Two Thousand and Eight.

Another fucking album list to glance at, just because I made one to give myself a New Year's Eve buzz... Looking at it, I think the top (baker's) dozen or so are ones which I'll still be listening to in years to come. That's a successful year, I think...

1. Islands - Arm's Way
2. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
3. So Cow - I'm Siding With My Captors
4. Times New Viking - Rip it Off
5. Human Highway - Moody Motorcycle

6. Titus Andronicus - The Airing of Grievances
7. El Guincho - Alegranza!
8. No Age - Nouns
9. Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion
10. Why? - Alopecia
11. The Mae Shi - HLLLYH
12. Deerhoof - Offend Maggie
13. Jape - Ritual
14. Born Ruffians - Red, Yellow and Blue
15. Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer
16. David Turpin - The Sweet Used-to-be
17. Nobunny - Love Visions
18. The Spinto Band - Moonwink
19. Adam Green - Sixes and Sevens
20. Dodos - Visiter
21. Jonathan Richman - Because Her Beauty Is Raw and Wild
22. Andy's Airport of Love - Ballad of the Aleutian Sea Otter
23. Psychedelic Horseshit - Magic Flowers Droned
24. Jason the Swamp - Jason the Swamp
25. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
26. Stephen Malkmus - Real Emotional Trash
27. Jeremy Jay - A Place Where We Could Go
28. Cheap Time - Cheap Time
29. Wavves - Wavves
30. Minor Constellations - Ten Things

Interesting Observation
Not a single British band. And this isn't some stubborn "you stole our taters" thing on my part. Just to prove it...

Best British Band
Let's Wrestle

Annnnnnnd...
As soon as I typed that, I remembered that Pete and the Pirates' Little Death came out this year and is very good. I'm not going back. Olé olé olé.

Addendum
I didn't include either of Jay Reatard's singles collections because I've only ever heard the songs from them as they were on the EPs. They'd be there otherwise, I promise.

P.P.S.
I didn't include Wackity Schmackity Doo for the same load of reasons which I suggest in that review.

Best Show
La Casa Azul at FIB/Animal Collective at Whelan's/Islands at Róisín Dubh (you'll have the share the trophy, you champs)

'Unacknowledged Genius' Award
Nicholas Thorburn - made stellar albums as Islands, Human Highway and Reefer. Drew amusing comic strips. Was a swell dude. Got slated lots.

Best EP
Grand Pocket Orchestra - Make Happy War

Best Single
The Barbaras - Summertime Road

Best New Band
The Barbaras

Best New Old Band
Jan and Dean

Band of 2009
The Barbaras

C'mon da babs.

The Barbaras - Heaven Hangs
Human Highway - The Sound
Abba - Happy New Year