Best of 2008

It's been a great year for new music here at BFD. We've seen a lot of bands and heard even more. So, now it's time for my list of the best and brightest of the '08. I was just going to do a top 10 of albums and songs, but, then I realized that there were more albums and singles I liked than just 10 of each. So, it's top 10 plus some.

Feel free to let me know if you like the choices or add what you think are better. Discussion is good for you and always encouraged.

BEST ALBUMS

15. Amplive - Radiohead Rainydayz Remixes

14. The Uglysuit - The Uglysuit

13. The Broken West - Now or Heaven

12. Uh Huh Her - Common Reaction

11. Fleet Foxes - Sun Giant EP

10. The Helio Sequence - Keep Your Eyes Ahead

9. Portishead - Third

8. The Weepies - Hideaway

7. The New Frontiers - Mending

6. Matt Miller - EPII

5. Headlights - Some Racing, Some Stopping

4. She & Him - Vol. 1

3. Kings of Leon - Only By The Night

2. School of Seven Bells - Alphinisms

1. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - Pershing

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BEST SINGLES

19. The Cool Kids - "Pennies"

18. Okkervil River - "Lost Coastlines"

17. Eastwood - "Right Place, Wrong Time"

16. Ladytron - "Ghosts"

15. Q-Tip - "Gettin' Up"

14. Amplive - "Weird Fishez"

13. Minus The Bear - "Throwin' Shapes"

12. Empire of The Sun - "Walking On a Dream"

11. School of Seven Bells - "Chain"

10. The Helio Sequence - "Keep Your Eyes Ahead"

9. Uh Huh Her - "Not a Love Song"

8. Grand Ole Party - "Look Out Young Son"

7. Headlights - "Cherry Tulips"

6. Kings of Leon - "Crawl"

5. The New Frontiers - "Look At Miss Ohio"

4. Lisa Miskovsky - "Still Alive (Teddybears Mix)"

3. Wye Oak - "Warning"

2. Matt Miller - "The Question Still Remains"

1. Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin - "Modern Mystery"

Yep, these are all the albums and singles that have tickled my fancy this year. I hope you enjoy and keep reading.

What's The Big Deal?

I've read a couple of different articles (here and here) the last few days bashing Paste for tapping Vol. 1 by She & Him as their best for 2008. Maybe bashing is to strong of a word, but, I definitely get a sense of "wtf?!"

I got this album shortly after it came out and was blown away by how good it actually was. This isn't Scarlett Johansson trying to record. Nor is it that chick from Desperate Housewives who thinks she can sing. Zooey Dechanel proves she actually has some musical and vocal talent throughout the Vol. 1 and I just don't get what all the bashing is about. "This Is Not A Test" is one of the best songs I've heard all year; and their version of "You Really Got A Hold On Me" is stunning.

I'm assuming all the hub bub is because Dechanel is an actress first and a singer second. Ok, I get that. Sure, it's not super-indie like Vampire Weekend or Sufjan Stevens, but, you can't deny the talent and chemistry she and M. Ward have on this album.