11. I’m Not Going to Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You – Black Kids

After the flurry of attention these 5 musicians from Florida received from their appearance at the Athens Popfest in 2007, the Black Kids released their debut album in early April 2008 with the upbeat, fun, and slightly gender bending track I’m Not Going to Teach Him How to Dance with You as the first single. The band is touring through Australia in January and in the UK with the Kaiser Chiefs in February and early March 2009. Let me know about the show if you get the change to go.

10. Shinny Love – Bon Iver

Bon Iver got a mention in my Mustache post earlier this year. The creation of the album, For Emma, Forever Ago, is an example of how much one person can complete on their own, specially today with the wide range of technology the average person has available. Justin Vernon spent 3 months in a remote cabin in northern Wisconsin writing and recording this album. He later self-released the record, which lead to the label Jagjaguwar signing the artist and re-releasing the album in late February 2008. Bon Iver has a new EP, called Blood Bank, set to be released in less that 2 weeks, which is on my “Must Check Out” list for sure!

9. Strawberry Swing – Coldplay

I wrote about Coldplay earlier this year when I finally broke down and bought their new album Vida La Vida.  Strawberry Swing remains my favourite track from the beautiful album. From its oriental sounding beginning to the souring sounds of Coldplay’s brilliant interplay of soft rhythms and guitar to Chris Martin singing “Its such a perfect day” in a way that makes you look around and recognize that in fact today is actually a perfect day.