Music says so much about a person. What they listen to (or don’t listen to for that matter) reflects social circles they belong to, personality, priorities, spiritual convictions, political views, and much more. In an attempt to let you get to know some of your leadership at Terra Nova, we’ve asked the pastoral lead team and current worship leaders to weigh in on their favorite music of 2008. Feel free to comment on your own musical discoveries of ’08, disagreements with the lists below, or things that got left of these lists.
Â
ED MARCELLE [Lead/Teaching Pastor]
#1
Conor Oberst -Â Conor Oberst
whole album. Â i have listened to it again and again. Â it is on my iphone, in my car and on my laptop. Â gifted writer. Â
#2
State Radio – Year of the Crow
for the third i am torn…
#2.5
After being absorbed with Donavon Frankenreiter’s Recycled Recipes last year, i got turned on to others of the same mellow blues/folk/surf hybrid genre.  i especially overplay Beautiful Girls Learn Yourself (2004).  Loved it musically and lyrically. Â
MATTHEW MILLER [Community Extensions Pastor]
#1
JJ Grey and Mofro -Â Orange Blossom
Muscle Shoals is alive and well in the music of JJ Grey. Â Most frequently listened to of 08.
#2
The Hold Steady – Stay Positive
Mix bar band, garage band and punk band and you have it. Â Very satisfying, makes me smile every time.
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The Avett Brothers – The Second Gleam
Who am I not to be predictable? Â My favorite band for last two years.
*Honorable Mention
The Low Anthem – Oh My God, Charlie Darwin
PHIL TAYLOR [Executive Pastor]
NPR -Â Business Story of the Day
NPR podcasts just never get old.
Elevator Music – Live from Victory Fellowship
It’s actually Mute Math, plus a couple other people from their church. Ask Scott about it, he probably knows the whole story. To my untrained ear, it sounds like what Sting would sound like if he made a worship album . . . and invited Bob Marley to fill in on a couple songs.
#3
Avett Brothers – Emotionalism
Matthew Miller has corrupted me with his hick rock obsession–my kids really like this CD as well.
SCOTT WOMER [Worship Arts Pastor, worship leader - Slane Hill]
There were some great musical moments for me this year, including The Black Keys, Coldplay, David Crowder Band, Death Cab For Cutie, The Duhks, Flight Of The Conchords, The Glorious Unseen, Hammock, Emmylou Harris, Kaki King, Daniel Lanois, Matisyahu, Mute Math, My Brightest Diamond, My Morning Jacket, Yael Naim, The Raconteurs, She & Him, Sigur Ros, Son Lux, TV On The Radio, Keith Urban, Vampire Weekend, and Abigal Washburn and the Sparrow Quartet, but according to the rules (who made up these rules anyway?) I can only pick three. So here are the most played for 2008:
#1
Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago
Bon Iver (aka. Justin Vernon) isolated himself in his father’s hunting cabin in Wisconsin and returned to civilization four months later having written and recorded this masterpiece. His slightly altered acoustic guitar and percussion tracks, along with his soothing falsetto, layered harmonies, and haunting melodies, create the perfect backdrop for a winter in upstate NY.
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
This bearded Seattle-based folk-rock band writes and performs harmony-driven songs with great melodies and a little shaped-note singing as well. #3
Alison Krauss & Robert Plant – Raising SandÂ
a. Two amazing singers
b. Producer – T-Bone Burnett
c. Guitarist – Marc Ribot
d. Drummer – Jay BelleroseÂ
e. Great songs
Need I say more?Â
ROB KEPARUTIS [worship leader - Last Night Camping]
Into The Wild – Soundtrack
Eddie Vedder is better than ever.
#2
Coldplay – Viva la Vida
How can you go wrong with some new Coldplay.
#3
Once – Soundtrack
Can’t get enough of this album.Â
PATTY WOMER [worship leader - Wayfaring Stranger]
#1
Keith Urban – Love, Pain and the Whole Crazy Thing
I actually like country…who knew?!!?
#2
Over the Rhine – Trumpet Child
I just love it – the instrumentation, the vocal phrasing, the lyrical content…an amazing work of art!
Yael Naim – Yael Naim
There’s nothing like trying to sing along when you don’t know Hebrew or French. I’ve made up a lot of interesting words…
Jon Foreman - Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer E.P.’s
Phil Wickham -Â singalong
Coldplay -Â Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Mute Math’s new record, which is due to release in the spring of 2009, would’ve made it’s way onto the list if it had been released in 2008. I almost just want to put in the second or third spot, simply from the previews of the upcoming record I have heard and the fact that I can listen to their first record an endless number of times.Â
Just to clarify…is this favorite new music of 2008 or favorite music in 2008?…(from the guy whose favorite music in 2008 is the same as his favorite music in each of the last 22 years)
Every time Phil puts NPR:) A great selection for favorite music of the year. I will definitely concur with “In To the Wild” and would submit Avett Bros “Mignonette” over any of the other two! Honorable mention – Johnny Flynn namely “The Box”. Great topic guys – hope to hear some more music ideas from others too!
Kudos to Phil Taylor for his #3 pick. Phil is well known around Terra for his discerning taste in bands.
I was challenged immensly by Lecrae’s new CD “Rebel” this year. Even if You don’t like Christian Rap, You can’t help but appreciate the content of this Man’s Music
From Dave the drummer. Sorry… I had to list my top 4.
My top two favorites haven’t changed for years. The challenge for everyone out there is to get me listening to something that bumps one of these off the list! Good Luck…
#1
Genesis – Seconds Out (1977)
In my view one of the best live albums of all time. I listen to it on a weekly basis
#2
Genesis – Genesis Archives, Vol. 1: 1967-1975 Disc 3
Another great live recording from Genesis.
#3
John Mellencamp – Words and Music: John Mellencamp
A collection of his best. Makes me think of my childhood and college days in Indiana. Indiana still feels like home.
#4
Alanis Morissette – Flavors of Entanglement (Deluxe Edition)
Great album. I love the overall sound of this album. Some of the best songs only come with the delux edition.
This would be your favorite music of 2008, old or new. So yours count, Dave.
Hmmm…I may often get lumped into the musically un-inclined along with Phil…but for the sake of it my 3 new favorites for 2008 would have to be
1. Avett Brothers – Second Gleam. Any album really, can’t stop listening to these guys.
2. Johnny Flynn – A Larum. Great new album Nicole and I just discovered.
3. Over the Rhine – Trumpet Child. I really enjoy the variety in sound and poetry.
Only one of my favorites from this year actually was released in 2008: Phil Wickham–Singalong. I am not one to listen to a lot of worship music, but this album really encouraged me. A guy, a guitar, and a couple thousand people “singing along” in worship. It felt like a glimpse of heaven.
Raising Sand–Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (2007). No offense to Alison Krauss (see below), but Robert Plant dominated this album, with much help from T. Bone Burnett. It was a powerful reminder that Plant is one of the most creative vocalists of the past 30 years or so.
Bright Eyes–Cassadaga (2007). I played this album to death in early 2008. Unbelievably original in every way.
Alison Krauss and Union Station–Live (2002). Beautiful harmonies and tasteful-yet-shredding dobro leads by the inimitable Jerry Douglas.
Buddy Miller–Universal United House of Prayer (2004). Scott gave me this because he said he couldn’t get into it, no matter how hard he tried. My experience was the opposite, especially with songs 4, 5, and 6.
Iron and Wine–The Creek Drank the Cradle (2002). Speaks for itself. Was on last year’s list, and will probably be on next year’s list.
Buddy Miller is one of my favorite guitarists, second only to Nels Cline (Wilco). I came back to that CD after a year and now I love it.
Despite the fact that a lot of my favorites came out with new albums this year (Coldplay, Keane, Jason Mraz, Ben Folds), I agree with Phil. The best music to my ears in 2008 was the music of 2007.
1. Radiohead–In Rainbows
2. Chris Cornell–Carry On
3. Maroon 5–It Won’t be Soon Before Long
Although, “officially” the Radiohead CD came out in stores in CD form in 2008, yet the “pay what you want” online sales happened in 2007. Either way, I agree with Rachel. I think “In Rainbows” will be the best release for the next 5 years. Seriously.
II was updating bios and enjoyed reading this blog post and felt the need to share my thoughts as well. First I have to agree with a few posts…
-Jakob Dylan is great! Kev and me got to see him at the Newport Folk Fest this year.
- Always love the Avett Brothers
-Cassadaga is amazing! As well as any Bright Eyes/Conor Oberst
As far as my list goes:
1. Deertick- War Elephants (Sept. 2007) I am obsessed- it never gets old. If you havent heard them before I suggest checking it out.
2. She and Him- Volume One (May 2008) Also amazing- band made up of Zooey Deschanel and M.Ward
3. Mates of State- Re-Arrange Us (2008) Anyone want to dance and just smile the whole album? Love them!
4. Jenny Lewis-Acid Tongue (2008) Anyone remember the movie Troop Beverly Hills? Acid tongue is her second solo album- both are great and have some awesome guest vocals… Conor Oberst, Elvis Costello
I’ll try to wrap up here but not before I list a few runners up: Brand New-The Devil and God are Raging Inside Me, M83-Saturdays=Youth, Pedro the Lion-Control, My Morning Jacket-Evil Urges, and my favorite band since high school had their farewell tour this year but will always remain top on my ipod…Piebald.
I have to add another honorable mention… I have always loved the Talking Heads and David Byrne, which is why Im surprised that I didn’t give his new CD with Brian Eno “Everything That Happens Will Happen Today” much of a listen when it was released last year (2008). But the album showed up on so many “best of” lists of 2008 that I gave it a try. Its really good … check it out. I think Byrne is an american original and he and Eno have made some great and very fresh music together. Side note … Frieda and I saw Byrne’s crazy oversized suit from “Stop Making Sense” at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Annex in Soho … We recommend the trip to any true music geek.
Old Genesis is awsome. I tried to get tickets but they were sold out. Peter Gabriel and Phil Collins were outstanding each in their own way with Genesis. I think for their solo careers, I enjoy music from both of them, but Peter Gabriel sort of kept his music on the cutting edge of alternative rock or progressive rock; Phil Collins got more into mainstream pop. I hope they come back again for a reunion.
If there are any Rush Fans out there, I hope that 2009 will be the year they will be voted into the Rock Hall of fame. Extremely talented, musicians whose music is very hard to play with some of the most thoughtful lyrics of our time. If Van Halen could make it I think it is Rush’s time this year.
My favs of 2008:
#1. The Subways-All or Nothing- energetic brit rock-3 piece…Great melodies!
#2 Katie Armiger-Believe. I should say Unbelievable-What a voice! File under country… (yes…country…I said it).
#3 Lystra’s Silence- Tremble Here. I arrived late to this party. This actually came out in 2007 and the band is unfortunately no longer together . Simply brilliant. For a Great worship experience…