Andrew Morgan spent the latter portion of last month touring the UK with A.C. Newman, both as an opening act and a member of Newman’s live band. He recently posted a recap of the tour on his Wizard Of Ahs blog. Morgan played a handful of unreleased songs during his set and also performed a cover I’d love to hear: Elliott Smith’s “Pitseleh.” The tour occurred just before the UK release of Please Kid, Remember on Broken Horse, the label that also handled A.C. Newman’s Get Guilty album earlier this year. The album (one of my favorites of 2008) was released in Japan last year by Moorworks and digitally on Morgan’s official site. Broken Horse are shipping the album internationally and American listeners looking to obtain a physical copy can do so for the generous price of $15 (including shipping). To sweeten the deal, this version also comes with a second disc containing Victory In Passing, one of three EPs that Morgan has been selling digitally since last fall. Morgan has returned from the UK and will appear at Jackpot in his current home of Lawrence, Kansas on June 22nd.

Image courtesy of Wizard Of Ahs.

Here’s my top ten of 2008, in alphabetical order (of course):

Andrew Morgan – Andrew Morgan (Independent)
This self titled effort from Lawrence, Kansas songwriter Andrew Morgan was first released by Moorworks in Japan in April. However, it is the digital version that Morgan released on his web site shortly after with a slightly different tracklisting that stands as the definitive version of his second full length. More accessible than its predecessor (2004’s wonderful Misadventures In Radiology), but by no means watered down, this is Andrew Morgan at the top of his game. Chamber pop may not be fashionable like it was at the start of this decade, but Morgan’s brilliant arrangements are breathing life into one of my favorite genres.

Benoît Pioulard – Temper (Kranky)
If you are a fan of Chicago’s Kranky label, then you have no excuse not to own this sophomore release from Benoît Pioulard. Temper isn’t necessarily new ground for Pioulard (real name Tom Meluch), serving instead as a pleasant extension of his 2006 debut, Précis. I struggle to think of another artist who is able to coherently blend melancholy folk with mesmerizing ambient instrumentals.

Chad VanGaalen – Soft Airplane (Sub Pop)
Of all the artists in Sub Pop’s history, Chad VanGaalen is among the most peculiar. Fortunately, he is also one of their best talents in recent memory. This Calgary resident splits his time between his basement and the half-pipe in his back yard. While he’s in the basement, VanGaalen builds instruments by hand for future compositions. His third LP, Soft Airplane, is a complex beast that features many of his best songs released to date. Some of VanGaalen’s work is compared to Neil Young, but with each record he releases, it is obvious that he is slowly establishing his own DIY sound that is morbid, beautiful, and exciting.

Mogwai – The Hawk Is Howling (Matador)
I wasn’t a big Mogwai fan prior to hearing The Hawk Is Howling, but they have my full attention now. A brutal combination of soft and loud. The drones coming out of Glasgow are still splendid.

Portishead – Third (Mercury)
I always say that Portishead isn’t a band I listen to often, but when I do go back and listen to their albums, I regain my immense respect for their music. Third is the comeback album of the year and very few people will argue that. It is the album that I never thought would happen, an album that I had enormously low expectations for. I’m not sure how, but they’ve managed to stay relevant all these years later.

Spiritualized – Songs In A & E (Fontant Int’l)
He had to go through a series of near-death experiences beforehand, but Jason Pierce finally released a new Spiritualized record in 2008. His voice has clearly aged, diminishing the strength of his vocals at times, but this only adds to the haunting nature of the album. One of the most startling things about Songs In A & E is that it was written before Pierce’s bout with periorbital cellulitis and bilateral pneumonia. Pierce’s fixation on blues and soul music remains, but the compact construction of A & E makes it one of his most cohesive releases yet. A & E soars because Pierce has learned that less can be more.

The Tallest Man On Earth – Shallow Grave (Gravitation)
Refer to my post from 12/6/08.

TV On The Radio – Dear Science (DGC/Interscope)
Refer to my post from 12/9/08.

Photo by Kyle Hopkins

Back in June, Andrew Morgan posted a digital version of his self titled sophomore full length on his web site. He also posted a digital EP titled As Long As We’re Together and promised that there would be similar releases in the future. Morgan has delivered on that promise and has just posted four new digital EPs on his site. The releases serve as singles for various tracks from Andrew Morgan and also boast a wealth a new material. One of the standalone releases is Minji Lee, a three song release that was entirely unreleased until now. Sample “Baby,” a track from Minji Lee, in the player below. Morgan, who has been residing in Kansas as of late, will soon return again to Seoul, where he spent much of 2007 teaching. Morgan is also in the midst of pre-production on his next full length, currently titled Grey Light Of The Season. These releases are reasonably priced, so please support Andrew’s music by purchasing one, two, or all of these EPs.

A Gesture Of Love
1. A Gesture Of Love
2. Always In Dreams*
3. How Swiftly I Fell*

Mine And Mine Alone
1. Mine And Mine Alone
2. Remedy*
3. Epilogue*
4. Letter To The West Coast*
5. We Almost Made It
6. Full Moon, Stoneback Drive*

Minji Lee
1. Minji Lee*
2. Baby*
3. Minji Lee (II)*

Victory In Passing
1. Victory In Passing
2. A Simple Plan
3. A Unified Theory
4. Somerset Place
5. Biology
6. A Little Discipline*
7. First Light, Stoneback Drive*

* = Unreleased