Top music of 2008: Day 3

Not only is it Christmas Eve, its also day three of our 10 days of new music from 2008. We’re reviewing two artist each day who's careers have either started or have grown dramatically over the past 12 months. If all goes as planned, by January 1st you’ll have been introduced to a new musician or two to love and enjoy in 2009. And even if I fail introduce you to anyone new, you’ll still enjoy a couple of great tunes each day until the New Year arrives. Have fun and Merry Christmas.

I’m starting off day three with our fifth band, who is likely the most successful band on my top 20 list. Last January, Vampire Weekend released their debut album and became an almost instant hit. They had already been performing around the US and were called band of the year by SPIN Magazine in 2007, despite having never released a full album. They certainly didn't let anyone down once thier self titled Debut arrived. They've spent '08 performing on late night TV shows and touring the world. Certainly one of the greatest success stories of ’08 and I'm certain there are great things to come. As far as thier music goes, it's said that they find thier influences in African popular music as well as Western classical music, but the resulting sound is something very different and refreshing from what we’ve previously heard. Enjoy their so called “Upper West Side Soweto” sound in Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa from Vampire Weekend. (By the way, this video is probably my favorite video of the year. And hear Peter Gabriel cover this song at www.alternateside.org)



2008 also saw the arrival of The BPA, short for “The Brighton Port Authority”. This is yet another incarnation of the great Norman Cook, who was previously known by the pseudo name Fatboy Slim. As The BPA he has only released two tracks in 2008, suggesting plenty more to come in ‘09. Knowing the strength of Mr. Cooks previous endeavors I have no doubt this project will be a great success. Here is The BPA collaborating with David Byrne and Dizzie Rascal for ‘Toe Jam’. (Warning: this is one of my least favorite videos of the year. Despite what seems to be a unique and well executed concept, it’s a little bit much and definitely, beyond a doubt, distracts from the song, which is fantastic.)