NME Cool List 2008
Another year, another NME Cool List, which is my personal end of the year list and NME stands for Nicole's Music End of the year list. I love reading back previous Cool Lists and I hope I will enjoy reading back this one at some point next year.
Last year my motto for 2008 was "It is all too techno for me!" and it has indeed been a bit too techno for me. Haha! Let's just say that I have been to more gigs than clubs this year, which you can see in the list below. The less clubbing did give me the time to enjoy other to do and see stuff in London. Ever since the Cans Festival I have found a new love in street art. As an (ir)regular visitor of PopScene you might have noticed the increase of arty stuff.
2008 was also a year of lots of personal thoughts and lots of fighting with these thoughts. So, to stop the fighting I have decided to move back to my beloved home country mid next year. Shock horror. YES, I WILL BE leaving London and move to Amsterdam! *teardrop*
Anywayz... Here is the NME Cool List 2008.
Wow, that was cool!
Seeing that I have been to quite a lot of gigs this year, I am making my selection of most memorable a bit longer.
* Sigur Ros @ Central Hall Westminster
They played a truly magnificent gig with an amazing wall of sound in a great venue. Some bands really are worth every penny you spend to see them live and Sigur Ros is one of those bands. Wow!
* Jamie Lidell @ Koko
I had never seen Mr Lidell live and expected quite a lot. What a performance, what a guy, what a... Oh Jamie Lidell I will wait for you! I am sure I wasn't the only woman in Koko swooning like mad.
* Gonzales @ ICA
This guy is cool as f*ck!!!
* Mystery Jets @ Durrr
If they had played You Can't Fool Me Dennis I would have definitely secretly let a tear jump out of my eyes. What they did play was their new album in its entire. I love this band so much!
* Yeasayer @ Doornroosje + Kings College
I liked them when I saw them in February and therefore went to see them again in August. An absolutely fantastic live band!
* Lykke Li @ Hoxton Bar + Koko
Is it normal for an heterosexual woman to say that she is in love with someone of the same sex? I love Lykke Li! She has charm, great songs and a very unique own style.
* Filthy Dukes @ Macbeth
'It is the f*cking Filthy Dukes doing a LIVE set,' is what I screamed to my friend when being at Field Day. Having only witnessed their last two songs, I went to see them for a full gig at the Macbeth. I can not wait to hear their album. All my respect to the Dukes!
* Holy Fuck @ Club 100
How can I forget about seeing Holy Fuck and their mighty machines. I love every musical aspect of this band. LOVE!!!
* Vampire Weekend @ Hoxton Bar
It took me a bit of an effort to grab a ticket for this sold out gig. Of course, it was worth all the effort. They were fun! They were great! They made us all dance and sing a long!
* Late of the Pier @ that carpark warehouse
My mission was to go mental and dance with the kids. Well, I did this and nearly lost one of my shoes. Too much fun!
* PNAU @ Cargo
They put a lot of irony in their live shows. They have a song about wild strawberries. They are a band who you would want to see again. Also check out Nick Littlemore's other project Empire of the Sun
5 coolest all-repeat albums
Not so much of difference from what I saw live in 2008.
* Late of the Pier - Fantasy Black Channel
* Jamie Lidell - JIM
* Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend
* Lykke Li - Youth Novels
* Yeasayer - All Hour Cymbal
I am leaving the very cool songs for what they are this year.
Supercool DJs
This is getting quite boring, as nothing has changed!
* Erol Alkan
Best DJ in the world.
* Justice
Can anyone believe me when I say that I DID NOT see Justice at all this year? Still, I love them too bits!
* Tiga
"Sexy lighting always strikes twice, twice..." Yup!
Art d'cool
I have madly fallen in love with the amazing street art to be seen wherever and whenever in 2008. Just look around you and be surprised. There is some amazing stuff out there. Before you know it, it has vanished.
* C215
I can not remember how I found out about this French dude, but his work is absolutely fantastic! Respect!!!! (URL)
* JR
Another French dude who caught my attention. I don't know if I can call it street art. Then again, what is street art? His photography work can be found outside on the streets. (URL)
* Mutate Britain
This must have been the most diverse group exhibition I have ever been to. You didn't go? Shame on you! (pics)
* Cans Festival
The stencil art festival which made me fall in love with street art. Seriously, just look around you and be amazed what there is to see on the walls.
A thank you to t.wat for the present (pic) and a thank you to Flickr, as that's the place that kept me up-to-date about Art d'cool.
Fuck, what a cool party that was
Ok, 2008 has not been about clubbing at all, this is gonna be a short one.
* Erol Alkan @ Asbo, Lock Tavern
It was not the first time that I had such a good time in the Lock Tavern. We had to wait for A BIT outside in the rain, but sometimes you have to be patient. I think we should do it again in 2009. YES I THINK WE SHOULD!!! Can we?
* Pure Groove nights @ Macbeth
I have been to quite a lot of the PG nights at Macbeth this year and thought they were all very very cool!
* Bloggers Delight @ Lock Tavern
I can not leave this humble Sunday fun unmentioned. Did I miss one Bloggers this year? I think I did! (2007 memories) A fan I will be forever.
Cool an instore!
This year I have been to quite some instores. I am known to Alfred from Kink FM as the girl who goes to free instores, yes? Here is a list of a few I enjoyed.
* Rough Trade
Zombie-Zombie, Holy Fuck, Of Montreal & Lindstrom.
* Pure Groove
Late of the Pier, Lykke Li & High Places.
I've got a cool obsession
I really did have some obsessions in 2007 and the only still ongoing obsession is my admiration for men and their beat machines. If only I had a Theremin like Zombie-Zombie or that green film machine like Holy Fuck or... I need more of these bands! Come on guys!!!!
Not so very cool
The most uncool moment in 2008 was the news of the closure of The End, which is happening at the end of January 2009. So many good nights I have had in this West End club. Thankfully the memories will never disappear. Goodbye, The End!
On their way to be cool
Esser, Micachu, Little Boots (still have to see live), The Filthy Dukes, Chew Lips, PNAU/Empire of the Sun, We Have Band and C215 (non-music).
A big thank you to everyone who have made my London life so much fun. I will miss you!
Motto for 2009: "London is not that far and life has to move on!"
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