8+

Sorry guys, no new 8+ this week. It's time for a bit of a break and a look back at what the past year has given us in 8+ land.

For a little over a year now EAR FARM's 8+ has offered a weekly look at songs longer than eight minutes. Each week, new song. The rules have always been very simple: there are no rules, or guidelines, other than that the song has to be over eight minutes in length and I won't allow live versions of songs to be featured. Beyond that, it's anything goes. And that's true in terms of genre as well. The songs have gone from current electronic music to '70s jazz, from early rap/electro to classic prog-rock. And that's only scratching the surface of the variety of the music that's been touched upon here.

The feature was conceived as a way for me to explore (and share) something I've always really loved musically (the long song) in a manner that offered complete posting freedom. Often times I've found myself telling stories about the selected song and how it's taken part in my life. Sometimes I've switched it up a bit and done wacky things like composing an original screenplay, free writing, or given a pop quiz. I've also opened things up and let some guests share their 8+s with you. No matter what, it's always been a real pleasure for me. Hopefully the same has been true for all of you. If you'd like to leave a comment here I'd be curious to know what your favorite post has been thus far in the 8+ series and also what your favorite song has been. Thanks for reading and I'll see you next week/year with an all new 8+.

You can see all 52 of EAR FARM's 8+ posts thus far below listed from most recent to oldest.

Depeche Mode - "Never Let Me Down Again" (Split Mix)
This Mortal Coil - "Dreams Are Like Water"
The Church - “Chaos"
Alex Skolnick Trio - "War Pigs"
Arlo Guthrie - “Alice's Restaurant Massacre"
The Human League - "Morale... / You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin'"
Red House Painters - “River"
Suicide - “Frankie Teardrop"
Grateful Dead - “Terrapin Station"
Deodato - “Also Sprach Zarathustra"
Bark Psychosis - “All Different Things"
!!! - ““Me and Giuliani Down by the Schoolyard (a true story)""
Suede - “The Asphalt World"
Love and Rockets - “Haunted When the Minutes Drag"
Rush - “2112"
Explosions In The Sky - "Memorial"
Charalambides - “Two Birds"
Bob Marley & The Wailers - “Exodus” (1984 12" Mix)
Aarktica - “Song For A Free Williamsburg”
Newcleus - “Jam On It”
Red Hot Chili Peppers - “Sir Psycho Sexy”
Neil Young & Crazy Horse - “Cowgirl in the Sand”
DJ Shadow - "Napalm Brain/Scatter Brain"
The Stone Roses - "I Am The Resurrection"
Big Brother & the Holding Company - "Ball And Chain"
Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks - "1% Of One"
Digital Underground - "Doowutchyalike"
George Michael - "I Want Your Sex, Pts. 1 &2"
Yo La Tengo - "Let's Be Still"
The Cure - "Fascination Street" (Extended Mix)
Iggy Pop - "Mass Production"
Neu! - "Fuer Immer (forever)"
Destroyer - "Rubies"
The Who - "A Quick One, While He's Away"
Loose Fur - "Wreckroom"
Dungen - "Du är för fin för mig"
Morrissey - "The Teachers Are Afraid of the Pupils"
Pulp - "Countdown"
Polvo - "El Rocio"
New Order - "Temptation"
Herbie Hancock - "Sly"
Lemon Jelly - "A Tune For Jack"
Isis - "From Sinking"
Wilco - "Spiders (Kidsmoke)"
My Morning Jacket - "Dondante"
Sleater-Kinney - "Let's Call It Love"
The Wedding Present - "Interstate 5"
Wilderness - "Post Plethoric Rhetoric"
Animal Collective - "Banshee Beat"
Isolée - "Pillowtalk"
Islands - "Swans"
British Sea Power - "Lately"