Best of Soup 2008, Chris: N–Z

Today concludes the two-part look at our favorite songs from the 2008 Alphabet Soup shows. Hopefully everyone enjoyed our selections from A–M last week, and this week shouldn't disappoint either. Here's my contribution to the N–Z spoonfuls, with links to the original blog entries:

N: Nirvana, "Scentless Apprentice"
O: "On a Cloud," PPP
P: Portishead, "Machine Gun"
Q: "Questions and Answers," the Apples in Stereo
R: Ra Ra Riot, "Dying Is Fine"
S: Marnie Stern, "Shea Stadium"
T: "Trojan Horse," Bloc Party
U: "Underneath the Stars," the Cure
V: "Full Spectrum," the Violettes
W: "Wishing Well," Love Is All
X: X-Ray Spex, "Oh Bondage Up Yours"
Y: "You're Gonna Need Someone By Your Side," Morrissey (this was a bonus track at the end of an episode, so no blog entry)
Z: Zack Attack, "Friends Forever"

With all apologies to Zero 7, I had to end my list with Zack Morris and Co. May he and his blushing bride Kelly rest in peace. (Click here for coverage of the grisly Bayside murders.)

Marnie Stern's fantastic album, among my top 10 of the year, forced me to bump sentimental favorite Sally Shapiro from the list, while Ra Ra Riot (which just missed my top 10) kept the Raveonettes from making my cut, even though Lust Lust Lust was a stellar disc. Since I took the Dodos from Brittany, I ceded Vampire Weekend to her, even though it was my No. 2 album of the year.

Portishead's Third was hands-down my favorite of the year, and is represented by the first single, "Machine Gun." Anyway, here's my top 10:

1. Portishead, Third

2. Vampire Weekend, self-titled

3. M83, Saturdays = Youth

4. Black Kids, Partie Traumatic (just way too much fun to hate)

5. Sigur Ros, Med Sud I Eyrum Vid Spilum Endalaust

6. Marnie Stern, This Is It...

7. Girl Talk, Feed the Animals

8. Dodos, Visiter

9. Ray LaMontagne, Gossip in the Grain

10. The Kills, Midnight Boom

While the new Bloc Party album ended up being somewhat disappointing after a few listens, I do think "Trojan Horse" and "One Month Off" are great tunes. And the new Cure disc left me slightly cold—and not in a good way—but the opening track is solid.

Thanks for listening.

A card for you from Christopher

Best of 2008, BJ: N-Z

N: Noah and the Whale, "Shape of My Heart"
O: Okkervil River, "Westfall"
P: Peter, Bjorn and John, "Objects Of My Affection"
Q: "Quiet Houses," Fleet Foxes
R: "Roll On Babe," Vetiver
S: Starfucker, "Florida"
T: TV On The Radio, "Halfway Home"
U: Ugly Casanova, "Parasites"
V: Vampire Weekend, "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa"
W: Why?, "The Vowels, Pt. 2"
X: "X|Y," Pinback
Y: Yellow House, Grizzly Bear
Z: Z, My Morning Jacket

O: I don't really like Okkervil River's new album, but I still heard them for the first time this year. This song will forever remind me of this year -- especially the times and people at Donnelly's Pub.

P: I wanted to play Peppermint Patty by The Owls, but I decided against it because of a Pamida comment Chris made in an early post. Really, Chris? Where in the hell did that come from?

Q: Yes, Christopher. I will put Fleet Foxes in my top 10 this year -- they were AWESOME live. I managed to wiggle up close enough to sit on the stage when some friends and I saw their lake-front show in Madison, WI.

R: Here's my Vetiver, Chris. The band released Things of the Past earlier this year.

S: It was between She & Him, Sigur Ros and Starfucker -- all bands with incredible albums in 2008. Starfucker wins soley because they have the best band name of 2008. Oh yeah, and the self-titled album is good from start to finish.

Just in case you haven't heard, they'll be playing live on KEXP -- December 19.

T: How have we not played a song from this album yet?!

U: Sharpen Your Teeth is timeless.

V: Chris and I fought of this one. He gave me playing rights after I spit in his face.

W: Why is an INCREDIBLE band! I downloaded Alopecia last night and would highly suggest you give it a listen.

Y: The only Grizzly Bear album we (I) played any songs from.

Z: The lead singer fell off a stage while playing at the University of Iowa. How could I not include it on the "Best Of" list?

Best of 2008 Soup, Chris: A–M

We're spending the semester's last two shows looking back at our favorite songs from our 2008 shows—from A to Z, of course. This week we'll each tackle A–M, and next week we'll finish off with N–Z. Here's my A–M list, with links to each song's original blog entry:

A: ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, "Stand in Silence"
B: Black Nite Crash, "Losing Kind"
C: "Carnies," Martina Topley-Bird
D: Dodos, "Fools"
E: "Ether," Gang of Four
F: Future Sound of London, "Papua New Guinea"
G: "Gamma Ray," Beck
H: "Hummingbird," Born Ruffians
I: "I Woke Up Today," Port O'Brien
J: Joy Division, "She's Lost Control"
K: The Kills, "What New York Used to Be"
L: "Love Me Already," Black Kids
M: M83, "Graveyard Girl"

OK, so I didn't play "Graveyard Girl" during an official Alphabet Soup show—that was Brittany—but I did play it when we hosted the Film School/Airiel in-studio event. And M83's Saturdays=Youth is one of my five favorite albums of 2008 (No. 3), so I needed to represent it on my list.

The rest of my top 5 albums will be heard in due time; the only other one that makes today's list is Black Kids' Partie Traumatic (#4 on my list). Snicker all you want, but it's energetic and fun. It's brilliant pop. Take it from the campus's biggest Cure fan: your music preferences don't always have to be depressed and/or mad.

That being said, it wouldn't be a Christopher Clair list without Joy Division—although Japanese Motors' "Single Fins and Safety Pins" nearly won out in the J slot.

Other songs that just missed today's list: Airiel's "Red Friends"; Raveonettes' "Aly Walk With Me"; Be Your Own Pet's "The Kelly Affair"; and Explosions in the Sky's "Memorial."

Next week, my list will kick off with one of those songs that Jack from "Lost" loves so much, as well as a selection from my favorite album from 2008....(here's a hint: it will be the Third song I play)

Best of 2008, BJ: A-M

A: Animal Collective, "Fireworks"
B: B.R.M.C., "Ain't No Easy Way"
C: Cat Power, "Silver Stallion"
D: Dr. Dog, "The World May Never Know"
E: Emily Haines & The Soft Skeleton, "Our Hell"
F: Fruit Bats, "Magic Hour"
G: Gorillaz, "Dirty Harry"
H: Holland, Jolie, "December, 1999"
I: "I," Andrew Bird
J: "January," Headlights
K: Kodacrhome, "Paul Simon"
L: Langhorne Slim, "Restless"
M: Metric, "Empty"

Since this is our first year of Alphabet Soup, I decided to go through my year in music. If you were to run into me on the street and ask to what was I listening, I'd tell you these musicians. If you don't know them, click on the links where you can find one or many personal explanations for their greatness.

Artists, A: ...And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead, "Intro: A Song of Fire and Wine/Stand in Silence"

From the album So Divided

...Trail of Dead:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I made an audio slide show about the douche bags who participate in the annual seal hunt in Canada, and used some Trail of Dead as the soundtrack. I should post it... — cwc

Artists, B: Blitzen Trapper, "God and Suicide"

From the album Furr

Blitzen Trapper:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: One of the numerous albums I've scooped up in the past two weeks. 2008 has been pretty good after all. — cwc

No vid for "God and Suicide," so here's an interview clip:

Artists, C: Cold War Kids, "Relief"

From the album Loyalty to Loyalty

Cold War Kids:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This album was more of a grower for me, at least compared to Robbers and Cowards, but I'm coming around. — cwc

Artists, D: The Damned, "Neat Neat Neat"

From the album Damned Damned Damned

The Damned:   Web site

DJ comments: I'm playing a lot of newer stuff tonight, but I'll be damned if I don't play some '70s punk. — cwc

What a bizarre video:

Artists, E: Eleni Mandell, "Girls"

From the album Miracle of Five

Eleni Mandell:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I cheated because I wasn't satisfied with any other "E" artists. I chose her because I love women with deep, mysterious voices.

Found this one on the Weeds soundtrack, which, as previously stated, has been one of my favorite places to find music. — BJ

Artists, F: Faded Paper Figures, "North By North"

From the album Dynamo

Faded Paper Figures:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I immediately compared these guys to Stars. Funny enough, the band doesn't include Stars as an influence or "sounds like" on their Myspace page despite having similar male/female vocals and background electronica. It's still better than listening to the same Stars albums on repeat... — BJ

Artists, G: Al Green, "Take Me To The River"

From the album Best Of...

Al Green:   Web site   Wikipedia

DJ comments: Oooh... Green is SO good. You may know this song as performed by the Talking Heads. — BJ

Artists, H: Headlights, "Market Girl"

From the album Some Racing, Some Stopping

Headlights:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I believe Headlights has made it into our Top Played Artists list. That's kind of funny to me, because I wouldn't say they're one of my favorite bands. I guess more than anything, this album has proved to be a pretty playable one. — BJ

Artists, I: I Love Math, "Only Clowns Are Scary"

From the album Getting to the Point Is Beside It

I Love Math:   MySpace

DJ comments: I would have no quarrel with this song title if it read "All Clowns Are Scary." However, "only" is terribly inaccurate. There are plenty of scary things that have nothing to do with clowns: snakes; swarms of killer bees; the thought that millions of Americans voted in favor of making Sarah Palin the country's second-in-command. — cwc

Um, the song is included in this gem:

Artists, J: Joy Division, "Disorder"

From the album Unknown Pleasures

Joy Division:   MySpace

DJ comments: This song made the cut for Pitchfork's latest book, which lists the best 500 songs since the punk-rock era of 1977. So I'm playing it, since it's so great. (It's no "She's Lost Control," but it's solid.) — cwc

Artists, K: The Kills, "What New York Used to Be"

From the album Midnight Boom

The Kills:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Not to be confused with the Killers. — cwc

Artists, L: Love Is All, "Wishing Well"

From the album A Hundred Things Keep Me Up at Night

Love Is All:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Pretty much a coin flip between these guys and Ray LaMontagne here. Maybe we'll have time to hear some Ray at the end of the show. — cwc

Artists, M: Modest Mouse, "Cowboy Dan"

From the album Lonesome Crowded West

Modest Mouse:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I can't believe I've only played Dramamine! I love old Modest Mouse... it reminds me of my dear friends from Newton, Iowa. They've all moved on... I'm just sitting here in Lonesome Uncrowded Iowa City.

Ugh! Isaac Brock played with Broken Social Scene in Toronto. I think my brain would melt... — BJ

Artists, N: Noah and the Whale, "Shape Of My Heart"

From the album Peaceful, the World Lays Me Down

Noah and the Whale:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: From what I've heard of it, this September release from the UK band rocks.

Just in case you were really pumped to see the band on their US tour, don't get your hopes up... they canceled all US shows. — BJ

Artists, O: Okkervil River, "Westfall"

From the album Don't Fall In Love With Everyone You See

Okkervil River:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If you ever come to Donnelly's, there's about a 60% chance Okkervil River will be playing. Coolest restaurant in town.

This is the band's first full-length album. — BJ

Artists, P: Pica Beats, "Poor Old Ra"

From the album Beating Back The Claws Of The Cold

Pica Beats:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: I have to thank Chris for introducing me to this band. — BJ

Artists, Q: Q-Tip, "Official"

From the album The Renaissance

Q-Tip:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Supposedly "Tip" has been recording quite often since the release of 1999's Amplified, including one album that reached promo distribution phase before getting shelved. A shame that one of the greatest hip-hop artists had to put up with that sort of treatment, but now he gets to drop an aptly titled disc on our collective ass. — cwc

Artists, R: Ra Ra Riot, "Dying Is Fine"

From the album The Rhumb Line

Ra Ra Riot:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: Hate the band name, love the band's sound. — cwc

Artists, S: Marnie Stern, "Shea Stadium"

From the album This Is It...

Marnie Stern:   MySpace

DJ comments: Finger-tappin' goodness. — cwc

Artists, T: Martina Topley-Bird, "Something to Say"

From the album The Blue God

Martina Topley-Bird:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: One of the reasons Tricky's debut album was so good? Martina Topley-Bird. — cwc

Artists, U: Ugly Casanova, "Cat Faces"

From the album Sharpen Your Teeth

Ugly Casanova:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: This album is PERFECT for this weather, as with most Modest Mouse songs. There's just something about Isaac Brock's voice that makes winter seem so bearable. — BJ

Artists, V: The Very Sexuals, "Anti-Valentine"

From the album Post-Apocalyptic Love

The Very Sexuals:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: If you like this song, you can download this whole album for free at http://www.theverysexuals.com/. — BJ

No Video -- I won't even post what came up when I typed "Very sexuals" into the YouTube search box.

Artists, W: The Whigs, "Production City"

From the album Mission Control

The Whigs:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: These guys performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live a little over a month ago. Generally when that happens, people start flocking toward said band's music. — BJ

Artists, X: Xavier Rudd, "Let Me Be"

From the album Solace

Xavier Rudd:   Web site   MySpace

DJ comments: He released Dark Shades of Blue earlier this year, but Solace produced the highest rated results on iTunes. The only other album I've heard is Food in the Belly, which I had a mini obsession with a few months ago. — BJ

I'm still amazed by his setup.