Isle of Everything Presents

I feel ill-equipped to create a "best of '08" music post. And not just because it's already 2009.

I tend to latch onto much of the good stuff woefully late, for one thing. I don't have much of a concept of what was released in 2008 (versus 2006 or '07 or even yet to be officially released). My iTunes library is superficially very well-organized, but when you get down to the behind-the-scenes info, like release dates, it's a mess. I've acquired bunches of '08 albums that I haven't even gotten around to listening to. Things might not even be on my radar yet that will be favorites quite soon. Also, and perhaps most importantly, I haven't listened to every album released in 2008. So, with that in mind, here's a "best of IoE's iTunes right now" list. Here's what I've been digging the most this year, regardless of release date, in the order that I wrote it down:


Little Joy, "Little Joy" (2008)
-I discovered this last week (so, technically, in 2009). Instant love. Little Joy consists of the drummer from the Strokes and a girl and a guy I've never heard of. The guy (and perhaps the girl as well?) is Brazilian, lending the album a fantastically beachy Brazilian feel. The last song is even entirely in Portuguese! Love it.


Fleet Foxes, "Fleet Foxes" (2008)
-Lauren says this album feels like walking through a forest. I kind of agree. Also, it's been popping up on everybody's end-of-the-year lists, so check it out if you want to hang onto your indie cred. But even if you don't care about indie cred (whatever, don't lie to me), you'll like this even more the more you listen to it.


Butch Walker, "Sycamore Meadows" (2008)
-By far not my favorite BW effort, but I'll recommend it out of sheer brand loyalty. I've been a Butch Walker fan for so long, even the stuff I don't really like, I like. Besides, it mentions places like Ponce De Leon and Decatur, making me grin and turn to whoever I'm with to say “Hey, I live there!” only to realize, hey, they live there, too.


Bon Iver, "For Emma, Forever Ago" (2008)
-Everybody knows this by now I think. So good. Also, inspired Jody Rosen over at Slate to coin the term "beardy-indie folk," which I then adopted for use whenever new friends ask what kind of music I listen to.


M. Ward, "Post-War" (2006)
-I first found M. Ward this year. When I did, there was maybe a two week period where all I listened to was "Poison Cup," the first track off this album, over and over and over. I still really really love it.


She & Him, "Volume 1" (2008)
-M. Ward and Zooey Deschanel (who just got engaged to Ben Gibbard-- indie rock love!). I loved her voice when she sang with Will Ferrel in “Elf,” so I figured I'd love it here, too. I was right.


Iron & Wine, "Our Endless Numbered Days" (2004)
-Iron & Wine albums all run together in my mind, which is why there are two on this list. I wanted to cover my bases, because my two favorite Iron & Wine tracks are on these albums. "Passing Afternoon" closes out this one...


Iron & Wine, "The Shepherd's Dog" (2007)
-...and "Flightless Bird, American Mouth" finishes this one.


Vampire Weekend, "Vampire Weekend" (2008)
-Much like Bon Iver, everybody knows how awesome this is by now. In fact, some are so aware of how awesome Vampire Weekend is, they're sick of them. Not me. The album is still awesome and makes me want to dance around.


Slow Runner, "Mermaids" (2008)
-I found Slow Runner a few years ago when they were just called Michael Flynn and they opened up for Jump, Little Children in Athens. They still sound good.


Girl Talk, "Feed The Animals" (2008)
-I can't believe I resisted Girl Talk for so long. And by resisted, I mean made a grouchy face every time "Night Ripper" was played around me. I've grown as a person. This album is the most fun album of the year, hands down. Bazooka Luca is welcome to think it's overrated, but I dare you to put it on and not dance around your hardwood floors in stocking feet.


Coconut Records, "Nighttiming" (2007)
-Jason Schwartzman! This is fun and light and has a good beat. What more can you ask for?

Of course, not every single track on a given album grabs my attention. It was a good year on my iPod for certain individual songs as well. "The Crane Wife 1&2" off The Decemberists' 2006 album, "The Crane Wife," caught my interest. The dreamy Robert Pattinson's two bluesy guitar tracks off the "Twilight" soundtrack did as well. "Human," by The Killers, got stuck on repeat. A selection of old Old 97's songs (for example, "Barrier Reef," "Wish The Worst," "Four Leaf Clover") were put in rotation, particularly after I saw them play at Variety Playhouse in July. The Avett Brothers have a few songs in permanent rotation. Rilo Kiley's "Portions For Foxes" had a resurgence in popularity within my iTunes library, as did Andrew Bird's "Fake Palindromes."

All in all, a good year for music, whether it was made this year or not. And once I plow through all the 2008 releases that I've gotten my hands on, this list will probably look different. But right now, eight days into the new year, this is what was pleasing to my ear, circa 2008 A.D.