Best of 2008: Pete Gidlund of Winter’s Fall on Birds & Batteries’ I’ll Never Sleep Again
December 23, 2008
I love a record that’s a tough one to crack. And speaking of eggs, you gotta have some huevos to lead your album off with a Neil Young cover (not to mention pull it off). And anyone would admit it’s quite a dichotomy: to compare Birds and Batteries’ sunny backstage candor and slick onstage performances with the angular, sometimes counter-intuitive (read: smart, brave) songwriting and production choices heard here, which is why, for me, I’ll Never Sleep Again is the best Bay Area record of 08.
birds_batteries_Ill_Never_Sleep_Again.mp3
Birds & Batteries – “I’ll Never Sleep Again”
Related Posts:
Best of 2008: Adrian Bischoff of ipickmynose on Two Sheds’ Self-Titled EP
December 22, 2008
When this year started I had no knowledge of Two Sheds. After I heard “It’s Hard” and then the rest of their album, Strange Ammunition, I was hooked. They do bluesy, folky rock music with some of appreciation of the slowness and spareness (and the tension created by those things) of slowcore, all while being drenched in the deceptively simple melodies and the gorgeous, breathy female vocals of Caitlin Gutenberger.
01%20You.mp3
Two Sheds – “You”
Related Posts:
Best of 2008: Eric Ruud of Sholi on Why?’s Alopecia
December 22, 2008
Â
“alone…. something something…” (repeat indefinitely)
It’s 2pm on Good Friday and I’m in Oakland, walking home from the BART train to my apartment at 29th and Fairmount, trying to place the melody and words. What is this song that is stuck in my head? After a few seconds of scanning my memory, I’m fairly certain it’s the new Why? record, Alopecia, and I make a mental note to listen to it when I get home.
There is a punch line coming.
The_Hollows.mp3
Why? – “The Hollows”
Related Posts:
Announcing: Guest Bloggers Tell Us the Best of 2008!
December 19, 2008
We’re going to be taking a break from regular news blogging over the next two weeks, but we’ve asked some of our friends in the San Francisco Bay Area music scene to take over TheBayBridged.com until the new year. They’ll all be answering the question that tends to be on a music fan’s mind as the year draws to a close: What was the best music of 2008?
2008 was without a doubt a terrific year for Bay Area music, and we’ve received a ton of great perspectives from some of our favorite local musicians, journalists and music industry insiders. Our first two essays will be up on Monday! Happy holidays!
