It was an impressively bearded year — a year when many bands seemed to retreat to the woods, literally and figuratively, to make quieter, more personal recordings. 2008 was less about innovation and more about getting back to basics: solid songwriting, with simple guitar lines, percussion, and stunning harmonies. While bigger, more established bands like Coldplay and My Morning Jacket returned with bold, anthemic albums, debut CDs from new, smaller acts were the most memorable.
On this edition of All Songs Considered, host Bob Boilen talks with Carrie Brownstein (Monitor Mix blogger), Stephen Thompson (editor for Song of the Day), and Robin Hilton (All Songs producer and host of Second Stage) about the year in music. What were the biggest surprises of 2008? What were the best new bands, or the best songs? Listen and let us know what you think by joining the NPR online community, and sharing your comments below.
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