Yup, here it is, the inevitable "Best of 2008" music list (a later post centering on the top local offerings is forthcoming). In order to spare our readers the pain of reading through yet another list that tries too hard to impress with obscure releases or toe the party line on Stereogum / Pitchfork approved artists, we continue our personal decade-plus tradition of merely listing what we actually liked in 2008. That means that the albums below are the one we kept finding ourselves turning to when we wanted to kick back and enjoy some tunes. Sure, there was more artistically challenging stuff released this year than some of the selections below -- and we certainly do appreciate that sort of thing -- but our year end list reflects which music ultimately did for us what we think rock and/or roll is ultimately meant to do to any listener: it grabbed us by the heart and/or crotch and wouldn't let go. more ›

One of our greatest finds over the past year was Darker My Love. We loved their second album, swooned over their opening set when they came through with the Dandy Warhols, and now we can't wait to see them destroy the back room at Schubas this Sunday with their colossal psychedelic guitar groove. Highly recommended. Tickets still available. more ›

It's utterly appropriate that Darker My Love is opening for The Dandy Warhols at The Vic tonight. Both bands share a love for all thing psychedelic and '60s, and both groups are handy at transforming drone into hooks. Darker My Love isn't as experimental as The Dandys, and they tend to stick within a single genre of music, but we don't mind that at all since it plays to their strengths. more ›

We've definitely been digging the new Dandy Warhols disc ...Earth To The Dandy Warhols..., long since available for download through the band's site, but which will finally physically hit shelves August 19. To continue to drum up interest amongst the general public, the band has elected to release it's next single for free, and "The Legend of the Last of the Outlaw Truckers AKA The Ballad of Sheriff Shorty" is a chugging, slightly spaghetti western-esque, bombastic slice of pop that only a band like the Dandys can produce. more ›

We're gearing up for the stretch-run of Chicago's premier music fests, Pitchfork and Lollapalooza. But there are some pretty great shows still happening unrelated to those fests and lots of tickets going on sale or already available. It's too hot to mull it over any more, so here we go. more ›