Review of 2008

[Ash]

Ok EXCLUDING Frost* - what was your best gig of 2008 and what was your best new release of 2008?

I did want to exclude Magenta as they will probably win but that would exclude my vote...

[johninblack]

Ok EXCLUDING Frost* - what was your best gig of 2008 and what was your best new release of 2008?

I did want to exclude Magenta as they will probably win but that would exclude my vote...

That's a very tough question for gig of the year. Release of the year is a tie between The Tall Ships (It Bites) and Pure (Pendragon) but only if excluding EIMA.

Gig of the year......


I'll reply later once my tiny brain has come up with some kind of decision, it's down to  about five at the momet (again excluding Frost*)

[MikeEvs]

Best gig of 2008 was for me probably (so many to choose from) Porcupine Tree at the O2 but honourable mention must be given to Thunder for being the opening band on tour for Def Leppard and Whitesnake and for my money blowing the headliners away at Cardiff International arena Danny's vocals were flawless which is more than can be said for Mr Elliot and Mr Coverdale.

Best release of 2008 for me was It Bites - The Tall Ships

[keithd]

Got to be Spocks Beard at THe Point...but also because Frost were there too  

[Pedro]

It Bites @ Wath (the rescheduled CRS gig).
This was Lee Pomeroy's first outing and the first time I saw the "new" line-up actually relax and began having the kind of fun we saw at The Peel this last weekend.

[ecky p]

best gig this year Spocks Beard/Frost* The Arches in Glasgow
best album It Bites The Tall Ships.

[keithd]

best gig this year Spocks Beard/Frost* The Arches in Glasgow
best album It Bites The Tall Ships.

Now there's a bone of contention, Tall Ships or EIMA??

[PhilHarmonic]

Let me see.....

Porcupine Tree at the Indigo2 - best of the three last London shows by a country mile.

It Bites at Islington but a bit of a downer to start of with as we were only in time for the last Touchstone number and I really wanted to see them.

Joe Satriani x 2 - Hammersmith Apollo (very good) and the London international Music Show (excellent - concise and to the point - all the hits)

Deep Purple at the London Motor Show - despite having been a 'fan' since the release of 'In Rock', I had never seem them before in concert and it was a jolly good rocking night.

As for recorded music, mostly this year it's been re-releases (e.g. Lightbulb Sun, Deja Vu Live.....) but of the new work, I am really into Touchstone's 'Discordant Dreams' and Pineapple Thief's 'Tightly Unwound'.  The oddest purchase this year, but liked by Mrs Phil as well (and that is important, believe me!), is Nigel Kennedy's 'A Very Nice Album' - a bit querky in places, but I didn't expect anything else really!!

[JamesA]

For me, it's been a brilliant year, so trying to cut this down is practically impossible...

Gigs first - Porcupine Tree at the Indigo, Pineapple Thief at the Jericho in Oxford, Panic Room at the Limelight in Crewe, the two Pendragon nights at The Peel, Fish and The Reasoning at Shepherds Bush, and Opeth at Nottingham Rock City.

Albums - Steven Wilson, Insurgentes; Pineapple Thief, Tightly Wound; Panic Room, Visionary Position; Pendragon, Pure; Opeth, Watershed; Magenta, Metamorphosis; No-Man, Schoolyard Ghosts.

Add in Frost* to both of those lists, and I can't wait to see 2009 give 2008 a run for its money.

[The Cosmic Lawnmower]

One of the highlights for me has been Todd Rundgren's 'Arena' album and his gig in support of it at The Forum in London.  8-)

[Gig Buddy]

honourable mention must be given to Thunder for being the opening band on tour for Def Leppard and Whitesnake and for my money blowing the headliners away at Cardiff International arena Danny's vocals were flawless which is more than can be said for Mr Elliot and Mr Coverdale.

Thunder at the Astoria. One of the best live bands out there and boy can Danny sing.

[Bert]

For me, gig of the year (exc last Sat) was Porcupine Tree at the O2. Top band on top of their game.

Remasters - a tip of the hat for the Brain Salad Surgery Deluxe Edition (even though the sleeve notes are a bit screwed) but the prize has to be The Lamb. It has never sounded so wonderful.

For new albums, I thought Tightly Unwound was a great effort, Beardfish's Sleeping in Traffic Part 2 is utterly fantastic, but the best album I have heard by far this year is Insurgentes by Steven Wilson. Totally jawdropping and a work of unparalleled genius, the match of anything released in the last 20 years. It's released in a regular version in Feb and you simply MUST hear it.

[MikeEvs]

honourable mention must be given to Thunder for being the opening band on tour for Def Leppard and Whitesnake and for my money blowing the headliners away at Cardiff International arena Danny's vocals were flawless which is more than can be said for Mr Elliot and Mr Coverdale.

Thunder at the Astoria. One of the best live bands out there and boy can Danny sing.

I was at that gig too 8-)

[LivingForever]

I don't know if I should answer this, it's going to be really boring and predictable!

Top gigs -

Porcupine Tree / Oceansize at the O2 for sure. That was top 5 of all time.
The entire of Summer's End (Magenta / IQ / Frost* / Tangent especially) and the whole of last weekend (Frost* / tinyfish / Steve Thorne / It Bites)
Spock's Beard in Leeds

Top albums-

It Bites (Tall Ships)
Magenta (Metamorphosis)
Tangent (Not as good as the Book)
Beardfish (Sleeping in Traffic part 2)
Guillemots (Red)
Goldfrapp (Seventh Tree)
Elbow (Seldom Seen Kid)
Keane (Perfect Symetry)
Coldplay (Viva La Vida)
The Feeling (Join with Us)

[RWA]

Top gigs:
Frost* at Zoetermeer
It Bites at Lorely

Top albums:
It Bites - The Tall Ships
Frost* - EIMA
Marillion - Happiness is the Road (part 1)
Coldplay - Viva La Vida