Toby’s Top 10 of 2008

1. Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes and Sun Giant EP

  - Since picking up the Fleet Foxes full length and EP in March I have been unable to remove them from my cd player. On the surface these records are simple beautiful, creating a folky ambience focusing on acoustic guitars and breathtaking harmonies but over time the records seep under your skin and project a epic majesty that can not be ignored. Easily my favorite record of the year.

2. King Kahn and The Shrines - The Supreme Genius Of...

  - King Kahn and his massive collection of musicians from all over the world have created what is far and away the most authentic sounding 60's throwback music to come out in the last 10 years. The songs on this "best of" collection showcase the band's masterful understanding of 60's pop, soul and garage. The songs are so good you'll feel like you already know them.

3. Dennis Wilson - Pacific Ocean Blue

  - Wilson, ostensibly known as the drunken Beach Boy, creates a masterful solo record that was completely ignored in its day. This reissue falls somewhere between Pet Sounds and Dark Side of the Moon, highlighting the gorgeous harmonies the Beach Boys are known for while mixing in spacier moments and more open arrangements. Combine that with the husky growl of Wilson and you get one of the most powerful records of the 70's.

4. Spiritualized - Songs in A & E

  - Considering the back story of the making of this album, (band leader Jason Pierce almost died of pneumonia while recording it), it’s no surprise that the fragile beauty displayed here is so moving. Songs like Death Take Your Fiddle, Borrowed Your Gun and I Gotta Fire seem both powerful and prophetic. Simply put this is the most subdued Spiritualized record to date but in many ways it is also the most effecting, less concern with blowing your mind and more focused on breaking your heart.

5. Bob Dylan - Bootleg Series Volume 8: Tell Tale Signs

  - Dylan is the master. Anyone would have a serious problem convincing me otherwise. The latest release of the Bootleg Series showcases a period that even Dylan fanatics look upon with a sense of caution and initially I was not really that interested in this release. But upon a couple of listens the power of Dylan's gargantuan songwriting talent shines through and once again you see the true power that Dylan wields.

6. Black Mountain - In The Future

  - Mixing Zeppelin riffs with sublime vocals and choice keyboard flourishes yields moments of ethereal bliss on Black Mountains second full length. This territory has been mined by a million bands before Black Mountain but the album manages to feel authentic and powerful. Break out the bong and the black lights and transport yourself back to the 70's. Well worth the price of admission.

7. John Paul Keith and The 145's - Spill and Thrills

  - Maybe I'm a little biased toward this record given that JPK and his band The 145's have been tearing up the Memphis scene over the last year with their classic rock n' roll attack but after one listen to the batch of songs on Spill and Thrills it's easy to see that this album will become a Memphis garage classic. It’s the perfect mixture of Chuck Berry, Buddy Holly and Gram Parsons with hooks that get stuck in your head and won't ever leave.  Check out Smoke in a Bottle and She'll Dance to Anything, probably 2 of the best single of 2008.

8. The Black Hollies - Casting Shadows     

  - This album represents the best I’ve heard from The Black Hollies. Casting Shadows is certainly a retro sounding record but at the same time the band's is so in tune with its sound that they manage to make it all sound new again. Also, watch for them on tour. Their live show will blow your mind.

9. Various Artists - Love, Peace, and Poetry: Chilean Psychedelic Music

  - This is the latest volume of the Love, Peace, and Poetry series which showcase psyche music from various countries around the world and it does not disappoint an almost flawless collection. Who knew that Chile was a hotbed for psychedelic music? I surely didn't until I heard this record.

10. Oasis - Dig Out Your Soul

  - This is absolutely the best Oasis record of the last decade and for that reason (and others), it squeaks into my top 10.  I'll openly admit that there are a few stinkers on the album but for the most part this album is in the upper echelon of their catalog. Somehow after all these years the band manages to recapture an energy and spirit not seen from them since the days of Definitely Maybe and What's the Story Morning Glory. Get Off Your High Horse and Soldier On are the standout tracks.