"This Is My Life" by Firewater 
Three years ago, Tod A had had enough. After his divorce, the re-election of George W., and general disenchantment with NYC, he hit the road on a sabbatical that would take him through the Middle East, the Indian subcontinent, and Southeast Asia. Recording with a single mic and a laptop, he captured performances with a vast array of musicians across the far end of the world and chronicled it all on his blog, Postcards from the Other Side of the World.
Firewater combines punk and rock with an eclectic mix of everything from jazz, ska, klezmer, and classic Bollywood to gypsy, salsa, and Russian folk and this latest effort, The Golden Hour, is a musical journey that fittingly shows off Tod A's recent wanderings to Asia and the Middle East.
With sharp lyrics, innovative instrumentation, syncopated rhythms, growling voice, and pounding drumbeats, it all sounds a bit like the world beat baby of Tom Waits and The Pogues. Definitely on my list of Best of 2008.
Here's a 5-min background video on The Golden Hour album and the travels that inspired it. I'm jealous.
