Make sure to download the newest episode of the pmaCAST: There's Something Living In These Lines, featuring Animal Collective, Vampire Weekend, Cut Copy, Friendly Fires, Freelance Whales, Passion Pit and more.
What? Were you expecting a Top 25? Top 50? This is PMA, bitches. I like to thing BIG. No, I get too emotionally attached to a song to not include it in my list of favorites. Seriously. Anyway, I tried this out last year with my “215(ish) Favorite Songs of 2007” — some people thought it was pretentious to pick 215 songs. I hear you, guys. So I shaved it down to 212. Hope that made you guys happy.
I would like to hear your thoughts on this list laden with WTFs and OMGs. Did I miss anything? I’m sure I did, but I honestly did try my best to remember every song that blew we away this year. Oh and don’t forget to include your picks in the comments.
After writing this list I wondered which artists got the most love from it. I’m sort of embarrassed that Lil Wayne ended up with 9 appearances on the list. And who knew I liked Chris Brown so much? I learn things about myself everyday… Anyway, there are a few no-brainers: Santogold (7), MGMT (7), Vampire Weekend (6). There are also a couple that left me confused – Jay-Z and Hercules & Love Affair.
Most Appearances By:
Lil Wayne – 9
Santogold – 7
MGMT – 7
The Killers – 6
Vampire Weekend – 6
Rihanna – 6
Chris Brown – 6
Hot Chip – 5
Jay-Z – 5
Hercules and Love Affair – 5
Without further ado, here are my favorite songs of 2008
My Favorite Songs of 2008
1. MGMT – Time To Pretend
2. Lil Wayne – A Milli (ft. Corey Gunz)
3. Santogold – L.E.S. Artistes
4. Lykke Li – Little Bit
5. The Killers – Spaceman
6. Hercules and Love Affair – Blind
7. Coldplay – Viva La Vida
8. Vampire Weekend – Ottoman
9. Hot Chip – One Pure Thought
10. Kings of Leon – Sex on Fire
HM. MGMT – Electric Feel
HM. Fleet Foxes – Mykonos
HM. Cut Copy – Lights and Music
HM. Bon Iver – Skinny Love
HM. Santogold & Diplo – Icarus
Those were my Top 10 songs (ranked) along with a few honorable mentions: for my 212 (give or take) favorite songs of 2008, read on. Rank as you please.
PS: Before you start bitching: yes, I know some of these songs are from a
2007-released album (i.e. Radiohead, MGMT), but they’re on this list
because 1). They were officially released as singles in 2008, or 2) I
didn’t fully appreciate the song until sometime this year.
Gimme That Indie
The Hold Steady – Sequestered In Memphis
Fleet Foxes – Ragged Wood
The Low Lows – Modern Romance
Chairlift – Bruises
Gnarls Barkley – Run
of Montreal – Id Engager
Little Joy – Brand New Start
MGMT – Time To Pretend
Radiohead – Jigsaw Falling Into Place
Ra Ra Riot – Dying Is Fine
The Black Keys – Psychotic Girl
Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
Low vs Diamond – Don’t Forget Sister
Vampire Weekend – Oxford Comma
TV On The Radio – Dancing Choose
Gnarls Barkley – Who’s Gonna Save My Soul
Death Cab For Cutie – Cath…
Tokyo Police Club – Your English is Good
Sigur Rós – Gobbledigook
MGMT – Electric Feel
Beck – Chemtrails
Vampire Weekend – Campus
Bob Dylan – Someday Baby
Kaiser Chiefs – Addicted to Drugs
Bon Iver – Skinny Love
The Black Kids – Hurricane Jane
Fleet Foxes – Mykonos
Vampire Weekend – Ottoman
Ryan Adams and the Cardinals – Magick
TV On The Radio – Golden Age
Beck – Gamma Ray
Fleet Foxes – White Winter Hymnal
Radiohead – Videotape
Blitzen Trapper – Furr
Los Campesinos! – Death to Los Campesinos
MGMT – Kids
The Dodos – Fool
Vampire Weekend – Everywhere (Fleetwood Mac cover)
LCD Soundsystem – Big Ideas
The Black Kids – Partie Traumatic
Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines
Cold War Kids – Something Is Not Right With Me
The Last Shadow Puppets – The Age of the Understatement
Conor Oberst – Sausalito
Vampire Weekend – One (Blake’s Got A New Face)
Radiohead – All I Need
Mellow Out, Pop!
Santogold – L.E.S Artistes
Adele – Daydreamer
Goldfrapp – A&E
Cat Power – New York
Lykke Li – I’m Good, I’m Gone
Jason Mraz – I’m Yours
The Killers – Human
Elisa – Dancing
Yael Naim – New Soul
Coldplay – Lost!
Heidi Newfield – Nothing Burns Like a Memory
Adele – Chasing Pavements
Cat Power – I Believe In You
Lykke Li – Little Bit
Kate Nash – Foundations
Lilly Allen – Everyone’s At It
Regina Spektor – Poor Little Rich Boy
Death Cab For Cutie – I Will Possess Your Heart
The Killers – The World That We Live In
Coldplay – Viva La Vida
Michael Buble – Lost
Ingrid Michaelson – The Way I Am
Leona Lewis – Bleeding Love
Santogold – I’m A Lady
Jack Johnson – If I Had Eyes
Sara Bareilles – Love Song
Duffy – Mercy
Goldfrapp – Happiness
Robert Plant / Alison Krauss – Gone Gone Gone (Done Moved On)
KT Tunstall – Saving My Face
Colbie Caillat – Bubbly
OneRepublic – Apologize
You Rawk So Hard
The Killers – Losing Touch
Kings Of Leon – Sex On Fire
Weezer – Pork & Beans
Foo Fighters – Let it Die
Eagles of Death Metal – (I Used to Couldn’t Dance) Tight Pants
Ida Maria – Oh My God
The Raconteurs – Salute Your Solution
The Bravery – Believe
Fall Out Boy – Headslide First Into Coopertown On A Bad Bet
Linkin Park – Given Up
Metallica – The Day That Never Comes
AC/DC – Rock N Roll Train
Foo Fighters – Long Road To Ruin
Disturbed – Inside The Fire
Offspring – You’re Gonna Go Far, Kid
Rise Against – The Good Left Undone
The Killers – A Crippling Blow
Ludo – Love Me Dead
Weezer – Troublemaker
Panic at the Disco – Nine In The Afternoon
Nine Inch Nails – Discipline
Fall Out Boy – I Don’t Care
The Killers – Spaceman
Guns N Roses – Chinese Democracy
Dirty Pop
Rihanna – Disturbia
Danity Kane – Damaged
Fergie – Love or Labels
Britney Spears – Womanizer
Robyn – Be Mine
Pussycat Dolls – When I Grow Up
Lady GaGa – Beautiful Dirty Rich
Kevin Rudolf ft. Lil Wayne – Let It Rock
Mariah Carey – Touch My Body
Madonna ft. Justin Timberlake – 4 Minutes
Rihanna – Don’t Stop The Music
Estelle ft. Kanye West – American Boy
Britney Spears – Circus
Robyn – Konichiwa Bitches
Keri Hilson – Energy
Maroon 5 ft. Rihanna – If I Never See Your Face
Madonna – Give It 2 Me
Christina Aguilera – Keeps Gettin’ Better
Lady GaGa – Poker Face
Jonas Brothers – Burnin’ Up
Metro Station – Shake It
Robyn – Handle Me
Mariah Carey – Migrate
Lady GaGa – Just Dance
Katy Perry – Hot N Cold
Rihanna – Vogue (Madonna Cover)
Britney Spears – Break The Ice
You’re Every Woman!
Beyonce – Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)
Katy Perry – I Kissed A Girl
Pink – So What
Leona Lewis – Better In Time
Beyonce – If I Were A Boy
The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name
Rihanna – Take A Bow
The Bangers
T.I. ft. Rihanna – Live Your Life
Kanye West – Love Lockdown
Lil Wayne ft. Kanye West – Lollipop
Missy Elliot – Shake Your Pom Pom
Big Boi ft Mary J. Blige – Somethin’s Gotta Give
Kardinal Offishall ft. Akon – Dangerous
Lupe Fiasco – Superstar
Lil Wayne – A Milli
Chris Brown, Lil Wayne, Lupe Fiasco – Forever
T.I. & Jay-Z ft. Kanye, Lil Wayne – Swagga Like Us
Ludacris ft. Chris Brown and Sean Garrett – What Them Girls Like
M.I.A. – Paper Planes
T.I. – Whatever You Like
Nas – Be a Nigger Too
Wale – The Freestyle (Roc Boys)
Kanye West – Heartless
Lupe Fiasco – The Birds and the Bees
Missy Elliot ft. Jay-Z, Ciara – Ching-A-Ling
Jay-Z – Jockin’ Jay-Z
M.I.A. & Rye Rye – Tic Toc
Lupe Fiasco – Hip Hop Saved My Life
Santogold & Diplo – Icarus
The Game ft. Lil Wayne – My Life
Common ft. Cee-Lo – Make My Day
Lil Wayne ft. Jay-Z, Chris Brown – A Billi
Chromeo ft. AC – Momma’s Boy
Hey Shawty
Ne-Yo – Closer
Casely ft. Flo Rida – Emotional
Ne-Yo – Miss Independent
T-Pain ft. Justin Timberlake – Can’t Believe It (Remix)
Chris Brown – With You
Robin Thicke – Magic
Jordin Sparks & Chris Brown – No Air
Raheem DeVaughn – Woman
Eric Benet – You’re The Only One
Musiq – Teachme
Justin Timberlake & Beyonce – Until The End of Time
Usher, Lil Wayne, Beyonce – Love In This Club, Part II
Robin Thicke – Lost Without U
Sean Kingston – Take You There
Chris Brown – Forever
Do The D.A.N.C.E.
Cut Copy – Hearts On Fire
Hot Chip – Out at the Pictures
Sam Sparro – Black and Gold
MGMT – Electric Feel (Justice Remix)
Justice – Planisphere (Final)
Hercules & Love Affair – Hercules Theme
Santogold – Creator
Cut Copy – Lights & Music
Hot Chip – Ready For The Floor
Cut Copy – Far Away (Hercules & Love Affair Remix)
Robyn – With Every Heartbeat
The Ting Tings – Great DJ
Crystal Castles – Untrust Us
Neon Neon – Trick For Treat
Justice – D.A.N.C.E. Part 2
Hot Chip – Shake A Fist
Santogold – L.E.S Artistes (XXXChange remix)
Hercules & Love Affair – Blind
The Teenagers – Love No
Justice – DVNO (LA Riots Remix)
Late of the Pier – Space and the Woods
Friendly Fires – Paris
Van She – Kelly
Foals – Cassius
Sam Sparro – 21st Century
MGMT -Â Kids (Soulwax Nite Version)
Little Boots – Meddle
Midnight Juggernauts – Into The Galaxy
Pnau – Wild Strawberries
The Presets – This Boy’s In Love
Bloc Party – Signs
Neon Neon – I Lust U
Crystal Castles – Crimewave
Ladytron – Ghosts
Hot Chip – One Pure Thought
Tags: Best of 2008 Lists, Bon Iver, Coldplay, Cut Copy, Diplo, Fleet Foxes, Hercules and Love Affair, Hot Chip, kings of leon, Lil Wayne, Lykke Li, MGMT, Santogold, The Killers, Vampire Weekend
Holy crap. haha, great great list
hahahaha I love you
Is this all the categories or will there be more e.g. Best Remixes…Anyway generally good looking so well done
I like “Little Bit”, but I don’t understand why it is everyone’s favorite Lykke Li song. When I listen to Youth Novels there are so many songs that stand out as better to me. Like “Breaking It Up”, “Dance Dance Dance”, and “I’m Good, I’m Gone”. I’m glad Lykke made your “best of” list though. She’s great.
Fantastic and well thought out, I am sure.
As far as my personal taste, every song of Elbow’s new album would have made the list. Also some Razorlight, Black Keys, Calexico, Grand Archives, and The Walkmen.
YAY!
it’s a fair list..
nicely organized…
I’m happy!
thanks!!!
can’t wait for the worst list…
best thing with lykkie li is until will bleed from kleerup’s album
Do the D.A.N.C.E!!! Great list. If your in Chicago on new years please go to see justice at congress theater. i would if i could but i cant so i wont.
great list!
i cant wait to listen to the songs i dont know because the rest are right on.
i also find it kind of crazy that the first place i heard a lot of these songs is at work (old navy).
props to gapinc for being on top of it, and props to whoever picks their soundtrack (uh.. i want that job!).
also, i really love M.I.A. – 20 dollar, the pixies pseudo-cover.
These lists are so biased…god I hate them. Atleast this was one of the better.
I love the Black kids songs on here. They are an amazing band and great people to meet too. The top 10 is definitely great though.
PSSSSSSSSS: These are my fave songs of the year. I’m still doing Best Remixes, Best Covers, Best Worst Songs, etc etc
Thanks for positive feedback!
You the man nikka.No body does this.The list is Almost as amazing as this year.Is the remix one goin 2 be huge.Memba to include tepr ocelot and diplo.im playin add whoever its goin 2 be good.Cheers cuz.
Pretty concise batch you’ve got here..! I rather like the choices for dance songs, especially. But where in this massive list were the Kills?!
INSANE. INSANE.
lol. Super Wicked list. Very very good picks. HAHA.
Most are of my standards too. I specially love D.A.N.C.E. Haha.
I’ll be waiting for the upcoming posts. HAHA.
The Best of Best Picks. HAHA. Good luck.
I think by making it huge, you even saved the haters going “where the fuck is …”.
Which is quite a good idea.
I don’t think I will be going through it all, but I certainly will be checking out some.
Damn this list is bangin’!!
I love your list, Luis. Great job, man!
don’t you mean
Cut Copy – Lights and Music?
I have to thank you guys. I usually hate year-end lists and was going to skip this one but I found so much cool music that I missed this year. KUTGW!
Love your categories! Great list…
Ah Luis! So many of these are on my list! Haven’t published it yet, but stay tuned (I think 13 of those are in my top 40). I’ll make sure to send you a link!
Ladyhawke. The only person missing. My Delerium is fantabulous.
I approve of this list. Well, most of it. Too much Chris Brown and Mariah Carey for my liking. That and I’m going to pretend you didn’t include fall out boy.
WHERE ARE THE MOTHER EFFIN BLOODY BEETROOTS!!!!!!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
U forgot “Kid Cudi – Day N’ Nite”
greeeat list.
Great list!
nice to see someone with a diverse taste
but, aren’t some songs from 2007? At least “Bleeding Love” and “Apologize” definately state the sound of 2007 for me…
*picky*
the missed some great bands Linkin Park anyone?