Best songs of 2008

1. Beach House- Gila

That slow loungey drumbeat, the whistling organ, the melancholic guitar- it all falls together so effortlessly. And then there's that quietly dominating voice soaring over, repeating the haunting refrain 'Gila'.....dreamy and sublime.

2. Meho Plaza- The Beach

A force of nature. One of those songs up there with The Rat and Wolf like me for pure energy and rush. Jagged, insistent fuzzy guitar lines, muffled and distorted drumbeat, and robotic-like vocals. Sounds like some weird sci-fi punk song from 2150.

3. Deerhunter- VHS Dream

Delicate guitars intertwine like two harps serenading each other, then that chugging drumbeat, and Cox's hushed vocals. Absolutely stunning.

4. No Age- Sleeper Hold

20 seconds in, the song bursts into life, torrents of feedback exploding against splintered drums, and desperate vocals. The sound of youth in under 3 minutes.

5. Santogold- LES Artistes

Hip hop drum beat gives way to a burst of electronic guitar fuzz like TVOTR have pioneered. Like a breath of fresh air.

6. MGMT- Time to pretend

Incredibly joyful, upbeat song. Bouncy synths, fuzzy guitars come together in unison. One of those songs which is immediately brilliant.

7. TVOTR-Halfway Home

The only great song in an otherwise disappointing 3rd album. The drums thump, the guitar fuzz sizzles and Adebimpe's vocals are confident and omniscient....just savour it before song 2 kicks in.

8. Atlas Sound- Recent bedroom

Another superb song from workaholic Brandon Cox. This takes the 90's slacker rock template of Pavement and drenches it in reverb. A modern day lullaby.

9. Helio Sequence- Keep your eyes ahead

Baacked by a catchy discobeat, the Portland duo carve out a shimmering, jangly 4 and a half minutes carried by rich, expressive vocals.

10. Crystal Castles- Crimewave

A late contender to the party. Glitchy, robotic and addictive.

and the rest:

Clinic-Memories
Beach House-DARLING
Magnetic Fields-Too drunk to dream
Deerhunter-Never stops
Foals-Cassius
Fuck Buttons-Sweet love for planet earth
Hercules and love affair-Blind
Jonny Greenwood- Prospectors Arrive
Lykke Li-Dance Dance Dance
M83- Graveyard Girl
MGMT-Electric Feel
No Age-Miner
Port Royal-Bahnhof Zoo
Santogold-Anne
Sigur Ros-Festival
Sun Kil Moon- Tonight in Bilbao
Helio Sequence-Lately
The Walkmen-If only it were true
Deerhunter-Slow Swords
Atlas Sound-Ativin
Foals-Big Big Love
Hercules and love affair-Iris
Meho Plaza-I sold my organs
Black Kids- I'm not gonna teach my boyfriend how to dance with you
Crystal Castles-Untrust us
Fleet Foxes-White Winter Hymnal