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Click here to download my compilation album: 9 in 09

1. Empire of the Sun / Walking on a Dream
Anyone who knows me, knows I couldn’t possible give the number one slot to any other album. Empire of the Sun’s Walking on a Dream is somewhere between an homage and a satire on over-the-top 80s pop… And that’s why I love it.

2. Asobi Seksu / Citrus
Ever since the early 90s there are many “shoegazer” or “dreampop” bands but to me most of them just kinda sound the same, sounding vaguely similar to My Bloody Valentine. But Asobi Seksu is different, mostly because of their female Japanese lead singer and their great melodies. Her angelic and gentle voice is the perfect compliment to the fuzzed guitars. While Citrus is not their newest album it strikes a balance between the rough first album (self-titled) and their more polished (less fuzzed) third album (Hush).

3. Dirty Projectors / Bitte Orca
Bubbling with potential for years, with Bitte Orca, Dirty Projectors finally moved out of experimental obscurity to accessibility without losing what made them unique. This album really introduces something new into the indie rock world.

4. Takagi Masakatsu / Coeida
Takagi is a visual artist and musician from Kyoto Japan. From all that I have heard this is his best album. If every song on this album were as good as the tracks “Girls” and “New Flat”, this album would no doubt be my number one. Adjectives that come to mind to describe Coeida are: inspiring, poetic, light and free.

5. Phoenix / Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Definitely the most mainstream album on my list Phoenix really perfects the current pop / rock style with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. And it’s hard not to like.

6. Spangle Call Lily Line / Purple
I’m really not sure how to explain what I like about this album. Maybe it’s the male and female vocals, maybe it’s the low-key nature of the music, I don’t know. But I do know I like it.

7. Air / Love 2
Not nearly as good as Air’s last two Albums (which were phenomenal) this album reflects an older Air style.

8. Passion Pit / Manners
Probably best described as a fusion of the Flaming Lips and MGMT, this band like Phoenix, is the better offerings of current pop / rock scene.

9. Bat for Lashes / Two Suns
Bat for Lashes is a unique mixture of electronic, fanatsy-esque, gothic-esque, and almost 50’s doo-op styles. Packaged in an assessable way, this album is a slight maturing of her first album.

Here are the best movies I watched in 2008. (Not necessarily released in 2008, documentaries not included)

1.

Ukigusa (Floating Weeds) - Yasujiro Ozu
Considered “too Japanese” for a long time Ozu’s films have had little exposure outside of Japan. Which is a shame.
Ukigusa is one of Ozu’s most perfected works. Although undoubtedly boring to many people this film is really amazing in many. Always using a stationary camera and ignoring some of the basic rules of movie making, Ukigusa has a very unique feeling, unlike anything else. Calm and contemplative, which each shot being composed like a painting or a photograph, this is one my all time favorites.

2.

The Taste of Tea - Katsuhito Ishii
This movie pulls in a variety of influences, something like a Yasujiro Ozu film mixed with Magnolia and Little Miss Sunshine. And it works wonderfully. Whimsical, soothing, inspiring and weird.

3.

Riding Alone for Thousands of Miles - Zhang Yimou
A very serious film set in modern day Japan and China. Wonderfully illustrates the deferences between Chinese and Japanese people, in how they think and act.

4.

Raise the Red Lantern - Zhang Yimou
Probably one of the most important Chinese films of all time. Taking place in pre-communist China, this movie gives a snapshot into some of the darker realities of China’s past. Definitely required viewing for anyone interested in China or Chinese filmmaking.

5.

Persepolis - Marjane Satrapi
Interesting to me on two levels. Interesting as unique animation style film. But more so the unique perspective it uses to tell the recent history of Iran.

6.

Saturday Night Fever - John Badham
It’s supposed to be a classic and I can see why, it really captures the feeling of the disco 70s.

7.

Chungking Express - Wong Kar Wai
This movie is not unlike most of Wong Kar Wai’s but what separates it is the whimsey and comedy. If you’re setting out to watch your first Wong kar Wai movie this may be the best place to start, as it’s probably the least intimidating.

8.

Casablanca - Michael Curtiz
This movie makes me feel connected to the pre-WWII time period. It’s a window into the past that’s slow and enjoyable.

Here are my favorite albums I discovered in 2008. (Not necessarily released in 2008)

1. (Tie)

Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver created an album that is introspective and striped down but also very unique among the thousands of modern folksy musicians. Bon Iver takes over where Iron and Wine let the ball drop.

1. (Tie)

Tujiko Noriko - Solo
Noriko successfully created a catchy, easily-digestible album with an experimental electronic palate. No other musician I know of has done this more successfully. Mysterious, contemplative, and poppy this album is decidedly a tie for best of the year.

3.

Starflyer 59 - Dial M
After 11 albums, Jason Martin still has never receives the recognition he deserves for producing some of the best “Shoegazer” rock available. Solid and consistent Starflyer never disappoints.

4.

Son Lux - At War with Walls and Mazes
Something keeps bringing me back to this album. It isn’t the most profound album ever in many respects but I think it manages to strike a perfect balance between un-obtrusive background music and engaging lyrical music. It also has unique feel to it and is very drums-driven.

5.

M83 - Saturdays = Youth
M83 is 80s arena rock with a very contemporary emotional delivery. Melodic and overdramatic, this album balances two worlds wonderfully.

6.

Takagi Masakatsu - Journal for People
Quiet, contemplative and introspective Takagi’s work has created a lasting impact on my 2008.

7.

M.I.A. - Kala
Understanding that bad eventually becomes good M.I.A. pulls all kinds of influence together, often times cheesy and over-the-top, to create a great album. I always want to like hip-hop and this album (kinda) lets me do it.

8.

Hagi plays J.S. Bach featuring Furukawa Nobuo
Classical music is another type of music I always want to like and understand more but all-too-often it is intimidating and exclusive. Albums like Hagi plays J.S. Bach is what I want more of… digestable, relivant re-release / re-packaging of traditional music. I also love the integration with the anime Blood+. Hagi is a character who plays Bach on his cello throughout the series and this is his album, genius.