Well, it's that time.
Hopefully by now you've fully recovered your Thanksgiving food coma and are
ready to embark on checking out my Top 50 Songs Of 2008. Now, I don't
want you to think that this is the definitive list of great tracks this
year. It isn't. By far. After all, music is subjective and
a sound that pleases my ears might make you want to scream out in agony.
I really just wanted to show you specifically what I loved over the
last 12 months.
Some quick notes...
Every single one of the 50 tracks that are to be
posted up were selected from a pool of 600+ tunes/500+ artists that I shared
with you in the form of daily rambles, podcasts and show reviews over the
course of 2008.
Just in case you were wondering, most of the acts in Top 50 will not be on
my favorite records of the year list (that's next week). To be honest,
the number of albums that I adored that didn't necessarily have "singles"
was a bit surprising.
You should listen to each song in a good pair of headphones!
OK, here's the first part of five. Enjoy.
- 50 Through 41 -
50)
:Culture
Reject - Inside The Cinema:
Even after all these months of repeated listens I still
think that this sounds like a light version of The Moon
And Antarctica-era Modest Mouse. You should too,
but only if you're feeling crafty. Or something.
49)
:The
Ting Tings - That's Not My Name:
They're probably destined forever to be a singles band, but
if each one comes out a guilty pleasure like this then I'll
be happy with that notion. Doesn't it seem like
forever
ago that I predicted how popular they
would be?
48)
:Portishead
- Machine Gun:
Here's a thick song from an even thicker album.
Probably one of the few bands that can say they got weirder
as they got older. Actually, that's probably why
people weren't as into it - they were expecting a more
settled, radio ready Portishead.
47)
:She
And Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here:
I've spent much of the year trying to get into the full
length that M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel put together, but I
sincerely haven't been able to move past this song. It
makes me want to watch old romantic movies.
46)
:Ghostland
Observatory - Dancin' On My Grave (Let There Be Vinyl Remix):
Ghostland's last album was a giant waste of time that rests
somewhere between boring and lame, so I suppose it shouldn't
come as a surprise that a remix gave me something from it to
like. This version moves like a GO song should.
45)
:Shrag
- Forty Five 45s:
The notion of parting with someone that I've shared so much
music with scares the hell out of me, and that's why this
song is here. Well, for the most part anyway. I
also really like the slick arrangement and cheer-like style
of the chorus.
44)
:The
Gentle Guest - She Devil:
I've yet to decide whether or not this Amble Down act is a
guilty pleasure or just the alt-country act of my dreams, so
I'll just keep sticking with the notion that perhaps they're
both. By the end of this you should expect to find
yourself standing on your chair and singing at the top of
your lungs.
43)
:Music
Go Music - Light Of Love:
I'm not entirely sure why they keep going the singles route
instead of putting out an EP and/or LP, but I do know that
the process keeps me anxiously looking forward to the next
time I'll get another modernized take on classic rock.
This song is magical.
42)
:La
Snacks - Kristin Was A Meteorologist:
Simplicity is the name of the game here, but you have to
love how my good buddy Robert writes in a way that'll make
you smirk a good handful of times. Plus, that catchy
little guitar riff that winds around during the verses is
just fantastic.
41)
:Be
Your Own Pet - Becky:
Said to be too violent to be included on the US release of
Get Awkward, this song is full of both youthful joy
and despair - something that only Be Your Own Pet
seemed to be able to mix together in an awesome way. I
hate that they decided to call it quits.
- John Laird -
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