best of 08

In no real order, here's my best of last year:

Off With Their Heads - From The Bottom

Minneapolis' cheeriest treat us to their first full length and my god do they sound bummmmed. It's the perfect sound to early 20s alienation and depression, I like this album because I relate to it more than I should probably admit to. Quite a few of the songs on it are just new versions of ones from the 7"s (although not from the collection "All Things Towards Their End") and sadly the excellently titled "I hate my stupid ass and hope I get in a car wreck tonight" is now just called "Wrong", it sounds even better than it did on the split though.

The Gaslight Anthem - the '59 Sound

I was late to the Gaslight Anthem party, only hearing them in summer and only really getting into them in autumn, but by christ it was worth the perseverence. I've always found that my favourite records sound their best after the first time, normally around the fourth or fifth listen. Of course there has to be something that keeps you coming back, you know you like it but damn, if you just hear it one more time its going to blow your mind. I was this way with Leatherface's Mush and I was that way with Social Distortions self titled (two of my all time favourite records). Anyway, this record fucking rocks. At first I thought I preferred Sink or Swim but over the last couple of weeks I have decided that I was wrong.

Milloy - More Than a Machine

Ah, Milloy. Apparently during the fantastic Out of Spite festival in Leeds last year I drunkenly danced so enthusiastically to this band that onlookers thought I was their biggest fan. Well they always say that a drunk man's words are a sober man's thoughts and there's definitely some truth in there. This record is fantastic. Anyone who knows me knows how much I dig the gruff sound and this is exactly why. They sound like a young Leatherface (not that there's anything wrong with old Leatherface) which is probably why Frankie seems to mention them in every interview he ever does.

Dillinger Four - C I V I L W A R

If my glowing review didn't make you buy this, then get on it pronto. It's been about four months since I heard the advance leak and nothing can stop this record from being my favourite that D4 have ever released. I don't know what I can say about this that I haven't said already, just get out and fucking get it!

The Hold Steady - Stay Positive

Another band I go on and on about enough. Boys and Girls in America is one of my most favourite records. I don't like this quite as much but I am still completely in love with it. In terms of lyrics, very few people hold a candle to Craig Finn right now. This is the kind of record your parents wish they had when they were young.

And that's my 5 favourite of last year. This year I would really like some Thorns of Life music, honestly, an album, a 7", even some overpriced MP3s on Itunes. I will take anything!