THE VERY BEST.

2008 was a good year for us. We got up our grassroots operation up and running, put out one of the best bands we’ve ever heard and laid the foundation for a big year in 2009. The first half of ’09 will see us releasing records from Marina & The Diamonds, Gotye and Theophilus London, and we’ll continue to work with Giantess in a managerial capacity until they’ve signed a billion dollar record deal and we all become rich and famous. Enough about us though, other people also did some exciting things this year. Below are our favorite jams of 2008, the very best tracks to grace our hi-fi this year.

1. “Sleepyhead” – Passion Pit
There’s been no shortage of praise thrown at our debut release and we don’t think it’s a dick move giving the top two slots of this list to Neon Gold releases, rather it just shows how blessed we feel we are to be working with such incredible artists. “Sleepyhead” sounds like nothing else, a completely original musical thought that’s straight up one of the best songs we’ve ever heard. Hands down our song of the year and we hope it’s yours too.

2. “Obsessions” – Marina & The Diamonds
The demo of this was our most listened to song of the year at until Passion Pit strolled onto our radar, and Liam Howe’s production on the recently unveiled single version just makes it even more special. Available worldwide on Valentine’s Day ’09, this was one of the defining tracks of the year for us and we’re honored to be able to release it to the masses next year.

3. “Daylight” – Matt & Kim
Matt & Kim followed up their impressive ’07 debut with two shit-hot singles in 2008. “Good Ol’ Fashion Nightmare” was a damn fine single in it’s own right, but it’s “Daylight” which goes down as one of the year’s most infectious tracks and hints at big things on the duo’s upcoming sophomore album. Twinkling keys hook you from the start, before a monumental drumbeat drops in and the song takes flight on a catchy-as-fuck vocal structure and oscillating synths. Special.

4. “Hearts A Mess” – Gotye
One of our favorite records of all time, Gotye’s cinematic masterpiece finally saw release beyond Australian borders courtesy of Lucky Number Music last spring. We’re thrilled to announce our upcoming collaboration with the Australian maestro, which will come to fruition when we issue Gotye’s first-ever US release this spring.

5. “Blind” – Hercules & Love Affair
No surprise here, Hercules and co. burst onto this scene with

5. “Get Over It” – Guillemots
Guillemots’ “Trains To Brazil” was the best thing to happen to music in 2006 and they came damn close to topping it with “Get Over It”, the lead single from their phenomenal sophomore effort Red. In the weeks leading up to its unveiling buzz around the industry was that Guillemots’ had written the perfect pop song, and fuck if this isn’t one of the most inspiring, euphoric tracks we’ve ever had the pleasure of listening to.

Beyond our top five, here are 25 more tracks that made our year. Not a definitive list by any means, just a collection of the sonic highlights that made 2008 another great year for new music, available for download below in no particular order whatsoever.

MP3: “Whispers” – Aeroplane

• “Ready For The Floor” – Hot Chip

MP3: “Shooting Stars” – Bag Raiders

• “Out There On The Ice” – Cut Copy

MP3: “Mr. Understanding” – Pete & The Pirates

• “Flakes” – Mystery Jets

MP3: “Harold T. Wilkins” – Fanfarlo

• “I’m Good. I’m Gone.” – Lykke Li

• “Buriedfed” – Miles Benjamin Anthony Robinson

MP3: “Learnalilgivinanlovin” (Styrofoamkid Remix) – Gotye

• “Blind” – Hercules & Love Affair

MP3: “L.O.V.E.” – SugaRush Beat Company

• “Electric Feel” – MGMT

• “Lollipop” – Lil Wayne

MP3: “Stuck On Repeat” (Fake Blood Remix) – Little Boots

• “Focker” – Late of the Pier

MP3: “I Decided Pt. II” (Freemasons Mix) – Solange

• “Jump In The Pool” – Friendly Fires

MP3: “Sabali” – Amadou & Mariam

• “Fools” – The Dodos

MP3: “Sandcastles” (Machinedrum Mix) – Theophilus London

• “Walking On A Dream” – Empire of the Sun

MP3: “Tuff ‘n Stuff” – Giantess

• “Ottoman” – Vampire Weekend

MP3: “Glad I Met You” – D. Gookin