While I don’t mean to ask such a heavy question it seems appropriate given the fact that I haven’t updated in over a month. Where was your faithful narrator? Did he himself lose the Faith? The answer is no, I was off on a venture called Geronimo Live, but unfortunately the people I worked with were too unprofessional so I’m returning to doing my own thing, and that includes updating CC religiously.
So how does one begin updating again after so long off? Well, I suppose I’ll start today by doing a rundown of my favorite things so far in 2008.
TOP LOCAL BANDS 2008
BALMORHEA
This folksy post-rock band recalls Sigur Ros if they were, like, actually good (sorry, just never been an SR fan). Their new album Rivers Arms simply blows the roof off any instrumental album you’ve heard all year. With a sound like a faded Polaroid and a roster of challenging musicians, Balmorhea would do well to stay in the scene and continue making awesome music.
This metal-cum-punk firestorm of a band seems to be on the cusp of a major breakthrough. With the intricate instrumentation and frank brutality that seems to be the zeitgeist of the ever-elitist metal community right now, combined with the punk politics and self-releasing ideology of the Maximum Rock ‘n Roll crowd, PFS refuses to copy old metal standards, instead creating a style all their own.
FACELESS WEREWOLVES
Could it be possible that one of the coolest, most interesting bands in Austin has actually outdone itself on their sophomore release? The excellent Pardon Me, Are Those Your Claws in My Back? definitely is in my top ten for the year, and it’s no wonder considering the band has perfected its manic, self-referential Monkees-cum-punk sound. Three vocalists, all with virtuoso performances on their respective instruments, this trio, with their equal parts bluesy and rock sound definitely keep Austin proud.
RINGO DEATHSTARR
Here’s a band that namedrops old-school Dandy Warhols, fuses shoegaze and wall-of-sound ethos with a rock attitude, and sports a live show that frequently features destroyed drum kits and guitarists falling all over each other. Need I say more?
TOP ALBUMS THAT I WAS ANTICIPATING AND LUCKILY WERE AWESOME
CRYSTAL CASTLES
Cannibal Cheerleader favorites Crystal Castles definitely delivered when their debut LP dropped this March. Keeping the best tracks from their respective EPs (”Alice Practice”, “xxzxcuzx me”, “Love and Caring”) and dropping new awesome tracks like the fantastic “Black Panther”, “Knights”, and “Through the Hosiery”. These guys remain some of my favorites for 2008 and their SXSW show, while short due to an injury by lead singer Alice Glass, was nonetheless a freaking blast. Keep an eye on these guys and see where this album takes them.
BE YOUR OWN PET
This foursome’s sophomore release Get Awkward was everything I could’ve wanted from a followup. It retains the breakneck speed and silliness of their self-titled debut but rewards with deeper lyrics, more refined melodies, and sharper hooks that show a band that’s definitely maturing. The unfortunate part of this album’s release was Universal’s refusal to release three of the album’s best tracks (”Becky”, “Blow Your Mind”, and “Black Hole”). Sucks for purchasers of their US release *cough* but somehow people might manage to find these tracks…
Black Hole
Blow Your Mind
Becky
THE RAVEONETTES
Lust Lust Lust is the soundtrack to all your woozy, colorful nightmares. The visions of spiraling down into a hazey ether are pretty heavily captured in the shoegazey goodness that is this duo’s fourth release. Highly recommended for shoegaze and aspiring rock critics alike.
GNARLS BARKLEY
While The Odd Couple is definitely a weirder LP than this power duo’s debut, the underground hip-hop vibe comes across stronger here and I’d wager to say first single “Run” is a better single than “Crazy” anyway.
TOP ARTISTS THAT I DISCOVERED OUT OF THE BLUE
FRIGHTENED RABBIT
Found these guys by picking a random review to do for Soundcheck Magazine the other day and they’re definitely the bee’s knees when it comes to tender indie-rock. A foursome from Glasgow they remind me of a more sincere Shins, with a knack for melody and harmony but with a singer-songwriter confessional edge that, while sounding naive and young, is all the better for it in its conviction and depth. Definitely worth a look if you’re into the high drama of Arcade Fire but the simple instrumentation of early Death Cab.
DEAR AND THE HEADLIGHTS
Saw these dudes on a chick’s purse and thought it was the coolest name for a band ever. Went to the myspace and really was astounded by their musicianship and ultra-tight hooks. Definitely check out the single “Sweet Talk” and you’ll be instantly converted. They’re on tour now with Paramore and Jimmy Eat World, and they definitely recall the latter’s early albums so hear them now before they get big.
CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES
Saw this girl at the Alternative Press Showcase at SXSW and her set was pretty phenomenal. Just a girl on guitar and a guy on a keyboard, CS is poised to really come into her own this year, just based off the strength of the songs I saw her play at her 30 minute show. Confused as to how Charlotte fits into the Warped Tour community (she’ll be a staple artist for the whole tour) and having picked up her eponymous three-song EP it’s easy to see how she straddles the line between singer-songwriter chic and punk rocker with songs like “Sweet Valium High”. Definitely worth checking out and definitely pick up the new album when it drops.
GRAND OLE PARTY
I have a thing for female vocalists and short of Erica from the Faceless Werewolves, the best drummer/singer in rock is>> from Grand Ole Party, who remind of early White Stripes, with its minimalist edge and bluesy-vocals. Check out “Look Out Young Son” for a fantastic sample of what their debut album Humanimals has to offer.
THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM
Coming off as a working class Against Me!, Gaslight Anthem hail from Jersey and they like to make it known. Tracks like “I’da Called You Woody, Joe”, which they absolutely tore through at their show at SXSW will convert you to this band’s sound quicker than a Bush can sink an economy.
TOP LIVE SHOWS FROM SXSW ‘08
MY MORNING JACKET 
This band tore it up both at the Parish and at the Austin Music Hall during SXSW, and the new tracks from their upcoming Evil Urges sound like it could be their best album yet. Definitely an experience.
CRYSTAL CASTLES
After having waited over a year to see these guys since they skipped out on a performance at SXSW ‘07, I finally got a five-song performance from the beaten and bruised (due to a car crash) Crystal Castles. Ripping through “Alice Practice” I understood how this band gets kids dancing and moshing all at once, and for some reason, it still makes sense.
ALL TIME LOW
While it’s easy to write All Time Low off as a scene band, one has to admit that the band has got some great hooks and their renditions of “Coffee Shop Soundtrack” and “Let It Roll” at their AP Showcase performance rank among the best by any band at the festival this year. Definitely a great band.
CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES
Tired of singer-songwriter babes? This girl’s breaking the mold and her new album’s going to break rock if it features some of the songs from this AP showcase performance.
TOP THINGS I’M LOOKING FORWARD TO IN 2008
CAT POWER @ STUBB’S APRIL 20TH
I’ve been unable to satiate my love for live Chan Marshall with just the online download of her Black Session bootleg. Her show at Stubb’s has been on my calendar ever since I first heard of it.
THE NEW MY MORNING JACKET ALBUM EVIL URGES
I mean jeez, wouldya just look at that awesome cover?! Keep rock Evil I say. Keep an eye out for awesome tracks like “Highly Suspicious” and “
CONVERGE @ RED 7 APRIL 22ND
I’m completely ready and willing to be torn to shreds in a punk rock frenzy worthy of the history books.
BE YOUR OWN PET @ STUBB’S
Missed these guys at SXSW so I’m ready to make up for it. Too bad though that they’re playing with lame as shit band She Wants Revenge, but what can you do.
RILO KILEY @ STUBB’S
The final stop of this their Under the Blacklight Tour is right here in Austin in June and my friends and I have definitely already bought tickets.
THE NEW CHARLOTTE SOMETIMES ALBUM WAVES AND THE BOTH OF US
Again, awesome cover! Hey, maybe I’m a stickler but I think of an album cover as a piece of pop-art so bands today should know you can’t skimp on that stuff. Actually, I think the real cover has Charlotte up as a marionette and not a suicidal emo girl but both really work for me. Plus, I’m really looking forward to hearing studio versions of some of her awesome live tracks.
WEEZER – THE RED ALBUM
New Weezer album? Rad! Return to old, nerd-rock anthems? Hells yeah! A return to another eponymous, color-coated album? My life is complete. June release for this bad boy, it’s going to be epic. Stay tuned for all the big Weezer/Cuomo news as it comes out in the next few weeks here at Cannibal Cheerleader.
And hey, if you read this, do be so kind as to leave a comment so I know there are people out there who enjoy my stuff! This is the post for Monday April 7th so I’m posting a day early just to give everyone time to check it out! Thanks all!