411 Music Presents…2008 Year In Review: Part 1.3 - Staff Picks, Vol. 3

Posted by Mitch Michaels on 01.05.2009

The staff looks back one last time at 2008, as AC/DC, TV On The Radio, T.I. and tons others make our Top Albums, Coldplay annoys some of us, Guns N’ Roses and others surprise and disappoint us, Katy Perry and other bands break through and Metallica rises again…

Remember to check out PART ONE and PART TWO if you haven't already!



PART 1.3: STAFF PICKS, VOL. 3

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Ben Czajkowski
(Jr. Assistant Editor In Training, Top 5 Headmaster, Asshole we Cannot Live Without)


Top Eight Albums of 2008:

1. 10 Years – Division: Best. Rock. Album. Of the year. Hands down. People may argue with me about this, but from all the new stuff that stuck out this year, I keep going back to Division. For a sophomore effort, this really shows a great level of maturity most bands don't achieve until their third or fourth record, sometimes. I was really unhappy they didn't get a Grammy nod for this one.

2. Austrian Death Machine – Total Brutal: IT'S NOT A TUMOR! This record was probably the most fun group of songs I've listened to this year. It's lighthearted, but serious in a way that only Arnold Schwarzenegger could be. As far as side projects go, I hope that Tim Lambesis keeps this one alive.

3. Walls of Jericho – Redemption: What an epic, epic EP this is. One of the best female frontwomen in all of music stripped down to acoustic goddess-ness. And then to duet with the likes of Corey Taylor. One of the best collections most people will never hear. Especially for a band that doesn't normally do something like this.

4. Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement: This album is as playful as it is serious. Morissette shows that she has not lost her edge and her ability to control the entirety of her vocal range. While it's not as good as Jagged Little Pill, I still found myself listening to this album over and over. Check it out if you haven't already.

5. Opeth – Watershed: It hasn't been a secret that a few of the music zone writers have been drooling over this album since the day it dropped. And for good reasons. This album is ambitious and well-rounded. The instrumentals, lyrics, and vocals on Watershed bring it pretty damn near a 10.

6. Sevendust - Chapter VII: Hope and Sorrow: Sevendust has been one of the best kept secrets over the years, despite the commercial success of Seasons. With Chapter VII, though, this group is hot, despite not having any real mainstream push. With Clint Lowery back, Rose whopping ass behind the kit, and LaJon belting out powerful lyrics, Sevendust are poised to be one of the best bands of the next 10 years, starting with Chapter VII.

7. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone: As commercial as this album sounds, it's still ridiculously heavy. You can definitely hear the points where the various band members bring their growth, from their other projects. Taylor has grown in leaps and bounds as a frontman, since the beginning of the decade. I see only good things for this group and this album.

8. Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog Soundtrack: One of the most watchable and creative musicals to come out in 2008, Barny Stin—er Neil Patrick Harris shows his musical range as he sings about love, murder, and wanting to be in the Evil League of Evil. Songs are catchy as hell.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Metallica – Death Magnetic: Honestly, I just got tired of hearing about it. I was tired of discussing it and analyzing pieces of it. It reached a point, shortly after it was released, that I became so turned off to Magnetic, simply because it was oversaturated in my field of consciousness. I am not dissing the album or the band; I am merely stating my feelings.

Biggest Music News of the Year: DMX Arrested: Again. And Again. And Again. This man has a rap sheet longer than my arm; it's that ridiculous. I lost track of which states he was being indicted in and when. Such a huge mess for the rapper, who is probably going to do some jail time. I'm sure prison will give him some new perspective on his career and his life.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Finger Eleven/Seether: Had a chance to interview the drummer from Finger Eleven, in this one. That was probably one of the best moments, for me, this year. On top of that, F11 put on a hell of a show, including a "Paralyzer" mashup of a bunch of different tracks. Even though Seether took over an hour to set up, they were still worth it. Oh, and I had Little Caesar's Pizza afterwards for the first time in a decade. Delicious.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Nine Inch Nails Releases The Slip: The Slip blew people's minds, especially when it was released for free. Reznor was a marketing genius behind it. While some people misconstrued some things I said a couple weeks ago, in Fact or Fiction, this album has some great tracks on it, both vocally and instrumentally.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Chris Cornell's New Sound: I'm usually all for creative experimentation, especially to help grow the musician, but it is hard for me, in good conscience, to support Cornell's decision to try to become the next Michael Jackson. I respect Cornell; I respect Timbaland. Together, though, this album is a disaster, and I am glad it keeps getting pushed back. It's going to make even more people happy when it's shelved permanently.

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: The Dreaming with Etched In Blood. I'm judging this one with a pool of new artists. As a fan of Stabbing Westward, I was astounded with how raw The Dreaming sounded, comparatively. As a debut effort, Etched had some weak points, but I think they were the artist in 2008 I was most impressed with and that was "new" to the scene.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Scott Weiland: He really won me over with how solid Happy In Golashes is. There are some killer fucking tracks on this one, including one of my new favorites, "Killing Me Sweetly". The only thing Weiland was missing on this album was the DeLeo brothers.

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Andrew Moll
(The guy who keeps it Short)


Top Eight Albums of 2008:

1. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals: It's been said that we live in a impatient society, one that can't wait for anything. It would then seem that Girl Talk is the perfect artist for that society, with his supreme ability to create mashups where all your favorite songs are on one album, all bunched up together. That the album is still fresh and exciting after repeated listens is a testament to Greg Gillis' talents. It's much more than just playing one song on top of another; it's an art form of its own.

2. TV On the Radio - Dear Science,: There was always a sense of chaos to TV On the Radio songs, but on this album the band was finally able to harness that chaos and combine it with their dance and rock sensibilities to create something not only impressive but accessible.

3. Bon Iver - For Emma, Forever Ago: Justin Vernon went to a cabin in Wisconsin to record this stunning folk album and that seclusion helped shape the record. Vernon's worn falsetto dominates each song and reaches for the heart. Tracks like "Flume", "Skinny Love" and "For Emma" are strikingly beautiful.

4. No Age - Nouns: There's a club in Los Angeles called The Smell that's producing some great noise-rock bands, the best of whom is No Age. This isn't mindless droning, however. It's exciting rock music that's layered with guitars and driven with punk energy.

5. The Hold Steady - Stay Positive: America's best rock band was able to yet again produce an album full of great rockers and emotional ballads. But hidden inside all of it was a sense of maturity; the characters is Craig Finn's songs are getting older and seeing the world differently.

6. Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend: The breakthrough indie act of the year came from Columbia University with an album full of well constructed pop songs with plenty of African influences. They were hyped to the max by numerous blogs, but luckily the music stood up to the accolades.

7. M83 - Saturdays = Youth: M83 (aka Anthony Gonzalez) went backwards to the 1980s to take the best of snyth-pop to form the best electronic album of the year. Lead single "Kim & Jessie" also ranks one the best tracks of the year, with its tale of a young couple in love.

8. The Music Tapes - Music Tapes for Clouds and Tornadoes: Julian Koster and his band released their first album in nine years and it sounded like nothing else out there. Using antique instruments, The Music Tapes were able to create one of the most original albums of the year while adding another great album to the Elephant Six resume.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Coldplay - Viva La Vida: I may have chosen this album simply because of extreme dislike of Coldplay's music, but there is no doubt I found this album to be terribly annoying. From their random embrace of the French revolution to that damn iTunes commercial, I couldn't have enjoyed anything Coldplay less. To top it all off, they release an album full of the same mediocre songs they've been recording for the last few years. For the life of me, I can't figure out the appeal of Coldplay, and the hoopla around them is just as annoying as the band themselves.

Biggest Music News of the Year: New Release Methods: When Radiohead released In Rainbows last year online with a "pick your own price" stipulation, it was seen as a revolutionary move for the music industry. 2008 saw many more bands use similar ways to get their albums out. Bands like Girl Talk and Nine Inch Nails released their albums just like Radiohead did, with both price and quality options. Nine Inch Nails actually released two separate albums online this year, both with only two weeks' notice for fans. Other bands also employed that tactic. Bands like The Raconteurs, Bloc Party and Gnarls Barkley released records almost immediately after announcing their existence. While results varied for each band (both NIN albums were very successful, while the Raconteurs and Gnarls Barkley struggled with record sales), it's clear that bands are looking to the future and how to change the music business for the good of both themselves and fans.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Girl Talk w/Prefuse 73 – Skidmore College, Sept. 19th: In concert Greg Gillis, the man known as Girl Talk, is less a DJ and more of the world's friendliest and excited party host. His sole goal while on stage is to make sure that everyone who pays to see his show has the time of their life. Gillis stage setup is quite simple: a table, two laptops and a microphone, and that's all he needs to put on his party. Once he hits play on his laptop and his mashup creations begin playing, the show starts and a mass of people come on stage with him, the dance party starting just a minute in. Unfortunately, security made most of the people get off, but the scene was set for the night. Anytime a person got on stage with him (including one somewhat overzealous young woman), Gillis would let them stay, encouraging security to leave things be. The whole concert was an hour and a half song, continuously changing as things move along. Some of the great moments from his albums were there, but for the most part there were new exciting moments created by Gillis, many of them on the fly. It was proof that this wasn't just an album promotion, but its own event. It was an opportunity for people to come together on a Friday night in a college gym and enjoy themselves at a rave/dance party/sex romp with the best soundtrack imaginable.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: L'il Wayne Selling 5 million Albums: The hip-hop scene had been dominated by the likes of Kanye West and 50 Cent over the last few years, artists who for the most part sound like what you'd expect chart-toppers to sound like with accessible beats and hooks. And then, all of a sudden, here comes Lil Wayne storming up the charts with his disjointed rhymes and off-kilter beats. Wayne built up his reputation over the last few years a series of mixtapes that built up the anticipation for his album. That album, Tha Carter III sold one million copies its first week out and was the biggest selling album of the year. Songs like "A Milli" and "Lollipop" couldn't be denied, despite how eccentric they were.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Mogwai - The Hawk is Howling: In life, there are a lot of things that can be considered double-edge swords. In music, one such thing is a band achieving success one way, forcing them to either change and risk their success, or stay the same and lose their excitement. Mogwai has actually been able to remain successful despite not messing with their post-rock formula. But their new album was another "Mogwai album" with the quiet/loud dynamics and explosive moments. Not that it wasn't good, but I became a Mogwai fan because of how exciting they were, and this time around I finally felt like I was getting exactly what I expected.

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Vampire Weekend: Early in the year, the blogs were buzzing about this indie rock band of Ivy Leaguers named Vampire Weekend. They played music influenced by African music and the Talking Heads, among others and looked like what you'd expect an Ivy League indie rock band to look like. All the important music critics were then raving about the band as a big thing, and they were being set up for complete disappointment. But a funny thing happened: the album was great. One of the best of the year, in fact. It was impossible to deny the catchiness of the hooks on "A-Punk" and "Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa" and the question "Who gives a fuck about an Oxford comma?" became one of the more pressing ones of the year. Vampire Weekend were able to live up to the hype; of course, all it does is raise the expectations for the next album.

Comeback Artist of the Year: My Bloody Valentine: They didn't even release an album this year, but the fact that Kevin Shields got My Bloody Valentine back together for a series of festival appearances and live shows is enough to get the title of Comeback Artists of the year. They're still the best shoegaze band on the planet, despite not playing any shows in years and not releasing an album since 1991. But the show excited fans, as did the increasing possibility of a new MBV album sometime in the near future.

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Jacob Crogie
(That Singles Guy)


Top Eight Albums of 2008:

1. T.I. - Paper Trail: I just could not put anything else at the top of my list, I was never a huge T.I. fan, but this album simply blew me away. It's better than Weezy, with tight rhymes and his amazing flow overriding all production techniques. There are so many hits on this album it is insane, and I find myself just leaving it on the replay over and over. T.I. is the rapper of the moment, at one time the dude had 3 singles in the Billboard Top 10! Just wait till "Dead and Gone" hits the charts. Simply excellent, it's surprising what house arrest can do to a guy.

2. The Killers - Day & Age: I liked Sam's Town...Now that we have gotten that out of the way let me say just how much I love this album. It is everything the Killers can be when they refuse to take themselves too seriously. They transcend genres on this one, incorporating elements of Hot Fuss, Sam's Town and basically every other form of music out there. The tracks are catchy and well executed; it's a step behind the legacy of Hot Fuss but marks a step back in the right direction.

3. Girl Talk - Feed The Animals: All I can say about this is wow...just wow. DJ Girl Talk is quite possibly the best remixer in the game today and I can't see it being too much longer before he goes mainstream with his mixes. Come on you bunch of record company fatcats...give him a job and stop bitching about how he samples everything. That's the point...dude is creative as hell and gives his album away. Stop repressing him and his music, sign him up and let him do his thing.

4. Beck - Modern Guilt: This guy does not make bad albums, but it's been a long time since he's made a great one like this Danger Mouse produced effort. It's dark, depressing and as with most of Beck's stuff, kickass in every way possible. That is not to say that it is a perfect album, far from it, but it marks the return of everybody's favorite loser.

5. Taylor Swift - Fearless: I wasn't expecting this much out of this album, I figured simple pop album, guilty pleasure type. She has shown musicality beyond her years on this one, the girl is 18 years old and her understated songs are just amazing. She has developed her own style of writing and one need only realize that there is probably at least 20 more years of music to come from this talented youth to understand my fascination with her. She is not the Jonas Brothers manufactured from the beginning or that skank Miley Cyrus. She is an all-American girl who parents can look up to as a role model for their children and have no second thoughts about buying them a Taylor Swift album.

6. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III: Let me start by saying that he is not the greatest rapper alive, anybody who relies on a Vocoder can never be. One thing Weezy is though is an amazing lyricist whose raps are always full of great one-liners. This album is no different, Weezy's flow is flowing and the lead single "Lollipop" is basically the club song of the year. He is no Tupac so there are low lights throughout, all things considered it would be rap album of the year if not for another southern rapper.

7. Metallica - Death Magnetic: It's about time these guys got their shit together, I enjoyed some of St.Anger but for the most part I was disgusted. There is no excuse for a bunch of talented guys like this to put out a shit album, the sheer talent of Kirk Hammett should have been enough to save that album if not for the creative control wielded by producer Bob Rock. This album is Hammett's return more so than Metallica's, the guitar solos are back and he is dragging them along for the ride.

8. Theory Of A Deadman - Scars And Souvenirs: Before the flaming starts, this album is quite possibly my guiltiest pleasure of the past year. It's got gems like "Bad Girlfriend" and "So Happy" which are just solid rock songs to throw on at any time. These guys are the consummate drinking band, they are better than Nickelback and continue to churn out Mainstream Rock hits! On top of all that, they are Canadian! Just another reason that the latest from Tyler and the guys is kickass enough to be in my top 8.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Jonas Brothers- A Little Bit Longer: If their "music" itself wasn't annoying enough, imagine having a younger sister in their target demographic who bombards you with it constantly. It is in their fanbase that the true annoying qualities of the Jonas Brothers are evident...screaming teenage girls blinded by Disney into purchasing copious amounts of shit almost as if it is an opiate.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Guns N' Roses Releases Chinese Democracy: It had been over 15 years and finally, the album that would never come...came. Can we send it back?

Favorite Concert of the Year: Kim Mitchell, Renfrew, Ontario, 5/3/08: The man that brought us "Patio Lanterns" and "Go For a Soda" blew away the crowd, myself and 6 of my closest friends included at the Ma-Te-Way Activity Centre as part of Renfrew's 150th Anniversary Celebration. You have no idea just how awesome this was...if you ever get a chance to see this guy live...do it, he said it best "I Am a Wild Party".

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Kanye West Uses The Vocoder: I'm still torn. I loved the album when it first came out, it was so mellow and the vocoder matched the kind of sound he was looking for. There were some good tracks and some decent times. However, this departure of Kanye from what made him so successful lacks the replay value of his older albums. I cannot remember the last time I threw on 808s and Heartbreak and that is very surprising.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy: What a steaming pile of shit. I cannot believe that the world waited 15 years for Axl to come out with this very un-GN'R album. DO...NOT...WANT!

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Katy Perry: I had to do it, I just had to. I know, I get it, I'm so mainstream what a stupid pop loser I am. Whatever, I dig Katy Perry, her tracks are catchy and extremely listenable. Furthermore, I find her attractive in a creepy/weird way...I cannot explain it. However, her album broke through big time on the back of "I Kissed A Girl" and follow up "Hot N Cold" proved she wasn't a one hit wonder. The challenge now is in avoiding becoming a one album wonder.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Metallica: More specifically, Kirk Hammett is fucking back! He cements his already encased status as guitar god on Death Magnetic. With an album like that one, we can all finally forget about St.Anger!

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Mikey MiGo
(Tamer of The Savage Animal)


Top Eight Albums of 2008:

1. The Killers - Day & Age: If you'd of asked me a few years ago if I'd of ever placed The Killers as the number one album of the year I'd of probably shanked you. They've always been a guilty pleasure, but never a band that I'd take serious. To me they always wear their influences on their sleeves and almost come off as an 80's tribute band. In many ways, Day and Age sounds like it was made in the 80's, but there's something about it that makes it great and truly special. "Losing Touch" and "Human" are obvious hit singles, but the track "Neon Tiger" is what wins me over. I am going to20have a hard time believing that they will ever upstage this album, but never mind that. Congrats to them for getting my oh so coveted number one pick.

2. Nine Inch Nails - The Slip: It's a raw adrenaline rush that it's reminiscent of everything Trent Reznor has done so far. This album reminds me of Pretty Hate Machine in terms that you can tell that Trent was having a lot of fun with it. Year Zero seemed to have specific boundaries to it set by the theme. With The Slip, it's all explosive and a bit experimental. The simplistic depth of "Lights in the Sky" should be enough to place it on anyone's list. I know there were pioneers before him, but Trent pretty much invented the industrial rock wheel with his great body of work. He's not reinventing his own wheel here, but it still stands out as one of the top albums of 2008.

3. Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy: Call me crazy, but I personally liked this album. I understand it's not for everyone, but I grew up on GN'R. I'd listen to the cassettes of Lies and Appetite For Destruction to the point they'd wear out. My first CDs were Use Your Illusion I and II. Most critics and people on line are going to hate just about everything and Axl is just an easy target because of all his baggage. To me the album isn't perfect, but it's damn good. My main problem is that the album doesn't seem to have a fluid flow to it. It's just all over the place. I told a friend that it's like Axl made invisible albums over the past thirteen years and took the best tracks from each of them and made a "Best Of Late 90-Early 2000's" and called it Chinese Democracy. Hate it all you want, but to me it's easily one of the best and most notable albums released this year.

4. TV on the Radio - Dear Science,: Most journalist lists I've read have this as their number one. I won't say it's not worthy, but I don't think it's on the same level as Cookie Mountain. It's solid and has some great tracks, but it lacks the punch that their older albums have had. I'm just happy to see everyone catching up to what I've been saying for a few years. TV on the Radio IS the shit and one of the best bands out there today.

5. RZA - Digi Snacks: This is my pick for the hip hop album of the year. RZA brought his A-Game to this album and reminded me he wasn't just an actor. I'm not that surprised that this album went under the radar with so many people because they were too busy listening to pop-rap nonsense like Lil Wayne and Soulja Boy. If that's you, then you really missed out on some true hip hop goodness. The single "You Can't Stop Me Now", with its intense groove and awesome hooks is what got me curious. The album is definitely not one of those one or two good track, the rest filler CDs. The album is solid all the way through and gives a seamless continuous listen.

6. The Knux - Remind Me In 3 Days: This one came out of right field recently. A friend of mine shared the "Bang! Bang!" and "Cappuccino" tracks with me and I had to go pick it up for myself. I read an interview with these guys and they cite The Strokes as an influence. For a hip hop band to go that route is really cool. To me they sound like the best parts of Outkast and Gorillaz, but with their own style and twist on it. I'm really interested in watching these guys develop

7. The Raconteurs - Consolers Of The Lonely: This album is almost a classic blues rock throwback album. I actually like this album better than the first release. It seems grittier and less commercial sounding as some of the first album, which was still damn good. The single "Salute Your Solution" is so vintage sounding that I had to look up to see if it were a cover when I first heard it. When you listen, you feel like you're listening to an album you love that you've not played in awhile.

8. Bauhaus - Go Away White: I really don't get how everyone is snubbing this album, even from the bigger 50 or more "Top" lists. Bauhaus sorta fell wayside to many people until their summer tour with NIN a few years back. Their short reunion birthed this album. It's basically what Bauhaus does at their best. The menacing melodies and the droned out voice of Peter Murphy stills stands as powerful as it was in the 1980s. The album itself has those ingredients untarnished with tracks like "Adrenaline", "Too Much 21st Century", and "International Bullet Proof Talent".

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III/Metallica - Death Magnetic: I gave both of these albums a try because everyone and their mother told me they were great. Metallica's latest album sounds like a Metallica cover band's original material. They're trying too hard to be old Metallica to the point it comes off as a joke-less parody of their heyday. Lil Wayne is Nelly with edge. His music is all commercial and has the artistic integrity of Miley Cyrus or Nickelback. He's "featured" on a lot of singles by other better performers the same way "Lil John" was a few years back. His career really took off after that, huh? What we're dealing with in these two albums is the older people going ga-ga over Metallica and the youngers ones going ga-ga over Lil Wayne. Those of us in the middle are being temp ted to pull a Picasso and send away our ears.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Live Nation To Battle Ticketmaster: For years Ticketmaster has raped and pillaged the innocent concert goers. I have ticket stubs from around 2000 and some as current as October of this year. Each year, and sometimes multiple times within a single year, the rape fees go up. It's to the point where if a concert is listed as $15.00, you'll pay close to double that when Ticketmaster gets done with their fees. Now, Live Nation will be selling tickets as well. I have no doubt that we're still going to be anally and financially raped by both companies, but the competition can only benefit us.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Fun Club: I've not been to enough concerts this year. Last year was a crazy year for concerts in MiGoville, but this year was focused on other things. I've seen some good shows this year, but the most entertaining shows are always Fun Club. Fun Club is an unsigned band out of Chicago that I value a lot more than 99% of the signed bands out there. It's a mix of hip hop, rock, punk, electro, techno, and comedy. I know that's a broad generalization, but even still that description doesn't do this band justice. This specific show stands out because they played the same minute-twelve song three times. Normally, that would sound horrible but the song was "I Can't Help It, I just feel like fucking dancing". That song is still in my head.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Guns N' Roses Releases Chinese Democracy: For years the haters have been saying it will never come out. Rose didn't do much to help the cause for over the past decade, but it took a B-List soda company to get him psyched.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Kanye West - 808s & Heartbreak: I am an avid supporter and defender of all that is Kanye, but I can't stand his latest release. Kanye's work has always been a bit commercial, but he still had his own style and presence that made him stand out. What he did on his latest album is do what all the other hip hop stars are doing with vocoders. This album reminds me of the scene in Tommy Boy where Farley is saying "Luke, I am your father" into the fan. West ignored the fact that he had a recognizable and decent enough singing voice and used electronics to make almost every lyric on the album sound like it's being sung with a vibrator stuck somewhere unpleasant. I hope this trend passes and Kanye "re-enrolls" into what got him where he is today.

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: Katy Perry: I'm not as in the loop this year as I have been in the past. There have not been many new acts that have made even a blip on my radar. The top record sales are all older or established acts and the radio feeds from that. The only song that's gotten stuck in my head is the one by Katy Perry. She had me at "I kissed a girl and I liked it".

Comeback Artist of the Year: Axl Rose: People talk shit about this guy like he personally sodomized their mother while pouring sugar in their father's gas tank. All we hear on forums and in columns is that Axl is an asshole, undeserving, and untalented. He acts like how rock stars used to act. They were all a bit "asshole" in nature. Do you think Robert Plant, Mick Jagger, or any of your favorite rock gods aren't an asshole sometimes? Just like Bono, Axl is a victim of today's general census that it's okay to be cynical and negative. After over a decade of working on Chinese Democracy, he finally released it. It didn't go #1, but it charted very high and is one of the best albums by far released in 2008. Wait, aren't I supposed to say "Fuck Axl! I'm glad his album flopped! He's washed up! He's nothing with Slash! (We'll ignore the other guys from the old band.) Dr. Pepper rules! He is a horrible person! He should never make music again! Go Vampire Weekend! Go Metallica!" Then again, I don't think I will.

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Paul Hollingsworth
(Thrifty Tunologist)


Top Eight Albums of 2008:

1. The Black Keys - Attack & Release: Quite simply, my most played album of the year. There are no missteps, no fillers, just one brilliant song after another. I'm not sure if this is the pinnacle of the band's work, but it will be difficult to top. Most albums are not really albums anymore, just a collection of a few singles and loads of forgettable filler. The Black Keys had the audacity to spend a great deal of time on each and every track and created an album where ever track matters just as much as the one before. Key Tracks: The whole record!!

2. MGMT - Oracular Spectacular: There were few things on radio to get excited about this year. "Time to Pretend," was the exception and strong enough to warrant a listen to the entire album. Whether the band is channeling Barrett-era Pink Floyd, the Sonics or The Jam, they do it right. It's not just a throwback record, though, as the songs take the psychedalia and garage band sound into another direction, which didn't exist until now. Key Tracks: "Time To Pretend" , "Of Moons, Birds & Monsters" and "Future Reflections."

3. Dead Confederate - Wrecking Ball: As a native Georgian, it's nice to know that Athens is still a hotbed for good young bands, if not exactly great football teams. Debut albums aren't supposed to be this good and this whole. The songs are all well crafted without a filler track to be found. These guys are just getting started and have only scratched the surface of their abilities and talents. Key Tracks: "It Was A Rose", "The Rat" and "Start Me Laughing."

4. R.E.M. - Accelerate: I'm not exactly sure who gave Michael Stipe a kick in the ass while his band recorded this album, but whomever it was needs to be given a great big hug. The last few R.E.M. releases have been uneven at their best and unlistenable at worst. While it's not quite Rumor or Document No. 5, it is the band's best work in a long, long time. Key Tracks: "Hollow Man", "Mr. Richards" and "I'm Gonna DJ."

5. Gnarls Barkley - The Odd Couple: One of the most criminally neglected albums of the year. For those expecting "Crazy, part 2," it was a disappointment. "Who's Gonna Save My Soul" however, is worth any number of "Crazy" type songs. Gnarls did their own thing on this record and didn't try to carbon copy the hits they had on their last release. It was a bold move at a time when familaritly sells more than originality. Key Tracks: "Who's Gonna Save Your Soul", "Run" and "No Time Soon."

6. Duffy - Rockferry: When Amy Winehouse had success by reinventing the Motown sound, it seemed inevitable that others would follow suit. However, Duffy's debut more closely follows Dusty Springfield than the Supremes, and the results are magical. So far anyway, she also seems less inclined for the excesses which success brings. This record is what it sounds like when a heart breaks. Key Tracks: "Warwick Avenue", "Mercy" and "Save It For Your Prayers."

7. She & Him - Volume 1: What at first glance could have been a horrible Hollywood actress's vanity project (such as Scarlet Johnansen's record, also released this year) turned into one of the best albums of the year. M. Ward found a great muse in Zooey Deschanel, and the two combined to create some bitterly funny sunshine pop. From start to finish, it's a solid record, and it would be great if we're treated to Volume 2. Key Tracks: "Sentimental Heart", "Why Do You Let Me Stay Here", and "Take It Back."

8. Jamey Johnson - That Lonesome Song: I'm not a big fan of country music, especially the pop country which had ruled country radio for the last twenty years or so. This record though, is a throwback to the good country of the 70's. It's part Waylon Jennings, part Charlie Rich and all good. While I was making my list, I tried to focus on albums which I listened to the most and didn't feel like I needed to skip tracks. There's nothing skippable on this record. Every song fits and Johnson deserves some recognition for making a true country record. Other people noticed also, as this album was nominated for several Grammy awards recently. Key Tracks: "Stars In Alabama" , "In Color" and "The Last Cowboy."

Most Annoying Album of the Year: Katy Perry - One of the Boys: I've only heard that one annoying song "I Kissed A Girl", but that single was ear-achingly bad. If that was the best choice for a lead single, then there's no hope for the rest of the album. It sounds exactly like a thousand other songs released since about 1990 and there is absolutely nothing good about it. I'm sure T.A.T.U and Perry will soon embark on the "Teenage Lipstick Lesbian Tour" and try to con even more money from gullible fans.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Guns N' Roses Releases Chinese Democacy: While I didn't care for it, at all, it was amazing it was even released. I was in my second year of college when the last GN'R record came out.(And that was a very, very long time ago.) Over the years, the album had achieved a nearly mythical status, akin to the rumored recordings of the Elvis and The Beatles jam sessions. Axl finally released his 'masterpiece', and for some anyway, the years of waiting ended.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Spoon: I didn't get to many shows this year, but Spoon put on a good show back in April in Atlanta. The Cure also had a good, long show in June, also in Atlanta. My only new year's resolution this year is to see more shows this year.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Metallica - Death Magnetic: Metallica made a good record after spending way too much time talking about their feelings and trying to become something they were not meant to be. It's far from their classics, but compared to everything since And Justice For All, it's a solid effort and a strong return.

Biggest Disappointment of the Year: Guns N' Roses - Chinese Democracy: Some liked it, some loathed it, but I don't have strong feelings for it one way or the other. It's just sort of there, and hardly lived up to the decade and a half of hype. Of course, what could?

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: MGMT: Clever lyrics and smart music abound on their album. I hope whatever they release next builds on their considerable accomplishments from this year.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Portishead: In a year that saw GN'R, Metallica, AC/DC, and a bunch of other aged rock bands return with a vengeance, Portishead released their best album ever. I doubt anyone expected to be talking about them at all 11 years after releasing their nearly perfect self-titled album, way back in 1997.I always believed that album would end up as a musical oddity, and was very happy to be proven wrong.

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Matt Shoemaker
(Gothenburg Project Leader)


Top Eight Albums of 2008:

1. Metallica- Death Magnetic: I can't properly explain how happy I am that Metallica's back to form after the atrocity that is/was St. Anger. This is everything that should have been between The Black Album and now. The band's brought back the kick ass guitar riffs, as well as the awesome Hammett solos. Lars is... well, Lars. His drumming style hasn't changed over the past 18 years, but he's still solid. It's just really nice to hear one of the most legendary metal bands get back on the right track.

2. In Flames- A Sense of Purpose: For me, this is another case of a band rediscovering who they are, in a sense. In Flames continued their progress in regards to getting back to their roots, bringing back an all natural melodic death metal sound. They've never sounded better. "Disconnected" has become one of my favorite songs of this year as well. This is one of those albums that becomes very hard to put down after a couple of listens.

3. TV On The Radio - Dear Science,: I read a review of this album on 411 a while ago, and decided to give it a try, seeing as the band is definitely not something I would have listened to... probably even a year or two ago. However, this band and this album caught me totally off my guard. The totally relaxed, almost ambient vibe of this album is actually a great change of pace, compared to what I normally listen to, and this band has an undeniable talent and sort of charm to their music that's definitely going to take them far.

4. Amon Amarth - Twilight of the Thunder God: From start to finish, Twilight of the Thunder God is an exercise in speed, brutality, and a lesson in Norse Mythology. Amon Amarth, once again, brought their A-game with their new album, keeping their intensity and sheer power from all of their past releases, while also including something a little deeper than guitars and drums: Cellos. Finnish cello metal band Apocalyptica makes an appearance on "Live For The Kill", showing the musical diversity of both bands. Definitely a must have for any melodic death metal fan.

5. Kanye West - 808s and Heartbreak - I, personally, love this album. While Kanye should keep his mouth shut in the media, his talent is undeniable. After putting out three solid hip hop albums, West released something a little more relaxed, and a lot deeper than anything he's put out before. This album is a great look inside the mind of one of the most famous rappers in the world. Kanye actually makes an auto tuner work (and he definitely needs it, after seeing that SNL performance), and bares his soul for the world to see, which is incredibly bold and commendable.

6. Nine Inch Nails - Ghosts Vol. I - IV: For five bucks, 36 songs seems like an incredible deal. Especially when those 36 songs are produced and performed by Trent Reznor. Reznor's description of the album, saying that it should be looked at as a "soundtrack to a daydream", is dead on. I usually put this on to relax to, usually reading, and it serves its purpose perfectly as ambient background music. It doesn't try to be anything more than that, which is what I love about it. It's specifically made to just space out to.

7. Slipknot - All Hope Is Gone: While Slipknot will always have a place in my heart, I don't think that turning into a second Stone Sour is really going to so much for them. I understand the band wants to take a more melodic approach, which is fine, but when half the songs sound like Taylor's side project, I think there's a bit of a problem. However, the other half of this album, including songs like "Psychosocial" and the title track, is absolutely awesome, so it makes up for it a little bit.

8. Hans Zimmer & James Newton Howard - The Dark Knight: Motion Picture Score: I wouldn't normally include a score on a list like this, but this is definitely one of the best scores I've heard in a long time. Like the movie, everything about this just gels together in a way that you lose yourself in the music by the time the first few songs are over.

Most Annoying Album of the Year: DJ Khaled - We Global: Khaled, just shut up and go away already. I think it's a damn shame that so many talented artists on this album are wasted on these crappy songs. While I will admit to liking one or two songs off his previous album, We Global just annoys the hell out of me. Khaled's incessant blabbering at the beginning of EVERY SINGLE SONG, not to mention whenever he feels like spewing unnecessary garbage into mic, gets old really fast. This album is a disgrace in my eyes.

Biggest Music News of the Year: Led Zeppelin Tour Rumors: Sadly, none of it came to fruition, yet, but this definitely got everybody's blood flowing, for both good and bad. Whether you supported the old school, and thought the band going on without Robert Plant was ludicrous, or the new school who just wanted to see the band get back for one more run, in any way they can, this was a HUGE deal. I can't wait to see where this goes, being in the new school category myself. The list of lead singers rumored to be touring with the band alone was enough to give any die hard music fan a heart attack. Chris Robinson of the Black Crowes? Myles Kennedy of Alter Bridge? Hell, Steven Fuckin' Tyler? Any of those would have been incredible. I guess we'll just have to wait til next year to see if any of this actually comes to be.

Favorite Concert of the Year: At The Gates: Suicidal Final Slaughter Reunion Tour, f/ Darkest Hour: I was at the first night of this show, at the Irving Plaza in New York City, cramped into a tiny venue with tons of other old school metalheads who came to see the most legendary melodic death metal band come back for one last hurrah. I can't even remember the first two bands, but Darkest Hour, albeit a short set, was incredible. They had so much energy and fire for the music they were playing that you couldn't help but bang your head. Then, once the lights went out and the grand masters of melodeath took the stage, the whole place went nuts. I couldn't even stay in front row for fear of getting trampled. The band went through all the big songs before leaving, only to come back out and play their biggest, "Blinded By Fear". An amazing show, to be sure, and the chance to say you've seen a band that's not around anymore is always cool.

Biggest Surprise of the Year: Amy Winehouse Isn't Dead. And I don't say it's a disappointment to be an asshole or anything. She's in such terrible shape that she'd probably be better off dead at this point. All the drugs she's done, after repeatedly being told to stop or lose her life, and yet she keeps going. It's amazing. She was hospitalized numerous times, she looks like a freakin' zombie, she's missing teeth.... it's sad. It's painful to see someone in such terrible shape, and to keep abusing their body, with no regard for their life. I hope, for her sake, that she realizes what the fuck is going on. She needs to get her life back on track, and stop with this stupid shit, because in all honesty, I think at this point, she's doing for attention, which is honestly just pathetic. I don't think anyone should have to damn near kill themselves to get attention.

Breakthrough Artist of the Year: TV On The Radio - As far as I can tell, this band's been around for a while, but it wasn't until Dear Science that people really started noticing them. Aside from a track on the last "Need For Speed" video game, I had never heard of them, but now, most musicians I know are raving about them. I think it goes to show they definitely did something right with this new album. Here's to a hell of a lot more success in the future.

Comeback Artist of the Year: Metallica - Death Magnetic has put the thrash legends back on the map for sure. Going back to their roots in ass kicking style, Metallica's definitely back and a force to be reckoned with in the music world. An unrelated (to being a comeback artist) nomination for the Rock Hall of Fame doesn't hurt either. This is the band's year, and they've been doing everything they can to prove to their fans, both the diehards and the young ones, that they're back for good. Here's hoping they're right.

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And that's it for our 2008 Staff Picks. Keep an eye on 411 for the rest of our 2008 Year In Review, including some of the best reviewed albums in the zone.