Legacy Recordings

My favourites of the year.

Not the best year ever for music, but some notable highlights including Reading Festival, The Big Chill, and the Control movie (which everyone should see).

The good thing about sharing these lists is to find out what I haven’t yet heard. One of the best albums for me this year was Midlake, which was a purchase based on so many people’s recommendations this time last year. This year’s still to be discovered for me include the new albums from Burial, Justice, LCD Soundsystem, and Radiohead.

Happy and Peaceful Christmas, and a wonderful 2008,
Tim.

Albums

The top 5:

Bruce Springsteen “Magic”

Arcade Fire “Neon Bible”

Eagles “Long Road Out Of Eden”

Manic Street Preachers “Send Away The Tigers”

Richard Hawley “Lady’s Bridge”

Honorable mentions:

Neil Young “Chrome Dreams II”

Candie Payne “I Wish I Could Have Loved You More”

Foo Fighters “Echoes, Silence, Patience, & Grace”

Kings Of Leon “Because Of The Times”

Chemical Brothers “We Are The Night”

Maximo Park “Our Earthly Pleasures”
Mark Ronson “Version”

Singles

Leona Lewis “Bleeding Love”

Klaxons “Golden Skans”

Peter Bjorn & John “Young Folks”
Mark Ronson & Amy Winehouse “Valerie”
Eagles “Busy Being Fabulous”

DJ Shadow “This Time”

My Chemical Romance “Teenagers”

Manic Street Preachers “Autmnsong”

Prince “Guitar”

Camera Obscura “Lloyd, I’m Ready To Be Heartbroken”

Compilations

Various artists

“Savage Pencil Presents Lion vs Dragon In Dub” (Trojan) - the best dub compilation I’ve ever heard

“Greasy Truckers Party” (EMI) - the complete sets from Hawkwind, Man, and Brinsley Schwarz from a magical night 35 years ago. If only I’d been a bit older….

“Riot Radio Broadcast” (Trojan) - The Dead 60’s trawl through the Trojan archives.

“Nervous Tension” (EMI) - 20 killer post-punk tracks, most of them could easily be mistaken for this year’s releases

Single artist

Sandy Denny “Live At The BBC” - arguably the finest female vocalist of all time already on her second box set of the 21st century

The Rolling Stones “Rolled Gold” - still the best ever Stones compilation, and finally on CD over 30 years after the LP release.

Van Morrison “Still On Top - The Greatest Hits”

Miles Davis “The Complete On The Corner Sessions”

Bob Dylan “Dylan” (3CD)
Donald Fagen “Nightfly Trilogy”

Reissues

Magazine expanded editions - 3 fine albums and the other one

Man expanded editions - 6 albums in 2 months, the highlight being an unreleased concert added to Rhinos, Winos, and Lunatics. Those who know me will understand

Genesis “A Trick Of The Tail” - the best remastering job ever?

Steve Hillage expanded editions - wonderful sonic upgrades and bonus tracks. It will not surprise some of you to learn I am in the audience for half the live album

Joy Division deluxe editions - sound is amazing, and I was at the bonus concert on the Still disc!

John Martyn “Grace And Danger” Deluxe edition

The Alan Parsons Project expanded editions

Prefab Sprout “Steve McQueen” Legacy edition