DO YOU HEAR WHAT I HEAR: 2008 Music Awards
With enough Christmas carols on the radio and forcing me to drink way to much egg nog to numb the pain, it must be time for my 2008 music awards. These are my awards, and if the Golden Globes can put out lame awards then so can I. The winners have all been notified and we're going to have a totally kick ass post show party as soon as Marissa Miller and the Victoria Secret girls show up (I think you hear me knocking, ladies). So on with the show (right after the jump).
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (National): Radiohead, "In Rainbows"
The band keeps experimenting musically and even in marketing with the pay-what-you-want scheme and it pays off. Thom Yorke has never made falsetto angst sound so gorgeous. There's so much subtlety that new sounds keep popping every time it's played.
ALBUM OF THE YEAR (Local NYC): The Hold Steady, "Stay Positive"
Craig Finn and the boys continue to put out a blend of early Springsteen power with the lyrics of messed up high and drunk youth. While not as strong as the brilliant "Boys And Girls In America", it's got relentless hooks and power chords to spare.
BEST LIVE SHOW: The Police
Many people thought it would hell to freeze over before The Police would ever get back together, and if they did, it be some overblown stage show like the 1985 Synchronicity tour. Thank goodness they learned from mistakes. It successful toured North America several times featuring Sting, Andy, and Stewart alone with fantastic chemistry showing why people were drawn to them in the first place. Stewart has the fiercest hands behind a drum kit, Andy can still wail on guitar, and Sting is, well, Sting. They gave the people what they wanted and we thank them.
Honorable Mention: AC/DC - Wait, did they actually sound better than 8 years ago?
BIGGEST COMEBACK DUD - Janet Jackson, "Discipline"
Janet Jackson's tailspin has to be one of the baffling I've ever seen. She released an album with huge hype that got almost no airplay and a tour that couldn't even sell out her home town of Detroit (6,000 people in an arena that holds 13,000) even when she wasn't sick. When Madonna can put out a guilty pleasure like "Hard Candy" and still make herself relevant and JJ can't anymore, it's just sad.
Honorable Mentions: Kylie Minogue, "X"; Alanis Morrisette, "Flavors Of Entanglement" - They might be popular in their home countries, but the game here is the American listener and they didn't cut it. Not. Even. Close.
BEST COMEBACK ALBUM, 70's EDITION: Todd Rundgren, "Arena"
While the expression of "Todd Is God" isn't quite as catchy as it used to be, he came out with one of his best albums in years. He channels his fist pumping inner rock star and composed anthems that would work in 15,000 seat stadiums with his smart lyrics, and with the exception of his use of a electronic drum kit, gets his ya-ya's out.
BEST COMEBACK ALBUM, 80's EDITION: B-52's, "Funplex"
After the overlooked Cindy Williams-less 1992 album "Good Stuff", it looked like the band would fade away into 80's kitch heaven. Instead, they got Cindy back, moved to the techno-dance label Astralworks and delivered an CD full of fun, silly tracks that still beats most of the stuff on top-40 radio.
Honorable Mention: ABC's "Traffic" was an album that I discovered by accident. Martin Fry teamed up with bandmate David Palmer to release this in the US last July, and they made a catchy album with their signature dance sound with strings, soulful backup singers, and lush melodies. Not a perfect album, but there's much to like.
BEST COMEBACK ALBUM, 90's EDITION: Q-Tip, "The Renaissance"
After the excellent 1999 "Amplified" album, former Tribe Called Quest member Q-Tip had been fairly elusive for the decade doing only the very rare stage show on occasion, so it was a relief that he made a solid album this year. While some may gripe how short the album is, his freestyle merged with smart lyrics on relationships with some moderate jersey popping and mix of soul and jazz samples makes The Renaissance a pleasant surprise.
COMEBACK TO BE AWARD: Roxy Music
The buzz has been relentless with the on again, off again reunion of Roxy Music with Brian Eno back in the fold. As of a news report from November 2008, it seems like it's on again to put out their first new studio album since 1982's "Avalon". Hopefully 2009 will be the year.
Honorable Mention: Was going to be Guns N Roses, but damnit, "Chinese Democracy" actually came out. Who knew?
ENOUGH ALREADY AWARD: Shared - Britney Spears, "Circus", Kanye West, "808's & Heartbreaks", anyone who's appeared on E!'s The Soup or American Idol. Please go away. Seriously, stop it. We'll go on without you. Promise.