ARTICLE JUMP
Debut albums by new bands are always intriguing to me. I love hearing good new bands in their nascent beginnings. 2008 had a slew of excellent debuts and this list barely scratches the surface. I found a bunch of new bands through their first records this year and these are just the top five.
- The Night Marchers - See You in Magic (Swami/ Vagrant)
- Have a Nice Life - Deathconsciousness (Enemies List)
- Helms Alee - Night Terrors (Hydra Head/ Robotic Empire)
- Able Baker Fox - Voices (Second Nature)
- She & Him - Volume One (Merge)
Still knocking my socks off after months of listening to this, seeing them a couple of times (play my favorite songs for once though damn it), and a couple of tour only 7" singles. This album has convinced me that John Reis is truly the savior of rock and roll.
This came out at the beginning of 2008 and has since turned many heads with its sound and overall excellence. Still, I continue to be floored by the scope of Have A Nice Life's two CD debut, Deathconsciousness. And their song "Bloodhail" is easily one of my favorites in all of 2008.
Night Terror makes me miss Harkonen less (and yes that is a huge compliment as I loved Harkonen). I think Helms Alee takes some of what made Harkonen excellent and added more melody and catchy or infectious sounds; at least that is what it sounds like to me. Hopefully, this outfit has much more coming down the pike because they are another exciting band that debuted this year.
Even if this is the only album Able Baker Fox produce, it put a smile on my face. Follows through in just about every way one would want from a band that combines Small Brown Bike and The Casket Lottery. Voices is a great start, and I only hope it is not a one off.
I'd be damned if I did not say that this record dominated my ears for a large portion of the summer of 2008. An impressive first album that is not just pleasant to hear, but also awesome to sing along to with the windows rolled down on a cool summer evening. I might venture to say that if you missed out on this debut album from M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel then your life might be a little less fulfilled.
(Bob)
