Best Songs of 2008 - #15 - #11

15. "The Step and the Walk" by The Duke Spirit - It may sound strange, but I would have been very disappointed if the lead singer of The Duke Spirit wasn't rockin' some long hair. Her voice just oozes with Grace Slick cool, Stevie Nicks power, and a dash of Nico. This kind of voice has a visual archetype and thankfully Liela Moss fits it. The tinny production also adds to the song's old rock feel.


14. "Cath..." by Death Cab for Cutie - After the downer that was Plans, DCFC delivered a much better record with Narrow Stairs. Not that Ben Gibbard hasn't stopped writing angsty, moody lyrics, but at least the tempo is a little quicker for some of the tracks. "Cath..." is one of the best on the record. Smart lyrics, a good character study, and some solid guitar work.


13. "Supernatural Superserious" by R.E.M. - I hated that I had written off one of my favorite bands of all time. Reveal and Around the Sun were so... dull. It felt like the band had stopped trying. Thank God for Accelerate. R.E.M. returned with a thirty-five minute rock album and it was grand. The lead off single was one of the best of the bunch and I love, love, love those Mike Mills harmonies.


12. "L.E.S. Artistes" by Santogold - While most people were ready to lump Santogold with M.I.A. after the third world throwdown that was "Creator", it was "L.E.S. Artistes" and "Lights Out" that made people really stand up and pay attention. This song has one of the best opening hooks of the year.


11. "Kim & Jessie" by M83 - I fell in love with this tune at first listen. It sounds like every John Hughes movie soundtrack rolled into one song. Lush and gorgeous.