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    • Top 10 Songs of 2008

    December 27th, 2008 § 2

    As we approach the end of the year, everyone else is doing their “Top 10 of ‘08” and if there is something that I pride myself on, it’s doing what everyone else is doing.  So, I’ll begin with music, since it’s close to my heart and then I’ll take a look at some books, not all of which will have been written in 08 but i promise that I did read them all this year… you’re just going to have to take my word on that.

    Here they are my musical favorites of 2008, in no particular order, besides the order in which I came across them on my playlists…

    All Alright — Sigur Ros, from “Med sud i eyrum vid spilum endalaust”
    This album had me off balance for the first few listens; a departure from what I’ve come to expect from Sigur Ros.  But like many of my other favorite artists, reinvention has thus far meant new dimensions of beauty and artistry.

    Your Love Is Strong — Jon Foreman, from the “Spring” EP
    Jon’s work has always had a quirkiness to it reflective of his personality. The songs that make up each EP are even more sharply characterized in this way; this makes the power of songs like “Your Love…” more human and less lofty or inaccessible; a characteristic that marks far too much religious or devotional music.

    Dangerous — Joshua James, from “The Sun Is Always Brighter
    The album lags at times, but the highlights really shine, including “Dangerous.”  James’ delicacy as an artist stands in opposition to deep tensions in the song’s arrangement.

    Hallelujah — The Helio Sequence, from “Keep Your Eyes Ahead.”
    I really like the clash of electronic and pop-folk elements that meet in this song.

    Closer — Kings of Leon, from “Only By The Night”
    I didn’t think this stuff would grow on me the way it has.  It’s a little bit on the Jock-Rock side of my taste, but we all have our strange tastes.

    I’ve Seen Enough — Cold War Kids, from “Loyalty to Loyalty”
    This band’s performance in the movie “Call and Response” was one of my favorite moments in the movie.  The Cold War Kids find a way to draw the raw energy out of their songs.  In this case the tone of the bass track is the key to that energy.

    Terror for Two – The Broken West, from “Now or Heaven”
    This whole record is fun.  As a fan of 80’s and 90’s new wave, I liked the turn The Broken West took with production here.  As I mentioned earlier, a well thought out reinvention can make for some great moments.  This is another great example of that.

    Can’t Go Back Now — The Weepies, from “Hideaway”
    Just barely trailing Linford and Karen of “Over The Rhine,” I love this couple’s music.  Much like Eastmountainsouth, it is the combination of their talents and particularly their vocals that works so well.

    Little Plastic Life — Sam Phillips, from “Don’t Do Anything”
    If you are yet unfamiliar with Sam Phillips’ music, I really think she’s one of the most inventive and creative artists in music.

    And finally, a holiday selection:
    Can I Interest You In Hannukah? — Colbert/Stewart (from “A Colbert Christmas”)

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