The 2000s: 2008
2008: Music
Top 10 Songs:
- #10. Spaceman - The Killers
- #09. After Hours - We Are Scientists
- #08. Sentimental Heart - She & Him
- #07. Skinny Love - Bon Iver
- #06. I’m Yours - Jason Mraz
- #05. Halo - Beyonce
- #04. Forever - Chris Brown
- #03. The Wrestler - Bruce Springsteen
- #02. Lovers in Japan - Coldplay
- #01. Love Story - Taylor Swift
That is a weird, weird grouping of artists lol.
2008 wasn’t a great year in albums for me though I should mention Coldplay coming in second with Viva La Vida (or Death and All His Friends). With the exception of 2005’s X&Y Coldplay put out 3 albums that could easily be put into the discussion of some of the best albums of the decade. Of course, they’re extreme popularity has made up obvious targets for haters which really is sad. I can’t imagine there being many haters for my #1 album.
She & Him - Volume I
For those thinking this was blind love for Ms. Deschanel I’ll explain that it was this album that created my super crush on her. Already showing that she was a gifted actress and comedian in films like All The Real Girls and Elf, Zooey’s first passion had always been music. She started writing songs as a teenager but never thought she was good enough to be a full-time musician.
In Elf she showed her pipes are for real on her duet of Baby It’s Cold Outside and started a tradition of filmmakers asking Zooey to sing in their films. This would lead to singer-songwriter M. Ward, who was doing the music for the Deschanel indie-film The Go Getter, to ask her to work on a song for the soundtrack of the film. They had such a good experience in the studio, they decided to work on a few songs that Deschanel had written. And so goes the story of 2008’s best album.
Volume I is an album reminiscent of 60’s pop and 70’s country, with the spirit of those like Brian Wilson and Linda Ronstadt resonating from the speakers. The songs are short and sweet and M. Ward’s production showcases Zooey’s voice, which is the star of this show. It’s beautiful and light and works in diverse ways. It gives an upbeat song like I Was Made For You a fun, summer-like sound while in a slower song like Change Is Hard it lends to the loneliness and sadness of the song.
This year will see the band releasing Volume II on March 23, so expect to be hearing a lot more about that as the date approaches.
