Best songs of 2008 (for Beth)
December 8th, 2008 by Wade Tatangelo in Reviews
It’s that time of year again. Time for holiday hoopla. Time for yuletide cheer. Time for year-end best-of lists, especially if you’re that endangered species known as a “working music critic.” This occupation makes me nervous these days. But I love making lists. And mix CDs. Especially for my siblings.
My younger sister Beth is graduating from college in a few days. I can’t make the flight to Colorado. But I’m sending some custom-made CDs with my mom and my other sister Alli to give her. I burned Beth new albums she would like. I then decided to go ahead and tally my favorite songs of 2008, which took about 2.5 hours and several more glasses of wine. I have a print piece on the topic due at 2 p.m. Thursday.
I came up with a working list of 43 tunes tonight that will be whittled down to a nice round number for my music feature that streets Dec. 17. It will be online earlier than that. I stole the word “streets.” And use it whenever I can.
Here are the songs I put on a CD for my lil’ sister. She’s a nurse now. I’m very proud of her. Beth’s chosen profession will come in quite handy for me. My lifestyle is, well, reckless. It worries her. That’s the flip side to having a blood relative in the medical field. I must sound awful. But she understands.
Beth and I dig many of the same artists. That’s one of the numerous advantages of being the eldest child: You play a significant role in the music tastes of your younger siblings. At least I did. That makes me happy. My siblings and parents make me happy. Good music makes me happy. And several other people and things. But enough of that. Here are the tunes.
Beth Mix CD 2008
1. “Bang! Bang!” The Knux
2. “Jailhouse Tears,” Lucinda Williams w/Elvis Costello
3. “Be Mine!” Robyn
4. “Mr. Carter,” Lil Wayne w/Jay-Z
5. “White Winter Hymnal,” Fleet Foxes
6. “Daughters of the Revolution,” The Black Crowes
7. “Ur So Gay,” Katy Perry
8. “You Can’t Count on Me,” Counting Crowes
9. “Smiling Underneath,” Ani DiFranco
10. “A Few Words in Defense of Our Country,” Randy Newman
11. “Highly Suspicious,” My Morning Jacket
12. “Red River Shore,” Bob Dylan
13. “Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa,” Vampire Weekend
14. “Slapped Actress,” The Hold Steady
15. “Who’s Gonna Save Your Soul,” Gnarls Barkley
16. “She Loves the Sunset,” Old 97’s
17. “Street of Dreams,” Guns N’ Roses
18. “Outlaw Shit,” Waylon Jennings
December 9th, 2008 at 7:52 am
I LOVES it!!I am so honored….I love recieving your mixed cd’s more than you know….and yes, I’m proud and lucky to have had your influence shape and expand my music tastes over the years. Thanks again bro, can’t wait to see you for Christmas!