Unless you were trying to say scourge, as in “Scourge of the Big 4″. And Boy Z has much better taste than to sit on some pervy old fat dude’s knee, reeking of stale beer and fags in some dingy suburban shopping mall.
sorry Mr ‘ I am only a couple of credits away from an English lit degree’, next time I will be sure to spell-check my comments before pressing submit, so I don’t offend your anal sensibilities.
Motel Motel, yes!! Loved everything I’ve heard from those guys. And a double yes for the Mountain Goats, my what good taste your blogger friends have! Just 6 more days until they play in Melbourne while I’m at my stupid bloody school concert instead of at their gig.
But I’m not bitter.
I’ve been meaning to check out Cat Power and Super XX Man. Now that they have Free Man’s seal of approval, I must go and get them now.
Excellent picture by the way.
I’m liking Dr. O’C more and more. She snaps your crabby ass right back into place, doesn’t she. That’s so cool.
I’m looking for new music. I’ll be checking these out. Thanks!
Thanks for the list–will check them out.
And what is Dr. OC’s website again?
Man, I just love lists. What is it in the human condition that compels us to draw-up and consume end-of-year lists? Thank God this only occurs annually. It’s going to take me that long to get through your list of recommended albums.
Does Dr O’c have a website? when is she bloggin on here? Hahah you guys are too funny. A couple credits away from an eng lit degree, hahahahahahahah. A couple raisins short of a pastry. hahahaha. Anyways, you love your top tens, which is good for me cos I can listen to new music. New music to me i might add. How much music do you get sent? Isn’t that a teenager’s dream?
I’m very happy to say that I’ve actually heard of a few of these acts. I’m feeling pretty Hip and With It right now.
We saw Bon Iver open for Wilco awhile back. Alex bought the album as soon as we got home. I’m a bit noncommittal.
I am lovin’ the Dr. and her witty ways on this one! Oh, and I’ll check out the music as well. And, btw, I should get a prize for listening because I am the most music listening challenged person ever.
Awesome list! Though I have to say….I still love Wayne’s the best.
You Godless heathen.
Music year end lists are nice…it’s too bad Hollywood movies are by and large so bad that it’s only “worst of” lists that are fun to read.
That SuperXXMan tune was certainly above average.
Ha, Dr. O’C made me giggle out loud and now people are looking at me like I’m loony.
I am not familiar with any of this music, but I will be checking it out. Of course, I may just be sucking up to you so you’ll send me some free music.
Dr. O’C – That’s Dr. ‘ I am only a couple of credits away from an English lit degree’
Agnes – They do indeed. Thanks for all the tips this year.
Andrew – Super XX Man is particularly good. If you check out Cat Power, go for “The Greatest”
Angel – She’s a treasure.
Prefers – Dr. O’C’s website is supposed to be this one but she’s too ‘busy’ (lazy) to write anything beyond the occasional snarky comment.
Unbearable – That’s what makes this part of the year, well, bearable.
SSG – I get sent a fair bit, but most of it is rubbish.
Nichole – Well you’re better off than me, then. I’m just feeling old.
Mongola – What’s your challenge? Maybe we can come up with a handicapped dispensation.
Pare – I know – “Josephine Baker”. Brilliant.
Jason – I haven’t seen ten decent Hollywood movies in the last ten years, so that would indeed be a difficult list.
Courtney – Are you not? I mean, are you not?
Oh snap for the subpop comment! Cat Powers is pretty awesome. I will have to check out the rest.
I’ll try to listen to a few of these when I get a moment.
I’m a bit scrooge-like myself. I take my i-pod to stores around now because the Christmas music makes me homicidal.
I tagged you for a meme! The rules say I have to notify you, so consider yourself notified.
Starrlight – I love Sub Pop’s bands, but they aren’t truly independent.
Sarala – I hear you. They have Christmas muzak piped on to this pedestrian street here in Adelaide. Drives me nuts..
Courtney – Uh, thanks?
Scrooge/Scrouge/Scroege: they’re all spelled C-h-r-i-s if you ask me…..
Ariza – What’s scroege?
I so very much love Cat Power. I’ll have to check these others out, too.
I stumbled across Lex Land the other day. Lovely voice.
I love Super XX Man! Great list!