Listen To THIS: 25 Excellent Tracks From 2008 (Non-Local Edition)
December 11th, 2008
Ok, so yesterday I posted my favorite local tracks from 2008 and subsequently promised my NON Northwest edition, and I rarely disappoint (despite what you may have heard). I really thought this Year of the Rat was an especially remarkable one music-wise. I felt as if at every corner I turned, I found or was exposed to an awesome new album or song. Partly it was bands I already favored (i.e. Wolf Parade, the Kills, CSS, TV on the Radio, Bloc Party, Gnarls Barkley, Tokyo Police Club, the Black Keys), but there were also many artists that grabbed my attention for the first time, such as Deerhunter, Santogold, Foals, MGMT, Lykke Li, Cut Copy, and Crystal Castles. Even bands that I’d previously given a pass on piqued my interest with some truly excellent albums (i.e. the Raveonettes, the Raconteurs, Hot Chip, Man Man). Let us all bask in their collective glory.
.
In no particular order. (Audio Players bog down with slow connection speeds. Use the song links if you’re having troubles.)
.
1. Wolf Parade – “California Dreamer“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
2. Santogold – “You’ll Find A Way“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
3. Cut Copy – “Hearts on Fire“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
4. Lykke Li – “I’m Good, I’m Gone“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
5. Deerhunter – “Nothing Ever Happened“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
6. The Raconteurs – “Salute Your Solution“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
7. Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – “We Call Upon the Author“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
8. The Raveonettes – “Aly Walk With Me“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
9. RATATAT – “Shempi“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
10. Foals – “Two Steps Twice“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
11. Crystal Castles – “Courtship Dating“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
12. The Kills – “Getting Down“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
13. TV on the Radio – “DLZ“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
14. CSS – “Give Up“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
15. Hot Chip – “Out at the Pictures“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
16. Man Man – “Hurly/Burly“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
17. Gnarls Barkley – “Blind Mary“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
18. MGMT – “Electric Feel“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
19. Hercules & Love Affair – “Blind“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
20. Tokyo Police Club – “Your English is Good“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
21. Bloc Party – “One Month Off“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
22. Ladytron – “The Lovers“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
23. The Black Keys – “Same Old Thing”
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
24. The Breeders – “Night of Joy“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
25. M83 – “Kim & Jessie“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Update: Oh man, how did I forget No Age? No. 26: “Ripped Knees“
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
December 11th, 2008 at 6:28 pm
jools said:
some of my faves in there, proof that this is a good list.
December 13th, 2008 at 5:40 am
Jonathan said:
Just heard that Bloc Party for the first time last night on a very stoned drive home at around 2am. Glad I remembered it, as it’s hella dope!
December 13th, 2008 at 12:14 pm
LB said:
Re: Bloc Party; I really think Intimacy has quite a few good songs on it. People (it seemed) were pretty unimpressed with Weekend In The City, but the band came a bit back towards their Silent Alarm sound with this latest record. I appreciate that they didn’t just sit on a formula (which, while perfect, wasn’t exactly unique) and really have tried to carve out their own niche.
December 13th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
victoria said:
perfect list!
also in blinding love
with this remake of kanye’e good life
by nite club
http://www.myspace.com/niteclubmusic
one my persoanl fave’s for 08
December 13th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Ashley said:
I definitely agree with LB. Intimacy deserves to on more best of 08 lists.
February 3rd, 2009 at 12:36 am
Simon said:
one month off is great!
i’ve just found new remix by metal on metal: myspace.com/nesakykmamai
May 17th, 2009 at 5:16 am
A GIRL WHO IS ANONYMOUS said:
THIS LIST ROCKS.