"Tough Kid" - Honeycut

Honeycut is a San Francisco based band perhaps best known as having one of their songs used in the welcome video that played when all you Mac nerds installed Leopard. File next to Jamiroquai, Gnarls Barkley, and Scissor Sisters.

"Dance Like No One's Watching" - Drive By Argument

Usually I'm not a big emo fan but these guys add some nice electronic touches to keep things interesting. (Recommended by Rick K)

"L.E.S. Artistes" - Santogold

Santogold sounds like a cross between M.I.A., Tegan & Sara, and Shiny Toy Guns. This song (ranked the #2 single of the year by Rolling Stone) is from her debut album. (Recommended by Holly T)

My Top 10 Songs of 2008

Because most top 10 lists by so called experts suck, here are 10 songs I discovered this year that you'll actually like and belong on your iPod:

10. "HYPNTZ" - Dan Black

Perhaps the catchiest cover of a classic hip-hop song since Dynamite Hack's Boyz In the Hood.


9. "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?" - She & Him

Though many of us first discovered Zooey Deschanel's singing abilities in the movie Elf, this past year she released her first official album as one half of the musical duo, She & Him. This is the first single off the album.

8. "Look Out Sunshine" - The Fratellis

If Neil Diamond was making rock music today, I think he'd sound a little like this---just less Scottish.

7. "Paris, Tokyo" - Lupe Fiasco

Lupe Fiasco's delivery is as smooth as the steering on a 2008 Grand Marquis. Don't ask me how I know that.

6. "Around The Bend" - The Asteroids Galaxy Tour

If this song sounds familiar it's because you probably heard it on the most recent iPod touch commercial. Regardless, this band is the best thing to come out of Denmark since Legos.

5. "Shut Up And Let Me Go" - The Ting Tings

A must for any dance party play-list.

4. "Lay Down The Law" - Switches

Has everything that made Franz Ferdinand's "Take Me Out" so good.

3. "20 Dollar" - M.I.A.

Everyone knows what a great song "Paper Planes" is, but if that's the only M.I.A. song you heard this year then you were doing your self a disservice. Best line: "I put people on the map that never seen a map".


2. "A-Punk" - Vampire Weekend

This song wastes no time at all before jumping right in. Try to listen to it without tapping your feet -- impossible.


1. "Time To Pretend" - MGMT

Great instrumentals + great lyrics = the best song of 2008.