Recorded music highlights of 2008:
Albums:

1. Love, Ire and Song – Frank Turner
2. Angles – Dan le Sac vs Scroobious Pip
3. Hail Destroyer – Cancer Bats
4. Flight of the Conchords – Flight of the Conchords
5. Intimacy – Bloc Party

Singles:

1. Mercury – Bloc Party
2. Hometown Glory (High Contrast remix) – Adele
3. Kids – MGMT
4. Hip-Hop is Dead – Nas
5. Photosynthesis – Frank Turner

Live music highlight of 2008:
Without a shadow of a doubt, 2000 Trees Festival in Cheltenham. Some great bands, some rubbish bands and lots of local cider made this my favourite live experience of the year. Good sets particularly from Frank Turner, Chris T-T, Ghost of a Thousand, Danny and the Champions of the World and Morning Bride.

What else in 2008:
Cardiff City breaking the mould by being good and getting to the FA Cup Final, discovering Antipodean comedy (Flight of the Conchords and Summer Heights High) and losing my social life to Far Cry 2 on the Xbox 360.

2008 was…
…the year that I discovered the genius of the Wire.

2009 will be…
…thrifty.