Top 10s for 2008: Tobias Hellkvist
The following list represents some of the best parts of my audio moments in 2008. In no particular order:
Sonic Youth - Live @ Way Out West
Easily the best live experience for me this year. When they opened up with "Burning spear", and followed up with a bunch of other older songs, I went totally nuts. They are the coolest band on this earth.
Sawako - Bitter Sweet
This was one of this years greatest discoveries for me. From the very first time i heard this, I was totally amazed. I just love her soundscapes and moods. I really recommend her earlier album "Madoromi" as well.
P3 Dokumentär - Swedish Radio Documentaries
I've been listening to all the episodes of this documentary series on my iPod this year, and it's really nice to get updated on all the stuff you've heard of so many times, but never really knew anything about. High quality journalism and very entertaining.
Ryuichi Sakamoto
His collaborations with Christian Fennesz (Cendre) and Christopher Willits (Ocean Fire) has been on repeat this year. And his own piece "Only love can conquer hate" proves that he's just as good on his own.
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
They really deserve all the attention they got this year, this album is insanely good!
Metronomes - Accidental Birds
This is one of the songs i've been listening to quite frequently this year. It really gives me a nice, soothing feeling. It's from his excellent album "Canoe". It's really a pleasure sharing a split release with this guy.
Joan Of Arc - Boo Human
As a longtime Joan Of Arc fan, I think this is their best release in many years. They really have a truly unique way of composing music.
Nicolai Dunger - Soul Rush
This album was released back in 2001, but the reason I bring this up on my list is because this was the year I first discovered Nicolai's greatness. In my opinion, "Soul rush" is one of the best albums ever created by a Swedish artist, along with "The shape of punk to come" of course...
Bon Iver - Re:stacks
I first heard this song when i entered a small second hand shop in Amsterdam earlier this year. I was blown away instantly. When I asked the staff about what they were playing, it turned out he played there the night before... I later caught him in Copenhagen, where he also performed an awesome Talk Talk-cover.
Sigur Rós - Með Suð Í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust
This album made me happy! I really think that they took a step in the right direction here. Interesting to see if their next release will be another step towards more conventional songwriting.
The Sea And Cake - Car Alarm
One of my favourite bands released yet another great album this year. They continue to make cool, unique music and I hope they never stop.
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Tobias Hellkvist's 2008 releases include the album "Sides", a split EP with Scottish act Metronomes and the Dead Letters Spell Out Dead Words collaboration "White/Grey/Black", the latter of which is available as a free download on this very site.
www.tobiashellkvist.com
www.myspace.com/tobiashellkvist