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

Words: Michael • Posted pre-2010

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Red Leader Records (Matt)

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

  1. Scream Hello - Everything Is Always Still Happening
  2. Polar Bear Club - Sometimes Things Just Disappear
  3. Bridge and Tunnel - East/West
  4. The Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
  5. Slingshot Dakota - Their Dreams Are Dead...
  6. Algernon Cadwallader - Some Kind of Cadwallader

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?

One of the bands that really made me love music this year was Summer People. Their songs are equal parts familiar and groundbreaking, beautiful and epic. They play indie rock with heart the way the bands I grew up loving it did. Not a lot of demos can make me smile and cry in the span of a few short songs.

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

Another year of a lot of amazing bands playing their hearts out and most people taking that for granted.

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 don't think it really matters. I love vinyl as much as the next person, but bothering to worry about who will buy what and for how long just detracts from anything about music that matters. Music will exist in some format, some people will pay for it, some people will find a way to make it.

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

I think the presidential election still has put a certain amount hope and inspiration in me. Obviously our president elect is just a man, and even just a politician, but after eight years of horror after horror the thought that things might turn around is pretty invigorating. That or the guy who threw his shoes at Bush.

What can we look forward to from you in 2009?

New records from Nakatomi Plaza, Scream Hello, The New Dress, Attica! Attica!, Polar Bear Club, Summer People, End Of A Year, De La Hoya, and lots of other fun stuff.

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

End of a Year, Soul Control, and Iron Chic.

Homepage: http://www.redleaderrecords.com

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