FUTURE SOUNDS BEST OF 2008 - THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN 2009

I actually have a really hard time with 'Best Of' lists each year because it's sometimes hard to put in perspective which bands, songs, albums, etc meant the most to you - which ones you played ALL the songs more than others with just one or two tracks - which ones marked a special moment that year or struck some personal connection. In a world where the iPod and iTunes has changed the way we encounter and devour music, so many have great individual songs, or just good songs, but it takes a real focused effort to turn out 10-13 cuts anymore that are comprehensive and interesting.

TOP 10 ALBUMS OF 2008

Benji Hughes – A Love Extreme – New West Records
Birds & Batteries – I’ll Never Sleep Again – Self-released
The Botticellis – Old Home Movies – Antenna Farm Records
Christopher Denny – Age Old Hunger – 2:59 Records
The Ettes – Look At Life Again Soon – Take Root Records
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes – Sub Pop
King Tuff – Was Dead – The Colonel Records
The Muslims (Aka The Soft Packs) – The Muslims – 1928 Recordings
The Weight – Are Men – The Colonel Records
White Denim – Explosion – Transmission


TOP TRACKS OF 2008

Adele – Hometown Glory
Alberta Cross – Old Man Chicago
Belaire – You Really Got Me Going
Benji Hughes – The Mummy
Benji Hughes – Tight Tee Shirt
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
Born Ruffians – Hummingbird
The Cave Singers – Seeds Of Night
Christopher Denny - Time
The Dodos – Fools
The Felice Brothers – Frankie’s Gun
Fleet Foxes – Oliver James
Girls – Lust For Life
Glasvegas – Geraldine
Graveyard – Lost In Confusion
The Heavy – Colleen
Hockey – Too Fake
Human Highway – The Sound
I Blame Coco – I Blame Coco
Ida Maria – Oh My God
Jamie Lidell – Figured Me Out
The Kills – Cheap & Cheerful
Little Comets – Joanna
Loch Lomond – Carl Sagan
M.I.A. – Paper Planes
Magic Wands – Black Magic
Meaghan Smith – I Know
MGMT – Time To Pretend
Mystery Jets – Two Doors Down
Passion Pit – Sleepyhead
Port O’Brien – I Woke Up Today
Radiohead – House Of Cards
Santogold – Lights Out
Stricken City – Tak o Tak
{{{Sunset}}} – Diamond Studded Caskets
The Temper Trap – Sweet Disposition
Tenlons Fort – Forever Is A Long Time
Vertigo Smyth – Comfort Me
Violens – Violent Sensation Descends
Wisely – Through Any Window
The Yelling – Blood On The Steps


10 ARTISTS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2009

AVI BUFFALO

THE BROTHERS MOVEMENT

THE BUILDERS & THE BUTCHERS

DJANGO JAMES & THE MIDNIGHT SQUIRES

THE FEROCIOUS FEW

FITZ

HOCKEY

LILOFEE

VIOLENS

WET PAINT

THE YELLING

FUTURE SOUNDS DEBUTS....

More information on bands that debuted this week on the FUTURE SOUNDS radio show....

VIOLENS

FROM: New York
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/violensmusic
Unsigned

VIOLENS is going to be one of those bands that won't be sitting around for long, as they head out with MGMT in the UK in November, sounding like the perfect mix of THE SHINS meets THE BUCKINGHAMS. Listen to "Violent Sensation Descends".

THE PANDERERS

FROM: Cincinnati, OH
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/thepanderers
Snack Bar Records

Kentucky boy (Scott Winn) moves to Ohio, impresses the singer from SOUL COUGHING (Mike Doughty) puts his album for sale on Myspace, and nails it with this 'ready for a big car commercial ad' track, "Come On".

BUFFALO KILLERS
FROM: Cincinnati, OH
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/buffalokillers
Alive Records

"Get Together Now Today" starts off with a straight "Dig A Pony" riff, then drops into a 'suthern gem that's genius. It's yet another great band from the Queen City, this 3-piece with two brothers (formerly in THEE SHAMS) makes me wanna break out my CANNED HEAT records. Just look at that photo, these aren't no sissy-boys.

NICO STAI
FROM: Los Angeles
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/nicostai
Unsigned

I only have 2-3 songs from LA's NICO STAI, which is Nico in front and 3 guys behind him, making perfect indie rock that falls somewhere in the regions of SHOUT OUT LOUDS and ROGUE WAVE.

THE GOLDEN DOGS
FROM: Toronto
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/thegoldendogs
Yep Roc Records (US)

Plenty of people have been yappin' about these dogs, but I finally got around to downloadin', and will be seeing these guys when they get out to LA in November for certain.

HUMAN HIGHWAY
FROM: Ontario, CA
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/humanhighway
Suicide Squeeze Records

A huge buzz going on right now about HH, and for good cause, this duo has a unique, throwback sound of the 50's at times, and this track "The Sound" should be the next Ipod commercial without a doubt.

THE BLACK BOX REVELATION
FROM: Brussels, Belgium
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/theblackboxrevelation
P.I.A.S. Records

Screw being big in Japan, how about #1 in Belgium??? Well THE BLACK BOX REVELATION can make that claim, big news over there, waiting for the revelation to happen in the States. Listen to "I Think I Like You" (mp3)

GOLDEN ANIMALS
FROM: Los Angeles
MYSPACE: http://www.myspace.com/goldenanimals
HappyParts (US)

If I can get out of here on time tonight to get over to The Echo, I'd like to see the GOLDEN ANIMALS, because the track, "The Steady Roller" (mp3) has been owning me since I heard it's ELVIS/REVEREND HORTON HEAT rumble.