Our first year as BYT (back in the land of shitty blog graphics and actually sleeping most nights) we had DC bands and DC DJs do a year end wrap up for us. This is what it looked like:

clickclick for nostalgia sake

Last year I forgot and then tried to recapture the magic but even though I am pretty sure I sent this out to everyone in my email list and most people promised me stuff back, holidays happened, and what we have on our hands is maybe a half round up.
However, even in half we have everything from the Swedish inflections of Hej Hej choices, deep house and disco courtesy of Chris Burns, some fine electro from the Rip Off men, choice unexpected cuts from Will Eatman, Autorock and Cassidy, and even an essay from the Sinister Intelligence Agency kids who frankly, are really nice once you meet them and survive the propaganda.
The DC scene is live, kicking and filling to brim with love for you and great music.

ENJOY.

Will Eastman
Nadastrom
Pussy ep (Dubsided)

D.C. dance music stepped up its game in 2008. Along with locals Tittsworth (“12 Steps”) Dmerit, and Triobelisk, Nadastrom is re-engineering the way people think about D.C. club music. Their debut ep reached #3 on Beatport as I write and that’s certainly just the beginning for this talented duo. Anything Nadastrom is pure fire in a DJ’s arsenal, in particular their remix of Lil Wayne’s “A Milli,” blared from club to club this past year which Kanye West called wicked “retarded” on his blog.

U.S. Royalty

There is a refreshing new wave of D.C. bands whose approach is confident, happily dispossessed of the past, and novel songwriting unabashedly tuneful. U.S. Royalty are talented musicians and songwriters, handsome, and genuinely good dudes. 2009 could bring next level goodness to the Royals. See also Deleted Scenes whose soaring, melancholy songs are blissful and beautiful.

Cut Copy
In Ghost Colours LP (Modular)

Do albums matter anymore? I think the answer is no… until someone like Cut Copy releases an album where every song is good enough to be a single then all the sudden albums seem relevant again. Ever since “Hearts On Fire” leaked in spring 2007, this album slowly built infrastructure in my heart and head like a city swallowing its smaller neighbors, nighttime city lights running beyond the horizon. Incidentally, they are also world-class DJs. Their set at the Blisspop/BYT after party at Redeem in the spring was inspired.

Aeroplane

In my opinion remix artist of the year. Aeroplane’s remixes exercise phenomenal restraint, never straying louder than they are lovely. In a single stroke, Aeroplane added new style to the remix lexicon, the perfect balance between electropop and deep house. I was converted by the duo’s take on The Shortwave Set’s “Now Til ’69,” made a true believer by their mix of Friendly Fire’s “Paris” and a disciple at the lush, deep rework of Grace Jones’ “William’s Blood,” which Jones’ label inexplicably turned down for release. Lucky for us that means it gets leaked immediately and we don’t have to wait to hear it! See also Lifelike & Kris Menace, The Twelves, Louis La Roche

Fleet Foxes

To be blunt, it takes a lot for an indiepop record to capture my attention. After more indiepop obsession and record collecting than any normal, self-respecting man would admit, indiepop has a high bar to reach with me, and that’s the way it should be for any critical musical listener, right? A record has to be a masterpiece in order to get through the many stages of critical screening, but once it’s in, it’s in. Fleet Foxes got past security, picked the lock, ate everything in my refrigerator, used all the clean towels, left my record collection in shambles, and didn’t even leave a thank you note before departing for their next gig. I didn’t mind. See also: Ladyhawke, Passion Pit

Kraak & Smaak
Hercules & Love Affair
Bird Peterson

Novel approaches to funk, disco and hip-hop respectively, yielding much respect from this DJ in 2008.

Side-chain bass compression

You simply weren’t in a dance club this year if you didn’t hear Sinden, Switch, or Crookers bust some side-chain bass compression on your torso. That’s the producers’ technique that seamlessly clears a track of all but the bass frequency in rapid-fire succession, clearing the way for more powerful and resonating kick drums and bass drops. Used by radio DJs for a long time to automatically lower the music during voice-overs, producers have adapted the technique for the dance floor with remarkable results. Two tracks that make excellent use of the technique, and got constant rotation in my sets this year, are Fake Blood’s “Mars” and Young MC “Bust A Move” (Don Rimini Ravekid RMX).

Lykke Li remixes

“A Little Bit” (Matas Berlin remix)
“I'm Good, I'm Gone” (Fred Falke Vocal Mix)
“Breaking It Up” (Punks Jump Up remix)

Is it her voice, her lyrics, or simply the zeitgeist of exceptional producers putting her songs to software and emerging on the other end with something freakishly attractive? It doesn’t really matter. I listened to these remixes at the gym, at the club, in my sleep.

Neal Becton - DJ Neville C. - Owner Som Records

Ten Best Things About 2008 -

1) Obama, Ohama, Obama. The eight year nightmare will be over soon. Nice economy they've left us with though!

2) Vinyl records making yet another comeback. Props to the DJ's still using wax (which still sounds best to my ears).

3) Celebrating the one year anniversary of my "Brazilian Rhythms" night at Saint-Ex. More and more Brazilians coming out each month. Thanks to BYT and the Washington Post for all the early love!

4) Seeing the Duke Spirit the Ottobar in Baltimore. Great show and a great venue. Always nice to get out of NW even for a night.

5) Nick Cave at the 9:30 Club. Gives me hope that an old(ish) guy can still rock and still take chances.

6) Marvin sticking to their musical guns and not dumbing it down on the weekends.

7) Civilian Art Projects. Openings and shows. Always something interesting and fun going on there.

8) Albums by Hercules Love Affair, MGMT, Vampire Weekend, Toumani Diabate, Jay Reatard, TV on the Radio, Cut Copy, Santogold, and the various Numero and Mississippi Records compilations.

9) Record digging road trips with my wife, especially the one last month when we found hundreds of minty fresh post-punk and industrial records in an x-rated video and stripper supply store in North Carolina.

10) Soul music officially back. Real musicians playing real instruments in real time. Now if we could only kill the insidious auto-tune movement...

Chris Burns

Top ten is so cliche, so I elaborated on eleven records that were released in 2008 and that made me stoked to play out. These are offered in no particular order. The notables I list at the bottom were also big records for me in tha clubbbb.

"Make Dance (Mark E Edit) - Golf Channel
This fantastic Chic edit came out only on vinyl this summer and is a stunning down tempo groove that can bang a party at peak time just as well as anything in the 120-130 BPM range. Mark E is on some next level shit with edits and productions on Golf Channel and other labels. His Resident Advisor mix was one of my favorite of the year.

Phash - Running - Archive Records

I love it when an awesome record comes with an equally awesome DJ Tool that I can tease a main mix in with. The reprise is awesome and loose, and the main mix is carried by a catchy vocal and a very funky bassline. This is a slower 4x4 record that I slipped in when playing midtempo disco and used it when I wanted to start a gradual transition into house.

Nathan Adams - Circles - Raw Records

It still pays to check out what's still being released on vinyl, as I think these end of year picks reflect and "Circles" is a gorgeous release that still hasn't made its way onto digital release. I made a special trip to DJ Hut for this one. The lush, backing instrumental is pretty good, but it's the vocal stylings that really carry this one through and make it great. I really hope this guy puts out more bigger sounding stuff with other producers.

Maxmillion Dunbar - "Zoob" and "Wouldn't Matter - CDR/Unreleased
My Disco City partner in crime has really been stepping up his game this year production wise and has been making fantastic, cerebral midtempo original groovers and edits. Zoob is a great production that samples the ending of one of my favorite Prelude boogie records by the Gunchback Boogie Band, while "Wouldn't Matter" builds around an amazing Minnie Riperton hook. Definitely be on the look out for Andrew's new vinyl label www.futuretimes.org and "Wouldn't Matter" is most likely going to be released on an edits EP in the UK.

Miamik (llorca) - "Insatiable" - SSOH

90s house is something that I have definitely been focusing on collecting and working into my sets this year, and the legendary Murk sound produced by Oscar G and Ralph Falcon of Miami has had a huge influence on stuff that I like to drop at the climax of my nights. "Insatiable" replicates this sound to a T and pulls it off beautifully like it was made 15 years ago. This track made alot of top tens in the year, but the vocal and instrumental are so fierce and straight ahead I couldn't possibly leave it off my list.

Kerri Chandler - TSIY Instrumental - white label

This was a vinyl white label, instrumental release of another remix that Kerri Chandler did by Ricksoundsystem titled, "The Sound is Yours." I have really been turned off by his stuff in the past 2-3 years, but this little gem packs a serious punchin a room with a decent system. Another great track perfect for riding acapellas on. The other generic shit he has been putting out does not compare to this razor sharp, classic-esque piece of work.

Runway - Brooklyn Club Jam - Rekids/DFA

I slept on this until DFA picked it up and released it. The echoed drums and the building, 90s piano meld together perfectly and the breakdown brings a nice joy to the dancefloor. I am very surprised this record stay in the nu-disco circles and didn't cross over in to the sets of some of the playlists of deep house jocks.

DJ Gomi - Glad I Found You (Blaze Imprint)

This was technically released in December 2007, but I don't think I got wind of it until early in 2008. A fierce, big sounding vocal track. Scott Wozniak's version is infinitely superior than all of the other versions.

Boddhi Satva - Warriors of Africa (Offering Records)

I am not sure when this was actually released becuase it was picked up, remixed and released by Shelter Records as well. All I know is that should never happened becuase the original is impeccable and the Shelter mixes sound like garbage. I got asked about this record when I played it more than a few time. It was a perfect launching point after I would cleanse the vibe with one of those conga-laced drum solo tracks in the vein of Joe Claussell/Sacred Rhythm stuff.

Jazzanova - Let Me Show Ya (Henrik Schwarz Remix) - Verve

Schwarz rarely fails me with his reinterpretations. The arrangement and sparse use of the vocal is PERFECT on this slower house remix record. The orchestral strings mixed with the little piano bleeps eventually give way to a progessively building techy texture that explodes by the middle of the record.

Timmy Regisford/Adam Rios - Bubble Track (Restricted Access)

Like most of the releases that are released on any of the Shelter camp's labels, this track was beat to death every Sunday for a while before it was released to the general public. Although the Shelter is now closed indefinitely, I will always remember being at the club in the Spring and hearing a packed house go wild as Mr. Regisford beat this track 3-4 times during the afternoon. Nonetheless, its an amazing techy track that is highly distinguished from the oft-homogenized soundbanks of most producers who aim in the area of this sound. Stellar stuff thats perfect for use with layering on vocals and working the knobs with.

Other notables I was playing out: Ovasoul 7 & DJ Spinna - You Should Be Loving Me, Peven Everett - Feeling Who You Are (Shelter Mix), Jill Scott - Miles & Milez (Hallstrom Remix), Ludovic Allen - Mr. P, Roy Ayers - Brand New Feeling (Shelter Mix), Soul Phiction - Ganna Wadada (Lost Men Remix), Gel Abril - Spells of Yoruba, Boyd Jarvis - Couldn't Love You More (Mr. K Edit), Dataworx - Control, Boddhi Satva - Punch Koko, Dalminjo - I'll Wait, Lou Gorbea - Gorbea (Synth Tool), Ananda Project - Moment Before Dreaming (Idjut Boys Remix), Ananda Project - Let Love Fly Part 2 (Joe Claussell Cosmic Dub), Simon Baker - Plastik (Todd Terje Remix)

Sinister Intelligence Agency DJs

them must have spit out their air hose and was drowning. Goddamit. I turned to Kevin. He noticed it too and was looking into the back of the van as sodium street lights scissored across his face. Drummer he said, shrugged, and turned back to his I-Phone. I hate that fucking thing. You would think his new app that told him when to buy more breakfast cereal or whatever was some how more relevant than having all the whimpering members of Vampire Weekend bound in the rear of our van while submerged in BBQ sauce. His sub-plan of how to keep the sauce confined to the back was also quickly breaking down and the goop was slowly filling up almost to the clutch. Fuckin Kevin. Though his idea of pinning them down flat in the back with a big piece of chain link fence U-bolted through the van body was pretty good. But now one was going to be dead from drowning in that brown zesty filth.. probably a good idea, really.

If you head north on 295 out of DC, past the NASA center and make a right onto Powder Mill Road, there is a hog farm run by the Department of Agriculture for research purposes. Some of the research involves the hogs being basically starved to try and minimize the amount of grain needed to produce each pound of ham there-bye cutting costs. Hence, anything you would throw at 'em they chow down to nothing in seconds. Just like in Snatch. My plan to feed the marinated members of Vampire Weekend to them had originally seemed alot more stellar and monumental with lots of flames and strobe lights and me howling into a mic on top of the van which was obviously full of metal chicks. But here I was with Kevin and the only accoutrement we had was the I-Pod boom-box that I would use to thinly blast Beneath The Massacre at them during the feeding process. Could I really make fun of his stupid little tricorder when I was pulling off 'master schemes' with yet another mac product? Pathetic. Ah well. I opened another beer with the seat belt.

The RipOFF's Top 10 of 2008

Houston:
Telemetrik - My Lightyear LP
Sub Focus - Timewarp
Noisia - Stigma
Black Ghosts - Some Way Through This
Evol Intent - The Curtain Falls
Proxy - The Raven
Atlantic Connection - Rock Steady ( LA Riots Rmx)
John B - When the time comes
Klaxons - Golden Skans (Sebastian Rmx)
Lil Wayne - A Milli (Nadastrom Rmx)
Crookers - Love to edit

Scotbot:
I Against I 2:51 Bad Brains 2 I Against I
Rocket Queen 6:14 Guns 'N Roses 12 Appetite For Destruction
Little Bit (AutoErotique Bootleg Remix) 3:56 Lykke Li
Buttons (CSS Remix) 3:29 Sia 5 of 7 Buttons (The Remixes)
Fly Or Bounce (Bart B More Rerub) 6:26 Destroy Disco
Ghosts N Stuff 6:11 Deadmau5 1 of 1 Ghosts N Stuff
Miure Module 5:43 BlackDisco
Laugh, Cry, Live, Die (Eater remix) 4:35 Tronik Youth
Touch Too Much (Fake Blood Remix) 5:53 Hot Chip
Kicking and Screaming (Bang Gang's E is for edit) 6:53 The Presets
Office Boy (Shir Khan Mix) 6:14 Bonde Do Role 4 Office Boy

Illy:
Kid Cudi- Day and Night (Crookers Rmx)?
MGMT - Kids (Soulwax RMX)
?Little Boots - Stuck on Repeat (Fake Blood Rmx)
?Hail Social - Heaven (Designer Drugs Rmx)?
D.O.T.R - Thats My Steez
?Proxy - The Raven?
Rusko - 2 N A Q ?
Juice String- Sex Weed (Laid Back Luke Rmx) ?
Treasure Fingers - Across The Dancefloor
?Fake Blood- Mars

AutoRock's Top 10 Albums of the Y'arrrr:

1) TV on the Radio - Dear Science
Sexy as hell. Love the crispy production. Halfway Home is one of my favorite opening tracks of all time.
2) Flying Lotus - Los Angeles
Best headphone record of the year.
3) El Guincho - Alegranza
"Kalise" is a carnival for your ears. So is the rest of the album.
4) Cut Copy - In Ghost Colours
5) Max Tundra - Parallax Error Beheads You
I get something new from this album ever time I listen to it. There are dozens of little melodic earworms in every damn song.
6) Hercules & Love Affair - S/T
7) Esau Mwamaya and Radioclit are the Very Best Mixtape
8) Girl Talk - Feed the Animals
9) Hot Chip - Made in the Dark
10) Q-tip - The Renaissance

Ca$$idy

These aren’t songs I necessarily mix in my sets… These are just songs that I held dear in 2008.

1. Lissy Trullie “Self Taught Learner” - Lissy’s voice and sound is uniquely special, it takes me back to that particular moment in time when my serotonin was being released naturally at a more rapid pace than anything chemically induced could ever do. Yes, that’s why…

2. US Royalty “Every Summer” – It’s not that I’m biased because I love these gentleman but they are truly amazingly talented, admit it. The Summer of 2008 will be remembered as a Summer of self discovery, new friends and happiness. This was my Summer Anthem.

3. MGMT “Time to Pretend”- I don’t care how played out MGMT got, this whole album makes me smile. The girls and I had this track on repeat in our rented Mustang going 100+ miles per hour in the hot rain on the NJ Turnpike on our way to NYC fashion week. Good song, great memories, best friends… forever.

4. Hot Chip “Ready for the Floor” – I will never get tired of this track… Every time I play this I want to leave the DJ’s booth and find a beautiful stranger on the dance floor to fall madly in love with, hold on and never let go.

5. Lil’ Wayne “A Millie” – I’m not going to lie, up until Virgin Fest I had absolutely no idea who Lil’ Wayne was and I still don’t completely understand how he could also be Weezy nor do I claim to know anything about hip hop. Regardless, this track is killer… mad dope yo, holler!

Kathryn Wildt

These are a few of my favorite songs of the year. I've played them all at My Favorite Dress (and many of them at iPod Jukebox). Favorite is determined by the songs I keep listening to over and over, those I
sing and dance along to, and those I put on a playlist for when I've had a crappy day at work.

Ladyhawke – Paris S'enflamme
Theresa Andersson – Birds Fly Away
Lykke Li – I'm Good, I'm Gone (Little Bit, Dance, Dance, Dance, etc)
The Color Wheels - Green Means Go
Those Dancing Days – Hitten
The School – Let It Slip
Baby Grand - Best & Brightest
Golden Silvers – Magic Touch
Photons - This Must Be Love
Crystal Stilts – Crippled Croon
Magic Wands - Teenage Love
Sparks – Lighten Up, Morrissey
Princeton – The Waves
Boris and the Jeltsins – Lyckliga Dagar
Now, Now Every Children - Everyone You Know

DJ Meistro
myspace.com/djmeistro

Top Ten Dancefloor Bombs of 2008:

10. Faze Action - Hypnotic (Disco Mix)
The extremely versitile Faze Action show's his "space disco" side with this synthy vocal groover. This one sounds like a cross between 1984 and 2008 and it works. Always a trainspotter when I run it.

9. SOS - Colegiala
Straight outta Vienna, Austria, S.O.S. drops this midtempo Latin groover on DJ Sabo's SolSelectas label. This is one of those tracks that you can let play from start to finish and it just gets better. Perfect transition from the warm-up set to peaktime, this isn't leaving the crate for a while.

8. Idan K - Iijadu Tribute
I met Idan in Tel Aviv this summer and he hooked me up with some MONSTER Afrobeat tracks, this being the best of the bunch. Dude plays in like 5 bands and leads his own Afrobeat orchestra called "Idan K and the Movement of Rhythm" which I unfortunately never got to see myself. Remember the name "Idan K" though...you'll hear it again, I am sure.

7. DJ Mujava - Township Funk (Ashley Beedle Africanz on Marz re-edit)
Mujava is probably on a lot of top 10s this year and for good reason. Literally out of nowhere this South African artist took the global club circuit by storm with this raw, low-end number. Ashley Beedle's edit is subtle, but makes it a little better suited for the dancefloor.

6. John Johnson feat Ben Tett and Ben Tyree - Funkular Crouton
I heard Sam "The Man" Burns drop this a few times and I could not figure out what the hell it was. Turns out it is by DC's own John Johnson (of DJ Hut fame). This is a piano and sax driven deep percussive groove that sets dance floors ablaze.

5. Da Lata feat Diabel Cissokho - This is Not Your Job
Afro house at it's finest. Really funky groove + great percussion and amazing vocals = winner.

4. Doug Willis - Dougswana feat. Zeke Manyika (Joey Negro Club Mix)
Legendary Zeke Manyika and Doug Willis aka Joey Negro team up on this Afro monster. HUGE horns, synths, and vocals give this one more of a disco twist. Joey Negro strikes again.

3. Son of Raw - Black Man in Space (Sax mix)
Dennis Ferrer aka Son of Raw is pretty much my favorite house producer of the moment and he delivers on this one. A funky saxophone atop a dark techy groove and we have a classic.

2.Chaka Khan feat Mary J Blige - Disrespectful (Q's Shelter Vocal)
Another one I heard first from Sam Burns. Quentin Harris's take on this newish Chaka tune drips with soul and PUMPS on a big system.

1. Hector Lavoe - Mi Gente (Louie Vega EOL Remix)
Louie Vega's take on the Salsa classic and the lead single from "I Like it Like That: Fania Remixed." And goddamn, whenever I drop it (which is often) it feels like Spanish Harlem, circa 1975 and everyone busts out their Salsa moves. Instant classic.

In no particular order, 2008 Scandinavian favorites from the Hej Hej DJs, who are excited to be celebrating their two-year anniversary next month!

Lykke Li's album Youth Novels
No big surprise here; Sweden's Lykke Li will appear on many best-of lists this year. "I'm Good, I'm Gone" had heads bopping and hands clapping each time we played it, and her recent show at the Black Cat was one of the year's biggest pleasant surprises.

Alphabeat's album This is Alphabeat
The debut album from Danish pop band Alphabeat hit Europe with a smash. "10,000 Nights of Thunder" and "Fascination" are the kind of happy tunes that remind us why we fell in love with Scandinavian pop.

The Raveonettes' album Lust Lust Lust
The Danish duo, now living in NYC, brought back the noise with Lust Lust Lust. We were quickly hooked on the fuzz-drenched "Aly, Walk with Me" while the '60s-flavored "You Want the Candy" got lots of toes tapping at Hej Hej.

Ida Maria's single "Oh My God"
Norway's Ida Maria turned out an impressive debut album, Fortress Round My Heart, earlier this year. Her infectious single "Oh My God" was in regular rotation at Hej Hej in 2008.

Hello Saferide's single "Anna"
For every girl who's ever wondered how kids with that guy who broke up with her might have turned out, this song earned a collective sigh from the crowd when Hello Saferide performed at House of Sweden earlier this year.

Juvelen's album 1
Although it hasn't been released in the United States yet, we had to include this album from Sweden's indie Justin Timberlake. We've been waiting for more ever since we first started playing "Hanna" more than a year ago--and it was worth the wait. In addition to "Hanna," don't miss "Money Don't Talk" and "Don't Mess."

PYT
2008 brought us a new venture from one of the members of Le Sport, a Swedish band that broke up after releasing just one awesome album. PYT has only put out three songs so far, but we can't wait to hear more.

The Asteroids Galaxy Tour's single "The Sun Ain't Shining No More"
The newly-formed Danish band blend soul, funk and pop to form tracks that you will love at first listen.

Annie's single "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me"
Annie does what she does best--electronica with a pop edge--on her single, "I Know Ur Girlfriend Hates Me." This track will be out on her next album, Don't Stop, in 2009.

The LK's album "Vs. the Snow"
It seems like the LK have been in our lives for so much longer than a year, but it wasn't until this year that DC's own Kora Records released Vs. the Snow in the U.S., with a major tour and much media love to follow.

Frederik's album Na Na Ni
From the people who brought you the LK: more band members, more experimental pop, absolutely lovely.

I'm From Barcelona's album Who Killed Harry Houdini?
Sweden's 30-member pop group released their second album in fall of 2008, continuing to provide an eclectic mix of smooth vocals, fun lyrics and innovative instrumentals. The single "Music Killed Me" was remixed into the dance-inspiring "Music Killed Me Vs. Madonna" by Sweden's Adventure Kid. mp3: http://www.adventurekid.se/AdventureKid-MusicKilledMe.mp3

Firefox AK single "Winter Rose" feat. Tiger Lou
From the album "If I Were a Melody," this synth-y pop song highlights one of the things Swedes do best: addictive upbeat songs with wistful lyrics.

Honorary mention: Robyn's album Robyn
Yes, this album has been around for a couple of years now, but it wasn't until 2008 that it was finally (!) released in the United States and Robyn got the mainstream recognition she deserves.

DAN AMITAI

This year has seen some great music releases. Specifically, I've been very excited to see the number of quality tunes coming out of the dubstep community.  Better known like Zomby, Scuba, Rusko, Distance and 2562 have had some great tracks out, as well as many smaller producers beginning to experiment with the sound.  Here are fifteen of my favorite tracks released in '08 -- it was hard to narrow down, believe me.  I tried to pick the more "accessible" ones, I guess, so there are a lot of covers/remixes of well known tunes. In no particular order:

• Suspicious Stench - "Ghost Town" (originally by The Specials)
• Massive Attack - "Teardrop" (Vibraslut remix)
• Aaliyah - "Try Again" (Macabre Unit re-edit)
• Vista - "Exit Wounds"
• 2pac - "Fake Ass Bitches" (Dubbel Dutch remix)
• TRG - "Generation" (Breakage remix)
• 2562 - "Moog Dub"
• Zomby - "Spliff Dub" (Rustie remix)
• Silkie - "I Sed"
• Scuba - "Hard Boiled"
• Rusko & Caspa - "Bread Get Bun"
• Meat Beat Manifesto - "Less"
• Distance - "Present Day"
• Cauto - "Old School"
• Benga vs. Coki - "Night"

I've included these tracks in full as low-quality MP3s. Please support the artists -- you can find the MP3s and records for purchase on BeatPort, Juno, Bleep etc.

What's even more exciting than this, though, are some of the amazing dubstep tracks coming out locally, right here in DC. A lot of people don't realize it, but we have some very talented producers here in the city, from Mob Barley in Georgetown, to Jaybird in Stanton Park, to ill.selection in Brookland, as well as many others right outside the city in PG County and Northern VA. Some local dubstep tunes:

• Jukata / Mob Barley - "Mindlock" http://dcdubstep.com/2008/jukata-mindlock/
• Aligning Minds - "Solid Stance" http://dcdubstep.com/2008/aligning-minds-solid-stance/
• SUNe MC - "Ha Ha Ha" http://dcdubstep.com/2008/sune-mc-ha-ha-ha/

Keep an eye on dcdubstep.com for what's coming in 2009!

AND FINALLY

from Fritz Hahn and Kathryn and The Cricklewood Missive
part 1 for download

part 2 for download

This is our annual CD-length compilation of favorite songs that were released in 2008 and played at iPod Jukebox. As always, we're decidedly old-school and make a playlist that fits on one CD, so you can either stick it on your MP3 player or burn a copy to listen to in the car. When putting this together, we realized we had at least another disc's-worth of material, so watch this space.

1. Eli 'Paperboy' Reed & The True Loves - Am I Wasting My Time (From "Roll With You")
Saw him twice this year, and was blown away both times. Close your eyes and you're listening to some unreleased Sam Cooke. Open them and it's a 20-something white boy from Boston.

2. Vapnet - Stockholm, Sett Snett Uppifrån (From "Döda Fallet")
An amazing indie group from the middle of Sweden. Unlike much of the Swedish pop that makes it to these shores, it's sung in Swedish. Fans of Peter, Bjorn and John and the Concretes should ignore the language barrier -- we're told the title roughly means "Stockholm, seen from above" -- and enjoy.

3. Ane Brun - The Treehouse Song (From "Changing of the Seasons")
The Sworwegian Dolly Parton, with beautiful indie/country songs and a rich voice. Her concert at the House of Sweden with Tobias Froberg and Theresa Andersson was one of our favorites of the year.

4. Club 8 - Heaven (From "The Boy Who Couldn't Stop Dreaming")
We've long been fans of Club 8 -- their "Missing You" is in the iPod Jukebox all-time Top 10 -- for melding a Sarah Records sensibility with Saint Etienne's skillful hooks.

5. Those Dancing Days - Hitten (From "In Our Space Hero Suits")
Teenagers from Stockholm who back up their love of girl groups and '60s Northern Soul with insanely good tunes.

6. The Courteeners - Not Nineteen Forever (From "St. Jude)
washingtonpost.com Music Editor David Malitz refers to this type of song as "Music for a Sofia Coppola film." He's got a point. Currently being played at football matches in the band's hometown of Manchester, and earning praise from Morrissey.

7. Pelle Carlberg - Nicknames (Feat. Karolina Komstedt Of Club 8) (From "The Lilac Time")
An album full of wry, breezy indie-pop tunes, here with fellow Swede Karolina Komstedt of Club 8.

8. Julie Ocean - My Revenge (From "Long Gone And Nearly There")
A classic D.C. indie-pop song from, from the chiming guitars to the bouncing rhythm section to the sing-along "whoo-hoo" part of the chorus. No surprise that the musicians are veterans of some of the city's most storied indie-pop bands, including Velocity Girl, Glo-Worm, the Highback Chairs and Sweetbelly Freakdown. Unfortunately not a surprise: the band broke up after one brilliant album.

Morrissey - All You Need Is Me (From the "All You Need Is Me" single)
A return to form.

Johnny Foreigner - Salt, Pepper And Spinderella (From "Waited Up Til It Was Light")
A string of promising singles and the "Arcs Across the City" EP heralded great things for the Birmingham-based trio. This track, paying tribute to the first great female rap threesome, features snarling guitars and boy-girl vocal interplay.

The Rushes - Corners (From the "Corners" single)
All we know about the Rushes: They're from South London, and man do they have an ear for a hook. Hopefully they're not the new Scouting For Girls.

XX Teens - Only You (From "Welcome to Goon Island")
Okay, so "Welcome to Goon Island" isn't a classic, or anywhere near it. Sometimes it sounds like the Fall, sometimes the band's trying just a wee bit too hard to be anthemic. But you know what? It's fun, there's plenty of energy and they occasionally nail the two-minute-plus single you can sing along with while jumping around.

The Little Ones - Morning Tide (From "Morning Tide")
Sounds like the Beach Boys meets Spearmint to us, which is a very good thing.

Mgmt - Time To Pretend
Song of the year. Hey, did you know they went to Wesleyan? Maybe Alexandra met them at a naked party or something.

Estelle - American Boy (Feat. Kanye West) (From the "American Boy" promo 12" single)
An inescapable summer hit -- on our iPods anyway. She was fantastic when we saw her at the Hard Rock Cafe, even without Kanye.

The Roots - Rising Up (Feat. Chrisett Michelle & Wale) (From "Rising Up")
Illadelph's finest cop a go-go pocket on the title track from their latest album, so it's only natural that they enlist D.C.'s hottest property to rip a few verses.

The Herbaliser - You're Not All That (From "Same As It Never Was")
The nasty horns, jittery guitar and gutbucket bass could have come from some long-lost late-60s Stax side. Instead, you're listening to a new song from a hip-hop-influenced band -- yesm band -- led by two DJs from the Ninja Tune label. One of the best funk/soul albums of the year.

Dizzee Rascal - Dance Wiv Me (Feat. Calvin Harris)
Those who heard "I LUv U" back in 2003 knew Dizzee Rascal was going to be a star. He's had a lot of underground success since, but this irresistable single proved that he could cross from the grime charts to pop stardom.

Wiley - Wearing My Rolex (Radio Edit) (From the "Wearing My Rolex" single)
2008: The Year Grime Broke. Like his former protegee Dizzee Rascal, Wiley moved to a more dancefloor-friendly sound on this electro-house single, and it paid off with a number two spot on the UK singles chart. (Other noteworthy tracks on the new "See Clear Now" album include collaborations with Hot Chip and Lily Allen.)

The Cool Kids - 88 (From "The Bake Sale")
The real old-school hip-hop, singing about BMX bikes and doing the Smurf over a killer drum machine break.

Benga - Night (Radio Edit Extended) (From "Afro Warrior")
THe biggest dubstep tune of late 2007 FINALLY got a proper release in 2008. I spun the full six-minute version of this at iPod Jukebox, but the radio edit gets the point across and fits on this CD.

Kanye West - Love Lockdown (From "808s and Heartbreak")
Beneath the subwoofer-rattling bass, the brooding synths and the haunting auto-tuned vocals is one of the most naked emotional performances of the year.

Previously in I Heart DC:

• 2/2: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
• 2/1: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use:
• 1/31: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 1/30: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 1/30: Capital City Diner: Up All Night
• 1/27: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 1/26: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 1/25: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 1/24: DC News You Can (Maybe) Use
• 1/24: PHOTOS: Washington Ballet's Mad Hatter Dance Party