Album of the Year 2008

As it is that time of year thought I would offer my top three releases of 2008. There has been some excellent jazz releases in particular, ECM ( German record label ) having some gems.

Don't know if this is the 'done thing' on this forum but I always enjoy reading these lists and often find music that becomes a firm favourite.

1. January // Marcin Wasilewski Trio // ECM

An endlessly listenable album from this Polish jazz trio. A mixture of covers, including a beautiful rendition of Prince's Diamonds and Pearls. Effortless class.

2. Cantando // Bobo Stenson Trio // ECM

Upon first listening has all the attributes of the worst aspects of modern jazz, all discordant chords and tinkling cymbals. However, give it some time and it opens up to reveal a work of majestic depth and tone. The interplay between bass and piano is wonderful.

3. Elbow // Seldom Seen Kid

A worthy winner of the Mercury Award. Great songs, lyrics that actually mean something allied to brilliantly executed leftfield (ish ) music. Well recorded as well, they haven't pushed the levels to the extreme and this enables the loud to quiet passages to really work. Its called dynamism, ever heard of that Metallica?



Looking forward to reading your top 3 - Jerrykan

 

Great thread.

Apart from Rachel Unthank & the Winterset, which I posted about separately a while ago, my musical highlights of the year have pretty much all been recent discoveries of older records. Random pick of three near the top of the pile:

Junior Walker & the Allstars - Soul Session. I just can't sit down to listen to this. Not a great pressing, but simply fabulous music.

Martin Carthy - Second Album on Topic. Great pressing and recording, excellent song selection, some very very nice guitar work in a less 'individual' style to his later work. Also some nice sympathetic backing from Dave Swarbrick.

Voice Squad - Holly Wood. Three part male folk vocals done just about perfectly.