According to iTunes, my 10 most played songs of 2008 come from only two albums: Frightened Rabbit’s The Midnight Organ Fight and Sera Cahoone’s Only As the Day Is Long. Which probably explains how these two albums found themselves at the top of my Top 10 Albums of 2008 list. But my most played tracks in iTunes are not my Top 10 Songs of 2008 for a couple reasons. First, it would be a little boring. Second, I would probably run into legal issues if I posted half the songs from those two albums.

With that said, I present my actual list below. The songs are ordered in a way that I think flows best. A zip file containing all 10 tracks is provided below for your convenience. Enjoy!

• 1. Drive-By Truckers – Two Daughters and a Beautiful Wife

  Starts the mix off on a sad note, though it’s hard to tell because it’s such a pretty song.

• 2. Shearwater – Rooks

  So intense and haunting, yet so gorgeous. Amazing guitar riff.

• 3. Sera Cahoone – Only As the Day Is Long

  Simple but powerful drum beat. Probably my favorite song of 2008.

• 4. Okkervil River – Lost Coastlines

  I loved this song the first time I heard it – very infectious and fun.

• 5. Frightened Rabbit – The Twist

  Another catchy song. Sounds best when played loud. Very loud.

• 6. Frightened Rabbit – Backwards Walk

  Amazing lyrics. Eases the transition to the slower songs that follow.

• 7. Grand Archives – George Kaminski

  Didn’t really appreciate this one until I heard it live – simply stunning.

• 8. Bon Iver – Skinny Love

  You can literally hear the emotion pouring from Justin Vernon as he belts out the chorus.

• 9. Justin Townes Earle – Far Away In Another Town

  Perfectly captures a sentiment I’ve always hoped to be true (but probably isn’t).

• 10. Sera Cahoone – Seven Hours Later

  Ends the mix on a sad note – bringing the whole thing full circle.

• Download entire mix