Lunes 22 Dic 2008, 1:34

Best of 2008.

Best album of '08:
Pretty. Odd. by Panic at the Disco
I find it funny that just around this time last year I never would have fathomed ever listening to a PatD album let alone calling it the best album of the year. I thought they were pretentious and quite annoying. But Pretty.Odd. changed my mind. It's melodic. It's catchy. It's not trying to be anything that it's not. Brendon and Ryan's vocals are perfect together. And the lyrics are provoking. I've probably listened to this album more times this year than anything else; I never get tired of it. I just hope that the band's next album is just as good. If they pull a The Academy Is... on me, I'll be super pissed.

Best Track of '08:
Lost! by Coldplay
What would a 2008 list be but incomplete if I didn't include Coldplay? I just love this song. I always find myself singing along to it. Almost all the tracks on the album are amazing, but this one struck a chord with me the first time I heard it.

Best Band of '08:
Murder by Death
I just discovered this band this year and I can't get enough of them. I love the singer's deep voice; it's haunting…and reminds me of Johnny Cash. I expect great things to come from them in the future.

Best Band of '08 to return to my charts after a long hiatus:
The Hives
Sure, The Black and White Album came out in '07, but this band really came back to my charts this year. I had loved Veni Vidi Vicious but Tyrannosaurus Hives was pretty dreadful and turned me off of the Hives for a while. But then I heard The Black and White Album and fell back in love with Howlin' Pelle and his bandmates. It's an incredibly catchy album and just too freakin' awesome for words.

Most Listened to Song of '08 that didn't come out in '08:
Punchdrunk by Incubus
Yeah, most of the time I listen to Incubus anyway, but according to my chart, this song was played the most in the last 12 months, so there ya go. It's not even on any of the albums in the US, only on the Light Grenades Japanese import…but it's one of my favorite Incubus songs of all time. It embodies a lot of what Incubus is about and showcases various pieces from old and new albums. It's a mixture of everything they've done. I can't get enough of it.

Best Band of '08 that didn't release an album in '08 but I just discovered them this year anyway:
White Rabbits
OMG. This band. They are fucking amazing. I love the dual-vocalists. I love the hooks. I love the variance in styles. I hope they release a new album soon 'cause Fort Nightly is not gonna hold me over forever. They are easily one of my new favorite bands.

Honorable mentions:

Albums:
Distance and Comfort by Ben Kenney
Elephant Shell by Tokyo Police Club
Conor Oberst's self titled debut
We Are Not The Infadels by Infadels

Songs:
Paper Planes by M.I.A.
Great DJ by The Ting Tings
Earth Intruders by Bjork
Apartment Story by The National

Bands:
The Walkmen
Bright Eyes
Against Me!
Vampire Weekend
The Twilight Sad