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Well, it was one of those years in music again where I heard a ton of discs, but only a few really wowed me. Having worked around music in some capacity for close to 20 years now, I think I have a pretty good basis to judge discs and songs on. In 2008, I average about 7-10 disc purchases a week, and I have listened to every single song on every disc, so I also have a deep knowledge of what was released this past year. For those who are just hopping onto my year end blogs for the first time, this one may read a little different than most because I have a couple “guidelines” I go by:
I have a very diverse music library, which contains everything from rock to Broadway to country. The one thing I do not listen to in any form is rap or hip-hop, because I don’t and never will consider it music (we can have that discussion at another time).
The top songs of the year category include ANY song released in 2008, not just those released to radio. If the song was on a disc with the release date in 2008, it was eligible to be on this list. I find that most the time, labels completely miss the mark on what songs to actually release to radio, and that is why radio is so crappy today.
Personal favorites have no bearing on me picking my year end favs (as you will soon see by some of the choices).
So with that in mind, let’s get to it!
As always, I like to start with a look through my Ipod:
2008’s most played artist – Bruce Springsteen (runner-up: Saving Jane)
2008’s most played song – “The Pretender” by Saving Jane (runner-up: “Spineless” by Jealousy Curve)
Top Songs of 2008 (there are 11 just because I like to be different)
11. I Will Not Be Moved (Natalie Grant)
10 . I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
9. You’re Gonna Go Far Kid (The Offspring)
8. I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry)
7. 1492 (Counting Crows)
6. I’m In Love With A Girl (Gavin DeGraw)
5. Fearless (Taylor Swift)
4. The Night (Disturbed)
3. Let Me Be Myself (3 Doors Down)
2. Best Days Of Your Life (Kellie Pickler)
1. I’m Not Jesus (Apocalyptica)
Top Discs of 2008 (16 of them)
16. Warpaint (The Black Crowes)
15. Swan Songs (Hollywood Undead)
14. Live Houston We Are Go (Newsboys)
13. Accelerate (R.E.M.)
12. Lucky Old Sun (Kenny Chesney)
11. Wanderlust (Gavin Rossdale)
10. Worlds Collide (Apocalpytica)
9. Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings (Counting Crows)
8. The Glass Passenger (Jack’s Mannequin)
7. North Hollywood Shootout (Blues Traveler)
6. When Angels And Serpents Dance (P.O.D.)
5. Symphony (Sarah Brightman)
4. Inhuman Rampage (Dragonforce)
3. Alive and Transported (tobyMac)
2. Death Magnetic (Metallica)
AND YOUR DISC OF THE YEAR IS…….
1. Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace (The Offspring)
Now, with the good, there must also be the bad. This year, four discs stood out to me as being not worth any amount of money.
Before The Amplifiers (Sister Hazel) – Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE this group. And I don’t think there is any group out right now who is more suited for an acoustic disc. That is why I was so shocked at how “off” this one sounds. I can’t really explain it, but for some reason, it is not one I would recommend.
Greatest Hit (and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) (Dream Theater) – Yet another group in my top 5 which missed the mark big time here. No new songs and 22 songs which are supposedly “remixed”, yet sounds exactly like their originals? I am calling a big time party foul.
Chinese Democracy (Guns And Rose*) - I put the asterisk there because this really can’t be called a Guns and Roses disc. The original core line-up would have never allowed the electro-drum beats and over produced pop-rock that this disc contains. I guess $14 million just does not buy what it used to.
Viva La Vida (Coldplay) - It has been a very long time since I heard such a pile self indulgent whining than that which springs from Chris Martin’s mouth on this “make me want to stab my ears with Q-Tips in my ears” disc. There are really no words in the English (or any other) language to describe how horrific this musical homicide is. Stay away, stay far away!!!
I have a very diverse music library, which contains everything from rock to Broadway to country. The one thing I do not listen to in any form is rap or hip-hop, because I don’t and never will consider it music (we can have that discussion at another time).
The top songs of the year category include ANY song released in 2008, not just those released to radio. If the song was on a disc with the release date in 2008, it was eligible to be on this list. I find that most the time, labels completely miss the mark on what songs to actually release to radio, and that is why radio is so crappy today.
Personal favorites have no bearing on me picking my year end favs (as you will soon see by some of the choices).
So with that in mind, let’s get to it!
As always, I like to start with a look through my Ipod:
2008’s most played artist – Bruce Springsteen (runner-up: Saving Jane)
2008’s most played song – “The Pretender” by Saving Jane (runner-up: “Spineless” by Jealousy Curve)
Top Songs of 2008 (there are 11 just because I like to be different)
11. I Will Not Be Moved (Natalie Grant)
10 . I’m Yours (Jason Mraz)
9. You’re Gonna Go Far Kid (The Offspring)
8. I Kissed A Girl (Katy Perry)
7. 1492 (Counting Crows)
6. I’m In Love With A Girl (Gavin DeGraw)
5. Fearless (Taylor Swift)
4. The Night (Disturbed)
3. Let Me Be Myself (3 Doors Down)
2. Best Days Of Your Life (Kellie Pickler)
1. I’m Not Jesus (Apocalyptica)
Top Discs of 2008 (16 of them)
16. Warpaint (The Black Crowes)
15. Swan Songs (Hollywood Undead)
14. Live Houston We Are Go (Newsboys)
13. Accelerate (R.E.M.)
12. Lucky Old Sun (Kenny Chesney)
11. Wanderlust (Gavin Rossdale)
10. Worlds Collide (Apocalpytica)
9. Saturday Nights and Sunday Mornings (Counting Crows)
8. The Glass Passenger (Jack’s Mannequin)
7. North Hollywood Shootout (Blues Traveler)
6. When Angels And Serpents Dance (P.O.D.)
5. Symphony (Sarah Brightman)
4. Inhuman Rampage (Dragonforce)
3. Alive and Transported (tobyMac)
2. Death Magnetic (Metallica)
AND YOUR DISC OF THE YEAR IS…….
1. Rise And Fall, Rage And Grace (The Offspring)
Now, with the good, there must also be the bad. This year, four discs stood out to me as being not worth any amount of money.
Before The Amplifiers (Sister Hazel) – Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE this group. And I don’t think there is any group out right now who is more suited for an acoustic disc. That is why I was so shocked at how “off” this one sounds. I can’t really explain it, but for some reason, it is not one I would recommend.
Greatest Hit (and 21 Other Pretty Cool Songs) (Dream Theater) – Yet another group in my top 5 which missed the mark big time here. No new songs and 22 songs which are supposedly “remixed”, yet sounds exactly like their originals? I am calling a big time party foul.
Chinese Democracy (Guns And Rose*) - I put the asterisk there because this really can’t be called a Guns and Roses disc. The original core line-up would have never allowed the electro-drum beats and over produced pop-rock that this disc contains. I guess $14 million just does not buy what it used to.
Viva La Vida (Coldplay) - It has been a very long time since I heard such a pile self indulgent whining than that which springs from Chris Martin’s mouth on this “make me want to stab my ears with Q-Tips in my ears” disc. There are really no words in the English (or any other) language to describe how horrific this musical homicide is. Stay away, stay far away!!!
