music listened to in 2008

And recorded before.
Every year endless lists of people make lists limited to the music released the year prior. This is a list has no such limits. This is the soundtrack to my 2008.

In order of what comes to mind first.

Do Make Say Think- You, You're A History In Rust
Two drummers, trumpet, violin, rotation between two bass and three guitars.
Spanning all velocities, this album moves like a transcontinental railroad trip. Stops, starts, switches scenery, builds momentum, and lets you off to check out each stop. This is an album you can both wake up and fall asleep to.
Song: Executioner Blues


Deaf Center- Levend
One track, 45 minutes, continuous bliss. This trip is more like floating into open space with your eyes affixed upon a black hole spiraling what seems like light years away until the last second when you realize that its right before you aka you hear an audience applause and find out that this performance is live. Gasp.
Levend

Eluvium- Copia
This is like a post-space-war orchestra composing a soundtrack to a closing ceremony. Inside-out view of steam rising on an icy winter morning.
Indoor Swimming at the Space Station





James Blackshaw- Litany of Echoes

Classical guitarist of the highest caliber backed by a string quartet.
Being a marble being dragged along by a river current, hitting a few cascades.
Echo and Abyss







Fuck Buttons- Street Horrrsing
these guys circuit bend and masterfully amplify with delay and reverb.
When you stand up too fast and it feels like someone has cracked and egg of psychotropic drugs onto your cerebellum and you get vertigo. Some times i like that.
Sweet Love for Planet Earth





Hauschka- Room To Expand
Modified grand piano.
My brain is a Rube Goldberg machine. Modern music with classical elements. This music is a machine built out of organic materials.
Paddington




Indian Jewelry- Invasive Exotics
Heavily yet poignantly delayed vocals, percussion.
Reminds me of a fire side chant. Mildly hypnotizing yet aggressive.
Going South


Health- Health
Dude plays a microphone (feedback),
guitar, and aux percussion.
Fun plays on rhythm. Just when you
think you can follow it, its off again.
Extremely bipolar and energetic. Methodical madness.
Triceratops



Sly and the Family Stone- Stand!
Composition. Seems so current still yet I believe this is unprecedented.
I Want to Take You Higher









{{{{Sunset}}}}- Bright Blue Dream and The Glowing City
Released three albums this year. Hands down my favorite songwriter. Humble and honest, modern society, cog-ness, gear in the machine, happy to be alive, technology, zombies, i love my job, diamond studded caskets, lucid acceptance to the modern struggle.
You've Never Lived a Day in Your Life




Tallest Man on Earth- Shallow Graves
Everyone i play this for just says hes trying to sound like bob dylan.
I don't think hes trying.
Where Do My Bluebirds Fly







Wilderness- (K)No(W)Here
Drunk kids that get really into certain phrases, chords, and rhythms but know each other really well.
I can never be quite sure if I understand the lyrics but they still make sense. This is drudgey but prevails as it crash in on it self. Maybe I just miss chuck ragan.
Stand the Test of Time




Dead Meadow- Old Growth
Wah pedal and a wah voice, face melting solos, mind bending bass rhythms. Psychedelia.
Most kick ass guitar solos, slacker vocals, ramblin' tunes. Summer anthems.
What Needs Must Be





Tim Hecker- Harmony In Ultraviolet

these are the sounds my brain makes when I am thinking deeply.
Dungeoneering







Roy Orbison
His life and his music combined make this quintessential american music.