When I started posting my 42 Favorite Finds of 2008 over at WNEW, I declined to say what I thought were the best records of the year. Instead I decided to write about my favorite listens of the year. That means anything from any year could be included thereby freeing myself myself from writing the gratuitous, overplayed, phone-it-in “Best Of” list.

Then Rolling Stone released their list of Records Of The Year.

Clearly, a bunch of caffeine-swilling, underpaid, cubicle-inhabiting, self-aggrandizing weenies sat around the Starbucks one day and set about making the most preposterous, starving-for-attention list of records they could possibly consider, largely for the purpose of getting someone (anyone) to read their behind-the-times, Britney-Spears-loving rag. Got knows, no one’s paying attention to their writing or the music they “cover” the other 11.9 months of the year.

I figure if all it takes to make a list of the Best of the Year is to be attention-craving dork, I can be as attention-craving and dorky as the next guy.

Hence, here are the Top 10 records in my iTunes library that say 2008 under “Year” and why they are the best the last 12 months have to offer:

10: Adele’s debut record, 19, because she’s the only neo-soul singer out of the UK in the past year who actually has soul (instead of a rap sheet)

Adele – Right As Rain

9: Danielia Cotton’s May 2008 release Rare Child, because she’s got the balls of Melissa Etheridge (without the lesbian baggage) and the across-all-genres style of Dionne Farris. Never heard of her? Now you have.

Danielia Cotton – Bang My Drum

8: Dr. Dog’s record, Fate, because I’ve always wanted to know what Paul McCartney would sound like if he didn’t sound so much like, well, Paul McCartney.

Dr. Dog – The Old Days

7: David Byrne and Brian Eno’s Everything That Will Happen Will Happen Today record, because Byrne is brilliant and Eno is weird and the world needs more of both of those qualities.

David Byrne And Brian Eno – Everything That Happens Will Happen Today

6: Nils Lofgren’s ode to Neil Young, The Loner, because old guys alone with their guitar (or pinao) can teach something to the youngsters about wisdom, loneliness and rock and roll.

Nils Lofgren – I Am A Child

5: I See Hawks In L.A.’s Hallowed Ground, because they can talk about how we’re turning the beautiful earth into a sludge pot…and make you want to sing along.

I See Hawks In L.A. – Good And Foolish Times

4: Chatham County Line’s album, IV, because bluegrass isn’t dead but it needs to evolve…and Bill Monroe’s just a start.

Chatham County Line – Chip Of A Star

3: Glen Campbell’s revival, Meet Glen Campbell, because a 72-year old legend covering the Velvet Underground is far cooler than Axl Rose will ever be.

Glen Campbell – Sing

2: Ruthie Foster’s The Phenomenal Ruthie Foster because she is just that: phenomenal.

Ruthie Foster – Heal Yourself

1: Michael Franti’s All Rebel Rockers, because no one can make you dance and think about your life like he can.

Michael Franti – All I Want Is You

(At Least For Today, Anyway)

We’re not just about the classic tracks here in F45 Land. We like them crazy young’uns and their rock and roll, too.

Michael Franti And Spearhead with Cherine Anderson – Say Hey (I Love You)

I’ve loved his message since I first heard Stay Human while walking through Virgin Records at Union Square. Are we praying with him for change in this country come November 4th? Hell, yes.

Molly Hatchet – Flirtin’ With Disaster

I believe everybody deserves to have his voice heard (though I’m very certain which voice I want to be running the country). Can rebels and rednecks unite? Here they can.

Mudcrutch – Queen of the Go-Go Girls

I’d heard of this quick and dirty, live in the studio thing from Tom Petty but it my friend Tim B. of the Big D that shamed me into going and getting it. A fun record for all that participate.

Chatham County Line – Chip Of A Star

This is #1 in the carpool hit parade. Whoever produced this song knew what he was doing. Listen close: pure brilliance.

I See Hawks In L.A. – Good And Foolish Times

There’s so much to hear in this band…I’m just scratching the surface. Number 2 in the carpool hit parade, a particular fave of my 8-year old.

Dr. Dog – My Friend

Yeah, they sound like early 70’s McCartney in a lot of places. But, they maintain their character. I’m enjoying this record.

Dirty Pretty Things – Hippy’s Son

Speaking of Beatle-esque: could I drop “four thousand holes in Blackburn, Lancashire” into the chorus? Don’t think these guys are long for popularity but, in rock and roll, popularity is a temporal thing anyway (like in high school). Closes the loop nicely on this post, though, a song about being a hippy’s son.

Artwork: Lillias white Diva by Kyle Boyd