Just to preface our best of list of 2008: Some songs may deserve a higher spot than others, but the time it took just to compile our list should give each and every song on here enough deserved attention. We did our best to make a list of 100 songs we thought were great and left a lot of songs off we begrudgingly had to remove to abide by the 100 song limit. Our list is as accurate as we could make it, so song 100 all the way to number one represent our favorite songs and artists of this year.
We seperated our list into 5 parts because there was just too much to put onto one post. We hope you enjoy our favorite songs of this 2008!
Part 2: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (61-80)
Part 3: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (41-60)
Part 4: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (21-40)
Part 5: MUF's Top 100 Songs of 2008 (1-20)
100. Keane - Lovers Are Losing (buy)
Why: Spiraling struggled but the personal touch from this track mid-way through helped boost the overall album enough to make it bearable.
99. The Shore - Open Up The Light (buy)
Why: Coming back from a long wait, The Shore delivered a great album. Their most notable song won't be found here, but this one may be as perfectly chilled-out as rock comes.
98. Death Cab For Cutie - I Will Possess Your Heart (buy)
Why: Eight minutes and twenty-six seconds of cinematic gusto from a group that really doesn't have too many tracks longer than five minutes. Overall, a well thought-out song considering every instrument in the group grabs some of the spotlight.
97. Department of Eagles - No One Does it Like You (buy)
Why: Bass thumps and clapping ensues as the humble, yet budding group Department of Eagles made their presence known in 2008. Nobody does this like them in this gem with the harmonizing and the eerie playfulness of this song.
96. The Little Ones - Morning Tide (buy)
Why: Hearing The Little Ones and keeping a smile on of your face are synonymous with each other. "Morning Tide" clearly set the Cali natives back on track after their struggle to find a label and get their sound right.
95. Pictures and Sound - 100 Directions (buy)
Why: Luke Reynolds' latest project couldn't please fans more when transitioning from his older work. Now laced with some mild funk, "100 Directions" settles in behind light drum rapping and a heavy bass before slowly building up for a finale worth waiting for. Check out our live video of this song here.
94. Nada Surf - See These Bones (buy)
Why: Opening Lucky with their strongest song set the tempo for another great effort from Nada Surf. Perhaps this song layers a bit much as it goes on, but nothing takes away from the professional and well-timed shown here.
93. The Shore - Lose My Breath (buy)
Why: We doubled up listing the Shore in this section of our top 100, but that's okay since The Shore have so many good songs to list here. Neither this one or "Open Up The Light" could really be picked over the other, so really think of this as just another song you need to listen to and an album to own.
92. MGMT - Kids (buy)
Why: The main five-star songs on Oracular Spectacular flew across the blogosphere faster than the drug-inspired artists could imagine. "Kids" takes the teenage mentality of the duo along the same lines as the other greats on the album while still being incredibly original and addictive.
91. Kings of Leon - Sex On Fire (buy)
Why: The most pop-friendly song on this good effort and most listed throughout the blogsphere. That's not why we listed it however. The boldness of this song earned its place on our list. Saying someone's sex is on fire is quite a compliment to dish out, so kudos KOL.
90. French Kicks - With the Fishes (buy)
Why: Drowned out guitar meets sad, lonely singing. I don't know what does it for me on this song, but the chemistry is perfect, the guitar isn't too much and the vocals kill it every time. Everything down to the drums marks this album a materpiece in my mind.
89. Athlete - Flying Over Bus Stops (Acoustic) (buy)
Why: A song featured on their 2007 Beyond The Neighbourhood album, Athlete topped themselves with an acoustic version on their The Outsideres EP released earlier on this year.
88. The Notwist - Good Lies (buy)
Why: The Devil, You + Me opened with this low-key instrumentally and vocally sound track and the result helped the album as a whole. Seeing this song anywhere else in the Top 100 would be merited as it subtly speaks volumes to every ear that listens to it. Thanks to Pitchfork for the legal mp3.
87. The Republic Tigers - Buildings & Mountains (buy)
Why: Encompassing the ideals the Kansas City crew brought to Keep Color, this track harmonizes, entrances and hooks in like a cult does to its followers.
86. Greg Laswell - Comes and Goes (In Waves) (buy)
Why: Simple melodies and some nice harmonizing was enough to add this to our list. Laswell has sparked our interest this past year and this song was one of his most well-produced pieces.
85. Plants and Animals - Good Friend (buy)
Why: Parc Avenue's ground-work was put down here and the rest of the album benefited from it. "It takes a good friend to meet you in the park in the dark."
84. The Walkmen - In The New Year (buy)
Why: These guys went for a particular sound on thier album this year, and their nailed it with You & Me. "In The New Year" is something like we've never heard before with its rhinestone jangling riffs and slack-jawed singing. Where else could you find a better song with featuring an organ?
83. The Kooks - Always Where I Need To Be (buy)
Why: Konk would not be found anywhere near our top albums of this year, but our beloved UK rockers did score one song we couldn't resist to list here. They've once again managed to feature one song bound to be syndicated all over God's creation.
82. Elbow - Weather To Fly (buy)
Why: The Mercury Prize winners in 2008 claimed their spot on our list, particularly with one of their magnificently assembled songs listed here. Elbow didn't just surpass all of their previous albums, they made a name for themselves in 2008. This song shows everything we love and have loved about Garvey and Co..
81. Beck - Gamma Ray (buy)
Why: Beck highlighted this song on his website which promoted Modern Guilt and it fit perfectly for any returning fan as maintains the zany vibe Beck had back when he released Midnight Vultures almost ten years prior. Saying it is the best on the album isn't entirely accurate although it could be the addictive ingredient Beck albums consistently contain.
Morning Tide from The Little Ones has truly been a great addition to our collection this year. We did post about them at the end of October, but we wanted something for ourselves as well as our readers. Fortunately enough, we readied a few questions for the LA lads and they were more than happy to answer.
Hello Edward, Brian, Ian, Lee and David- it's great to finally get some words across to you guys- just listening to your music puts me in a good mood despite the constant cloudy days of the cold months on the East Coast. So California is a sunny place, but where did the cheer in your sound come from?
The cheer that's in our sound is a result of us all being really good friends that try to have as much fun as possible when playing together.
I understand you guys are pretty close. How do you all know each other?
Edward and Ian met in college and played in a band together. When that band ended, Ian and Ed went on to start writing new music and looking for new people to play with. Ian brought in me because I was always interested in playing music with him and we had met through his sister, who I date. Now the band had become 3 but we needed someone that could bass and it turns out Ed's brother Brian was in the room. All that was left was we needed a drummer and that's when I called long time childhood friend David who completed the five piece.
The name Little Ones immediately made me think you guys were all short. Where did this name come from and how did it stick?
The name came from Ed's two pugs and we needed a name so we could play a show. We didn't want to think to much about the name and after the first show it stayed with us.
After the Sing Song EP we started writing while on the road for Morning Tide. We were touring a lot in the UK so we actually spent two weeks recording part of it in London. After all the fun and hard work we had put into it we were dropped from our label two weeks before the record was about to be released. We were all shocked and it took us a little while to recover, but now the record is out with the help of our friends and label Chop Shop music.
Your sound has a folk-pop sound (just made that up) to it that clearly comes from many years in the sun and multiple genres. What artists have influenced you the most?
We are influenced by a lot of 60's pop bands like the Kinks, Zombies, and Beach Boys. Music from Brazil is also a big influence- Os Mutantes and Lo Borges.
Who is playing in your stereos these days and who would you highly recommend?
I think it's safe to say you can always hear one of us blasting some Mo-town stuff. We all really like the latest Elbow record, it's one of the best records that came out this year.
What are the tour plans for The Little Ones in the coming months?
First we are going to take a little break for the holidays and then probably do something early next year.
The day after the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series, you played a live session at Y-Rock on XPN. Did you catch any of the celebration during your time here?
Yes, Phillies fans are crazy! Congrats on the win, poor Dodgers.
For more on The Little Ones, check out their web site, MySpace and Last.FM pages.
The best presents for women come in small boxes. The best new find for music enthusiasts comes as The Little Ones.
The five grinning guys from L.A.'s easiest to like group most recently displayed their diamond in a box capability with October 7th's release of Morning Tide. Wound with the pop of their own giddiness, The Little Ones fuse in experimentation akin to Vampire Weekend while also melting in the groove of The Whitest Boy Alive.
2008's recording of the Terry Tales & Fallen Gates EP marked a reemergence as well as perhaps the defining moment for a group that had re-released Sing Song numerous times. The Little Ones finally had gone back to what they did best- compose simple, energetic, beach party songs with their personalities flying above the powdered sand. Chop Shop Records jumped at the chance and sent the cheerful group into recording on their first full-length album.
The Little Ones are composed of Edward Reyes (vocals. guitar), Brian Reyes (bass, vocals), Ian Moreno (guitar), Lee LaDouceur (keyboard) and David Esau (drums). For more on the band head to their web site or myspace.
Also, we have an mp3 and a video along with tour dates below for your enjoyment.
MP3: The Little Ones - Farm Song (buy)
11/10/08 Chop Suey Seattle, WA
11/11/08 Doug Fir Lounge Portland, OR
11/14/08 The Echo Los Angeles, CA
11/15/08 Detroit Bar Costa Mesa, CA
The Little Ones - Morning Tide
