I am back once again with my highly-anticipated Best Songs of the Year post. I’m not sure that many people are yearning for this list, but I enjoy writing it and that’s the important thing (I think). This year was filled with lots of great music. There were a few bands that garnered heaps of attention (Fleet Foxes, Vampire Weekend) and there were a lot of albums that critics drooled over that I really did not feel at all (e.g. Tha Carter III). I am constantly on the lookout for new music, and although it’s harder to find time since Elliot was born, I was able to draw from a huge pool of great songs for this list. I could give me informal Runner-Up list, but I’ll go straight to the dessert cause that’s what you guys want anyway. So, hold on to your seats y’all, cause I am about to unleash My Top 10 Songs of 2008.

#10 Kenya Dig It? – The Ruby Suns
From Sea Lion
Who cares if they sold “Oh, Mohave” to Microsoft so they could sell more Vista? This song is mellow, but also has some real groovy toe-tapping parts as well. IMO, the real fun starts around 2 minutes 20 seconds into the song.

#9 Heart of Chambers – Beach House
From Devotion
I played this song (and album) non-stop when it came out. There is such an eerie but beautiful sound going on here. I just love her voice.

#8 Red and Purple – The Dodos
From Visiter
This Bay Area band rocks hard. This album has it all; absolutely infectious drum beats and some real nice crunchy guitar riffs. I’ve spent many mornings rockin’ out on the freeway to this song.

#7 Skinny Love – Bon Iver (pronounced “bohn eevair”)
From For Emma, Forever Ago
The emotion expressed in this song is a bit disturbing, but maybe that’s what draws me to this artist and the album itself. As if I needed another reason to include this song, I stumbled upon this clip of Bon Iver on Jools Holland. Impressive.

#6 Onto Something – The Apples in Stereo
From Electronic Projects for Musicians
This has to be one of the catchiest songs I’ve heard in years. Technically this song was released on a 7″ split single with a band called Sports Guitar, but I don’t think anyone had heard this song before, so it’s new enough for me.

#5 Mistakes – Immortal Technique
From The 3rd World
This guy is so far to the left, that he even scares me a little. The 4th verse gives a little glimpse into his time in the military. Sick.

#4 Conquest – Tapes ‘n Tapes

From Walk It Off
Simply Rockin! Not much more needs to be said.

#3 The Sound – Human Highway
From Moody Motorcycle
I have always been into folk-rock, but this groups takes the folk vibe and flips the floor with it. Elliot and I both love dancing to this song. It’s so damn snappy.

#2 Why Do You Let Me Stay Here? – She & Him
From Volume One
Zooey Deschanel looks about as excited during live performances as someone that’s about to get a root canal, but I dig her voice and the old-school flavor of this album. This song and the little guitar solo is very cool (Karolina & Dave – about 1 minute into the song).

#1 Ragged Wood – Fleet Foxes
From Fleet Foxes
What can I say about this song or this group that hasn’t been said? I can honestly say, that with the year that I’ve had, listening to this album is as close as I get to a sort of spiritual comfort. It’s just an incredible song by a talented group.


Once again, and for a very limited time, you can listen to all 10 of these songs in this Yahoo! Easylistener music player. If you have flash >= ver. 9 you’re golden. Enjoy!