I’ve already recapped re: the Bon Iver-ish half of this Lykke Li/Bon Iver video that made the rounds in 2008 on the indie blogs (and most likely RS’ Rock Daily). “Dance Dance Dance,” my favorite Lykke Li track from her lovely debut, Youth Novels (and one of my favorite songs of the year) is featured in this live performance in a park somewhere in L.A. (so says the Youtube description). The Swedish singer-songwriter dances eh OK but mostly sings really, really well. The kazoo solo makes this one of the most adorable moments of 2008, and one of my favorite internet video treasures. It also, obviously, makes me want to dance.

If you read this blog regularly, you may find my 1500 word Coldplay rant from earlier this year to be pretty hypocritical, considering I didn’t even put the album on my own Top 10 for 2008. I guess, in the end, I couldn’t justify bumping any of these albums (even though I do love Coldplay and you need to deal with that). If this were a top 20, Viva La Vida would definitely be on there (and most likely be #11), and the past few weeks would have probably been a lot easier for me.

After a million edits, a dozen number changes, and a near deletion of my #9 on a technicality, I’m finally effing done with this Top 10.

Close calls:
Viva La Vida or Death and All His Friends Coldplay
Oracular Spectacular MGMT
Devotion Beach House
Santogold Santogold
For Emma, Forever Ago‎ Bon iver
The Rhumb Line Ra Ra Riot

Honorable Mention:
Esau Mwamwaya and Radioclit are the Very Best The Very Best
The combination of Esau’s native Malawian singing style and Radioclit’s eclectic production is one of the best things I’ve ever heard in my life.

“Dinosaur on the Ark” by The Very Best

10. You & Me The Walkmen
The crisp guitars and raspy vocals on this record are as gritty as the New York City streets that surely inspired them. This is one of the best Subway albums I’ve ever commuted to.

“In the New Year” by The Walkmen

9. Alegranza El Guincho
El Guincho’s exotic debut album throws some beats on old tropical music samples and mixes in some unrelated audio clips for one of the coolest and most original albums I’ve heard in years.

“Antillas” by El Guincho

8. Með Suð í Eyrum Við Spilum Endalaust Sigur Ros
Sigur Ros has ripped out my soul, stomped it to death, and then brought it back to life all within single tracks. Have you translated the lyrics to “Inní mér syngur vitleysingur” lately (scroll down to the 6th post, here)? Yeah. Yup.

“Inní Mér Syngur Vitleysingur” by Sigur Ros

7. Rockferry Duffy
Duffy’s voice is literally like no other, and the production and songwriting on her A&M debut is incredible in every sense of the word. This is just a solid pop record.

“Warwick Avenue” by Duffy

6. In Ear Park Department of Eagles
Daniel Rossen of Grizzly Bear’s other band. The bulk of this record seems lost in time, and is comprised mostly of lo-fi, low-key, melodic pop tunes reminiscent of late Beatles and their respective solo careers. This record is subtle, but great.

“No One Does it Like You” by Department of Eagles

5. The Odd Couple Gnarls Barkley
Gnarls Barkley are a timeless act that sound like they were sent from the future to teach us how to make a record that transcends all boundaries, genres, and eras, and Cee-Lo continues to sing the sh*t out of everything he records.

“Going On” by Gnarls Barkley

4. 808s & Heartbreak Kanye West
808s, while auto-tuned and 90% sung, is highlighted by stellar production, surprisingly introspective lyrics, and Kanye’s everlasting ability to make a brilliant pop song.

“Amazing” by Kanye West

3. Third Portishead
This is one of the few times an artist makes a come-back record that trumps all of their previous efforts. The album’s intense, innovative electronica successfully carries Portishead over into the 21st Century with a sound that evolved rather than adapted.

“The Rip” by Portishead

2. Tha Carter III Lil Wayne
Tha Carter III is 15 tracks of unstoppable hip hop monsters, with enough quotable lines to fill 10 Facebook profiles. “Lock load ready to aim at any target/i can get your brains for a bargain like i bought it from target/hip hop is my supermarket/shoppin’ cart full of fake hip hop artists/I’m starvin’.” “And I be the sh*t now you got loose bowels/I don’t O U like two vowels.” “I got summer hatin’ on me cause I’m hotter than the sun/Got spring hatin’ on me cause I ain’t never sprung/Winter hatin’ on me cause I’m colder than ya’ll/And I would never I would never I would never fall.” Mm.

“A Milli” by Lil Wayne

“Let the Beat Build” by Lil Wayne

1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
It wasn’t even a week into the new year when the reviews started trickling in, naming Vampire Weekend’s self titled debut ‘Album of the Year’ (including mine). SPIN threw them on the cover before the thing was even released (and before most people had any idea who they were). It doesn’t happen often, but the hype was justified. Every single song on this record is A+ 5 star 100% awesome. The band’s subtle array of influences spanning decades/continents, mixed with their impeccable knack for writing choruses that are catchier than a Britney hook and lyrics that are as clever and articulate as they come, makes their charming 40 minute debut a near perfect record.

“Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa” by Vampire Weekend

Aside from Lil Wayne, Clipse, Fix Your Face, and The Nigger Tape, I haven’t heard any of the mixtapes on New York Magazine’s Ten Best Hip Hop Mixtapes of ‘08 list. I didn’t even know Fabolous was still making records, let alone an “honest contender for best rapper alive.” But, his and DJ Drama’s There is No Competition takes the top spot. I guess I’ll have to give it a listen (stream below, if you want to as well).

Not even one Jay-Z tape? For shame.

“You look so much cuter
with something in your mouth.” – Nickelback

This has sort of become my tribute to great albums that are most likely going to be crossed off the short list for my Top 10 Albums of the Year. The Helio Sequence’s Keep Your Eyes Ahead is going to be another tough one to exclude. Brandon Summers, the voice of the band, blew out his vocal chords before the recording of this, their 4th (and best) full length. He learned how to sing all over again, and the result is one of the most pleasant surprises of 2008.

Summers’ voice scratches it’s way through indie rock anthems and acoustic ballads, all complete with beautiful melodies, great production, and poetic lyrics. “Drank the dark wine of the New York night/My shattered mind across the borderline,” sings Summers on “Shed Your Love,” which falls into the acoustic ballad category. “Spent the night in someone else’s arms. Shed your love, shed your love.” There are not many songs like this. Maybe I’ll have to reconsider my list after all.

It’s time to officially begin Top 10 season. So, all of the songs on this list either charted high (or high-ish) (or in general) on the Billboards in the US and/or the UK…or anywhere else. I guess that’s all pretty easy to figure out.

Prepare yourself for lots of Kanye. And Poproks.

Close calls:
“I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry
“Warwick Avenue” by Duffy
“Love in this Club” by Usher
“Love Lockdown” by Kanye West
“Air” by Jordin Sparks featuring Chris Brown

10. “4 Minutes” by Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake

Peaked at #1 on a dozen charts, including the UK Singles and US dance…Romania, Greece, Israel, etc.
This song is at the center of one of my favorite moments of 2008. After waiting in the cold from 6pm Tuesday to 6am Wednesday, I managed a wristband into Madonna’s Hard Candy promo show at Roseland. JT was there. It was awesome. This is a great dance track, complete with Timbaland intro.

9. “Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It)” by Beyonce

Peaked at #1 on the US Hot 100 and Hip Hop Chart
I would have said that Katy Perry’s “I Kissed a Girl” was the “Umbrella” of 2008, but Beyonce’s “Single Ladies” has made a serious Q4 push for the title. However, it’s pretty hard to even hear this track anymore without thinking of that SNL skit. And no matter how hard I try, I just can’t get down with “If I Were a Boy.” ::shrugs::

8. “Viva La Vida” by Coldplay

Lots of single digit charting positions, and #1 in the UK and the US Singles Chart
Coldplay looks really weird on this list if you pull it away from your face and look at the whole thing from afar. Damn. But hey, Coldplay is as big as it gets, and their #1 hit single is one of my favorites of theirs to date. The string arrangement may be just a sample on stage, but it still has a massive presence on this record. Anyways, don’t really care what you think.

7. “Run (I’m a Natural Disaster)” by Gnarls Barkley

Cracked 14 on that “Bubbling Under” Hot 100 chart, mid 30’s in the UK and US Modern Rock Charts
Another personal favorite moment for me, Gnarls Barkley’s show at Highline Ballroom was hipper than hip, and I even managed to get some horrible pictures with a $50 camera I bought in Times Square an hour before the show. Enjoy that. Not my personal favorite track on the record, but their biggest hit this year. Give Justin an Oscar for the performance in the video.

6. “Chasing Pavements” by Adele

Hit #2 on the UK singles chart
The Grammys have a real chance of getting it all right for the first time in a very long time. Not only does Tha Carter III have a one in 5 chance of being Album of the Year, but Adele’s incredibly beautiful “Chasing Pavements” is up for all the big ones; namely, Record of the Year and Song of the Year. It deserves both. Rumor has it that my upcoming Top 20 Since 2000 list includes another great Adele track from her debut…

5. “Homecoming” by Kanye West featuring Chris Martin

Peaked at 9 in the UK Charts, and 69 on the Hot 100
There were about 10 singles off of Graduation, and I think there’s 4 already released off of 808s and Heartbreak, which left quite a bit of 2008Kanye to choose from. My apologies to “Love Lockdown;” dude, I just couldn’t do it. Anyway, how good is this chorus and its Chris Martinness? I know Kanye is going to be piiiiissed about being #5 on my countdown, but can’t he just shine that Single of the Year trophy I gave him in ‘07?

4. “Everybody Nose” by N.E.R.D.

Reached 41 on the UK Singles chart, never made the US Billboards…no idea why not.
I’m going to have a serious time not considering this album for my top 10 of the year. I know it’s crazy, but this effing album is crazy. N.E.R.D. is just fun, and their songwriting is as erratic as the synths on this beat. If they can make a catchy chorus that goes, “all the girls standing in the line for the bathroom.” I’m convinced they can make one about anything. 100 dollar bills….look at you.

3. “A Milli” by Lil Wayne

Reached #1 on the US Hip Hop Charts and Rap Tracks
One of the best hip hop tracks of the decade? Many question the amount of credit that’s given to an album whose best hook actually quotes Fergie’s “My Humps,” but believe the hype. This Lil Wayne single has so many quotable lyrics, it’s hard to pick just one. Next time you mention Pac Biggie and Jay-Z, don’t forget Wheezy Baby.

2. “American Boy” by Estelle featuring Kanye West

#1 on the UK singles chart and peaked at #9 on the US Hot 100. Single digits in a dozen other countries
When I first heard this track, I didn’t like it at all. I had already known the music from Will.i.am’s 2007 album (it appeared as a dance track called “Impatient”), and I thought Estelle’s vocals were sub-par. However, after a few more listens it quickly became one of my favorite songs of the year. Some songs just have it. PS: Kanye kills this.

1. “Swagga Like Us” by Jay-Z & T.I. Featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne

#5 on the US Hot 100 and #4 on the US Hot Rap Tracks
Another Grammy nominated hit by Jay-Z, T.I., Kanye (there he go again) and Lil Wayne (dubbed the “rap olympic team” by Kanyeblog). This track was officially released as a single on two different albums (cause it’s that awesome); Jay-Z’s upcoming Blueprint III and T.I.’s Paper Trail. This track was a crucial player in the resurgence of M.I.A.’s “Paper Planes” (which is oddly over a year and a half old), and everyone and their mother has done their own version on this beat (Including the revolutionary “Swagga Like Puff”). “Swagga Like Us Part II” with Andre 3000, Young Jeezy, Rock Ross and Nas? Yes, please.

Before we dig in to the year end lists (Top 10 Singles and Top 10 Albums, at the very least, are on the way), I wanted to recap a bit on the better musical moments of 2008. One of them has to be what went on between Bon Iver and myself this fall; Cold, cloudy days with his painfully heartfelt guitar strums soothing my soul. I remember a comment I saw on another Albums of the Year list somewhere with Iver’s For Emma, Forever Ago curiously close to the top, “it’s just a dude with a guitar, how good can it be?” Very good, my friend. Very good.

30 seconds into the first track, “Flume” (above), I was already tearing up. I had to turn it off, and decided that it sucked. Finally, I came around and gave it another listen. Never have I enjoyed such a good pensive stare out the window on a rainy afternoon like I have to this Bon Iver record. Not sure it will make my top 10 albums for the year, but “Flume” will definitely be in the 2008 Playlist. This is the best winter album since Sigur Ros’ ( ). Bless this man.

You’ll notice my #1 (ehem, ugh. Oh God, sorry, I love it), and also #3 (I vowed that the Kate Nash album would count for 2008 according to My Poproks). And still on the fence as to whether Maths + English will count for ‘08 as well, but it isn’t out officially in the US until next month.

A few of these will definitely be making the year-end list.

1. Vampire Weekend Vampire Weekend
2. Gnarls Barkley The Odd Couple
3. MGMT Oracular Spectacular
4. Kate Nash Made of Bricks
5. Liam Finn I’ll Be Lightning
6. The Whigs Mission Control
7. The Gutter Twins Saturnalia
8. Kaki King Dreaming of Revenge
9. Helio Sequence Keep Your Eyes Ahead
10. Yael Naim Yeal Naim