End of the Year Music
Hey Everybody,
It’s time again for my annual music wrap up! I’ve put together a compilation of my favorite songs released in 2008. And as a bonus this year, I’ve included another comp of songs from other years that I just discovered this year.
Both sets of songs are mp3s in zip files (with custom cover art!), you should be able to open them and just drop the whole thing into itunes or whatever you use. Each should fit on a standard 80 minute cd if you want to burn one.
You can find the Best of 2008 set here (broken into two parts for faster downloading):
Part 1: http://www.mediafire.com/?vzdzzn5uty0
Part 2: http://www.mediafire.com/?kjggvdnonn1
or here:
Part 1: http://rapidshare.com/files/178045326/1of2Bestof2008.zip
Part 2: http://rapidshare.com/files/178045328/2of2Bestof2008.zip
And the Bonus not-from-2008 set here (just one file):
http://www.mediafire.com/?meoet4dmxcn
or here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/178056015/bonus_2008.zip
Please enjoy and I hope everyone had a great year.
-Will
PS: For track lists and a discussion of the picks, see below.
Will’s Favorites 2008
1. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, by Vampire Weekend (from Vampire Weekend)
Man I love this band. I know they got a lot of shit this year from people, but it was mostly for being exactly what they are: Northeastern Children thieving afro-pop to make songs about rich college kids. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, especially when it is so clever clever and catchy catchy.
2. Lights Out, by Santogold (from Santogold)
This whole album is great, if a bit too schizophrenic. If you love the Pixies, MIA, and Missing Persons this is the chick for you.
3. My Year In Lists, by Los Campesinos! (from Hold On Now, Youngster)
More music by kids. Totally infectious. AND this band actually released two albums this year. Both of them were awesome.
4. Five On The Five, by Raconteurs (from Consolers Of The Lonely)
Another delightful song from this band of heroes. Why do people give Jack White so very much shit? I think it is because they hate smiles.
5. Hercules Theme, by Hercules and Love Affair (from Hercules and Love Affair)
The single best disco song since actual disco was on the radio. This whole album is super gay and super awesome. It is like the grandson of those “Party Monster” kids who finally made something of himself.
6. Paranoid Ft. Mr. Hudson, by Kanye West (from 808's And Heartbreaks)
If you say you do not like this song you are a liar. (and yes Love Lockdown was in the running for this spot on the list).
7. Shawty Get Loose Feat. T-Pain & Chris Brown, by Lil Mama (from Voice of the Young People)
Man I love this chick, and I will always love any song you can dance to where a girl raps her ass off.
8. Bang!, by Killer Mike (from I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II)
Most of this album was great but this was tough for me to actually include for two reasons. First, because Killer Mike is so wildly homophobic, and also because my friend Jon pointed out to me that the reason I like this song is because it sounds like Ice Cube. But screw it, the song is great and until Ice Cube makes another real Ice Cube record I’m happy to let someone else do it for him- even if it is gay-hating.
9. A Milli, by Lil Wayne (from Tha Carter III)
The best song on the best rap album this year from the best rapper alive.
10. Master Teacher, &
11. Soldier, both by Erykah Badu (both from New Amerykah, Pt. 1 (4th World War))
New Amerykah is my choice for album of the year. I considered at one point just scraping this compilation format and posting the whole New Amerykah as this year’s “best of” comp. Badu has created a sprawling, angry manifesto bursting with pride and loveliness. I love every song on this album.
12. My President, by Young Jeezy (from The Recession)
When Obama won we banged pots and pans over Jackson Square to this song. “My president is black” indeed.
13. Red Dress, by TV on the Radio (from Dear Science)
These guys are just so fucking cool I cannot deal with it. Badass song from an album at or near the top of every “best of the year” list I have seen so far.
14. Welfare Bread, by King Khan And The Shrines (from The Supreme Genius of King Khan and The Shrines)
Just about the time I thought I could not stomach another 60’s revivalist, this maniac comes along with an album I fell in love with. Most of the album is a James Brown Animals Garage Psychedelic kind of thing, but this song is just super super sweet.
15. Two Halves, by My Morning Jacket (from Evil Urges)
It was tough for me to pick any one song off this album, I liked most of them. I read a lot of negative reviews of this album when it came out, I guess because the band was doing new stuff- but it is still a very good album. If you like Frank Zappa and AM Gold, this is your hippie freak-out mother ship.
16. In The New Year, by The Walkmen (from You & Me)
I really tried to hate this album but to say it grew on me is an understatement, I can now listen to it over and over and over.
17. Fools, by The Dodos (from Vister)
My favorite song on a great album from front to back- two guys + weird drumming + weird harmonies = loveliness.
18. Song To Bobby, by Cat Power (from Jukebox)
Who isn’t in love with Bob Dylan? If I wrote music I would be furious that I did not write this. Hell, I am a little bit anyway.
19. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, by The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) (from "The Very Best" Mixtape)
Sorry I know it is cheesy but I could not resist the compulsion to bring the compilation full circle. Here is a song produced by a British guy with a singer from Malawi on a US rap-style mixtape. The song uses Vampire Weekend’s Afro-pop as a foundation for new African Music. The whole tape is like this and the whole thing is offered free on their myspace page.
Again I apologize for the sentimentality but I really feel like this kind of thing is the future of music- see Africa before you die, every thing you love comes from there.
And the Bonus Compilation:
Will’s 2008 Favorite Songs Not From 2008
This is something I will probably start doing every year. The great thing about popular music is that you never run out of it. These are songs I just found this year that I love. I just put these in chronological order.
1. Jim Dandy, by Laverne Baker (1957)
I’ve loved a single Laverne Baker song (“Back Water Blues”) my friend Evie introduced me to for about six years. This year I finally got around to listening to some more. This was my favorite.
2. It is Such a Good Night, by Charlie Steinmann Orchestra and Singers (1964?)
So the release year on this one is a guess based on the life of the record label that released it. I first heard this crazy-ass song on an episode of Harvey Birdman and I could not stop humming it. It took a lot of Internet hunting but I finally found it, and now it can haunt you all too.
3. That's No Way To Treat A Girl, by Marie Knight (1965)
I was listening to a radio interview with one of my very favorite once-forgotten singers, Betty Harris, when this song played as the program went to commercial. Marie Knight is now exclusively a gospel singer, but I think “That’s No Way….” is maybe the best pop song I’ve ever heard. I listen to it almost every day.
4. A Minha Menina (1968), &
5. Baby (1971) by Os Mutantes
I was introduced to this band by a McDonalds commercial, and this song
6. Sweet Touch Of Love, by Allen Toussaint (1971)
by an Axe body spray commercial. I leave the judgment to all of you.
7. Marcus Garvey, by Burning Spear (1975)
A few years ago Sinead O’Conner made a reggae covers album I actually really like. This year I decided to learn more about this music. This song is from an album that is supposed to be one of the most important ones in the genre. The reputation is deserved.
8. PS I Love You, by Curtis Mayfield (1976)
This is good example of the “never running out of pop music to discover” thing I mentioned at the top of this list. I have hours of Curtis Mayfield’s music in my itunes library but I had never heard this gem until this year. It played over the end credits to “Superbad”
9. All Over, by Phoebe Snow (1976)
I found this song watching old episodes of Saturday Night Live, then I listened to it again and again and again.
10. Ceremony, by New Order (1981)
I understand that by including this song I am setting myself up to be blasted by all my music nerd friends. However, I can’t know about everything and there are still gaping holes in my musical knowledge- in addition to knowing very little about New Order I also know next to nothing about Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Black Flag, and Frank Sinatra, among others.
At any rate, for those that are as ignorant about this band as I remain, this is apparently the first single the band released as New Order. I grew to love this song because it is in the movie Marie Antoinette and my boyfriend Jason watched that movie a lot this year.
11. Legal Tender, by The B-52's (1983)
There is really no way of knowing how many times in my life I heard this song before this year, but I never paid attention until this summer at Mary’s in Atlanta. I love that bar so very much.
12. Atom In My Heart, by Frank Black (2005)
I learned this year that my beloved Pixie went to Nashville at some point.
13. If Looks Could Kill, by Camera Obscura (2006)
I have no excuse here, everyone told me this band was awesome. I’m just catching up.
14. A Postcard to Nina, by Jens Lekman, &
15. Sunrise, by Yeasayer (both 2007)
Both of these would have made it onto last year’s “best of” if I had known about them earlier. Records released late in the year never get a fair chance, but here they are for you now. Enjoy.
It’s time again for my annual music wrap up! I’ve put together a compilation of my favorite songs released in 2008. And as a bonus this year, I’ve included another comp of songs from other years that I just discovered this year.
Both sets of songs are mp3s in zip files (with custom cover art!), you should be able to open them and just drop the whole thing into itunes or whatever you use. Each should fit on a standard 80 minute cd if you want to burn one.
You can find the Best of 2008 set here (broken into two parts for faster downloading):
Part 1: http://www.mediafire.com/?vzdzzn5uty0
Part 2: http://www.mediafire.com/?kjggvdnonn1
or here:
Part 1: http://rapidshare.com/files/178045326/1of2Bestof2008.zip
Part 2: http://rapidshare.com/files/178045328/2of2Bestof2008.zip
And the Bonus not-from-2008 set here (just one file):
http://www.mediafire.com/?meoet4dmxcn
or here:
http://rapidshare.com/files/178056015/bonus_2008.zip
Please enjoy and I hope everyone had a great year.
-Will
PS: For track lists and a discussion of the picks, see below.
Will’s Favorites 2008
1. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, by Vampire Weekend (from Vampire Weekend)
Man I love this band. I know they got a lot of shit this year from people, but it was mostly for being exactly what they are: Northeastern Children thieving afro-pop to make songs about rich college kids. But I don’t think there is anything wrong with that, especially when it is so clever clever and catchy catchy.
2. Lights Out, by Santogold (from Santogold)
This whole album is great, if a bit too schizophrenic. If you love the Pixies, MIA, and Missing Persons this is the chick for you.
3. My Year In Lists, by Los Campesinos! (from Hold On Now, Youngster)
More music by kids. Totally infectious. AND this band actually released two albums this year. Both of them were awesome.
4. Five On The Five, by Raconteurs (from Consolers Of The Lonely)
Another delightful song from this band of heroes. Why do people give Jack White so very much shit? I think it is because they hate smiles.
5. Hercules Theme, by Hercules and Love Affair (from Hercules and Love Affair)
The single best disco song since actual disco was on the radio. This whole album is super gay and super awesome. It is like the grandson of those “Party Monster” kids who finally made something of himself.
6. Paranoid Ft. Mr. Hudson, by Kanye West (from 808's And Heartbreaks)
If you say you do not like this song you are a liar. (and yes Love Lockdown was in the running for this spot on the list).
7. Shawty Get Loose Feat. T-Pain & Chris Brown, by Lil Mama (from Voice of the Young People)
Man I love this chick, and I will always love any song you can dance to where a girl raps her ass off.
8. Bang!, by Killer Mike (from I Pledge Allegiance to the Grind II)
Most of this album was great but this was tough for me to actually include for two reasons. First, because Killer Mike is so wildly homophobic, and also because my friend Jon pointed out to me that the reason I like this song is because it sounds like Ice Cube. But screw it, the song is great and until Ice Cube makes another real Ice Cube record I’m happy to let someone else do it for him- even if it is gay-hating.
9. A Milli, by Lil Wayne (from Tha Carter III)
The best song on the best rap album this year from the best rapper alive.
10. Master Teacher, &
11. Soldier, both by Erykah Badu (both from New Amerykah, Pt. 1 (4th World War))
New Amerykah is my choice for album of the year. I considered at one point just scraping this compilation format and posting the whole New Amerykah as this year’s “best of” comp. Badu has created a sprawling, angry manifesto bursting with pride and loveliness. I love every song on this album.
12. My President, by Young Jeezy (from The Recession)
When Obama won we banged pots and pans over Jackson Square to this song. “My president is black” indeed.
13. Red Dress, by TV on the Radio (from Dear Science)
These guys are just so fucking cool I cannot deal with it. Badass song from an album at or near the top of every “best of the year” list I have seen so far.
14. Welfare Bread, by King Khan And The Shrines (from The Supreme Genius of King Khan and The Shrines)
Just about the time I thought I could not stomach another 60’s revivalist, this maniac comes along with an album I fell in love with. Most of the album is a James Brown Animals Garage Psychedelic kind of thing, but this song is just super super sweet.
15. Two Halves, by My Morning Jacket (from Evil Urges)
It was tough for me to pick any one song off this album, I liked most of them. I read a lot of negative reviews of this album when it came out, I guess because the band was doing new stuff- but it is still a very good album. If you like Frank Zappa and AM Gold, this is your hippie freak-out mother ship.
16. In The New Year, by The Walkmen (from You & Me)
I really tried to hate this album but to say it grew on me is an understatement, I can now listen to it over and over and over.
17. Fools, by The Dodos (from Vister)
My favorite song on a great album from front to back- two guys + weird drumming + weird harmonies = loveliness.
18. Song To Bobby, by Cat Power (from Jukebox)
Who isn’t in love with Bob Dylan? If I wrote music I would be furious that I did not write this. Hell, I am a little bit anyway.
19. Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa, by The Very Best (Esau Mwamwaya & Radioclit) (from "The Very Best" Mixtape)
Sorry I know it is cheesy but I could not resist the compulsion to bring the compilation full circle. Here is a song produced by a British guy with a singer from Malawi on a US rap-style mixtape. The song uses Vampire Weekend’s Afro-pop as a foundation for new African Music. The whole tape is like this and the whole thing is offered free on their myspace page.
Again I apologize for the sentimentality but I really feel like this kind of thing is the future of music- see Africa before you die, every thing you love comes from there.
And the Bonus Compilation:
Will’s 2008 Favorite Songs Not From 2008
This is something I will probably start doing every year. The great thing about popular music is that you never run out of it. These are songs I just found this year that I love. I just put these in chronological order.
1. Jim Dandy, by Laverne Baker (1957)
I’ve loved a single Laverne Baker song (“Back Water Blues”) my friend Evie introduced me to for about six years. This year I finally got around to listening to some more. This was my favorite.
2. It is Such a Good Night, by Charlie Steinmann Orchestra and Singers (1964?)
So the release year on this one is a guess based on the life of the record label that released it. I first heard this crazy-ass song on an episode of Harvey Birdman and I could not stop humming it. It took a lot of Internet hunting but I finally found it, and now it can haunt you all too.
3. That's No Way To Treat A Girl, by Marie Knight (1965)
I was listening to a radio interview with one of my very favorite once-forgotten singers, Betty Harris, when this song played as the program went to commercial. Marie Knight is now exclusively a gospel singer, but I think “That’s No Way….” is maybe the best pop song I’ve ever heard. I listen to it almost every day.
4. A Minha Menina (1968), &
5. Baby (1971) by Os Mutantes
I was introduced to this band by a McDonalds commercial, and this song
6. Sweet Touch Of Love, by Allen Toussaint (1971)
by an Axe body spray commercial. I leave the judgment to all of you.
7. Marcus Garvey, by Burning Spear (1975)
A few years ago Sinead O’Conner made a reggae covers album I actually really like. This year I decided to learn more about this music. This song is from an album that is supposed to be one of the most important ones in the genre. The reputation is deserved.
8. PS I Love You, by Curtis Mayfield (1976)
This is good example of the “never running out of pop music to discover” thing I mentioned at the top of this list. I have hours of Curtis Mayfield’s music in my itunes library but I had never heard this gem until this year. It played over the end credits to “Superbad”
9. All Over, by Phoebe Snow (1976)
I found this song watching old episodes of Saturday Night Live, then I listened to it again and again and again.
10. Ceremony, by New Order (1981)
I understand that by including this song I am setting myself up to be blasted by all my music nerd friends. However, I can’t know about everything and there are still gaping holes in my musical knowledge- in addition to knowing very little about New Order I also know next to nothing about Led Zeppelin, the Doors, Black Flag, and Frank Sinatra, among others.
At any rate, for those that are as ignorant about this band as I remain, this is apparently the first single the band released as New Order. I grew to love this song because it is in the movie Marie Antoinette and my boyfriend Jason watched that movie a lot this year.
11. Legal Tender, by The B-52's (1983)
There is really no way of knowing how many times in my life I heard this song before this year, but I never paid attention until this summer at Mary’s in Atlanta. I love that bar so very much.
12. Atom In My Heart, by Frank Black (2005)
I learned this year that my beloved Pixie went to Nashville at some point.
13. If Looks Could Kill, by Camera Obscura (2006)
I have no excuse here, everyone told me this band was awesome. I’m just catching up.
14. A Postcard to Nina, by Jens Lekman, &
15. Sunrise, by Yeasayer (both 2007)
Both of these would have made it onto last year’s “best of” if I had known about them earlier. Records released late in the year never get a fair chance, but here they are for you now. Enjoy.