Eric Lamb’s Top Albums of 2008

Top Albums of 2008

rated by: Eric Lamb, Independent Music Critic

(with a few liberties taken, as some of these may have been released in 2007, but received heavy rotation in my i-pod in 2008)

1.)The Jealous Girlfriends: The Jealous Girlfriends

2) Arcade Fire: Neon Bible

3) Thom Yorke: Eraser

4) Counting Crows: Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings

5) Coldplay: Viva La Vida

6) P.O.D.: When Angels and Serpents Dance

7) Mute Math: Mute Math

The Airborne Toxic Event: The Airborne Toxic Event

9) Chris Cornell: Chris Cornell

10) So Indie It Hurts: ROIR Rocks, Volume #1

Cover Story Interviews – 2008 Year in Review

Our Cover Story 2008 Year-End Recap – articles/interviews on the best in LP/CD cover artwork and photography

2008 has come to an end and, first off, I have to chastise myself for having become a bit lazy about the number of interviews I conducted this year. I can blame it on the fact that I moved myself, my wife and our businesses 3000 miles across the country to our new home in Portland, OR and so I was a bit pre-occupied with that effort, or I can just tell you the truth and say that I let the semi-bad vibes that we’re all feeling these days get me down to the point that I lacked the motivation to do more of these articles. Quite honestly, with all of the bad news around, and the downturn in the economy looming heavily on peoples’ minds, I just didn’t want to pester people or distract them from earning a living (yes, these interviews take time, and most of the people I’m featuring are still working every day in their respective areas of expertise).

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Scott Homewood’s Top 8 of 2008

Here’s the top 8 of ‘08 for ya because I cannot settle on ten!!

Fleet Foxes – self titled
Sub Pop
Some of you will chuckle at this choice and shake your heads but I loved this CD the minute I heard it. While a lot of people love this band, it seems an equal amount want to ridicule them for pretty much taking My Morning Jacket’s sound and doing it better than My Morning Jacket has ever done it. Pastoral, ethereal, soaked in reverb and yet still rocking, Fleet Foxes have distilled the best elements of The Jacket’s sound and added their own little nuances (elements of early ’70’s Beach Boys and a little Zombies here and some British folk there) and come up with something gorgeous. Let’s face it: anyone who heard this album loved the hell out of it. Maybe it was before they knew it wasn’t My Morning Jacket, but still. And something has to be said for being at the right place with the right sound at the right time. My Morning Jacket has been a critic’s darling band for years now. It seems funny that the same year they put out an album which deviates from their trademark sound, the Fleet Foxes have a monster album using a lot of the elements from which The Jacket were trying to distance themselves. This is an album that is either loved or hated by the listener. In my opinion, you’re much smarter if you love it. I’m just sayin’.

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Rock and Roll Report TV: EASY SLEEZY – Stop Sign, GO

Rock and Roll Report Podcast #40 – The “Look What I Got For Christmas” Edition!

Finally! Yes I finally made it to Podcast #40. The holiday season really threw my schedule for a loop but I promised I would get it out before year’s end I I am managing to squeak through under the wire. The cool thing about this week’s podcast is my son Zack sat in with me so that was definitely a lot of fun!

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Matheson Kamin’s Top 10 For 2008

As I listen to a lot of different types of rock music, my list of the best albums from 2008 contains many different styles of rock. The list includes the albums that I consider the best that I have heard this year:

1 Lemuria- “Get Better”
www.myspace.com/lemuria
2 Backyard Tire Fire- “The Places We Lived”
www.myspace.com/backyardtirefiremusic
3 Winslow- “Crazy Kind of Love”
www.myspace.com/winslowsoul
4 Red Wanting Blue- “These Magnificent Miles”
www.myspace.com/redwantingblue
5 Walk The Moon- “The Anthem EP”
www.myspace.com/walkthemoonband
6 Stever- “Playground Isolator”
www.myspace.com/stevermusicrocks
7 Vary Lumar- “Waiting Room”
www.myspace.com/varylumar
8 The Brakes- “Tale of Two Cities”
www.myspace.com/thebrakes
9 BMZ- “Live at The Winchester”
www.myspace.com/bmzcleveland
10 American Werewolves- “The Lonely Ones”
www.myspace.com/aw

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Find me online at www.rockandrollreport.com, www.reviewyou.com, www.artincleveland.com, and http://matheson12.wordpress.com/

Rock and Roll Report TV: Boris Smile “Seasons Greetings From The Future”

Boris Smile

“Seasons Greetings From The Future”

2009 Vans Warped Tour “Earn It Yourself” Spot For Regional Bands

(Press Release) EARN IT YOURSELF.com has announced an official sponsorship of the 2009 VANS WARPED TOUR with the introduction of THE EARN IT YOURSELF SPOT on the tour’s Kevin Says Stage. At each tour stop, one band will be handpicked to perform on the stage, based on submissions that will be taken at EARNITYOURSELF.COM starting January 1st.

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CD Review: Saliva “Cinco Diablo”

Saliva has a split personality; some songs are modern hard rock with a bit of rap-style metal, while others are edgy pop rock with awesome hooks and sing along choruses. Likewise, singer Josey Scott will either growl or sing. Anybody can growl and talk their way through a song, so when he does this it is unremarkable, but when he sings his talents as an excellent rock vocalist truly shine through. That is the part of Saliva that makes my mouth water.

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Rock and Roll Report TV: The Mae Shi “Run To Your Grave”

The Mae Shi

“Run To Your Grave”

-So fresh. I really dig this vid.

Run to Your Grave from the mae shi on Vimeo.

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