Best Tracks of 2008

Heavy on the hiphop, sprinkled with my typical alternative/rock tracks, strangely void of any electronica cuts and ending with an iPod commercial jam, here are my top tracks from 2008.

17. Kings of Leon - "Sex On Fire"

16. Portishead - "The Rip"

15. Girl Talk - "Play Your Part (Pt. 2)"

14. Death Cab For Cutie - "I Will Possess Your Heart"

13. Drive-by Truckers - "Two Daughters And A Beautiful Wife"

12.The Dears - "Disclaimer"

11. Portishead - "Silence"

10. Atmosphere - "Painting"

9. Common Market - "Weather Vane" (song unavailable in playlist)

8. Lil Wayne - "Comfortable (feat. Babyface)"

7. Amadou and Mariam - "Sabali"

6. Kanye West - "Paranoid (feat. Mr. Hudson)

5. Cut Copy - "Lights and Music"

4. David Bynre and Brian Eno - "Strange Overtones"

3. AmpLive - "Video Tapez (feat. Del the funky Homosapien)

2. Kanye West - "Say You Will"

1. Chairlift - "Bruises"

Best Albums of 2008

Hey y'all,

This past year's output of music wasn't spectacular, however I still had trouble narrowing down this list of my favorite ten albums.

10. Common Market – Tobacco Road /Black Patch War EP

Seattle hiphop duo. Love the fresh sound, lyrics and their hometown :) Listen to "Red Leaves."

9. TV On The Radio – Dear Science

TV On The Radio makes big splashes in the indie rock world, but I struggled to listen to this album consistently. Original songs, but didn't keep me entertained for more than a week. Still a keeper. Listen to "DLZ."

8. Jason Mraz –We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things

I quenched my thirst for pop music with this one. Listen to "Make It Mine."

7. Deerhunter – Microcastle

Always room for some good ol' indie rock on my year end list. Listen to "Agoraphobia."

6. Kanye West – 808’s & Heartbreak

I realize I am in the minute minority, but I loved the new direction Kanye takes. Tight production, minimal and lush melodies...and Kanye, still being Kanye. Listen to "Street Lights."

5. Ratatat – LP3

With my iPod on shuffle, I discovered gem after gem in this instrumental album. Listen to "Shempi."

4. Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes/The Sun Giant EP

Another Seattle band making big news this year. Listen to "Mykonos."

3. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III

I have to admit I thought that any MC with a moniker beginning with the prefix "Lil" inherently made low quality music; I was wrong. And his leading Grammy nominations are proof. I especially love the tracks Kanye produces. Listen to "Let The Beat Build."

2. AmpLive – Rainydayz Remixes

This little EP is a hiphop remix of Radiohead's "In Rainbows" album. Amazing and catchy stuff. Listen to "Weird Fishez."

1. Cut Copy – In Ghost Colours

This Australian band made my year. Dance music. But so much more, too. Listen to "Feel The Love."

Best Tracks of 2007

This was a hard one. I'll work down to my favorite jam from 2007:

10. Dan Deacon "Wham City"

All of these songs in their entirety are great, but in this one listen to the instrumental midsection.

9. Wilco "Either Way"

Love the first ten seconds. It's like a lullaby.

8. The Go! Team "Patricia's Moving Picture"

I like the instrumental part :)

7. Iron & Wine "Flightless Bird, American Mouth"

Gorgeous chorus.

6. Arcade Fire "Black Wave / Bad Vibrations"

I like when Win Butler's vocals start up and especially the backing female vocals.

5. Band of Horses "Detlef Schrempf"

"And take a little walk when the worst is to come"

4. José González "Down The Line"

Love the haunting guitar. Matches the lyrics perfectly.

3. Radiohead "Reckoner"

I love the strings and then when the percussion comes back in at 3:18.

2. Junior Boys "In The Morning (Hot Chip remix)"

Just give it a chance. Try hard. Please.

1. UGK "Int'l Players Anthem"

I am in love with the first verse by Dre 3000. Some of the best stuff I've ever heard.

Best Albums of 2007

After listening to countless albums, my fave 10 albums of 2007:

10. Various Artists "Ratatat Remixes Mixtape Volume 2"

Ratatat takes the hottest tracks from the hottest MCs and composes their own version. Listen to "Glock Nines" at the playlist at the bottom.

9. The Go! Team "Proof of Youth"

Fun, cheerleading and music all in one. This British group rocks the horns, raps and melodies. Listen to "Wrath of Marcie."

8. Band of Horses "Cease To Begin"

This album grew on me as the year went by. Indie rockish and a twinge of country. Listen to "Is There A Ghost."

7. Jay-Z "American Gangster"

Still head and shoulders above Kanye, Jay-Z reestablishes himself as my personal favorite MC. With his natural flow and hip lyrics, he is still king of hip-hop in my book. Listen to "Say Hello."

6. Headband "For Your Ears"

Accapella group out of Willamette University, this accessible record instantly found it on my most played playlist. Listen to "I'm Sprung" at http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=186272065.

5. Wilco "Sky Blue Sky"

Yes, Wilco's last two albums may have been a little...different. But "Sky Blue Sky" goes back to the basics...and improves. Listen to "Impossible Germany."

4. Spoon "Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga"

Spoon drops another indie rock/pop album. In my opinion their best release to date. Listen to "Black Like Me."

3. Bon Iver "To Emma, Forever Ago"

Superb, emotional, acoustic album. Very raw stuff that takes some time to get used to. Listen to "Lump Sum."

2. Jens Lekman "Night Falls Over Kortedala"

I can't believe just how much is packed into this album. And just how rare it is to find someone who appreciates it. Listen to "Kanske Ar Jag Kar I Dig."

1. Radiohead "In Rainbows"

Radiohead. My fave album of 2007. Listen and love them. Nuff said. Check out "In Rainbows (CD 2)" for some more great music. Listen to "Weird Fishes/Arpeggi."

Honorable Mention:

The National "Boxer," Iron & Wine "The Shepard's Dog," Kanye West "Graduation," The Octopus Project "Hello, Avalanche," Radiohead "In Rainbows (CD 2)," The Cinematic Orchestra "Ma Fleur," Paul McCartney "Memory Almost Full," The Arcade Fire "Neon Bible."