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Let’s start off with some Johnny Dowd from the movie Searching for the Wrong-Eyed Jesus…  it’s a short video so click on a some of the recommended videos when this one is done playing.

Followed by Jim White singing “If Jesus Drove a Motorhome” from the album Drill a Hole in that Substrate and Tell Me What You See.

And close with a live version of 16 Horsepower’s “Haw.”

There sure were a lot of great albums released in 2008.  Several of my favorite artist put out some of their best music ever, and they are the ones at the top of this list of the top 25 albums of 2008: 

1. Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
2. Alejandro Escovedo – Real Animal
3. Jim White – Transnormal Skiperoo
4. The Duke Spirit – Neptune
5. Devotchka – A Mad and Faithful Telling
6. Sons and Daughters – This Gift
7. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club – Cipher
8. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
9. Paul Weller – 22 Dreams
10. Tricky - Knowle West Boy
11. Saul Williams – The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust
12. Jakob Dylan – Seeing Things
13. The Moondoggies – Don’t be a Stranger
14. Kathleen Edwards - Asking for Flowers
15. The Kills – Midnight Boom
16. The Black Keys - Attack and Release
17. Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
18. Mudhoney – The Lucky Ones
19. Wussy – Left for Dead
20. The Pretenders – Break up the Concrete
21. The Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band -The Whole Fam Damnily
22. R.E.M. – Accelerate
23. Flogging Molly – Float
24. Hank III – Damn Right Rebel Proud
25. Dandy Warhols – Earth to the Dandy Warhols

I’ve surfed around and looked at lists put out by Mojo Magazine, Uncut Magazine, Paste Magazine, and NPR.  What I found is that people seem to prefer softer, soulful sounds this year.  My list has a lot of entries that buck that trend.  That’s probably because this year, for me anyway, was an intensely nerve racking year.  During the very long primary season and general election, I found myself mostly listening to music that matched my high level of nervous agitation throughout the whole process. 

Anyway, there are a few polls out there where you can still cast your votes for best albums of 2008.  I’d start with the KEXP Top 90.3 poll because it closes tomorrow.

And Mojo Magazine. 

If I find any more open polls, I will add them.

I’m leaving the heavy lifting to Mr. Barnes and the Old Viking this weekend because my mind is not functioning very well.  Drank some whisky before the Springsteen show last night, and going to see Jim White tonight.

The previous two posts are pretty heavy, so give yourself a little break and watch this Jim White video.

Thank you Lord
Oh thank you for the hurricane
I see your boundless love
In the faces etched with pain

Thank you Lord
Oh thank you for the memories of the ark
You are the shining light we see
When we’re drowning in the dark

Thank you Lord for Jesus
And the rope from which he hung
And thank you for the cross
Upon which they nailed your son

Thank you thank you for our leaders
With their blind and stupid eyes
Your mysterious wisdom
Is embedded in their lies

Thank you for the rich man
Who gets richer by the hour
For the professor of higher learning
Hidden in his ivory tower

Thank you for the earthquake
For the fire and devastation
And the suffering that results
From your inscrutable equation

And thank you Lord oh thank you
Your mercy falls like rain
That destroyed the mighty levy
That held back Lake Pontchartrain

So thank you for Katrina
And the mighty towers that fall
Thank you oh thank you
We thank you one and all

Lyrics from “Thank You Lord” from the Hellwood album, Chainsaw of Life.

Hellwood is Johnny Dowd, Jim White, and Willie B.  The three of them recorded the album in 2006 in a cabin in central New York.  The album hasn’t been released in the United States, and apparently won’t be any time soon, but you can buy it from second sellers at Amazon or from Johnny Dowd’s website.

If you are fan of Johnny, Jim, and Willie, you better go buy the cd while you can.

Oh, and for another fine Thanksgiving prayer, go here to read William Burroughs.