My Top 15 favorite albums in 2008. (and more...)

[only for the albums released in 2008]
[This is my first time to write music opinion in English, please forgive me of any terrible mistakes. ^^"]
[If those players are not working, please come back later for them.^^"]

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15.Tearwave - Different Shade of Beauty
[Shoegazing]

Tearwave 第二張大碟, 褪去了以往略帶Gothic-Metal/Darkwave的氛圍, 這次明顯偏向Shoegazing風格靠攏, 背景結他適當地築起空曠而帶點微嘈的音牆, 主旋律結他亦加入了不少精彩的80年代元素, 配合優美的女聲, 整體氣氛營造得飄逸, 迷濛, 深邃, 非常連綿細密, 17首歌之中, 少有冷場.

The second album of Tearwave is more concentrate on blending Shoegazing style and Dream-pop, and faded some gothic-metal/Dark-wave style that they did in their previous. Spacious, amorphous and noisy guitar created the wall of sound at the background, and layered with fascinating melodic guitar which influenced by 80s' style. Together with the glamorous female vocal, the album successfully created a beautiful, foggy and wintry atmosphere that may somehow, lure you to listen to it till the end of album.

Track chosen: Under the Milky Way

→ Myspace




14.The Do - A Mouthful
[Indie-rock]

今年最好玩的一張作品之一. 法國與芬蘭的一男一女組合, 2008年為筆者帶來了很有趣而愜意的聆聽體驗. 完全不按理出牌, 每首歌曲的風格迥異, 聽完一首, 完全估不到下一首會怎樣, 雖然是以活潑的Indie-pop為基調, 但卻有"Queen Dot Kong"一首既開心又放縱的Rap歌, 亦有簡簡單單的folk-pop小品"Stay Just a Little Bit More", 更有一首古怪過癮的非洲歌曲"Unissasi laulelet", 而且難得每首歌都保持不俗的質素.

What a playful and funny album! These French-Finnish Duo has brought me a interesting experience of listening. Although base on their unique indie-pop style, the songs of this album are really diverse. They got a hip-hop song like"Queen Dot Kong", and "Unissasi laulelet" is a simple but catchy African-style track, and "Stay Just a Little Bit More" is their folk-pop moment in this album. As from the pitchfork's comment which rate them 7.5/10, they are really not shy to toying with musical categories.

Track chosen: On my Shoulders

→ Myspace




13.The Delays - Everything's the Rush
[British-rock]

The Delays這張大碟入圍的原因是再簡單不過, 因為對筆者來說, 裡面首首歌都流暢動聽. 雖然大碟略為褪去以往帶點陽光氣息的迷幻復古樂風, 整體卻加強了搖滾力度, 而且氣氛更為開揚, 弦樂的運用相當具說服力, 最重要的是每首歌的旋律和曲式都是如此爽朗流暢. 如果以往我只留心主音迷人的假音演譯, 這張大碟無疑令筆者對他們的音樂才華重新估量.

This album is not quite a breakthrough for them, but it just reminds me a simple rule of what I think a good album is: If each song in the album which you think it’s good, then that album is probably a good album (for you). Besides the charming voice of the lead singer, all the songs are smooth and confident in terms of the melodies and structures. I just can't skip any songs in this album and that's I think reasonable enough to rank it up here.

Track chosen: Friends are False

→ 前文
→ Myspace




12.She and Him - Volume One
[Indie-rock/Indie-folk]

She and Him濃濃的懷舊情懷, 陪伴筆者渡過不少寂寥的晚上. 在indie-folk才子M.ward(即"Him")的精心打造之下, 女主音Zooey (即"She")甚具韻味的聲線, 充分配合了大碟不同類型的懷舊風格. 一曲"I thought I Saw Your Face Again"你會誤以為Adele在唱詠, "I Was Made For You" 充滿60年代pop girl band的青春爽朗, "Change is Hard" 悠悠的懷舊folk-pop小品. 大碟充滿不少60-70年代流行元素, 既有輕鬆活潑的復古情趣, 亦有醇厚醉人的氣氛, 那種寫意令人彷如置身Pub裡聽歌一樣.
(新聞一則: Zooey最近與Death Cab For Cutie的主音Gibbard訂婚, 好一對才子佳人, 恭喜他們哩.^^)

This album has received generally positive reviews. Music of She and Him has provided me a good listening experience in lonely nights. The charming voice of Zooey (i.e. She), and the diversely made retrospective music style can make you feel like you were listening to them in the pub. Blending with 60's pop, folk-pop, alt-country, this album outstood the great songs arrangement from folk-rock talented musician: M.Ward (i.e.Him).

Track chosen: Change is Hard

→ Myspace




11.Bang Gang - Ghosts From the Past
[Icelandic/Indie-rock]

打從第一首歌"The World is Gray"完美無瑕的冰島式流行旋律, 我已經深深被一人樂隊Bang Gang所打動, 很情願地被主音Bardi Johannsson營造的一貫冷調氣氛再次包圍. 有別於前作電子及folk元素的交疊, 這次明顯是以pop-rock的方向前進, 旋律的流暢性進一步提升, 意境如霧似幻, 陰鬱之中散發著一種淡淡的憂愁. 新作無疑令人再次佩服Bardi Johannsson的才情.

With Bardi Johannsson (frontman and musician in this band)’s breathy vocal, smooth and beautiful melodies perfectly melt with the chill and lonely atmosphere. Genius-like frontman of Bang Gang, in this album, further strengthen his Icelandic way of pop-rock song composing. Not a kind of breakthrough, but I bet you that it’s worth repeated listening to, at least it works for me.

Track chosen: The World is Gray

→ Myspace




10.My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
[Indie-rock]

My Morning Jacket永遠不太討好的大碟封面, 令筆者幾乎錯過這隊相當優秀的復古樂團. 大碟歌曲的風格相當豐富, 糅合了Country-rock, surf-rock, folk-rock, Psychedelic-rock等等懷古元素, 每一種樂風都發揮得相當收放自如, 大搖大滾如"Remnant", 亦有動聽, 美好的一曲"Sec' Walkin", 樂隊主音Jim James可塑性甚高的唱腔絕對見得大場面, 一時彷如Bee Gee式的假音演繹, 更是精彩. 如果你覺得市面上有太多濫竽充數的復古團, My Morning Jacket無疑是你的優質之選.

I didn’t know much about them before until this album. They brought back some styles from the good-old-days. Songs are really diverse in this album like folk, country, surf-rock, psychedelic, etc. And the great singer in the band: Jim James really has contributed a lot. My morning jacket put them all in an overall warm and yet energetic way and it can be one of the good portals for true-listeners to trace back what and who the band imitated.

Track chosen: Sec Walkin'

→ Myspace




09.Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
[Indie-rock]

今年最受注目的新團Vampire Weekend處女作每一首歌都是如是鮮蹦活跳, 絕對是只此一家. 節奏靈活多變(不論音色和Patten, 幾乎每首歌都不同!), 而且混合了一點Afro-beat的元素, 歌曲感覺陽光之中帶有校園氣息的輕快爽朗, 雖然大碟只有短短的30多分鐘, 但絕無欺場, 帶給人非常新奇有趣的聆聽體驗.

It’s quite a funny experience to have listened to Vampire Weekend’s debute album. Once you’ve listened to it, you will sure that it would be a one of the best albums of the year. Both the beats and rhythm are different in each song. Cleverly flavoured African music style into their songs; they created a humorous and yet smooth play of instruments.

Track chosen: Oxford Comma

→ Myspace




08.Foals - Antidotes
[Dance-rock]

Foals幾首刺激無比的主打歌曲如"Cassius"和"Ballons"等都能抽動筆者每一個音樂神經, 而且對筆者來說大碟"Antidotes"其實是相當具野心之作. 除了以Math-rock的曲式為基調, 加入Dance-rock元素進一步強化再加速每個節奏, 複雜多變的結構, 加上那種瘋狂急疾斷裂的推進, 整體效果相當令人醒神, 眩目. 而且大碟還加入了不少Dance元素, 歌曲編排得亦很認真, 粗中有細, 緩疾有致.

Sometimes I'm surprised that how can this new band handle this kind of rapid and complicated style of music. Based on Math-rock style, the songs were accelerated by crazy dance-rock rhythm, songs like "Cassius" and "Balloons" are effective enough to make my body shaking along. Better Still, the arrangement of music in this album is reasonable and subtle.

Track chosen: Balloons

→ Myspace




07.Emilíana Torrini - Me and Armini
[Singer-songwriters]

擁有冰島和意大利血統的Emilíana Torrini應該是今年最令我嘆服的女唱作人. 有別於一般Folk-pop, 除了歌曲溫暖, 動聽, 而且裡面還充滿不少有趣構思, 編曲變化很細緻而難以捉摸, 歌曲滲入如IDM(有點像樂隊Mum之類), Reggae, Trip-hop等等風格, 電子與樂器交錯共融, 時而靜謐, 時而調皮, 驚喜不斷, 大碟給人感覺不拘一格, 玩味之中卻能駕御種各種豐富的元素, 有聲線, 亦有獨到才華, 難怪Emilíana Torrini一直是Rough Trade廠牌的重點歌手之一.

Emilíana Torrini is a talented Icelandic singer. Folk-based songs with some cleverly added ideas of experimentation, which make this album more sustainable for listening.
And she seems can handle different styles like Reggae, Trip-hop, IDM electronic skillfully, and the overall mood created is free, relax and confident.

Track chosen: Me and Armini

→ Myspace




06.pg.lost - It's Not Me, it's You
[Post-Rock]

pg.lost在這張作品裡證明自己不是只有"Yes I Am"這首佳作. 作為一支結他為主導的Post-rock樂隊, 他們靈活利用了不同的音色和鋪排, 做到那種亦柔亦剛的效果, 即使靜態的部份, 器樂的安排仍然充滿張力, 爆發的部份更能突顯結他分明的層次感, 澎湃激昂, 但旋律依然保持清晰, 而不會給人"爆成一團"的感覺, 編曲時緩時張, 情緒的表達亦很出色. 雖然沒有太大突破, 但各部份表現都相當完美, 稱職, 所以pg.lost仍是Post-rock裡一個值得留意的名字.

In this album, Pg. Lost has convinced me that “Yes I am” is not the only great song in it. The guitar effects are so diverse and distributed satisfyingly in both static part and dynamic part of songs. The layerings of guitar sound are still clear as the emotion burst out, instead of messing up. In general, the album is well-structured, emotional, and full of tension.

Track chosen: Yes I am

→ 前文
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05.Portishead - Third
[Electronica/Trip-hop]

苦候十年, Portishead的新作果然沒有令人失望. 褪去了以往拿手的Trip-hop風格, "Third"滲入了一點工業味的獨特電子, 筆者從未聽過如此變化多端, 且詭異, 離奇的電子節奏和編曲, 氣氛一樣的陰森, 與那種時而不安, 時而急疾的節拍形成奇妙的化學作用, 當然Gibbons那懾人的聲線仍然是主導之一.

What could you expect from a band you had missed for 10 years? “Third” indeed, is truly a good album that worth waiting for. I stunned by their strange, diverse, unique and thrilling electronic beats throughout the album and Gibbons just perfectly, as she did, matched with that atmosphere.

Track chosen: We Carry On

→ Myspace




04.Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
[Indie-rock]

Fleet Foxes無疑己經成為2008年樂評們的新寵. 除了"He Doesn't Know Why"和"Your Protector"等等成為了筆者08年度的心水金曲之外, 大碟整體歌曲的質素也很不俗, Folk的基調下, 糅合了70 年代Soft-rock和Surf-rock的特質, 旋律和諧, 動聽, 流露了點點甜美爽朗的氣質, 令人彷如置身山水或鄉間之中. 相信這張大碟應該是初涉indie-rock樂迷的入門之選.

“Fleet foxes” is really a strong debute album of them. Folk-based music and borrowed some ideas from 70s soft-rock and surf-rock, and in overall, able to use them satisfyingly and cleverly. They has given me some really great and unforgettable melodies, Songs like “He doesn’t know why”, “Your Protector”, for me, were one of the best moments of 2008.

Track chosen: Your Protector (→ Kelvin's Song of the Year Award !)

→ 前文
→ Myspace




03.Crystal Castles - Crystal Castles
[Electronica/Dance]

一張幾乎由頭到尾都刺激非常的Dance大碟. Alice Glass癲喪的嘶喊, 配合Ethan Kath兇狠得令人喘不過氣的電子音樂鋪排, 令他們成為2008年最受nu-rave樂迷歡迎的組合. 很欣賞Crystal Castles不會過份倚賴他們獨特有趣的遊戲機電子效果, 而大碟裡的非主打作品的質素和可聽性也很高, 至少他們不會重覆自己的曲式, 儘量做到每一首歌的節奏,音色,編曲都不同. 總的來說, Crystal Castles乃是近年令筆者最雀躍的Dance album之一.

The dance music duo has definitely ruled and further stirred the neo-rave sense throughout year 2008. Besides those songs with ferocious and exciting video-game sound effects, they tried to make every songs sound differently in terms of structures, textures, and rhythms. The whole album, in general, is totally fascinating, and has effortlessly freaked me out without any mere intention to skip particular song inside.

Track chosen: Courtship Date

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→ Myspace




02.Coldplay - Viva La Vida
[Britpop]

這張大碟幾乎令我忘記往日的Coldplay, 心中有一種要跟以前的他們劃清界線的感覺一樣. 姑勿論抄歌疑雲, 或大碟全賴Producer相助之類, 都不能否認這是一張很優秀的後britpop作品. 最重要的是他們保留個人風格之餘, 亦能在音樂裡滲進不少新嘗試, Ambient化處理, 一點shoegazing元素, 甚至幾乎沾到Post-rock的一點構思, 整張大碟的編排和氣氛都給人很連貫一致, 氣勢恢宏卻又不會過份浮跨. 一點驚喜, 一點突破, 再加上在各方面都平衡得很好, 令筆者心悅誠服地予以第二名.

‘Viva La Vida’ may be the pivot point of Coldplay’s career. Under the producer Brian Eno’s effort, this album was beautifully crafted and undeniably struck the balance between sturdy post-britpop melodies and their idea of experimentations.

Track chosen: Strawberry Swing

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01.The American Dollar - A Memory Stream
[Post-Rock]

The American Dollar再一次證明他們要進軍Post-rock一線樂隊的決心. 大碟整體性很強, 音樂結構細膩嚴謹, 美麗的琴音依然是主導, 但結他的表現更是令人耳前一亮, 感覺器樂己經和空靈唯美的電子效果調和得密不可分, 編曲上己經無視靜與爆之間的落差, 整張大碟的給筆者尤如順水推舟一樣感覺自然. 很高興他們這次能夠突破自己, 更進一步, 這大概是我一直在尋求的Post-rock的突破之一吧.

It’s one of the best post-rock albums I have ever listened to. I couldn’t believe that their second album will exceed my position of their debute album, but it does. Beautifully played instruments, (especially the piano) fused perfectly with aerial electronic effects. The lonely mood and the misty atmosphere are so consistent that it has convincingly shattered the traditional song-writing structure of post-rock. Both the gorgeous melodies and the layering of different instruments are sometimes, unpredictable, and somehow scattered over or dimmed with the flow of music. And mean while the changeable percussion keeps stirring it up throughout the album.
This album is worth for the true post-rock listeners to drown in. And The American Dollar has further proved themselves that they are going to be a big thing in post-rock, or have they already in?

Track chosen: Transcendence

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→ Myspace

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Other Serious Recommendations in 2008:
[Post-Rock]
Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
Pacific UV - Longplay vol. 2
Glowworm - The Coachlight Woods (thanks Chih for recommendation :])
sgt.(Japan)- Fantasticus

[British-rock]
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
The Killers - Day and Age
Duels - The Barbarians Move In
British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?

[Singer-Songwriters]
Erik Hallden - Memories, Oh, the Memories
Russian Red - I Love Your Glasses
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Lightspeed Champion - Falling Of The Lavender Bridge

[Indie-rock]
The Grand Archives - The Grand Archives
Uzi & Ari - Headworms
Beach House - Devotion
Crystal Stilts - Alight of Night
Mercury Rev - Snowflake Midnight


[Electronica/Dance]
Metronomy - Nights Out
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
Hercules and Love Affair - Hercules and Love Affair

[US-Rock]
Weezer - Weezer (Red Album)

倫敦音樂旅程

1.Abbey Road.

就是因為The Beatles四子一幅走過Abbey Road斑馬線的經典圖像, 歷年都吸引了不少樂迷(包括筆者), 抱著朝聖的心態, 到這條原本看似沒甚麼特別的斑馬線拍照留念, 我想時常經過這裡的司機們, 遇到我們這些瘋狂的朝聖者, 一定感覺有點無奈吧, 要怪就怪The Beatles, 誰叫他們在大眾樂迷心中的經典地位是如此根深柢固, 誰叫他們是The Beatles, 筆者曾經有個想法, 若果從來沒有The Beatles, 這個世界或者至少在文化圈裡, 會否變得不一樣?

話說回來, 雖然Abbey Road Studio的經典地位是如此崇高, 但建築上仍然予人謙虛樸實之感, 門面簡潔典雅, 很是討好. 1969年, The Beatles就是在這裡錄製了他們其中一張經典大碟"Abbey Road", 事實上差不多90%的The Beatles作品, 都是在此錄製完成. 從此之後, 能夠在這個studio錄製大碟的音樂單位大多不是等閒之輩, 諸如Pink Floyd, Radiohead, Oasis, Sigur Ros等等. 進去之後前台的女士告訴我們這是運作中的Studio, 不能隨便讓遊人進去. 這也難怪, 除了基於保安理由, 如果隨便讓人進出的話, 恐怕會影響他們的工作. 也好, 就暫時讓我保留一下對裡面的一些想像, 或許(希望)有一天我會有機會走進去.

之後發現, 原來Abbey Road Zebra Crossing在Abbey Road的官網有個全天候的Web Cam, 一直觀察著無數樂迷們的"朝聖"行為. 哈. 說到底, 在此不得不多謝友人P君在那天陪我一齊癲. :)

現在先送上"Abbey Road"大碟裡筆者很喜歡的一曲"Something".
這首歌是結他手George Harrison第一首為The Beatles寫的歌, 主唱也是他.
推介試聽 - Something


2. Rough Trade Shop.

滿足於Abbey Road過後, 晚上我們慕名來到英國最重要的Indie Records之一: Rough Trade Record. 它既是一間唱片鋪, 亦是一間indie唱片廠牌. Rough Trade Shop有兩間, 我們去的那一間是位於倫敦東面的Rough Trade East, 一個類似後工業區的地方, 像是一個被繁榮都市遺忘的角落, 那裡開設了小型藝廊, 自家設計的fashion品牌店, 這種地方總給人感覺很"潮"的樣子.

貼滿海報的大門玻璃裡, 透著耀眼的白光, Rough Trade East的面積並不算太大, 但己經是我去過的indie碟鋪之中最大, 一進去有個小型Cafe, 加上幾張沙發, 給樂迷一個簡單愜意的歇息地方. 有黑膠碟, 有CD, 有音樂書籍, 有點小精品, 一切都儘量如獨立音樂有關, 一間唱片鋪的最值得注意的地方是在於他們對音樂的分類, 這點Rough Trade可以說是跟我口味相近, 一來到, 很自然, 筆者己經看到"Post-Punk/New-Wave"的字樣, 還有Post-rock, Krautrock, Punk, Electronic等等, 最有趣的是你會看到UK和US也是一個分類, 很型而且很有個性的一個分類, 至於Pop哩, 我不期望亦不可能會在那裡看到. 那裡除了一般CD試聽, 亦有提供黑膠碟試聽, 最特別的是他們會有個類似選曲的送禮Package, Rough Trade的專家幫顧客, 根據他們送禮對象的口味選曲, 然後錄製一張唱片, 真正以音樂送禮.

說一點關於Rough Trade的歷史, 1976年Rough Trade Shop開業, 並同時經營廠牌的生意, 但1982年Rough Trade Record Label脫離Rough Trade Shop獨立經營, 所以現時Shop和Record Label是兩個獨立的網站. 經營生涯之中, 最成功的事蹟可以說是簽了The Smiths這隊80年代的Indie王者, 之後到2000年他們旗下的有The Strokes, The Libertines, Arcade Fire, Belle And Sebastian等等響噹噹的名字.

至於2008年, 他們重點推介的單位之一是Little Joy, Little Joy是由The Strokes的鼓手Fabrizio Moretti 跟南美唱作人Rodrigo Amarante 合組, 玩奏一些帶點南美風味的folk-rock, 懷舊之中帶點懶洋洋的感覺, 很不錯, 送上他們一首"Brand New Start"作結尾, (以"start"的title名作ending.?!)
推介試聽 - Brand New Start

Abbey Road Studio: 官網連結
Rough Trade Record: 官網連結
Rough Trade Shop: 官網連結
P君(何沛澄): 官網連結 (含歌曲試聽)
Little Joy: Myspace連結

西歐風情畫: Ishtar

Ishtar是來自比利時的10人樂隊, 玩奏的是西歐民謠風格的歌曲, 曲調高雅之中帶點活潑, 他們大部份的歌曲都是11世紀以來歐洲流傳的情歌或傳統民謠為藍本, 再以自已的樂器重新編排, 當然他們亦會自己創作歌曲, 聽著他們的音樂, 真的會有一種身處中古西歐異地的感覺, 那種濃濃的歐陸風情, 並不是一般樂隊模仿就可以做到.

民謠的基調下, 歌曲一時帶有吉普賽的歡快, 一時又有歐陸田園情懷, 可能是以高吭的女聲為主的關係, 亦會予人點New Age及Gothic的感覺. 樂器運用方面, 更加奏出了不少色彩, 筆者最喜歡的當然是那種悠悠的笛聲, 以及有點Celtic風格的小提琴, 古樸而輕快, 當然優美的女聲絕對是重點之一, 他們大碟裡每首歌曲都力求以不同的器樂編排, 表達不同的主題和氣氛.

2008年, Ishtar代表比利時出賽"Eurovision Song Contest", 比賽的歌曲就是大碟"O Julissi"裡"O Julissi"這首點題歌曲, 他們聲稱這首歌唱的是一種虛構的語言(Sigur Ros?!), 雖然Ishtar在比賽中四強止步, 但"O Julissi"這首歌就傳遍了整個歐洲.


推介試聽 - O Julissi Na Jalini


推介試聽 - Brala Jana Kapini

Ishtar: 官網連結