I managed to dredge up my memories of news, shows, and records that happened this past year. It wasn’t easy. I’ve fried a lot of brain cells with black coffee and fumes from the subway, so remembering what I had for dinner the night before is sometimes a chore. Not to mention that a lot of albums have come across my desk, I spent a lot of time listening to music, almost to an obsessive level sometimes.
So to highlight my favorite stuff of the year, never mind remembering what exactly came out this year, is sorta fucking hard. I mean the last CD I really loved that I got is a CD version of two Scream records, and that band broke up in 1990. Most of the bands I really like are off the beaten path even in punk rock, and a bunch of them aren’t even active any more.
Yes, I really am that hip.
But I figured that if I instead thought of what I remembered about the year in more general terms, then that’ll work. So here we are. And while the names that you see here might not be ones you recognized this past year, what’s here was still pretty significant to me and in the end, in some way to everyone.
Read more after the jump.
Paint It Black – New Lexicon (Jade Tree)
One of the greatest modern hardcore bands to come out in recent years. They didn’t disappoint with a long-awaited third album that, while in my mind didn’t match up to the incredible fury of their second album, Paradise, New Lexicon is still miles and fucking miles ahead of most bands these days.
Polar Bear Club – Sometimes Things Just Disappear (Red Leader)
Holy fucking shit. This is seriously an album that no matter what can just always pick me up. PBC are one of those bands that have just gotten better and better, from every show to every new song. Listening to this album is like picking up the best pizza in the whole world and eating the entire fucking thing yourself, but without ending up wishing you were either dead or able to take a shit to get the pressure in your gut to lighten up. Impossibly perfect.
The Hot Water Music reunion show in NYC(July 12th 2008)
With Paint It Black and Thursday on the bill, you’d have to have been on some anti-American terrorist raid to have not tried to get to see Hot Water Music during their latest stint of reunion shows. I managed, which not only makes me infinitely cooler than you, but also got treated to the best show I’ve seen in a very long time. There are no words to describe what it’s like to see Hot Water Music; it’s a goddamn transcendental experience. I’ve never really said this before, but I’m saying it now; You just had to be there.
Memorial – Berlin/The Creative Process (Flight Plan)
The greatest sleeper hit of the year. Post-hardcore in the vein of the 90’s forgotten indie bands starts its much-needed comeback. Featuring Pete from the forgotten gems Renee Heartfelt; this is a record I could listen to on repeat for ages.
Lemuria – Get Better (Asian Man)
If there was ever a band that encompassed sitting around crying with joy over a girl kissing you, or crying in shame over having made the hardest choice in your life, it’s this band. Seriously. They’re just that good.
Lipona – Atlas (self-released)
This just grew on me, hard. Harder than cancer in a black tar-ridden smoker’s lungs, scarred by years of uncaring self-abuse and post-coital puffs after furtive bouts of sweating and yelling over nickels with a hooker that looks like your niece. Solid punk rock that I liked at first, but love now after repeat listens.
Young Hearts – The Fight EP (self-released)
One of my favorite local bands; this band is just sheer straight fun. Fast loud, honest, and unashamedly straight pop-punk the way it was meant to be played. I’ve been in love with this band since I first discovered them a ways back and can always count on them to cheer me up. Their digital The Fight EP sure brightened up a ton of commutes to and from work.
Benard/Worn In Red – split 7” (Alaska)
Totally blew me out of the water. Two bands I’ve never heard of that were raw, blistering, spastic, and honest, helping renew my faith in totally random hardcore bands from both sides. Best split I’ve heard in ages on both sides.
Only Thunder – Lower Bounds (Bermuda Mohawk)
Like the Lipona record, this is one that just grew on me over time and made me think that an instrumental track, for the first time, could be the best song on the record. I was surprised to discover that they have three guitars, which I’ll normally decry as prog-rock hippie bullshit but, because I’ve listened to this record for two weeks straight this year and sang along as I walked to work, I won’t.
The deaths of renowned producer Jerry Finn and classic Descendents member Frank Navetta.
The man who took a change and helped bring one of the biggest alternative albums ever, Green Day’s Dookie, to the masses, and a member of one of my favorite band ever, The Descendents, both left us this year. They’ll both be missed not only by their families but also by the fans who were touched by their works, among with you’ll find those of us here at Late Night Wallflower. 2008 got a little lamer when the news hit those two times, and the world got a little more lame.
So there you go. Do I think it was a good year in music? I’m not entirely sure, though I think that we could always use more bands that sound like Quicksand or Atom And His Package, but that’s just me. Whatever happens, I’m looking forward to continuing my perpetual scouring of the internet for new bands to listen to.
