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

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Magic Bullet Records/Forensics/Aughra (Brent Eyestone)

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

Black Mountain - In the Future
Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
Rocket from the Crypt - R.I.P.
Wolves in the Throneroom - Two Hunters
Harvey Milk - Life? The Best Game in Town

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?

Lil Wayne. I've ignored modern hip-hop for many years, but the hype on Wayne made me check it out. Pretty glad I did. I think what hooked me was that, on the day I first heard the new album, I had just approved a big licensing deal via text message. So when I heard Wayne throw out the lyric "approving million dollar deals from my iPhone," I was like "Damn, this guy know my struggles." He also changed the way I comprehend how a guitar should be played. Just YouTube "Lil Wayne guitar" and you too will be changed forever.

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

I'm going to remember 2008 as the year that I was able to walk into mainstream movie theaters, turn on network and cable TV, go into a video game store, watch the Olympics, etc. and hear Magic Bullet Records artists represented across all media. It was a surreal year watching the sounds of my little universe interact with mainstream pop culture.

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.

Isn't vinyl hard copy? Also, I think the "popularity of vinyl" is being over-reported. The same exact article on "vinyl nostalgia" has run in every magazine, so there's this perception that vinyl sales are through the roof. If that's the case, physical album distributors wouldn't be shuttering and laying off the majority of their staffs 2008. It's funny that this question mentions the "glory days." Consider this: the Bruce Springsteen/Suicide split 10" that came out this year was pressed in two editions of 7000 (14,000 total). If this was 1986 (which could be considered "glory days" in terms of vinyl sales), they could have pressed at least 500,000 of the same record to start. So no, this is not a return to the glory days. It's a nominal upswing that will pass just as quickly as wearing neon band t-shirts. In six months, you'll be able to buy all those Radiohead and Coldplay reissues for pennies on the dollar.

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

Being selected to perform "A Crimson Grail" with Rhys Chatham at The Lincoln Center with Rhys Chatham. Successfully representing/defending myself in Prince William County Criminal Court on a "disorderly conduct" cause? I got a "not guilty" ruling while the arresting officer was suspended pending psychiatric evaluation.

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?