'08's Music to Love More Than Music: Love More, Pt. 1

The Top of the Top list, "Love More Than Music," will be up in a few days, and then, following it, will come my "favorite of the year" post. So stay tuned! Here's this part:

Love More (<3)
Pacific UV - Longplay 2
My buddy JJ once explained to me, when I asked what this band sounded like before he introduced me to them around the time their first one came out, that this band sounds like Explosions in the Sky and Death Cab For Cutie mixed. Well I have to say that I didn't so much hear it on any of their other releases, but such a description fits this band better now than ever. Some of the tracks are mostly instrumental experimentation's in ambiance and the building of a mood through music, but they all sound like they're trying to flirt with making Pop-Post-Rock. If that were to ever be possible, these guys would be the first to do so.
Pacific UV - Alarmist
Pacific UV - Something Told Us

Pee-Pee - Castile Jackine is Vooded at Broonus Mousin: Volume 1
Pee-Pee is a band that wins the award for one of the worst-named-band-almost-ever (I'm certain there are worse ones out there), but it's clever, because it's unforgettable. The idea behind a name like that is lost on this band/project, however, because Pee-Pee's music in itself has always been unforgettable. This album has been years in the making ... well ... more precisely an album has been in the making for years. I got their 5 song demo about 2 or 3 years ago, and they've had a radio set that I was able to download, and they've had a few songs on their myspace that they never really released, but other than those few recordings, Pee-Pee has been mainly a performance band, not an album band. Headed up by Doo Crowder, the band is constantly in flux, but is usually over 9 members and under 15, instruments ranging from pots and pans to singing saws to accordions (also, there's a guitar, but hey, what band doesn't? [don't answer that haha]). Their music is whimsical and haunting, and this album changes none of that. With mostly new songs, I feel the only downside to the album is that it is 1) too short, and 2) includes the "Freakout Jam" and "Pee-Pee Song," two songs that are interesting maybe once or twice, and I've seen them live quite a few times, so I've heard my share of the Pee-Pee Song. If those two songs were replaced by some of the other Pee-Pee standards, such as "Love Is Impossible," then I would have been content to make this album my favorite of the year. But the fact is that I'm kind of unhappy with 1/4th of the album. However, it is 3/4ths perfect, and should be heard by one and all.
Pee-Pee - Love Needs a Quivering, Restless, Aching, Fire To Lay Its Head On
Pee-Pee - I Hope My New House Feels Welcoming For You
Pee-Pee - Jaroline (That jarring sound at the beginning of this song is, for some reason, supposed to be there)

Air Traffic - Fractured Life
There are few albums like this. Each song is very different at first, but all of them are intrinsically Air Traffic. I've said a great deal of good things about Air Traffic in the past. I'll let those things stand as an example of my feelings.
Air Traffic - Charlotte
Air Traffic - Come On

Andrew Jackson Jihad - Only God Can Judge Me
I'm a huge fan of Andrew Jackson Jihad. I remember when I first heard them. I bought this Ghost Mice/AJJ split, mostly for the Ghost Mice side, and fell in love with AJJ. Ever since, I'm a dyed in the wool AJJ man. This EP is a heartbreaking work of awesomeness, as is the majority of AJJ's work. Folk Punk sometimes, just plain folky at other times, each song is a mysterious trip through the strange and sometimes gruesome minds of Sean Bonnette and Ben Gallant. Brilliant, but an EP, so I feel it's a little short.
Andrew Jackson Jihad - Darkest Heart
Andrew Jackson Jihad - Human Kittens