". . . but at least I've got my blueberries with me."

My top three bands of 2008:

1. The Fiery Furnaces
2. Animal Collective
3. The Hold Steady

(Extra top band of Quarter Four '08: Mount Eerie)

Conclusions derived from too little data:

• 2008 is the year I lost all interest in personally identifiable narrative.

Or at least I don't have any obvious ins to songs about tough-luck street kids, ship captains, or whatever exactly is going on in Widow City.

This isn't quite the point I thought I was making originally. These days I like songs that tell complicated stories.