My Own Gummy Winners
Stereogum released its list of this year’s Gummy Award winners yesterday, as voted for by the website’s readers. Though this is not my ultimate “Best of 2008″ list, here’re my votes.
Best Album
These United States – Crimes
There’re so many things I have to say about this album, especially in the context of what has been said about it already, by others, but for now—as this post isn’t my ultimate “Best of 2008″ post, and it’s past 2AM as I write this—I’ll just say that the only I reason I’d pick this one over A Picture of the Three of Us at the Gate to the Garden of Eden, which they released in March of the same year, is that I have much faith in the current incarnation of the band, and Crimes is much more reflective of that incarnation; but other than that, I love both records equally. My choice of favorite song from Crimes keeps changing; presently it’s “West Won”, which is a really strong opener—it may not have hooks, or even melodies that care for memorability, but it’s so cinematic in its scope, and so filled with a rousing sense of premonitions, I find it totally gripping. Download “West Won“
Best Music Video
Fleet Foxes – “He Doesn’t Know Why“
My attachment to this video is pretty non-cerebral. That barn looks like I’d want to sleep there, and I love the colors used. I like that it’s a complete non-event: a non-linear bubbling-up of nothing at all. At first I thought I was indifferent to the goats, but actually, no, I love the goats; their shape, and in that number, with the tone and texture of their skin; these shapes, moving as they do, hold everything together… it helps that I love the song.
Best Live Act
These United States
To be precise, These United States at Union Hall on September 30. Judging a band’s authenticity is a tricky business, and, for the most part, probably futile, but what I like about watching this band live is that your experience of music as channeled through them feels like the real thing, whether or not you ultimately believe it to be the real thing—I do. I love seeing them in small spaces.
Indie Rock Crushes, Boy
Jesse Elliott of These United States, obviously.
Indie Rock Crushes, Girl
Lisa Molinaro of Talkdemonic. She’s badass. Nona Marie of Dark Dark Dark is a very close second. She’s also badass.
Most Overrated Act
Bon Iver
There’re so many, aren’t they? Picking between MGMT and Vampire Weekend, or Coldplay and M83 would be kind of pointless, so my sad vote is Bon Iver. I think they’re good, but the general consensus on just how good seems way more favorable than my own judgment would have it.
Best Music Blog
La Blogotheque
Best TV Show
I honestly don’t know. I watched Project Runway but that was pretty bad. I’m gonna pick MSNBC election coverage just because I was hooked to it like a maniac.
Best Movie
Love Songs
Even though this movie was affecting and lovable at first viewing, the weight of it sunk in slowly over time. The songs are silly, but they set the right tone, and the tone is everything? A close second is The Band’s Visit.
Best Web Video
I haven’t even watched more than half the choices they listed, but Lil Bill O’ Reilly was pretty special.
December 28th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
I was trolling the Hype Machine to see who else really enjoyed Crimes (it was my top album as well). What you had to say about West Won hit the nail on the head. Great opening track that does have a huge cinematic feel. Every time I hear it, I feel like it should be on a soundtrack to some kind of new-age Western – like a freaky Tarantino film with a drug-binge scene reminiscent of the opening act in ‘Fear and Loathing.’
“Is that a windmill, or am I just seeing things again?”
I’ll be coming back here. Take Care.