Music Under Fire

It only gets better from here. Once again, if you missed our previous lists or want to see the top 20, hit up the links below:
Part 1: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (81-100)
Part 2: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (61-80)
Part 3: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (41-60)
Part 5: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (1-20)

40. The Gaslight Anthem - The 59' Sound (buy)
Why: A common theme for popular indie music is that while the songs themselves may be new, they carry a nostalgic, retro sound that makes their songs even more likable. This goes for TGA's "59' Sound" which made heads turn this past year.

39. The Rosebuds - Life Like (buy)
Why: Multiple vocals and the downtoned theme from the Raleigh group sinks and dims with every beat. Even better, it doesn't come across as dark, but rather more mystical and foreign composed than anything.

38. CSS - Jager Yoga (buy)
Why: A delightful piano capade makes for one of this years best jammable songs. The best part of this song is really how synced up the band is and how rhythmic and movable each instrument is. All of that accompanied with at least three solos made this a sure-fire pick for us.

37. The Helio Sequence - Lately (buy)
Why: The message of this song fits perfectly to the regretful tone of Summers' vocals. There's not enough that can be said of this band. Computers, drums and guitar are all you need to make a classic album for us.

36. The Lodger - The Good Old Days (buy)
Why: These Brits rarely leave a beat or a breath to be determined and when they compiled this song, nothing was left for interpretation. Much like "Morning Tide" from The Little Ones, this song shakes with an amicable personality sure to make you feel like you got out on the right side of the bed.

35. Glasvegas - Geraldine (buy)
Why: Perhaps running even with "Daddy's Gone" on the self-titled debut from the Scottish group, "Geraldine" provides heart through uplifting dream guitar wailing and the intriguing vocals of James Allan.

34. Cut Copy - Feel The Love (buy)
Why: The vanguard for many electronica albums generally gets the "Intro" title. Not Cut Copy's In Ghost Colours. "Feel the Love" not only was playable but could be considered a staple to the buzz that surrounded the Aussie's rise to many #1 album rankings.

33. Weezer - Pork and Beans (buy)
Why: As much as we loved their video for this song, there were more reasons to add this to our top songs list of the year besides Weezer just being Weezer. "Pork and Beans" is a defiant song created for the record companies themselves. They wanted a pop hit, they got one. Turns out Weezer can apparently light it up in their classic style whenever they want, despite their efforts to go in a different direction on this album.

32. Anthem In - Down (buy)
Why: The resemblance of this song to DCFC struck first, and the more I listened to it and their album, I realized there really was not too many similarities at all. As the band's best song on their latest album, Anthem In fits right here in a perfect spot from many of our favs of this year.

31. French Kicks - Abandon (buy)
Why: One of the first songs this year that we fell head over heels for. That was, until we heard the rest of the album. French Kicks seem to be inspired by something from the past, although we can't put our finger on it, but this song combines all of the bands best attributes as one.

30. Bloc Party - Talons (Phones R.I.P. mix) (buy)
Why: What more do you need to know? This was out favorite remix of the year and involves Bloc Party.

29. The Academy Is... - About A Girl (buy)
Why: The Academy Is... continues to define themselves from album to album and Fast Times at Barrington High by no means mimicked any of their previous work. "About a Girl" hit a pop switch with many radio listeners while also serving as the gateway to this album which is part of an ever-expansive genre laden with relationship cursing lyrics and memorable refrains.

28. Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood (buy)
Why: Many of the songs from FF were astounding through vocal harmonizing and the overall timing involved. If the individual efforts of the group shone through anywhere on the album, it was here. From Skye Skjelset's acoustic play to Robin Pecknold's yearning lyrics, this track manifested yesterday's folk with today's talent.

27. Blitzen Trapper - Furr (buy)
Why: Yet another preview song we heard before the album was actually in our hands. "Furr" tells a folk story just as much the band themselves sound folk in this song. Given the combination and our love for those quiet, yet deadly bands, this track settled quite well to say the least.

26. Kings of Leon - Manhattan (buy)
Why: KOL have been doing their thing for some time now, and although their past success has drawn many to them in terms of popularity and radio play, this was the first time we really noticed them. In fact, "Manhattan" still holds true to be our favorite song by these young lads.

25. Bloc Party - Better Than Heaven (buy)
Why: Drop the beat and throw in some synths and breakdowns and you've got Kele singing Bloc Party's best track of the year. As driven as their album was to be louder and more raw, this song reminded us of their great past works.

24. m83 - Graveyard Girl (buy)
Why: Edgy and electrically charged "Graveyard Girl" embodies a forgotten effervescence that soundtracks from the 80's once spawned.

23. Coldplay - Strawberry Swing (buy)
Why: Unlike the rest of Viva La Vida, this song progressed while still maintaining its individuality as just one song and not two grouped together. Coldplay displayed a folk-inspired joy in this song through light banjo vibes and storytelling, which ultimately developed into the diamond in the rough from VLV.

22. The Shore - When Tomorrow Comes (buy)
Why: Our favorite song from the obscure band from CA. We know them to deliver a sound so laid back, yet calibrated to perfection. Whatever these guys do seems to fit our fancy for some rockable, likable psychadelic rock. Throw this one back to the 60s and they would be legends in our time.

21. Vampire Weekend - Oxford Comma (buy)
Why: The Ivy League boys snapped together a clever song "dripping with disdain" and a melodic chemistry that charms any listener. Imagine a convoluted rock anthem strung together by preppy musicians in a study hall and you have "Oxford Comma".

Kind of crazy to think about this, but this week is much more than music. With Daft Punk's Electroma video/film coming out, some cinematic adventure is in store for us, too. On their myspace they say,

Beginning July 21 at midnight, through 9am EST on July 22, Electroma will be available for 9-hours of free viewing on Lycos Cinema before its U.S.release on DVD. After 9am on July 22, fans of Electroma can continue to access the film in Lycos Cinema's featured rental releases.

We are then asked to head to this page for more info. Quite a bit out of your ordinary new music Tuesday.

Now back to the reason you came to this page- new releases.

Black Kids are dropping their 'crunk' indie sound live today at 7 p.m. for anyone who buys their Partie Traumatic CD at Virgin Records in Union Square.

The Brazilian fivesome of CSS bring their follow-up to their breakthrough Cansei De Ser Sexy, with Donkey. Not as much Portuguese sass in this title but certainly an album to check out.

I personally recommend the following up to ¡Forward, Russia!'s Breaking Standing EP, Life Processes. Pretty good stuff.

Other notable artists dropping their sound this week include: Brooklyn's own High Places, the U.K.'s early-indie sound of Paul Weller and something by Rage Against the Machines' Zach De La Rocha.

MP3: CSS - Rat is Dead (Rage) (buy)
MP3: ¡Forward, Russia! - Breaking Standing (buy)
MP3: Dr. Dog - Worst Trip (buy)
MP3: Bodies of Water - These are the Eyes (buy)

The Avett Brothers - The Second Gleam EP (Official) (MySpace)
Azeda Booth - In Flesh Tones (Official) (MySpace)
Bayside - The Walking Wounded: Gold Edition (MySpace)
Black Diamond Heavies - A Touch of Someone Else's Class (Official) (MySpace)
Black Kids - Partie Traumatic (Official) (MySpace)
Bodies of Water - A Certain Feeling (Official) (MySpace)
Brian Jonestown Massacre - Just Like Kicking Jesus EP (Official) (MySpace)
Brendan Canning - Something For All of Us (MySpace)
Buddy Guy - Skin Deep (Official) (MySpace)
Candlebox - Into the Sun (Official) (MySpace)
The Classic Crime - The Silver Cord (Official) (MySpace)
CSS - Donkey (Official) (MySpace)
Daft Punk - Electroma (Official) (MySpace)
Dr. Dog - Fate (Official) (MySpace)
Faun Fables - A Table Forgotten EP (Official) (MySpace)
¡Forward, Russia! - Life Processes (Official) (MySpace)
High Places - 03/07 - 09/07 (Official) (MySpace)
I Am Alaska - A Day In A Life (Official) (MySpace)
Individuals - Fields/Aquamarine (Official) (MySpace)
Jay Reatard/ Deerhunter - Split 7"
Julie Doiron - Loneliest in the Morning (Official) (MySpace)
Lackthereof - Your Anchor (Official) (MySpace)
Landmines - Landmines (Official) (MySpace)
Loved - Everything, Anything, Nothing (Official)
Mechanical Hands Electric Heart - Mechanical Hands Electric Heart (MySpace)
Menahan Street Band - LP (Official) (MySpace)
Misery Signals - Controller (Official) (MySpace)
Mutlu - Livin' It (Official) (MySpace)
My Favorite Highway - How to Call a Bluff (LP) (Official) (MySpace)
One Day As A Lion - One Day As A Lion EP (Official) (MySpace)
Pas/Cal - I Was Raised on Mathew, Mark, Luke & Laura (Official) (MySpace)
Paul Weller - 22 Dreams (Official) (MySpace)
Rosematter - Rosematter (MySpace)
Samantha Crain - Confiscation (Official) (MySpace)
The Scenic - Find Yourself Here (MySpace)
The Shorelines - Day at the Beach (Official) (MySpace)
Sky Eats Airplane - Sky Eats Airplane (Official) (MySpace)
Sonic's Rendezvous Band - Live (Official) (MySpace)
Timmy Curran - Word Of Mouth (Official) (MySpace)
Zack De La Rocha - Zack De La Rocha EP (Official) (MySpace)