Last Call 2008

So why did it take until 2009 for me to post this?

Because, in my mind, you can’t call a “best of 2008″ before the end of 2008!

That, and I was anticipating a rush of new, 2008-vintage music that would fill my stockings on Christmas, so I couldn’t really call 2008 a done-deal until I had a chance to process the new stuff. I’m not on the receiving end of the review copies of things, and my musical horizons are defined by very odd influences, so I take a while longer to get my act in gear for this annual rite.

That said, I only tweaked this list a tiny bit from it’s mid-December initial draft, so here you go: Onkel Rudi’s faves of the year that was 2K8:

1. “Keep Your Eyes Ahead” - The Helio Sequence (from Keep Your Eyes Ahead)
   Earlier in 2008, I read that George Martin’s entire strategy with albums by The Beatles was to kick things off with a strong rocker. And it certainly was a winning strategy, so I present this rocking track from The Helio Sequence. I’m really impressed with the sound of this band: strong rock chops and great songwriting.
2. “Sing The Changes” - The Fireman (from Electric Arguments)
   Sure, Paul McCartney and Youth have collaborated before, but their previous work was ambient and most reminiscent of the latter’s solo work. But this album is classic McCartney, and by recording under a pseudonym, he seems energized and vital again. Each song on this album went from initial concept to finished recording in its own, one-daya session at Abbey Road Studios (John would’ve approved), and this one finds Macca channeling the best aspects of his early-1970s songs, with a more modern, edgy production. And the whole album is full of surprising turns - a welcome exposure of Macca’s experimental side.
3. “Time To Pretend” - MGMT (from Oracular Spectacular)
   My favorite song of 2008. I know that Matt beat me to the punch here, and I wouldn’t normally repeat a track from one of the other uncles, but man, this song is all that. Two alums of Wesleyan University in Connecticut, MGMT really knows how to write really powerful synth rock that’s fresh and lyrically innovative.
4. “The Bomb and the Gun” - Ten Minute Turns (from Leaving Robot City)
   I really love the songs that “Brooklyn’s best unsigned band” puts out: great instrumantal mixes, fun vocals, playful lyrics and a unique sound that finds repeated plays on the iPod. Get the whole album from these guys - they’re great, and only getting better.
5. “Birthday” - The Bird & The Bee (from One Too Many Hearts)
   I love Inara George’s voice, and this was their lone released track in 2008. And what a wonderful song it is. I especially like the melodic chorus, where George harmonizes with herself to perfect effect.
6. “Elm City” - The Broken West (from Now or Heaven)
   What’s not to like about a song that name checks New Haven, home of the best apizza in the world?
7. “Accelerate” - R.E.M. (from Accelerate)
   A welcome return to form from the Athens, GA, trio. The material on Accelerate shows the benefit of touring the songs before hitting the studio: they sound like a band again, which is a big plus in my book
8. “Gallery Piece” - Of Montreal (from Skeletal Lamping)
   Speaking of Athens, GA, Of Montreal’s latest isn’t quite as strong as 2007’s Hissing Fauna, Are You The Destroyer?, but it has its moments. And this is one of the better ones: funky dance beats and wacky falsetto backing vocals bring about instant toe tapping and draw you in.
9. “Better Than This” - Keane (from Perfect Symmetry)
   I think that Keane has recovered from their sophomore slump with a fine album. Sure, it’s not the strongest of the year, but it’s full of fine songs. And “Better Than This” is a sound that is a bit crazy, a bit poppy, and quite effective.
10. “La Vitesse Superieure” - Carine Erseng (from La Vitesse Superieure)
    A find during my holiday in Paris, France, this album first drew me in with the cover art, featuring the artist riding a bike. But the fun, French dancehall songs are really fun and remind me of riding through the contryside on my two-wheeled velocipede.
11. “Viva La Vida” - Coldplay (from Viva La Vida)
    My second-favorite song of the year (cringe all you want, Sam), from an album that found Coldplay finally establishing its own sound. For years, the comparisons to U2 have been more-or-less applicable, save for occasional stabs at unique brilliance. On Viva La Vida, Chris Martin and the boys finally make an album-length statement of unique sound. I could’ve easily chosen another song from this album, but the title track is really a perfect summation of the Coldplay sound: lush and of an era that many feel has passed. 2008 was largely a year of more spartan recordings (reflecting the tired resignation of 2007, when most were recorded), but Coldplay bucked the trend to great effect.
12. “You, Me & The Bourgeoise” - The Submarines (from Honeysuckle Weeks)
    Yup - it’s the iPhone song. But it is a catchy song, right? And it is so intrinsically 2008, it would be a shame not to include it - with lyrics, even!
13. “Headphones” - I’m from Barcelona (from Who Killed Harry Houdini?)
    I really like this funky ensemble from Sweden: 30 musicians who collectively make fun songs that aren’t as sprawling and chaotic as one would expect. And “Headphones” is simply a catchy pop tune that works on many levels: lyrically, musically and mix-wise. The Swedes are making some great music these days, and I’m From Barcelona is one of the better acts from this movement.
14. “White Winter Hymnal” - Fleet Foxes (from Fleet Foxes)
    No, Matt, not everybody has heard this song. Trust me: the music market outside of Boston isn’t quite as in-tune with SXSW, and is still discovering this wonderful “beard band” of Americana neo-folk-alt musicians. And while I’m also a big Blitzen Trapper fan, I figure this song is an ideal folk-alt construction: simple, but with soaring harmonies and spartan production that still manages to milk the most out of the sound.
15. “Blackbird” - Julie Fowlis (from Mojo Presents The White Album Recovered)
    Enjoy this: “Blackbird” in Gaelic. It’s beautiful, haunting, and gives this song a fresh quality - amazing for a song that McCartney wrote 40 years ago. I found this on one of the wonderful mix CDs that come with MOJO magazine, the UK’s best music mag - worth the import sale price for the disc alone.
16. “Here Comes The Sun” - Yo-Yo Ma & James Taylor (from Songs Of Joy & Peace)
    Yup, another Beatle cover. I choose this because this is JT’s best recording of 2008 - far better than anything that appeared on the tired Covers album. The marriage of Taylor’s guitar and Ma’s cello is ideal backing for the very evocative vocal performance. This is one of my favorite covers of a Harrison song, bar none: simple and beautiful.
17. “Just The Way You Are” (Live) - Billy Joel (from The Stranger - Legacy Edition)
    Now I set the time machine back, because the reissues and rare releases of 2008 were really great. And the live concert disc included with the Legacy Series reissue of Billy Joel’s The Stranger is really wonderful stuff. This is possibly my favorite performance from that show: the song was new to the audience, and Joel really delivered on the performance.
18. “Why Don’t You Write Me” - Simon & Garfunkel (from Live 1969)
    Another rarity from 2008, Simon & Garfukel released an album of live performances from their 1969 tour. While it’s not fully representative of a show from that time - they left out quite a few songs from the standard set, and cobbled together the disc from multiple performances - it’s still an amazing disc. Their 1969 tour was the only one of their original tenure where they brought along the backing musicians used in the studio. This song was still fresh out of the studio when they performed this track, and it’s fun to hear the energy in the vocals of Paul and Artie. I should note that this disc was very tough to find, as it was originally a Starbucks exclusive and never made a smooth transition to sales in regular music stores. So if you can find a copy, I’d snap it up.
19. “Pork And Beans” - Weezer (from The Red Album)
    Yeah, this song is mostly about the video, but it’s also a catchy song.
20. “Strange Overtones” - David Byrne and Brian Eno (from Everything That Happens Will Happen Today)
    They hadn’t worked together in 27 years, but the re-teaming of Eno and Byrne produced a wonderfully quirky, eclectic album. This is my favorite track of the bunch.
21. “Cath…” - Death Cab For Cutie (from Narrow Stairs)
    DCFC’s strong new album tells great stories in each song. Can I say anything more? Perhaps, but we’re almost at the end.
22. “Can’t Help Falling In Love” - Ingrid Michaelson (from Be OK)
    A quiet performance to close out this set (another George Martin trick, just to bring this full circle), the haunting vocals of Michaelson lend a fragility to this old Elvis Presley ballad that leaves the listener both hopeful for the song’s protagonist, yet a bit wary that she’s going to fall apart very soon.

Download: “Keep Your Eyes Ahead” - The Helio Sequence (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Sing The Changes” - The Fireman (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Time To Pretend” - MGMT (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “The Bomb And The Gun” - Ten Minute Turns (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Birthday” - The Bird & The Bee (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Elm City” - The Broken West (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Accelerate” - R.E.M. (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Gallery Piece” - Of Montreal (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Better Than This” - Keane (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “La Vitesse Superieure” - Carine Erseng (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Viva La Vida (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “You, Me & The Bourgeoise (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Headphones” - I’m From Barcelona (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “White Winter Hymnal” - Fleet Foxes (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Blackbird” - Julie Fowlis (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Here Comes The Sun” - Yo-Yo Ma & James Taylor (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Just The Way You Are” - Billy Joel (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Why Don’t You Write Me” - Simon & Garfunkel (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Pork And Beans” - Weezer (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Strange Overtones” - David Byrne and Brian Eno (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Cath…” - Death Cab For Cutie (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)

Download: “Can’t Help Falling In Love” - Ingrid Michaelson (mp3)
(Right-click/control-click link to download)