Popshifter‘s Best Of Lists

My Very Best Things of 2008: In No Particular Order

By Emily Carney

Kevin Ayers, The Unfairground: I wasn’t really a fan of Kevin Ayers (although I do love anything related to Soft Machine and Robert Wyatt) until this year, when I listened to The Unfairground for the first time. Ayers’ album encapsulates the fear and uncertainty of aging and the all-too-fun psychological effects which go with getting older—the song “Wide Awake” pretty much encapsulates the effects of insomnia in its lyrics (“I hide and run, I run and hide / I just can’t face the world outside my dreaming”) while thrashing about in its indie-rock goodness. Ayers’ voice has retained its glorious 1970s depth and class, and I truly hope this isn’t his last offering (given that it took 15 years for him to release this album!).

Robert Wyatt Reissues: Robert Wyatt has been called “the voice of sadness;” however, his music has always left me feeling uplifted and inspired. My personal favorites are Rock Bottom (if you’ve never heard “Sea Song” you simply must) and Nothing Can Stop Us, with its eerie cover of a Chic song (“At Last I Am Free”). I am currently obsessed with his version of the Monkees “I’m A Believer” (!) which turns a moderately kitschy mid-1960s song into a sort of love anthem, anchored by Wyatt’s amazing voice. This song was played on Top of the Pops with Robert miming the lyrics (featuring guest appearances by Andy Summers and Pink Floyd’s Nick Mason ). Rather disgustingly, the BBC brass insisted on hiding Wyatt’s disability by only showing him from the waist up (Wyatt is paralyzed from the waist down due to an early 1970s accident). Robert’s understandable consternation is all-too-obvious with this performance, but the song nevertheless is a fantastic cover version.

Charlotte Gainsbourg, in general: If you’re looking for an antidote to the Anne Hathaways and Sofia Coppolas of the world, look no further than Charlotte Gainsbourg. Charlotte, while being part of French music royalty (her parents are none other than Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg), has proven herself to be an actor of incredible range, an amazing singer in her own right (check out her last album, 2006’s 5:55, which has been on my iPod nonstop ever since), and is my ultimate fashion icon. She is always stylishly yet simply dressed; well turned out in a way that is never overdone or self-conscious. She is also remarkably well-adjusted given the sometimes chaotic lives of her relatives. I have modeled my whole look on her for a long time!

Sweaters with skinny pants: Skinny jeans have the most awesome potential for going horribly wrong. Where I live, they are usually seen on young girls pairing them with the grossest flip-flops ever, accompanied by T-shirts festooned with the legend “I AM A VIRGIN . . . BUT THIS IS AN OLD SHIRT” or something similarly classy. Skinny jeans can be remarkably stylish when worn correctly, though . . . I usually pair them with pointy flats and an unassuming long-sleeved cable knit sweater in a neutral tone (like navy blue or brown). They also look pretty stylish with flats and striped T-shirts. Paired with understated accessories and a roomy, black purse, you can be an instant Jean Seberg (except for all of the tragedies . . . ugh).

Joy Division revival (part 2): The new Joy Division documentary, simply entitled Joy Division, came out this year and remains the ultimate film document on one of my best-loved bands. It was interesting to hear the perspectives of bassist Peter Hook and guitarist Bernard Sumner on the synthesis of the band’s sound. I was especially impressed when finding out about the slight Northern Soul stamp on one of their early songs: “Interzone,” which was modeled after a Northern Soul standard called “Keep On Keepin’ On” by N.F. Porter (I am also a massive fan of Northern Soul). Along with the movie Control, it is interesting to see the band being more wholly appreciated.

Any vintage-y perfumes: Any perfume from the 1970s has become fair game for me this year. I am especially enamored of Chloe (the original version from 1975) and Tea Rose (from the Perfumers Workshop, 1972). I love the slightly 1940s twist given to anything olfactory from the 1970s. Embarrassingly enough, I have been wearing a lot of a scent called Cabotine (by Grés from 1990) because it smells like springtime and freshness . . . and it costs about $14.99 at any discount store. So shoot me . . .

Image from The Smoking Gun

Jane Fonda’s other mugshot from 1970: We’re all familiar with the “fist in air” mugshot of Jane during her “I’m a crazy radical” years.; Say what you want about her activities during this time, but I’m a bigger fan of her mugshot taken the day before (in short, she was booked on possession of what were believed to be prescription drugs, and the next day she was booked for kicking a cop!). She has her famous Klute-era haircut, looks very well-preserved (if a bit stoned) with a slightly defiant smirk, and probably smells like a combination of Cabochard (another perfume by Grés, which smells ever so slightly of tobacco) and French cigarettes. This is probably Jane at her most insane and glamorous, and thoroughly captures the essence of why I am obsessed with most things related to the 1970s.

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