Year in Review: Music

2008 wasn't the biggest year ever for Boston music. Our biggest success might have been our oldest, as the New Kids on the Block got back together for a (misogynistic?) record and tour; we called their performance "a polished show infused with moments of giddiness—a lovefest between four guys from Dorchester, one JP product and a screaming hometown crowd." Apollo Sunshine, whose August live show felt like "stumbling upon a drum circle in the field of a music festival," made a couple of best-of lists, as did the Hold Steady, fronted by BC grad Craig Finn. "Bostonians of the Week" Broken River Prophet released an exciting new album that we really dug. Local singer Jess Tardy's work was featured on the TV show Lipstick Jungle. But for the most part, 2008 was just not a Boston-heavy music year.

When they came to town, we managed to photograph Deerhoof/Lionhead, see the Sea and Cake (again), and catch Cold War Kids. We also talked to New York Times jazz critic Ben Ratliff and caught Large Professor, and recapped Boston bands at SXSW, which numbered anywhere from 20 to 40 depending on what you want to count as "Boston."