Tuesday, November 18, 2008

Year-End Lists: Top Songs of 2008

In my previous post I gave you my top ten albums of the year. Now, as XPN prepares for its year-end countdowns, I give you my top ten songs of 2008, and I've included videos where available.

1. Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart - Death Cab was #1 on my album list and now tops my song list. A haunting, stalkerish song, but one that gets stuck in your head...in a good way.




2. Ben Folds w/Regina Spektor - You Don't Know Me - Just a simple, cute, catchy pop song. It's fun...so sue me.


3. Jim White - Crash Into the Sun - I've enjoyed Jim White since his debut disc, Wrong-Eyed Jesus. This song is from his 2007 release Transnormal Skiperoo, but the song was one of this year's releases. Again, a very catchy tune sung in White's typical laid-back style.

4. Cold War Kids - Something is Not Right With Me - I love the frenetic tunes these guys come up with. Great song from a great album.




5. Perkasie - Ginger Sobs - I love the sound of this Lancaster-based old-timey indie band. Can't wait for them to put out a full CD. If you ever get a chance to see them live, do it.




6. Gnarls Barkley - Run - These guys really know how to record memorable tunes, and this one is jam-packed with some serious fun. Love the video as well. I get out of breath just thinking about it.



7. Phantom Planet - Do the Panic - I never really got into this band, but for some reason this song impressed me. Just seems like this year it's the catchy songs that are finding their way onto my MP3 player.




8. Joe Jackson - Invisible Man - My favorite song from one of the best albums of the year. Vintage Jackson.




9. The Shackeltons - The Breaks - Chambersburg, PA's own Shackeltons put out a great debut CD, and this particular song is a great representation of their trademark sound.




10. Farewell Flight - Begin Again - Yeah, I'm biased toward Central PA bands, but then again that's where I spent most of my listening time. Every time I hear the opening notes of this song on XPN I get a smile on my face.
 



And now it's your turn. What were your top 10 songs of 2008? Post them here and then submit them to XPN for our year-end countdown. We'll be playing back the top albums on December 30 & 31, and then the top 100 songs on January 1st. 

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ugh! I feel like Im leaving so many great artists and songs out but here we go:

1. Fleet Foxes- He Doesnt Know Why
2. Death Cab For Cutie- I Will Possess Your Heart
3. Radiohead- All I Need
4. Vampire Weekend- M79
5. My Morning Jacket- Highly Suspicious
6. Delta Spirit- Trashcan
7. She and Him- This Is Not A Test
8. Ingrid Michaelson- Breakable
9. Kings Of Leon- Sex On Fire
10. Keane- Spiralling

Jeff McCloud said...

1. Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart. Every time I heard this song this year, I thought it was something XPN had been playing for years. It's one that is an instant classic. The radio edit is OK, but the album version is by far the superior of the two mixes.

2. Ben Folds - You Don't Know Me. A very catchy tune that stays with me for an hour or two after hearing it.

3. The Ting Tings - That's Not My Name. When an 11-year-old told me that she likes The Ting Tings, I was worried about the hype. But who cares when songs like this are so catchy?

4. The Kills - U.R.A. Fever. I haven't heard anything like this song all year.

5. My Morning Jacket - Highly Suspicious. Not sure what I think of the rest of the album, but this song has a hook that stays with me.

6. R.E.M. - Living Well Is The Best Revenge. Aggressive, in-your-face R.E.M. rock 'n' roll.

7. Coldplay - Viva La Vida. It's classic Coldplay, and you can't go wrong.

8. Kings Of Leon - Closer. Some great guitar work sets it apart from any other song this year.

9. Joe Jackson - Invisible Man. Reminds me of the classic Joe Jackson that I listened to when I was in junior high in the early '80s.

10. Death Cab For Cutie - Cath. Did you ever think such a bitter song would be so catchy?

Unknown said...

Yeasayer - 2080
Dr.Dog - The Rabbit, The Bat & The Reindeer
The Hold Steady - Sequestered In Memphis
David Byrne & Brian Eno - Strange Overtones
Ray Lamontagne - You Are The Best Thing
Death Cab for Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart
Kathleen Edwards - I Make The Dough, You Get The Glory
The Weepies - Hideaway
Mates of State - My Only Offer