2008 Playlist

As December has just begun, I feel it fitting to make for all whom it may concern a playlist to commemorate and reminisce this topsy-turvy year, with songs of old as well as songs of late. I was expecting to put together a collection of mood music for the wintry season. However, 2008 wouldn't allow me to make it anything but celebratory. Therefore, huzzah! Here it is!

Lovers in Japan-Reign of Love – Coldplay

One of my favorites off Coldplay IV, with several contenders hot on its tail, we can pop open a bottle of bubbly and christen 2009 with a spirited gaze toward the horizon.

Or call it meandering filler. That's what I would call it. But I also hate Christmas.

Neon Tiger – The Killers

The way this song makes you feel captures the essence of the post-election fervor that still hasn’t really gone away. I’m proud to be able to name the Killers as the musical representatives of our Day & Age. “I don’t wanna go back, I want the new day and age. Come on girls and boys, everyone make some noise!”

Wah Wah - George Harrison

This song is the third track of Harrison's first solo album following the Beatles' break-up, aptly named - for him and for this playlist, All Things Must Pass. Harrison reportedly penned the ditty after an argument with Paul, saying he was irritated with the "wah wah" (headache) Paul had given him. This one's for you, Mr. Bush. May we never get any wah-wahs from your administration again.

My Mistakes Were Made For You – Last Shadow Puppets

Getting the politics out of the way, though this was overwhelmingly a year of political overwhelming-ness, this one goes out to President-Elect Barack Obama. I don’t know if my mistakes were made for you or if “his mistakes” is more accurate, but let’s hope he can bring a tiny bitty bit of lasting contentedness to the slightly troubled Age of the Understatement.

Half the Truth – Kaiser Chiefs

The writer’s strike took long enough to end, but meanwhile the best sports were without a doubt, Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Conan O’Brien. Without their improvised antics, there would have been an entertainment deficit that could have threatened our entire universe! God bless the truthiness.

Golden Age – TV on the Radio

Wall Street woes can – albeit ironically – pretty much be summed up by TV on the Radio’s third effort. “Give it up ‘stead of grabbin’ for decay. What we viewed as gold I believe pollutes this space”

Amazing – Kanye West

Is it just me, or does it sound like Chris Martin secretly wrote two of the best albums of 2008 and passed one off as pop-rap? Kanye seems to be digging deep into music, even if it means sacrificing lyrical prowess somewhat. When you listen to it, think of Michael Phelps strutting down a back alley with 8 gold medals hanging around his neck.

I love it when Kanye forgets that he's supposed to be a rapper, because then he gets all smart and witty and fantastic, rather than acting like, uh, a rapper.

Out From Under – Britney Spears

I dedicate this brand new track to the pop princess herself. We waited for the Circus to quell and for the girl we – at least vaguely – loved to take a deep breath and return to earth, and just when the Grammys seemed to tell us that hope was futile, Britney came back, bitch. Finally, after years of circus obsession, mainstream society has realized what we subculturists knew from the beginning: tabloids are dumb.

Tabloids are dumb, but Brittney is still nuts. I stand by that opinion.

The Love I’m Searching For – The Rentals

40 years after the most haphazardly mind-blowing year of the twentieth century, a song that starts with “the sixties failed” seems okay, because we’ve finally experienced a year that can stand up to the haphaz-ocity of 1968’s mind-explosion. Think of the Empire State Building being lit up with Mariah Carey’s motif colors (lavender, pink, and white) in April as you contemplate the opening words….

Buddy Holly – Rivers Cuomo

After years of home recording, Weezer’s front man released Alone: The Home Recordings of Rivers Cuomo. Specifically, I include this to memorialize Blink 182 drummer Travis Barker’s survival of a plane crash this year that killed four others. Don McLean’s “The Day the Music Died” gave an official title to the fateful rock n roll milestone of the plane crash that claimed the lives of Chuck Berry, the Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly. Instead of throwing in McLean’s 8 minute classic to show my secret appreciation for Travis Barker’s existence, Cuomo’s original version of his hit single seems more relevant. And makes room for more music.

Everybody Get Dangerous – Weezer

If anything has somehow captured the zeitgeist optimistically, it would be the music video for Pork and Beans, one of several Red Album tracks worthy of a year of comebacks and new directions, yet retaining Weezer’s addictive offbeat in full moustachio-ed gear. Other notables: “Troublemaker” & “Miss Sweeney”.

The Shock of the Lightning – Oasis

This is here for four reasons: because I wanted to venerate Zeppelin’s reunion with something other than a Led Zep song; because any reflection on 2008 is incomplete without Oasis’ best single in over ten years; because I’m so glad Noel’s okay after being tackled near to death in Toronto; and, because I’d kill to hear Zeppie cover it. “I feel cold but I’m back in the fire.” PS, it’s optional, but Liam’s sentimental (yes it’s possible) “I’m Outta Time” should very well follow this track.

It's impossible not to give credit where credit is due. So, let me put it this way - Oasis, epic single, shitty album. Shitty like poop.

Ten Years Gone – Led Zeppelin

Ten years ago, Heath Ledger moved to the States to pursue a film career, and we can thank our lucky stars he did. Dim down the lights, close your eyes, and imagine lying on a bed on the fourth-floor of a SoHo apartment building unknowingly hanging on to life by a twirling thread.

You Never Give Me Your Money - The Beatles

I think every time I went home to my family Abbey Road rang in my head the entire time, telling tales of personal discovery and lifting my chin up to the sunshine. So, this one's on a personal note. "But, oh, that magic feeling: nowhere to go."

Metanoia – MGMT

This is the [Hidden Track] of this set. Possibly 2008’s most promising musical duo, MGMT had the nerve in its breakthrough year to push their hipster image to the limit and release this psychedelic 14 minute single following their run-away LP success Oracular Spectacular. Hoodlums! Well, they also managed to capture 2008’s quirkiness, as well as the commercially revolutionary spirit of their sixties roots.

A band defined by the fact that they could be interesting, earnest, AND catchy as all get out? That's so cool.

Happy 2008, everybody.

I'm sure I'll edit this before the year is up.