Okay, on to the final 10 songs, since the clock is ticking down to the end of the year here. If you missed Monday's show, go ahead and listen to the archive - you can hear me ramble on about all ten of these and the reasons why I love them. But I'll recap a little here as well, first with #10-#6:
#10. The Felice Brothers - "Radio Song"
The Felice Brothers were one of my best "discoveries" of 2008 - their self-titled album is definitely one of my favorites this year, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing both of their shows here in Nashville. The first time I went to see them, this was actually one of my least favorite songs on the record - I thought it was a little too sing-songy and boring. But after hearing them play it live, it hands-down became my favorite (funny how that happens, right?). Now every time I hear this, it conjures up that warm and happy what-an-awesome-show feeling, which means I listen to it a ton.
#9. Florence and the Machine - "Kiss With a Fist"
Chicks in the top 10! As I mentioned on the show Monday, I caught Florence and the Machine at SXSW and was very "meh" about the whole thing - I'm pretty sure she sang acapella and then jumped into a fountain at the end of the set (the showcase was in a weird little mexican restaurant's indoor patio thing). She CERTAINLY didn't play this song - because I'm damn sure I would have fallen in love with her right then, instead of a few months later. This tune is a badass little rocker, and I've played it on the show a ridiculous number of times this year.
#8. Walter Meego - "Girls"
Another gem from the workout mix - this one is the warm-up track I've been hitting the elliptical to for at least the last six months. A bunch of the tunes on the new Walter Meego record are just as catchy, but this one ended up being the right bpm for my workout mix (don't laugh, it's all very scientific and nerdy) so it ended up being the one I heard multiple times a week. Still love love love it.
#7. Lykke Li - "Dance Dance Dance"
When I wrote up Youth Novels for 30 Days, 30 Albums (big giant FAIL right there), I went on and on about how "Dance Dance Dance" could easily anchor an ad campaign, and I'm a little shocked that it isn't all over some commercial by now (or is it? I don't think I watched anything but ABC family all December - don't laugh). But, I'm still glad it hasn't gotten played to death, because it's a wonderful song to put on whenever I'm slightly bummed out, or grumpy, or just in need of a reviving shot of sugar. Lykke Li's little voice, a bit of sax action, one of the catchiest melodies of the year - this one is going to be in rotation for years to come.
#6. The Non-Commissioned Officers - "Sweet Eleanor"
Including this song in the countdown feels a bit like cheating, because technically it wasn't released, and the band isn't even around anymore. Created for the soundtrack of the film Make Out With Violence, and played by a band created to raise money for the production of the film, "Sweet Eleanor" is just too good not to include, no matter the murky state of the soundtrack's non-release (rumor has it it'll be out next year though - as soon as I know, you'll know). This is another song that gets stuck in my head constantly, and I can't wait to hear the finalized version that will make it onto an eventual release.
