I know it’s a little late but I thought "what record store blog would be complete without a year end recap?" I’m not going to list the best releases of 2008, just my favorite listens from records I got in the year. So lifetime faves are out, though some of these may turn out that way. Anyway here goes:

My favorite record finds of 2008 (in no particular order)

Kilburn & The Highroads “Handsome”– Ian Drury’s band before the Blockheads and a record that bridges era’s. Recorded in 1975 it represents the working class music that came after the Skinhead Ska scene and had no interest in the art school prog or glam pretenses of the industry favorites of the era. Part Teddy Boy and all criminal, this was the best of the ‘70’s English Pub Rock scene. Great stuff, my favorite cut: Upminster Kid.

Les Breastfeeders “Les Matins De Grands Soirs” – Outta Montreal the debut record by Les Breastfeeders is infectious, smart and totally rocks. At first I thought it was good but it sounded like I would get sick of it quickly. Not so, I found that after repeated listens it grew on me and started to sound different than my first impression told me. This sound is where garage rock meets ye-ye as the press bio says, but more than that this is a band that isn’t afraid of effects, humor, or theater. They have a dancer/tamborine player for chrissake! Track it down and turn it up, this is a cool band. No fave track, they’re all great and I can’t decide.

The Dirtbombs “We Have You Surrounded” – I was late to the party but I’m catching up with the Dirtbombs now. I let them go by for years thinking “yeah, I’ll get around to it, there’s other stuff I’m afraid I’ll miss if I get sucked in too soon”. Maybe I was right, I’m sucked in now and they are great. State of the art Detroit rock, a live juggernaut, take no prisoners! Plus they cover a Dead Moon song.

The Litter “Emerge” – This is an oldie, 1969 in fact. The 3rd album by this Midwestern psychedelic powerhouse takes them out of their garage roots sees them firmly planted in the amp worship world of heavy acid eaters. For you heads out there I suggest you listen to this back to back with the Flower Traveling Band “Satori”. Both records are based on the same amp guitar set up and they both utilize the feedback in identical ways. The Litter do some covers but they are so far out that they really are their own songs. This is a heavy hitter for sure, it’s been reissued so track it down.

Various Artists “Oi Oi That’s Yer Lot!” – Got the Link Records reissue of this last year and surprised myself with how much I enjoyed it. Big dumb and totally fun. Not all what you’d expect, in fact some songs sound like Pub Rock English Dance Hall numbers. And I could overlook it but for the song “On Yer Bike” by Frankie and the Flames which has become a catch phrase around our house. I won’t apologize, I drink beer and love loud music, this hits my heart.

The Raincoats “Odyshape” – I gave myself a present for my birthday and scored a mint Japanese copy of this. One of my all time favorite bands and in my opinion their best record, I’ve had 2 other copies in my life and sold them under questionable circumstances. The cd version never sounded right and finally after 20 years I have it on vinyl again. All time top 5 record for my life, it doesn’t sound like anything else, dub bass, kitchen appliances for percussion, scratchy violin, and vocals channeled from the subconscious, I was exposed to it when it came out and I was about 19 and it still can bring tears to my eyes.

Well that’s all I’ve got for now, there are many things I’ve enjoyed in the past year, Van Der Graf Generator, Illes, King Khan, Reigning Sound, but they were already in my world and just carried over from 2007. Another late entry is Shorebirds “It’s Gonna Get Ugly” which I’ll be enjoying as 2009 gets underway. Alright, dig in and get down.