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

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

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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

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