The Best of 2008

Best of 2008

Well, it’s taken some time, but I have finally compiled my Best of 2008 lists. It was an interesting year, not the best of times nor the worst of times. All in all, it was a good year. I really can’t complain. Anyway, here are the lists.

Books

Best Books Read in 2008 (I’m not literate enough to have read enough books published in 2008):

• The Road – Cormac McCarthy
  This is an amazing book, alternately bleak and sublime. I found it gripping and read it less than two days. I’m eagerly anticipating the film release later this year.
  
  
• Leaping: Revelations and Epiphanies – Brian Doyle
  I’d always enjoyed personal essays, but it wasn’t until I took a Creative Nonfiction Writing class in the beginning of the year that I truly came to love the form. Brian Doyle is an amazing essayist, and this collection of essays ought to be read by everyone.
  
  
• The Book Thief – Markus Zusak
  This was the second selection read by The Book Club this summer, and it really impressed me. It has a unique style, a brilliant choice of a narrator, and an interesting story with compelling characters. Its haunting and unforgettable imaginary will remain with you for a very long time.
  
  
• Watchmen – Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
  I had often seen this graphic novel listed as a must-read on the internet, and I even saw it was on Time’s list of most important novels of the last half of the 20th century. It is definitely not a children’s comic. Great graphics and a very unique take on the superhero narrative. It’s both innovative and completely entertaining.
  
  
• The Diving Bell and the Butterfly – Jean-Dominique Bauby
  This is a book that I appreciated much more once I saw the film – I wholly recommend the 2007 film of the same name, directed by Julian Schnabel. Schnabel’s film is spectacular. His background as a painter allowed him to make a film as visually compelling as the narrative it’s telling. And the film, and book, tell a remarkable narrative. It’s the story of a wealthy and successful French businessman who has a massive stroke and is almost completely paralyzed. He can move only his left eyelid and eventually learns a code that allows him to blink and dictate words. This book is his autobiography, a testament to the strength and capacity of the human spirit. Read the book and watch the movie soon after.

Film

Best Films of 2008 That I Actually Saw in 2008:

• WALL-E
  This was the first movie to really move me this year, and it is still my favorite film of the year. I blogged about the film, and I really can’t say much more about this masterpiece. I thought Pixar had achieved greatness with Ratatouille, but WALL-E just set the bar even higher. I suspect part of my love for this film comes from my love for silent comedies, especially those of Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. WALL-E, the character, reminded me of a robotic Charlie Chaplin, and nothing that makes me think of that could ever be anything but amazing. This story about love and companionship still moves me every time I see it. Seeing it in the theater for the first time was a transcendent experience.
  
  
• The Dark Knight
  The rest of the films in this list aren’t in any particular order. TDK was definitely the best superhero movie ever produced. It was dark and serious and relevant at all times. Heath Ledger, of course, was brilliant as the Joker. In fact, his performance was so perfect that it got distracting for me. When the Joker wasn’t on screen, I got impatient for him to return. Ledger’s impeccable performance completely overshadows all the other fine actors in this film. If anything, he was too good for the film. I know people thought Daniel Day Lewis’s performance in There Will Be Blood was so good that it detracted from the overall film. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t have those roles portrayed any other way. Brilliance like Ledger’s Joker is rare and should be appreciated whenever we come across it.
  
  
• Young @ Heart
  I just blogged about this film, and my thoughts concerning it remain the same. This is an amazing documentary that everyone should see.
  
  
• The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
  Another film I recently blogged about. No other film is as visually spectacular this year, that’s for sure. Technical brilliance and very good acting aside, I wish there were just a little more substance to the story. Oh yeah, I can’t forget the overpowering melancholy this film produced in me. Still, it is a beautiful and ambitious film that stands out from most of the other films released in 2008.
  
  
• Rachel Getting Married
  Most people have likely not heard about this independent movie. It’s just as well because I doubt most people would enjoy it. This is a very rough film, what they call a slice-of-life film that strives to portray life as it actually is. That’s not to say it’s a documentary, but it wants viewers to feel connected to the characters and plot as if they were 100% real. Anne Hathaway gives an amazing performance as a former-druggie out of rehab for her sister’s wedding. The film focuses on human, particularly familial, relationships, and it doesn’t gloss over the difficulties found in those relationships. The film doesn’t sentimentalize or minimize the heavy emotional reality of the film. I thought it was a very powerful character study with amazing acting all around.
  
  
  Honorable mention(s): Happy-Go-Lucky, Cloverfield, and Iron Man

Music

I need to preface these next lists by saying that they were by far the most difficult lists for me to compile. I am an avid music fan. I’m constantly searching for the best new music while still appreciating everything I already love, and it can be difficult to keep up in our technological era. There is so much music being created, and it is more accessible than ever before. Used to be I’d have to drive three hours from Vernal to Salt Lake to find a decent record store to buy an album I wanted. Now, there’s the internet. There was a lot of good music this year, a lot of songs I really, really enjoyed; there were, however, not many albums that really stood out to me. It just wasn’t a big album year for me, not like last year where a bunch of my favorite bands released very good albums (Radiohead, Spoon, The National, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, etc). This year’s list isn’t as definitive or indicative of my music tastes. That is why I decided to include a comprehensive list of my favorite songs of the year, and I plan on soon uploading a mix with those very songs.

Best Albums of 2008:

• Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours
  I played this album a lot this year, especially during the first six months of the year. It’s very danceable and always has great grooves. I’ve found that I much prefer dance music with strong vocal takes and (at least) decent lyrics, unlike the more techno-ish stuff that doesn’t really care about the words, and while Cut Copy may not write the best lyrics, the vocals are an integral part of their music. This is a really strong album with good pacing, and the powerhouse tracks are spread throughout the entire album, making it easy to listen to the whole thing over and over. And yes, they will make you shake your groovethang.
  
  
• Okkervil River – The Stand-Ins
  Okkervil River, a rock band fronted by singer-songwriter Will Sheff, has been gradually moving up into my list of favorite bands since I was first introduced to them in late-2005. I’ve been very impressed the two times I saw them perform, most recently at Lollapalooza last summer, and they put on very high-energy, impassioned shows that are fun to experience. The Stand-Ins is a great album, and there are no bad songs on it. This band has a very impressive track record actually; I can’t think of a song I don’t like from their last three albums. Most of these songs are fairly up tempo, with a good mix of instruments. What impresses me most with this band is how articulate Sheff is. I heard an interview with him on NPR, and the guy is very clearly intelligent. Sometimes you can have smart guys in bands and not know it, but a close inspection of Sheff’s lyrics is all the proof you need that he has got plenty going on in his brain. I really can’t say anything bad about this band.
  
  
• Spiritualized – Songs in A&E
  The final three albums weren’t as clear cut as the above two. This album by Spiritualized has a huge sound. Though it feels so expansive and the instrumentation is so rich, it’s also very intimate and personal. The singer nearly died of an illness while recording this album, and the lyrics often reflect on life and death, love and loss. I feel like I need to spend more time with this album, but the time I spent with it was enough for it to make this list so I guess that’s a good sign.
  
  
• Fleet Foxes – Ragged Wood
  I came upon this album late in the year, and I really wish I had found it sooner. You know how some albums evoke a certain vibe that coincides with certain times of year? This is definitely an autumn album for me. There are a lot of great harmonies that I wish I could have listened to while driving through the mountains with my windows down when the leaves were turning. Even though I missed that opportunity, this album is still pretty great. The songs are lush and beautiful, and I’m sure I’ll turn to this album this upcoming autumn.
  
  
• Hercules and Love Affair – self titled
  I came across this album even later than the Fleet Foxes’ album, but my time with it has convinced me of its greatness. This is another album that makes me groove with reckless abandon. Like the Cut Copy album, Hercules and Love Affair makes great use of vocals in their songs. The lyrics might not be as catchy, but the arrangement and production more than make up for it. This album has the best use of horns in dance music that I have ever heard, or at least can remember at the current time. There are some tracks on this album that will definitely be played the next time I spontaneously start dancing up Hobble Creek Canyon late at night.

Favorite Songs of 2008:

• “Great DJ” – The Ting Tings
  This is catchier than any infectious disease, and you’ll be happy you caught it. I could not get this song out of my head this summer. Definitely the standout track on their decent debut album. I look forward to listening to this band’s future output.
  
  
• “Sleep” – The Wrens
  I really can’t convey how happy I was to come across this track by my unequivocal favorite band. It’s really a beautiful track best listened to with good headphones at night. It’s pretty different from most of the Wrens’ music, but it is undeniably great. I love when the rest of the band comes in and joins the vocals and piano.
  
  
• “Hearts on Fire” – Cut Copy
  This is my favorite track on Cut Copy’s album, and I dare you to not dance or sway or bob your head or tap your foot while listening to it.
  
  
• “Nobody Lost, Nobody Found” – Cut Copy
  Second favorite cut from that album.
  
  
• “Red and Purple” – The Dodos
  This is a great song from a band I need to listen to more. They put out a very promising and assured debut album. This is the best track from it, in my opinion.
  
  
• “White Winter Hymnal” – Fleet Foxes
  The best track from the Fleet Foxes. Love the harmonies.
  
  
• “Cassius” – Foals
  This is another band with a lot of potential. They put on a really good show at Lollapalooza also. This track rocks.
  
  
• “Hercules’ Theme” – Hercules and Love Affair
  I love the trumpet in this song. Pretty amazing, groovy stuff.
  
  
• “Blind” – Hercules and Love AffairAnother awesome song that makes me groove.
  
  
• “Cheap and Cheerful” – The Kills
  This lean little ditty features a fine lady singing, “I want you to be crazy cuz you’re stupid, baby, when you’re sane.” How can I resist that?
  
  
• “Just Dance” – Lady Gaga
  Very mainstream choice, I know, but I love the vocals during the bridge. One of my favorite moments in a song this year.
  
  
• “Ways to Make It Through the Wall” – Los Campesinos!
  I first heard this on NPR, and while I haven’t come to like the rest of their album like I do this track, this is a solid, raucous rock song.
  
  
• “I’m Good, I’m Gone” – Lykke Li
  Swedish pop is good stuff. This song has an absolutely great chorus that hooked me instantly.
  
  
• “Lost Coastlines” – Okkervil River
  I think this amazing song speaks for itself.
  
  
• “Blue Tulip” – Okkervil River
  As does this one. This song has another of my favorite moments in a song at the 4:15 mark.
  
  
• “Dying is Fine” – Ra Ra Riot
  Another relative late-comer I first heard on NPR, this is just a very solid song.
  
  
• “I Thought I Saw Your Face Today” – She & Him
  When I first heard this song by the incredibly lovely Zooey Deschanel and the talented M. Ward, I must have listened to it some ten times in a row. It’s simple and reminiscent of simpler times, and I can’t help but be enchanted by it.
  
  
• “Inni mer syngur vitleysingur” – Sigur Ros
  My favorite jibberish singing Icelandic rock band put out a great album that I am still trying to wrap my head around. In time I might consider it one of the best albums of 2008. This track is perhaps their poppiest song yet, and it is awesome.
  
  
• “Soul on Fire” – Spiritualized
  I love this song. I love plugging in my guitar and trying to play along. It has a very rich and full sound that I love.
  
  
• "In the New Year” – The Walkmen
  The Walkmen are an interesting band. They’re undeniably talented, but I either listen to them a lot all at once or not very frequently at all. I need to give their latest album some more listens. This track has always stood out to me.
  
  
• “I Decided” – Solange
  Another mainstream dance song here. I have a weakness for anything catchy and danceable, I’ll admit it. I think I could probably trace it all back to “Lovefool” by the Cardigans. I’m not sure why I purchased that album when I did back in the day (and I do mean back in the day when I was a young ‘un and not anywhere near the menace I am now).
  
  
• “Strange Overtones” – David Byrne and Brian Eno
  These are two very famous musicians (Eno especially as a producer and Byrne as the frontman of the very influential Talking Heads) who have often collaborated. I was surprised when I heard this on NPR at how much this song rocks. NPR has been good to me this year.
  
  
• “Best Supporting Actor” – One for the Team
  Another gem I heard on NPR. This is an excellent power-pop song with boy-girl vocals. There are a lot of great things going on in this track. I expect great things from this band in the future.

Best Concerts Attended in 2008:

• Radiohead, The National, Okkervil River, and many others; August 1-3 at Lollapalooza in Chicago, Illinois.
  This was everything you’d expect a three-day festival in the summer sun to be. With 100,000 people nearby and incredible fatigue at the end of each day, Lollapalooza was a daunting but fulfilling experience. I got to see some of my favorite bands, and my life goal of seeing Radiohead live in concert was finally realized. It was definitely worth the effort and expense.
  
  
• Cut Copy and Black Kids; May 2 at the Urban Lounge in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  I got really into Cut Copy this year. Their music is catchy and danceable, and I had a blast at their show. Nothing like losing yourself in a crowd of strangers, everyone dancing and jumping and running into one another.
  
  
• Andrew Bird; July 17 at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  Now Andrew Bird is a talented musician. I never realized how good he is until I saw him live. He’s a classically trained violinist who uses a violin and guitar equally during his show. He uses pedals to lay down loops, plays guitar or violin, and then sings or whistles on top of that. He played a great set – a free show no less. Thank you Gallivan Twilight Concert series. And thank you in advance, Andrew Bird, for your upcoming show in SLC.
  
  
• Broken Social Scene and The Big Sleep; August 21 at the Gallivan Center in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  This was another free show I caught this summer. Broken Social Scene is a huge band from Canada, and I was very excited to see them again. I first saw them at Lollapalooza, and they blew my mind. I was never a big fan until I saw them live. Their show in SLC was pretty good, just not as spectacular as their set at Lollapalooza. Lots of guitars make me happy.
  
  
• Explosions in the Sky; March 24 at In the Venue in Salt Lake City, Utah.
  I never thought I’d see this band play in Salt Lake, and I never dreamed that there’d be a long line outside the concert venue. I was pretty astounded that so many people showed up to listen to an instrumental rock band. Granted, they flat out rock, but it’s just not the type of music that would seem to appeal to the trendy hipsters in Salt Lake. I was very content with this show. I enjoyed their set at the Coachella music festival in 2007 more, but any chance to see them is welcome.

Well, there we have it. My lists are complete (for the time being). This post ought to be enough for everyone to read while I'm partying and rocking out all weekend.