Best albums of 2008!

[Chris P]

I propose a new top ten: the best single sentences ever written in this forum.

dunno if it was original but I liked Howard's :

I love the way this topic - with those last few posts - has just dissipated from a huge firework display, to just a few pretty sparks drifting to earth.

[howard male]

Chris cheekily wrote -

dunno if it was original but I liked Howard's :

Of course it was original! You think I do cover versions of other people's sentences?

But if I was to write it again - as, who knows, maybe one day I will - I'd definitely leave out that last comma which definitely spoils it for me - its total pointlessness should automatically disqualify it. So if anyone would like to take it off my hands it's yours for an apostrophe and a packet of cheese and onion crisps.

[CantSleepClownsWillGetMe]

Charlie wrote -

I propose a new top ten: the best single sentences ever written in this forum.

There's one sentence (well, the title of a posting actually) that keeps catching my eye and making me chortle. It's Joe Cushley's heading: "Inuit throat-singing comin' atcha!", in the MySpace thread. Weirdness and hipness rolled into one short statement. To me - wonderful.

June

[Rob Hall]

The story so far to my ears:

Toumani Diabate - The Mande Variations
Cheb i Sabbah - Devotion

Watch this space pop pickers!

[Charlie]

[What do we do, Howard, when we've filled all ten slots in our lists and haven't got past the end of April?

Changed my mind and culled the list a bit.

1.
2. A Mad & Faithful Telling, by DeVotchKa
3.
4. 03, by Son of Dave
5.
6. 1 Real, by DJ Dolores
7
8. The Edge of Heaven - soundtrack
9.
10. Flavour, by D.J.Click

[Chris P]

1. Sevval Sam - Karadeniz (BlackSea) (Kalan label)
2. Mariza - Terra
3. Dem Trio - The Fountain
4. Huong Thanh & Nguyen Le - Fragile Beauty
5. Wasis Diop - Judu Bek
6. Mor Karbasi - The Beauty & the Sea
7. Burkina Electric - Reem Tekre
8. Roy Paci & Aretuska - Suonoglobal
9. Kiran Ahluwalia - Wanderlust
10. Elvis Costello - Momofuku

[CantSleepClownsWillGetMe]

April update -

1.
2.
3.
4. '03' by Son of Dave
5.
6. 'Piñata' by Mexican Institute of Sound
7
8.
9.
10.

'03' is chanking through the speakers at this very moment. Good tip - I like!

Now I'm going to check out Roy Paci & Aretuska (if I can find somewhere to listen to it online),

June

[Tom McPhillips]

Jonathan wrote -

In summation, I can only hope that no reader of this forum will give Devotion a miss due to Mr. male's casual and inaccurate remarks about the album.

As I've long had a reputation on this forum for having opinions which the majority disagree with, I suspect that my apparent dismissal of this album will actually get most forumites running to give it a listen.

I hate to disagree with Jonathan, when he's so vehement... and to agree with Howard, despite his appetite for controversy, but Devotion, which I've listened to a number of times is really not among Cheb's best works, in fact "generic" is the word that comes to mind. It's no La Kahena by any means and definitely no Shri Durga (which is probably remains my favorite ) Devotion is comparable to His second album Krishna Lila, which in retrospect seems more of an "in between" project.

Now, I'll just stand back from the screen while I prepare to survive the onslaught of Jonathan's apoplectic reaction...

And, as far as a best of the year so far, I really don't think there's been anything I've heard yet that has really jumped out at me...

But I'm sure Jonathan will... (jump out at me that is...)

[That Was Jonathan E. Then]

Actually, Tom, I just had a bit of chuckle, almost a laugh although far from a ROTFLOLSJOOMVLAC. Hope I didn't disappoint. I'm thinking of getting a hot key to say, "Reasonable people may differ" 'cos I've typed it so many times the past 24 hours.

I must say that my own casual couple of listens to the Roy Paci & Aretuska have not wowed me. Lot of work in it for sure, but the result seemed to me to be a bit of an overcooked melange. But I love the sleeve, that's a melange too, I guess — so there you go, "Reasonable people may differ" even with themselves. I cheated that was a copy-and-paste.

[Dominic]

I must say that my own casual couple of listens to the Roy Paci & Aretuska have not wowed me. Lot of work in it for sure, but the result seemed to me to be a bit of an overcooked melange.

I listened to it for the first time first thing this morning and felt much the same, but I'm enjoying it a lot more on the second hearing. Much more suited to evening listening, for one thing, and I'm sure it's a grower.

(I gather the guy who's selling it for £3.50 + p&p from Amazon marketplace still has more in stock.)

[Charlie]

to be upgraded

1. Umalali: The Garifuna Women's Project
2.
3. A Mad & Faithful Telling, by DeVotchKa
4. 03, by Son of Dave
5.
6. 1 Real, by DJ Dolores
7
8. The Edge of Heaven - soundtrack
9.
10. Flavour, by D.J.Click

[Tom McPhillips]

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7
8. Tasseomancy - The Ghost Bees
9. Lais - The Ladies Second Song
10. Maldita Tango - Melingo

And somewhat worryingly, all of those via fRoots!

[Jonathan E.]

The self-titled Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 release sounds like it will take one of my top spots for the year. Nice update on Fela's sound. I think Desert Crossroads from Etran Finatawa will also have legs. At least as far as my own personal taste goes.

[Des]

The self-titled Seun Kuti & Fela's Egypt 80 release sounds like it will take one of my top spots for the year. Nice update on Fela's sound. I think Desert Crossroads from Etran Finatawa will also have legs. At least as far as my own personal taste goes.

Two CDs I've been interested in but have seen little in the way of critical appraisal. Will investigate!

[Peter Culshaw]

this is one of the silliest lists yet.....

my prediction for my top five, however, is...

Umalali
Ceu
Toumani
Seun Kuti (he was great live, just got the CD)
Natacha Atlas
Dengue Fever (loved a coupla trax so far..)
Oumou Sangare Cd for sure (ditto)
SMOD (Amadou and mariams son - may not be till 09 tho - but if we want to do an 09 list its a strong contender - pretentious, moi???)

errr thats 8

at anyrate there will have to be some damn fine stuff to knock these out of the top ten

plus : re-issue /remix: I Like It Like That Fania remixes

compilation: Amazon surf music ! (ok - I'm putting that one together myself..)
ps - havent got round to Devotcha