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Tony Morley's best of 2008
Published 12 January 2009 by TM

Tony Morley (The Leaf Label):
My selections seem to get more conventional every year. Slightly disingenuously, I put this down to the democratising effect of the internet - that great albums have a better chance to rise to the top as more people have the opportunity to hear more music - rather than the uncomfortable realisation that I'm getting older and generally less interested in 'new' music. In fact, I probably bought more music this year than ever before, it's just that most of what I pick up is 'old' music - specifically old vinyl - and my choices are far more informed than even a couple of years ago. The availability of music on the internet means far fewer purchases of hyped but ultimately disappointing music, leaving space for just the good stuff. There have been a number of truly great niche compilations of 'old' but largely unheard music this year that have blown the socks off most of the 'new' competition, and I've been playing catch-up on a lot of other compilations that pre-date 2008 too. We're in a golden age of well researched reissues of obscure and unusual music for all over the world, and pretty much anything on Honest Jon's, Soundway, Analog Africa, Strut and Mississippi is worth a try. Other stuff: predictably The Wire has to get a mention for turning my TV world upside down (mostly pre-2008 of course...) and Naomi Klein's brilliant 'The Shock Doctrine' (er, 2007). Charlie Brooker and Graham Linehan's output for a bit of levity. And lots and lots of cooking, for some reason.

Albums:
Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part One (4th World War)
Portishead - Third
The Fall - Imperial Wax Solvent
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
The Bug - London Zoo
Neon Neon - Stainless Style
TV On The Radio - Dear Science
Wu Tang Clan - 8 Diagrams

Compilations:
various - African Scream Contest: Raw & Psychedelic Afro Sounds From 70s Benin & Togo
Kid Creole - Going Places: The August Darnell Years 1976-1983
various - Nigeria Rock Special: Psychedelic Afro-Rock & Fuzz Funk in 1970s Nigeria
various - Living Is Hard: West African Music in Britain 1927-1929

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