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

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

LINKS TO ALL THE PAGES

A Hope for Home (Matt Ellis)

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

  1. Thrice - The Alchemy Index (Earth and Air)
  2. Thursday/Envy - Split
  3. Sigur Rós - Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
  4. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
  5. Underoath - Lost in the Sound of Separation

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?

Envy. When I heard that one of my favorite bands of all time, Thursday, was doing a split with a Japanese Hardcore/Ambient band I knew I had to check them out. They can encapsulate the same emotion throughout a song that is fragile one minute and bombastic the next.

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

I started listening to a lot older bands, so I spent a lot of time at the used section at my local store. But also great releases by my two favorite bands of all time.

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 there is always a niche for the aggressive music collector, whether its vinyl, rare tees, or b-side downloads from obscure websites. I think labels just realized those people would buy vinyl, so they made more.

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

Signing with Strike First Records. That, and crashing the van in a snowstorm.

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

Our record drops on January 20th, and then hopefully lots of touring and shows!

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

Thursday- Common Existence, The Chariot- Wars and Rumors of Wars, and It Prevails- Capture and Embrace.

Homepage: http:///www.myspace.com/ahopeforhome

Related features

The Seize

One Question Interviews • December 31, 2025

Cesar Ruiz (The Seize - vocals) SPB: How do you typically choose your album art? Ruiz: Album art has started with lyrics. When I’m writing, I’ll have these images in mind that represent the feelings or themes within the songs. Those ideas usually become the starting point for the cover. … Read more

Chairmaker

One Question Interviews • December 30, 2025

Neil Erskine (Chairmaker) SPB: If Chairmaker had a physical form like a place, a thing, or a smell, what would it be? Erskine: There is a very specific chair - but you've got to read Banks' Use of Weapons. No spoilers.   Read more

Ugly Stick

One Question Interviews • December 29, 2025

Ugly Stick SPB: Describe in your own words the “Columbus Sound” and what it means or has meant to you and your musical output. David Holm (vocals and guitars): As it pertains to Ugly Stick I would say it's kind of an amalgam of punk rock, country, and classic rock. … Read more

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2025)

Music / Year End 2025 • December 23, 2025

Every year we diligently assemble a list of our favorite albums of the year. Each SPB staff member enters the large arena we nickname THE DOJO, and yells out the name of their top album of the year. Rival staffers quickly assemble and shout out their own highly-favored record, and … Read more

Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2025

Music / Year End 2025 • December 23, 2025

For many years now, Scene Point Blank has taken the opportunity as the year ends to formally "pass the mic" to our friends on the other side of the mostly-imaginary divide between listeners and artists. This year is no exception as we ask a bunch of bands, artists and labels … Read more

More from this section

Scene Point Blank's Favorites: Year End (2025)

Music / Year End 2025 • December 23, 2025

Every year we diligently assemble a list of our favorite albums of the year. Each SPB staff member enters the large arena we nickname THE DOJO, and yells out the name of their top album of the year. Rival staffers quickly assemble and shout out their own highly-favored record, and … Read more

Pass The Mic: Artists and labels on 2025

Music / Year End 2025 • December 23, 2025

For many years now, Scene Point Blank has taken the opportunity as the year ends to formally "pass the mic" to our friends on the other side of the mostly-imaginary divide between listeners and artists. This year is no exception as we ask a bunch of bands, artists and labels … Read more

2025: A Year In Review

Music / Year End 2025 • December 23, 2025

Another twelve months have passed. Even though it's our job to make predictions and call things before they happen, it seems improbable that we could've made any sense out of the events of this year. Perhaps we're better off keeping one eye on the past and telling you what already … Read more