ABL Goes Pop

Brett Dennen - Make You Crazy video via YouTube


Isn't that song so damn infectious? They play it a lot on the adult alternative station at work. As well as on KGSR, which gives it a little more indie-rock cred but seriously if that song doesn't make you want to sing along, you should check your pulse. Looks like Mr. Dennen is actually on tour right now. If you're in Austin you can check him out at La Zone Rosa on the 23rd of this month. Tickets still available y'all.

Speaking of guilty pleasures, I never really got into the Ting Tings. For some reason when your album is a top seller on iTunes and I have never heard your music it makes me suspicious. But the High School/College set seems to really like these kids. Their show here at Emo's a while back sold out. In any case their newest single is the perfect example of modern-day lazy feminism, it is SO bratty and I love it.

The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name video via YouTube

While we're on the topic of lazy pseudo-feminism I should include the top single of 2008. I'd like to think this song would be just as enjoyable or maybe MORE enjoyable as an instrumental.


Beyonce - Single Ladies video via YouTube

When you google "Feminist Music" you get all kinds of lesbian/lilith fair, fare. But you also get a little Le Tigre, which Timmy G and I used to play on the radio freshman year in college. This is my kind of feminism:


Le Tigre - Deceptacon video via YouTube

Belated Best of 2008

At this point I'm pretty much over 2008, but alas what is a blog without a year-end list. Some call it lazy writing, others call it linking hell. I hand wrote a list of contenders for a top 20 of '08 but in counting my list I realized I had 44 contenders so I figured WTF I'll just do a top 40. Shall we begin at the end?

• 40

  
  Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line




• 39

  
  DevotchKa - A Mad and Faithful Telling




• 38

  
  Vivian Girls - The Vivian Girls




• 37

  
  {{{Sunset}}} - The Glowing City




• 36

  
  Blitzen Trapper - Furr




• 35

  
  Of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping




• 34

  
  Harlem - Free Drugs;-)




• 33

  
  Ray LaMontagne - Gossip in the Grain




• 32

  
  Wolf Parade - At Mount Zoomer




• 31

  
  Coldplay - Viva La Vida




• 30

  
  White Denim - Exposion




• 29

  
  Delta Spirit - Ode to Sunshine




• 28

  
  Kaiser Chiefs - Off With Their Heads




• 27

  
  Jenny Lewis - Acid Tongue




• 26

  
  Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair




• 25

  
  Hot Chip - Made in the Dark




• 24

  
  Portishead - Third




• 23

  
  Shearwater - Rook




• 22

  
  Santogold - Santogold




• 21

  
  Beck - Modern Guilt




• 20

  
  Ryan Adams & the Cardinals - Cardinology




• 19

  
  The Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely




• 18

  
  The Black Keys - Attack and Release




• 17

  
  Girl Talk - Feed the Animals




• 16

  
  The Hold Steady - Stay Positive





• 15

  
  Deerhunter - Microcastles




• 14

  
  Diplo & Santogold - Top Ranking




• 13

  
  The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead




• 12

  
  My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges





• 11

  
  Department of Eagles - In Ear Park





• 10

  
  Kings of Leon - Only By The Night





• 09

  
  Sigur Rós - Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust




• 08

  
  Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend




• 07

  
  T.V. on the Radio - Dear Science,




• 06

  
  Conor Oberst - Conor Oberst




• 05

  
  Jamie Lidell - Jim




• 04

  
  MGMT - Oracular Spectacular




• 03

  
  Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours





• 02

  
  Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes




• 01

  
  Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago