The love affair of the masses. This song is amazing no matter how you look at it.

The year-end mix tape/CD playlist is a seasonal ritual for many music fans who labour over carefully crafted collections to share with friends and fellow music lovers.

At !earshot we thought we'd tap a few of the music geeks we know - programmers, music directors and plain old music lovers - to find out what tracks are making it into their personal best-of collections for 2008.

We can't give you the actual tracks, but we're sure you can figure out how to seek them out in the in the wild west of the internet. Track 'em down, put 'em in yout iPod. Enjoy

Weirdoes & Movie Stars:
Bazooka Goes Bonkers In the O-EIGHT

By Bruno Mazzotta

Jim Noir: Look Around You
Self Titled - (Barsuk):
Super solid  track from a diverse album that didn't get enough attention. Pop-psyche ping-pong.

Born Ruffians: Badonkadonkey
Red Yellow & Blue - (Warp)
Probably the greatest thing ever. Sing-songing like drunk jesters in medieval times. Almost "Who Could Win a Rabbit" level.

El Guincho - Fata Morgana
Alegranza - (XL)
Rowdiest song on one of the most joyous records of the year.

Marnie Stern - Shea Stadium
This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That - (Kill Rock Stars)
The first four songs off this album are all unbelievable. This is the one that grabbed me.

Jay Reatard:Screaming Hand
Matador Singles '08 - (Matador)
I was most definitely a sceptic until taking a listen to this record. Great youth-energy songs bashed out perfectly.

Gary War: Edge of Mess
New Raytheonport - (SHDWPLY)
You'll hear the Ariel Pink influence. This one was swirling through my head on many occasions.

Katie Stelmanis: Broken
Katie Stelmanis
Join Us - (Blocks):
This exists on a different plane. A Canadian Bjork in the making?

Deastro - Keepers - (Ghostly International): The Green Harbor
Does everything that M83 was supposed to. Looking forward to seeing where this guy goes with it.

No Age: Sleeper Hold
Nouns - (Sub Pop)
The album didn't blow me away, but this song is so great and full of genius teenage energy. I love it.

Headlights: So Much for the Afternoon
Some Racing, Some Stopping - (Polyvinyl)
Wye Oak: Keeping Company
If Children - (Merge):
These two songs are perfect "soft-tone" healers. Nothing extra special, but sometimes this is exactly what I need.

Scarlett Johansson: Falling Down
Anywhere I Lay My Head - (ATCO)
I haven't seen any movies Scarlett has been in and I had no idea she had such a low voice. Very impressive work.

These Are Powers: Cockles
Taro Tarot - (Dead Oceans)
This song has a great tribal feel without any sort of over-planning or pretense involved. A great build and heightening.

Fleet Foxes: Oliver James
Self Titled - (Sub Pop)
The love affair of the masses. This song is amazing no matter how you look at it. Like early My Morning Jacket done to perfection.

Cat Power: Song for Bobby
Jukebox - (Matador):
I grew up in a house of Dylan. I saw "I'm Not There" around the time I heard this. Killin' me every time.

Menace Ruine: Dismantling
The Die Is Cast - (Alien8):
Menace Ruine: Dove Instinct
Cult of Ruins - (Alien8):
If the Stelmanis track was operating on different level then these two songs are of another universe altogether. Mind blowing.