As 2008 draws to a close, we here at the Agit Reader, like most music publications, are taking a look back at the year and reflecting on the artists, albums and songs that made 2008 what it was (and in some respects, what it wasn't). This year was a big one for the Agit Reader, because, well obviously, we came into existence. Launching back in June with the simple idea of filling in a niche—somewhere between a zine, a website and a blog—we've strived to cover music that we love, eschewing bullshit hubbub for quality writing. Being new at this (web publishing that is, not music criticism), we've naturally had our foibles, and a city-wide blackout in our hometown of Columbus didn't help matters. Through it all, though, I think we managed to put up the kind of quality content you won't find anywhere else, the highlights being 27 features in 27 weeks. When we started out, I didn't think too much about the task of interviewing a band every week, but soon realized how ambitious that actually was. But if you'll allow me to toot our own horn for a minute, I think it's telling that many of those artists ended up in the Agit Reader Top 20. With the Top 20 being a composite of the favorite albums of a group of 10 writers, we didn't necessarily know where those artists' output would stand at the end of the year when we talked to them. So I think that, if anything, it shows that we are indeed covering the music that speaks to us, and hopefully in turn, speaks to you, the Agit Reader reader.
But enough pontificating. Like I said, we polled our 10 writers to come up with what we consider the Top 20 albums of 2008. You'll get the bottom half of that list, 20 to 11, on Monday, and the top half, 10 to 1, on Tuesday. Wednesday we will publish our top singles of the year, and Thursday, our top reissues of 2008. Friday, our primary Primitive Futures columnist, and associate editor, Kevin J. Elliott will be unearthing what he considers the crucial artifacts for 2008, the ones that should be put in the time capsule for future generations.
Don't be surprised if they vary wildly, as the main thread that unites them is the possession of an astute set of ears and a critical mind.
Well, I hope that you enjoy this retrospective, and that you'll continue turning to the Agit Reader for music criticism and commentary. As we get on top of this learning curve, we anticipate the site to only improve, with our readers reaping what we sow.
Stephen Slaybaugh