My best choices of
pop, rock and folkish songs from the past year, which was not
as strong as 2007 but certainly had its highlights. The
emphasis here is on melody, stirring harmonies and driving
percussion – just what you need to brighten your day. The
order of each listing is performer, tune and CD/EP (where
available).
Beast – Finger Prints (Beast) My revelation of
the year. This Montreal trip-hop duo features the stirring
vocals of Betty Bonifassi and the pounding percussion of
Jean-Phi Goncalves. Nearly all the songs on this release are
topnotch.
http://www.myspace.com/beastsound
Juana Molina – Un Dia (Un Dia): The most
sonically interesting CD of the year. It was a tossup between
this song and the equally arresting Dar (Que Dificil).
Portishead – Threads (Third) – The haunting
vocals of Beth Gibbons send chills up the spine in one of the
strongest recordings of the year.
TV on the Radio – Halfway Home (Dear Science) –
Probably the most consistently good CD of the year.
KaiserCartel – Oh No (March Forth) – The most
gorgeous vocal harmonies of 2008.
The Accidental – Knock Knock (There Were Wolves)
– More sublime harmonies.
Daisy Chapman – Our Mutual Friend (And There
Shall Be None) – Gorgeous heartbreak. Chapman’s getting more
notice for yet another remake of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah,
but this is better.
Hayes Carll – She Left Me For Jesus (Trouble in
Mind) – The best sacrilegious humour of the year and my only
country pick. I slightly prefer a live recording from Stubb’s
BBQ to the recorded version.
Joe Rodger and the Velcro Quartet – Monsters are
Coming to Get Me – Another contender for best humour of
the year.
Happy Hollows – Monster Room – Speaking of
catchy monsters.
Modernaire – Bloodshed in the Woodshed (Velvet
Never Dries)
Florence & the Machine – Kiss With a Fist (Kiss
With a Fist) – Family therapy. Tied for best pure pop song of
the year with…
The Ting Tings – That’s Not My Name (Great D.J)
Antony & the Johnsons – Shake That Devil
(Another World) – On a list top-heavy with female vocalists,
why not a jazzy piece featuring a fine male falsetto?
The Ghost Bees – Vampires of the West Coast (Tasseomancy)
– Quirky, ghoulish sisters from Canada’s east coast.
Great Outdoors – Summer in the City (Summer EP)
– A nice, easy rock song from Canada’s west coast.
Born Ruffians – Badonkadonkey (Red, Yellow &
Blue) – More Canadian content in this infectious pop CD.
Jolie Holland – Palmyra (The Living & the Dead)
– An American, but a former member of the Canadian group The
Be Good Tanyas.
