Top 30 Albums Of 2008 - Part 3 (10-1)

Here is the final part to this years top 30 albums of 2008 list. It took a little while to narrow down the albums to get the top 10, but predominantly the core of the list has been top 10 material as soon as I heard the particular album. One omission from the top 30 list is The Music - "Strength In Numbers", an album that would surely have made the list had I not only heard the record a few days ago. I'd love to know what you think of the list as a whole and my choices for the top 5 so please use the comment function below.

Finally thanks to everyone who has visited the site over the past year, I feel Music Liberation has changed, hopefully for the better, into a blog which although connected to the mainstream is more about brand new emerging artists from all over the world. Stay tuned for 2009 where hopefully the site will get even bigger and better! Cheers! Sid.

10. The Subways - All Or Nothing

Label: Infectious

Released: 30/06/08

9. The Presets - Apocalypso

Label: Island

Released: 23/06/08

8. Santogold - Santogold

Label: Atlantic

Released: 12/05/08

7. The Streets - Everything Is Borrowed

Label: 679

Released: 15/09/08

6. Dan Le Sac Vs Scroobius Pip - Angles

Label: Sunday Best

Released: 12/05/08

5. Chase And Status - More Than Alot

Label: RAM

Released: 13/10/08

4. Rolo Tomassi - Hysterics

Label: Pias

Released: 22/09/08

3. Late Of The Pier - Fantasy Black Channel

Label: Parlophone

Released: 11/08/08

2. Foals - Antidotes

Label: Transgressive

Released: 24/03/08

1. Bring Me The Horizon - Suicide Season

Label: Visible Noise

Released: 29/09/08

Top 30 Albums Of 2008 - Part 2 [20-11]

Here's part 2 of Music Liberation's Top 30 Albums Of 2008 list.

20. Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart

Label: BMG

Released: 28/07/08

19. Operator Please - Yes Yes Vindictive

Label: Brille

Released: 17/03/08

18. The Gaslight Anthem - The 59' Sound

Label: Side One Dummy

Released: 18/08/08

17. Black Kids - Partie Traumatic

Label: Mercury

Released: 07/07/08

16. The Mono Effect - Giants

Label: Lockjaw

Released: 15/09/08

15. Q-Tip - The Renaissance

Label: Island

Released: 03/11/08

14. The Bronx - The Bronx

Label: Wichita

Released: 17/11/08

13. Blood Red Shoes - Box Of Secrets

Label: Mercury

Released: 14/04/08

12. Walls Of Jericho - The American Dream

Label: Trustkill

Released: 04/08/08

11. Hadouken! - Music For An Accelerated Culture

Label: Atlantic

Released: 05/05/08

Top 30 Albums Of 2008 - Part 1 [30-21]

So here it is, Music Liberation's top 30 albums of 2008. This originally was going to be a top 20 list, then that changed to a top 25, and then i settled on a top 30. There were just too many good records this year that I felt I couldn't not include them. I've spent the best part of December listening to all the albums i've come across this year, with some albums jumping around the list all the time. But i've finally come to a final decision on the list, so here's part 1. Take from it what you will!

30. Alan Wilkis - Babies Dream Big
Label: White Label / Released: 11/03/08







29. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone
Label: Roadrunner / Released: 25/08/08







28. Pendulum - In Silico
Label: Warners / Released: 12/05/08







27. Los Campesinos - Hold On Now, Youngster...
Label: Wichita / Released: 25/02/08







26. Be Your Own Pet - Get Awkward
Label: XL / Released: 17/03/08







25. Metallica - Death Magnetic
Label: Mercury / Released: 10/09/08







24. Cavalera Conspiracy - Inflikted
Label: Roadrunner / Released: 24/03/08







23. Ill Nino - Enigma

Label: Cement Shoes / Released: 24/03/08






22. Does It Offend You, Yeah? - You Have No Idea What Your Getting Yourself Into
Label: Virgin / Released: 24/03/08







21. The Outline - You Smash It, We'll Build Around It
Label: 3030 Recordings / Released: 26/05/08

Merry Christmas

I would just like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas from all at Music Liberation!!

SiD.

Interview : The Japanese Popstars

This week's interview is with Decky Hedrock from The Japanese Popstars, who are quite possibly one of the most talked about new dance acts around right now who look set to have a big year ahead of them.

Q1. Describe your music in three words?

"Stadium Rave Attack"

Q2. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

"We all have different influences ranging from The Prodigy, old skool hip-hop (e.g. Eazy-E Ultramagnetic MCs), ELO and Guns N'Roses to Daft Punk, Chemical Brothers, Duran Duran, EMF and The Monkees. It's what we grew up with and music that influenced us at different intervals during our lives. I feel that in some way we take all these in when we sit down to produce music or a remix."

Q3. What's on your agenda for the next 12 months?

"We are releasing our next few singles "Face Melter" and "We Just Are (Finalizer)", as well as our album in the USA. We should be playing alot of the festivals in the UK, Ireland and around the rest of the world but we can't release these details until the festivals release their lineups. We hope to make our live show alot bigger by introducing more effects and props - its something we've been thinking about for a long while, so if all goes to plan we'll kick that off next year. Also we will be lending our hands to some tastey remixes over the next few months. Keep your eyes peeled..."

Q4. What role do you think bloggers have in the current state of the music industry?

"I think bloggers help the scene by introducing and breaking new music. Everyone uses the blogs these days as its not industry hyped and is more real or at least an everyday persons view on a certain scene or piece of music. Bands and DJs can benefit greatly from the bloggers and I think its about time the people got their say when everyones listening! Its really anti-industry, isn't it!!!"

Q5. Any new bands/artists you recommend checking out?

"We are great fans of Australian bands like The Presets, Cut Copy and Van She - they have a great sound and are excellent live. Producers like Brodinski, Shinichi Osawa and Alex Gopher have gotten us excited too when we've been dropping their tunes in our DJ sets. Also we have been listening to MGMT, their album is amazing and we love what The Ting Tings are doing too. We actually bumped into them backstage at a festival and they were extremely nice people - right down to Earth, to boot."

Q6. If you could tour with any two artists, past or present, who would they be and why?

"Well it'd be The Beatles and Elvis. I'd say it'd be unreal to have experienced what they did!! Even tho back then people would not understand or probably appreciate dance music lol."

Q7. You have unlimited funds, what 3 things do you have on your tour rider?

"1. Free transport for our our friends to our gigs anywhere in the world.

2. Free alchohol for everyone at our gigs - share the wealth!!

3. And a private jet for us - just cause we could."

Q8. What's your perfect sandwich?

"Just so you know....I am a king of making sandwhiches! I'd probably (depending on my mood) go for chicken, lettuce, cheese, coleslaw, sweet onion chutney on toasted white bread with maple flavored bacon strips. Mmmmmmmm.............."

Q9. If Music Liberation were an object, what would we be?

"It would be a GI Joe Motorized Battle Tank featuring real action firing mechanisim and Kung-Fu Grip."

Q10. How can we find out more about you?

"Check out: http://www.myspace.com/thejapanesepopstars"

Thanks very much to Decky for answering our questions. That's the last interview of 2008, next year we'll hopefully have loads more with the most interesting and exciting new bands and artists around.

MP3: The Japanese Popstars - Delboy's Revenge

BTW - PLEASE NOMINATE YOUR FAVOURITE ALBUM OF 2008, SO FAR THERE HAVE ONLY BEEN 5 ALBUMS NOMINATED WITH ONE VOTE EACH LOL. YOU CAN COMMENT ON THIS POST OR USE THE CHAT BOX IN THE RIGHT TOP HAND CORNER. CHEERS! SiD.

lists, lists, lists...

Sorry for the lack of normal posts of late, I've been spending alot of my listening time going through a whole host of albums, trying to formulate my top 25 albums of 2008 list. This has therefore meant I've been neglecting my usual discovery of new music. Your probably sick of end of year lists as alot of blogs are doing them, but im afraid so is Music Liberation!

I'd love to know what your favourite album of 2008 has been, so please use the chat box on the right to let me know! Whichever album gains the most mentions will be crowned this year's People Choice.

BTW I saw Foals at the Academy in Oxford last week, they were bloody awesome! As were Rolo Tomassi who were supporting.

MP3: Foals - Cassius

MP3: Rolo Tomassi - C Is For Calculus

Shinichi Osawa Remix Competition

Fancy having your own music remixed by Shinichi Osawa and released through Southern Fried Records?

Well you can!

Simply head to www.whoistheone.co.uk and submit your track. If your track makes it into the top 10 of most voted tracks then your in with a great chance! Easy as that!

Interview : Laetoli Steps

This week's interview is with Laetoli Steps.

Q1. Describe your music in three words?

"indie, folk, americana"

Q2. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

"Smog, Wilco, The Band, The Walkmen, Constantines, any decent post-rock.

Non musical would be BBC News 24.."

Q3. What's on your agenda for the next 12 months? (Tours/Releases/etc..)

"We're going to record a live studio album sometime early next year and just fill it with 12 songs. Apparently we've always got a 'mini UK tour in the pipeline' which we should hopefully fulfil too...!"

Q4. What role do you think bloggers have in the current state of the music industry?

"Its great to read what the punters think and they would normally give more exposure to unsigned bands then most of the established music press."

Q5. Any new bands/artists you recommend checking out?

"I'm really loving a band called The War On Drugs at the moment as they do something thats really hard, and that is creating great tunes with only one or two chord changes..."

Q6. If you could tour with any two artists, past or present, who would they be and why?

"The Band for their sheer brilliance and The Sadies so we stay humbled."

Q7. You have unlimited funds, what 3 things do you have on your tour rider?

"Frulli beer, the finest cuts of Italian parma ham and Timmy Mallet."

Q8. What's your perfect sandwich?

"Parma ham in a hot fresh Italian bread roll."

Q9. If Music Liberation was an animal, what would we be?

"A cat - kind but critical."

Q10. How can we find out more about you?

"www.myspace.com/laetolisteps and you can come and see us play at Tommy Flynns in Camden this December 12th."

MP3: Laetoli Steps - Arlene's Grocery

Thanks very much to Rich from Laetoli Steps for answering our questions. Next week's interview is with The Japanese Popstars.

World Exclusive : KiD COLA's Acid Alphabet Mix

Here's another World Exclusive for Music Liberation, this is the only place right now that you can check out a storming mix from KiD COLA. Titled "KiD COLA's Acid Alphabet", it's a stunning journey across (as you guessed) the musical alphabet. We're very proud to be supporting such an exciting new UK DJ and Producer, and as we've said before we expect big things for KiD COLA in 2009. Big thanks to James from Trailer Media for sorting us out. Enjoy the mix and let us know what you think!

MP3: KiD COLA's Acid Alphabet Mix

KiD COLA's Myspace

New Music : Delorentos / Kid Cola / Gejius / Funeral Party

The past week or so my ears have been pretty much dominated by BBC Radio 1's Masterpieces feature on the Zane Lowe show, and so my new music quota has been pretty low. Out of the four albums featured the only one I hadn't heard was the self titled Stone Roses LP, which didn't do much for me to be honest. The others were the self titled Rage Against The Machine album, Dark Side Of The Moon by Pink Floyd, and Music For A Jilted Generation by The Prodigy, all of which were totally awesome.

Despite Zane Lowe dominating me (Urgh!), I did still discover some wicked new tunes last week.

First up is a wicked band who got in touch with me called Delorentos. They are a young Irish band who have seemingly been gaining much praise in thair native homeland for their blend of infectious indie rock. Their debut album "In Love With Detail" was released last year to much critical acclaim, and hopefully the LP can have a similar interest over here. I really like the energy the band have, which stems mainly from the high tempo drums and at times frentic guitars. Delorentos are well worth checking out. MP3: Delorentos - The Basis Of Everything / Myspace

Kid Cola has been working his magic again, this time it's a reworking of Crystal Fighters "I Love London". It's all about the bass with this guy, it's so heavy and sick!! He is definatley one to look out for in 2009. MP3: Crystal Fighters - I Love London (Kid Cola Remix) / Myspace

We're always on the look out for new producers here at Music Liberation, and Gejius may well be our new man. Based out of Portland, Oregon in the US little is known so far about this guy, apart from the fact that he's sent us a couple of awesome tunes which are bass heavy and groove laden. MP3: Fast Computers - So Sad (Gejius Remix) / Myspace

Finally we have Funeral Party, a five piece electro rock band from California. Much in the vein of Black Kids, they create highly danceable electro fused rock music that you find hard to ignore or not like. Their debut album should be released in April of next year, its currently being recorded in the Mars Volta's studio in Los Angeles. Another artist I see big things for next year. MP3 Funeral Party - Carwars / Myspace

Interview : Eureka Birds

This week's interview is with Justin Levy from Eureka Birds, who are a melodic indie rock band from Baltimore.

Q1. Describe your music in three words?

Totally. Awesome. Music.

Q2. Who are your musical and non-musical influences?

Non-Musical influences would be Kurt Vonnegut and Edgar Allan Poe.

Musical influences at the moment would be Dancer vs Politician, Kaiser Cartel, and Fredrik because they're making great music and just getting started. I see them doing what we'd like to do in the next 12 months. I'm also a huge fan of Nick Drake, the Beach Boys, Rufus Wainwright, Sigur Ros, the Beatles, and Radiohead, just to name a few.

Q3. What's on your agenda for the next 12 months?

We will begin recording a music video for "Oh! My Dear" in December & we're very excited about this. It's going to be partly filmed with a 1920s theme & partly animated. Also, we hope to get some kind of EP & tour together in late winter or early spring in addition to playing more Baltimore shows. Unfortunately, these endeavors cost money, so I need to find a new job. I was just laid off from the scientific world.

Q4. What role do you think bloggers have in the current state of the music industry?

Bloggers are the discriminating ears of the music world. Major and Indie labels are getting thousands and thousands of unsolicited CDs sent to their door and most have said that they don't accept demos. I'm not saying these labels are in the wrong either. They're a business just like any other and I'm sure they can't hire enough people to listen to everything they get. This is where the bloggers come in. Many of them have connections to those higher powers and can function as A&R reps to labels that would otherwise miss out on a good band. Bloggers also give listeners a chance to hear things those labels are keeping from your ears (man)!

Q5. Any new bands/artists you recommend checking out?

Dancer vs Politician, Kaiser Cartel, Fredrik, Perkasie.

Q6. If you could tour with any two artists, past or present, who would they be and why?

I would have liked to tour with the Decemberists on their "Her Majesty" tour because in my honest opinion that's when they were making magic happen. And, of course, we'd have WHAM! opening up the show, because they always bring the party time.

Q7. You have unlimited funds, what 3 things do you have on your tour rider?

We have every Wes Anderson film and a comfortable couch. We also have the galaxy necklace the cat wore in Men in Black.

Q8. What's your perfect sandwich?

It has avocado, fakn' bacon, lettuce, sprouts, tomato, vegan mayo, mustard, on rye. It would be best if Liquid Earth (a Baltimore restaurant) made it for me.

Q9. If Music Liberation was an animal, what would we be?

Definitely a dinosaur. [ED: Is that good or bad!?]

Q10. How can we find out more about you?

www.myspace.com/eurekabirds You can also stalk us or me (Justin Levy) on facebook. Please say hello.

Thanks to Justin for answering Music Liberation's questions, be sure to check out his excellent band. Next week we have an interview with Laetoli Steps.

MP3: Eureka Birds - Goodbye Space And Time

New Music - Glassjaw / The Prodigy / Turbowolf / The Japanese Popstars

Back to normality for Music Liberation, here's a fresh dose of brand new music.

[BTW - Eye May Listen won the "which blog can destroy all overs" poll with 29%, closely followed by Stereokill and Music Liberation on 19%, and Fucking Dance with 12%. The other notables were - Mongoloid Gash (9%), The Only Thing I Know For Sure (3%), The Blue Walrus (3%), and The Cold Cut (3%).]

MP3: Glassjaw - You Think Your John Fucking Lennon [Glassjaw will almost certainly be back next year with their long awaited third album, of which this track is taken from. I think it's brutal, typically heavy but melodic, a perfect post-hardcore track that makes me pretty excited about hearing the full album. Daryl Palumbo has such a powerful and effective voice.] Glassjaw

MP3: The Prodigy - Invaders Must Die [This is the title track from the new Prodigy album which will be released next year. It's pretty much what you'd expect from them; a big synth driving the song with some thumping bass and pounding beats that will surely tear dance floors up. It will be interesting to see how the album works out, whether there will be much experimentation with the Prodigy format, but either way im expecting big things.] The Prodigy

MP3: Turbowolf - Bite (Louder) [I admitedly don't know too much about Turbowolf, other than that they come from Bristol, and that they totally rock out! They fuse awesome old school rock riffs and drums with current day electronica synths and effects. They remind me of a heavier Late Of The Pier. They don't appear to have released anything substantial yet, so hopefully they'll have an E.P out in the near future.] Turbowolf

MP3: The Japanese Popstars - Electronica Poet [The Guardian commented on how you can file The Japanese Popstars next to "Orbital, Underworld, and The Chemical Brothers", so I was expecting big things when this track appeared in my inbox. Thankfully the tune didn't let me down! The Guardian comment is pretty accurate, "Electronic Poet" is a slow building dance track with various elements added until the drop is reached and everybody (presumably in a club) goes mental. I think big things will be expected of this Irish trio due to the hype they have generated, and whether they can deliver with a full length remains to be seen. I have a copy of the album so i'll give it a few listens and post up a review.] The Japanese Popstars

This years readers poll for best album of 2008 is now open. Please use the comment box in the top right hand corner to nominate your favourite album of 2008.