The Best Of 2008: Michelle Rakshys
Top 10 Albums:
1. Frank Turner
2. The Gaslight Anthem
3. Have Heart
4. Memorial- The Creative Process/Berlin
5. Justin Townes Earle
6. Tim Barry, Chuck Ragan, Ben Nichols – Revival Road
7. The Loved Ones
8. Verse
9. Killing The Dream
10. Reign Supreme
Frank Turner rocked 2008 because:
It’s not often that I find a new record that I listen to non-stop every day, research online, sign up for their email list, order their whole discography online, tell all my friends about and check their MySpace page daily for updates. (The Gaslight Anthem, Lucero and Memorial are on that level, but not many other bands.) Not only was I introduced to Frank Turner at the best show of the year, but he writes lyrics that might as well been pulled from my brain. Previous to my new found love of alt-country, the only bands that were able to do that were small straight-edge hardcore bands, and it’s nice to know that Frank Turner is furthering this trend of relatable artists.
Favorite thing of the year: Un-turkey club sandwiches at the General Store and Urban Rustic and React Records for giving me a bunch of new awesome bands to listen to! STAY POSITIVE!
What did you wish you did more of in 2008? Get outdoors more. I did hang out in a cabin in the Poconos, and go hiking a bit, but I want to something on a grander scale, like hike the Appalachian Trail (if I ever have that much free time!) I did read a lot of books about it though, like Into the Wild, The Last American Man, and Deep Survival which is a good starting point!
What are you looking forward to in 2009? All the good stuff Women in Music has coming up!