I did intend to do a full top ten, but seeing as I ran out of time I’m gonna list (in no particular order) the top albums of 2008.. I didn’t get time to cut down my shortlist either..

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular - This is the only album I ranked and I did so at Number One. A little cliched? Probably.. Predictable? Yes.. They’re topping loads of lists for this accolade (including the NME) and so perhaps this wasn’t the most shocking, but the truth is that I was praying for a 2008 release on this album (though strictly it was first released in 2007 the retail and UK versions fell in 2008). These physc-rockers have created the best album in a long while. It falls under no specific genre or style, yet is instantly listenable.

Highlights – Time To Pretend, Kids, The Youth

MGMT – Kids

The Metros – More Money, Less Grief - The most under rated debut of the year. If you could bottle London, muggings, sexual riots, ASBOs, depression, topshop and all, then press it on to a CD, it would sound like this. The South London based garage indie rockers have produced one of the best albums of the year, every track is brilliant and the signles released have been on par with the quality of the album as a whole. This definately deserves a listen.

Highlights – Talk About It, Last Of The Lookers, Education Pt.2, Sexual Riot

The Metros -  Education Pt. 2 (Live)

Bloc Party – Intimacy - The unexpected third album from Bloc Party was a pleasant surprise, and anyone lucky enough to see them live this year were lucky as they maintained top form through festivals and tours. The album was a digital adventure in to varying sounds, lead single ‘Mercury’ was a stark contrast to some of the other more mellow singles. It wasn’t low on energy either, ‘Trojan Horse’ amongst others going down a treat at live shows.

Highlights – Signs (whilst there are a load on this album, this track is a must listen

Bloc Party – Talons

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10. Idlewild at London’s ULU (3rd July)
First time catching the indie rockers, blown away. So much so that I caught them again in Bristol just a month later, they were that good. They showed just how they’ve managed to be so successful for the past decade, with energy and great songs.

9. I’m From Barcelona at London Scala (25th November)
I know I said I’d write a review and then didn’t, but things were kinda hectic with university stuff at the time. Still, I’m From Barcelona provided one of the best nights of entertainment I’ve had in a while – chaotic, crazy, they had so much energy I was finding bits of ticker tape for days after.

8. Bloc Party at London’s Apple Store (10th October)
My second Bloc Party experience of the year, hot and sweaty in the Apple Store. I was expecting a bland, boring performance but we got anything but – chaotic, Kele was on top form, crawling over the crowd, standing all over the place. I’d hate to have had the job of cleaning up the next morning!

7. Friendly Fires at Oxford Zodiac (5th October)
My second time seeing Friendly Fires, they were even more intense than the first time. Loud, energetic, and slightly chaotic – we forgot it was Sunday night and danced like it was 3am. Just immense. Watch them become huge in 209.

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It’s been a pretty amazing year for music around the UK, and following on from my top 10 of 2007, here is my top 10 of 2008.

10 – Viva Stereo – Roar Lion Roar
You’ve probably not heard much about this Scottish collective. However, their third album was a surprise favourite for me – anthemic, accessible, slightly My Bloody Valentine and yet still so gorgeous.

Read more about Viva Stereo here.

Favourite: Knee High Boots.

9 – Sigur Rós – Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust
As ever, an amazing collection from the Icelandic group. More pop than previous albums, their songs sound all the more amazing. I caught them live at Hydro Connect Festival in Scotland, where they preceded Franz Ferdinand and blew them out of the water. As the sun went down, they soundtracked the festival for us, showing their sense of humour and making beautiful music that had more than a few grown men in tears.

Favourite: Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

8 – Ra Ra Riot – The Rhumb Line
Dark in places, Ra Ra Riot come from the same school of musical geekiness as Vampire Weekend, but with a bit more serious and a bit less money. Dark in places, the group are still recovering from the death of their drummer in summer 2007, which shows on tracks like “Winter ‘05″.

Favourite: Dying is Fine

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It’s that time of the year again when people start compiling “best of” lists and trying to decide what was their highlight of another year in the music business. We’ve already had Mike’s take on who to watch for next year in his picks for the BBC’s Sound of 2009, and now we want yours.

Alongside your picks for the top of 2009 and your best of 2008, we also want to know a bit about what you think about TGTF, and where you think we can improve – we know we’re not perfect, and we want to find out what we can do better in 2008, what you like and what you don’t like.

But, I hear you ask, why should you enter?

Well, we have TWO iTunes vouchers of £10 each to give away to two people who complete the survey (it’ll only take 5 minutes, honest!)

So, just as with our competition to win a copy of the Virgin Book of British Hit Singles (which over 300 of you entered, and was won by Alice), enter your thoughts below and we’ll get back to you in the new year!

Good luck!

NOTE: This Survey has now CLOSED. Thanks for all who entered, more details will be along shortly.

Now, you may not have heard of Bridgette Amofah before. I’ll even hold up my hands and admit that I hadn’t heard of her before I got the email introducing us.

However since then I haven’t looked back. She’s got an amazing voice, and could well be one of the shining talents of 2009 – the songs are quintessentially English but inspired by her musical heroes – from classic French artists such as Serge Gainsbourg and Edith Piaf, to Burt Bacharach and Minnie Ripperton with a nod to contemporary artists like Feist.

She’s not just a one talent flash-in the pan – Amofah’s life story could have resulted with her heading down one of many different routes. She toyed with becoming an author – the first poems she ever wrote as a child were published – and she still writes stories today. Then she did stint as a charity worker raising money for worthy causes before becoming a catwalk model – she was flown first class around Europe but was ultimately turned off by the industry and it’s ways.

Her debut single, ‘What It Takes/Not Your Style’ is released in two weeks time on 8th December, so be sure to at least have a listen on the myspace, and if you like it go and buy it.

She’s off on tour throughout December and early next year, playing the below dates, including a stint supporting Candi Staton – surely a match made in heaven.

Wednesday 3rd December – London Hoxton Bar & Kitchen
Saturday 6th December – Reading, Oakford Social Club
Thursday 11th December – London YoYo @ Notting Hill Arts Club
Friday 19th December – London Portobello WInterfest
Wednesday 21st January 2009 – London Monto Water Rats
Wednesday 18th February 2009 – Bristol Academy (supporting Candu Staton)
Friday 20th February 2009 – Liverpool Philharmonic Hall (supporting Candi Staton)
Saturday 21st February 2009 – Birmingham Town Hall (Supporting Candi Staton)
Tuesday 24th February 2009 – London Shepherds Bush Empire (supporting Candi Staton)
Wednesday 25th February 2009 – Hove The Old Market (Supporting Candi Staton)
Thursday 26th February 2009 – London Book Slam @ Neighbourhood
Wednesday 4th March 2009 – Exeter Vibraphonic Festival

Okay, so last night I caught I’m From Barcelona at London’s great Scala. Quite honestly, it blew me away. It was similar to the Polyphonic Spree’s show at the Astoria, but gone European, and much more spontaneous.

A full review will follow, but let’s just say for now that they had more confetti, more fun and more balloons on stage than any band I’ve seen for a while.

After the jump: setlist. Full review by end of the week (hopefully).

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The amazingly talented Ben Kweller has announced a string of UK tour dates for early December as an extra special Christmas treat for everyone this side of the Atlantic.

The US star (who’s co-headlined tours with the likes of Ben Folds, Conor Oberst, Death Cab For Cutie and other US indie luminaries) is doing a short European jaunt before Christmas to promote his intriguingly named new EP “How Ya Lookin’ Southbound? Comein…”.

Tickets are on sale now (and look like they have been for a while), and are around the £10 mark.

Catch him at:

Thursday 4th December 2008 – Mancheser Ruby Lounge
Friday 5th December 2008 – Glasgow King Tuts
Saturday 6th December 2008 – Dublin Wheelan’s
Monday 8th December 2008 – Birmingham Glee Club
Tuesday 9th December 2008 – London Union Chapel

I don’t know about you, but I’m having a really hard time this Christmas finding books within budget for my friends and family… Following on from our previous post about musical gifts, those lovely people at Virgin Books have been in touch to offer you 35% off their range of music books and free postage and packing this Christmas – what more could you ask for?

To get the 35% off AND free P&P simply enter the code VIRGINXMAS into the coupon box at the end of the checkout.

Have a browse around on the links below, and maybe and buy something – they’re actually cheaper than Amazon at the moment on a fair few books, and there really is something for everyone, from your Dad (Meatloaf perhaps?) to your Gran (BB King?) via your older cousin who you always knew was a tad strange (David Bowie!)

(Please note: I don’t get any comission from these book sales, nor am I affiliated in any way with Virgin Books – I just thought you might be interested in some Christmas ideas!)

Fool the World: The Oral History of a Band Called “Pixies” RRP: £7.99 Offer price: : £5.99 Inc. P&P	How to Make it in the Music Business RRP: £8.99 Offer price: : £6.74 Inc. P&P	How to Make Music in Your Bedroom RRP: £7.99 Offer price: : £5.99 Inc. P&P
Music: The Business RRP: £25 Offer price: : £18.75 Inc. P&P	Hallelujah!: The Extraordinary Story of Shaun Ryder and “Happy Mondays” RRP: £8.99 Offer price: : £6.74 Inc. P&P	Strange Fascination: David Bowie RRP: £12.99 Offer price: : £9.74 Inc. P&P
The B. B. King Treasures RRP: £30 Offer price: : £22.50 Inc. P&P	“Cream”: How Eric Clapton Took the World by Storm RRP: £9.99 Offer price: : £7.49 Inc. P&P	The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles RRP: £20 Offer price: : £15 Inc. P&P
Billy Bragg: Still Suitable for Miners RRP: £9.99 Offer price: : £7.49 Inc. P&P	The Lost Beach Boy: The True Story of David Marks, One of the Founding Members of the “Beach Boys” RRP: £17.99 Offer price: : £13.49 Inc. P&P	Willie Nelson: The Outlaw RRP: £9.99 Offer price: : £7.49 Inc. P&P
To Hell and Back: An Autobiography RRP: £9.99 Offer price: : £7.49 Inc. P&P	Anyway Anyhow Anywhere: The Complete Chronicle of the “Who” 1958-1978 RRP: £9.99 Offer price: : £7.49 Inc. P&P	Cash: A Tribute to Johnny Cash RRP: £8.99 Offer price: : £6.74 Inc. P&P
Liverpool – Wondrous Place: From the Cavern to the Capital of Culture RRP: £9.99 Offer price: : £7.49 Inc. P&P	Changeling: The Autobiography of Mike Oldfield RRP: £8.99 Offer price: : £6.74 Inc. P&P

Punchy melodies coupled with infectious lyrics are bound to make Farewell a hit in the UK; especially with fans of Cute Is What We Aim For and Say Anything. Originating from North Carolina, Farewell are here to take the UK by storm with their debut tour, supporting none other than YouMeAtSix.

The tour will also help to promote their first album: “Isn’t This Supposed To Be Fun?” released earlier this year. The album contains 13 full length tracks of power pop goodness. It bears reminiscence to Motion City Soundtrack with the occasional negativity in the lyrics; but when coupled with the lively guitar and keyboard melodies, it turns it into what every screaming teenage girl loves: a fabulous collection of catchy tunes they can sing along to.

The album opens with “Start it Up”, a song that’s guaranteed to push away any flickers of doubts about the band, and pull in every power pop lover to listen further. Lead singer, Marshall Davies, brings this song, along with the others, the right edge to match the lyrics to the catchy tunes bound to make every teenager want to get up and move.

Stand out tracks on the album include “War”, “September Brought the Fall”, “Hey Heather” and up-coming single “Eighty-Eights” released 20th October.

This 5 piece band from America are definitely a band to keep your eye on, and in for big things over here if they can give as good a performance on stage as they do on their record.

You can catch Farewell supporting YouMeAtSix at the below tour dates:

Wednesday 15th October – Middlesbrough Empire
Thursday 16th October – Norwich Waterfront
Friday 17th October – Nottingham Rescue Rooms
Saturday 18th October – Wolverhampton Wulfrun
Sunday 19th October – Northampton Roadmender
Tuesday 21st October – Leeds Met University
Wednesday 22nd October – Glasgow ABC1
Thursday 23rd October – Manchester Academy 2
Friday 24th October – Liverpool Carling Academy
Saturday 25th October – Southampton University
Sunday 26th October – Oxford Carling Academy
Monday 27th October – London Astoria
Tuesday 28th October – Cardiff Solus
Wednesday 29th October – Brighton Komedia
Thursday 30th October – Exeter Phoenix

Paul Weller has announced a string of UK and Ireland tour dates for November as he hits the road in support of his new album, 22 Dreams.

Tickets are on sale now, priced around £30 – £35 each.

Thursday 6th November – Crawley K2
Friday 7th November – Crawley K2
Saturday 8th November – Southend Cliffs Pavilion
Monday 10th November – Dublin RDS Arena
Tuesday 11th November – Belfast Odyssey
Thursday 13th November – Aberdeen Press & Journal Arena
Friday 14th November – Glasgow SECC
Saturday 15th November – Newcastle Metro Radio Arena
Monday 17th November – Liverpool Echo Arena
Tuesday 18th November – Manchester Evening News Arena
Thursday 20th November – Cardiff International Arena
Friday 21st November – Birmingham NEC
Saturday 22nd November – Nottingham Arena
Monday 24th November – London Brixton Academy
Tuesday 25th November – London Brixton Academy
Wednesday 26th November – London Brixton Academy