Katuwapitiya

When I look in your eyes, what am I supposed to do?

Over the next few days, I’ll be listing off my favourite songs from 2008. Hopefully you’ll find something that you haven’t found in a million other blogs/pitchfork. If there are some similarities, hopefully you’ll just find my analysis more badass. And don’t worry, this list will be Lil Wayne-less.

1. Too Too Too Fast by Ra Ra Riot

I love when there’s a repetition of a word in a band name and a song title (for more, please refer to “No No No” by the Yeah Yeah Yeahs). I also love when a song starts with hard drums that give way to synths that sound straight from a music video featuring some sort of weird pencil-sketch/real-life tangent. Most of all though, I love when a lead male vocalist has some quick interplay with a hot-sounding female. It worked for The Postal Service, continues to work for one of my favourites, Los Campesinos! and it works great here. I have no idea how I found out about Ra Ra Riot, but I’m glad I did. For more, “Ghost Under the Rocks” and “Each Year” offer up two more contenders for my favourite songs of the year.

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Download it here.

You! Me! Dancing!- Los Campesinos!

When you look at the artist and song title of a certain track and count 4 exclamation points, it usually means that the song is going to suck. However, in the case of You! Me! Dancing! by Los Campesinos!, it’s fully justified. There’s a lot to be excited about here. There’s the solidly-long crescendo at the beginning, a great way to start any song. Added to that is the great concept of the video, which you can see above. Then of course, you have the ole’ brit-rock formula of sick accents and great hooks. Los Campesinos! then add in some random instruments (re: xylophone) and lines that anyone into indie music can relate to: “If there’s one thing I could never confess, it’s that I can’t dance a single step.” What more can I say? Love.