Some exceptional albums came out this year too. Particularly striking releases came from: Battles, Deerhunter, Bat For Lashes, Menomena, Stars of The Lid, Prefuse 73, Miracle Fortress, Les Savy Fav, Feist, Cadence Weapon, Deerhoof, Blonde Redhead, Thurston Moore and Radiohead’s two-finger salute to the music “industry” with the fantastic ‘In Rainbows’, amongst others.

Without blabbering on, we coaxed a panel of local experts with unfulfilled promises of keenly-priced Dutch lagers and tins of USA biscuits to give the Limerick Independent their musical highlights of 2007, as well as their hopes for 2008.

Joe Clarke
Highlight(s) of 07: Fishgodeep live in the Courtyard at Trinity Rooms on June Bank Holiday Sunday. It’s nothing short of breathtaking when a record that’s been an anthem to you for months makes the leap to being preformed live in front of your eyes. Seeing Fishgodeep vocalist Tracey K perform ‘The Cure and the Cause’ was all this and more!

Hope(s) for 08: The positive effects of the arrival of Spin South West will be huge in 2008. New local music from the likes of Subtle Audio, Tigons and Ligers, Sykes & De Cleir and Duty Cycle on the dance side of things, and We Should be Dead, Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters and Windings is all worthy of worldwide attention.

Joe is a Director of Trinity Rooms (www.trinityrooms.ie)