As many of you know, every week, I make a Best Song pick and post it on my blog, but invariably there are songs that just don't make the cut, not because they're not worthy, but because I choose based on my mood and frankly there is just too much good music!
Ergo, here are the Top 25 Songs in 2008 That Didn't Make My Best Song of the Week List. I know it's a mouthful.
The rules: The song must have been released in 2008 and I didn't repeat any songs from artists I had already highlighted as a Best Song of the Week. So, if you are wondering where Girl Talk, TV on the Radio, Elbow, Vampire Weekend, etc. etc. are, they were all picks on the original list.
NOTE: The title of each song below links to a RealPlayer clip, ideally, or a location where you can hear the song. The artist name links to MySpace.
25. "Shake A Fist" by Hot Chip
Witty electronic disco club pop, London-style. Click here for a sanctioned free download of the title track from their latest album, Made in the Dark.
24. "Miami" by Chin Chin
Fusion of funk, soul and electronic dance music from Brooklyn. Love the '70s salsa groove of this song. Their EP, Go There With You, is available as a free download for a limited time.
23. "La Femme Parallel" by Thievery Corporation featuring LouLou
DC's most famous downtempo duo is back with more lounge tunes perfect for hanging out late in dark rooms with big couches.
22. "Electric Feel" by MGMT
Psychedelic, electrorock for the 21st century by way of the '70s/early '80s. Put on those parachute pants!
21. "The Step and the Walk" by The Duke Spirit
Fuzzy British garage rock fronted by tough girl, Liela Moss. If you like The Raveonettes, you'll like The Duke Spirit.
20. "Victor Jara's Hands" by Calexico
Indie rock band with a Southwestern and Mexican influence. This song makes me want to ride horseback through the countryside. Yes, imagine me, dusty-faced, with a big 'ol cowboy hat, and a faraway look in my eyes.
19. "Nag Nag Nag Nag" by Art Brut
Art Brut's sound is a bit like if Jonathan Richman fronted a punk band. Their latest album is not as laugh-out-loud funny as previous ones, but still relatable.
18. "Undertow" by Stars
Canadian indie pop band. Several members are also part of the band, Broken Social Scene. This song is particularly melodic and moody.
17. "Youthless" by Beck
This catchy song just makes me want to dance. The entire album from Beck and superstar producer, Danger Mouse, is only 33 minutes!
16. "A Chacun Son Zion" by La Casa Bancale
French reggae band known mostly for live performances.
15. "Move" by CSS
Brazilian indie electronica band aka Cansei de Ser Sexy (Portuguese for
Tired of Being Sexy). Pointless dance fluff. In a good way.
14. "I Was Made for You" by She & Him
Actress Zooey Deschanel and indie singer/guitarist M.Ward collaborate on an innocent, gentle folk album made up mostly of songs written by Deschanel herself. This song has a fun sound that harkens back to the girl groups of the '60s.
13. "Pretty Bird" by Jenny Lewis
Rilo Kiley's lead singer breaks out on
her own with an alt-country/folk album. This song is spare and lovely
with M.Ward doing a guest turn on guitar.
12. "Lucid Dreams" by Franz Ferdinand
This rockin single from Scottish alt rock band Franz Ferdinand's upcoming 2009 album has a Turkish-sounding guitar hook I really like. It's available on iTunes now.
11. "Sax Rohmer #1" by Mountain Goats
Singer-songwriter/guitarist John Darnielle is known for his lyrics and this song has an epic feel to it.
"Sailors straggle back from their nights out on the town
Hopeless urchins from the city gather around
Spies from imperial China wash in with the tide
Every battle heads toward surrender on both sides"
Full lyrics here.
10. "Followed Path" by Karl Hector & The Malcouns
Afro-funk jazz band from Germany. This has the vibe of '60s Mulatu Astatke. Great great stuff.
9. "The Clockwise Witness" by DeVotchKa
I am really into this gypsy band from of all places, Denver, CO. Their
sound is a wonderful mix of Eastern European, punk, folk, Bolero, and
more. You've probably heard their song, "How It Ends" on the TV ad for
the game Gears of War 2.
8. "Life Like" by The Rosebuds
Indie rock band from North Carolina. I really like this dreamy, yet ominous sounding duet with its droning guitar.
7. "Holly" by Starfucker
Portland, Oregon indie pop trio--I don't know what it is about this music, but it really sticks in my head.
6. "What New York Used to Be" by The Kills
Garage Rock duo between an American vocalist and a British guitarist. I love this gritty song as it's about New York, natch.
5. "Paris (Aeroplane Remix)" by Friendly Fires
This dance remix with vocalist Au Revoir Simone is even better than the original. One day I'm gonna live in Paris, I promise! Thanks to JeffM for turning me on to this tune. Download it for free here.
4. "Maintenant" by Rupa & The April Fishes
World fusion music from San Francisco via France and India. I must have been a gypsy in a prior life. SF Weekly says if Rupa were a movie, she'd be Amelie meets Women on the Verge of a Nervous breakdown meets Latcho Drom meets Do the Right Thing. Can't beat that!
3. "Where Do You Run To" by Vivian Girls
Brooklyn-based post-punk + '60s girl guitar group. Fuzzy hipster heaven.
2. "Lights Out for Darker Skies" by British Sea Power
Indie band from England--epic, sweeping, majestic guitar rock.
1. "Right As Rain" by Adele
Adele may have lost the prestigious Mercury Prize to Elbow (a band I LOVE), but her voice puts Amy Winehouse to shame.
CLICK HERE for the tunes that made the list--The 52ish Best Songs of the Week in 2008. Courtesy of me. :)
