From now until January 13, I'll be featuring my favourite tracks of 2008, some of which have already appeared in Click Hear throughout the year, some of which haven't.
I have to admit that when Dan Snaith picked up the 2008 Polaris Music Prize in September it felt like there actually was some justice in this world. There was definitely some strong competition (Holy Fuck, namely) but as far as celebrating an album of the "highest artistic integrity," the judges hit it square on the nose by selecting Caribou's 2007 beauty, Andorra.
While 2008 was mostly a year of touring his pants off and working on a new album (which some of that mighty big Polaris cheque will pay for), Caribou also dropped a single in March that continued to stick with me as one of the year's best for nine months.
"She's the One" is not the best representation of Caribou's abilities, as far as boundary-pushing goes - if you're looking for that, I'd suggest "After Hours" or "Jacknuggeted" from 2003's Up in Flames. Instead, it's the pudding that proves he's a gifted songwriter who can also remain inside the box for once and write something that's both a gorgeous ballad and an addictive pop song. Assisted on vocals by high school friend and Junior Boy Jeremy Greenspan, Snaith and his adept team of psych craftsmen added yet another entry into the "She's the One" songbook, alongside worthy peers like the Beta Band, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen and World Party.
I have to admit that when Dan Snaith picked up the 2008 Polaris Music Prize in September it felt like there actually was some justice in this world. There was definitely some strong competition (Holy Fuck, namely) but as far as celebrating an album of the "highest artistic integrity," the judges hit it square on the nose by selecting Caribou's 2007 beauty, Andorra.
While 2008 was mostly a year of touring his pants off and working on a new album (which some of that mighty big Polaris cheque will pay for), Caribou also dropped a single in March that continued to stick with me as one of the year's best for nine months.
"She's the One" is not the best representation of Caribou's abilities, as far as boundary-pushing goes - if you're looking for that, I'd suggest "After Hours" or "Jacknuggeted" from 2003's Up in Flames. Instead, it's the pudding that proves he's a gifted songwriter who can also remain inside the box for once and write something that's both a gorgeous ballad and an addictive pop song. Assisted on vocals by high school friend and Junior Boy Jeremy Greenspan, Snaith and his adept team of psych craftsmen added yet another entry into the "She's the One" songbook, alongside worthy peers like the Beta Band, Ramones, Bruce Springsteen and World Party.
