Tart’s top 15 albums for 2008

Here’s my year end list… of my faves, and it’s just that dear readers. You’ll find an eclectic mix here, what else should you expect from a musical dilettante? It reflects my love of three major genres; indie/pop, folk, punk/industrial. All of them are on heavy rotation here at chez Tart and please do go out and support these artists! I have many, many bloggers to thank for turning me on to these fine artists, you all know who you are, xoxoxo!

1. Meursault Pissing on Bonfires/Kissing with Tongues. I reviewed this amazing Indie album recently here, find two tracks to listen to and support this great band put out by Song by Toad records.
2. The Duke Spirit Neptune. A review of their gig is here but this album has proved to be worthy of play after play. Hard hitting indie rock, with lead singer Leila Moss’ beautiful throaty vocals, and a great band, I can’t say enough about this group. This Ship Was Built To Last mp3 Buy it here.
3. Ayria Hearts For Bullets. Reviewed here with mp3.
4. Trapt Only Through The Pain. Mainstream industrial/alternative rock, anticipated here.  Curiosity Kills mp3 What can I say? When you love a certain sound you don’t need a reason why. I’m hooked on Trapt. Buy it here.
5. Samantha Crain The Confiscation EP . I saw her live after falling for her folk-inspired voice on this EP, she’s even better than I hoped. Completley amazing and coming out with a new album in 2009 – someone to watch for, people! Unique and beautiful, you must listen to this. The River mp3 Buy it here.
6. Arizona Glowing Bird. Reviewed here with mp3 to listen to as well. All indie, sound of an angel, organically flowing creative band that scratches that itch you never knew you even had.  Buy it here.
7. Sigur Ros Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust. This should be on everyone’s list, completely unique and there’s no reason at all why I should like this but I absolutely do adore it very much! Góðan daginn mp3 I usually describe this kind of music as “movie music” but with an indie twist.
8. Frightened Rabbit The Midnight Organ Fight. Old Old Fashioned mp3 This album has been on constant rotation, I mean constant. It’s so Scottish, so danceable, so alternative/indie and the sound is just so right for 2008. Buy it here.
9. The Loved Ones Build and Burn. This is another anticipated album for me. I loved the Loved Ones raw melodic punk sound. They reminded me of old skool punk, back when punk bands didn’t sing so damn fast and in that awful growly way that you couldn’t understand the words, remember? These kids whine about love and being broke and life in the general punk way that we all felt when we were young. I really love this album and just couldn’t keep it off my top ten even if it’s not the greatest punk music of all time. I Swear mp3 Buy it here.
10. Lightspeed Champion Falling Off The Lavender Bridge. This guy’s voice just KILLS me… it’s unique, it’s full of locality, his songs are angsty, humours, gutsy and instantaneously recongnizable. Listen to Lightspeed Champion’s indie/freak/folk style and you’ll agree with me, I swear. Let The Bitches Die mp3 Buy it here.
11. Robin Grey I Love Leonard Cohen EP. I’m way behind in my review of this EP of a wonderful folk singer who I found on a blog nearby. He’s a Leonard Cohen fan, has a beautiful voice, and well… check back soon for more of why I love this record! I Love Leonard Cohen mp3 and you can download the EP on Jamendo … maybe give Mr. Grey a donation there too, eh?
    
12. The Poison Arrows Casual Wave EP. Reviewed their gig here, as they opened for Holy Fuck. I’ve listened to this moody, dark EP quite a lot since then and they surely deserve more air space and a major signing in 2009. Here’s hoping! Frozen Human Satellite mp3 buy it here.
13. The Midway State Holes. Recently reviewed this band here. I still can’t get these songs out of my head. Definitely, this is a band to watch, mp3 on that review for ya.
14. Rolo Tomassi Hysterics. This album is so interesting. I keep listening to it because I can’t catergorize it. It’s punk/experimental/synth/just plain mental. And the fact that it’s a woman doing all that screetching is even more intriguing and amazing. It’s also near impossible to pick one track off it to give you, the whole album should be listened to through, as a whole. But try this Oh Hello Ghost mp3, and go buy it here.
15. Jesus on Extasy Beloved Enemy. I never got around to reviewing this album, but although it’s not as great as their last, I still love it.Lies mp3.  Industrial/dance music doesn’t get much better than this, buy it here.