If Only You Were Lonely

So...what'd you think of our top albums of 2008? Are we completely off our rocker? Three sheets to the wind? Full of shit? Do we have no taste whatsoever? You tell us, cuz we sure as hell have no clue.

Today, we'll have more fodder for the cannon (canon?). The following are our favorite re-issues of 2008. Again, we've probably missed a hundred great albums, so don't be shy in telling us what great adventure we have yet to embark on. Of course, the following list is merely subjective, but we sorta think if you like what we normally post here, these records might hold some sort of appeal to you. Or not. Hey, we don't have to define it...we know pornography when see it. Ummmm....

The Big Rock Candy Mountain Top Re-Issues of 2008 (in alphabetical-ish order)


George Coleman: Bongo Joe

There's no point in beating a dead horse, is there (insert relevant cliche)? We already wrote about this back here. An oil drum pounding, beat ranting genius. Essential.

George Coleman: Cool It (mp3)

Tommy Jay: Tom's Tall Tales of Trauma


Columbus, Ohio scuzz rock, folk, punk, DIY. Originally released as a cassette, with 2-track hiss proudly featured, Robert Pollard and his Guided By Voices cohorts were certainly paying attention.

Tommy Jay: Unknown (mp3)

Tommy Jay: Winter Nomad (mp3)


Jesus And Mary Chain: The Power of Negative Thinking Box Set

With all the imitators today, it's easy to forget just how fucking good The Jesus and Mary Chain sounded. Loud drones of guitar feedback, covering sweet as poisoned candy melody. Strange how even the horrid production practices of the 80's can't keep these songs from sounding great, even today. Without these records, your indie rock collection wouldn't even exist, and I mean your My Bloody Valentine and Pixies albums, too.

(Tracks deleted because The Jesus and Mary Chain, or a representative, don't want you to sample any of their songs. There are 80 songs on the box set that we are (or were) recommending. They don't want you to hear 4 of them. In these economic times, please keep that in mind when considering spending your hard-earned cash on an expensive set of music made by people who already have more money than you do. Just sayin'.)



The Pogues: Just Look Them Straight In The Eye and Say...Pogue Mahone Box Set

Another no-brainer. 5 goddamn discs of rarities, unreleased and live stuff. Such a treasure trove of brilliant goodness from everyone's favorite traditional Irish punk band, it boggles our ever-lovin' mind. Honestly, this is so essential, that to be without it is to be bereft of the gift of music. No, really. And when you listen to "Rake At the Gates of Hell", crank the volume and dance around your apartment or home like the mad men and women you are.

The Pogues: The Rake At The Gates Of Hell (mp3)

The Pogues: White City (live) (mp3)

The Pogues: Rainy Night In Soho (mp3)

The Pogues: The Last of McGee (mp3)

The Pogues: Boat Train (mp3)




The Famous L. Renfroe: Children

Nobody know much about this cat (do a google search, you'll see pretty much the same response). It's a funk gospel soul workout, gritty and gloriously heaven bound, transcendent and mired in the clay of life.

Famous L. Renfroe: Reaching (mp3)

Famous L. Renfroe: Believe (mp3)

The Replacements: Complete Catalog (w/ a shitload of bonus tracks)

America's greatest rock band (yeah, I said it, and I mean it) gets the deluxe treatment with copious bonus cuts which you may already have bootlegs of, but isn't it super keen to have them all in one place? Sweet and sour in all the right places.

The Replacements: Can't Hardly Wait (Outtake-Electric) (mp3)

The Replacements: If Only You Were Lonely (Twin Tone Single Version) (mp3)

The Replacements w/Tom Waits: Date To Church (mp3)

The Replacements: We Know The Night (Outtake) (mp3)

Various: Life Is A Problem

This is the hardest record to pull only a song or two from. Every goddamn song is a blissed-out, guitar-strangled gospel stomper. Shouty hallelujahs and hosannas, tossing in some greasy organ and sanctified choir assists, and we all went to heaven in a little rowboat, plugged and plastered over the holiest of holes. This is where rock'n'roll really began, all sex and salvation. Can we get an Amen?

The Straight Street Group: Angels Keep Watch Over Me (mp3)

Bishop Perry Tills: I Found A Solid Rock (mp3)

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