Music Update (part 2)

Paint it Black - Live on the streets of Philly

Yeah, the sound from this show isn't the best, so click on their name above to go to the myspace. "New Lexicon" is in my top 5 of the year for sure and is the most solid hardcore release of '08 in my opinion.



My Morning Jacket - Touch Me I'm Going to Scream Part 2

My Morning Jacket performed the best show I've seen in 2008 (yes, beating Radiohead), but I am still a little torn over the new album "Evil Urges." I doubted that they'd be able to top "Z" and I don't think they did. There are still some really awesome songs on this one, though it doesn't feel as complete and as moving as "Z" did. That said, a lackluster MMJ record is still better than most bands best.



Crystal Castles - Courtship Dating

Crystal Castles might be the ultimate pretentious hipsters, but I still don't hate them. The 8-bit sound of much of their stuff (albeit borrowed from chiptune artists, check out the controversy here) is really appealing to me and quite catchy. Their self-titled album that was released this year was missing a few tracks that I have heard from early demos, but also contained a few surprises as well. Listen to this stuff and try to keep your head still.



Sigur Rós - Gobbledigook (live with Björk!)

Goddbledigook, which is possibly the most feel-good song of the year (regardless of the fact that we have no clue what he's saying), is only enhanced when Björk takes the stage alongside the band. I'll be honest, I haven't even listened to the entirety of "Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust," but what I have heard so far I liked a lot.



Portishead -Machine Gun

I'll be honest, I haven't heard much of Portishead before the new album "Thirds," but I've read it has a bit of a different vibe than their past material - yet retains some familiarity. The album is haunting, minimalist, beautiful and vulnerable. And Beth has an absolutely amazing voice. Portishead's back-catalog is on my list of stuff to find for sure.