In alphabetical order:

A few notes: I’m not going to write about all of them and the things that I do write will be short and dry. And this is not a list of the best songs of 2008 but a single sample of my favorite albums of 2008.

And, open this shit in in a browser and you can listen to all the songs.

Key: Band - Song - (From Album)

Air France - Collapsing At Your Doorstep (From No Way Down)

Another incredible band from Gothenburg, Sweden. What the fuck do they put in the water? All I have to say about this is, “Sorta like a dream. No, better.”

Crystal Castles - Crimewave (Crystal Castles Vs. Health) - (From Crystal Castles)

Infectious 8-bit dance pop. It may already be played in your home town but I still love it.

Crystal Stilts - Crystal Stilts - (From - Alight of Night) So. Fucking. Dark. There’s some dark music on this year’s list. It’s not my fault. I’m sunny, with rainbows.

Cut Copy - Feel the Love - (From - In Ghost Colors) I don’t really know what this song is about but the line “All the girls I’ve known are crying” reminds me of one of my favorite Irish folks songs (about death, like most great Irish folk songs) “And of all the sweethearts that ere I had , they wish me one more day to stay.” I’m saying Feel the Love is an “at your own funeral” song.

Deerhunter - Little Kids - (From - Microcastle)

I didn’t really care about their record from last year, Cryptograms, even though everyone else was apeshit about it. I saw them at SXSW and was bored. But Microcastle is amazing. I’m listening to it almost everyday.

Department of Eagles - Teenagers - (From - In Ear Park)

The Dodos - Ashley - (From - Visiter)

Whoever she is, I’m think of Ashley, too.

Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal - (From - Fleet Foxes)

If The Beach Boys made you feel like you were actually surfing without leaving your living room and Lupe Fiasco’s Kick, Push did the same for skateboarding, Fleet Foxes make me feel like I’m in the forrest, eating granola, watching hippie chicks frolic. And I fucking love it.

Flying Lotus - Golden Diva - (From - Los Angeles)

I’m usually not a fan of this glitchy electronica garbage but this record cool as shit.

Foals - Balloons - (From - Antidotes)

It’s fucking dance pop math rock. WTF? Bonus - Awesome video (Dancing girls in black dresses):

Fuck Buttons - Ribs Out - (From - Street Horrrsing)
Worst band name ever.

The Gaslight Anthem - Great Expectations - (From - The ‘59 Sound)

You know I love it. A messy, punk-ish Bruce Springsteen. All day, everyday.
Girl Talk - Shut the Club Down - (From - Feed the Animals)


The Hold Steady - Stay Positive - (From - Stay Positive)

You’d think I’d get sick of it but, nope.

Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor - (From - Made in the Dark)


Ida Maria - Oh, My God - (From - Fortress Round my Heart)

Oh, my god. Probably my favorite song of the year. Bonus Video (and rumors have it that Josh Duty has been copping the karate chop dance stylings - see em at 2:08 - around ATX)
Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I & II) - (From - For Emma, Forever Ago)

That voice makes my hair stand on end and my small parts tingle

Jorge Ben - Bebete Vãobora - (From - a bunch of different records)

Totally cheating. This is the only thing that didn’t come out this year. It probably came in in 1974 or so. But it’s one of my favorites of this year anyway. Suck it!

The Kills - Black Balloon - (From - Midnight Boom)

Every fucking song on this record is unstoppable. I swear to Christ, the day I turn 70, I’m putting on this record and shooting dope. Everyday for a week. May 6th, 2044. Wanna come?

The Kills - Black Balloon from kenneth cappello on Vimeo.
“That is some creepy, awesome shit!” - Oliver Fross