An A-Z of 2008’s top artists’ top tracks
Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes
You’ve heard my albums of 2008, you’ve seen the winners of the first ever Muso’s Guide Awards, and hell, you’ve now even read my tips for 2009; so why not step backwards once more and take a gander at an A-Z of my top 50 artists’ most sublime tracks of the year. Followed by a delightful three-word series of suitable adjectives to accompany them, not to mention some handy video links where possible.
A-CÂ
Beach House – Gila
Tender, spacious, coastal.
Lacerating, desperate, disorientating.
Bon Iver – For Emma
A-quiver, symphonic, cliff-edge.
The Bug – You And Me
Terrifying horror house.
Cadence Weapon – In Search Of The Youth Crew
Rhythmic word vomit.
The Cave Singers – Dancing On Our Graves
Ominous marching beat.
Asking 2b sued.
The Corrections – Barcode
Maxïmo Park replacement.
Correcto – Joni
Concise garage pop
Crystal Castles – Vanished
I revere this.
E-H
Efterklang – CaravanÂ
Enchantingly incremental folk(s)
Massive fucking crescendo
Esser – Headlock
Addictive like Mario
Evangelicals – Paperback Suicide
Psychotic twinkly greatness
Friendly Fires – White Diamonds
‘80s versus space-age
How I cried.
Hercules and Love Affair – Blind
Six-minute ecstacy
Hot Chip – Touch Too Much
…of two halves
Johnny Flynn – Tickle Me Pink
Superb chromatic ascension
Johnny Foreigner – Eyes Wide Terrified
Raucous young upstarts
Jonjo Feather – I Suppose
Raw, with cowbell
Sound of subtlety
The Long Blondes – Too Clever By Half
Rivals Mariah Carey
Lykke Li – Little Bit
Tropical electro sex
M83 – Graveyard Girl
All-out heroism
The Mae Shi – Book of Numbers
Bit like (a) gopher
Man Man – Rabbit Habits
A brawling circus
Track of year?
MGMT – Electric Feel
It’s existed forever.
Micachu – Lone Ranger
Damned disorientating beats
My Morning Jacket – Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 1
Crosby, Stills & Nash
Mystery Jets – Hideaway
Uncontained brazen energyÂ
N-S
Neon Neon – I Told Her On Alderaan
AÂ plastic fantastic
No Age – Cappo
A true grower
XTC covering Placebo?!
Pomegranates – Whom/Who
Google them now
Â
Worrisome or soothing?
The Ruby Suns – Tane Mahuta
Like a parade!
Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
Instinctively nasal determination
Slow Club – Biology Hearts
Twee-est, most symmetrical
T-Z
They Came From The Stars I Saw Them – The HOT Inc.
Download this now
Interpol but better
Vampire Weekend – A-Punk
Perfectly erudite asymmetry
Chorus of year
Vivian Girls – Damaged
Feedback-seeped glory
The Week That Was – Scratch The Surface
Post-rock opera
White Denim – Shake Shake Shake
Back in 1974?
The most unique
Yeasayer – Forgiveness
Sound of 2049
Esser – Headlock is probably my tune of the year, actually.
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