Okay, okay, so this list is a little late. In my defense, I just started a new job a few weeks ago and haven't exactly figured out how to effectively balance my time just yet. The good news: the new job will allow us to jet around the country more and cover shows in different cities. So look for more widespread BOT coverage in 2009 – hopefully we'll be heading to a venue near you in the not-too-distant future!

In the meantime, check out my top favorite songs from 2008 after the jump

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40. Beach House - Used to Be

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39. Neon Neon - I Told Her on Alderaan

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38. The Spinto Band - They All Laughed

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37. Brightblack Morning Light - Oppressions Each

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36. Gang Gang Dance - Princes

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35. Jamie Lidell - Little Bit of Feel Good

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34. Little Joy - No One's Better Sake

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33. Chairlift - Planet Health

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32. Islands - I Feel Evil Creeping In

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31. Everest - Reloader

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30. Calexico - Victor Jara's Hands

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29. Sia - The Girl You Lost to Cocaine

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28. Animal Collective - Water Curses

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27. The Octopus Project - Truck

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26. Nas - Fried Chicken

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25. Human Highway - The Sound

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24. Friendly Fires - Jump in the Pool

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23. Dr. Dog - Army of Ancients

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22. Green Mountain Grass - 84 Blues

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21. Sigur Ros - Inní mér syngur vitleysingur

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20. My Morning Jacket - Smokin' from Shootin'

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19. She & Him - Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?

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18. Ra Ra Riot - Dying Is Fine

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17. Of Montreal - For Our Elegant Caste

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16. Deerhunter - Nothing Ever Happened

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15. The Secret Machines - The Walls Are Starting to Crack

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14. MGMT - Electric Feel

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13. The Mountain Goats - Lovecraft in Brooklyn

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12. The Whigs - Right Hand on My Heart

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11. The Dodos - Red & Purple

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10. The Walkmen - In the New Year

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9. Thao with the Get Down Stay Down - Swimming Pools

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8. Hot Chip - Ready for the Floor

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7. TV on the Radio - Dancing Choose

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6. Fleet Foxes - Ragged Wood

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5. Spiritualized - Soul on Fire

"Soul On Fire" is probably the poppiest piece of music J. Spaceman has ever released – in fact, he almost cut it from Songs in A&E because he felt it was too catchy. I, for one, am glad that it remained in place. The instrumental layering and earnest lyrics strike a chord within me every time I hear it.

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4. Frightened Rabbit - Keep Yourself Warm

It's gorgeous and features biting lyrics like "I'm drunk, I'm drunk/And you're probably on pills/If we've both got the same diseases/It's irrelevant, girl." And you know what? It does take more than fucking someone you don't know to keep warm.

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3. Bon Iver - Skinny Love

Justin Vernon's voice tears my heart out every time I hear "Skinny Love"'s chorus.

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2. Buxton - Mane of Gold > Westward

Okay, so it might be cheating to choose two songs for one slot, but I think an exception is called for here. "Mane of Gold" and "Westward" are the first and second tracks, respectively, from Buxton's full-length debut, A Family Light, and I knew I was going to like the album after hearing these two songs in succession right off the bat. They flow so well together – the perfect transition from slow and wistful to uptempo and defiant – that I don't think one should ever be played without the other.

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1. The Avett Brothers - Murder in the City

I fell in love with "Murder in the City" the first time I heard it, but seeing the Avett Brothers perform the song live truly cemented my adoration for it. It's a study in simplicity – just Scott Avett's raw, earnest vocals matched by brother Seth's harmonies layered over two acoustic guitars – and the results are beautiful.