2008 in retrospect: Landmark, favorite posts

by Greg Szeto | January 6th 2009, 4:38 AM

Posted in 2008 Wrap-Up

I contemplated whether or not to write this post as I kind of hate rehashes of old material. Mostly because that’s one of the purported signs of a blog’s decline. But fuck it, we’ve had a banner inaugural year and tons of shit needs to be highlighted. Below is just a smattering of our best/my favorite articles and coverage we’ve had in the past year.

Of particular personal significance was my chance to interview one of my musical icons, Béla Fleck, breaking controversial first word on Whartscape logistics and getting press access for Bonnaroo. So check out some of the highlights of the first of many years to come for Aural States.

Interviews:

Béla Fleck

Lo Moda (w/ Scott, Peter, Raili, Christian, Antony, Gillian)

Matmos (w/ Drew Daniel, Martin Schmidt)

The Presets (w/ Julian Hamilton)

Wham City & Whartscape (w/ Adam Endres)

Wye Oak (w/ Andy Stack, Jenn Wasner)

Show Reviews:

Photos / Review: Lo Moda, Miracles, Thrust Lab @ the Windup Space (2008.11.21)

Built to Spill, Meat Puppets, The Drones @ Rams Head Live

Jay Reatard, Vincent Black Shadow, Ratsize @ Sonar

Small Sur Record Release Party @ 2640 Space

Times New Viking vs. No Age

Show Review: Daniel Johnston, Lizz King and Jason Dove @ the Ottobar

Show Review – Matmos @ Floristree, Baltimore

Album Reviews:

Abigail Washburn & the Sparrow Quartet – Self-Titled (Nettwerk)

The Bug – London Zoo (Ninja Tune)

Small Sur – We Live in Houses Made of Wood (Tender Loving Empire)

13th Floor Elevators – Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators Mono LP (Sundazed)

Marin Alsop & the BSO – Dvorák: Symphony No 9, Symphonic Variations

Abe Vigoda – Skeleton (Post Present Medium)

Autechre – Quaristice

Other:

Bonnaroo 2008 coverage (our first national festival!)

Countdown to Whartscape 2008

Whartscape 2008

Virgin Fest 2008

2008 Wrap-Up

Live Audio Exclusives from the Baltimore Taper

Down the Vine – Updates from the True Vine courtesy of Jason Willett

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Alex Mudge says:

January 6, 2009 at 11:21 am

I’d include the Scottie B and Shawn Caesar interview. That was a lot of fun to conduct. Also, it had a ton of information on the development of the genre, and personal anecdotal detail.

http://auralstates.com/2008/03/baltimore-club-interview-w-scottie-b_02.html

In the “other” category I’d include the website redesign. That was a huge upgrade, and a coming-of-age landmark.

To further back-up Greg’s repudiation of a possible jumping-the-shark moment, I don’t think blogs in decline stage multi night talent-laden festivals.