Countdown to 2009: Chris' Top 15 Mix for 2008

Every weekday of December (except for December 25, that is), Phillyist will be counting down to 2009 with our highlights from the past year and our predictions for the next. If you have a list you'd like to submit, let us know!

I decided to make a playlist with my top 15 songs of the year, but this is not exactly a countdown. Instead, they're listed below in the order in which you should hear them. Things start off light and vibrant before they dig deep. Regardless, this is easy to listen to. A Nick Hornby Songbook-styled analysis, and fun YouTube links and such to distract yourself with, is below—or click through the jump and listen to the whole playlist!

1. Coldplay – "Life in Technicolor"
   My favorite songs make me feel like my life is in motion, like everything that's happening is how it should be. This song reminds me of high speed transportation blurring by towns and life as I head toward a concrete destination. And really, that's all we want in life, isn't it? The Arcade Fire styled "oh-oh-oh's" weren't necessary, but Coldplay... Coldplay... with the help of Brian Eno, has never been so positively inspiring.
2. The War on Drugs – "Taking the Farm"
   I saw these West Philly guys coming from a mile away—all the way back when the Philly Popped! festival was about Philly bands. (So, that would be a whole two years ago.) If you listen to more than one of their songs, you just wonder what Adam Granduciel is doing thinking of this as a side project to The Capitol Years. Look at "Taking the Farm," as an example. This is like Bob Dylan singing dense poetic nonsense over a rockin' synth concoction of righteousness. The drums are skipping, yet driving, setting the tone for a gigantic drum, bass, tambourine, and howl jam. Gotta love those howl jams.
3. Ryan Adams – "Magick"
   Aw snap, this is dumbest song in D.R. Adams's catalogue outside of any DJ Reggie tracks—the chorus almost sounds like a radio show tagline ("Listen to the Magick, Magick, Magick!"). Also, further away from that sarcasm, this is what happens when David Ryan kicks out the jams. I didn't want to like this song when I heard it. But if you don't believe in this song's sole purpose—raw power—you're not playing it loud enough (see: chorus). Really, the higher the decibel, the better the song sounds. This is completely different from any Adams tune he's ever tried, and I sincerely hope he doesn't try going Rock 'N' Roll again, but for now, this is like "fire pow!"
4. Son of Dave - "Niketown"
   Son of Dave is the modern blues man, or... a modern blues band. Look at him. He's just one man, but also a drum sample machine with foot-stomps and beat-boxing, bassline hummer, harmonica player, lead singer, shaker shaker, and most obviously, a looping master. Nearly everything you hear comes from one or two microphones. Regardless of the process, this is tight hip-hop influenced blues that comes together real fast, and catches you doing whatever the blues makes you do even faster.
5. Dr. Dog – "The Old Days"
   I very rarely go hopping from foot to foot, visibly grooving to the music on my headphones in public, because really, how ridiculous does that look from the outside? (All the reason more I want to watch a silent disco.) But my British Pop Culture class can owe one such performance to the bassline in the second verse. It just feels... ripe for motion. Feel free to make up your own motions for the "down, down, down," "thump, thump, thump," and "chop chop chop," parts of the song. Don't let anyone see you freak out in the middle of the song though. That's not pretty.
6. She & Him – "Sweet Darlin'"
   First, a little criticism. Whatever did Zooey Deschanel and Matt Ward do to warrant a "Best Album of the Year" title from Paste Magazine? Exist? Anyway, I'll get away from how not-special Volume One is, because of a song like "Sweet Darlin'." This actually feels like a song that took time, that didn't come out effortlessly—like it took jammin' to produce those melodic layers and hooks to fill loose nooks. It's no wonder this was their closing number at the Troc. They did, indeed jam their way off stage to it. Zooey, hearing you croon about your sentimental heart is perfectly nice and cute, but when you've got fun songs coming out of the woodwork like these, focus on the positive (especially now that you're engaged to Ben Gibbard)!
7. Calexico – "Victor Jara's Hands"
   I wish I could say Calexico has been doing this for a long time now, but they haven't. They've always had the potential to make great albums, but only manage to produce a few gems each outing, and this album is no different. If you're looking for great singles for a "Best of 2008," mix, though, that's not a problem. This feels like just about everything that's worth liking in Calexico coming together. "Victor Jara's Hands," is one of their best songs and one of the easiest to appreciate. It's still incredibly Calexico, and thus, synonymous with Americana and the Southwest, and if you want, the story of Victor Jara.
8. The Stills – "Dinosaurs"
   Well, I for one didn't see this change in direction. After an impressive debut and a mediocre second record that maybe shouldn't have happened, The Stills have made a jarring return. They were left for dead in my music listening habits, and then they go out and sign to Arts and Crafts (home of Canadian superstar musicians), and put out an album with one potential single after the next. Nothing is that unconventional in "Dinosaurs," aside from a few short-term rhythmic tricks, but this is the sound of a band who have regained their stride and built on it. The best thing they could have done was putting Tim Fletcher back on lead vocals. Everything else seems to have fallen into place, and rather impressively.
9. Frightened Rabbit – "The Modern Leper"
   "The Modern Leper," showcases a tight sound that burns brightly reminiscent of The National and Decemberists. Frightened Rabbit are still their own driving force, with Scott Hutchinson's distinctly Scottish vocals that leave me with no jump off point. I saw them blow away Camera Obscura as an opener in London, and immediately knew they deserve a strong following. These roaring rabbits have been making huge waves in Europe, and just spent some time opening for Death Cab for Cutie. They've gotten big fast and look like the UK's next biggest thing in rock. And honestly, in this song, they sound like it.
10. Cut Copy – "Far Away"
    There are a crap-load of dance-pop artists out there, and truthfully, I don't give them the time of day. But Cut Copy's In Ghost Colors is an exception—this is an irresistibly catchy and fun album. "Far Away," isn't even their most sonically diverse song, but it creeps its way into my head the most often. The popping funky bass lines and a little bit of '90s house make me want to dance like Michael Cera.
11. Santogold – "Shove It" (feat. Spank Rock)
    My semester in London has introduced me to dub music, and if I haven't found enough ways to make Philly look good to Londoners during my semester abroad, Santi White is my connection. Born and raised in Philadelphia, Santogold's diversity in genres is so worth going fanboy over. I swear, every time this song comes on shuffle, I think it's something by Liars (maybe something like this). She's hard to pin down, and that only adds to my respect for her. "Shove It," might fool you into thinking she's that club/R&B thing, but dude, she's just Santogold. Dub bass and horns with attitude on vocals? Yes, please!
12. Hot Chip – "One Pure Thought"
    Hot Chip put out one of the best records of the year in Made in the Dark, and I don't think it's going too far to say they might have sold their souls to the devil to make it. Seriously, where do they go from here? "One Pure Thought," is imaginative dance-pop that simultaneously flows with influence from electronica, trip-hop, and unadventurous rock rhythm. I've seen them tour this album twice over this year, and just want to hop and skip like they do in their music video every time I hear it.
13. Modeselektor – "Let Your Love Grow" (feat. Paul St. Hilaire)
    Wow. Talk about deep. I came across Modeselektor by digging through Radiohead stuff, and saw that Thom Yorke did guest vocals on one of the tracks on Modeselektor's album Happy Birthday!. I can understand his intrigue in the project. In some respects, some of the tunes on Happy Birthday! are more technically challenging than anything Radiohead's done in a while (this song not included). About halfway through this song, you can hear the influence. Keep it straight though, Modeselektor is in their own field when it comes to electronic music. "Let Your Love Grow," is a rather minimal execution and propulsion through trance, dub, electronica, and house; this is an eye opener for someone who doesn't dig too deep into the electronica genre.
14. The Black Angels – "Science Killer"
    Continuing the trend of deep brooding dwellers, you can expect as much from The Black Angels. I had low expectations going into their album, because their debut, Passover is pretty much just one feeling throughout. Who knew that same feeling could have so many different sides? Their second album, Directions to See a Ghost, is more of the same hypnotic rock, wonderfully produced and layered. "Science Killer," is one of the dark snake-charmer kind of songs that defines their sound.
15. Kathleen Edwards – "Goodnight, California"
    When I first heard this song, I thought Kathleen Edwards was destined to be Canada's next great singer songwriter. She has great songs, is an absorbing performer, and Asking For Flowers is my favorite of her albums yet, but something hasn't quite picked up yet. One listen to "Goodnight, California," will have you wondering why, because this song feels like you've been there. It toes the line of having too many bits and pieces and trying too hard, but isn't the case at all. Everything works purposefully, and really, what a gorgeous song. The string arrangement and pedal steel work create atmosphere perfectly, Colin Cripps' guitar is understated mastery, and the echo effect on Edwards' vocals is absolutely cathartic. The most beautiful song of the year.