Now That's What I Call..An Average Year For Music

This year did start with exciting prospects after Kings of Leon, LCD Soundsystem and Arcade Fire all releasing epic albums in 2007. Personally, with regards to new music, The Virgins encouraged me to believe that 2008 was filled with potential. However, my expectance dropped faster than you can say ‘I like Vampire Weekend, but all their songs do kind of sound like Graceland.’ The thing is I do like Vampire Weekend, but all their songs do kind of sound like Graceland. I can’t deny that they are fun live, but if that’s the best 2008 could offer then I stand by the fact that it was not a great year. MGMT were another favourite in the ‘Best of’ lists circulating the internet, but I am intrigued to see how the second album shapes up. As for my hope for The Virgins; well they made the monumental mistake of buying into their own hype in the world of cool. I was left with a replaced drummer and an album, pale in comparison to the previous E.P, and what they are obviously capable of producing. The fact that they’ve had more coverage in fashion magazines than music magazines suggests a lot.

Without getting all High Fidelity in my old age, my anger is probably magnified by the fact that I’m just not able to fully ‘get’ other big names of 2008. I’m definitely not saying that Santogold, Bon Iver, Fleet Foxes etc aren’t good. They are cute and fun but I want to hear a song that makes me cry, or a song so moving I want it played at my funeral. On the upside of all this, it has opened the gate of nostalgia and 2008 has been a good year for rediscovering old music, weirdly illustrated by Rick Astley winning ‘Best Act Ever’ at the MTV Europe awards. (I’m not sure if this is great, funny, or ridiculous).

As for chart music, which seemed to be making waves after buying Noah and the Whale into the top 10, well it was never going to last. I’ve just heard that the winner of X Factor has beaten the late, great Jeff Buckley to Christmas number one (even after admitting that the Leonard Cohen classic ‘does nothing for her’). I also hear that the biggest selling artist in the UK in 2008 was Scouting For Girls. I must give them credit for tricking a nation into buying the same song just with a different title, several times. They didn’t even change the key! Though it’s about time someone tells them that Elvis not only is dead, but their 3 chord drivel is making him turn in his grave. Not so lov-e-ly.