Our No. 1 songs: 2008

Summary

All Songs Considered: Our No. 1 Songs – 2008

Host: Robin Hilton
Guest: Stephen Thompson (New Music Friday, Pop Culture Happy Hour host)
Date: September 8, 2025

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Episode Overview

In this retrospective episode, Robin Hilton and Stephen Thompson look back at 2008, sharing their personal picks for the year’s number-one songs. The conversation explores the impact of standout tracks and debuts, the evolution of music culture, and the way certain albums have shaped their lives and the music landscape at large. The episode is full of nostalgia, camaraderie, and deep dives into what made 2008 a remarkable year for musical discovery.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Stephen Thompson’s #1 Song of 2008: Bon Iver – “Skinny Love”

• [01:01]–[03:54]
  • Impact: Stephen passionately highlights how Bon Iver’s debut felt both “relatable” and transformative to the music scene.
    • “This record changed, changed a lot of music. Like, this record ushered in a lot of different sounds.” – Stephen Thompson [02:23]
  • Origin Myth: They discuss the now legendary backstory of Justin Vernon retreating to a Wisconsin cabin post-breakup, which became an oft-repeated trope in indie music circles.
    • “It also became a cliche. The whole idea of an artist goes away to a cabin in the woods because they’re so tortured and decorated.” – Robin Hilton [02:44]
  • Running Gag: The “Iver Jar”—the team joked about charging a dollar every time Bon Iver was mentioned, underscoring the song’s omnipresence.
    • “Every time someone mentioned Bon Iver, they had to put a dollar in the Iver jar.” – Stephen Thompson [03:39]

2. Robin Hilton’s #1 Song of 2008: Vampire Weekend – “Oxford Comma”

• [04:30]–[06:38]
  • Debut Impact: Robin lauds Vampire Weekend’s infectious, self-titled debut and its sense of immediate promise.
    • “You have this moment where you’re like, it’s pretty good. This band might be something.” – Robin Hilton [06:02]
  • Internet Hype Era: Stephen places Vampire Weekend as an “ultimate blog band,” whose buzz built up before their album even dropped.
    • “I really think of as one of the ultimate blog bands, kind of one of the ultimate, like, Internet hype bands…” – Stephen Thompson [06:16]
  • Contrast with Bon Iver: They reflect on how both bands surfaced in the same year but with drastically different vibes—“rustic, authentic” vs. “preppy Ivy League city boys.”
    • “Bon Iver, it’s the rustic, authentic man of the cabin. And Vampire Weekend were like a bunch of preppy Ivy League city boys.” – Stephen Thompson [07:29]

3. 2008’s Indie Boom & Blog Culture

• [06:38]–[07:47]
  • Stephen and Robin reminisce about booking these bands for their SXSW showcase—“same, same show, same year”—noting the serendipity and their knack for spotting rising acts.
  • They marvel at how disparate acts (Bon Iver vs. Vampire Weekend) captured the same audience, reflecting on the eclecticism of indie music in 2008.

4. Honorable Mentions & Deep Cuts

[09:21]–[16:18]

• Blitzen Trapper – “Furr”

  • Introduced by Stephen, recalling its selection by Carrie Brownstein on an earlier show.
  • Robin likens it to Queen’s “’39,” recalling old conversations:
    “I actually remember the conversation that I had with Carrie Brownstein when she played this song, because it reminded me of a song by Queen...” – Robin Hilton [11:07]
  • The hosts agree that this was a career-defining song for the band.
    • “Once you put out that song, how do you even live up to that song?” – Stephen Thompson [11:43]

• Fleet Foxes – “White Winter Hymnal”

  • Robin and Stephen highlight the lush harmonies and distinct sound that signified a folk resurgence.
    • “The harmonies, of course, gorgeous. Very distinctive. It’s what everybody loved about this song. But this was kind of a sound that was going around at the time.” – Robin Hilton [13:07]
  • Stephen points out how many artists operated in this vein during this period.

• Laura Marling – “Failure”

  • Robin notes Marling’s prodigious debut at age 18 and her continued success.
    • “She’s still writing and recording incredible music.” – Robin Hilton [14:19]

• Flight of the Conchords – “Business Time”

  • The duo gets nostalgic (and giggly) over the comedic brilliance and quotable lyrics of the New Zealand act.
    • “Wednesday night is the night that we usually make love…” [15:02]
  • Robin praises the whole album’s quality:
    “Oh, God. Every song on that record was great.” – Robin Hilton [16:18]

5. Robin’s “Milestone Moment”: Son Lux – “Raise”

• [16:56]–[19:32]
  • Robin shares that Son Lux’s debut, particularly the song “Raise,” marked a transformative period in his own life.
    • “My life in some ways can be marked as before hearing this album and after hearing this album.” – Robin Hilton [16:56]
    • “Sunluck’s music has been very influential in my life. I’ve gotten to know Ryan Lott. He’s been very influential in my life.” – Robin Hilton [18:15]
  • Stephen jokes about how much Robin championed the band, and they share a laugh about Robin’s near-fanatical advocacy.
    • “We used to just razz you mercilessly about how this poor guy needs to change his address.” – Stephen Thompson [18:27]
  • Robin has a physical reaction, standing and “pumping his fist” as the song’s drop hits.
    • “The spirit struck me standing up, pumping his fist.” – Stephen Thompson [19:20]

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Stephen Thompson [02:23]:
  • “This record changed, changed a lot of music. Like, this record ushered in a lot of different sounds.”
• Robin Hilton [02:44]:
  • “It also became a cliche. The whole idea of an artist goes away to a cabin in the woods because they’re so tortured and decorated.”
• Stephen Thompson [03:39]:
  • “Every time someone mentioned Bon Iver, they had to put a dollar in the Iver jar.”
• Robin Hilton [16:56]:
  • “My life in some ways can be marked as before hearing this album and after hearing this album.”

---

Song Highlights with Timestamps

• Bon Iver – “Skinny Love” ([01:35]–[02:23])
• Vampire Weekend – “Oxford Comma” ([04:30]–[05:49])
• Blitzen Trapper – “Furr” ([09:47]–[11:40])
• Fleet Foxes – “White Winter Hymnal” ([12:22]–[13:01])
• Laura Marling – “Failure” ([13:57]–[14:19])
• Flight of the Conchords – “Business Time” ([15:02]–[16:18])
• Son Lux – “Raise” ([16:56]–[19:27])

---

Episode Tone & Style

Warm, conversational, and filled with in-jokes and personal anecdotes. The camaraderie between Robin and Stephen is palpable, giving listeners both music insights and genuine, affectionate banter.

---

Conclusion

The hosts wrap up reflecting on the bounty of 2008, teasing the “stomp and clap era” to come in 2009, and reaffirm just how formative and fertile 2008 was for new sounds and lasting music fandoms. The episode will make you nostalgic for an era defined by the rise of internet hype, indie folk, and the joy of discovering music with friends and fellow fans.

Transcript

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[Robin Hilton]

It's All Songs Considered. I'm Robin Hilton here with New Music Friday and Pop Culture Happy Hour host Steve Stephen Thompson.

[Stephen Thompson]

It is so good to be here, Robin.

[Robin Hilton]

Let's just get right to it. We're looking back at the past 25 years of All Songs Considered, talking about our number one songs from each year. We're up to 2008 on this episode. And I'm going to let you go first here, Stephen, because I know, I know exactly what you're going to pick as your number one song for 2008.

[Stephen Thompson]

I mean, if you just think about the year 2008 and the show All Songs Considered, and Stephen Thompson and certainly my. But I was not the only one who loved this song.

[Robin Hilton]

I know exactly what you're gonna pick.

[Stephen Thompson]

There's no question.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 1]

Come on.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 2]

Skinny love just lasting.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 1]

Staring at the sink of water crossed me.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. I mean, this record changed, changed a lot of music. Like this record ushered in a lot of different sounds. I mean, the origin story of this record where Justin Vernon, having experienced this big breakup in his life, retreated to a cabin in the Wisconsin woods. It was a story that felt very relatable.

[Robin Hilton]

Well, it also became a cliche. The whole idea of an artist goes away to a cabin in the woods because they're so tortured and decorated.

[Stephen Thompson]

Remember when Justin Timberlake released an album called man of the Woods? I felt like that was the beginning of the end.

[Robin Hilton]

Yeah. It spawned this whole thing about musicians going away, isolating themselves to make art.

[Stephen Thompson]

Well, and it implies a certain amount of authenticity. But this record was such a, a statement of purpose, you know, it was such a statement of who he, who he is as an artist. And we gushed about this. It was not just me.

[Robin Hilton]

I know we all loved it.

[Stephen Thompson]

I certainly am a. I can be a very effusive guy when I'm talking about my favorite music. And we talked about this record so much, and we talked about Bon Iver so much. I remember us having a running joke. You, me, Bob Boylan, and is this.

[Robin Hilton]

The tip jar or whatever?

[Stephen Thompson]

Terry Brownstein, about having an Iver jar? Yes. That where every time someone mentioned Bon Iver, they had to put a dollar in the Iver jar. And, you know, at the end of the we could all go out for drinks. But, you know, this record has held up so beautifully.

[Robin Hilton]

I have no issue with you picking that as your number one song for all songs considered for your life for the year 2008. Back in 2016, when we did 16 number one songs from our first 16 years, when we got to 2008, that is in fact the song that we picked for 2008. This is the one that I would pick, though, for 2008. Oh, come on, man. You'll know it as soon as the voice kicks in.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 3]

Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, Vampire Weekend Sure.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 3]

So if there's any other way to spell the word it's found with me, with. Why would you speak to me that way? Especially when I always said that I haven't got the words for you all your diction dripping with disdain through the pain I always tell the truth.

[Robin Hilton]

Who.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 3]

Gives a fuck about an Oxford climber? I climbed a dumb shout out to who I did.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 2]

I met the high.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 3]

Slammer his accent sounded fine to me.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 2]

To me.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 3]

Check your handbook it's no trick Take the chapstick Put it on your lips Crack a smile Adjust my tie Know your boyfriend Unlike other guys why would you lie bout how much coal you have? Why would you lie bout something dumb?

[Guest or Additional Speaker 4]

Like.

[Robin Hilton]

You know, when bands come along, they put out a debut album like Vampire Week and put out this self titled debut album in 2008. You have this moment where you're like, it's pretty good. This band might be something.

[Stephen Thompson]

You know, one thing that we're talking about when we're talking about the songs that represent each year, you're also talking about where the music industry was at the time those songs came out. And Vampire Weekend, to me, I really think of as one of the ultimate blog bands, kind of one of the ultimate, like, Internet hype bands, where the Internet is freaking out about this. And, you know, the Internet had certainly been around for, you know, more than a decade by the time we're talking about 2008. But I really think of this as like a truly Internet phenomenon where by the time they actually put out a record, people were sick of them because people had been talking about them on Pitchfork or Stereogum or, you know, these music blogs so much by the time it came out. And it's sort of interesting to think of Vampire Weekend and Bon Iver for one thing. They played our south by Southwest Showcase same, same show, same year, which we picked pretty well that year. But also they're.

[Robin Hilton]

They're in a way also, Adele was supposed to be.

[Stephen Thompson]

Adele was supposed to play that show. Yeah, Shout Out Louds were on that bill. I mean, there was a. That was a phenomenal lineup, but like, in a way, Bon Ivere and Vampire Weekend, they kind of came up at the same time. They both had this huge well of Internet support, but they couldn't be more different. Yeah, like Bon Iver, it's the rustic, authentic man of the cabin. And Vampire Weekend were like a bunch of preppy Ivy League city boys.

[Robin Hilton]

Yeah.

[Stephen Thompson]

And the fact that those two rose up together and were embraced by a lot of the same people is sort of fascinating.

[Robin Hilton]

Okay, we need to take a quick break here, but when we come back, we'll talk about some of the other songs that take us back to 2008.

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[Robin Hilton]

Well, those are our number one picks for 2008, but as always, so much stuff we could play. Why don't we just throw a couple other little bonus tracks in here?

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, I'll throw one out there. I mean, I remember hearing this song maybe for the first time when Carrie Brownstein picked it as one of her favorites on an episode of All Songs considered.

[Robin Hilton]

Fur by Blitzentrapper.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yes.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 1]

Yeah. When I was only 17, I could hear the angels whispering. So I drove into the woods and wandered aimlessly about until I heard my mother shouting through the fog. It turned out to be the howling of a dog or a wolf to Be exact, the sound sent shivers down my back. But I was drawn into the pack and before long they allowed me to join in and sing their song. So from the cliffs and higher still yeah, we would gladly get our fill Howling endlessly and shrilly at the dawn and I lost the taste for judging right from wrong for my flesh had turned to fur yet my thoughts, they surely were turned to instinct and obedience to God.

[Robin Hilton]

I actually remember the conversation that I had with Carrie Brownstein when she played this song, because it reminded me of a song By Queen called 3939 assemble here the volunteers in the days when lands were few and I remember bringing this. I totally remember that conversation. But that album, Fur and it's F U R R by Blitzentrapper.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, yeah.

[Robin Hilton]

That was a big one for 2008, for sure.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah. And to me, like, once you put out that song, how do you even live up to that song?

[Robin Hilton]

Well, they haven't.

[Stephen Thompson]

They're a very good band. But I mean, 2008 had so much stuff like that. I know. You know, I played Bon Ivera and then I played Blitz and Trapper and they're. They're very much. Yeah. Of a piece and, you know, we could talk about. We haven't really even talked about fleet foxes.

[Robin Hilton]

Yeah, 2008 was huge for Fleet Foxes. That was. They released their first album. Their debut album was self titled. And it had that. Well, what was a pretty big hit for at least in our world, called White Winner Hymnal.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, sure.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 2]

I was following the. I was following the eye was following the eye was following the eye was following me I was following the eye was following the eye was following the eye was following the pack all swallowed in their coats with scarves of red Tied round their throats to keep their little heads from falling in the snow and I turn around and there you go and Michael, you would fall and turn the. White as snow Red as strawberries in.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 3]

The summertime.

[Robin Hilton]

This is so good. The harmonies, of course, gorgeous. Very distinctive. It's what everybody loved about this song. But this was kind of a sound that was going around at the time.

[Stephen Thompson]

There were so many artists kind of in that vein. But the whole year, I mean, God, Laura Marling put out an amazing record.

[Robin Hilton]

Totally in the Laura Marling record that was also her debut album. I think she was only like 18 years old when she put it out. Alas, I Cannot Swim. I remember the song that we played from it on the show on All Songs Considered was called Failure.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 4]

He used to be a singer in a rock and Roll band. He would write the songs and I'd tremble at his hand. But, oh, Allah, he lost. Poetic ethic. And his songs were pathetic. These are failing now.

[Robin Hilton]

And Laura Marling, obviously, she still writing and recording incredible music. Her album from last year, Patterns and Repeat, that was one of my favorites from 2024.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, yeah, seguros put out an amazing record. Portishead put out a record that year. 2008 was a good year.

[Robin Hilton]

Flight of the Conchords. That's when their album. They dropped their album, you know, with like, Business Time Also had the most beautiful girl in the room. My favorites may be hip hopotamus versus Rhinoceros, but, yeah, Business Time was the big one.

[Stephen Thompson]

Girl.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 5]

Tonight we're gonna make love. You know how I know? Because it's Wednesday. Wednesday night is the night that we usually make love. Monday night is my night to cook. Tuesday night we go and visit your mother. But Wednesday, we make sweet weekly love. It's when everything is just right. There's nothing good on tv. You haven't had your after work social sports team practice, so you're not too tired. Oh, boy. It's all on you. Lean in and whisper something sexy in my ear. Like I might go to bed now I've got work in the morning. I know what you're trying to say, girl. You're trying to say, oh, yeah, it's business time. It's business time.

[Stephen Thompson]

It's business.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 2]

It's business time. I know what you're trying to say. You're trying to say it's time for business. It's business time. Ooh, it's business.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 1]

It's business time.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 2]

Time.

[Robin Hilton]

Oh, God. Every song on that record was great. Let's just do one more, though. And this is the one we can go out on. And I picked this one because it was sort of a milestone moment in my life, because my life in some ways can be marked as before hearing this album and after hearing this album. You might not get it, but it was a super huge moment for me.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 4]

Raise a living thing from nothing.

[Robin Hilton]

I can see your gears turning.

[Stephen Thompson]

Yeah, well, I'm eliminating bands from consideration. Hold on, hold on.

[Guest or Additional Speaker 4]

Oh, Robin skin a pile of skin, dry bones. Then I will know for myself who you are.

[Robin Hilton]

So this is from the debut album from Son Lux.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, God. How did I not get Son Lux? I'm sitting here, it's like. It doesn't. It's not Granddaddy. It's not that Flaming Lips, the Terror album that you and no one else love.

[Robin Hilton]

Oh, come on. I was gonna play that album. That album is amazing. And so is this one. At war with walls and mazes. This is the song Raise.

[Stephen Thompson]

Future Future Oscar nominee. Yeah.

[Robin Hilton]

This band, of course, would go on, as you mentioned, they ended up scoring everything everywhere, all at once. And they've just entered the whole Marvel universe.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, my gosh.

[Robin Hilton]

By scoring thunderbolts. But this was a really huge moment for me because Sunluck's music has been very influential in my life. I've gotten to know Ryan Lott. He's been very influential in my life.

[Stephen Thompson]

We used to just razz you mercilessly about how this poor guy needs to change his address.

[Robin Hilton]

I knew that he and I could be really good friends if he just gave me a chance. But no, Son Lux was huge. And this song and this album. Oh, my God, Just incredible. Listen to this drop. In this song, you say you are.

[Stephen Thompson]

Oh, my God.

[Robin Hilton]

You'Re laughing because I just, I can't.

[Stephen Thompson]

I gotta move because he just. The spirit struck me standing up, pumping his fist.

[Robin Hilton]

Oh, so good. All right, that'll do it for 2008. There's so much more we could play.

[Stephen Thompson]

But, man, you know what we're heading into, Robin? We are heading into the stomp and.

[Robin Hilton]

Clap era of 2009. Well, that's funny because when I'll, we'll just tease it by saying, in fact, the number one song that I will end up playing for 2009 is a big stomp clap song. So we'll, we'll get to it. All right. Thanks, Stephen.

[Stephen Thompson]

See you later, buddy.

[Robin Hilton]

For NPR Music, I'm Robin Hilton. It's All Songs Considered.

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