18 songs to close out 2008

What better way to celebrate the end of a pretty good year in music than with a playlist chock full of some of our (my) favorites from this year?

18 Songs to Close Out 2008:

White Winter Hymnal – Fleet Foxes: Fleet Foxes’ new album has been giving top rating on pretty much every major “Best Albums of 2008” list (Pitchfork, Paste, Spin, you name it.)

The Beach – Dr. Dog: this is jazzy stuff.

Still Here – Girl Talk: ok, so Feed the Animals is no Night Ripper, but it’s still pretty amazing and the “I got my drink and my two step” mash up is undeniable.

Furr – Blitzen Trapper

You! Me! Dancing! – Los Campesinos!

Nobody Lost, Nobody Found – Cut Copy: In Ghost Colours will always say 2008 to me. It also says amazing dance record. Nobody Lost, Nobody Found is a hidden gem.

Groundswell – Throw Me the Statue: Lolita and About to Walk won my heart. The rest of TMTS’s Moonbeams is still up in the air for me, but I do love Groundswell. Weird yet relatable lyrics (as usual) and sweet horns.

Out at the Pictures – Hot Chip

Eraser – No Age

2 Atoms in a Molecule – Noah and the Whale: my favorite off of their album, a sweet and sad little “love song.”

Satanic Messiah – the Mountain Goats (from the free Satanic Messiah EP)

What Up Man – the Cool Kids: The Bake Sale EP is old-school, clever hip-hop, practically perfect. The “tick tick clap” backing for this song takes a basic rap to the next level.

An Eluardian Instance – of Montreal

Walking – the Dodos

Campus – Vampire Weekend

I Thought I Saw Your Face Today – She & Him

In the New Year – the Walkmen: I bought You & Me on a whim and only recently really got into In the New Year, but it’s a perfect year-closer.

Air War – Crystal Castles