My Favorite Tunes - 2008

As you know, I spend a great deal of time talking about/writing about music. My iPod playlists are constantly changing. Here is a list of some of the songs I just kept going back to in 2008. Not all of them were released in 2008. But, that doesn't mean they aren't worth your attention.

The Stone Roses - I Am The Resurrection
Arctic Monkeys - I Bet That You Look Good On The Dance Floor
N.E.R.D. - Everyone Nose (All The Girls Standing In the Line For The Bathroom)
Rise Against - Re-Education (Through Labor)
Band Of Horses - Is There A Ghost?
Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
The Gaslight Anthem - The '59 Sound
Os Mutantes - A Minha Minena
José González - Teardrop
Teddy Thompson - The Things I Do
Mick Jagger - Evening Gown
Marc Broussard - You Met Your Match
Martha Wainwright - You Cheated Me
Interpol - Heinrich Maneuver
Carla Bruni - You Belong To Me
Lights - The Last Thing On Your Mind
Bon Iver - The Wolves (Act I and II)
Brian Wilson - Midnight's Another Day
Raphael Saadiq - 100 Yard Dash
Coldplay - Viva la Vida
Against Me! - New Wave
Q-Tip - Gettin' Up
The Beach Boys - Sail On, Sailor
Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood
Mark Ronson Feat. Amy Winehouse - Valerie
M.I.A. - Paper Planes
Common - Drivin' Me Wild
Jakob Dylan - Something Good This Way Comes
Radiohead - House Of Cards
Jason Mraz - I'm Yours
One Republic - Stop and Stare
MGMT - Time To Pretend
Chris Cornell - Scream
Nine Inch Nails - 1,000,000
Bruce Springsteen - The Wrestler
Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart

There were many others, of course. But, these were my favorites.

Well, that might do it for me this year.
Unless something amazing happens, I am going to take the next few weeks off and just enjoy the holidays.

I will be returning in early January '09.

I hope to see many of during the holiday season.

Be good to each other and have a great time.

Christmas Tunes - 2008

I did a Christmas songs post in 2006. I got some good response. I even wound up making CDs for some people. I am happy to do that, by the way.

I realize this is coming to you a week before Christmas. But, hey...I've been busy.
These are some of my favorite Christmas tunes, in no order.

Once again, the Lifetime Achievement Award in this category goes to the Vince Guaraldi Trio's "A Charlie Brown Christmas". The entire album is a holiday masterpiece. It IS the sound of Christmas.

If you are looking for other albums, you could start with the Motown Christmas album. The traditional holiday classics are given a really soulful workout by Motown's roster of stars from the late 60's and early 70's. Phil Spector's, "A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector" is an album that's perfect in the background of any holiday party or get-together. "The Sinatra Christmas Album" is perfect for that nostalgic "feel" in any home at Christmas.

There are others, of course. But, these are my favorites. I added some new ones, over the last two years.

So, here goes:

Stevie Wonder - That's What Christmas Means to Me
Donny Hathaway - This Christmas
Band Aid - Do They Know It's Christmas
U2 - Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home)
U2 - I Believe In Father Christmas
Ray Conniff & The Singers - Ring Christmas Bells
Elton John - Step Into Christmas
The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl - Fairytale of New York
Marvin Gaye - Purple Snowflakes
Aimee Mann - Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
The Pretenders - 2000 Miles
Andy Williams - The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
The Carpenters - Merry Christmas, Darling
Ella Fitzgerald - Sleigh Ride
John Mayer - St. Patrick's Day
Ron Sexsmith - Maybe This Christmas
Joni Mitchell - River
NRBQ - Christmas Wish
The Beach Boys - Little St. Nick
The Kinks - Father Christmas
Diana Ross and the Supremes - My Favorite Things
Nat King Cole - The Christmas Song
The Beach Boys - Little Saint Nick
Billy Squier - Christmas is the Time to Say, "I Love You"
Bob Dylan - Winterlude
Ray Charles - That Spirit of Christmas
Tony Bennett - Winter Wonderland
Rufus Wainwright - Spotlight on Christmas
Sting - Gabriel's Message
Pearl Jam - Let Me Sleep
Dave Matthews - A Christmas Song
The O'Jays - Christmas Ain't Christmas, New Year's Ain't New Year's Without the One You Love
Andy Williams - It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year (A Shrift Remix)

Did I miss your favorite?
If so, let me know.

If not, burn yourself a few CDs and enjoy.

Best Albums of 2008

Beck - Modern Guilt
Fleet Foxes - Fleet Foxes
MGMT - Oracular Spectacular
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds - Dig, Lazarus, Dig!!!
TV On The Radio - Dear Science
Nine Inch Nails - The Slip
David Byrne and Brian Eno - Everything That Happens Will Happen Today
Raphael Saadiq - The Way I See It
Bob Dylan - Tell Tale Signs — The Bootleg Series Vol. 8
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals - Cardinology
Randy Newman - Harps and Angels
Kings of Leon - Only by the Night
Brian Wilson - That Lucky Old Sun
The Knux - Remind Me in Three Days...
Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago
Duffy - Rockferry
My Morning Jacket - Evil Urges
John Mellencamp - Life, Death, Love and Freedom
Coldplay - Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend


I actually could have included a few more albums. But, I tried to keep it down to twenty. Overall, I thought it was a really good year for quality music. With the music business floundering, it's amazing that bands like TV On The Radio and Bon Iver were able to break through. Most of that is word of mouth and dedicated music fans who seek out fringe releases from bands that aren't so "mainstream".

Dylan went into the vault and released a stunning collection of songs that would make younger artists throw up their hands and quit. His collection of B-sides and non-album tracks are better than most of the stuff that passes for music. Remember - this is the stuff he threw away.

Coldplay came back to rule the radio, televsion and every other medium - only to be sued by Joe Satriani. Stay tuned. Brian Wilson released a new album and showed everyone he still has the chops. Vampire Weekend resurrected the ghost of Talking Heads and the world took notice. While they did that, David Byrne reunited with Brian Eno to remind everyone he is still "the godfather" of "white-boy-from-New-York-World- Music". And, My Morning Jacket got in touch with their inner-Prince to the delight of music fans seeking something left of center.

Nick Cave and Nine Inch Nails reared their heads to show the world who the true "Kings of the Nighttime World" really are. And, the Fleet Foxes released an album that recalls the breathtaking harmonies and musical depth of CSN&Y. If you don't have their debut, you need to explain yourself. It's a real music lovers "must have". Keeping with the tradition of great classic-rock nods, Ryan Adams and the Cardinals released a terrific group of songs that finds its roots in the the best music of Neil Young's canon. Jumping off from that, Kings Of Leon continue their quest to be one of the great American rock bands of the new century.

Raphael Saadiq made an amazing album of old-school soul that tips its hat to its influences without sounding phony or contrived. At the same time, Duffy revived the tradition of blue-eyed soul from the U.K. with her debut. Beck and MGMT locked themselves in the studio and fiddled with the dials long enough to come up with something psychedelic, strange and oddly alluring, all at once.

The Knux were the big-winners in hip-hop originality, this year. I don't even want to hear about Lil' Wayne. The Knux are so good/creative - I think they might be from another planet...you know, one with talent. You hear that "Lil' Talent"? Put down the vocoder and quit it with the auto-tune software. We are all sick of it.

Tomorrow, I will tell you about some of my favorite holiday tunes.
On Friday, I will drop my list of the songs I couldn't stop listening to in 2008.

In the meantime, go grab a few of these CDS and enjoy.