2008 Woodie Awards
Think Band of Horses if they secluded themselves to cabin deep in the woods. Think Grizzly Bear but less obscure, or how about the Beach Boys but instead of surfing or chasing girls they're climbing mountains and growing beards. Somewhere in there are Fleet Foxes.
On paper, Matthew Thomas Dillon's band Windmill does not sound all that special. He's a singer-songwriter from England who plays the piano and writes songs about heartbreak. It sounds like a Coldplay or a Keane album. But in actuality it sounds more like a Flaming Lips or a Why? record ghostwritten by Elliott Smith.
Come December it will be time to sum up the year in music. One thing that will be undeniable about 2008 will be its love of the 80's. If put it to the test the 80's might rank in the polls as the worst decade as far as music goes, but despite all the cheesiness and ridiculousness (think the keytar or Flock of Seagulls) there was so much irrefutable pop genius that is often categorized in "guilty pleasures.