[1] If you are insane or you love Zavii so much then probably going for Zavii
[2] If you are still insane or you love HMV then probably going for HMV
[3] If you are an indie lover then probably going for FOPP
[4] If you are a bargain digger and willing to wait then probably going for Amazon
[5] (Hidden option) there is another thing called free download
Then it won’t be so astonishing that Zavii went into administration just a few days before Christmas and its appointed administrator Ernst & Young is looking for a buyer. Well I don’t know whether a ‘kind-hearted’ buyer will emerge eventually but I do know Virgin boss Sir Richard Branson was wise enough to sell the music branch Virgin Megastore to Zavii which feels the pain now.
Looking at the bright side, musicians still dedicate to what they love and their music is ever inspiring. 10 years on, I am still listening.
(I didn’t include the records which haven’t been listened to but I’m fairly confident they will be on the top of my list, such as new albums from Sigur Rós, Mogwai, Jersey, EF, 超级市场, 惘闻, 果味VC)
2008 Releases:
[Top 10]
[01] Maybeshewill - Not For Want Of Trying (Field 2008)
毋庸置疑，Maybeshewill是2008年对我来说最响亮的名字，一首title track ‘Not for Want of Trying’ 很轻易地成为今年听得最多的歌曲。Post-Rock今后的发展，很大程度上要看他们和65daysofstatic的走向了。[Also see here]
[02] Pg.Lost - It's Not Me, It's You! (Black Star Foundation 2008)
如果说Maybeshewill走的是创新融合之路，那Pg.Lost就是传统Post-Rock的忠实守卫者。有人说Pg.Lost很暴力，我倒觉得那是激情毫无掩饰的流露。谈笑间，瑞典Post-Rock接过英美前辈的衣钵，加以传承。
[03] The Notwist - The Devil, You + Me (City Slang 2008)
6年的等待还是值得的。But we want more, Markus, Micha and Martin! [Also see here & here]
[04] Duo 505 - Another Illusion (Konkord 2008)
B. Fleischmann带来的意料之外的电子之声。[Also see here]
[05] Styrofoam - A Thousand Words (Nettwerk 2008)
比利时电子顽童Electronic Pop转向之作，让心情舞动的欢快回归。[Also see here]
[06] B. Fleischmann - Angst Is Not A Weltanschauung! (Morr 2008)
已经有一年多的时间没有认真听过Morr Music的音乐了。曾经的Indie Electronic圣殿向Indie Rock/Electro Pop的转变也让人有点始料不及。B. Fleischmann继年初Duo 505的新专之后，在年底交出了在Morr大家庭里的第四份家庭作业 (也可以是第五或第六，看你怎么数或者在不在乎了)，同样完成了从sound-writing到song-writing的转变。熟悉的groovebox之声仍旧可以找到，但这次的主旋律是vocal的构架和故事的描述，甚至他自己也出来吼上两首。无论你是B. Fleischmann的歌迷还是Daniel Johnston的老友，‘Phones, Machines, and King Kong’都是不可错过的；而‘24. 12.’就像一个没有结尾的电影，让人回味一遍又一遍。不能说我怀念B. Fleischmann过去Post-Rock构架似的电子小品，就像他说的 ---- 我们幸运地，用记忆塞满城堡，并保证时间不会找到开启大门的钥匙。。。
[07] Iso68 - Space Frames (Pingipung 2008)
差一点就错过的声音，而且是如果错过了一定会后悔的那种。总觉得Iso68和Alian Transistor门下的Saroos很相似 (或者Tied + Tickled Trio)，令人怦然心动的德国电子爵士。Weilheim Scene的力量果然不小，当然The Notwist也逃脱不了干系。
[08] Maybeshewill / Her Name Is Calla - Split [12''] (Field 2008)
Maybeshewill 用仅仅2首曲目10分钟的时间再一次证明他们的才华不是昙花一现，而同僚Her Name Is Calla也增添了些许异色。
[09] Moonlit Sailor - A Footprint Of Feelings (Self-Released 2008)
另一支瑞典后摇乐队的debut，短小精悍，值得反复咀嚼。[Also see here]
[10] Nell - Separation Anxiety (CJ뮤직 2008)
虽然Nell的音乐越来越像流行靠拢，但偶尔响起的暴戾的吉他声还是能让人兴奋一把。也许这就是成名的代价，被大众所接受的代价。这是人之常情，大概连Sigur Rós也不能幸免。关于Nell的长篇大论留到以后，希望他们能找回‘Let It Rain’时期的年少轻狂。
Alias - Resurgam (Anticon 2008)
Alias - Resurgam Residual EP (Anticon 2008) [Limited Edition]
Apparat – Things To Be Frickled: Parts & Remixes (Shitkatapult 2008)
Caspian / Constants - Split [7''] (Radar Recordings 2008)
Claro Intelecto Metanarrative (Modern Love 2008)
Costa Music - Lighter Subjects (Still 2008)
Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours (Modular 2008)
Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs (Atlantic 2008)
Delays - Everything’s The Rush (Poldor 2008)
Eliot Lipp - The Outside (Mush 2008)
Errors - It’s Not Something But It Is Like Whatever (Rock Action 2008)
Euphoria - Silence In Everywhere (123Records 2008)
Filfla - Frolicfon (Weather-Headz 2008)
From Monument To Masses - Beyond God & Elvis [MCD & 7 ''] (Golden Antenna 2008)
Halfset - Another Way Of Being There (Casino Gravity 2008)
I'm Not A Gun - Mirror (Palette 2008)
Leander - Pass Fail (Kennington 2008)
Mooncake - Lagrange Points (Self-Released 2008)
Morgan Geist - Double Night Time (Environ 2008)
Moving Mountains - Pneuma (Deep Elm 2008)
The Music - Strength In Numbers (Polydor 2008)
Neon Neon - Stainless Style (Lex 2008)
No.9 - Usual Revolution And Nine (Liquid Note 2008)
Organic Stereo - The Stories Linger In My Mind (123Records 2008)
Pacific UV - Longplay 2 (Warm 2008)
sgt. - Stylus Fantasticus (Penguin Market 2008)
Stars - Sad Robots EP (Arts & Crafts 2008)
This Is Your Captain Speaking - Eternal Return (Self-Released 2008)
Yasushi Yoshida - Little Grace (Noble 2008)
夢中夢 (Mutyumu) - イリヤ - il y a - (Gyuune Cassette 2008)
Сны Моего Неба - СНЫМОЕГОНЕБА (Self-Released 2008)
阿飛西雅 (Aphasia) - 失語的鱷魚社會 (小白兔唱片 2008)
Previous Years’ Releases:
This is also a year to catch up the good and bad I missed during previous years. It’s like treasure hunting in the past by time machine, never disappointing. 
[Highlights]
13 & God - Men Of Station [12''] (Anticon 2005)
65daysofstatic - Radio Protector [7''] (Monotreme 2006)
Alcest - Souvenirs D'un Autre Monde (Prophecy Productions 2007)
Apparat - Silizium EP (Shitkatapult 2005)
Calla - Strength In Numbers (Beggars Banquet 2007)
Childs - Yui (Static Discos 2006)
EF - Give Me Beauty...Or Give Me Death! (And The Sound 2006)
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Way Out Remixes [12''] (BPitch Control 2006)
Flat 7 - Lost In Blue (Fate 2005)
From Monument To Masses - The Impossible Leap In One Hundred Simple Steps (Dim Mak 2003)
Giardini di Mirò - Dividing Opinions (2nd Rec 2007)
Giardini di Mirò - New Year's Eve EP (2nd Rec 2007)
God Is An Astronaut - Far From Refuge (Revive 2007)
God Is An Astronaut - No Return [Single] (Revive 2007)
Gonzo48k - Hi-Fi Lovers (Pippola Music 2007)
Guitar - Dealin With Signal And Noise (Onitor 2007)
IGO - Synth Love (Modern Sky 2007)
I'm Not A Gun - Make Sense And Loose Remixes [12''] (City Centre Offices 2002)
Jatun - Jatun (Other Electricities 2007)
LCD Soundsystem - Sound Of Silver (DFA 2007)
Maybeshewill - Japanese Spy Transcript EP (XTAL 2006) [Japanese Version]
Ms. John Soda - While Talking EP (Morr 2003)
Various Artists - 刺青 電影音樂概念專輯 (喜瑪拉雅 2007)
Сны Моего Неба - Странные Вещи (Self-Released 2007)
Сны Моего Неба - III Неба ЕР (Self-Released 2007)
惘闻 - RE:RE:RE (长坂坡文化 2006)
甜梅號 - 謝謝你提醒我 (小白兔唱片 2007)
Audio Safari - ウルノソラ (Thanks Giving 2007)
Belong - October Language (Carpark 2006)
Duo 505 - Late (Morr 2004)
El Ten Eleven - Every Direction Is North (Fake 2007)
Ellen Allien & Apparat - Turbo Dreams Remixes [12''] (BPitch Control 2006)
Epic45 - May Your Heart Be The Map (Make Mine Music 2007)
Her Space Holiday - The Young Machines (Mush 2003)
Immanu El - They'll Come, They Come (And The Sound 2007)
Last Grain In The Hourglass - Following The River, Finding The Sea EP (Self-Released 2007)
Last Grain In The Hourglass - Last Grain In The Hourglass EP (Self-Released 2006) [Demo]
Matryoshka - Zatracenie (Novel Sound 2007)
Motoro Faam - ...and Water Cycles (Perco 2007)
Motoro Faam - Fragments+ (U-Cover Transparente 2006)
Spangle Call Lilli Line - Or (有限会社PSC 2003)
Stars - Set Your Self On Fire (Arts & Crafts 2005)
Takagi Masakatsu (高木正勝) - COIEDA (W + K Tokyo Lab 2004)
The American Dollar - The American Dollar (Self-Released 2006)
The Northern Two - Cinema (Ultra Comfy Pants 2007)
The White Birch - Star Is Just A Sun (Glitterhouse 2002)
This Will Destroy You - Young Mountain EP (Magic Bullet 2006)
Various Artists - 残響Sampler (Zankyo 2006)
어른아이 (Adultchild) - B TL B TL (비틀 비틀) (Pastel Music 2006)
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