TOAST's BEST of 2008

It may not look like much of a genre-faithful list at first, but hey, the jamband scene (if there truly is one) is a many-headed monster, and all of these bands already have or certainly will play Bonnaroo at least once, some several times.

I intentionally didn’t include live recordings in my consideration for this year’s top ten list (though many made Honorable Mention status in an earlier post), focusing rather on studio releases which came across TnJ’s desk in 2008.

Every one of these little gems is worth several listens, IMO:

1) THE RACONTEURS – Consolers of the Lonely

Jack White has done it again, with another solid collection of songs showcasing his personal brand of frenzied lunacy. One could infer a few swipes at former bandmate (Sister? Wife? Anybody know?), Meg, in some of the lyrics. The big radio single “Top Yourself” is almost impossible not to take that way. But mostly, this is just an amazing rock-n-roll album. Production and arranging leans a little heavy on the Zep and Beatles “sounds,” but if you’re gonna steal, steal from the best.

Favorite Tracks: All of ‘em. Seriously. But if I gotta pick, “Consoler of the Lonely” – will strip paint off walls, “Top Yourself” – a nearly perfect rock-n-roll song, “Carolina Dream” – fancies ‘imself a post-punk bard ‘e does, “Rich Kid Blues” – all the meander and bluster of a great old Queen or ELP song, without all the suckiness.

9 out of 10 stars

2) THE INFAMOUS STRINGDUSTERS – The Infamous Stringdusters

Like the Raconteurs release, an incredible sophomore effort which supersedes its predecessor. And both these bands’ debut records were awesome, mind you.

This is, however, the first Stringdusters to feature guitarist Andy Falco, and the first blessed by newgrass legend Tim O’Brien’s production. The Stringdusters have been hittin’ the festival circuit hard-n-heavy and are poised to become THE newgrass act to see (and kick yer heels up ta) in the years to come.

Favorite Tracks: “Glass Elevator” – rippin’ instrumental, “Get It While You Can” – catchy, “You Can’t Handle the Truth” – catchy & fast, and, of course, “Lovin’ You” – my favorite song of the year.

7 out of 10 stars

3) MICHAEL FRANTI & SPEARHEAD – All Rebel Rockers

Like I said in an earlier Franti show review post, I think this boy’s really onto something. His usual charm and urgency is now happily anchored at the center of a Jamaican dancehall hurricane courtesy of dubmasters Sly & Robbie, among others.

He may or may not be the next Bob Marley, but he can keep on chanting down Babylon like this for years to come as far as I’m concerned. Conscious, rhythmic, playful, and powerful.

Favorite Tracks: “A Little Bit of Riddim” – stream of consciousness political commentary hasn’t been this instantly catchy since Dylan’s ‘Subterranean Homesick Blues,’ “Soundsystem,” – a fist-pumping anthem for the conscious party, “Nobody Right Nobody Wrong,” – an anti-protest song that brings a tear to my eye every time, unashamedly pretty.

7 out of 10 stars

4) DeVotchKa – A Mad & Faithful Telling

Who knew there was such a void waiting to be filled by this rocky mountain outfit’s gypsy-esque eastern-blockana? Though not as strong as their 2004 release “How It Ends,” which has its own template-from-which-all-others-must-borrow archetypal appeal, there’s a lot to love on this new release. A very entertaining band to see live.

FT: “Transliterator” – well-crafted crescendo catch-and-release à la Radiohead, “Head Honcho” – gotta have at least one Ennio Morricone-esque number on these things, don’t they? “Undone” was one of the few radio songs in this or any year which did not suck mightily. Shades of Robert Plant in the haunting choral refrain.

6 out of 10 stars

5) RAINMAKER – Long Slow Fade

Bay-area studio magic from a new band to these ears in 2008. Rootsy – some snobs will declare needlessly so – but somehow able to spin threadbare melodies and arrangements into a fresh and pleasing sequence of songs. Fans of Little Feat or The Grateful Dead who appreciate those acts for their solid-yet-quirky songwriting seem to be the target audience. Not particularly challenging, but hard not to like. How did simple get such a bad rep over the years anyway?

FT: “Sweetwater Has Run Dry” – a pensive ode to bygone days, “Further from the Truth” – li’l R&B flava, “In a Way That You Want It to Be” – instant nostalgia, like a Norman Rockwell painting.

5 out of 10 stars, as are the rest on this list. Am I too tough?

6) STEPHEN MALKMUS & the JICKS – Real Emotional Trash

With more than half the tracks clocking in at 5-10 minutes each, it’s almost as if Stephen Malkmus is TRYING to alienate the Pavement faithful. However, his sense of “lyricynicism (yes, I just made that up)” soldiers on with a new band and quite a few sonic diversions into what could be considered “jam” territory. His publicist, however, will probably spin that into “post-rock sonic experimentation” to make it sound cooler. Whatever. It rocks. Catch ‘em live if you can. Saw ‘em at The Variety Playhouse in Atlanta, GA while doing some work for a website. Great venue. Great show.

FT: “Real Emotional Trash” – a musical rollercoaster, 10 minutes of some of the best-sounding s#!t I’ve heard in years, “Baltimore” – c’mon, you gotta love a string of words like, ‘come on like gangbusters | laying it thick | arboreal Sleestak | lost in the sticks,’ “Elmo Delmo” – I could listen to him jam on this one for-just-about-ever, as long as he ditched the chorus.

7) moe. – Sticks and Stones

John Siket is a sonic genius. Can’t wait to hear what some of these songs sound like live, with extra SUPERJAM on top. Hee Hee (^_^)

FT: “Queen of Everything” – really, really can’t wait to hear this one live, “Deep This Time” – first track we picked for TnJ, yo, “202” – who let the ghost of Zappa onto this record?

8) THE DUHKS – Fast Paced World

Rick Anderson posted this on allmusic.com: “Someday the Duhks may find their natural style and settle into it, and when they do, their albums will become much less interesting.” I can’t beat that. Preach on, brotha (^_^)

FT: “Fast Paced World” – borderline preachy/puerile folk anthem in the making, couldn’t get it out of my head for days, “Ship High in Transit > Magalenha” – this is why it’s called ‘progressive’ bluegrass, folks, “New Rigged Ship” – original, knee-slappin’, toe tappin’ goodness.

9) MY MORNING JACKET – Evil Urges

You GO, Jim James! Perhaps between DeVotchKa, the Duhks, and My Morning Jacket, a pattern is starting to emerge – that of unclassifyability (yep, just made that one up, too).

Some of the most unexpected and mesmerizing sounds of the year, here. I’m kicking myself for not making it to the CD preview party out in the wilds of New Mex, might’ve been the perfect environment to experience this recording.

Stark yet beautiful, hypnotic yet provocative, grounded yet ‘far out,’ man.

FT: “Evil Urges” – a quirky, sonic masterpiece, “Touch Me I’m Going to Scream pt.2” – a sprawling, proggy, new wave 80s anthem, “Highly Suspicious” – can’t explain what there is to like about it, but it makes me smile wryly.

10) TEA LEAF GREEN – Raise Up the Tent

The circus-themed album art seems to bleed into some of the songs, most of which have a lilting quality generally absent from rock-n-roll these days. I applaud this new effort from one of the Bay-area’s best live bands and anxiously await their mysteriously-lit return to a live venue near me soon, dammit! David Lowery’s production is irreproachable.

FT: “Don’t Curse at the Night,” “Red Ribbons,” and “Not Fit” all demonstrate what clockwork-like songwriting precision four mere mortals can achieve.

~ Chris Diestler, A.K.A. “Toast”

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