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

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

LINKS TO ALL THE PAGES

Murder by Death (Matt Armstrong)

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

  1. Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling
  2. Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
  3. The Gutter Twins - Saturnalia
  4. O'Death - Broken Hymns Limbs and Skin
  5. Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust

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?

We just had a band on tour with us called J. Roddy Walston and The Business and they rock my face off. They sort of rekindled a love of ass-shaking, beer-drinking, straight-up rock and roll in me. I am eternally grateful.

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

I think I will remember 2008 as a year that I heard some great new music and played a lot of my own. It was a tour-heavy year.

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.

I think the love of vinyl never really went away; people are just noticing it more now because no one is buying CD's the way they used to. It seems to me that the majority of people who are serious about a band usually download the album for their iPod and then buy it on vinyl so they have a hard copy with artwork. I know vinyl sales have been helping us stay afloat.

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

It was a pretty kooky year for me. There are a lot of moments to choose from, so I'll go with meeting Greg Dulli from The Afghan Whigs/Twilight Singers/Gutter Twins. That was something I had been wanting to do for years.

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

You can look forward to us touring a lot and starting to write new songs.

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

The Life and Times' "Tragic Boogie." This album is amazing and if you don't like it we are no longer friends. William Elliott Whitmore "Animals in the Dark;" Will has one of the most fantastic voices you will ever hear, period. I don't know who else is putting out records in 2009.

Homepage: http://www.murderbydeath.com

Related features

Serotonin Mist

One Question Interviews • October 24, 2025

Hiroshi (Serotonin Mist) SPB: The Bandcamp page on your new album states: No label, no producer. 100% DIY. Is DIY an important issue for Serotonin Mist (and why)? Hiroshi: I believe that being DIY has both good and bad sides. The good side is that we can control every aspect … Read more

Massa Nera

One Question Interviews • October 23, 2025

Mark Boulanger (Massa Nera – drums/vocals) SPB: What was your first live show? Boulanger: Our first show was on 05/09/16 at The Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ. We played with Wastelands, Without, Yashira, and an insane NJ powerviolence band called Uncle Mark. If you aren't familiar, The Meatlocker is an absolutely … Read more

East End Redemption

One Question Interviews • October 22, 2025

Josh (East End Redemption) SPB: If your band had to be sponsored by a completely random household product (like cereal, dish soap, lawnmower, etc.), which one would it be and why? Josh: We would be sponsored by Turtle Wax car wax because "I wanna pet, I wanna I pet, I … Read more

Fest 23: Artist Interviews

Interviews / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

FEST 23 takes place later this month, from Oct. 24-26 in Gainesville, FL. Something like a billion bands are driving, flying, canoeing, and snowshoeing to the festival from across the country -- many of them for the first time and many come back to play nearly every year. Scene Point … Read more

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

More from this section

FEST LIBS 23 & Fest Moments

Music / Fest 23 • October 18, 2025

Are you ready for The Fest!? While we’re pretty sure you’re already counting down days until your trek to Gainesville, FL, we’ve got some Fest games for you to play, including a few samples from this year’s performers. Click here to play FEST LIBS -- like a fill-in-the-blanks word game … Read more

Guest List: ADD Records Picks 5 Favorite Leatherface Songs

Music / The Set List • October 18, 2025

This summer Little Rocket Records announced Leatherface: The Peel Sessions, a collection of live studio recordings with Leatherface from the 1990s with the late John Peel. While Little Rocket handled the release, ADD Records took on US distribution for a limited release. Available from ADD records here As Leatherface means … Read more

Bo Diddley Plaza: Behind the Scenes at Fest

Music / Fest 23 • October 6, 2025

For close to a quarter-century punk fans have flocked to Florida for The Fest. Boasting a lineup of 300+ bands and roughly a dozen venues these days, the festival has grown, shifted and evolved. For several years the main stage has been in a large downtown park called Bo Diddley … Read more