Ask a Local: Mike Booher of Zykos, Booher & the Turkeyz/Ovenbirds

This winter, Austinist wanted to take some time to check in with some of our favorite local performers, artists and musicians to see what they enjoyed in 2008. Our request was simple: give us a few things that you enjoyed listening to this year, and feel free to include releases that might not have been released in 2008, but that found their way onto your turntable anyhow. We'll be sharing our own list too, but be patient and hear what some of our favorite folks thought was worthwhile in '08.

Today we're talking to Mike Booher. Booher is probably best known for his long run with Zykos, but 2008 found him performing with the Turkeyz and hitting the road with Okkervil River for a tour. We'll undoubtedly be hearing more from him this year, and we look forward to it! Check it out: "On Tour With Zykos" (Okkervil River cover) (YouTube). Here's what Booher recommends:

1. Bob Dylan Tell Tale Signs: the Bootleg Series Vol. 8. This is cheating a bit considering this culminates Dylan out-takes from 1989-2006, but that's OK, I promise. It's an absolute essential 2 disc collection for anyone who enjoys songs, words, musical notes, or creative expression. Not only have Dylan's last 3 records ("Time Out Of Mind", "Love and Theft", and "Modern Times") been as good as his best career material, this collection chronologically begins with some remarkable out-takes from the 1989 Daniel Lanois produced Oh Mercy, and pulls staggering b-sides from the other Daniel Lanois record, Time Out Of Mind. The other massive highlights include the 2006 (Modern Times?) outtake, "Can't Escape From You", "Tell Ol' Bill", "Huck's Tune", and "Cross the Green Mountain". It's wild to think these are deemed out-takes. Any songwriting genius would've put these on his or her proper record, but not Dylan. We must give up calling people "the next Bob Dylan". Bob Dylan will always be the next Bob Dylan. Let's hope he lives and creates forever, or until the end of the world in 2012. haha.

2. Okkervil River The Stand Ins. Will Sheff comes as close to perfect modern songwriting as it gets. He's a hard working, kind, and naturally gifted writer, with a steamrolling band beside him. I'm not just biased here, I love every song on this album, but somehow I have a special place in my heart for track 8, "On Tour With Zykos." *winks at computer.*

3. Raphael Saadiq The Way I See It. A genuine modern soul record. Whodda thunk it? This thing simultaneously sounds like Smokey Robinson and The Miracles, Sam Cooke, and a touch of Marvin Gaye. It's all the stuff you should already love, mixed with originality. Raphael sounds timeless and remarkably ahead of his time, defying the mediocrity of modern soul recordings. "Love That Girl" is my main jam.

4. Mount Eerie Lost Wisdom. Much like modern soul, indie rock has been a bit forced and stale as well (just my opinion). This record is gorgeous. Spotless, yet human harmonies from start to finish, courtesy of Phil Elverum and Julie Doiron. The music is spare but so affecting. In this sense, the sparseness feels full and heavy. Brutally honest words from Phil Elverum. Recently married, I love his observation, the deceptively romantic line, "Let's get out of the romance."

5. Fucked Up The Chemistry Of Common Life. Not every song is perfect, but the brutality of this album boils my brains, rattles my teeth, and somewhat repairs my lost faith in the current state of indie music. This album has an original approach, and actual musicality. It ain't no rehashed indie regurgitation or some indie hybrid we're told to like by the hipster critics. I think they would say it's "best new music", but God bless, it sure ain't a rehash this time.

Honorable Mentions would include the latest records by: Shearwater, Bon Iver, Sigur Ros, Spiritualized.