The Best Songs You Didn’t Hear 2008

Here’s what rocked and rolled me in ‘08:

1. Ten Minute Turns, “Aluminum Shine”
   from Leaving Robot City
   The best new song from the best unsigned band in Brooklyn. Leaving Robot City adds electronic flourishes to their winning marriage of impeccably-produced indie rock and earworm-inducing hooks, and the results are pretty damn great. This was my #2 most listened-to song of the year, and it only surfaced in November. Really, really good.
2. MGMT, “Kids”
   from Oracular Spectacular
   The most kraut-rocking-est song about environmentalism you’ll hear all year. Oracular Spectacular is an unexpectedly hypnotic cocktail of spaced-out, electronic, rocking psychedelia (much of the album sounds like if the Stones married the disco attitude of “Emotional Rescue” with the LSD-enhanced aesthetic of Their Satanic Majesties Request — really odd and interesting), and it’s eminently listenable from beginning to end. Definitely worth all the hype it received throughout ‘08.
3. Elbow, “Grounds for Divorce”
   from The Seldom Seen Kid
   The Brits loved Kid (it won the ‘08 Mercury Music Prize) more than me (I dug it generally, but often skipped the more meandering numbers), but there’s one thing we can agree on: we lurve the bluesy stomp of “Grounds For Divorce” — it hit #19 across the pond, and was in consistent rotation in iTunes for me. Their best yet.
4. Gnarls Barkley, “Surprise”
   from The Odd Couple
   Gnarls’ second album landed with a bit of a thud for me (there was no way they were going to top “Crazy,” but I was hoping for something with a little more chutzpah), but I found myself happily drawn to this song over and over. It’s a fantastic blend of soul, hip-hop, and bouncy 60’s AM pop, and I’m hoping it serves as a template (or at least a starting point) for future GB ventures.
5. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Hold On To Yourself”
   from Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
   My biggest personal musical discovery of ‘08 was definitely Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds. Thanks to the advice of some Selective Service faithful, I dug deep enough into his back catalogue to properly prepare me for this year’s Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!, and I couldn’t be more thankful. Cave and his band of dark merry-makers released the best album of the year by far, and it was really tough to pick just one song to feature here. Do I go with the title track, a funky, twisted sing-along that re-tells the biblical story of Lazarus? The English-lit-degree-holder-pleasing “We Call Upon The Author”? The dark romance of “Jesus of the Moon”? In the end, the choice was made by song length, actually: “Hold On To Yourself” allowed my list to fit under 80 minutes, but it’s also loaded with some of the most haunting imagery on the album (the roadside memorial to his dead lover is especially vivid: “As Jesus makes the flowers grow/All around the scene of her collision”). Hard to pick a bad song from Dig.
6. Nine Inch Nails, “Discipline”
   from The Slip
   ‘Twas a big year for the newly label-free and reinvigorated NIN: without warning, they dropped a four volume set of moody instrumentals, Ghosts I-IV; about a month after that, they released a proper album, The Slip, online, asking for nothing in return; and then they ended the year with a massively successful world tour. I know the independent online distribution concept has been labeled “the Radiohead model,” but Reznor one-upped them by (1) keeping The Slip available as a free download, (2) embracing Creative Commons licensing for both album releases, and (3) giving away high-quality files (the mp3s for both albums are encoded at very high rates, and you can download free multi-track files for your own remixing fun, unlike the pay-to-play remixing project Radiohead launched). Oh, and the best part? The Slip is really, really good, too. Check it out at the link above — it’s free!
7. Sons & Daughters, “Chains”
   from This Gift
   The line on these Scots is deliciously retro: This Gift is the soundtrack to a movie Quentin Tarantino hasn’t made yet. Lots to love on the whole album, but this shot of old-fashioned, hip-shakin’ pop got the most headphone love and it has staying power — Gift was released back in January, and it never left the small confines of my 8GB iPhone.
8. Ra Ra Riot, “Can You Tell”
   from The Rhumb Line
   The anthemic sound recalls Arcade Fire, but the songs have loads more heart. I really dig the liberal (and tasteful, Mandel!) use of cello and other strings. Beautiful stuff.
9. Ida Maria, “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked”
   from Fortress Around My Heart
   If PJ Harvey were happier and Swedish Norwegian, she’d sound a lot like this. Her self-titled debut album will finally hit the U.S. in early ‘09, but remember — you (might have) heard her here first!
10. Amanda Palmer, “Leeds United”
    from Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
    As a member of the Boston-based Dresden Dolls, Palmer had the dark cabaret-punk schtick down pat, but working with Ben Folds coaxed the pop songstress out of her. Who Killed Amanda Palmer? is easily the best pop album of the year (and the best work Folds did, too — it’s much more consistently satisfying than Way To Normal), and it’s delightfully unusual fun. There are loads of great songs to be found, but this one stands out most to me — word has it that its lyrics were inspired by a couple of soccer hooligans who disrupted a show of hers in Europe.
11. The Heavy, “Colleen”
    from Great Vengeance and Furious Fire
    What I said this summer is still true: “Great Vengeance is a fantastic, gritty, rocking soul album that’s loaded with more fuzzy guitars, funky horns, and hip-hop beats than a David Holmes soundtrack album. It’s also a nice, taut release: clocking in at just over half an hour, the 10 songs are completely devoid of filler and, in what’s become a sad rarity in modern album-making, really leaves you wanting more. Lead singer Kelvin Swaby’s voice conjures images of a chain-smoking Prince with a hint of falsetto Tom Waits — in fact, opener ‘Brukpocket’s Lament’ had me thinking that Vengeance was an Orphans orphan until the heavy horns kicked in on ‘Colleen.’ Unexpectedly excellent stuff.”
12. Ben Folds, “You Don’t Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)”
    from Way To Normal
    I had very low expectations of Folds’ new album thanks to his dreadful last release Songs For Silverman, so I was happily shocked to discover that he’d rediscovered his groove of classic piano-pop. Normal is pretty good, clean fun from start to finish, altho the more pop-culture-y references and the occasional shot of vulgarity feel a bit forced. The album’s highlight is certainly “Cologne,” but Because Mandel is a Folds freak and I am a gentleman, I decided not to repeat his pick on my list (even though I debuted my list first!). This tune is a close second, tho, so don’t feel slighted. The appearance of Ms. Spektor is gravy.
13. Sharleen Spiteri, “All The Times I Cried”
    from Melody
    Without Spiteri and her band Texas’ hit single “Black Eyed Boy” in 1997, I don’t think there would have been a 60’s soul-pop revival for Amy Winehouse to lead. Spiteri’s always had a pop historian edge to her blue-eyed soulful sound, and on her first solo outing, Melody, she sounds like she’s opened a time capsule of symphonic 60’s pop songs that time forgot.
14. Tom Jones, “In Style And Rhythm”
    from 24 Hours
    The old man proves that he’s still got it on his new album 24 Hours, and this is by far the coolest song of the bunch: lifestyle advice set to a swinging retro beat.
15. Primal Scream, “Beautiful Future”
    from Beautiful Future
    The Scream found their swagger again on Beautiful Future, returning to the electric roots of Evil Heat and XTRMNTR, but adding krautrock and pop to their mix. The result is much brighter sounding, but the lyrics have a delightful darkness to them.
16. The Gutter Twins, “Idle Hands”
    from Saturnalia
    To quote myself: “Greg Dulli and Mark Lanegan make beautiful, elegantly sinister music together. Their debut album Saturnalia is a bit of a dark affair, but the songs often soar with energy and rich in imagery. Lanegan also proves that he’s a vocalist without peer: he hits notes that are impossibly low, and on a number of tunes (especially ‘Idle Hands’), his voice becomes a potent instrument, adding a unique texture that’s hard to forget. Great stuff.”
17. The Kills, “Last Day Of Magic”
    from Midnight Boom
    What I said earlier this year still stands: “the songs [on Midnight Boom] are a winning mix of unpredictable, lo-fi percussion; jumpy, amazingly catchy hooks; and snarling, fuzzy riffs. It’s a sleek, taut album, too: with each song clocking in somewhere between 2 and 3.5 minutes, sometimes cutting off just as a song really gets percolating (I could listen to the chorus of ‘Last Day Of Magic’ for 45 minutes, but they wisely cut it at 3:20), they leave you wanting more — it’s amazingly re-listenable. I’ve yet to find a song worth skipping.” Have fun getting “Last Day Of Magic” out of your head.
18. TV On The Radio, “Golden Age”
    from Dear Science
    Something about art-rockers TV On The Radio has never sat well with me: their previous albums were sonically adventurous but absolutely tuneless. All that’s changed with Dear Science, their newest album. They finally found a way to channel their diverse influences (rock, punk, funk, soul, jazz) into a catchy, fun dance album while still keeping the sound dense and complex. There’s nobody out there that sounds quite like these guys.
19. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, “Fix it”
    from Cardinology
    Adams and his insanely talented band hit another home run with Cardinology, their most recent collection of classic-rock-flavored Americana, and “Fix It” is the album’s emotional center. Beautiful, heartbreaking stuff.
20. Mates of State, “Help Help”
    from Re-Arrange Us
    I usually have a low tolerance for power-pop, but the Mates of State have swayed my ears thanks to killer tunes and thoughtful indie arrangements. Their album is a solid treat from beginning to end.
21. The Two Man Gentlemen Band, “When Your Lips Are Playing My Kazoo”
    from Heavy Petting
    I can confidently tell you that the 2 Gents are the nation’s finest upright bass/banjo/kazoo duo. Viva la double entendre!

If I had to rank the albums you should add to your collection this year, it would look like this:

1. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
2. MGMT, Oracular Spectacular
3. TV On The Radio, Dear Science
4. Amanda Palmer, Who Killed Amanda Palmer?
5. The Heavy, Great Vengeance And Furious Fire
6. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, Cardinology
7. The Kills, Midnight Boom
8. Mates Of State, Re-Arrange Us
9. Ten Minute Turns, Leaving Robot City
10. Sharleen Spiteri, Melody

Enjoy the tunes!

Download: Ten Minute Turns, “Aluminum Shine” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: MGMT, “Kids” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Elbow, “Grounds for Divorce” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Gnarls Barkley, “Surprise” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, “Hold On To Yourself” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Nine Inch Nails, “Discipline” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Sons & Daughters, “Chains” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ra Ra Riot, “Can You Tell” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ida Maria, “I Like You So Much Better When You’re Naked” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Amanda Palmer, “Leeds United” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Heavy, “Colleen” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ben Folds, “You Don’t Know Me (feat. Regina Spektor)” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Sharleen Spiteri, “All The Times I Cried” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Tom Jones, “In Style And Rhythm” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Primal Scream, “Beautiful Future” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Gutter Twins, “Idle Hands” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Kills, “Last Day Of Magic” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: TV On The Radio, “Golden Age” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Ryan Adams & The Cardinals, “Fix it” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: Mates of State, “Help Help” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: The Two Man Gentlemen Band, “When Your Lips Are Playing My Kazoo” (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)