Top Fifty Songs of 2008

TOP FIFTY SONGS OF 2008

50) Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "Hopscotch Willie"

"Hopscotch Willie" could've passed for a Terror Twilight Pavement song with its dark overtones and varied instrumentation. What sets it apart is when it breaks down to just a chaotic piano and Malkmus' labored vocals. And slowly but surely, he builds it back up until he launches into the final guitar solo.

49) Conor Oberst - "Souled Out!!!"

"Souled Out!!!" is the perfect commercial for Oberst in 2008: accessible, smart, and with just enough twang to be considered "alt-country." More interestingly, it sounds like Oberst is really having fun playing it, making up the structure on the spot and finally joining in with his bandmates for the shout-along chorus of "You know by now!"

48) Cat Power - "Metal Heart"

"Metal Heart", first recorded for Cat Power's 1998 album Moon Pix, gets a remake here as one of two original songs on her second cover album, Jukebox. What was once a cold song, matching its name, springs to life with the help of her Dirty Delta Blues Band. It's not necessarily better than the original, but it is an interesting new take and remains essential for that reason.

47) Erykah Badu - "The Healer"

"The Healer" has a slow-burning groove accented by a simple xylophone line. Badu claims that hip-hop is bigger than both religion and the government, and delivers it with such conviction that you almost believe her.

46) Girl Talk - "Set It Off"

Every track on Girl Talk's Feed the Animals mixes samples from all kinds of intriguing sources, but "Set It Off" fares the most successfully mainly for one reason: the brash, stirring mashup of Radiohead's "Paranoid Android" and Jay-Z's "Roc Boys (And the Winner Is...)". Turns out mixing the best of both worlds works pretty well.

45) Rihanna - "Disturbia"

"Disturbia" is yet another great pop song from Rihanna. Included on this year's reissue of Good Girl Gone Bad, its driving beat and robotic vocals lend credibility to its name while still remaining instantly accessible. And, of course, it shot straight to number one.

44) Jay-Z featuring Santogold - "Brooklyn (Go Hard)"

This Kanye West-produced third single from both The Blueprint 3 and the Notorious B.I.G. film Notorious employs a sample from Santogold's "Shove It" much in the same way that "Swagga Like Us" uses M.I.A.'s "Paper Planes". But this song also features Jay-Z rapping in his upper registers, faking a Jamaican accent, and Santogold stopping in to record a new verse to go along with her already established sample.

43) T.I. - "No Matter What"

T.I. leads this lush song about never giving up with a simple chorus naming everything he's not, and, by extension, everything he is. Surprisingly inspiring while remaining instantly catchy.

42) T.I. - "Whatever You Like"

T.I. is smart when it comes to his singles: they're instantly hummable and contain multiple memorable hooks. "Whatever You Like" is the epitome of this: catchy melody, easy-to-digest message, and the unforgettable "You can have whatever you like" repeated over and over. But this doesn't mean it's dumbed down; as far as simple catchy singles go, "Whatever You Like" is a sweet song anyone can enjoy.

41) Death Cab for Cutie - "Cath..."

Death Cab reclaim some of the footing they lost with 2005's sub par Plans with this unassumingly sad tune. Starting with a guitar line that could almost be mistaken for southern rock before Gibbard breaks it up with his unmistakable voice, "Cath..." delivers in ways not seen from him since The Photo Album.

40) Weezer - "Pork and Beans"

Weezer finally start being clever instead of just gimmicky (for this one song, anyway) and then launch into the chorus with huge, "Blue Album" guitars. Sure, it's not quite old Weezer, but I'll take it as a 2008 substitute.

39) Nas - "Breathe"

"In America you'll never be free/Middle fingers up, fuck the police/Damn, can a nigga just breathe?" So begins "Breathe", a standout out Nas' untitled album. And it sets a sort of mantra for the album in general: political, racial, and controversial.

38) Lil Wayne - "3 Peat"

The opening track to Lil Wayne's excellent Tha Carter III almost plays out as a mission statement: he begins by saying "I'm on it," threatens to "get your baby kidnapped and your baby mother fucked," claims that in order to get on his level, you'll need "a space shuttle or a ladder that's forever," and ends by shouting "C3!" As an introduction, it works like a charm; as a proper song, it still works like a charm.

37) Weezer - "Thought I Knew"

"Thought I Knew" is the first glimpse we have of a Weezer song entirely written and sung by someone other than Rivers. Guitarist Brian Bell takes the mic on this bitter indie-pop song, and through the sarcastic major-key verses and in-your-face minor-key choruses actually bests Weezer's principle songwriter. I, for one, can't wait for the debut from his side project, the Relationship.

36) Lil Wayne - "Dr. Carter"

"Dr. Carter" pretty much sums up everything that's great about Tha Carter III. Lil Wayne decides to pretend to be... umm, a doctor, and through clever boasts and smart wordplay, eventually "saves hip-hop's life." Swizz Beatz's loose production complements Lil Wayne's fluid flow, and Wayne once again comes out on top.

35) Weezer - "Automatic"

Pat Wilson sings and plays lead guitar on this "Red Album" cut, and it rocks harder than anything Cuomo could've come up with. It's a simple two-chord romp, but the repeated riff and spacey effects lead this song into new compositional territory for the band.

34) Rivers Cuomo - "I Don't Want to Let You Go"

"I Don't Want to Let You Go" is somewhere between 50s pop and the Shins' Oh, Inverted World. The bouncy tempo is balanced out by the acoustic instrumentation, and what we're left with is a sweet, simple, and ultimately affecting ballad.

33) Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "Real Emotional Trash"

The title track from Malkmus' latest starts off as a "Fillmore Jive"-esque ballad, complete with an extended guitar solo. But somewhere in that solo, the song takes a turn into darker territory a la "The Hexx", and eventually a dirty keyboard creeps in and it morphs again into a fast-paced rocker, before finally ending at 10:09 with more quiet guitar heroism from Malkmus. He always showed hints of his guitar skills, but he's never quite cut loose like this before.

32) Ludacris featuring Lil Wayne - "Last of a Dying Breed"

Opening with a horror-show instrumental and then lurching into a typical confident Ludacris verse, this song really shines when Lil Wayne takes the mic. Showing surprisingly strong standing when his guest appearances seem to turn more and more lackluster, Weezy advances Luda's original idea to the point where it actually does seem like he's the last of a dying breed.

31) T.I. & Jay-Z featuring Kanye West & Lil Wayne - "Swagga Like Us"

Yes, this was also on my "most disappointing of 2008" list. But just because it's disappointing doesn't mean it can't be great. T.I.'s final verse alone is enough to completely blow minds, and Jay-Z gets in a few nice lines despite himself (the best being: "But I can't teach you my swag/You can pay for school but you can't buy class"). Not quite the posse cut to end all posse cuts, but a must-hear 2008 single nonetheless.

30) Rivers Cuomo - "Walt Disney"

"Walt Disney", recorded in 1995, is a rolling, subtle ballad about the hardships of fame. Thankfully, Cuomo masks that by never mentioning "the road" or "critics" once, instead telling of his isolation through metaphors of freezing and an allusion to a popular urban legend about Mr. Disney himself.

29) Kanye West - "Love Lockdown"

"Love Lockdown", the first single from West's 808s & Heartbreak, combines a range of influences to make a song unlike anything else out there. There's early taiko Japanese drums, 80s 808 drum machine beats, and modern autotune-aided crooning. Heartbreak hasn't sounded this good in a long time. 

28) Jay-Z - "Jockin' Jay-Z (Dope Boy Fresh)"

Playing like "Blue Magic" in hyperdrive, this second single from The Blueprint 3 shows Jay in top form, taking on Oasis' Noel Gallagher and anyone else who doubts him. If this, along with the two other singles released so far, are a measure for what's to come, there is certainly something to be excited about come February.

27) Lil Wayne - "Let the Beat Build"

Kanye West's circular sample in "Let the Beat Build" never actually technically builds, but it doesn't really matter. It holds the background ably enough for Wayne to spit hot verse after hot verse, and when it finally drops out and Wayne really lets loose, it's a rapid-fire highlight of the album and music in 2008 in general.

26) T.I. featuring Justin Timberlake - "Dead and Gone"

The closing track (and seventh single) on T.I.'s Paper Trail is as hard-hitting and dramatic as any. Teaming up for the first time since Timberlake's "My Love", the pair play off each other and ultimately wrap up the album on an impossibly high note. Where has Justin been the past few years?

25) Kanye West - "Coldest Winter"

808s & Heartbreak was heavily influenced by two major changes in Mr. West's life - the end of his engagement and the death of his mother. "Coldest Winter" is about the latter. Its descending keyboard line, echoed vocals, and interpolation of Tears for Fears' "Memories Fade" complement West's lonely production to make for an aptly longing album closer.

24) of Montreal - "Nonpareil of Favor"

"Nonpareil of Favor" is the only time that Skeletal Lamping's shape-shifting demeanor comes off as naturally curious rather than forced. The song starts off with a music box-like acoustic guitar, then the pounding drums and Kevin Barnes' distinctive singsong voice take center stage. After an energetic bassline, it turns into a stuttering electronic pop song, then again into indie psychedelia. But every transition is smooth and controlled; it's too early for the put-on weirdness that follows.

23) Beck - "Orphans"

Modern Guilt is introduced by a pounding bassline, stuttering drums, spacey sounds, a backwards guitar, and finally Beck's trademark voice, accented with handclaps. Beck later ruminates about death in falsetto, but when he does, it's impossible to sing smiling along with him, welcoming it with open arms.

22) Wilco - "Wilco the Song"

Premiered on The Colbert Report, "Wilco the Song" is partly a return to the synth-heavy pop displayed on songs like Summerteeth's "I'm Always in Love". Featuring references both to Colbert and to... themselves, the departure from the dad-rock of Sky Blue Sky is unexpected and welcome.

21) Coldplay - "Lost!"

"Lost!" is truly an anomaly in Coldplay's discography, and, as a result, is the most interesting thing they've ever done. The lyrics are typical "everything will be alright" Coldplay fare, but the words seem a lot less empty when coupled with the roomy synths and rhythmic handclaps. "Big fish in a little pond" notwithstanding, Coldplay have produced a very interesting pop song.

20) Beck - "Gamma Ray"

"Gamma Ray" is everything a Modern Guilt single should be - bouncy, stuttering, and full of apocalyptic imagery. "Ice caps melting down" never sounded so appealing.

19) M.I.A. featuring Jay-Z - "Boyz (Remix)"

Jay-Z takes on this single from Kala's lackluster first half and turns it into a brand new monster. The song is given a new life by turning it from what it was before into a song about, of all things, politics. And surprisingly, Jay has the taste to simply compliment Maya's original rather than turn the spotlight completely on himself.

18) Estelle featuring Kanye West - "American Boy"

What better way to create a stir with your first international single than to utilize one of America's most famous talents, Kanye West? That's just what Estelle did for this breezy hit, and Kanye surprisingly brings his best. Not to steal any credit from Estelle herself, whose playful vocal performance carries the song out to its perfect pop conclusion.

17) Rivers Cuomo - "Can't Stop Partying"

Using rap slang is a common finding in jokey modern rock bands these days, but luckily, Cuomo sidesteps that cliche (this time) by being absolutely sincere. Jermaine Dupri may have meant something different when he sent this song to Rivers, but in his hands, the lyrics about Patron and E become a lament of a lifestyle impossible to escape rather than a celebration.

16) Rivers Cuomo - "My Brain Is Working Overtime"

The live 2000 version of "My Brain" was an in-your-face, no bullshit rocker, but this version sounds like it could almost be a hit. No one's ever sounded this happy about going crazy, and the plethora of background harmonies sound like the voices in Cuomo's head longing to be heard.

15) T.I. featuring Rihanna - "Live Your Life"

There's a reason "Live Your Life" was one of the biggest hits of the year. There's the obvious fact that everything Rihanna touches turns to gold, but to simply chalk it up to that would be to miss the clever sample usage, uplifting-without-being-preachy lyrics, and the 3 or 4 sections that are catchy enough to be choruses.

14) Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "Dragonfly Pie"

"Dragonfly Pie" opens with sludgy guitars and Malkmus' off-kilter slightly out-of-tune guitars. But surely enough, a classic Malkmus chorus turns this 11/8 rocker into a Pavement-esque pop song, complete with seemingly nonsensical lyrical phrases such as "Taken with pride like a dragonfly/Dragonfly wants a piece of pie." Then the two solos swoop in and reclaim the song for the guitar.

13) Conor Oberst - "Cape Canaveral"

"Cape Canaveral", the finger-picked highlight from Conor Oberst's self-titled solo album, sets the stage for his rootsy group of tunes. And singing to a totem pole, Socrates, the interstate, and outer space as if they're family, Oberst never lets up on the vivid imagery.

12) Rivers Cuomo - "I'll Think About You"

In 1997, Rivers started an alt-country side project named Homie. The only song they ever released was "American Girls". Until now. Alone II brings us "I'll Think About You", a bouncy staccato number with a main riff that recalls "Keep Fishin'" and lyrics that dole out equal bits of admiration and regret. Like so many of Cuomo's best tunes, "I'll Think About You" manages to be fun and sad at the same time.

11) Kanye West - "Heartless"

West's second 808s & Heartbreak single gives his autotune croon to quite an intriguing chorus melody, and then for the verses lets him get as close to rapping as he does on the entire album. Finally, in the bridge, he comes to his conclusion: "I'm gon' take off tonight, into the night." The coldest story ever told, indeed.

10) Kanye West - "Street Lights"

"Street Lights" is a prime example of taking one central idea and exploring it for all it's worth. After a tentative beginning verse, Kanye finally decides to pick up his confidence and launch into the best melody on the album. He never looks back, repeating the same chorus over and over until he finally reaches his conclusion: "Life's just not fair."

9) Fleet Foxes - "White Winter Hymnal"

"White Winter Hymnal" is another song that thrives on its minimal application of ideas. It's just one verse repeated and interspersed with sections of Robin Pecknold singing along with a sparse and melodic guitar line. It achieves what it needs to in 2 minutes and 27 seconds and leaves absolutely nothing to be desired.

8) Beck - "Chemtrails"

Drenched in reverb, "Chemtrails" is quintessential Beck in 2008: exhausted, resigned, lethargic, but still with just enough hope left to enjoy watching the world drown. And by the time the song reaches the ending guitar solo, he has found salvation.

7) Kanye West - "Robocop"

This deceptively upbeat 808s & Heartbreak track excels in the way its sarcastic bouncy beat is mixed with lyrics that lament his girl's tendency to snoop around. Calling her a "robocop" attacks both her methods of getting information and her cold demeanor towards him; and in the bridge, he finally lets loose on her in staccato: "Stop, drop, roll, pop/Bitch, I'm cold, I/Ain't used to bein' told stop/So I could never be you robot!"

6) Weezer - "Miss Sweeney"

"Miss Sweeney", for some unfathomable reason delegated only to the deluxe edition of "The Red Album", is everything the record was hyped up to be but ultimately wasn't; a little dark, bold, and weird. The slurry speak-sung verses give away to the narrator's explosive bottled-up emotions in the poppy chorus, and by the time the narrator decides to confess his love once and for all to this Miss Sweeney, it's impossible not to smile and sing along.

5) Kanye West featuring Mr. Hudson - "Paranoid"

Kanye's best 808s & Heartbreak song is a simple plea: Don't be so paranoid. Over the course of the song, he tries to convince his girl just to lighten up, but ends up getting in a fight with her anyway. West's upbeat production seem to aid his plea, but in the end it's on its own, as Kanye lets it keep playing after he's already checked out.

4) Lil Wayne - "A Milli"

It should go without saying that the best single of the year was Lil Wayne's inescapable "A Milli". From the bare-bones production to Weezy's woozy non sequitors and odd pop culture references (Dennis Rodman? Orville Redenbacher?), "A Milli" showed the world that they needed Lil Wayne... and he needed them.

3) Lil Wayne featuring Jay-Z - "Mr. Carter"

It just seems wrong that these two once were trading barbs back and forth. On this stellar track, both Mr. Carters sound right at home; Lil Wayne cleverly explaining why each season hates on him and Jay-Z figuring out how many different meanings he can prescribe to "chyeah." In the end, when Weezy proclaims, "Next time you mention Pac, Biggie, and Jay-Z, don't forget Weezy Baby," you can almost hear the torch being passed.

2) Weezer - "The Angel and the One"

For all of the failings of "The Red Album", Weezer sure was able to pull out all the stops for its closer. In his absolute best song since Pinkerton, Cuomo starts by just strumming a clean electric guitar and murmuring in monotone. Slowly, the rest of the band comes in, and the song is a constant build from there on out. Rather than just write a repeat "Only in Dreams", however, Cuomo pulls in the reigns just shy of a major climax and tastefully tips his hat and makes his exit.

1) Rivers Cuomo - "The Purification of Water"

Recorded in 1993, "The Purification of Water" takes a failed tryst with a Latin lover and turns it into a metaphor via Montezuma's Revenge. The next time Cuomo would take the disease-as-failed-relationship approach was 2000's "Mad Kow", but that lacked the depth, maturity, and musical craftsmanship displayed in "The Purification of Water"; not to mention the swelling organ, expressive guitars, and layered harmonies. Easily a top 5 Cuomo composition.