![_There's A Hair In My Psychedelic Psoup: Ty Segall and White Fence at the Mohawk [Show Preview]](http://austinist.com/assets_c/2012/05/tysegallwhitefence-thumb-250x250-716638.jpeg)
Ask a Local: Bill Baird
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.
Next we have Bill Baird, the extremely prolific frontman of Sunset who talked with us about his favorite listening experiences of the year. In between releasing two albums, a cassette, and working on a disc of covers, somehow Baird did have the chance to indulge in music that wasn't his, which ranged from an output by a former member of his old Tonewheel Collective to Axl Rose's much-anticipated ProTools exercise Chinese Democracy.
Portishead Third I was a bit dubious when a friend gave me this. But I put it on and realized that somehow Portishead had gotten better! I liked them before, but this is beyond.
Department of Eagles In Ear Park Is futurist-retro a term? These guys sound to me like a vaudevillian Disneyland animatronic exhibit from a horrible dystopian future where we all live underground and dream of the good old days of saloons and barrel-house piano and group singing.
Johnny Greenwood There Will Be Blood Soundtrack No doubt the half the movie's power came from this soundtrack. It felt like the Daniel Plainview's inner life/turmoil being illuminated. And this was very frightening. Hard to recall when I've been simultaneously unsettled and overwhelmed by beauty. Perhaps staring at a 10-story Big Mac would be similar. Musically, Greenwood draws heavily here from Penderecki, who Greenwood acknowledges as a primary influence. For those unfamiliar, check out The Shining.
Guns 'n' Roses Chinese Democracy Actually, I think I hate this album. But that sound collage that starts the album elevates the comedy to a whole new Spinal-Tap dimension.
Mark David Ashworth new album OK, so this isn't out yet, but I liked it better than anything else this year. He played me the unmastered version when I stayed with him in San Francisco. Hold your breath, people, it's gonna be a lush, beautiful year.
