#26: "The hunted becomes the huntress/The hunter becomes the prey..."

#26.


The Album: At Mount Zoomer
The Artist: Wolf Parade

All relationships should work this well between two polarizing figures. This album bounces back between Spencer Krug and Dan Broeckner as they each deliver songs in their own distinct style; one caterwalling and manic, the other collected and driven. Each of them can (and have) made brilliant records on their own, but when they come together... it's something special.







The Single: Conquista (Conquest)
The Artist: The White Stripes


Taking an old song and turning into something new and exciting is nothing new for Jack White, and hear he follows the same formula; find the most emotional part of the song, and destroy it all to holy hell with percussion and fuzz (and, in this case, trumpets).

#27: "I just want your kiss, boy..."

#27.



The Album: The Stand Ins
The Artist: Okkervil River

The "sequel" to last year's delightful The Stage Names finds Okkervil River returning to smart wordplay and pop gems. Singer Will Sheff's wistful tenor brings an angelic quality to these songs they probably don't deserve, but they make the light nature of some of these tunes even more beautiful.






The Single: Pumpkin Soup
The Artist: Kate Nash

Last years fantastic single, "Foundations", found English songstress Kate Nash coming to terms with the end of a relationship she really didn't want to be in. "Pumpkin Soup", by contrast, shows us all of the conflict that occurs when one of two friends wants something more... and wants it desperately.

#27

#28: "How's it feel to wake up and be the shit and the urine?"

#28.




The Album: Microcastle
The Artist: Deerhunter

A wonderful mix of rock and weird alternative ambience, Bradford Cox and his fantastic band of minstrels provide us an album full of wonderful songs. A fantastic, confusing, almost-brilliant album.





The Single: Swagga Like Us
The Artist: T.I., featuring Kanye West, Jay-Z, and Lil Wayne

With every rapper being on their best and a fantastic sample (M.I.A.), 4 of the best rappers around bring a fantastic mish-mash of styles. Surprisingly, it's T.I. who rings the strongest verse, and it's awesome.

#29: "I don't know who you think I am..."

#29.






The Album: The '59 Sound
The Artist: The Gaslight Anthem

Like an odd cross between Bruce Springsteen and Brandon Flowers, The Gaslight Anthem deliver an album which is positively midwestern in its' sincerity. Every track is covered with shattered hopes and broken dreams and reminiscing back to ways days were younger and times were simpler. The songs are heartbreaking and rocking, and it'll make you feel like you're born to run again... only more modern.






The Single: Breakin' Dishes
The Artist: Rihanna

Lesson from this song: Do not fuck with Rihanna, or she will fuck you up. Granted, she'll do it with a fantastic beat, but things will not end well for you.

#30: "Baby you remember when/Fireworks on Lake Michigan..."

#30.




The Album: Rising Down
The Artist: The Roots

There's something impressive about the newest album from the new house band for Jimmy Fallon. On Rising Down, rapper Black Thought and musical guru ?uestlove seem to have re-found the urgency that has been lost in some of the group's recent and sloppier efforts. Perhaps the election lead to a renaissance for this group... whatever happened, it worked.





The Single: Homecoming
The Artist: Kanye West featuring Chris Martin

Kanye West is the master of taking celebrity and making it feel absolutely relatable and commonplace. Unlike most rappers, whose bragadoccio is solely used to impress the ladies, West uses "Homecoming" as a scribe to show the conflict between ambition and family.

#31: "And you cry and you cry and you cry and you cry..."

#31.



The Single: Supernatural Superserious
The Artist: R.E.M.

Michael Stipe grab a nice 70's AM radio hook and ride out one of their best songs in a decade.

#32: "Gonna find it hard to sleep through it all..."

#32.




The Single: Darling
The Artist: Sons & Daughters

A slick, bouncy rocker with a massive guitar riff.

#33: "Give us your vote if you know what's good for you..."

#33.




The Single: Your English Is Good
The Artist: Tokyo Police Club




Snotty pop-punks make finger-snapping wonderful melodies.

#34: "Clutching pictures of past lovers at his side..."

#34.



The Single: Ghost
The Artist: Laura Marling

From across the pond comes one of the most interesting and introspective singer/songwriters, who brings us a tale of what happens when you just can't let go.

#35: "I invented you and I will destroy you!"

#35.



The Single: Death To Los Campesinos!
The Artist: Los Campesinos!

Twee pop at it's most manic and fun. Stupid song.... great song.

#36: "You come like a dog when I ring your bell..."

#36.



The Single: The Greatest Man That Ever Lived
The Artist: Weezer

Any other band attempting to perform this would fail horribly. It takes a real nerd like Rivers Cuomo to jump back and forth in the most complex song of 2008.

#37: "And that is all I will show you..."

#37.



The Single: See/Saw
The Artist: Jay Reatard

I don't really know what to say about this fuzz-guitar banger, other then it's fantastic and fun and something to get your toes tapping and feet moving.

#38: "Your friends, they're jerks. When you act like them, just know it hurts."

#38.


The Single: 7 Things
The Artist: Miley Cyrus

Disney-pop teen sings about her achy-breaky heart, only to realize that the guy who drives her crazy also drives her crazy... in the good way. Formulaic and predictable, but also a hoot and realy fun. Bubblegum is back... just don't tell The Jonas Brothers.

#39: "In bar light, she looked all right/In the daylight, she looked desperate..."

#39.
(no official video)




The Single: Sequestered In Memphis
The Artist: The Hold Steady

Craig Finn brings us another tale of sex with women who hate themselves, and the cities that crush people's spirits. Everyone who listened to Hold Steady records would be killing themselves if these songs didn't rock (and by rock, I kinda mean RAWK!) so well.

#40: "I think her head needed medication..."

#40.



The Single: I Told Her On Alderaan
The Artist: Neon Neon

One point awarded for fantastic Star Wars title. One point awarded for fantastic 80's-theme vibe. About 100 points awarded for incredible keyboard-driven power-pop.

#41: "I don't know why nobody's told you/Man's not supposed to cry..."

#41.



(no official video)
The Single: The Heart Gently Weeps
The Artist: The Wu-Tang Clan

Every sad song made by Wu-Tang is always assumed by people to be a song about Ol' Dirty Bastard. This song, while dealing strongly with death, is not. But it is introspective and different from most of the hip-hop which has come out this year.

Okay, so I'm aware that I'm seriously behind on this. But I'm going to try to kick it into turbo mode to finish before the new year. So, shorter blurbs, but whatever. Here we go...

#42: "Bet you got it all planned right..."

#42.






The Single: Don't You Evah
The Artist: Spoon

Britt Daniel and his merry minstrels in Spoon lay out an exciting, bouncy little jam. The bass line grooves, the percussion is fun, and Daniel's guitar solo is stupid happy. Not nearly as good as last year's "The Underdog", but still a wonderful song.

#43: "Scream, cry, pray confess/God will do the rest..."

#43.




The Single: Run To Your Grave
The Artist: The Mae Shi


The happiest song about the evils of religion and higher powers. It's creepy, buy fun.

#44: "Cause your heart was dying fast, and you didn't know what to do..."

#44.



The Single: Cath
The Artist: Death Cab For Cutie

I'd never seen the video for this before... it's kind of creepy. The second single from Death Cab For Cutie's second album finds bride Cath getting married to a man she doesn't love (or probably even like). But like most of the protagonists in Ben Gibbard's world, doing something they don't want to do doesn't make them stronger... it just makes them sadder.

#45: "Don't be mad that you see that he want it..."

#45.


The Single: Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
The Artist: Beyonce

From the handclaps, to the "oh-oh-oh" chorus, this song sticks in your head like it was covered in bubblegum, which it kinda is. And while Beyonce is spouting a rather odd form of feminism, the song has you bouncing around the room. Pop music at it's most danciest.

#46: "We like the same things and I like your style..."

#46.



The Single: Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?
The Artist: She & Him

The unusual pairing of Zooey Deschanel and indie rocker M. Ward has produced a beautiful and unusual gem. It's a song with kind of a timeless feel. Part of that is Deschanel's voice, which feels like it could be vamping in the 1950's. The piano and simple guitar give this song the bounce it needs to be staying in your head all day.

#47: "Once I start I cannot help myself..."

#47:
(no official video)


The Single: Discipline
The Artist: Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor has had a pretty good last couple of years. You wouldn't know it, however, from this track; a 5-minutes assault about angst, fear of success and indulgence, and the fear of how far you'll go once you give in just a little.

#48: "Is it so wrong to break from your kiss to turn up a pop song?"

#48.


The Single: Pump Up The Volume
The Artist: Art Brut

There is nothing more nerdy (and kind of awesome) than writing a song about wanting to stop making out with someone because you love the song on the radio. It's what makes Eddie Argos and his band, Art Brut, kind of sad (but also kind of awesome); their inability to experience life without a kick-ass soundtrack.

#49: "And the sun will set for you..."

#49.


The Single: Shadow Of The Day
The Artist: Linkin Park

What the fuck is going on with Linkin Park? This is a band I downright loathed, and I mean loathed. But with a strong single last year and the follow-up this year, this band proves that when you get rid of that rapping douchebag and stop complaining about pain, they can actually write interesting, meaningful pop songs. Much like this song, it kind of makes me hopeful knowing that a band can accomplish something interesting.

#50: "So I'll say something that I should have said long ago..."

#50.





The Single: You Don't Know Me
The Artist: Ben Folds (featuring Regina Spektor)

Ben Folds is one of the masters of sad clown. Pay attention to these lyrics, and you'll hear one of the saddest relationships ever: a couple, who has lived with each other for a long time without ever really understanding the other... and probably realizing it will be this way forever. But with Regina Spektor's lovely caterwall, Folds creates a pop window for us to look into... and the song isn't just pleasant, it's enjoyable to watch. That's disturbing... but it's also kind of cool.

#51: "Dig yourself back into that hole..."

#51.



The Single: Dig, Lazarus, Dig
The Artist: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds

No one does grime and crime like Nick Cave. As his Bad Seeds loom over thick, frightening keyboards and strange percussion, Cave lays the primary focus, "I don't know what it is, but there's definitely something going on upstairs."

#52: "Now I'm no madman, but that's insanity..."

#52.




The Single: Dancing Choose
The Artist: TV On The Radio

Songs like this are great wonderful chaotic clusterfucks that take you at least 5 listens to get used to. It takes a few listens to catch all of the words, or to notice that there's a horn section. It's crazy and nauseating and kind of beautiful.

#53: "Do you really wanna know how I was dancing on the floor?"

#53.




The Single: A & E
The Artist: Goldfrapp

Allison Goldfrapp has always been one to let her emotions drip from her sleeve. This track is no exception, only that the music is more ethereal than some of her other work. And, it's good on her. She should take trips out to the forest more often.

#54: "Be my mirror, my sword, my shield..."

#54.





The Single: Viva La Vida
The Artist: Coldplay

Hating Coldplay is easy, especially since listening to them in now universally how someone knows you're gay. But there's an interesting change of direction on this song, as it feels like orchestration has just been pulled out of them by producer Brian Eno. Sure, these guys are still asshats, but this song is addictive.

#55: "I'll make tiny changes to Earth..."

#55.



The Single: Head Rolls Off
The Artist: Frightened Rabbit

(NOTE: Often, the first time I see a music video for the song is when I find it to put up on the blog. I just saw this video 5 minutes ago... and it is adorable)

From a band that I'm more than just a little crazy about comes a song about: love, charity, self-discovery, hope, desire, and magic... It's hard not to gush over a piece of art like this.

#56: "Before the cool done run out, I'll be giving it my bestest..."

#56.





The Single: I'm Yours
The Artist: Jason Mraz

Another appearance from someone I really don't care for. Clearly inspired by that ukelele version of "Somewhere Over The Rainbow", perennial ass-clown Mraz gets all cutesy with his lyrics and tries to win you over with pure charm. But this time... it works. When he sings, "open up you plans, and damn, your free", you can't help but think, "Hey there, sir. Maybe you're on to something. Maybe you're not such a douchebag after all." Every now and then, you find a diamond in a turd... I don't expect to find another one from him.

#57: "I ain't got a thing to prove to you..."

#57.



The Single: Pork And Beans
The Artist: Weezer

First off, it's super-ironic that first 4 links I found on youtube for this video didn't allow me to embed them, because without the massive array of people willing to share youtube videos, this music video wouldn't even be possible. So screw you, Weezer & Universal Records. You really should know better.

When you have a song that doesn't really make sense ("I eat my candy with the pork and beans..."), it's best to do what you know. For Rivers Cuomo and Weezer, that means big fat 90's hooks, crunchy guitars, and surfer-harmonies. It's a welcome return from the band who brought us "We Are All On Drugs" a few years ago... a very welcome return.

#58: "No time for question asking/ time is passing by..."

#58.



The Single: Run
The Artist: Gnarls Barkley

The message from Gnarls Barkley is very simple... be afraid, be very afraid. There's some sort of monster on the loose. The children are screaming. Cee-Lo is doing all he can to keep it back, but he can only hold out for so long. Seriously, ignore the funky music; get the hell out of here! For those of you sticking around, I guess all I can tell you is to just enjoy the music. It will all be over soon.

#59: "Shoot em up! Bang Bang!"

#59.



The Single: Another Way To Die
The Artist: Alicia Keys & Jack White

I like this song because it's like a James Bond song thrown into a blender. All of the components of a Bond theme are there: big name celebrities, massive horns, silly lyrics. Yet there's something about this song that's slightly off. Maybe it's the fractured piano trying to tinker out the famous James Bond theme, maybe it's the way Keys croons over White's manic's guitar solos. I know the frantic percussion helps makes this feel like no other song which has come along in the Bond franchise... and that makes it interesting and crazy and a whirlwind of interesting.

#60: "Love is a time machine/Up on the silver screen..."

#60.



The Single: The Shock Of The Lightning
The Artist: Oasis

In the interest of full disclosure, I have a blindspot for the Oasis of the 90's. When the Gallagher brothers were telling us that they wanted to live forever and that I was a wonderwall, I absolutely bought it hook, line, and sinker. After a series of meh albums, they've gone back to doing what they do best: monster guitar sounds, blatant Beatles ripoff (actaul lyric in the song : "Love is a movie screen/ A MAGICAL MYSTERY"), and fantastic songwriting. I mean, come on; when you're ripping off the best band in the world, you'll do all right.

#61: "You gotta spend some time, love..."

#61.



The Single: I Will Possess Your Heart
The Artist: Death Cab For Cutie

Look, no one hates singles that are eight and a half fucking minutes more than me. Who are you, The Grateful Dead? Save that shit for the back of the album when people have stopped listening. And yet, Death Cab For Cutie has changed my mind here.

For a song with lyrics this creepy, you first need to lay the creepy groove down, and that's just what these guys spend the first five minutes (or so) doing. Pianos and a walking bass set the table so that when Ben Gibbard comes in ("How I wish you could see the potential/the potential of you and me"), you're off-put enough to not really know what's going on. This is not the Death Cab we've been familiar with. This is dark and moody and not mentally well-balanced. It makes the song interesting... and a little frightening.

#62: "I never really got there/ I just pretended that I had..."

#62.

The Single: Jigsaw Falling Into Place
The Artist: Radiohead

Before we get into it, let me just state my opinion for the record: Thom Yorke's lyrics mean nothing. Yorke has been on the record (repeated times) saying that he puts certain words or phrases in songs because he likes how they sound. However, because his lyrics mean nothing, that allows them to mean everything.

That being said, certain phrases in this mid-tempo rocker absolutely destroy my face. The quote mentioned above, as the same with this one:
"Before you run away from me
Before you're lost between the notes
Before you take my mic
Just as you dance, dance, dance"

What is there to say about it?

#63: "Recognize the poison in my heart"

#63.



The Single: Machine Gun
The Artist: Portishead

With one of my favorite beats of the year, one of my favorite groups of the 90's creates one of my favorite albums of 2008. "Machine Gun" is the lynchpin of Third, a swirling mess of a pop song behind an assault of percussion. All the while, Beth Gibbons wails away. Is her voice a siren song or a cry for help? It's beautiful chaos, people. Drink it all in.

#64: "And soon they'll be flying..."

#64.


The Single: Kim & Jessie
The Artist: M83

In a simple song filled with 80's nostalgia, electro-wonders M83 takes us through a wonderous tale of... well, I'm not really sure what. But this song is so filled with lovely moves and swirling keyboards, I really don't care.

#65: "Partidario de acción democrática, revolución nacional institucional"

#65:



The Single: De Acuerdo
The Artist: Cafe Tacuba

I'll be the first to admit I have no idea what the lyrics in this song mean. But I know it rocks, and I love it. So... I'm okay with that.

#66: "Why do we like to hurt so much?"

#66.



The Single: That's What You Get
The Artist: Paramore

The quote I posted in the title seems like it's the emo mantra. Paramore is able (as the successful emo bands are) to take this misery and turn in into something that's not a completely depressing dirge or a scream-a-thon. It's pleasant... which is what makes it so curious.

#67: "No one likes to be defeated..."

#67.



The Single: Beat It
The Artist: Fall Out Boy (feat. John Mayer)

In a year when Thriller had it's 25th anniversary, the music industry marked the occasion with a special re-release of one of the best-selling albums of all time. On the second disc, there were Thriller songs re-worked by Akon, will.i.am, Kanye West, and Fergie... and they all sucked. Every fucking one of them.

It took the four whitest dudes in America (a.k.a. Fall Out Boy), and John Mayer (whom I have referred to as a "pale douche of Renaissance") to give on of Michael's best some teeth. Like the band or not, this is a fact... Patrick Stump can sing. And he uses his voice to attack this song like it actually means something. Why this song wasn't on the bonus disc, I have no idea.

#68: "When you're born in Chicago, you're blessed and you're healed/ The first time you walk down to Wrigley Field..."

#68.


(no official video)
The Single: All The Way (live in Chicago)
The Artist: Eddie Vedder


Some of my favorite songs are when artists sing about how much they love sports. The Hold Steady have a beautiful version of "Take Me Out To The Ballgame", Bob Dylan has a fantastic song about Catfish Hunter, etc. Eddie Vedder perfectly sums up how all Cubs fans felt back in September, when the north side was full of hope and awe and wonderment. And while it's no surprise that the boys in blue managed to blow it against the Dodgers when it mattered, this is a song which feels timeless. Hopefully, Vedder is right, and one day we'll all be drenched in beer, crying like babies, and seeing the Cubs win it all. I just hope I'm alive to see it.

#69: "You change your mind like a girl changes clothes..."

#69.


The Single: Hot N Cold
The Artist: Katy Perry

Liking singles like this always put me in quite the pickle.

There are so many things to hate about Katy Perry. In the press, she's irritating. Her hit single, "I Kissed A Girl" is an abortion of pop music. She's dating the lead singer of Gym Class Heroes, perhaps the 2nd worst band this decade (the worst being Nickleback, for those of you who are curious).

But in this song, you can kind of see why she's popular. This song is brassy and fun (I assume this song is played in every gay bar in America). It's got that 80's-Madonna vibe, back before she thought she was making "art". If Katy Perry made more songs like this, I wouldn't want to punch her in the vagina.

#70: "Are we human or are we dancer?"

#70.




The Single: Human
The Artist: The Killers

After creating Sam's Town, a mediocre album with 2 exceptional singles (2006's "When We Were Young" and last year's "Read My Mind"), Brandon Flowers and co. return going a little less the route of Springsteen and a little more back to the keyboard-infused dance-rock which brought people to them with "Somebody Told Me". Bombastic and lyrically stupid, it's a return to what made The Killers one of the most promising bands of a few years ago.

My 2008 EOY countdown.....

Okay, everyone. So here is where I'll be starting my 2008 EOY countdown. 70 singles, 30 albums. Let's do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it, do it now.


I should say this. While this was a fantastic year for albums, I'm only giving you the best 30. However, this was a god-awful year for singles. I don't see a whole lot of these remaining if I put together a "Best of 2000-2009" list. The top two songs in the country this year (Lil Wayne's "Lollipop" and Katy Perry's "I Kissed A Girl") are completely unlistenable. We were also given piles of crap this year from The Pussycat Dolls, Kid Rock, and a large list of buffoons who don't even deserve my time to mention.

For those new to my EOY list, you may notice I love pop music, and so much of it has made my singles list. I've just grown past the point where I don't need to apologize for liking music, even if it is targeted at 14-year old girls.