2008 in Music (according to me)

Hello,

These are my 13 favorite songs of the year. Why 13? Because I wanted a Top 10, but couldn’t decide on which 3 to leave out.

I’ve limited the list to largely music that’s overground…i.e. I’ve left out the electro/ house and progressive tracks from this list.

1 (TIE) Time to Pretend- MGMT.
1 (TIE) Sex on Fire- Kings of Leon
1 (TIE) Chinese Democracy- Guns N Roses

These 3 for me are the songs of the year, and very difficult to decide which I like best. MGMT is the coolest band to come out since God Knows when, and their album is possibly what rockn’roll is all about!! When this song came on in whilst I was 'chilling' in a coffee shop in Amsterdam, it was like whipped cream and cherry on the cake (served by a waitress from Hooters).



Sex on Fire is a song I liked on the 1st go, and reinforces the fact that the best rock n roll is always found in its most simplest and basic form. Almost a throwback to another era- possibly the indie- 70s, its unsophisticated sound is what makes it stands out.

Chinese Democracy is a song that is almost worth waiting 17 years for. A signature G'N'R track, it presents the best elements of Appetite and Illusion in a ‘nu millennium’ kinda way. The guitars are insane and so is Axl with the different avatars of his voice layered one on top of each other.

4. Pork & Beans- Weezer
A throwback to their Buddy Holly days, a perfect pop/ rock song which also takes the piss out of the record company and songs which are designed (by record companies) to be sung along to! The line referencing uber-producer Timbaland is priceless.


5. The Ghost of Tom Joad (LIVE) - Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band with Tom Morello (from the Magic Tour Highlights avail exclusively on iTunes US)
I’ve never been a fan of this song really- not the original one by the boss on the LP of the same name, nor do I fancy much the version done by RATM on the Renegades LP. However this version with the new arrangement is the kind of song that makes your goose flesh rise. The 2 solos by Mr. Morello rank amongst his best work forever.


6. Mercy- Duffy
A wonderful throwback to 50s pop in the vein of Amy Winehouse. Sadly the rest of the album didn’t have a track that came anywhere close to this.

7. Human- The Killers
New Order with guitars. Johnny Cash meets the Pet Shop Boys. These guys are possibly the coolest band to come out in this decade. I hope the guy @ UNI that signed this band got a promotion, a Maserati and his own island.

8. Electric Feel- MGMT
The only band to have 2 tracks on this list. I somehow get reminded of the Kate Bush track ‘Running Up that Hill’ every time I hear the bassline. A great song that’s very pop in its arrangement but sounds like the song Pink Floyd never made.


9. Love Lockdown- Kanye West
Definitely the most gifted and talented recording artist on the planet. Nobody in hip hop is as smart and as innovative as Mr. West. The drums at the end make this great song a classic. I hope sometime soon this guy gets the Grammys this genius deserves.
Food for thought: A collaboration btwn Kanye and (mid 80s) Prince.


10. Hustler- Simian Mobile Discotheque
No words can describe this song. The best use of MIDI ever. The video is yet another example of how the electronica guys make the most watchable videos with the least cash. (e.g. Benny Binnassi, Daft Punk, Basement Jaxx)
Watch the video here. Trust me; you’ve not seen anything like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bHwlP0oEaF8

11. Paper Planes- MIA
Ever since she burst onto the scene I’ve been fond of saying “if only MIA’s record sales could keep pace with her press coverage…” Thanks to the trailer to Pineapple Express, people for the 1st time sang along to the sound of gunshots and Kansas, Oklahoma and Nebraska now know who MIA (and maybe where Sri Lanka) is!


12. Soul Mate- Natasha Bedingfield
I feel really bad for this song and this artist. This is a truly awesome song that nobody heard either because it wasn’t promoted enough or radio programmers developed an aversion to NB post the edsel/ new coke like reception to ‘I Wanna Have Your Babies’.

Check out the track here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEzbkGj7EaQ

13. Low- FLO-rida feat T Pain
2008’s guilty pleasure song. If this song were to come on in a club, I’d definitely wanna start throwin some dolla bills in the air, slap some apple bottomed booties, and get me the same Reeboks I had when I was 14.




Tracks to watch for in 2009
1. The Show- Lenka (The new standard by which pop songs will be defined)
2. Use Somebody- Kings of Leon (already a monster UK hit)
3. Sober- P!nk (Quite simply her best song ever)
4. Run- Leona Lewis (already a monster UK hit, this song is on its way to becoming a classic.)
5. Ulysses- Franz Ferdinand (The one song that promises to get English Lit grads on the dancefloor)


New old songs

Old songs I (re-)fell in love with this year, and thus played on repeat.

1. Tweeter and the Monkey Man- Travelling Wilburys
2. Hallowed be thy Name- Iron Maiden
3. Born to Run- Bruce Springsteen
4. Soul Stripper- Ac/DC
5. Learn to Fly- Foo Fighters
6. Misty Mountain Hop- Led Zeppelin
7. The Downeaster Alexa- Billy Joel
8. Red Rain- Peter Gabriel
9. Sour Girl- Stone Temple Pilots
10. Train in Vain- The Clash