IMPORTANT SONGS OF 2008 (In Autobiographical Order, one per week)
01/06/08
Casiotone For the Painfully Alone - Bobby Malone Moves Home
A few days after I selected this song I had the opportunity to hear this song live and it reinforced the many reasons it’s wonderful.
01/13/08
Beach House - Gila
The organ, drums and ghostly vocals carry you right through this song.
01/20/08
Hayden - Worthy Of Your Esteem
Some terrifically negative lyrics disguised as a song that’s great to take a walk with.
01/27/08
Headlights - On April 2
This song makes me think about touring, not because I met this band while on a tour but because of all that talk about bad weather.
02/03/08
Immaculate Machine - Jarhand
This song used to get stuck in my head for hours and hours.
02/10/08
Emily Haines - The Bank
Listening to this brilliant song makes me wonder why I poke fun at her for seeming so full of herself. She deserves all of the confidence she’s acquired.
02/17/08
Catfish Haven - I Don’t Worry
This song was chosen just a few days after hearing a really horrible, untruthful, rumor.
02/24/08
She & Him - Change Is Hard
As Zooey laments an old flame, the laid back drums and truth filled lyrics make this one of my favorites.
03/02/08
Cloud Cult - When Water Comes to Life
Did you know this band is carbon neutral? Fascinating.
03/09/08
MGMT - The Youth
“The youth are starting to change, are you starting to change? Are you together?”
03/16/08
Berry - Le Bonheur
This song makes me feel like an extra in a French film. Let’s just disregard the fact that if I were on the set of a French film it’s unlikely they’d play the soundtrack while filming…
03/23/08
Lykke Li - Hanging High
Such a discouraged song. March was a particularly tumultuous month so this fit perfectly.
03/30/08
Frightened Rabbit - Good Arms vs. Bad Arms
Vengeful lyrics + Scottish accent + slide guitar = bliss.
04/06/08
Ane Brun - The Treehouse Song
Her voice is truly striking. There is only one song with a higher play count in my iTunes.
04/13/08
Teitur - We Still Drink the Same Water
This song really opens up at the 1:30 mark. There’s something about water being an equalizer of sorts that made this song stand out to me.
04/20/08
Electric President - It’s Like A Heartbeat, Only It Isn’t
In my opinion, everything Ben Cooper touches is an aural delight.
04/27/08
Justin Townes Earle - Hard Livin’
Seeing this man live absolutely blew me away.
05/04/08
Martha Wainwright - So Many Friends
Someone told me once that Martha Wainwright is “crazy with a capitol C” but the woman can write and sing and I couldn’t love her more.
05/11/08
Madeline - Lit Elephants
I once read a review in which the music of Madeline Adams was compared to my music. I quickly downloaded everything I could find and fell in love. There aren’t too many other voices that are as comforting to me as hers is, this song in particular.
05/18/08
Fleet Foxes - Quiet Houses
This particular week was just as relaxed and harmonious as this song sounds.
05/25/08
The War On Drugs - Taking the Farm
Sometimes a band with a rough sound and exceptionally catchy melody comes along.
06/01/08
The Roadside Graves - West Coast
“I’ve got a heart that won’t quit, it won’t break, no matter what you do” sung by a chorus, accompanied by a piano & fiddle. It’s perfect.
06/08/08
Ladyhawk - Night You’re Beautiful
This band provided a performance that should have been seen by so many more people than showed up at the Chop Suey that night. Loud, messy, inspiring.
06/15/08
The Hold Steady - Slapped Actress
This song reminds me of high school.
06/22/08
Haley Bonar - Something Great
This song came from her album “Big Star” which is one of the most earnest of the year.
06/29/08
Breathe Owl Breathe - Playing Dead
Male vocals, female vocals, cellos, acoustic guitars… sounds like a lovely idea to me.
07/06/08
Noah & the Whale - 5 Years Time
For what it’s worth I did not discover this song on any of the commercials it was used in. It’s pop-perfection is undeniable.
07/13/08
The Rural Alberta Advantage - Drain the Blood
The vocals are real scratch and the drums are so heavy it’s not in my nature to enjoy this song nearly as much as I do.
07/20/08
Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson - The Debtor
Smart lyrics and a Spoon-like piano part.
07/27/08
Duffy - Delayed Devotion
This guy’s gonna pay for waiting around. Duffy deserves so much better.
08/03/08
Human Highway - What World
Drink. Drink. Communicate. Drink. Write. Sing.
08/10/08
The National - Fashion Coat
This particular week nothing new struck my fancy so I went with an older song I adore.
08/17/08
John Doe - The Golden State
I was obsessed with this song for a few weeks. Then John Doe guest starred on One Tree Hill as Peyton’s dad and although I love that show I sort of lost some of my interest in John Doe.
08/24/08
Schooner - Carrboro
This was just one month before my trip to North Carolina, I guess you could say I was a little excited.
08/31/08
Department Of Eagles - No One Does It Like You
I chose this song just a few days after my birthday. It couldn’t be more appropriate after being spoiled by my one and only.
09/07/08
Maria Taylor & Andy LeMaster - A Good Start
These two were in one of my very favorite bands, Now, It’s Overhead so it’s only natural I enjoy this pretty new project.
09/14/08
Johnny Flynn - The Wrote & the Writ
This song is one of the most poetic and storyfilled I heard this year. I posted the full lyrics on this post.
09/21/08
Raphael Saadiq - Sure Hope You Mean It
Give me a good Motown inspired tune any day of the week.
09/28/08
Mumford and Sons - Roll Away Your Stone
Folk from the United Kingdom, my 2008 obsession.
10/05/08
Passion Pit - Sleepyhead
When this multi-sectioned masterpiece comes on, I break out the air guitar and attempt to sing notes that are way too high for me.
10/12/08
Russian Red - Cigarettes
A wonderful, nostalgic tune.
10/19/08
Land of Talk - Some Are Lakes
Not being able to make out the lyrics to this song just adds to the charm.
10/26/08
Stars - Undertow
The Stars I know and love.
11/02/08
Iris Dement - My Life
Such a sad scene for Mr. Lonely.
11/09/08
The High Wire - Tigers
This is the sort of song I like to put on when I’m home alone and it’s raining outside.
11/16/08
Faded Paper Figures - North By North
“You said a long long time ago you were happy being someone.”
11/23/08
Rae Spoon - Come On Forrest Fire Burn the Disco Down
I sure hope Rae Spoon plays a show near me this year. I’ll go. I promise I won’t make excuses this time.
11/30/08
Lisa Hannigan - Ocean & a Rock
Cara told me she was good and she really is.
12/07/08
The Black Whales - The Diamond Divide
Maybe I’ll make time to see this local band live sometime this year.
12/14/08
Chad VanGaalen - Inside the Molecules
I think it’s nice when pop music combines science & romance.
12/21/08
Benoît Pioulard - Ahn
I heard this for the first time while walking through the snow. The drums came in and the whole world opened up.
12/28/08
Alina Simone - Half My Kingdom
Although I don’t understand a word of Russian, the melodic hook and emotional performance are too wonderful to pass up.