Sarah Saulnier
(No Particular Order)
1.      Jason Mraz- We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.
2.      of Montreal- Skeletal Lamping
3.      Julian Koster’s Caroling Tour
4.      The Nightman Cometh (Musical)
5.      She & Him- Volume One (Best Album EVER)
6.      The Broken West- Now or Heaven
7.      The Steel Train concert in Greensboro, NC
8.      Starting work at Merge. (DUH)
9.      Arcade Fire and Superchunk played Obama Early Vote Rally and post-cookout.
10.  Running the Army Ten-Miler with my family and our friends.

Son, Ambulance – Someone Else’s Deja Vu
Fucked Up – Chemistry of Common Life
Jay Reatard – Matador Singles
Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds – Dig!!! Lazarus Dig!!!
Santogold – Santogold
Times New Viking – Rip It Off
Nigeria Special -Modern Highlife, Afro Sounds, & Nigerian Blues 1970-76
Jenny Lewis – Acid Tongue
No Age – Nouns
Hot Chip – Made In the Dark
Bob Dylan – Tell Tale Signs
Jamie Lidell - Jim
Orchestra Baobab – Made in Dakar
Vampire Weekend – s/t
Stereolab – Chemical Chords
Bon Iver – For Emma Forever Ago
Anthony Braxton – Complete Arista Recordings
Surf City – Surf City EP

In no particular order:
Bon Iver – everything having to do with experiencing this magical guy all year.  Two words – Beard Love.
Adventures with Broken West in multiple cities and physical states…
Shearwater and geeking out with Andy about how Thor Harris rules the world with his drums.
Music Tapes at CMJ – man, that bouncy ball on the snare drum.  Oh – and the album.
Deerhunter
Stars of the Lid at the Echoplex, LA.  A dream come true to finally see live.  Even gorgeous when I fell asleep!
Rediscovering how much I love to cook every night.
Walking to work every day.
Building stuff out of wood
Vitamins – i.e. B12, etc… – aka anti-hangover pills

This list excludes the obvious 2008 highlights of Merge albums, getting married, home ownership and President Obama!

The Music Tapes at CMJ – Wow.  Julian Koster is an inspiration to boring adults everywhere!
Twilight series – I know, I know – but unrequited Teenage vampire love is HOT!
Secretly Canadian showcase at SXSW – Bon Iver, Black Mountain & Jens Lekman – awesome!
Wye Oak at Local 506 (1/8/08) – Meeting Jenn and Andy for the first time over Carrburritos followed by being blown away by hearing If Children live for the first time!
Brooklyn adventure with Dan Bejar – January 08 – whirlwind trip to the strangest photo shoot ever followed by wine and Carl Newman’s adorable doggy.
Shout Out Louds at SXSW – They played so many times in a row, and never lost their energy and general adorableness.
NPR Tour – Lindsey and I toured (and squealed) our way through the NPR studios courtesy of our friend Stephen at NPR.org/music.  A dream come true!
Nik Freitas – Sun Down – sounds like Wings and The Jayhawks, and everything else I love!
Crooked Fingers – Forfeit / Fortune – Neko Case duet almost sent me over the edge!
Portastatic at Duke Gardens – Mac dedicated Springsteen’s “Two Hearts” to my fiancé and I the week before our wedding.  Best wedding gift ever!
Mad Men – despicable people, beautiful clothes and lipstick, and Don Draper, oh yes, Don Draper!

Honorable Mentions:  Calexico, Puppy cam, Chateau Marmont & D Listed

Photo is of Luna, the greatest beast who ever lived

I’m not ready to commit to my favorite recordings of 2008 yet, so here are some other favorites in no particular order:

- Hearing the words “President-Elect Obama” for the first time.
- American Music Club at the Carrboro Arts Center
- CD Alley- Chapel Hill, NC
- Tom Waits live in Knoxville, TN
- Carrburritos is now open on Sundays
- X at Cat’s Cradle
- Lloyd Cole at Carrboro Arts Center, including cover of M. Ward.
- Neal’s Deli, Carrboro, NC
- Maine
- Getting the job I’ve always wanted

(in no particular order)
1.  DJ Shadow & The Cut Chemist – The Hard Sell
2.  The Music Tapes – Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes
3.  Madlib - The Beat Konducta vol. 5 Dil Cosby Suite
4.  Madlib – The Beat Konducta vol. 6 Dil Withers Suite
5.  Lambchop – (OH) Ohio
6.  School of Seven Bells – Alpinisms
7.  RZA – Digi Snacks
8.  Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes
9.  Nana Grizol – Love it Love it
10. Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend