Feature / Music
Pass The Mic: Record Labels and Artists on 2008

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

LINKS TO ALL THE PAGES

Capillary Action (Jonathan Pfeffer)

What are your top five albums that were released in 2008?

  1. Pattern is Movement - All Together
  2. Extra Life - Secular Works
  3. Heathers - What's Your Damage?
  4. Zs - The Hard EP
  5. Skeletons - Money

What band did you discover in 2008 (can be a brand new band or an older band) that had an impact on your life? What made them significant?

My girlfriend and I accidentally wandered into this art space show in Seattle and came upon this ridiculously amazing Irish duo called Heathers. Two sisters - one sings while the other plays guitar and sings - shredding through the most potent, catchy, anthemic bite-sized tunes I've heard in a good long while. Heathers reminded me how elegant aggression could be.

How will you remember 2008? (In terms of music)

Aside from our new record, I'll always remember 2008 as the year of Pattern is Movement's "All Together." Chris and Andrew somehow manage to take The Roots, Ravel, and the goddamn Sound of Music and spin those disparate influences into weird, masterfully crafted songs. I do not understand why more people aren't raving about this record! It packs more hooks and other assorted deliciousness into 30 minutes than all the records Pitchfork hyped this year COMBINED. I didn't hear a single new record that could touch "All Together" this year (though Extra Life's new one came damn close - props, Charlie!).

Vinyl record sales saw a significant increase this year while hard copy sales continued to dwindle. Is this a return to the glory days for vinyl or just a phase? Explain.

Maybe all the vinyl geeks' little brothers started getting into record collecting this year?

What was the most memorable moment for you in 2008? (Can be in terms of anything)

It's a tie between surviving a car crash and being asked to sign a girl's tits at one of our shows while organizing our tour expense Excel spreadsheet.

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

Lots of touring and hopefully a new record.

What three records are you looking forward to most in 2009?

Hi Red Center's new album!

Homepage: http://www.capillaryaction.net

Related features

De Kleine Opstand

One Question Interviews • June 29, 2026

Marco (De Kleine Opstand – bass) SPB: A lot of Dutch bands opt to sing in English, you go against the grain by choosing for the Dutch language. What are the pros and cons for this decision? Marco: It just occurred to me that we never actually decided to sing … Read more

Golden Shitters

Music Education

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • June 23, 2026

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative … Read more

Punk Under The Sun

Interviews • June 22, 2026

Punk Under the Sun – Interview with Joey Seeman and Chris Potash Some music scenes become legendary — New York, London, Los Angeles — but others almost vanish without a trace. South Florida’s early punk underground is one of those nearly forgotten worlds: sweaty, chaotic clubs that appeared and disappeared … Read more

Commerce or Amusement? #1

Regular Columns / Commerce or Amusement? • June 9, 2026

Are You In The Music Business? Or Just Involved In Music? Interview Series #1 Featuring Jordan Stamm of Drunk Dial Records CC: Hello Jordan! Could you start off by telling the readers a little bit about yourself and Drunk Dial Records? Do you recall how you and I met? JS: … Read more

J Mau & The Kiss Off

ASL interpreter

Interviews / Don't Quit Your Day Job • June 8, 2026

There are a lot of misconceptions about the life of a musician. Most musicians have day jobs – and not just to pay the bills. Jobs provide new challenges, personal fulfillment and, yes, some rent or gas money. How an artist spends their time by day will influence the creative … Read more

More from this section

Demos You Want To Check #3

Music / New Kids On The Block • May 8, 2026

The musical landscape is ever changing. New genres are popping up, new hypes burst out of nowhere and die out and new bands present themselves to the world. How on earth are you expected to keep up, right? Well, it never hurts to help! So here we are, your humble … Read more

Guest List: War On Women

Music / The Set List • April 24, 2026

It feels like a lifetime ago when Mitt Romney referenced a "war on women" during the 2012 presidential cycle. A lot has changed, a lot has stayed the same -- but a new politically-charged band formed in the aftermath of that comment, calling themselves War On Women. Now, roughly 14 … Read more

The New York Dolls: Reflections and Legacy

Music • March 30, 2026

I first discovered the New York Dolls in the mid-to-late 1980s, just as I was beginning to stretch the boundaries of my musical journey. Up until then, my exposure to music had mostly come through my parents, aunts, and uncles. They planted the initial seeds, and those seeds quickly grew, … Read more