I’ve been considering the songs that have most caught my attention over the past few years. I’ve posted most of them already, or at least other songs by those artists, so I’ll just link to the posts rather than covering old ground for the new year. Some of these songs caught me by surprise, either because they aren’t my usual fare or because they snuck into my head and became favorites despite an initially-lukewarm reaction. Some of them I knew I’d love before I even heard them, either because I was already a fan of the artist or because they were recommended to me by people whose taste aligns well with mine.
2008 appears to have been a banner year for new albums by old favorites as well as newer musicians releasing great first and sophomore albums. While I picked up some great new music in 2009, I have whole albums that rank on my favorites list from 2008. I didn’t think to do a real recap at the end of that year, and now we’re into double digits for the 2000s, so instead try a list of my favorite twenty tracks of the past ten years. I tried not to cheat and include songs on “Best of” albums that were released earlier. Let me know if you catch an error and I’ll fix the list accordingly. I certainly have more than twenty vying to be on the list.
2008 appears to have been a banner year for new albums by old favorites as well as newer musicians releasing great first and sophomore albums. While I picked up some great new music in 2009, I have whole albums that rank on my favorites list from 2008. I didn’t think to do a real recap at the end of that year, and now we’re into double digits for the 2000s, so instead try a list of my favorite twenty tracks of the past ten years. I tried not to cheat and include songs on “Best of” albums that were released earlier. Let me know if you catch an error and I’ll fix the list accordingly. I certainly have more than twenty vying to be on the list.
- From the Hips – Cursive (2009)
- Toe Jam – The BPA with David Byrne (2009)
- Love Is on the Way – Will Dailey (2009) This was the biggest surprise of the year, for me. I expected fluff, autotune, and general crap, considering the massive push I saw on Facebook. What I got was a fair number of bouncy, fun, surprisingly mature tunes that I very much enjoy.
- Diablo Rojo [Live] - Rodrigo y Gabriela (2008)
- Diddy Wah Diddy - Taj Mahal (2008)
- Oxford Comma – Vampire Weekend (2008) and The Very Best’s cover of Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (also 2008) which I think is better than the original. If you missed Hot Chip’s cover of the same tune with Peter Gabriel, I suggest you get your ears on that one, as well. You know a song is good when there are two covers of it the same year it was released.
- Comme Des Enfants - Coeur de Pirate (2008)
- Uh - Fujiya & Miyagi (2008)
- Bag of Hammers – Thao Nguyen & the Get Down Stay Down (2007)
- Fire on the Mountain – Asa (2007)
- Dick Around – Sparks (2006)
- People Gonna Talk – James Hunter (2006)
- 60 Revolutions – Gogol Bordello (2005)
- Pa Pa Pa Palavas - BenoƮt Charest (from The Triplets of Belleville soundtrack, easily the best movie of 2004 both creatively and musically)
- I Am a Scientist – The Dandy Warhols (2003)
- Blingity Bling - Suburban Legends (2003) How I've managed to avoid posting this one, I'll never know. That shall be rectified as soon as possible.
- Weave – Rusted Root (2002)
- The Flat Fleet Floogie – Keb’ Mo’ (2001)
- Manthem – The Bouncing Souls (2001)
- Do What – Squirrel Nut Zippers (2000)