Notice the careful word choice here. We’re not so much cheerleading those songs that fall under the textbook definition of actual “singles”; rather, we prefer approaching this whole inexact science of “best-of-ology” with open minds and even more open (opener?) ears. Which is to say this: the following represents our favorite songs from 2008. Tops. Period. Fully subjective, fully filtered through our own personal tastes, and fully responsible for rocking EAR FARM’s world in 2008.

So let’s do this thing, shall we? Scroll down to view/listen to the full countdown of EAR FARM’s Top Songs Of 2008. There are two lists, 10 songs each. And just like last year, they’re RANKED. Let us know what we messed up on, what your own favorites are/were, and where our favorites cosmically overlap….

• EAR FARM Matt’s Top 10 Songs of 2008

  10. “Fifty Fourteeners” by The Secret Life of Sofia - To mountaineers, a “fourteener” is a mountain that exceeds 14,000 feet in height. As in, 14er. To me it’s just half of the title of the best song (yet) by one of Brooklyn’s most under-appreciated bands AND the soundtrack to a fan video mashup I made back in June. (it’s never been okay’d for YouTubes, but if you want to see it you might be able to by clicking something within this writeup...)

  9. “M79″ by Vampire Weekend - What cred people are hoping to gain by pretending to dislike Vampire Weekend is beyond me… it’s like saying you don’t like cookies. Impossible and pointless. The only thing you’re proving with such tomfoolery is your inability to recognize great pop songs. Such as this one, the best from their debut LP.

  8. “Strange Overtones” by David Byrne & Brian Eno - Two old dudes who worked together nearly 30 years ago got back together and hit stride perfectly on this one with beats and melodies that manage to sound as ancient as they do current. Strange? Impressive.

  7. “Hearts On Fire” by Cut Copy - Looking through a giant time machine telescope (that converts sights into audio) at every school dance I ever attended would sound precisely as this song does: a little New Order, some early techno background love, thick basslines, a gratuitous sax solo, and Dee Lite-esque breaks. Perfect.

  6. “Touch Me I’m Going To Scream Pt. 2″ by My Morning Jacket - The only absolute stunner from the most disappointing album of the year, this song is sure to give you chills, nightmares, and/or warm fuzzies all over. Touch it, go ahead.

  5. “Goes Cube Song 57″ by Goes Cube - if you only listen to one metal song all year, make it this one. Equal parts M1 Abrams tank and MC Escher staircase, this throttle shredder is the best Goes Cube song to date. To paraphrase an old joke… “Knock, knock. Who’s there? It’s Goes Cube Song 57!”

  4. “Rosenband” by Kelley Polar - Every single song on Kelley Polar’s I Need You To Hold On While The Sky Is Falling has been my most favorite song of the year at some point. Currently, my favorite of the lot is this one. Believe in it, it believes in you.

  3. “Halfway Home” by TV On The Radio - for whatever reason, this perfect album opener sounds like memories of winning a pinewood derby to me. Feeling that elated sense of achievement, grabbing the trophy, and racing on your Diamondback dirtbike back home to show your parents. On the way you drop the trophy and almost crash, but that doesn’t matter because the music on your walkman is keeping your championship spirits high. When you get home you don’t even bother to tell your parents about the whole experience. Why? Gotta head straight to your room and jam that song you were listening to!

  2. “The Hollows” by Why? - It’s impossible to explain how mindfuckingly awesome this song is without quoting the lyrics. Do I “curse the last six months I’ve been hiding behind a moustache” while listening to this song? No. But maybe I’ve been hiding behind a moustache for the last six months because of this song…? Something. One way or another it’s become a part of me. Just listen for yourself. And repeat. Then watch as the words dance around in your head as if they were thoughts of your own. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. (”that’s what the ghost of someone’s dad might say”)

  1. “Nothing Ever Happened” by Deerhunter - If you’re a fan of indie rock (duh) and love Sebadoh (duh), The Jesus and Mary Chain (double duh), and Sonic Youth (no shit, right?), then you’re going to fall head over heels for this song upon first listen. I did, and I didn’t even used to “like” Deerhunter. Now I’m a big fan, thanks largely in part to the top rock song of the year, “Nothing Ever Happened”.

• EAR FARM Mike’s Top 10 Songs of 2008

  10. “Teenagers” by Department of Eagles - A warbling, waltzing homage to Sgt. Pepper-esque playfulness and kaleidoscopic studio wizardry delivered with charming rakishness and ease. Definitely a throwback to the possibilities of what a pop song could be.

  9. “The Waterline” by Pepi Ginsberg - I have a feeling we’ll be giving Ms. Ginsberg a lot more shine in the new year; think the Fiery Furnaces’ Eleanor Friedberger backed by The Band and you start to get the idea. Her debut album Red is a testament to focused songwriting and slight eccentricities jiving beautifully together…must have something to do with that voice, alternately cooing and husky, confident and bruised, yet always at the forefront.

  8. “Canvey Island” by British Sea Power - Not many bands could write about the North Sea Flood of 1953, bird flu, and the exploits of a semi-pro soccer team in a single song. Even fewer could do it in such a beautifully crafted elegy as BSP pulls off here.

  7. “Badonkadonkey” by Born Ruffians - As though challenging themselves because making infectious pop goodness is just too damn easy for them, Born Ruffians have limited themselves here to ONE BASS NOTE played at quarter-note intervals throughout the entire song! And guess what? It’s the grooviest damn note of the year; I dare you not to bob your head to it.

  6. “San Francisco B.C.” by Silver Jews - David Berman spins a yarn of such graceful wit and far-reaching scope it deserves its own Broadway adaptation. Can’t you see it? San Francisco B.C. The Musical!, with the tagline “Romance is the douche of the bourgeoisie….” Sold.

  5. “Upstairs” by Women - Sounding like they don’t give a shit and bored by the buzz of their own instruments, Women have crafted a peculiar song that inexplicably makes the listener strive to prove to the band just how special it is. Even more odd, I can’t think of a way to describe it that doesn’t include the dreaded terms “angular” and “lo-fi” and yet I still adore it.

  4. “Faerie Dance” by Plants and Animals - The title here makes their intent perfectly clear: Plants and Animals want to teleport you to a Middle-Earth style tribal throwdown, a woodland sprite sock hop, a technicolored redwood jamboree. Lofty goals but, uh, you had us at the cool spelling of fairy….

  3. “Never Stops” by Deerhunter - Hands down, the pop song of the year. “Never Stops” is two chords and the truth, a strutting affirmation that Deerhunter has arrived, and most importantly a fun song that sustains countless listens. I wish it never stopped.

  2. “Real Emotional Trash” by Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - I tried Google-mapping the obtuse treasure hunt Malkmus puts forth in the latter half of this mind-blowing epic. The fact that this song invites such pointless scrutiny while simultaneously instigating air-guitar fits and hackey-sack waltzes says it all.

  1. “On The Water” by the Walkmen - Moody, dramatic, swelling at the seams but restrained enough to burst only when it really counts, “On The Water” embodies everything that is so perfect about You & Me….namely, it inches you closer as it blows your face off.

See also:
- Countdown: EAR FARM’s Top 8 EPs of 2008
- EAR FARM’s Top Albums of 2008
- Top Breakout Bands for ‘08/’09.