Day One – Scotter
Day Two – E. Kula
Day Three – Amy
Day Four – Dan
Day Five – Todd

KIM’S 10 FAVORITES OF 2008

10. Mirah –The Old Days Feeling

“Dreamboat” (buy)
Download audio file (Mirah-Dreamboat.mp3)

This is a very short album with each song lasting less than 3 minutes. This is just the way I like my music — in tiny, bite-sized morsels. I enjoy the variety of instruments and styles used by Mirah. The front half of the album is much better than the back half, but it’s all fun to listen to.

9. Pas/Cal –I was Raised On Matthew, Mark, Luke, & Laura

Okay, I admit it, this was a latecomer to my list. I didn’t even know that they had a new album until Scotter posted them in his list. So I checked my computer and lo and behold the album was already there but SOMBODY (ahem, ahem) didn’t tell me that he had it and/or that I should listen to it. [Note from the editor: The scoundrel!] Anyway, I haven’t had much time to digest the album, but I really do dig it and the poppy beats and catchy melodies. Also, bonus points for being from Detroit.

“Summer Is Almost Here”

8. Vampire Weekend –Vampire Weekend

“Oxford Comma” (buy)
Download audio file (VW-OxfordComma.mp3)

If you haven’t heard of Vampire Weekend you are living under a rock. I wasn’t really sure if I liked it when I heard it first. I think my mindset went something like this: “What is this, some reggae-ska hybrid?” But, after a listen or two it was hard to stop humming along and tapping my toes. That equals a winner in my book.

7. Beck –Modern Guilt

Classic Beck, I’m sure you’ve heard of him. He’s dreamy and makes good music. It’s nothing groundbreaking but it’s a fun album to listen to. I guess I am getting old, too, Scotter.

“Youthless”

6. Au Revoir Simone –Reverse Migration

“Sad Song” (Pacific! Remix) (buy)
Download audio file (Simone-Sad.mp3)

This is an album of remixes from the 2007 release The Bird of Music (my 6th favorite album last year, oddly enough). I’m not normally a fan of remixes, especially the ones that are like 7 minutes long and just drag on forever, but this album is not like that. The music is varied and sounds much different than the original album while still retaining the group’s beautiful vocals. The music is much richer and fuller in some places, and even more acoustic in others. Dare I say, it is better than the original.

5. Adele –19

“Best for Last” (buy)
Download audio file (Adele-Best.mp3)

What a powerful singer! If her album hadn’t been named “19″ I never would have guessed that was her age. Channeling the spirit of singers past like a young Brenda Lee with a hint of Kate Nash’s attitude. It’s hard to not enjoy Adele’s voice and her lyrics are quite smart.

4. Hello Saferide –More Modern Short Stories From Hello Saferide

I believe that Annika Norlin got it right with the title of the album. She doesn’t sing songs, she tells stories. Her music is so autobiographical that I feel like I know her. This is much more tranquil than her previous album, Introducing Hello Saferide. My Biggest regret of 2008 was missing seeing a concert of hers in Oslo by one day on our November trip to Scandinavia. Now if only I could learn to speak Swedish so I could enjoy her Swedish language side project –Säkert!

“Anna”

3. Billie the Vision and the Dancers –I Used to Wonder These Streets

“Stuttering Duckling”
Download audio file (Billie-Duckling.mp3)

I adore this band. I dare you to listen to the album and not tap your toes. Much like Billie the Vision’s 2007 album, the songs from I Used to Wander These Streets are humorous and catchy. This is an awesome pop album from my favorite Swedish pop band. This album contains songs about homesickness as a child moving to a new country, struggling with a transgender identity, and is much more personal album than the three previously released by the band. Best of all, you can still download the album for free.

2. Thao –We Brave Bee Stings All

“Big Kid Table” (buy)
Download audio file (Thao-BigKidTable.mp3)

I’m not really sure how to credit this artist. She has listings as Thao, Thao Nguyen, Thao Nguyen with the Get Down Stay Down, or sometimes just Thao with the Get Down Stay Down. In any case, she and her Get Down Stay Down kids have been making some kick ass music this year. Unusual vocals and catchy beats make this album one of the best of the year.

1. She & Him –Volume 1

“I Was Made For You” (buy)
Download audio file (SheHim-MadeForYou.mp3)

A little bit of country, a little bit of ’60s girl band. The charm of Zooey Deschanel meets M. Ward’s musical stylings in the best album of the year. I certainly hope that this is volume 1 of many.

Honorable Mention

The Sound of Arrows –Danger! EP
Lykki Li –Youth Novels
Cryptacize –Dig that Treasure