2008 - The tracks

It's that time o year again, when everyone tries to tell you what the best songs from this past year were, usually with varying results. Make no mistake, I haven't heard everything that has been put out this year, but I've listened to enough to add my worthless opinion to the countless others. So here they are, my fifteen favorite songs of 2008 (with video goodness!)

15. Chairlift - Bruises

Also known as that iPod song.

14. Q-Tip - Gettin' Up

Because everyone needs more old school hip-hop in their life.

13. Beck - Chemtrails

The beginning of this track is just haunting.

12. Fuck Buttons - Sweet Love for Planet Earth

In the almost ten minutes that this song lasts, you still don't have enough time to fully get your head around it.

11. Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happened

A repetitive chorus never sounded so indie.

10. Vampire Weekend - Walcott

Come for the piano. Stay for the New Jersey line.

9. Nas - Hero

It's a sad state of affairs when your first single is the best track on the album, but Hero just bangs.

8. Hercules and Love Affair - Blind

Disco lives! Pitchfork's song of the year fills our James Murphy need for the year nicely.

7. One Day as a Lion - One Day as a Lion

File this under albums I never thought would see the light of day. It's like Rage, but in lo-fi goodness.

6. Portishead - Machine Gun

They used to do trip hop you say? The return of Portishead is a cerebral mind fuck.

5. Wolf Parade - California Dreamer

The hook, it stays with you.

4. MGMT - Time to Pretend

The catchiest tune on an album of catchy tunes. I think everyone liked this one.

3. M83 - Kim & Jessie

1980 lives!!! This would feel right at home in your 80's teen movie of choice. Mine would be Gremlins.

2. Nine Inch Nails - 1,000,000

Man crush aside, Trent's still got it. This murders live.

1. The Roots - Rising Down/Rising Up

From the head nodding opening notes (and the best Mos Def guest spot in some time), Rising Down is how you open an album. It opens the dark journey of the Root's latest album, culminating in the upbeat Rising Up, bringing the band full circle in the course of one album. This is that real hip hop.