It's been a while but here's a long over-due post in the form of a year-end compilation. It's not so much a "top picks" as a collection of sounds that proved to be good company over the past year.

Firstly, for me, this was the year of Frightened Rabbit. What is it about this band? Everything they do sounds familiar - like an old friend - but at the same time it's very much its own thing. There are more innovative. complex and revelatory bands out there, but these are the guys I want with me on a road trip, in the subway or sitting on the front stoop on a summer night. Midnight Organ Fight has been my constant companion since early this year, and even as I sit here listening to it for the umpteenth time, it still sounds fresh - mmmm, rabbit...

Here's a quick list of the some of my fave also-rans for 2008 in no specific order:

I came late to Margot and the Nuclear So & So's and can't say enough about them. Animal! and Not Animal are chock full of layered, charming and moving music including the gateway song "As Tall as Cliffs" - check out the blogoteque video posted here (oh vincent moon, how I love you)

Margot and the Nuclear So & So's - As Tall as cliffs - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

Thao Nguyen with The Get Down Stay Down is Cat Power's joyous little sister. I came for the name and stayed for the vocal frying and beat boxing. I'm really excited to see what comes next from this artist and her bag of hammers.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds. More proof that you can't keep a good man down. What's better than Dig Lazarus Dig!!!? Three exclamation points, ladies and gentlemen. Count 'em. Three.

"That's not my Name" by The Ting Tings is the hands-down winner of the Earworm of the Year Award. I have yet to get through that song without jumping to my feet and shaking my money-maker. Maryjolisa, its all the same...

TV on the Radio is great. You know it. I know it. Is there any more that needs to be said? If you don't have Dear Science, get it already.

She & Him - mostly because it gives me a chance to talk about the delicious m ward, but much to the contrary of several of my compatriots, I think ms. deschanel has voice like a bell and knows how to deliver a lyric.

Bassekou Kouyate + Ngoni ba's amazing album "Segu Blue" showcases Mr. Kouyate mastery on the ngoni - the West African lute that's an ancestor of the modern banjo - and his wife Ami Sacko's vocals on songs like Jonkoloni pierce my heart every time. A must, must have.

Oh Lightspeed Champion, with your beardy, big glasses and funk-folk stylie. I thought your last band had a great name (the Test Icicles), but here you are as the indy post-punk superhero for a new millenium. The reach of your image is still slightly beyond the grasp of your music, but songs like "Tell Me What its Worth" prove that you're much more than a hipster flavor of the month.

A special thank you to Vampire Weekend for writing a long overdue ode to the "Oxford Comma". Now when I witter on about the latest trends in punctuation, my beleaguered colleagues can sing along.

I hate to hate during this festive time of year, but I feel compelled to make a brief statement about the fuss surrounding Fleet Foxes. Album of the year? Really? I mean, they're fine. They're not terrible - a bit dull, but not terrible. They are awfully twee though aren't they? Don't get me wrong, I can definitely go for a bit of twee now and again, but these guys make Belle and Sebastian look like a biker band by comparison (and, again, I love Belle and Sebastian). Feel free to let the comments fly - I'm ready

Finally, here's a quick list of very honorable mentions for newish music that has been very kind to me this year: MGMT, Metric, Erykha Badu, Broken Social Scene, The Raconteurs, DJ Rekha, Goldfrapp, Robots in Disguise, Deathcab for Cutie, The Walkmen and an oldie but greatie, Marc Ribot and his fingers of fury.

Here's to a new year filled with peace love, joy, blah blah blah (oh, and the new Andrew Bird!)

Are you calling me darling?...