Rule Of Sevens: My Favorite Songs Of The First Half Of 2008 (As Of Right Now)

rule of sevens

My Favorite Songs Of The First Half Of 2008 (As Of Right Now)

Midnight tonight isn't the exact midway point of this year, but hey, it's the last day of its sixth month, which is close enough for roadwork. Or, er, listwork, that is: After the jump, I give you the seven songs that I would be more likely to put on a mix CD than any other, in YouTube/blurb form. Think of it as a post for me and my creaky, prone-to-forgetting-stuff brain to come back to when the year-end listmaking craze hits in a couple of months and an invitation for you to engage in similar Monday afternoon quantifying!

1. Ida Maria, "Oh My God"

Twitchy and bewitching, this song has stuck with me since I was first introduced to it in March in the type of way that results in me still drumming along with it after all these months.

2. Lloyd, "All Around The World (ft. Lil Wayne)"

Over the weekend, I realized that Lloyd's album is my most anticipated record of the year (well, not including Chinese Democracy, but at this point I think that record is in its own category). If it's half as good as this song is, the excitement will have been worth it.

3. Estelle, "American Boy"

I've gone on about this track (and its attendant album) quite a bit, so instead I'll just alert you to the fact that it now has Jay-Z's blessing (via Vulture):

4. Headlights, "Cherry Tulips"

The most instantly hummable chorus of the year. Maybe of the past two?

5. M83, "Graveyard Girl"

This and the Headlights song back-to-back on my list: A crystal-clear sign that I listened to a lot of WLIR/WDRE back in the day.

6. R.E.M., "Mr. Richards"

Yes, I do miss the '90s. Why do you ask?

7. Cherish, "Killa (ft. Yung Joc)"

This Atlanta R & B group has a knack for making semi-anonymous radio hits that get played often enough for me to vaguely remember their hooks and Google the lyrics during a down moment on the job. (See also.) This track from Step Up 2 The Streets crept into my consciousness so slowly, I thought it was Danity Kane for the first month or so that I was aware of it.

12:00 PM on Mon Jun 30 2008
By Maura Johnston
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10 comments

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by the rich girls are... at 12:34 PM on 06/30/08
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There is something delightfully subtle and like, SWV about Cherish, n'est pas? I like "Killa" quite a bit, but only really remember it when I see the video on MTVHits, which is actually not that often (it's rather nicely choreographed, styled, and produced, though!).
by Chris N. at 01:41 PM on 06/30/08
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"Play Count" doesn't lie -- mine must be "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros" by Flight of the Conchords.

+ Watch video

Remember to be constructive with your feedback, please.
by Halfwit at 01:51 PM on 06/30/08
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I've just started becoming aware of music released this year that wasn't beardrock (thanks, Zune Marketplace!). I really dig the Estelle song, though.

I've only ever been able to find the Ida Maria song in its duet form (I think that's the version that will be inlcuded on the album). I've renewed the faith of many friends in the power of music with that YouTube clip.
by CloudCarrier at 04:01 PM on 06/30/08
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The Ida Maria lp is one of my favorite of the year, even if she decided to rerecord her singles for the sake of the album's overall continuity. I can't say it hasn't made me nostalgic for the Strokes or anything, but I did re-buy those last two Urge Overkill records, probably as a direct result of it all.
by MayhemintheHood at 04:58 PM on 06/30/08
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I too will have to give props for the Ida Maria track. I'd never heard it before today. I'm at my desk at work, and after listening to it earlier in the morning, i've had it in my head since.
by Commonloon at 05:17 PM on 06/30/08
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Mr. Richards is my favorite track from The REM album. The melody is fantastic.

Graveyard Girl is good, but I'd have to pick Kim & Jessie off the M83 album.
by Chris N. at 05:23 PM on 06/30/08
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I am very encouraged by how well the REM album is holding up. Maybe I wasn't just willing myself to like it, as I feared.
by Weezy F Baby at 11:06 PM on 06/30/08
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Maura, I'm with you on the new Lloyd...Along with this, if there's a "Player's Prayer"-esque ballad, I'm sold.
by NeverEnough at 09:41 AM on 07/01/08
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Ida Maria is awesome.

You might also like "Two Doors Down" by The Mystery Jets.
by bcapirigi at 09:44 AM on 07/01/08
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i was really surprised when do it to it came out two years ago that cherish was a group of four sisters and not one lady whose parents were just bad with child-naming.