2008AD
OK. I'm going to attempt a personal stock-take of 2008. I may miss things out. I may put in things that actually came out in 2007 (that will certainly be the case with books, as ever, because I rarely read books in hardback). I may change my mind in a week's time. But I do think it's good for the soul to try and pat some shape out of a departing year. On reflection, although historic in a geo-political sense and full of financial portent, it's not been a vintage one for stuff. I have been about as underwhelmed by the long-playing record as at any other stage in my music-loving life - but there have been some tremendous songs, so all is not lost. Most of the films I saw - and I saw a lot, thanks to the holiday plans of Mark Kermode - were just OK; then again, those films that stood out did so by a mile. Pretty much every book I read and loved in 2008 was originally published in the 70s or 80s (I think you can guess why), apart from a couple of new ones. I watched a lot of television but not nearly enough of it was essential viewing, and it's surprising how much of the better stuff was reality-based.
As a scriptwriter, I had no new work on telly in 2008, due to the postponement of the third series of Not Going Out to the end of January 2009 (check listings for details), and the continuing on-ice status of ITV's Mumbai Calling - each of which I wrote, or co-wrote, one episode for. I look forward to seeing them on the small screen at some juncture. Simon Day and I continued to squash our noses up against the glass, but didn't get anything away; we will, I have no doubt, plan another big push for the new year.
As a broadcaster, I continue to rely on Mark Kermode for my regular forays on 5 Live and BBC News, but this is not to be sniffed at. Pretty much everybody still thinks I have a show on 6 Music, which I left in March 2007, except those who actually listen to 6 Music. That's rather galling. I had expected some "deps" this year but they never came; perhaps this is for the best. I certainly enjoyed being asked onto Michael Ball's Sunday Brunch on Radio 2 - long may that pleasant gig continue. Yes, I did some talking-head shows, still unable to say no - the next one to be broadcast will be The Most Annoying People Of 2008 (which I think is on New Year's Eve on BBC3), and yes, I realise by appearing on it, I risk becoming one of those very people. But one has to work, and one has to keep one's hand in. (Authoring my own two-minute piece for The One Show was a step in the right direction, but I am experienced enough to know that this could turn out to be another cul-de-sac.)
It's clear that the most stimulating work I did in 2008 was unpaid: the Collings & Herrin Podcast, which has led to live appearances, one podclash and a number of meetings, but continues to justify itself without leading to anything. Richard and I have cemented our professional relationship and produced 47 hours of unscripted material since January. Of this I am very proud, and by the warm reactions from those who listen, my cockles are warmed.
I'm not doing numbered lists this year. Not enough good stuff to merit that.
Music
Terrible year for albums. Yes, there were some good ones: Elbow's The Seldom Seen Kid by far the finest and I'm hardly going out on a limb in saying so, followed swiftly by Adele's mighty 19; also Fleet Foxes, Nick Cave, Last Shadow Puppets, RZA, Santogold, the Kills and the Wedding Present, at which we start to hit that glut of albums that were OK but not exactly classics, despite the promise of a few decent tracks, such as MGMT, Black Kids, Neon Neon, Ladyhawke, TV On The Radio, Ladytron, even Sigur Ros, which gave me such an initial lift and then fell almost immediately into that depressingly common latter bracket. The Glasvegas album has to be one of the worst of the year, or at least the most crushingly disappointing and bafflingly overhyped. Meanwhile, The Ting Tings' That's Not My Name endures as my song of the year (and a number one in the actual charts to boot), followed by Black Kids' I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How To Dance With You, MGMT's Kids, Ladyhawke's From Dusk Till Dawn, Portishead's Machine Gun, the Verve's Love Is Noise and TV On The Radio's Crying. Enough to form a decent '08 playlist on my iPod, but patchy in the extreme. I accept it may be my age.
Books
It should come as no surprise that my favourite book of the year was Letters Between Six Sisters edited by Charlotte Mosley, as it is the book that launched an obsession; it came out in hardback in 2007, but paperback in 2008, so I'm claiming it. Since devouring it, I have bought and read so many other books about the Mitford Sisters, I am in a position to start my own library. But all roads lead back to the letters, wherein I fell in love with Nancy, Pamela, Unity, Diana, Jessica and Debo and grew up with them through the 20th century. I give honorable mention to Unity Mitford: A Quest by David Pryce-Jones, Rules Of The Game by Nicholas Mosley, A Life Of Contrasts by Diana Mosley, Hons & Rebels by Jessica Mitford, Decca: The Letters edited by Peter T Sussman and Noblesse Oblige edited by Nancy Mitford. Off the Mitford track, I enjoyed Born Yesterday by Gordon Burn, even though it was more of an exercise than a book, and Bits Of Me Are Falling Apart by William Leith. Flat Earth News by Nick Davies was a landmark, and just as entertaining as its revelations were the reviews in the press and their attempts to praise the book without admitting to any wrongdoing. It's a pity Susan Faludi's The Terror Dream tailed off, as I found much to nourish my soul in the first half. I am currently unable to put down Human Smoke by Nicholson Baker - an actual hardback that came out in 2008. It's been a good year for reading.
Films
Nothing this year touched Hunger, the one about Bobby Sands directed by Steve McQueen: poetic, hard-hitting, dramatic, politically charged without being preachy and a film never to leave you. I saw it twice. There Will Be Blood came in a close second, proof that an epic can be both insane and moving, big and intimate. I also fell in love with Times And Winds, a Turkish film about childhood, religion and rural subsistence living on the side of a mountain, written and directed by Reha Erdem. It's small, personal, subtle, artistic films like this that make The Dark Knight seems all the more swollen and over-praised. Having studiously avoided Mamma Mia! and anything about torture with a number in the title, I found myself seeing a broad sweep of stuff while being Mark Kermode, from terrible romantic comedies and leaden action movies to ho-hum documentaries, and lots of "big films" along the way. Odd gems made the going that little bit easier, like In Bruges, a fabulous black comedy that changed my opinion of Colin Farrell and reinforced my opinion of Brendan Gleeson. Of the "big films" I was swept up by WALL-E and Iron Man, enjoyed Mike Leigh's Happy-Go-Lucky and found that Man On Wire restored my faith in the feature length documentary. I'm not a film critic, I didn't see everything I wanted to see, so I don't wish to make too many sweeping generalisations, but American film looked in good shape at the beginning of the year, but without auteurs, you got nothing. And I have Gomorrah to watch on DVD, which I have a good feeling about and may make a late run for my final top ten.
Telly
In previous years, it's been Channel 4 drama that's taken the prize, but this year, without a doubt, it was Frank Cottrell Boyce's God On Trial that showed us what TV can do, and it was on the BBC. A one-off play, of the old school, it took place in one set (aside from an exterior framing device) and gave us new insight into a subject that ought by now to have lost its dramatic edge, but hasn't: the Holocaust. That it was written by an enquiring Catholic, and not a Jew, was worthy of note, and perhaps gave its central theological inquiry a broader aspect. Either way, it was great writing, coupled with great acting (oh, to see the likes of Eddie Marsan, Jack Shepherd, Lorcan Cranitch, Anthony Sher, Rupert Graves and Stephen Dillane in one place), and, lest we overlook it, great directing from Andy DeEmmony, choreographing a large cast around a small stage. Apparently it drew an audience of 700,000 to BBC2 on the night, but was up against Lost In Austen and Who Do You Think You Are? - if this isn't what the BBC should be doing with our licence fee, I don't know what is. But let's not get too high-minded about it, I was also hooked this year on Strictly Come Dancing, The Apprentice, Dragons' Den and Celebrity Masterchef, all BBC shows, two of them - gasp! - "celebrity"-based. (Actually, Strictly tried my patience in the end, with its pathetic own goal in the penultimate week, a voting farrago brought on by honesty-paranoia and the fact that the public had been punished for voting for the contestant - Sergeant - they wanted to win. It's as if nobody behind the scenes had actually sat down and worked out what all the potential outcomes were and hoped for the best. BBC = own worst enemy, as usual.) Full marks to Outnumbered, which I picked up on belatedly and instantly became my comedy of the year, putting the tireless TV Burp into second place, but at least that's one non-BBC show in the roll of honour. (By the way, The Wire finished in style, both self-indulgent and wildly surprising, but was hampered by a reduced running length and, on reflection, Season Five was no Season Four. It remains, on points, the finest television series ever made, for the record. True blood.)
Radio
I don't listen to much radio, is the truth. Unlikely as it may once have seemed, Smooth has become my default, in car and kitchen. It is an unpretentious station with a clear remit that it sticks to. If you don't feel like listening to "smooth" music, you turn over. Too much music radio tries to be all things to all listeners, and the result is mulch. The best radio show of the year - which I listened to as podcasts in my own time - was Danny Baker's Euro 6-0-6 on 5 Live. He is a master and this joyous run showed why, again. When he and Zoe Ball sat briefly in for the disgraced Jonathan Ross on Radio 2, he wiped the floor with his old mate. Radcliffe and Maconie continue to coalesce brilliantly into one man on R2 - let us hope they are immune to the forthcoming game of managerial musical chairs. The lazy act of "getting somebody in off the telly" can no longer be radio's mantra. Listen to those who are really good at it, and ask yourself if they came "off the telly"?
The Internet
Because of the way it wove into the fabric of our podcasts, Wikipedia continues to reign as website of the year, with the wonders of YouTube a resource that can't be matched, especially as a journalist - but which could be decimated if big companies like Warner start to take their ball home. And of course, it gives a platform to people like Nathan Jay and his Lion Man mixes, which were a joy, and the Simon's Cat films.
Live
The bell tolls. Unless I am very much mistaken, I do believe that 2008 was the first year since 1981 during which I did not attend one gig. Not one. You may blame my age, but frankly, you'd be off the mark, as I don't feel any older at 43 than I did at any other time in my forties, during which Arctic Monkeys got me out of the house with a renewed gusto, and during which time I also paid good money to see Arcade Fire and Goldfrapp and Franz Ferdinand and Kasabian and various reformed oldies like Carter and PWEI and Bauhaus. Something has died inside me, I'm afraid. So, no gig of the year. Saw some good plays, such as That Face by Polly Stenham and God Of Carnage by Yasmina Reza (translated by Christopher Hampton), whose cast - Ralph Fiennes, Ken Stott, Tamsin Greig and Janet McTeer - it was an absolute privilege to have seen, right in front of my eyes. There really is something special about the theatre, but it must remain an occasional pleasure in these belt-tightening times. I loved Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! at Sadler's Wells, too. As for live comedy, my two-night stay in Edinburgh meant I only saw Richard Herring and Stewart Lee, which was a little conservative of me, but I laughed loudly at both. While doing the School For Gifted Children I became captivated by Jo Neary, whose character comedy is so subtle, and whose Pan's People routine at the Bloomsbury, while tangential to the theme of the evening, was a show-stopper.
Magazines and newspapers
Once again, the New Yorker has dominated my reading year, one during which I lost all interest in the New Statesman, which handed in its spirit when Brown entered Number 10 and has failed to reclaim it. I renewed my subscription at the beginning of the year, having dabbled with the Spectator, almost out of spite. (For the record, I admired its passion, however bloodsport-based, but this was not going to be enough to sustain me through our differences of opinion.) Until Labour are back in opposition, I'm afraid the Statesman and I must part ways, as a cost-cutting exercise if nothing else. As for the ever-enlightening New Yorker, maybe its political coverage too will fall into toothlessness without a Republican in power, but I doubt it. I continue to put up with the Guardian and all the woeful "personality journalism" that fills G2, but have read much more widely this year, due to the podcasts, and I'm starting to understand, without condoning the worst excesses of, the Mail. To ignore it and dismiss it is just as silly as believing it.
Highs
Now is not the time to be contrary: what greater feeling was there this year than when Barack Obama took Pennsylvania and it all fell into place after all those months of campaigning? I'm glad I experienced this crazy night at the CNN party, among political groupies, although I felt like death warmed up the next day and was physically unable to feel any joy for about 24 hours. I do not think Obama walks on water, but he's the best chance the world has got, and something of a relief after the other man.
Lows
Let's not dwell on those, for fear of me citing the damp squib sales and lack of any visible promotion of the paperback of That's Me In The Corner - which I listed as a "low" last year! It's the gift that goes on giving! Move on! Although when Scouting For Girls covered London Calling by The Clash at the Olympics handover party - and, to ensure its translation into an indie singalong, altered the words - I wondered if perhaps we hadn't already arrived at hell in that handcart.
Here's hoping for a good-mannered, energised, positive-thinking, not-too-unemployed 2009, with less territorial pissings and wanton aggression from scientists, a closed-down Guantanamo Bay, less intrusion on our private lives (some chance), and a more rigorous, tested voting system for the next series of Strictly.
posted by Andrew Collins @ 8:50 AM
33 Comments
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33 Comments:
I just saw the third Nathan Jay video i hope you seen it.
Man on Wire was my favourite film. Maybe this was due to the astonishing subject matter, but the documentary did a perfect job of putting that in front of us.
On the radio, Adam and Joe have continued to entertain, proving that TV to Radio can sometimes work very well.
2008 was the year I discovered the wire and hence all other television has been rendered shite.
Album wise there wasn't a lot of highlights but I really loved the q-tip album and the wave pictures - instant coffee baby. Also on the freakonomics tip De Rosa gave away a track a month to form the appendices album which is fucking outstanding and probably better than their proper album.
I also discovered podcasts this year. Adam & Joe and Collings & Herrin have made commuting bearable.
-love from a wantonly aggressive science nerd
albums of 2008
'Wilderness' by Brett Anderson (yes, I'm still banging on about that one, using every opportunity I get to do so becaue the press coverage is destructively negative or barely there; the album is a heartfelt, moving, brave and uncompromising piece of work.
'Seventh Tree', Goldfrapp (listen to it as a whole rather than cherry picking tracks; atmospheric and soothing, and deserving of acclaim)
'District Line' by Bob Mould (at least 3 tracks on here would be welcome on a best of compilation (surely a sign of a strong album)
Tracks/singles of 2008 (in alphabetical artist order)
'Chinese Whispers', Brett Anderson
'A&E', Goldfrapp
'Paris is Burning', Ladyhawke
'Tell Me What It's Worth', Lightspeed Champion
'Kids', MGMT
'Very Temporary', Bob Mould
'Supernatural Superserious', REM (arguably, too little-too late, but it reminds me why REM's music touched me so much all those years ago)
Films of 2008 (alphabetically)
'Caramel'
'Couscous'
'Juno'
'Persepolis'
(I'm surethere are others, but I only managed to watch 6 or so new ones... 'Lust Caution' and 'Happy-Go-Lucky' were disappointing)
Agree with much of the stuff you've noted particularly re Danny Baker. His 606 stuff on Radio Five is head and shoulders above almost everything else. He is one of the very few naturals currently on the radio.
DW x
I mean this with appropriate good will of the season but discovering your podcast has been a real joy this year and considerably improves a long weekly car journey I have to undertake. Who knew the Mitfords eh??
Am mid season 4 of the wire so am concerned I am now at a point as good as it will ever be and think I should watch them more slowly as a result so thanks for the tip about a possible downturn in the future.
Thanks for another great best-of summary! Did you ever get your hands on Thomas Friedman's Hot, Flat, and Crowded? That goes on my short list. And definitely Elbow. On my personal list of Highs was getting into Community Supported Agriculture - in essence, I bought a share in an organic farm, convinced some coworkers to do the same, and every week one of the farmers brought us boxes of goodies for 30 weeks! I discovered a love of fresh figs and roasted pumpkins, and many other delights. If you ever have a chance to try a similar scheme, go for it! I doubt Richard would like it since there are no plastic containers and the food isn't cut up and prepared but I think you'd love it. Also, Obama's win. I guess that comes first, above everything else. But I enjoyed the produce for many months and the election was less than two months ago... And your podcast. Brought me lots of joy.
Happy new year, Andrew and his readers!
Good to hear that your cockles have been warmed.
Other notable ladies in music -
Try this, Let The Bells Ring By The Organ:
https://www.yousendit.com/transfer.php?action=batch_download&send_id=637693308&email=92954acb192fbec455d79782455a9e21
And this, which is White As Diamonds by Alela Diane:
http://www.beggarsgroupusa.com/mp3/aleladiane_whiteasdiamonds.mp3
I enjoyed That's Me In The Corner hugely, and was chuffed to hear you on Radio 2 while slaving away on my cross-trainer.
I am getting the Mitford Letters with my Christmas Amazon voucher - have you read "In Tearing Haste", the letters between Patrick Leigh Fermor and the Duchess of Devonshire? I think that's going to be my highlight of 2009!
Thanks for an enjoyable blog and happy new year.
I'm not going to weigh in with my best/worst list of 2008 since that would be akin to some form of blog hijack. I'm just dropping in to say I'm surprised Criminal Justice didn't make it into your top TV of the year. From your blog I seem to remember you being almost as engrossed in it as I was.
Hope you had a good Christmas and a Happy New Year to you.
I didn't make my final lists using any scientific means - in other words, I wasn't working from any master lists of what was on, or what came out. Thus, I have missed out loads of things that I also liked, such as Criminal Justice, which didn't quite pay off in the final episode but was top quality nonetheless. And was Britz on this year? I liked that.
On the whole a crap year topped off with another Christmas redundancy. Things can only get better.
Apart from The Apprentice (which I nearly gave up on) and Look North (don't tell me how it ends), I've watched virtually no British telly. Music too has all been French, and quite poppy. No films, as ever. No gigs, ditto. Books - all computer text books.
I love Nicholson Baker's first couple of books, and more or less like the rest. Please mention the latest one again when you've finished it - even just in passing. I'll need a reminder and I might be able to justify the outlay by then.
I never say it, but your blog is great, by the way. I hope you can find an artistically and financially rewarding outlet for your writing in the coming year.
This post has been removed by the author.
Hello, everyone. Hope you all good Christmases:
Albums:
50 Dananananaykroyd - Sissy Hits EP
49 Glasvegas - A Snowflake Fell..
48 Hot Chip - Made In The Dark
47 The Wave Pictures - Instant Coffee Baby
46 Times New Viking - Rip It Off
45 The Long Blondes - "Couples"
44 Here, It Never Snowed. Afterwards It Did - The Twilight Sad
43 Ida Maria - Fortress Round My Heart
42 Sun Giant EP - Fleet Foxes
41 School Of Language - Sea From Shore
40 These New Puritans - Beat Pyramid
39 Ailens - Luna
38 The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
37 Surrounded - The Nautilus Years
36 Metronomy - Nights Out
35 Cadence Weapon - Afterparty Babies
34 Pete Molinari - A Virtual Landslide
33 Sun Kill Moon - April
32 Foals - Antidotes
31 Frightened Rabbit - The Midnight Organ Fight
30 Envelopes - Here Comes The Wind
29 Wild Beasts - Limbo, Panto
28 Hercules & Love Affair - Hercules & Love Affair
27 White Denim - Workout Holiday
26 Flying Lotus - Los Angles
25 TV on The Radio - Dear Science,
24 Let's Wrestle - In Loving Memory Of…EP
23 Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
22 The Last Shadow Puppets - The Age Of The Understatement
21 Pete and The Pirates - Little Death
20 Neon Neon - Stainless Style
19 Deerhunter - Microcastle
18 Mystery Jets - 21
17 Johnny Flynn - A Larum
16 Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
15 Ladyhawke - Ladyhawke
14 Glasvegas - Glasvegas
13 The Bug - London Zoo
12 Johnny Foreigner - Waited Up Til It Was Light
11 Eugene McGuiness - Eugene McGuiness
10 The Ruby Suns - Sea Lion
9 Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
8 Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
7 Lykke Li - Youth Novels
6 Late of The Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
5 Elbow - The Seldom Seen Kid
4 The Week That Was - The Week That Was
3 British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?
2 Portishead - Third
1 Laura Marling - Alas I Cannot Swim
Singles:
100 Buraka Som Sistema - Sound Of Kuduro
99 Those Dancing Days - Run Run
98 Kid Cudi -Day 'N' Nite (Crookers remix)
97 The Ruby Suns - Kenya Dig It?
96 MGMT - Time To Pretend
95 Wild Beasts - The Devil's Crayon
94 The Wave Pictures - Strange Fruit for David
93 Holy Fuck - Lovely Allen
92 Johnny Flynn - Tickle Me Pink
91 Ida Maria - I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked
90 65 Days of Static - The Distant and Mechanised Glow of Eastern European Dance Parties EP
89 Jay Reatard - See Saw / Screaming Hand
88 Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
87 T.I. - Whatever You Like
86 Lykke Li - I'm Good, I'm Gone / I'm Good, I'm Gone (Metronomy Remix)
85 Trai'D - Gutta Bitch
84 Ne-Yo - Miss Independent
83 Weezer - Pork And Beans
82 Slow Club - Let's Fall Back In Love EP
81 Annie - I Know UR Girlfriend Hates Me
80 Long Blondes - Century / The Unbearable Lightness of Buildings
79 The Hold Steady - Sequestered In Memphis
78 Nick Cave - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
77 Collapsing Cities - Fear Of Opening My Mouth
76 Scarlett Johansson - Fallin' Down
75 Pete & The Pirates - She Doesn't Belong To Me
74 4 or 5 Magicians - Forever On The Edge
73 Lykke Li - Little Bit
72 Alphabeat - Boyfriend
71 Duffy Warwick - Avenue
70 Panic At The Disco - Nine In The Afternoon
69 Coldplay - Viva La Vida
68 Telepathe - Devil's Trident
67 Johnny Foreigner - Eyes Wide Terrified
66 Damn Shames - Fear Of Assault
65 Florence & The Machine - Kiss With A Fist
64 She + Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
63 Fan Death - Veronica's Veil / Veronica's Veil (Eroll Alkan Remix)
62 Alessi's Ark - The Horse EP
61 Girls Aloud - Can't Speak French / Hoxton Heroes / Je Ne Parle Pas Français
60 Futureheads - Radio Heart
59 Dizzee Rascal featuring Calvin Harris & Chrome - Dance Wiv Me
58 Jay Reatard / Deerhunter - Fluorescent Grey / Oh, It's Such a Shame
57 British Sea Power - No Luicfer EP (10")
56 VV Brown - Crying Blood
55 The Week That Was - The Airport Line
54 Lil' Wayne - Lollipop
53 Radiohead - Reckoner
52 The Big Pink - Too Young Too Love / Crystal Visions
51 Mumford and Sons - Lend Me Your Eyes EP
50 Duffy - Mercy
49 TV on The Radio - Golden Age
48 Slow Club - Me And You / Apples and Pairs
47 Friendly Fires - Jump In The Pool
46 The Streets - The Escapist
45 Florence & The Machine - Girl With One Eye
44 Wombats - Backfire At The Disco
43 Glasvegas - It's My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry / Be My Baby
42 Mystery Jets - Half In Love With Elizabeth EP
41 Ladyhawke - Paris Is Burning / Paris Is Burning (Cut Copy remix)
40 Broken Records - If The News Makes You Sad Don't Watch It / A Good Reason
39 The Mai Shi - Run To Your Grave
38 Laura Marling - Ghosts / The Man Sings About Romance / The Needle and The Damage Done
37 Long Blondes - Guilt
36 Miley Cyrus - See You Again
35 Maccabees - Toothpaste Kisses
34 Girls Aloud - The Promise
33 Glasvegas - Geraldine / The Prettiest Thing on Saltcoats Beach / Everybodys Got To Learn Sometime
32 Last Shadow Puppets - Standing Next To Me / Sequels
31 Stricken City - Tak O Tak / Bardou
30 White Lies - Death / Death (Crystal Castles remix)
29 Bon Iver - Skinny Love
28 Johnny Flynn - Leftovers
27 Friendly Fires - Paris
26 Let's Wrestle - Let's Wrestle/ I'm In Fighting Mode
25 Ladyhawke - Dusk Til Dawn
24 Broken Records - Slow Parade
23 Portishead - The Rip
22 Laura Marling - Cross Your Fingers / Blackberry Stone
21 Johnny Foreigner - Salt, Peppa & Spinderella (+ Bloc Party Remix)
20 Metromony - Heartbreaker
19 MGMT - Electric Feel
18 Elbow - Grounds for Divorce
17 Hercules & Love Affair feat. Antony Hegarty - Blind / Blind (Frankie Knuckles Remix)
16 Mumford and Sons - Love Your Ground EP
15 Lykke Li - Breaking It Up
14 Mystery Jets - Two Doors Down
13 Veronica Maggio - Stopp
12 Portishead - Machine Gun
11 Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal / Isles
10 The Week That Was - Scratch The Surface
9 Wiley - Wearing My Rolex
8 Neon Neon - I Told Her On Alderaan/Trick For Treat
7 Mystery Jets ft. Laura Marling - Young Love
6 Radiohead - Nude / Down Is The New Up / 4 Minute Warning
5 Eugene McGuinness - Moscow State Circus
4 Pete & The Pirates - Mr. Understanding
3 Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor / Ready for the Floor (Smoothed Out on an R&B tip Version)
2 British Sea Power - Waving Flags / Everybody Must Be Saved / Elizabeth and Susan Meet The Pelican / Ooby Dooby Doo
1 Late Of The Pier - Heartbeat
Gigs:
1 My Bloody Valentine @ ICA 14/06 (rehearsal), and Roundhouse, London 20/06
2 Echo & the Bunnymen perform Ocean Rain @ The Royal Albert Hall, London 16/09
3 Laura Marling (With Marcus Mumford) @ Blå, Oslo, Norway 06/05
4 British Sea Power (with These New Puritans, Eamon Hamilton) @ Carling Academy Oxford 28/01
5 Laura Marling @ The Star of Bethnal Green, London 03/09
6 Radiohead (with Bat For Lashes) @ Victoria Park, London 24/06 and 25/06
7 River Rat Pack Tour (SixNationState, Mumford & Sons, Jay Jay Pistolet, Nat Jenkins, Beans On Toast, Derek Meins, Josh Weller and Golden Silvers ) @ Oakford Social Club, Reading 05/06
8 Johnny Foreigner (with Dananananaykroyd, William) @ Madame Jo Jo's, Soho, London 30/09
9 Laura Marling @ Union Chapel, Islington, London 09/03
10 Portishead @ Apollo Hammersmith, London 10/04
11 Tom Jones @ MGM Grand Hollywood Theatre, Las Vegas 12/11
12 Fee Fie Foe Fum Christmas Party (Laura Marling, Johnny Flynn, Mumford & Sons, Jay Jay Pistolet, Derek Meins, Peggy Sue, Cherbourg) @ Cargo, Shoreditch, London 16/12
13 Pete & The Pirates @ Oakford Social Club, Reading 27/07
14 The Week That Was @ The Slaughtered Lamb, Farringdon, London 23/09
15 Laura Marling @ St James Church, Piccadily London 11/06 and 13/06
16 Times New Viking (with No Age, Jay Reatard, Soiled Mattress & the Springs) Barden's Boudoir, Hackney, London 14/05
17 This Is Not London: Moshi Moshi 10th Birthday (Kate Nash, Hot Chip, Tilly and the Wall, The Mae Shi, Florence and The Machine, Slow Club, The Wave Pictures, James Yuill) @ Matter, London 18/10
18 Eugene McGuinness @ Oakford Social Club, Reading 14/09
19 Fleet Foxes and Beach House @ Audio, Brighton 09/06
20 Sigur Rós @ Alexandria Palace, London 20/11
21 British Sea Power @ Roundhouse, London 17/10
22 Girls Aloud @ O2, London 17/05
Festival sets
1 Edwyn Collins @ Glastonbury
2 Leonard Cohen @ Glastonbury
3 Mumford and Sons @ Glastonbury
4 Johnny Foreigner @ Camden Crawl
5 Efterklang @ Field Day
6 Neil Young @ Hop Farm
7 Bon Iver @ Great Escape
8 Franz Ferdinand @ Glastonbury
9 Slow Club @ Great Escape
10 Fanfarlo @ Camden Crawl
TV
Haven't watched much really this year. Aside from TV Burp and Screenwipe most of my appointment TV was taken up by s5 of The Wire and Doctor Who. I've enjoyed the odd Stephen Fry in America type documentary.
Films.
Always an odd time to think about the best films of the year as the answers tend to be 2008 Oscar stuff I saw 10 months ago or waiting for next month when two good films a week come out. Wall E is probably #1 right now just for the opening half.
Just wanted to say a big thank you for this blog which I thoroughly enjoy. Always insightful, well thought out and interesting.
I've not got on quite as well with the podcast. Just a little too rough and ready (in more ways than one) for my own tastes. I wish it was more tightly edited (indeed edited at all) and half the length.
Have you ever thought of doing a podcast more similar to your blog that dealt with reviews, personal insight and challenged the more literary podcasts like Front Row. you are a very good reviewer and I feel that would be very interesting. I've been fascinated by your growing interest in the Mitfords and would love to hear twenty minutes about why.
My favourite new podcast of the year - Stephen Fry - frustratingly sporadic but simply sensational when he can find the time to do one.
What about finding out that 277 people on Facebook are fans of you (and rising)?? That must be a mild high? : )
Happy Christmas!
Henry
Hello Andrew
Hope you had a lovely Christmas. I got Letters Between Six Sisters from my mama-in-law and have enjoyed it very much. Although terribly sad in places also very funny. As I may have said before my obsession with the Mitfords is a long-standing one but I had been unsure about reading the letters until you started to talk about them. So thanks for that, and of course the blog and podcast both of which are essential parts of my life these days.
Evangeline
PS We went to Mull once and looked at Inch Kenneth, I can't believe what a hideous journey it must have been for them to get there!
must admit I've come late to the party to Outnumbered, but it's really funny, and I'm surprised because didn't Andy Hamilton say he'd never do BBC Comedy again after Trevor's World of Sport being shunted around? Favourite album was Living End - White Noise.
Favourite gig was Crowded House at Westonbirt. Favourite TV was the final season of the Shield (technically not shown in UK yet, but best ending of a show this year, Wire second, Sopranos third). The void was replaced for a while by Breaking Bad. I can't get into Mad Men, and Damages was on at an odd time I always seemed to miss it first time around.
Out of interest, what are you looking forward to in 2009?
personally, David Simon's Treme pilot gets shown and greenlit for a series, Damages and Breaking Bad fill the void left by aforementioned departed shows, New Crowded House, Glenn Tilbrook and the Fluffers and Prefab Sprout albums are very, very good.
machine levine
I loved Mad Men and Damages (thanks for reminding me, Machine), and I'm looking forward to Season Two of both in 2009. And Californication, the other US import I got into. Likewise, Generation Kill, for self-evident reasons. I've already seen Frost/Nixon so I'm looking forward to being able to review that when it comes out in 2009. I'm also looking forward to finally seeing the Rothko exhibition at the Tate Modern before it shuts in February.
Chris: nice idea about doing my own podcast, but frankly, I'm doing enough voluntary work already, and I have to eat!
Any chance of the podcast going up tomorrow? I've got a long long bus journey to endure.
Otherwise I'll probably have to go out and buy a copy of Bad Science or something.
The next podcast is timed for release on New Year's Eve. In the morning. Sorry about that! (Read Bad Science, I'm sure you'll love it. Everybody else does.)
I've been reading the book Bad Science. You would agree with so much of it. It's a tragedy, is what it is, that you and Ben can't just get along.
I hope you have a good year. You are a rum cove but golly it is nice to have you about. I hope you do get back on proper radio one day- so much better than most of the tossers on there at the moment.
Music :Al Green - Take Me Home
Live: Richard Hawley
Film: Stepbrothers
Books:nothing released this year
Love and Peace to All- except Daily Mail readers.
Let's all try to get to 2010 in on piece
Andrew agree with you about the awful Glasvegas, saw them on Jools and they were so blimmin chuffed with themselves ,one legged guitaring does not a band make and the obligatory, moody "Thanks" at the end of their number made my ribs crack with embarrasment.
See they have a Xmas single out.
Oblivion beckons I hope, but fear, not.They were described by someone the other day as "Important".For Cliff's sake it's like punk never happened etc.and so on
Hoops McCann (52)
2008 was bumbling along boringly, and then I saw the best comedy gig of the year, by a certain Mr Herring. From that, I nosied around the net and found this here bloggage, enjoyed this and other blogs by people with the sense to come here, watched and adored Maestro, discovered The Wire, which rendered everything else crap, and got a nice 3 part autobiography to read and lots of lovely podcasts to listen to.
Hurrah! That's my sentence of things that mostly weren't from this year.
A very happy, prosperous and fulfilling 2009 for you, Mr Collins.
Andrew - a useful summary and as always some useful links. Flat Earth News is now on my reading list.
Like you Glasvegas disappointed. After hearing Geraldine on Radcliffe and Maconie I was looking forward to Jools the next weekend only to find they played, effectively, the same song twice. And everything else I've heard has been a modest variation on the same theme. I'm probably missing something, but suspect they're a Rednex for the noughties.
I hope 2009 works out well for you.
(PS A few weeks ago I asked your advice on Mitford books. Well, in the end I plumped for the letters and they went down really well. Another potential audient for your one man show!)
your podcast has definitely been a highlight for me this year and your enthusiasm for the mitford sisters has made me smile. thanks for listing the books, i'll be checking them out in the new year.
Louise
An excellent round-up there. Although surprised not to see Spooks make the list. It continues to be the best thing on television, despite overly optimistic portrayals of how easy it is to travel round London.
For me, 2008 is notable as the year I went to 42 live comedy shows and saw an impossibly neat 100 performers.
I'm not sure if this is a challenge to be beaten next year or a sign I have a problem. Probably a bit of both.
Yes - thanks from me too for your 2008 summary. I had forgotten to watch Man on a Wire, thanks for the reminder :-)
Band and gig of 2008 for me were The Charlatans 'You Cross My Path' - I feel they have been overlooked and they devalued their album a bit by giving it away for free which is a shame as it's cracking.
Have a smashing 2009 x
As a fan of both Phil Spector's work and some JAMC songs, I find Glasvegas actively offensive.
Happy New Year.
Thanks indeed Mr Collins, as I only 'got into' your blog this year - and subsequently the whole blogworld, I had been reading your back catalogue and was disappointed to find no end of year list for 2007. but tis back this year so hurrah for that.
so a late comment here as I've just read an article on MSN by Tom Townsend that used the phrase 'flat-pack indie' which I loved (it may be an old phrase but it's new to me: "Perhaps the biggest insult to taste and decency came in the shape of what's been described as 'flat-pack indie'.
he writes:
"These were bands who appeared to have been assembled on a production line to look and sound as much like "wot da kids are into" as possible, but on closer inspection were insubstantial, cynically marketed facsimiles of groups from the recent past" that be Scouting for Girls then. Angel Delight Rock.
on books could I recommend two easy to read non-fictioners: Queuing for Beginners: The Story of Daily Life from Breakfast to Bedtime by Joe Moran - a dissection of the everyday which might appeal to you. I have also recently enjoyed the bus stop reading of 'Is it Just Me or is Everything Shit?: The Encyclopedia of Modern Life' by Alan McArthur and Steve Lowe. It reads like one of those whiney Jeremy Clarkson books but the authors are lefties and funnier.
I personally had 'That's Me in the Corner' as one of my books of the year. More power to your typing fingers in this new year, sir.
Doughboy, here's my review of 2007. I might well check out the Joe Moran book, he's one of the few New Statesman contributors I like.
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