I think 2008 was a relatively good year for music. Sure there were some disappointments, (I’m looking at you Old Crow Medicine Show,) but all in all things were pretty decent. So, like every other blog and music magazine at the end of December, here are our top 20 songs of 2008. I should also mention that this blog is (I think fairly obviously) not geared towards hipsters, so don’t be surprised by our lack Portishead or Death Cab for Cutie songs. (I was very tempted to make this week’s list a best of 2007 list or something, just to go against expectations, but sometimes cliché is okay I suppose.)
Also, I cheated and put my top 25 songs, but it’s okay, because I run the website and can cheat if I want. I should also note, most of these songs are in no particular order unless otherwise noted.
Chuck
25. Hank Williams III “
The Grand Old Opry (Ain’t So Grand)”: It’s becoming tradition now that on every album Hank III has a new song dising Nashville. First there was “Trashville” and then “Dick in Dixie,” and now “Opry”. You would almost think that his rants on how much he hates Nashville and modern country would have become trite and preachy by now, and okay they have, but who better to preach to you than the grandson of country’s original badass? Unfortunately, this is one of only about three (actually two and a half) good songs off of Hank’s new album. The rest of it just comes off as recycled, half assed versions of songs off of his earlier albums. Still better than most country that comes out today, but disappointing no less.
24. The Barenaked Ladies “
Raisins”: This song is off of the Barenaked Ladies’ children’s album, which was really way more enjoyable than it should have been for any twenty-four year old. I like to listen to it while I’m finger painting or making bird feeders out of pine cones. Anyways, this song is totally off the wall and ridiculous, which gives it added points. I wait in anticipation for their next children’s album Smacktime (lead singer Steven Page was arrested in July for cocaine possession. Sigh, I hate having to explain my own jokes.)
23. Ben Folds “
Brainwashed”: “You’re So Vain,” “You Oughta Know,” “Brainwashed.” What do these have in common? Great songs putting down an ambiguous second party which have lead to dozens of possible theories on who said party is. Ben Folds’ Way to Normal has been one of my favorite albums of 2008. It sees Ben returning to his old school more raucous style that he started out with when he was playing with the Ben Folds Five, while loosing none of his sardonic wit in the process. This song is also great because Ben really comes off like quite a catty bitch.
22. Kings of Leon “
Crawl”: When did the Kings of Leon become so sexy? Their music has always been all over the place and kinda stupid, but fun. Yet, on Only by the Night they go in an almost completely new direction and sink deep into a murky groove, with just a touch of soul. My favorites off of the album are probably this song which just has a dirty and thick groove throughout, Manhattan (which has lead singer Caleb Followill singing so raw and passionately you expect him to damage his larynx,) and “Sex on Fire,” (seriously, when did this guy learn to sing?)
21. My Morning Jacket “
Highly Suspicious”: My Morning Jacket is a southern jam band from Kentucky. They start off this song with a Justin Timberlake style beat, start singing in an almost absurdly high (yet still kinda sexy) falsetto, have lyrics that don’t seem to make much sense, but do seem to have something to do with “peanut butter pudding surprise”, and then have cookie monster sing the chorus. All I have to say is way to think outside of the box MMJ!
20. Beyonce “
At Last”: I put this on here because I did not know Beyonce could actually sing. Seriously, I had no idea. I know people always say she can, and obviously people like her, but that doesn’t ACTUALLY mean anything. Just look at the facts, she is a modern R&B singer, none of them actually sing, it’s all autotune, right? But Etta James can sing. And as far as I know, Etta James was not an android or a robot. And if she was, she didn’t sound like one, like T-Pain, or Kanye (where is Sarah Conner when we need her?) And since this is an Etta James song, and still kinda sounds like an Etta James song, then obviously Beyonce can really sing. Math is hard.
19. The Raconteurs “
Attention”: I miss the 70’s. So does Jack White, apparently. This song is straight 70’s style rock and roll. Robert Plant vocals and a thick and funky backing track reminiscent of Bad Company or Foreigner, (as much as I’d like to compare the whole song to Zeppelin, it’s not quite THAT badass.)
18. Panic at the Disco “
Pas De Cheval”: I have gone from completely hating bands like Panic at the Disco and Fall Out Boy, to actually kind of respecting them and their music and just completely hating the titles of their songs instead. I have absolutely no idea what the title of this song means or if it has anything to do with the actual song itself, but it probably doesn’t. However the song is just an excellent pop song, plain and simple.
17. Cadillac Sky “
My Precious Waltz / I Hate How Happy She Is”: Time for my bluegrass interlude. Cadillac Sky is one of the most amazing bands to have come out in recent memory. Awe inspiring vocals, intelligent lyrics, and superb musicianship. The beginning of this song starts with an incredibly chilling waltz that suddenly morphs into a banjo plucking rave up about how the lead singer hates how well his ex is doing without him. If you want to get someone into bluegrass, Cadillac Sky is a perfect introductory band.
16. The Duhks “
This Fall”: The Duhks are a bluegrass band out of Canada, but what sets them apart from most other bluegrass bands is that they had a female lead singer with one of the most stunningly beautiful voices you will ever hear and a percussionist who somehow manages to incorporate bizarre Latin rhythms into the songs. Then last year both of these people left the band. Somehow, the remaining members of the Duhks managed to replace them with a lead singer and percussionist who are equally as talented, if not more so. I had this album and listened to it dozens of times without even noticing the change, before a friend of mine clued me in. Anyways, this song is a haunting ballad about people falling in love and how miserable it can be to watch.
15. Darrell Scott “Urge for Going”: You could call Darrell Scott country, after all dozens of modern country musicians have covered his songs, but I prefer to consider him bluegrass because he uses typical bluegrass instruments and is actually talented. The best thing about Scott is his songwriting, his ability to use clever phrasing while combining it with a sweet and catchy melody. So it only makes sense that his last album, Modern Hymns, is composed entirely of covers of other people’s songs. Wait. What? Fuck. Yet still he makes it work. Every song in here is beautiful, and would fit in perfectly with his other works. This song was originally a Joni Mitchell song, and I hate Joni Mitchell.
14. Weezer “
The Greatest Man That Ever Lived”: This may well be the most epic song since Bohemian Rhapsody. It goes through at least four separate movements, and Rivers kinda raps in it. This year there were a lot of albums released that I thought were good, but not as good as said artist’s previous effort (Hank III, the Fratellis, Trivium,) but I thought Weezer’s last album, (Make Believe,) was a steaming pile of horse shit, so the Red Album makes up for all the others, right? Right!
13. Mofro “
Dew Drops”: I just realized I have had a Mofro song on every playlist I’ve made thus far. For those of you unfamiliar with Mofro, they are a band from my home state of Florida, based out of Jacksonville. The lead singer (JJ Grey) has one of the sweetest and most heartbreaking voices I have ever heard (his favorite singer is also Otis Redding) and they sing about a lot of subjects that are close to me. This song is classic Mofro, tender and soulful as ever.
12. Todd Snider “
Dividing the Estate (A Heart Attack)”: Todd Snider is another one of my all time favorite artists who most people have never heard of. I think he is the modern day Bob Dylan. Or maybe Woody Gutherie would be more appropriate? He doesn’t have a traditionally good voice, but he is almost unbearably clever. Another thing I love about Snyder is his sincerity and innocence. At the end of his latest album (an EP called Peace Queer) the music fades out and he says plainly to the audience that “lately my friends have been telling me that my songs have gotten more and more opinionated. So I wanted to let you know before we finish this music, that while over the course of this music I may share some of my opinions with you. I don’t share them with you because I think they’re smart or because I think you need to know them. I share them with you because they rhyme. I did not do this to change your mind about anything, I did this to ease my own mind about everything.” Which I thought was a very unusual display of honestly from a musician. Man I need to stop rambling about the albums so much and talk about the songs. This one is about the death of Uncle Sam after he gets fat and bloated.
11. Foxboro Hot Tubs “
Mother Mary”: And now I will unmask the Foxboro Hot Tubs, they are actually Green Day all dressed up in a weird name and playing 60’s style pop. Apparently after the massive failure that was American Idiot they decided that releasing another album as Green Day could only be a commercial and financial failure. Wait, didn’t American Idiot sell millions of copies? Green Day must just be silly then.
10. Jason Mraz “
Make it Mine”: While the Raconteurs are reveling in pure unadulterated 70’s Rock and Roll, Jason Mraz puts out smooth, calm 70’s AM gold on his first single from his new album, We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things (all things I actually do, oh Jason, you know me so well. Infatuated sigh, and moving on)
9. The Cab “
That 70’s Song”: I will probably be criticized a lot for this list. I will say right now, I am not ashamed of my music choices. I simply have good pop sensibilities, and like a catchy melody. I am man enough to admit I like Panic at the Disco (or their last album at least,) or Fall Out Boy or Paramore. I don’t believe in guilty pleasures, I say man up and admit you like something, don’t be ashamed you love Wham! Rock your “Choose Life” shirt and don’t forget to wake me up before you go-go. That being said, the Cab is almost a guilty pleasure. They sound like either a prettier, more flamboyant Maroon 5, or maybe a more talented N’Sync. They are, in all honestly, a boy band, (is that term relevant any more? Are Fall Out Boy or Panic boy bands?) except they can play instruments. This is a song you cannot listen to in your car, unless you have your windows rolled all the way up and no one else is in ear shot. And yet, I can’t stop listening.
8. The Fratellis “
My Friend John”: This is probably the most fun track off of the Fratelli’s latest album, Here We Stand. The new album has more easily intelligible lyrics, much better production and doesn’t sound like it was all cut in one day through several cases of Red Bull and who knows how much liquor. These are all downfalls. Sure the album is still pretty damn good. There are great hooks and well made songs, but it just doesn’t sound like the same band of incorrigible scamps who made the first album. Also, if you were a ship, what ship would you be (Listen to the song)?
7. The Kooks “
Always Where I Need to Be”: You know a song is going to be great when it has a part where someone goes “doo doo doo.” That aside, there is just something amazing about the Kooks. Stunning melodies, tender vocals, and a certain sweetness that’s hard to explain. In their song “She Moves in Her Own Way” (it’s off their last album, but I’m trying to make a point, so shut up!) lead singer, Luke Pritchard, sings about how much he loves a girl because she came to the show just to hear about his day. In “Gap” he pleads, to the point where his voice starts to break, for a girl not to leave him. These aren’t things that you hear many bands do. A lesser band might tone down the vocals in order to sing the chorus more “technically proper,” or talk about more mundane and common things in the relationship like how the sex is or how beautiful the girl is. It’s all in the details, savvy? I chose this song because it‘s the type of song you hear once and have stuck in your head the rest of the day, but don‘t particularly mind, and I like songs that go “doo doo doo.”
6. The Black Keys “
Strange Times”: It took me a bit to warm up to the latest album by the Black Keys. It’s produced by Danger Mouse of Gnarls Barkley and Grey Album fame, which is strange because the Black Keys are a grungy, blues rooted two piece band that has nothing to do with what Danger Mouse normally specializes in. Yet it works. It’s a little less raw than the band’s previous efforts, which I do miss, but the song writing and structure are much improved. This song is especially impressive to me because if you listen to the beat in the background it’s almost a hip-hop beat.
5. The Bridge “
Dirtball Blues”: I have just recently discovered this band, and am totally in love. Matt described them as a better version of the Grateful Dead, which I don’t really see, but to each his own. To me they are simply just a superb southern rock band, which is rare these days. At least in a classic sense, which these guys seem to exemplify. They also mix in a lot of bluegrass elements, and I am totally gay for bluegrass (which is probably extremely apparent by this list.)
4. Metallica “
All Nightmare Long”: My boys have come back home! The prodigal sons have returned! Slaughter the fattened calf and praise be to Satan! The first good Metallica album since… I’ll be nice and say the Black Album (subjective I know, but I do still like a few of those songs.) I had a lot of hopes for this album, and I must say they did not disappoint, and while it’s not quite classic Metallica, it’s as close as I think we will ever see again. Why did I have high hopes where most others expected nothing, because I saw that St. Anger was a step in the right direction. I honestly didn’t think it was a terrible album, aside from the fact that it was unlistenable and the songwriting was completely retarded. But that was just Bob Rock’s horse shit production, and seriously, the lyrics on this album can be pretty retarded at times too, it’s just less noticeable. Plus Kurt solos again!
3. Trivium “
Insurrection”: Trivium is one of my favorite new metal bands (not nu metal). That said, they are such fucking sell outs. Their last album they changed their trademark screaming vocal style to a more classic thrash metal that was very reminiscent of Metallica. This got everyone’s attention, they became hugely successful and sold lots of albums. This also pissed off a lot of their fans, but they claimed to have abandoned the screaming style because they never liked playing that type of music, they just did it to get their foot in the door so they could play what they want. Alright, I can forgive them that, I don’t know if I wouldn’t do the same thing given the opportunity. On their latest album, Shogun, they go back to screaming, while keeping the more Metallica style instrumentals. What happened to your artistic vision? Cunts. Still, they are insanely talented instrumentally, despite the screaming, so I included this track, which is one of the heaviest songs I’ve heard in some time. And they don’t scream the whole time, so that’s something.
2. Slim Cessna’s Auto Club “Children of the Lord”: There has been an odd trend in bluegrass over the last several years by bands that are not really religious to take religious traditionals and cover them. When this happens the songs always come out sounding twisted, demented and a little frightening. I love it! Later, in Cessna’s new album, Cipher, he ridicules Jesus for taking his sweet time coming back, so I really don’t think he’s a closet Christian trying to sneak some god to his listeners. The whole album is dark, creepy and a great listen, if you like weird shit. I do.
1. Local H “
The One With ‘Kid’”: Local H’s latest album is all about the troubles of getting over a break up, an original idea, I know (sarcasm). Still Local H does manage to cover some new ground and take an odd angle on 12 Angry Months. This song is about the troubles of dividing a record collection (and subsequently less important things like friends, and hang outs) after the relationship has ended.
Glen
1. Metallica “
All Nightmare Long” – After the travesty that was St. Anger, which I still can’t decide whether to classify as a war crime or an abortion, Metallica really blew me away with Death Magnetic. It’s definitely their best album since the Black Album, even better in some respects. At last, the long awaited return to their metal roots. I’ll have to send Rick Rubin a thank you card. This song isn’t a single, but it’s currently my favorite on the album, and the big single, “The Day That Never Comes,” although decent, is actually one of my least favorite. As my favorite song from my favorite album of the year, it gets the number one slot.
2. Flobots “
Handlebars” – This song got a little radio play, but in my opinion did not become nearly as huge as it deserved to. Although I have no idea what the fuck they mean, the lyrics are interesting and easy to rap along with. The beat is simple but catchy with a terrific horn solo and the video is a little gem of haunting Orwellian animation. The rest of the album is just alright. It’s full of enough Hugo Chavez loving ultra-liberal propaganda to make Zack de la Rocha blush, but the production is well done. Nothing else on the album touches this song though.
3. Motley Crue “
Saints of Los Angeles” – With AC/DC, Metallica and Motley Crue all releasing new albums, 2008 was the year of the attempted 80’s metal god comeback. Unfortunately only two of them were successful and that’s why you won’t see any AC/DC on this list. This song however, is a fire-breathing, building-smashing rock monster. There’s no two ways about it. It’s classic Motley Crue and it melts faces everywhere. The video was disappointing, trying way too hard to be cool; although the five foot tall kick drum on the stage is pretty sweet. Overall though, this is definitely the best thing anybody from Motley Crue has done since Tommy Lee videotaped himself nailing Pam Anderson on a speedboat.
4. MIA “
Paper Planes” – Technically the album containing this song, Kala, was released in 2007. But if ten people told me they had heard this song before the Pineapple Express trailer, I would put down good money that at least seven of them were lying. So due to its massive breakout success this summer, I’m counting it as a 2008 song (and the rest of the album sucks anyway). If you don’t like this song, you’re probably either deaf, an indie troll who hates anything popular, or mentally retarded. Will Smith take note; this is how you sample a Clash song.
5. Coldplay “
Violet Hill” – I’m not really much of a Coldplay fan. They have a few songs I like, but mostly I think they’re overrated. But this was one of the few songs this year that I didn’t mind hearing over and over again on the radio. It has a strong melody peppered with the kind of super-crunchy guitar that you don’t often hear from bands like Coldplay. It is my firm belief that everybody should get off of Viva La Vida’s nuts. It was in a damn iPod commercial and now every hipster douche wannabe is calling it the best song of 2008. This song is way better.
6. Flight of the Conchords “
Angels” – The best novelty music duo made famous by an HBO series since Tenacious D is at it again. The upcoming second season doesn’t officially start until January, but the premier episode is already available on Fancast and this little ditty is the closing number. A song about angels boning in the clouds with a soft acoustic guitar accompaniment and an amazing full choir climax (get it?), it promises another great season full of hilarious naivety and absurd music.
7. Beck “
Gamma Ray” – It’s Beck, do I really have to say anything more? I love the sound of my own voice, so yes I do. The guitar sounds like it should be coming out of an early 60’s surfing B-movie, and in good old fashioned Beck tradition the lyrics are weird as hell and don’t really make any sense. I’m not sure who should get more credit, Beck himself or the album’s producer Danger Mouse (the crazy genius behind the Grey Album), but either way this song stands out strongly in my mind as one of the greats of this year.
8. Death Cab for Cutie “
I Will Possess Your Heart” – I don’t really think there’s any reason for this song to be eight and a half minutes long, but my complaints with it end there. Fortunately the shortened down radio version is not eight and a half minutes long and makes for a relaxing antidote to my violent road rage whenever it comes on.
9. Vampire Weekend “
A-Punk” – The song that took Vampire Weekend from obscurity to mega stardom, that moved their music from the iPods of indie weirdoes to the stages of Letterman and SNL. With its upbeat rhythm and Caribbean influenced guitar, this song makes me want to take a cruise far away from all this cold. Super Happy Fun Time Song of the Year.
10. Common “
Universal Mind Control” – It’s great when you hear an artist you like go in a new direction and it works. According to Forbes, “Common created ‘Universal Mind Control’ because he felt the feel-good music was the only music missing from his body of work.” And he did a damn good job too. This title track from the new album is fresh, funky and cool as hell. And I like that Zune commercial where he appears with Afrika Bambaataa.
11. Foo Fighters “
Let It Die” – Are the Foo Fighters even capable of releasing a bad single? Time after time they prove that they are not. I honestly can’t think of one radio single by them that I haven’t liked. This year’s best was “Let It Die” with its slow, sad start and loud, angry conclusion. How Dave Grohl manages to scream like that night after night on tour without ripping his vocal chords and pulling his groin is beyond me, but it’s impressive as hell.
12. Kings of Leon “
Sex on Fire” – This song was a bit of an acquired taste for me. I didn’t really like it much at first, but after hearing it a couple dozen times I began to appreciate it. After a couple dozen more times I came to really like it. Now, not only do I put it on my best songs of 2008 list, but I would also put it on a Top 20 Songs to Make Babies To list.
13. Nas “
Hero” – Kanye West’s biggest competitor for most egotistical son of a bitch on the planet, only he’s been around longer and he does it better. The rapper who portrayed himself as Jesus before Kanye did is now proclaiming himself to be the martyr savior of hip hop. I guess the contest to see who has the biggest head is what rap’s all about these days. It’s kind of funny and it’s also kind of sad. But this song has a strange charm to it and the beat is absolutely epic.
14. Weezer “
Pork and Beans” – Holy Christ was this song ever catchy! I definitely heard this more times on the radio than anything else this year by far and yet it still never really got old. I could take or leave “Troublemaker,” but this song will go down with “Buddy Holly” and “Hash Pipe” as one of the defining moments of their career. And I’m just glad that it helped bring Weezer back into all our lives, and with Rivers sporting a sweet Miami Vice ‘stache. I would also like to add that this was easily the best video of 2008.
15. The Raconteurs “
Salute Your Solution” – With two hugely successful bands, Jack White just can’t seem to fuck up. This song has an amazing guitar riff and that’s really all there is to it…the description I mean, not the song.
16. Lil’ Wayne feat Jay-Z “
A Millie (NFL remix)” – There is a modern day savior of hip hop and it’s not Kanye or Nas, it’s Lil’ Wayne. Just the fact that he went from being one of Master P’s lackeys in the Cash Money days to being the most respected hip hop artist in years is remarkable. “A Millie” was his biggest song this year, but I don’t care very much for the original version. It’s the beat. That thing with the deep male voice repeating the same line on loop over and over again, Rick Ross already did that on “Hustlin” and he had the courtesy not to keep it going through the entire song. In my opinion, this remix improves the song by a Millie, taking it from unpalatable to fantastic. A lot of people seem to not agree with me, but I think sampling the NFL theme music was genius. Jay-Z provides a pretty solid contribution (although honestly it probably would have been better without him) and Lil Wayne’s vocal styling is, as always, impeccable.
17. Kaiser Chiefs “
Addicted to Drugs” – You might as well face it, you’re addicted to love…err, drugs. It’s interesting how they managed to so obviously reference a Robert Palmer song without actually covering the song or even sampling a single note from it. I read about this song in somebody’s Facebook status message and decided to check it out. I haven’t gotten around to listening to much else by them, but based on this song it’s definitely on my list of things to do.
18. MGMT “
Time to Pretend” – I’m not really all that into MGMT. I think they’re pretty overrated, but maybe that’s because I don’t really do electro-pop. I first listened to them this year before Bonnaroo when I was trying to decide which bands I was going to see and I wasn’t blown away by most of it. It wasn’t until recently that I begrudgingly gave this song a listen and it immediately struck me as being far better than anything else I’ve heard by them.
19. Vampire Weekend “
Everywhere” – Originally I wanted to throw two or three songs from Metallica’s new album into this list, but then I decided I didn’t want to do any band repeats. So for Vampire Weekend I was trying to decide between their happy-go-lucky breakout hit “A-Punk” and this super cool Fleetwood Mac cover. In the end, I had to go with both. It wouldn’t be right to ignore a great song that is largely responsible for much of their recent success, but at the same time covering Fleetwood Mac is such an awesome thing to do.
20. The Mighty Underdogs feat. MF Doom “
Gunfight” – I started the list with my favorite metal song of the year and I decided to end it with my favorite rap song of the year. A rap song about drinking and gun slinging in the old west? Fucking giddyup! Throw in a bunch of heavy guitar, a smooth ass verse by MF Doom and one of the coolest music videos I’ve ever seen and you’ve got the best rap song of 2008.
NOTE: I originally wanted to include “
Knights of Cydonia” by Muse in this list, very high in the list. I never heard the song until this year when I started hearing it frequently on the radio, so I assumed it was new. But upon further research, it turns out the song was actually released in 2006. So honorable mention to a tremendous song that, while not new this year, was new to me this year.
I’d also like to give a shout-out to the worst song of 2008, “
Love Lockdown” by Kanye West. Really? No rapping? You’re singing now? We all know the only reason your voice even sounds halfway decent on this track is because it’s distorted half to hell by vocal synthesizers. And it’s not even a good song, it sounds like R Kelly pissing on Daft Punk. People argue that it was ballsy, but so was shooting Kennedy; it doesn’t mean we need to commend Oswald. Maybe just stick to talking about how great and versatile you are instead of trying to show us and making an ass of yourself.
Aaron
1.The Heavy - “
Set Me Free” - from the album Great Vengeance and Furious Fire -
This is a interesting new artist. Like many newer artists, one of the first words that was used to describe this band was “indie”. I was hesitant to even bother with them. Their sound changed that. My favorite song off this album is “Set Me Free”. This song sounds like Prince trying to Karaoke an early Rolling Stones’ song. It has just enough Hip hop, rock, and funk influences to make a great song.
2. The Black Keys - “
Strange Times” - from the album Attack and Release – Even though I was not very happy that Danger Mouse produced this album and gave it a layered sound, I still think that The Black Keys are an incredibly tight duo. “Strange Times” sounds like something that Zeppelin should have recorded. And by that I mean the lyrics are hard to decipher and seem to have a deep meaning. It shows that on their fifth album they haven't gone soft or mainstream. And, Danger Mouse, mind your own business!
3. Todd Snider - “
Is This Thing on” - from the album Peace Queer – I think that Todd Snider is one of the best song writers of my generation. I can probably add a song of his on every odd playlist that I can create. He covers so many topics and has an amazing wit. And “Is This Thing On” proves that. I was kind of disappointed with his new album, it was just too short. The songs on it were amazing, but there were not enough of them. But it was free so I can't bitch too much.
4. The Zutons - “
Whats Your Problem” - from the album You Can Do Anything – Oh, the Zutons. If they keep this up I'm going to have to kick someone off my top five list. I'm totally gay for any modern band that has a decent brass section and isn't a ska or swing band. I don't think that anyone will agree with me, but, here goes.....the reason that this song is my favorite is that it sounds like a Guess Who song off the album Road Food. Let the criticism begin......
5. My Morning Jacket - “
Highly Suspicious" – from the album Evil Urges – I don't even know where to begin when it comes to this song. Ok, first, the rest of this album is pretty bland. It sounds like after “Evil Urges” and “Highly Suspicious” they just gave up. But the first two songs were worth the rest of the album. “Highly Suspicious” is a jam full of funkiness that expresses a man's jealousy concerning the possibility of a woman cheating on him. I guess if you had to put it in simpler words, “peanut butter pudding surprise,” would be how I would describe it too.
6. Randy Newman - “
A Few Words” - from the album Harps and Angels – I think that Randy Newman is very underrated. He has been around since the late sixties and is still a kooky and strange man that always has something he wants to get off his chest. What I like about him is that his songs are so simple. He just talks for the most part. It's like hearing a senile old man ramble about things that piss him off. But, in Newman's case, his ramblings make me think. For example, “A Few Words” is pretty much what we all have been thinking and what all the other countries know. And If I have you wondering what I'm talking about. Maybe you should listen to the song and find out.
7.Elvis Costello & the Imposters - “
Stella Hurt” - From the album Momofuku – First of all, I want to give a huge round of applause to Elvis Costello. He released this album on vinyl first. Then, released it on CD. As a collector of vinyl and a huge supporter of it's slow but eventual comeback into mainstream music, I appreciate this very much. There is nothing slowing down Mr. Costello. He pretty much sounds like he did on This Years Model. The guitars sound a little more modern but essential Costello’s voice, catchy lyrics and riffs are all still present.
8.Jason Mraz - “
Butterfly” - from the album We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things – This is my favorite Jason Mraz album yet. This song is seductive, smooth and totally inappropriate for children. It is hard to find a good song nowadays that is an adult song about sex and seduction that isn't completely vulgar, has ridiculous lyrics, or doesn't seem to take the topic seriously. But not Jason Mraz. He said to himself, “I'm going to write a catchy pop song and I don't care if I have to return to the seventies to do it. “
9.Panic at the Disco - “
Behind the Sea” - from the album Pretty, Odd – This album got great reviews and was a big hit of 2008. And there are a lot of reasons for that. One of them is that it sounds nothing like their last album. Which was, well, to put it frankly, complete modern indie crap. What a difference an exclamation mark can make. “Behind the Sea” is one of the shortest songs on the album, but has a lot of feeling and soul. It has a mellow country feel and some great strings and picking to boot.
10. Raconteurs – “
Consoler of the Lonely” - from the album Consolers of the Lonely – Second time around the Raconteurs really made an awesome record. This track one side one is my favorite because you can really hear the different elements of the band members. Jack Whites vocals and edgy guitar riffs. And Stephen Malkmus's strange melodies and drums.
11. The Week That Was - “
Scratch the Surface” - from the album The Week That Was – I like this band because they are a good alternative to the Killers. Which suck. So, last year, when I wanted an pseudo eighties band. Here came The Week That Was. I don't even think that was the sound that they were going for. But, it doesn't sound trite and forced like the Killers.
12. Kings of Leon - “
Notion” - from the album Only by the Night – This band really made an odd record. And when I say odd I mean odd for them. And when I say odd for them I mean good. The lead singer finally started to use his piercing vocals and the band finally started to tighten up.
13. The Knux - “
Bang! Bang!” - from the album Remind Me In 3 Days – There aren't many modern hip hop and rap artist from the last ten years that I really enjoy. That genre of music has really gone down hill. There are a few. And I am glad to add the Knux to that list. This song is a refreshing and original change from the Lil' Wayne artists out there. And, I'm sorry, if any of you music critics who love him are out there. He isn't that great. All these cookie cutter artists are out there and they only sell records because that type of music was hot for the last decade. But I believe that is going to change soon. Hopefully more interesting hip hop artists will emerge to satisfy the need for more exciting music in that genre.
14. Vampire Weekend - “
Oxford Comma” - from the album Vampire Weekend – This band surprised me. The title and even the Rolling Stone description of the album made it sound awful. But then I read the track listing and saw “Oxford Comma” and I was intrigued. I was happily surprised. The song is just about not giving a fuck about anything. I was drawn in by the tiny bits of falsetto in the beginning and the lyrics pulled me through to the end. Just a great overall song. And, who does give a fuck about an Oxford comma?
15. Presidents of the United States of America - “
Deleter” - from the album These Are the Good Times People – One of the main reasons that this is one of my favorite songs of 2008 is if the backup vocals. They sound like normal backup vocals, but they're not. I did some research and found out that the vocals are done by Fysah Thomas. I know. Who is that? She is soulful jazz lead singer of the band 12th and Vine. I would have put one of their songs on here, but I'm afraid that they’re a little hard to find. Oh yeah, Deleter is pretty great too. Haha.
16. Barenaked Ladies - “
Raisins” - from the album Snacktime – Who thought that a kids album could be one of the best albums of the year? Oh, yeah, it wasn't. But it should have been.. I dare you to listen to this song. It will be stuck in your head for the next week. If you don't believe me, just try it. But remember, I warned you.
17. Ben Folds - “
Dr. Yang” - from the album Way To Normal – What makes this album so great is that he went back to that good ol' Ben Folds Five feel that we have all grown to love and enjoy. And I think this song most resembles that feel.
18. The Fratellis - “
Acid Jazz Singer” - from the album Here We Stand – This is one of the albums that I couldn't decide which song to pick. All of them exceeded my expectations and they definitely beat the sophomore slump. I picked this song mostly because of the title. I just happen to be a fan of acid jazz. And you won't hear many American artist’s use that term in their titles.
19. The Kooks - “
Do You Wanna” - from the album Konk - What can I say? I have been a fan since their first album. They have a fun upbeat sound with sweet innocent lyrics. So, I tried to pick the song with the most serious tone. But, I failed.. This song is close though.
20. One Day as a Lion - “
Wild International” - from the album One Day as a Lion - I'm just glad that Zack is back. I was starting to miss hating my government. Even though it was just a E.P. I still have hope. And maybe if I am a good boy this year Santa will leave me a new Rage album under my tree next year.
And here, as an added bonus, are my top 5 best and worst things to happen in 2008.
Best
5. Kanye West releases 808’s and Heartbreaks: Alright, I will admit it, I am a Kanye fan. He is one of the few modern rappers they actually play on the radio that I have the ability to listen to. And with his latest album, 808’s, he has done what so many other visionaries in the past have dared to do, release a terrible album under a wacky premise. In doing so he has managed to truly diversify himself and show he is capable of releasing things that are outside the box, even if they ultimately don’t work in the end.
4. Stephen Colbert runs for president: I read an interview with Colbert once, after he did the Press Core dinner, where he talks about how he managed to become more than just a late night political commentator during his speech and actually touch the system he spends most of his nights satirizing. In 2008 he did it again, running as a favorite son of South Carolina, he affected the way things work and showed he was indeed a force to be reckoned with.
3. Axl Rose finally releases Chinese Democracy: In Chuck Klosterman’s book, Fargo Rock City, he jokes about how Chinese Democracy has been in the works forever and how he wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t come out by the time the book was published, but thought it probably would. The book was published in 2001. So finally Axl has released his monster epic he has been working on since… let’s say the dawn of time. Congrats Axl, it only took you a couple decades, several guitarists and millions of dollars.
2. I left Florida and moved to New York: I love Florida, and have lived all of my life there, but this last year I felt it was time for a change. So I packed all of my shit into a U-Haul with one of my best friends and headed off to restart our lives in the Empire State. This is really more of a personal note on my own life, but this website did come out of me making a soundtrack to all of my experiences, so I suppose it’s acceptable. Besides, for me, getting out of Florida and moving up here was what the year was all about. Well that and the election, and thus…
1. Our last year with President Bush and we elected the first black president: Undoubtedly the best thing to happen this year, and here is why. One, Douchebag McEvil gets ousted after two unexplainable terms. Two, we elect the first black president ever, and about fucking time too. Three, we have elected a candidate that I actually feel is genuine and who does not seem to subscribe to the typical political dogma. A candidate who actually ran a classy election, when he could have easily turned to mudslinging. My faith in humanity is restored.
Worst
5. Kanye West releases 808’s and Heartbreaks: As I said before, Kanye is one of my favorite modern rappers, and it’s great that he had the balls to release a bad album… but seriously, couldn’t he have just released a good one instead? I hate autotune with a passion, and despise any song with T-Pain. Why Kanye, why? Who told you that you could sing? They lied to you man! Just because one person who can’t sing sells dozens of records, doesn’t mean everyone should. Now you are encouraging more people to do this. What have you done? What horror have you unleashed upon us?
4. Stephen Colbert runs for president and gets shot down immediately: Given, I didn’t think he would go far in the race, but South Carolina wouldn’t even put him on the ballot! He is America, it says so in the title of his book. That’s like saying America can’t run for president. South Carolina, you’re on notice!
3. Axl Rose finally releases Chinese Democracy: Yay, it finally came out. And it wasn’t bad, maybe it was even as good as one of the Use Your Illusion albums. But it wasn’t as good as Appetite for Destruction, and there is no way that an album you spend almost two decades working on is going to live up to it’s hype. Then, to top things off, the album bombs commercially. It’s just one of those things where the legend doesn’t live up to the actual product.
2. I left Florida and moved to New York, just not New York, New York: All year I dreamed of moving to the city that doesn’t sleep and living in the pop culture epicenter of the world. Then we chose to go up there and look for jobs the very week Wall Street completely tanks, efficiently killing the job market in the city. So, with almost no notice or planning we decided to move to Albany where jobs are far more plentiful and living is actually affordable. And don’t get me wrong I like Albany, it’s very nice, it just isn’t New York City.
1. Our last year with President Bush: Hooray, he will be out of office in a mere twenty-two days. Not soon enough if you ask me. Yes, this has been our last year we’ve had to deal with the man, but he surely knows how to go out with a bang. Seriously, I didn’t think he could fuck anything else up before he left. But no, he had to go and destroy the economy. Now I’m not a political moron, and I fully acknowledge it wasn’t ENTIRELY his fault. But most of it did happen under his watch, he is at least to blame for half the root causes of it, and like everything else he’s fucked up, he failed to see it coming and denied it actually was occurring at the start of it. God damn, I will not miss you at all.
