Best Music of '08

What was the best show that you played?
The Arches in Glasgow this September was my favorite because lots of people came to see us, quite unexpectedly. Also, I got really drunk.

What was the best show you went to?
Lykke Li at the Summer Sunday festival in Leicester. It was the first time I saw her, full stop. It's pretty much my favorite record of the year.

What was the best music festival that you played or attended?
Belladrum in the North of Scotland, for the atmosphere alone. It felt like an important festival for us to play; the crowd was so welcoming.

What was your favorite single or individual song from 2008?
"Sapphire" by the Hold Steady. It's just perfect guitar pop, there's nothing wrong with it at all. Everything is right.

What was your favorite album from 2008? Why?
Youth Novels by Lykke Li. For an album that has so little—in terms of such sparse instrumentation—there's so much depth, it's unbelievable. It's almost like what Prince used to do.

What is your favorite new band or artist that you discovered in 2008?
Crystal Castles (on record)! As far as the live act goes, no idea; as far as them personally, no idea; but as far as a record goes...

Best old band/artist that was still going in 2008?
Like elderly? No... I think The Hold Steady. They're quite old as well, right?

What was the best 2008 tour lineup?
Frightened Rabbit/Oxford Collapse, easy. Not including our shows? Lykke Li and Friendly Fires.

What album/song from 2008 did you play so much that now you never want to hear it again?
I don't have any of those. But...for songs I've heard over and over again, "Time To Pretend" by MGMT.

What moment from 2008 (personal or historical) will you always remember?
The day my record came out. I went and bought it at Avalanche [Record Store] in Edinburgh. And they were even playing it in the shop! It felt nice to be anonymous and go buy my own record like a usual customer...at 9:30 AM. And Election Day in the U.S. We got drunk in L.A. in our hotel room at the Highland Garlands.