7 albums that won't be on my 'best of the year' list

I've already got my mind set on a top 20-25 records of the year, but it still feels too soon to post. Here are some of the albums that I tried to get into but ultimately failed my sense of right and wrong.



1. The Verve: Forth

In my opinion Forth is the biggest disappointment of 2008. What's even more depressing is the lack of musical muscle that could point to any future spell-binding guitar work, or re-imagining of sounds created on their brilliant albums A Storm on Heaven and A Northern Soul.



2. Black Kids: Partie Traumatic

So much hype, so little payoff -- it's becoming a common tale these days. Bands are being catapulted to heights unimaginable for some of the most prolific indie-rock bands of the past twenty years, only to fall even harder. The problem is not that these kids can't play, they're just too regular-sounding for me to get invested in.



3. MGMT: Oracular Spectacular

Is MGMT the Wang Chung of this generation? I think so. Now they just need to pen the soundtrack to the next Mel Gibson-Michelle Pfeiffer-Kurt Russell drug bust/action drama set in 1980's Manhattan Beach. Side-out bra!



4. Vampire Weekend: S/T

I gave this record many listens, too many listens. In the beginning of the year someone told me these guys sounded like Paul Simon. I thought to myself, "that's interesting," then eventually, "is that a compliment?" My deltoids and trapezius are still sore from months of shrugging.



5. Weezer: (Red album)

Guys, it's time to wrap it up. I mean jesus...look at that awful cover.



6. Does it Offend You, Yeah?: You have No Idea What You're getting Yourself Into

Take all the annoying car alarm sounds ever invented, use gimmicks in place of melody (terrible robotic voice/vocoder, over played cowbells, etc.), add a generic beat to it and you've got this.



7. Times New Viking: Rip it Off

I found this record to be unlistenable. Not because it's too loud or abrasive, but because there just doesn't seem to be an entry point.


Any others I left out? Spark-up the comment section!


Other inner-nets:

Gorilla vs. Bear unveils its top 20 albums of the year. Some nice picks in there (Beach House, Grouper, No Age...)!

If you caught M83/SVIIB at the Henry Fonda on Saturday then you probably waited at least 45 minutes to get in, but then again you also witnessed a certain local musician making M83 a much better band. The French dream-poppers would be foolish not to involve keyboardist/vocalist Morgan Kibby in all of their future endeavors, seriously.

UPDATE: School of Seven Bells are returning to Low-End Theory at The Airliner this Wednesday, Dec. 3rd for $10.
The Airliner
2419 N. Broadway
Los Angeles, CA
90031

Ryan Catbird and a host of other solid bloggers created MBV. And no, it's not a tribute page to My Bloody Valentine.

Spaceland is hosting The Movies all month long every Monday for free.