Best of 2008: Songs
- Top 5 Songs of 2008
- Killing the Blues by Robert Plant and Alison Krauss: “Leaves are falling, just like embers, in colors red and gold they set us on fire.” The opening lines to this song touch my soul but I’m not sure why. Maybe it’s because of the beautiful imagery or maybe it’s a reminder of the even finer chorus to come. More likely it’s the wondrous way that Robert Plant and Alison Krauss blend their voices. Of course, it’s all of those and more. Accompanied by a sublime slide guitar and a restrained rhythm section, Plant and Krauss turn this John Prine song into their very own.
- Last Month of the Year by the Blind Boys of Alabama: This song epitomizes everything I love about the Blind Boys: a jumping rhythm section, call & response vocals, great singing and the unique sound that only the Blind Boys can deliver. If you’ve never heard them, check out their appearance on Austin City Limits if you get a chance. There is nobody like the Blind Boys of Alabama.
- Little Wing by The Jimi Hendrix Experience: Although I’d heard Jimi’s original version of this song (from Axis: Bold As Love), I never grew to love it until I heard Stevie Ray Vaughn‘s instrumental cover a few years ago. Last year I discovered that the Jimi Hendrix Experience Box Set has two different versions of “Little Wing.” My favorite has to be the sublime live version which reminds me greatly of the SRV cover.
- Stewball by Peter, Paul and Mary: I first heard this song when I was a teenager in the 80’s. It appeared on the legendary “Hangman Album” by Mason Proffit. While that version is good, it only begins to hint at the beauty of this version by Peter, Paul and Mary. In the PP&M canon, this song is right up there with “Puff the Magic Dragon” and “500 Miles”. You can find it on their third album, In The Wind, or on one of several greatest hits compilations.
- Da Da Da by Trio: Fifteen years before Volkswagen used it in their 1997 ad campaign, my old friend Arnie Walthoff introduced me to this strange song. In a music landscape dominated by MTV, Prince, Michael Jackson and Huey Lewis, it was a revelation to my teenage ears. Shortly after I arrived at Wartburg College a few years later, I stumbled upon a reel of tape at our college radio station with this song and other German pop songs. I played it on my radio show announcing it only as a cool song for which I did not know the artist. Within minutes several people called in to tell me that the artist in question was German band, Trio. It took until this year before I was finally able to lay my hands on the CD but it was well worth the wait.
Click the song titles to hear a sample of the song in the iTunes Music Store. You can get iTunes here.
Best of 2008: Introduction
This is the first in a series of posts describing my favorite music from 2008. To be eligible, an album only had to be added to my music collection in 2008, but not necessarily released in 2008. Some long-time favorites with which I had familiarity but had not previously owned were only eligible for “Honorable Mention” along with a few others that didn’t quite make the Top Albums list.
In order to make it into the Top Albums, a CD had to saturate my listening time for an appreciable length of time. Although I have ranked them, distinguishing between any two of these CDs is very difficult indeed. When I obtained each it probably remained in heavy rotation at home, on my iPod and at work for several weeks, often receiving two or three plays per day. This is the quality level required to make the Top Albums.
This year in listening was markedly different than recent years. In the past, most of my music listening occurred while biking to work or while at work. Because of my job change, neither of those times were practical until my office was closed in September. Since then, however, I’ve had ample time to listen to music while working and I take full advantage of it.
In the coming days, I’ll have articles delineating my picks for Best of 2008. In addition to the Best Albums, I’ll list my favorite songs.
If you are interested in my past picks, I have articles for 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007.
What’s on Thomas’ Hard Drive?
This image speaks volumes about Thomas. He made it using Disk Inventory and marked it up with Skitch. Code Monkeys, How I Met Your Mother and Doogie Howser are all television series. Click the image to see it full size.
The Day the Music Died
40 50 years ago today, Buddy Holly died in an airplane crash shortly after taking off from Mason City Airport following his last show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake. Holly’s final performance and death occurred in what would become my neighborhood 7 years later. As you can see below, I still have roots in the area. I’ve marked the spot of the crash as well as my hometown, my sister’s home and my brother’s home.
Bobby McFerrin
Just For Now
Prop 8: The Musical
Proposition 8, which amends the California constitution to limit marriage between a man and a woman, was recently passed by voters. Although California was not the first state to do so, it has probably been the most prominent and controversial. Some of Hollywood’s denizens – including John C. Reilly, Jack Black, Neil Patrick Harris and Allison Janney – have responded with musical humor: