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Webcuts Top 25 Albums of 2008

Ladies and gentlemen, the envelope please! Webcuts favourite albums of 2008 as argued and fought over by us, including star-studded appearances from Beach House, My Morning Jacket, Fleet Foxes, Nick Cave, Santogold, Okkervil River and many more...

The Welcome Mat – Gram

In the annals of Australian music history, The Welcome Mat only succeeded in living up to their name, laid down at the gates of opportunity to watch in dismay as their more fated friends were to find out what lay behind door number one. As an underground phenomenon in Sydney, they were the kings of

By |2020-12-31T09:57:21+00:00December 22nd, 2008|Categories: Features, Secret History of Australian Music|Tags: , , , |3 Comments

Beach House – London – 2 December 2008

Beach House Cargo, London 2nd December 2008 Roughly a year since their last headline show at the Water Rat in Kings Cross, Baltimore’s Beach House have doubled their output and returned to London on the tail end of a European tour, promoting Devotion, their second album released earlier in the year. Having played support on recent tours by Cat

By |2021-01-31T01:27:04+00:00December 3rd, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Shearwater – London – 22 November 2008

"I don't know. I feel a bit naughty playing here", confides Jonathan Meiburg, singer with the Austin, Texas outfit Shearwater, sitting in front of a grand piano in St. Giles in the Fields, an 17th century church in London's West End. As a packed audience crammed pews to watch in rapt appreciation, Shearwater settled in

By |2021-02-01T00:31:06+00:00November 23rd, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Various Artists – Be True To Your School (A Fortuna Pop! Compilation)

Fortuna Pop!, 2008 [7/10] Fortuna Pop! is the pre-eminent label for those special acts that can't find a home anywhere else. Think of it as a shelter for the abandoned, misunderstood band either bursting with unrecognised talent or just looking for a place to crash. The sticker on the CD says "25 SMASH HITS from

By |2021-01-16T00:18:30+00:00November 14th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

TV on the Radio – Interview with Jaleel Bunton (Static, 2008)

Having just released one of the stand-out (and Webcuts approved) albums of 2008 with the awe-inspiring brilliance of Dear Science, Static's Chris Berkley spoke to Jaleel Bunton, drummer of Brooklyn's roof-raising TV On The Radio as the band embark on their American tour. Webcuts was on hand recently to see TV On The Radio debut their

By |2021-02-09T01:56:33+00:00November 4th, 2008|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , , , , |1 Comment

Deerhunter – Microcastle

4AD, 2008 [10/10] It's refreshing to listen to a band riding on a wave of no hype. No Myspace campaigns, no sycophantic hipsters attempting to crystal ball the next Vampire Weekend. Bradford Cox could probably walk into a bar anywhere and not get a second glance, and even then only for his rakish frame and

By |2021-01-04T03:31:37+00:00October 28th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

The Walkmen – You & Me

Fierce Panda, 2008 [8/10] The Walkmen have always sounded like a band out of time. From the ashes of once great Jonathan Fire-eater, they arrived on the New York scene shortly before the great Strokes explosion of 2000. Appearing as the infinitely more inviting alternative they lost out in the pin-up stakes but proved their

By |2021-01-09T08:33:58+00:00October 23rd, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

The Organ – Thieves

Mint Records, 2008 [9/10] Vancouver's The Organ shared that same shadowy intellectual existence that made them sound like a darker version of The Smiths, without Johnny Marr's trademark flair and Morrissey's veiled humour. Helmed by singer/lyricist Katie Sketch, they created a delicate sound that brooded and pined, Sketch's lyrics reading like private diary entries turned

By |2021-01-02T04:15:51+00:00October 19th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

TV on the Radio – Dear Science

4AD, 2008 [9/10] Brooklyn art/beat innovators TV on the Radio return with their third album, a soulful slice of inspiration and invention, moving away from the doom and desperation of 2006's Return to Cookie Mountain to give us their own potent and poignant sign o' the times. TV on the Radio's chief technician David Sitek

By |2021-01-02T04:13:51+00:00October 13th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Jay Reatard – Matador Singles ’08

Matador, 2008[rating:7/10] Memphis native Jay Reatard (Jay Lindsey) has been making a name for himself since the late 90s, in bands like The Reatards and Lost Sounds, mixing up garage rock and synth punk. Recently signed to Matador Records under his own name, his output with them to date has been a succession of hit

By |2020-12-31T09:25:00+00:00October 9th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Supergrass – Brisbane – 2 October 2008

"How you doin'? You alright?" asks an out of breath Gaz Coombes during their first Brisbane show in several years. The assembled punters shout back "yeah!", hoping that the next song will be the golden goose turned albatross hit "Alright". It isn't, but no one is really displeased when it turns out to be another

By |2021-02-01T00:15:01+00:00October 5th, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

The Faint – Australian Interview with Jacob Thiele about Faciinatiion (Static, 2008)

It may come as some surprise that for a band who always seem to be on the cutting edge The Faint have actually been in existence for over a decade, combining punk attitude and guitars with a hellava lot of synthesizers and electronics. Static's Chris Berkley sits down with The Faint's keyboardist, Jacob Thiele, and

By |2021-02-09T01:47:40+00:00October 3rd, 2008|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Glasvegas – Glasvegas

Columbia, 2008 [9/10] From the Jesus and Mary Chain through to Franz Ferdinand, every once in a while the sound of Scotland will seemingly unleash an act that will take the music world by storm. Having whetted appetites with releasing several enticing limited edition singles over the last 12 months, Glasgow's Glasvegas have finally delivered

By |2021-01-02T04:12:07+00:00October 3rd, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Constantines – Kensington Heights

Arts & Crafts, 2008 [8/10] Toronto's Constantines have tirelessly flown under the radar for many years now. Fiercely independent and untied to any particular scene or movement, their sound is punishing blend of brittle punk and impassioned rock and roll. They're like a true modern day blue-collar rock band. Endlessly compared to Bruce Springsteen and

By |2021-01-02T04:07:30+00:00September 27th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

The Vines – Melodia

Cooking Vinyl, 2008 [5/10] How times and fortunes quickly change. Where once The Vines were heralded as being part of some new rock and roll explosion, they became its first liability and not even a doctors note could explain away the fact that the Vines were creating more headlines than they were music. Two albums

By |2021-01-02T04:10:14+00:00September 24th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

The Breeders – London – 3 September 2008

The Breeders Shepherd's Bush Empire London 3rd September 2008 For a long time The Breeders seemed to go the way of the Pixies. As both Deal sisters battled their demons, Kim with liquor and Kelley with drugs, attempts at reviving their careers in the late '90s proved disappointing. Returning with Mountain Battles, their second album

By |2021-01-20T03:38:41+00:00September 20th, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Okkervil River – The Stand Ins

Jagjaguwar, 2008 [8/10] The Austin boys in Okkervil River are back with another album and like always it's filled with surprising stories, dense lyrics and great tunes that stick with you. The Stand Ins sees the band explore the issue of stardom and fame from different perspectives including those of groupies, porn stars, ex-boyfriends and

By |2021-01-02T03:51:08+00:00September 13th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Stereolab – Chemical Chords

4AD, 2008 [7/10] Stereolab were an essential part of the 90s and a flipside to the wave of angst-ridden guitar bands that characterised that decade. Influenced by obscure experimental and pop bands, Stereolab set about creating a post-rock avant-garde sound that would hold them in high regard with critics and music fans alike. Returning with

By |2021-01-02T03:53:19+00:00September 3rd, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Way Out West Festival – Gothenburg – 9 August 2008

In the second part of our exclusive Way Out West festival coverage, held in Gothenburg, Sweden, Webcuts has reviews, photos, and setlists from the third and last day, Saturday 9 August. Bands reviewed: Sahara Hotnights, Fleet Foxes, Caesars, Silverbullit, Håkan Hellström, The Flaming Lips and the legendary Neil Young. Way Out West Day Three --

Way Out West – Gothenburg – 8 August 2008

Webcuts brings you the lowdown from this year's Way Out West Festival held in Gothenburg, Sweden, including reviews, photos, and setlists from the first two days, Thursday 7 and Friday 8 August 2008. Bands reviewed: Buzzcocks, The Sonics, Okkervil River, The National, Sonic Youth, Grinderman and Broder Daniel. Way Out West Day One and Two

The Gaslight Anthem – The ’59 Sound

SideOneDummy, 2008 [9/10] The ’59 Sound starts, fittingly, with a sound of romance and antiquity -- a needle laid to vinyl. A spindly guitar riff echoes faintly in the distance, then suddenly erupts into an anthem. From this point onward, The Gaslight Anthem's The ’59 Sound pulses with warmth and energy forged by the fusion

By |2021-01-02T03:56:26+00:00August 19th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Heaven 17 – Live at Last

Cooking Vinyl, 2008 [1/10] For those unaware, Heaven 17 existed on the periphery of the pioneering electronic new wave scene. They didn't have the pop flair of the Human League or the sequined glitz of ABC. Releasing a handful of albums sporadically throughout the 80s they never had the repeated chart success of their peers.

By |2021-01-02T03:59:47+00:00August 4th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

Lightspeed Champion – Interview with Dev Hynes (Static, 2008)

Dev Hynes was once a teenage Test Icicle but now goes it alone under the name Lightspeed Champion. This year's Falling off the Lavender Bridge surprised many, especially Test Icicles fans, as its charming mix of Britpop, folk and alt.country was a significant departure from the indie meets hardcore of his former band. Static's Chris

By |2021-01-24T08:11:40+00:00August 4th, 2008|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Paul Westerberg – 49:00

Dry Wood Music, 2008 [rating:8/10] Paul Westerberg fronted one of the last truly great rock and roll bands with The Replacements. The entire Replacements oeuvre is currently being remastered and re-released for those who missed the boat or who want some audio clarity amidst the drunken rock and roll and Westerberg's dyslexic art. To strike

By |2020-12-31T09:37:13+00:00August 4th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

Ipso Facto – London – 31 July 2008

Ipso Facto Pure Groove Records, London 31st July, 2008 Having caught our attention last year with their goth and garage graces, Webcuts ventured down to Pure Groove records in East London to catch Ipso Facto launch their latest single "Ears and Eyes", the follow-up to last year's highly impressive debut "Harmonise". Unfortunately and incorrectly aligned

By |2021-01-20T01:15:09+00:00August 1st, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

Hoodoo Gurus – My Girl

In our never-ending attempt to immortalise those classic Australian singles that touched our collective hearts, Webcuts shines a light on the Hoodoo Gurus and their tear-jerking ode to love gone astray "My Girl". Australian release: Big Time, 1983 It was in the pages of Countdown magazine around 1984 that I first recall seeing

M83 – Saturdays = Youth

Virgin, 2008 [7/10] I have a very vivid memory of M83's previous album Before the Dawn Heals Us being played at a thunderous volume while sleeping at a friend's house early one morning, and it shook through the drunken spillover of the night before as if the ceiling inside my head was about to cave

By |2021-01-02T03:48:00+00:00July 24th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Kaki King – Dreaming of Revenge

Cooking Vinyl, 2008 [rating:6.5/10] Having scored a Golden Globe nominated film soundtrack with Eddie Vedder, appeared on recent albums for Tegan and Sara and the Foo Fighters, and being named by Rolling Stone magazine as one of the new gods of guitar, you'd think that everything is coming up roses for Kaki King, the 28

By |2021-01-01T07:00:19+00:00July 15th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Hoodoo Gurus – Interview with Dave Faulkner (2008)

Living proof that great bands and great songs endure all, Sydney's Hoodoo Gurus are the epitome of the walking jukebox, with a back catalogue of classic singles and albums that have become as much part of the Australian consciousness as any other. From their conception in 1981 they have been captivating audiences the world over

By |2021-01-31T01:18:07+00:00July 12th, 2008|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Hoodoo Gurus – London – 4 July 2008

Hoodoo Gurus The Forum, London 4th July, 2008 Photo by Craig Smith. "I can still recall the time" began Dave Faulkner, as he stood in front of 1500 Australians (and some locals) at London's Forum last Friday night. This time those words held a little more poignancy, playing in the same venue Hoodoo Gurus

By |2021-01-31T01:01:57+00:00July 11th, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , , |0 Comments

The Earthmen – Whoever’s Been Using This Bed

It was the Johnny Marr guitar flourishes at the start that first sucked me in. Here is the moment when a band who've been doggedly plying their guitar pop trade since the early 90s actually wrote something worth a damn. I remember when I first heard this (which would've been sometime around January 1997), turning

Darren Hayman and Jack Hayter – London – 13 June 2008

Darren Hayman and Jack Hayter Luminaire, London 13th June 2008 What do you call a Hefner revival without two of it's original members? Halfner. Hayman has recognised that it would be something of an indignity to bill himself and Jack as "Hefner" and have settled on this short tour by using both their names. Having

By |2021-01-22T01:10:17+00:00July 4th, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , |0 Comments

Liquid Liquid – Slip In and Out of the Phenomenon

Domino Records, 2008 [6/10] Post punk, new funk, even if its old junk, it's still rock and roll to me. Call it what you want, but history shows that Manhattan's Liquid Liquid were essentially a dub/groove-based band that while in their short lifespan became incredibly influential on the New York music scene both then and

By |2021-01-02T03:16:34+00:00July 4th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Husky Rescue – Interview with Marko Nyberg (2008)

Hailing from Helsinki Husky Rescue are the brainchild of songwriter/bassist Marko Nyberg assisted by the magnetic Reeta-Leena Korhola on vocals, Miika Colliander on guitar, Ville Riippa on keyboards, and Anssi Sopanen on drums. Webcuts questions Marko, one of Finland's finest, about the new album, Ghost Is Not Real, the Finnish countryside, blueberries and all things

Spiritualized – Interview with Jason Pierce about Songs in A&E (Static, 2008)

After a break of five years since their last album Amazing Grace, and a near crippling bout of double pneumonia, Spiritualized are back and in perfect health with their finest album to date with Songs in A&E. Chris Berkley of Static spoke to Jason Pierce about his illness, working with Harmony Korine, and the effect

By |2021-02-09T02:11:53+00:00June 26th, 2008|Categories: Interviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges

Rough Trade, 2008 [7.5/10] Never has a record so wrong-footed me like Evil Urges has. Louisville's My Morning Jacket were always a band with broad influences in their sound. 2005's Z was the strongest indication that their fret-tapping southern rock roots had run their course. Playing a solo show in London to promote the album,

By |2021-01-02T03:14:49+00:00June 20th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Santogold – Santogold

Downtown/Inertia, 2008[rating:7/10] "The rules are...there are no rules" intoned one time (Transvision) vamp Wendy James and is a maxim which Santi White, better known as Santogold, takes to heart. Older and wiser than most of her peers -- her C.V. includes stints as A&R rep for Epic Records and singer in rock/ska band Stiffed --

By |2020-12-31T09:29:33+00:00June 18th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments

Bob Mould – London – 25 May 2008

Bob Mould Koko, London 25th May 2008 Bob Mould turns to the crowd and informs them that they last time he played this venue, then named Camden Palace, it was 1985 and the band was Hüsker Dü. There are cheers and screams, hoots and hollers. Having already sprinkled his 90 minute set with choice tunes

By |2021-02-01T00:08:55+00:00June 16th, 2008|Categories: Live Reviews|Tags: , , , , , |0 Comments

The Radio Dept. – Freddie and the Trojan Horse

Labrador, 2008 [8/10] It was not the lyrics that got me hooked on The Radio Dept but rather their gentle, dreamy melodies. The vocals of Johan Duncanson are an integral part of the band's sound but the words often blend into the background and set the mood rather then tell stories. The first single from

By |2021-01-16T00:13:40+00:00June 12th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , |0 Comments

Camper Van Beethoven – Popular Songs of Great Enduring Strength and Beauty

Cooking Vinyl, 2008 [7/10] Listening to a Camper Van Beethoven CD is like opening a time capsule to an era where the alternative music scene was more of a nascent beast than what it is now, where bands like REM, The Replacements and Husker Du reigned supreme. The Zappa-influenced Camper Van Beethoven fell somewhere inbetween,

By |2021-01-02T02:57:44+00:00June 10th, 2008|Categories: Album Reviews|Tags: , , , , , , , |0 Comments