Everybody feels the need to write top 10/15/25/100 lists as the year winds to a close. Some of these lists I find interesting…most I do not. The problem, as I see it, is that so many lists rely on an artificial division in the way most of us consume music, movies, software, or anything else. Many great things/works come out in a given year, but each of us consumes or learns about those things on different schedules. So, my lists this year will be of things that I discovered in 2008. Not necessarily things that came to market this past year, but rather things that I either finally listened to/watched/used or discovered with the rest of the early-adopter-but-not-quite-cutting-edge public. I like to think of this and future lists of ‘What I Couldn’t Do Without in ’08.’
Music comes first. Tunes I couldn’t do without in 2008:
Fleet Foxes–Fleet Foxes. A mellow sound and a singer reminiscent of My Morning Jacket with great harmonies. The whole LP is good, but this song is pretty representative:
Flight of the Conchords–Flight of the Conchords. Here’s a band (and eponymous HBO show) that was around before ’08…but I was late on this bandwagon. No matter, they’re hilarious (not safe for work…if your office is uptight):
Hayes Carll–Trouble in Mind. Nothing completely world-changing here, but a solid alt-country, singer-songwriter album that I kept on constant rotation all year.
Anathallo–Canopy Glow. My obsession with this recent discovery stems primarily from the song “The River” (embedded below), which I play in my car any time I’m driving at night. Unfortunately, Anathallo doesn’t consistently reach the same heights they hit with this song (listen for the “you say is this a ceremony? I don’t know…” part about 1:56 in; it’ll blow your mind) throughout this album, but it’s a rich landscape of what I call ‘headphones music’: lots of parts, a lush sound, and builds that move you.
Kings of Leon–Only by the Night. I own the first album these guys put out, and I think it’s decent gritty rock with a twang…but nothing to write home about. This album, on the other hand, blew my socks off. I love this song in particular:
Grace Potter & the Nocturnals–”Apologies.” You know, I don’t usually do this, but…[Hat Tip: R. Kelly] I don’t own the full album by this crowd (This is Somewhere), and listening on Lala I haven’t found any other songs I really love. But this particular song makes me weak in the knees and I listen to it on repeat:
My Morning Jacket–Evil Urges. This certainly isn’t their greatest album. In fact, “Highly Suspicious” is maybe the worst song I’ve heard. By any band. Ever. BUT, there are a few gems, as you would expect from an established act like MMJ. At risk of looking completely lame, I love the single:
Death Cab for Cutie–Narrow Stairs. Death Cab remains one of my favorite bands and thus, like any true fan, I’m always both thrilled and bite-my-nails nervous every time they release a new album. This one grew on me all year, and I think it’s great (though I still prefer Plans). All that anxiety for nothing.
How about you? Add your picks (and remember–just has to be new to you!) or make fun of mine in the comments.
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