Best Of 2008: 6 Words For 66 Songs (#23-44)

This is the second installment of my favourite 66 songs of 2008.

Again, I didn’t bother to post links to each individual song, but you can certainly find each song here.  Alternatively, you can download these 22 songs together as a .zip file here (and let me know if this link stops working so I can re-upload it).

Please note that these songs are listed in no particular order.

23.
“Italialaisella Laivalla”
by Paavoharju

Captivating but utterly simple (and Finnish.)

24.
“Lost Coastlines”
by Okkervil River

Probably played this more than anything.

25.
“Kriss Kross”
by Guillemots

Promising opener to frustrating sophomore release.

26.
“San Bernardino”
by The Mountain Goats

Touching birth story from desperate parent.

27.
“5 Years Time”
by Noah And The Whale

Um, catchiest song of the year?

28.
“The Butcher”
by Final Fantasy

Did he quote “All your base…”?!

29.
“Comin’ Tonight”
by Martha Wainwright

Telling narrative.  Best of the Wainwrights.

30.
“Happy House (Original)”
by The Juan Maclean

Long dance track layered with shifts.

31.
“Murder In The City”
by The Avett Brothers

Man comes to terms with death.

32.
“Starlings”
by Elbow

What “hopelessly in love” feels like.

33.
“Hometowns”
by The Rural Alberta Advantage

Toronto/Alberta band channels early Weakerthans.

34.
“An Eluardian Instance”
by Of Montreal

Mountain Goats reference?  Anyways: killer horns.

35.
“Ready For The Floor”
by Hot Chip

Picard: “He’s my number one dad!”

36.
“With My Hands Out”
by Mount Eerie (With Julie Doiron)

About craving forgiveness.  Hand imagery works.

37.
“Dirty Dancing”
by Frida Hyvonen

Memories like movie plots.  Worlds collide.

38.
“Our Age”
by The Constantines

John K. Samson’s favourite band rocks.

39.
“You Remind Me Of Something (The Glory Goes)”
by Bonnie “Prince” Billy

Starts in gloom; rises into light.

40.
“L.E.S. Artistes”
by Santagold

Hand claps, bold beat, soaring chorus.

41.
“Constructive Summer”
by The Hold Steady

Instant summer anthem for youth everywhere.

42.
“House Jam”
by Gang Gang Dance

Infectious dance tune carries your tears.

43.
“Blue Ridge Mountains”
by Fleet Foxes

Song with its own intro song.

44.
“Nitrogen Pink”
by Polly Scattergood

The atmosphere of “All My Friends.”