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    Top Ten Albums of '08 - Number 9

    By Prophet on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 6:17pm | Arts & Entertainment

    9. Neon Neon - Stainless Steel

    I'm sorry but any outfit who can put out an album that sounds like the music I listened to when I was 8, and make it sound pretty fantastic along the way, deserves to be in the top 10 in this very down year for music.

    It's not that they're ripping Gary Numan, et al.  It's that they're proving that there's still pretty good 80s synth-pop to be made.  And, that they chose to make it a concept album about the life and times of John Delorean (creater of the car Doc Brown deemed appropriate for his flex capaciter) only enhances the experience.

    Gruff Rhys and Boom Bip

    This album was all I listened to for about a month in the early part of the year, but I haven't played it much since.  In reality, this little project by Gruff Rhys (of Super Furry Animals) and some guy I never heard of called Boom Bip proved to have little staying power.  But, for that one month, March to be exact, it did the trick.

    And for that, and for I Told her on Alderaan - which sounds like the best possible song your 4th grade friend with the big-ass Casio, and the cool-ass plastic Tie Fighter, could ever write - Stainless Steel sneaks into the top 10.

    There are some duds along the way, but you better get used to that on this list.  2008 was not a great year for the album.

    Lastly, I do want to note that an argument could've been made, on similar grounds for the self-titled debut from The Week That Was, which just got nosed out.  But with so many debuts on this list, I gave Rhys the benefit of the dobut.

    Notable Songs:  Dream Cars, Steel Your Girl

     

     

    Topics: 
    Arts & Entertainment

    Comments

    Another great call, Prophet. Dream cars though, far & away the best song on the album. Don't think it had a video though. Bummer. Ok, two fer two, bud. Rock on.

    by quinn esq on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 7:34pm

    I'm digging the first song much more than the 2nd. The 2nd sounds like every song I never cared for when I was a kid - which I guess means your summary is pretty damn accurate


    by Mortimus on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 7:44pm

    Dream Cars - you know it!

    Here's the track (no vid), I couldn't figure out how to embed it -

    http://www.imeem.com/neonneon/music/Tt20nZTR/neon_neon_dream_cars/


    by Prophet on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 8:24pm

    I like the original version of the first song better. Remember? Back when the band was called Tears for Fears and the chord progression was original. 

    I think those 80s boys might even have grounds for a law suit. If they aren't dead from overdosing on cocaine.


    by Orlando on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 8:09pm

    Man, Orlando, that is some cynical sh*t


    by Prophet on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 8:25pm

    Sorry. I think I might have some lingering resentment toward the 80s.


    by Orlando on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 9:37pm

    C'mon ya big whiner. Try the imeem link to Dream Cars. We're allowed to pick up a little from Tears/Fears & the 80's aren't we?

    by quinn esq on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 8:58pm

    Or else.... http://www.todaysbigthing.com/2008/12/05


    by quinn esq on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 9:06pm

    Quinn, I know you introduced me to imeem, and I'll be forever grateful. But I found something better in Pandora. She just gets me.

    by Orlando on Sun, 12/14/2008 - 9:40pm

    I'm getting way more of a Peter Gabriel vibe from this.


    by DF on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 12:16pm

    Midnight Boom, baby. Better make it. The Kills. Last Day of Magic. Cheap and Cheerful. What NY Used to Be.

    by quinn esq on Mon, 12/15/2008 - 6:19pm