The year’s end nears, and the best-of music lists come out of the woodwork; if DRIVEN had compiled one, Brooklyn-based alt.noise quartet Parts & Labor would have been on it. But we decided to do things a little different…

Using songs exclusively chosen from this year’s releases, columnist Derek Weiler provided a truly unique soundtrack for your day, from morning to noon to night and beyond (p79 in the magazine). In a sidebar in the same department, I sounded off about a song by Ozzie band Rudely Interrupted that very well might be my favourite single of the year (and I’ll devote another post, another time, to that one). As to what track is my official no. 1 for 2008, well, I still haven’t made up my mind and, knowing me, likely won’t know for sure until some time next spring.

Back to the band that’s the subject of this post, though. If play counts on iPods are any proof of victory, then without a doubt the following track won the year hands-down, pretty much trouncing the competition. Not bad for a song only released in the fourth quarter. From the lonely, hypnotic guitar melody meandering in the background to the brief yet rousing chorus to the epic, borderline-prog finale, triumphant is certainly the perfect word to attach to this one:

“Solemn Show World” (the full album is streaming, BTW)

Parts & Labor, I salute you; long may your assembly line run.

Live photo of Sarah Lipstate by Reinier Asscheman.