Here's a few I can't stop listening to from 2008, in no particular order except the first one which is definitely the best:

Animal Collective - Water Curses
The Breeders - Regalame Esta Noche
Laura Marling - Night Terror
Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks - Gardenia
Mountain Goats - Sax Rohmer #1
Long Blondes - The Couples

Celebrate the Body Electric By Ponytail is probably the best song I've heard all year. Really excited for their new album.

I can't stop singing "Top Drawer" by Man Man.

"You need a haircut!"

I'm not sure about release dates and all that, but if it counts, Bon Iver's "Skinny Love" is far and away the best track I have heard this year. Other tracks that have stood out so far:

Seabear - I Sing I Swim
Liam Finn - Second Chance
Black Mountain - Tyrants
Cassettes Won't Listen - Paper Float
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk (I know it is an MTV staple, but I still love it)

quote:

Originally posted by Platypus Quest:
I can't stop singing "Top Drawer" by Man Man.

"You need a haircut!"

Awesome. That song is so cool. I can't wait for the new album.

Man Man makes me feel like such a ... Man.

quote:

Originally posted by Built to Sleep:
Cassettes Won't Listen - Paper Float

I remember Popmatters raving over this album. What can you tell me about them?

quote:

Originally posted by RavingLunatic:

quote:

Originally posted by Built to Sleep:
Cassettes Won't Listen - Paper Float

I remember Popmatters raving over this album. What can you tell me about them?

I think it's just one guy. He mixes guitars, piano, and synths to create what I guess I would classify as electronic pop. Paper Float is insanely catchy with the above elements plus slightly distorted vocals.

quote:

Originally posted by Shadrach:
There is a new Grizzly Bear song out there that was recorded live on KCRW. It's called "While You Wait For The Others", and it's absolutely incredible. If they make an albums worth of this sound they could destroy the world.

yes yes yes! thanks for this post, the song is mind-blowingly good. Do you know if they are planning to release the new album this year? I sense a masterpiece coming.

More or less......

1. "White Winter Hymnal" - Fleet Foxes
2. "Two Steps, Twice" - Foals
3. "Water Curses" - Animal Collective
4. "Far Away" - Cut Copy
5. "Three-Way" - Magnetic Fields
6. "Problems" - Mahjongg
7. "Top Drawer" - Man Man
8. "The Rip" - Portishead
9. "Skin of the Night" - M83
10."Good Lies" - The Notwist

Tonight in Bilbao by Sun Kil Moon is an early canditate for song of the year for me. In fact, so is Heron Blue. And Lost Verses...

"The King is Dead" - The Herd

Chorus of the year...

In general, more discernable crossover singles so far this year. I'll say that.

Those Dancing Days – “Hitten”
Animal Collective – Water Curses EP
The Mountain Goats – “San Bernardino”
Cornelius – “Gum” (& Prefuse 73 Flavor Rock Gum Remix)
Dodos – “Jodi”
M83 –“Coleurs” (Jori Hulkkonnen remix)
MGMT – “Time to Pretend”
Times New Viking – “Faces on Fire”
Why? – “Song of the Sad Assassin”
Deadly Avenger – “Gekko”
Vampire Weekend – “Walcott”
Ocrilim – “Part 4”
Tropes – “Ember”
Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly. – “Waiting for the Monster to Drown”
Clear Tiger – “Vacation”
Los Campesinos! – “…And We Exhale and Roll Our Eyes in Unison”
Dodos – “Fools”
The Helio Sequence – “The Captive Mind”

In no particular order:

M83 - Couleurs
Cut Copy - Lights & Music
Hot Chip - Ready For The Floor
The Kills - Tape Song
Hercules & Love Affair - Blind
Late of the Pier - The Bears Are Coming
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Mystery Jets - Flakes
Animal Collective - Water Curses
Evangelicals - Skeleton Man
The Mountain Goats - Sax Rohmer #1
Foals - Cassius
Why? - The Vowels Pt. 2
Fuck Buttons - Sweet Love For Planet Earth
Clark - Volcan Veins
Atlas Sound - Recent Bedroom
Samamidon - Sugar Baby
Fleet Foxes - White Winter Hymnal
Crystal Castles - Courtship Dating
Neon Neon - Raquel
Drive-By Truckers - Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife
Bon Iver - Skinny Love
Man Man - Hurly / Burly
The Helio Sequence - Can't Say No

Not a particuarly original List, but I think it represents what I've enjoyed listening to most so far this year.

Water Curses is totally amazing, by the way. Everyone agrees? Good.

quote:

Originally posted by nathanielkt:
Water Curses is totally amazing, by the way. Everyone agrees? Good.

Yes. DEFINITELY yes.

quote:

Originally posted by nathanielkt:
The Mountain Goats – “San Bernardino”

This is my favorite song from that album as well.

my favorite song of the year would probably be Victor Démé's "Djôn'maya"

"SEE YOU AGAIN" ~~ MILEY CYRUS

quote:

Originally posted by theelfpat:
"SEE YOU AGAIN" ~~ MILEY CYRUS

For some reason, I find this comment even more hilarious knowing that you were listening to The National while posting it.