2008 > The Year in Music

[Double Down]

I'm putting together a list of my favorite music from 2008 and I was interested in hearing what everyone else really enjoyed this past year.

This excellent mashup of the top 25 hits of 2008 may help remind you of some of the hits (although I doubt any of the songs in it will make my list):

XLaZ-8IMtt0

[The Chairman]

Completely dreadful year for pop music. Between Lil' Wayne, The Jonas Brothers, Rihanna and Beyonce and that awful as **** "Single Ladies", this year was one of the worst in recent memory. Katy Perry and Taylor Swift's albums were the high points for me.

[Mee]

It was the same as any other year. I don't care for 90% of mainstream music.


Favorite album of this year was The Raconteurs' Consolers of the Lonely.

[Mee]

Completely dreadful year for pop music. Between Lil' Wayne, The Jonas Brothers, Rihanna and Beyonce and that awful as **** "Single Ladies", this year was one of the worst in recent memory. Katy Perry and Taylor Swift's albums were the high points for me.
Dude. :csad:

[Double Down]

Completely dreadful year for pop music. Between Lil' Wayne, The Jonas Brothers, Rihanna and Beyonce and that awful as **** "Single Ladies", this year was one of the worst in recent memory. Katy Perry and Taylor Swift's albums were the high points for me.

I agree that the stuff on the charts was bad, but there was a lot of stuff of the charts that was well worth listening to.

[The Chairman]

Dude. :csad:

Katy Perry is actually really good. You obviously judge her by the only two songs you've heard from her.

[Gamma Ray]

2008 - The year "Guns n Roses" finally released Chinese Democracy... And nobody cared.

[Double Down]

2008 - The year "Guns n Roses" finally released Chinese Democracy... And nobody cared.

At least some people got a free Dr. Pepper out of it. Other than that, yeah, who cares about that CD?

[Mr. Todd]

Metallica's "Death Magnetic" album was the only thing I cared about.

[Poetic Chaos]

Strong year for hip-hop. Paper Trail by T.I. was my favorite album of the year followed by One of the Boys by Katy Perry.

[AxlsAppetite]

Rap and hip-hop sucked donkey d*** this year AND last, I honestly can't see why people listen to it. Every new song by T.I. sounds almost exactly the same to me as his previous songs.

I was a big fan of Three 6 Mafia, back in there Horrorcore days and I loved The Most Known Unknown, but their new CD sounded like crap.

[terry78]

I got three words for you.

Metro. Station. Shake. It.

[Poetic Chaos]

Never look to the singles for a real read on an artist.

[Double Down]

Rap and hip-hop sucked donkey d*** this year AND last, I honestly can't see why people listen to it. Every new song by T.I. sounds almost exactly the same to me as his previous songs.

I was a big fan of Three 6 Mafia, back in there Horrorcore days and I loved The Most Known Unknown, but their new CD sounded like crap.

I don't really listen to too much rap anymore, but what you are saying about rap is what people have been saying for year and years. People always think the new stuff isn't as good as the older stuff. That's just how it is with rap.

[Mr. Todd]

I'd say "Handlebars" was BY FAR the best rap (though it was a mix of other genres too) single this year. :up:

[Arc-Light]

Dude. :csad:

double dude*10

[Dodger]

Katy Perry is actually really good. You obviously judge her by the only two songs you've heard from her.

I think your obviously distracted by her huge boobs. Like me.

http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f76/iccyzeke/katy-perry.jpg

Katy Perry rocks. I don't know what she is singing about I just know I love her videos. :heart:

[Manic]

The highest point for hip-hop this year was the fact that Q-Tip finally released another album. And much like Chinese Democracy, nobody cared.

R&B didn't do any better. Between Rihanna flooding the airwaves and Ne-Yo writing songs for everybody, the only things I walked away enjoying were Robin Thicke and John Legend (who even I'll admit can't sing that damn well).

This was also the year that Britney Spears managed to squeeze out another hit song, which is never good news where taste is concerned.

You know, I like Timbaland. I like Justin Timberlake. What I don't like is the fact that they've been joined at the hip all year.

Estelle crossed over to the US this year. Good for her. Maybe next year she'll learn how to sing. Or rap. Anything, really.

Speaking of British crossovers, we were also treated to Adele (who'll have to explain the concept of "chasing pavements" to me one day) and Duffy (...okay, fine. I liked "Mercy").

New Kids on the Block came back for the first time since 1994. I... kinda don't care, actually.

Erykah Badu released her concept album New Amerykah Part One, which I actually enjoyed thoroughly. There was even a nice tribute to deceased rapper J Dilla toward the end.

Jason Mraz came out with the catchiest song ever recorded, "I'm Yours." Seriously, it was catchy as hell.

Kardinal Offishall (who needs a spelling dictionary) joined Shaggy this year, in the ranks of semi-Jamaican rappers using fake accents.

Coldplay did manage to released the only song I've heard from them that didn't annoy me or bore me to tears, but it was soon revealed that the music in said song was lifted from... well, a lot of places.

Lil Wayne... ugh. Just-- no.

A honorable mention goes to TI for not only compelling me to search for the old "Numa Numa" video on Youtube again, but for inspiring Weird Al's new "Whatever You Like" parody.

[Double Down]

^ Nice breakdown.

[Sawyer]

This year is pretty note-worthy just for the fact that someone with at least a portion of actual talent won American Idol. I hate about 95% of the contestants in AI's history, but this David Cook actually looks promising.

Other decent artists this year...
One Republic
Katy Perry
Coldplay
Keane
Leona Lewis
Snow Patrol
AC/DC
Ray LaMontagne
Kings of Leon
MGMT
Augustana
Shinedown
The Killers

And I ****in' hate these Disney kids (The Jonas Brothers, Miley Cyrus, blah blah blah). I hate twelve year olds for making them so damn popular.

[Double Down]

As best as I can remember, these are my favorite 12 CDs from 2008:

We Are Scientists / Brain Thrust Mastery
Kaiser Chiefs / Off With Their Heads
Tokyo Police Club / Elephant Shell
The Dandy Warhols / Earth to the Dandy Warhols
Boy Kill Boy / Stars and the Sea
The Streets / Everything is Borrowed
Hot Chip / Made in the Dark
Bloc Party / Intimacy
Chester French / She Loves Everybody
The Kooks / Konk
Young Knives / Superabundance
The Black Keys / Attack & Release

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g39/doubledown44/party-1.gif

[Manic]

I gotta say, I don't "get" all the hate people have for acts like the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana. People complain about it like it's everywhere, but I've managed to avoid those acts almost entirely.

[Sawyer]

I gotta say, I don't "get" all the hate people have for acts like the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana. People complain about it like it's everywhere, but I've managed to avoid those acts almost entirely.

Then you should consider yourself lucky.

[Tigerking]

Mainstream hip hop/rap sucked, though Cube's Raw Footage was pretty darn good. Kanye completly dissappointed me, and Eminem's and Dre's albums pushed back for next year makes me hop that 2009 will be a LOT better.

[Manic]

Then you should consider yourself lucky.
How lucky could I possibly be, though? I watch Fuse, MTV2, and VH1 in the middle of the night (when they actually play music videos), and I've yet to run into any of their songs. When I'm in the car, I sometimes listen to a couple of local stations that'll play Britney Spears, but never play Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers.

I think I've heard one Jonas Brother song twice, and one Miley Cyrus song a handful of times. It's not like when I'm watching Nocturnal State on VH1, and they play "Womanizer" every half hour.

[Double Down]

How lucky could I possibly be, though? I watch Fuse, MTV2, and VH1 in the middle of the night (when they actually play music videos), and I've yet to run into any of their songs. When I'm in the car, I sometimes listen to a couple of local stations that'll play Britney Spears, but never play Miley Cyrus or the Jonas Brothers.

I think I've heard one Jonas Brother song twice, and one Miley Cyrus song a handful of times. It's not like when I'm watching Nocturnal State on VH1, and they play "Womanizer" every half hour.

My only exposure to the Jonas Brothers was at halftime of the Cowboys Thanksgiving game on TV. I didn't enjoy it too much, to be honest.

[JediXAngel]

Mariah Carey and Beyonce!!!

[Mee]

Katy Perry is actually really good. You obviously judge her by the only two songs you've heard from her.
Actually, I watched a concert of hers on the DirectTV channel, so I've heard more.

[AxlsAppetite]

I gotta say, I don't "get" all the hate people have for acts like the Jonas Brothers and Hannah Montana. People complain about it like it's everywhere, but I've managed to avoid those acts almost entirely.
Same here. I don't like their music but I don't hate them. The only thing I hate about the Jonas Brothers is that right now they could have almost any girl they want but they choose to wait till they're married, WTF is up with that?


Oh and to the ChiDem comments, When AFD was released there wasn't any hype for it either and it didn't sell many copies. Just you wait and see.

I don't like Lil' Wayne's music at all, i think mostly because whenever i hear his voice I imagine him on the crapper in his recording stuido dropping a big one.

[Manic]

Same here. I don't like their music but I don't hate them. The only thing I hate about the Jonas Brothers is that right now they could have almost any girl they want but they choose to wait till they're married, WTF is up with that?
I call bull. I know the Jonas Brothers pledged their virginity until marriage and all that, but who do they think they're kidding?

[Double Down]

I call bull. I know the Jonas Brothers pledged their virginity until marriage and all that, but who do they think they're kidding?


Teens Often Cheat On No-Sex Pledges
Those Who Take Pledge Often Have Riskier Sex

SIMPSONVILLE, S.C. -- Teens who take a pledge to abstain from sex until marriage are no less likely than their peers to actually refrain from sexual activity, according to a study published Monday.
Also, those teens are more likely to engage in sex without protection from disease or pregnancy, the research by Johns Hopkins University indicates.
The study by Johns Hopkins researcher Dr. Janet Elise Rosenbaum was released in the January edition of the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics. {OD: This is a link in the original article to the published paper}
The findings come as no surprise to Mandy Black, founder of the Little Steps mentoring program in Simpsonville, S.C.
Little Steps was developed as a place where pregnant teens and young parents can find a sympathetic ear and advice from someone who's been there.
"We have a big belief here in being real about these kinds of things," Black told WYFF-TV.
Black said she was unmarried when she had her first child at 18 -- after taking the pledge.
"I was heavily involved in an abstinence program through our church -- right before I got pregnant," Black said.
The Johns Hopkins study compared the attitudes and behavior of about 1,000 high school students who had taken a virginity pledge to those who hadn't.
Researchers said that they found no significant difference in sexual activity, including the number of partners or the age at which the teen lost his or her virginity.
The study also found that teens who had taken a virginity pledge were less likely to use condoms or other birth control.
Black said that she understands the appeal of abstinence programs and that many parents fear sending a mixed message by encouraging abstinence but still talking about birth control. . . .

http://www.clickondetroit.com/health/18380406/detail.html

[Manic]

Give it a year or so. Some teenage ho will come out of the cuts, holding a baby she claims belongs to a Jonas brother. Which brother? The hell if she knows. She slept with all of them.

[Double Down]

Give it a year or so. Some teenage ho will come out of the cuts, holding a baby she claims belongs to a Jonas brother. Which brother? The hell if she knows. She slept with all of them.

Odds are, at least one of them is gay. I'm willing to bet.

[stardust]

Can't remember one really good song that came out last year...

[Double Down]

Can't remember one really good song that came out last year...

Does this help?

XLaZ-8IMtt0

[stardust]

Does this help?

XLaZ-8IMtt0
These were the ones I was hoping to be able to forget. :oldrazz:

[Double Down]

None of those were on my top 12, which I posted earlier in the thread. What kind of music do you like?

[EdRyder]

Mainstream hip hop/rap sucked, though Cube's Raw Footage was pretty darn good. Kanye completly dissappointed me, and Eminem's and Dre's albums pushed back for next year makes me hop that 2009 will be a LOT better.

Thats Mainstream for ya. Good year for hip hop tho. Elzhi,The Roots,KP,Black Milk ,.. NERD's album ,The Foreign Exchanges new one.. Not a bad year at all.

[Darthphere]

Completely dreadful year for pop music. Between Lil' Wayne, The Jonas Brothers, Rihanna and Beyonce and that awful as **** "Single Ladies", this year was one of the worst in recent memory. Katy Perry and Taylor Swift's albums were the high points for me.

I judge pop music like this. A whole bunch of songs that you listen to, and if it gets stuck in your head and you find yourself singing it in an elevator or something, then it was a successful as a pop song. I had a lot of **** stuck in my head this year, so as far as pop music goes, it was probably an up year.

And you only hate the Jonas Brothers because whoever dumped Taylor Swift's skinny ass. :o

[CashforStash]

Im a 70's, 80's, and 90's music kind of guy, so I don't care about music now a days.

[Double Down]

Im a 70's, 80's, and 90's music kind of guy, so I don't care about music now a days.

Are you still watching Jaws every single day?

[chamber-music]

There was some Great music in 2008. I think perhaps mainstream music media has a bit less variety in the US than the UK. Here are some of my favourites.

Sam Sparro- Black and Gold (great single the type prince might have made)
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=v3TqxcLwbzI

Mystery Jets- Twenty One (awesome album, 80s style pop fun The Killers might have made before they became serious and boring)
Young Love-http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qz-FoGp3p0s
Two Doors Down- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Dl3VQ2K2U
Half In Love With Elizabeth- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=P0SjfLqzwj8

Elbow- Seldom Seen Kid (great album better than Coldplays IMO)
Grounds For Divorce- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=iL4mywCOJXA
One Day like This- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QYdGYbAsT00

The Kills- Midnight Boom (great album, atlast no longer the poor mans white stripes)
Cheap and Cheerful- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=G6wUPCqwWI8
Last Day of Magic- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=JkEwk7wZVV8
URA Fever- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=w3fZP7QC4PE

Friendly Fires- Freindly Fires (great music even greater dancing :woot:)
Paris- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lw63INYBcYA
Jump In The Pool- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ofRCldHb7X0

Neon Neon- Stainless Style (a concept album about John DeLorean made up of Hip Hop and 80s pop music, shouldn't work but does)
Dream Cars- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=Jt924g5lZ7w
I Told Her on Alderaan / Trick for Treat http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=LadgANhOhiI


Wild Beasts- impossible to pigeon hole but really intresting music. Lead singer has one of the higest falsetto's I've ever heard.
Devils Crayon- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=kLzJqEg_WEQ
Brave Bulging Buoyant Clairvoyants- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=1bW6USsmR70

Foals- Antidotes (great album, great live)
Hummer- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=GG2Ou4-J5YA
Red Sock Pugie- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZuTIYEe_p8
Cassius- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=PIgXvT4_Ky8
Olympic Airways- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=DMuD3DBskpg


Other Artists I liked this year included
Alternative/Indie
White Denim, Tv On The Radio, The Teenagers, Pete And The Pirates, Late Of The Pier, Ladyhawke, Ebony Bones, Damn Arms, Black Kids, The Charlatans.

Hip Hop
Plastic Little, LMFAO, The Cool Kids, Kanye West, Kid Cudi, Iglu & Hartly

Electronic/Dance
The Presets, MGMT, Metronomy, M83, Hercules & The Love Affair

[Double Down]

Mystery Jets- Twenty One (awesome album, 80s style pop fun The Killers might have made before they became serious and boring)
Young Love-http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qz-FoGp3p0s
Two Doors Down- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Dl3VQ2K2U
Half In Love With Elizabeth- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=P0SjfLqzwj8


I really like what I have heard off this CD, but it isn't sold in the U.S.
I have Zootime and the Young Love CD single, and I have been able to track down a few other songs. But I can't get the full CD.
I have the Foals CD, but I admire it more than I enjoy it.
And I only recently started to get into Friendly Fires. I think their best song is On Board.

[gogetter0587]

I really like what I have heard off this CD, but it isn't sold in the U.S.
I have Zootime and the Young Love CD single, and I have been able to track down a few other songs. But I can't get the full CD.
I have the Foals CD, but I admire it more than I enjoy it.
And I only recently started to get into Friendly Fires. I think their best song is On Board.


There were definitely some good albums/songs that came out this year.

1. Black Keys - Attack and Release

2. Ray Lamontagne - Gossip in the Grain

3. Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

4. Amos Lee- Last days at the lodge

5. Toadies- No deliverance

6. Death Cab for cutie - Narrow stairs ( grows on you )

7. Tv on the Radio - Dear Science

[PWN3R]

The rap/hip hop genre of '08 can be described in one word:
AUTO-TUNE.

lololooloololololollo

[Double Down]

There were definitely some good albums/songs that came out this year.

1. Black Keys - Attack and Release

2. Ray Lamontagne - Gossip in the Grain

3. Raconteurs - Consolers of the Lonely

4. Amos Lee- Last days at the lodge

5. Toadies- No deliverance

6. Death Cab for cutie - Narrow stairs ( grows on you )

7. Tv on the Radio - Dear Science


The Black Keys went to the same high school I did. As did Joseph Arthur and Chrissie Hynde. Not all at the same time, of course.
(Non-musically we had Angie Everhart, Melina Kanakaredes and Judy Resnick.)

[gogetter0587]

The Black Keys went to the same high school I did. As did Joseph Arthur and Chrissie Hynde. Not all at the same time, of course.
(Non-musically we had Angie Everhart, Melina Kanakaredes and Judy Resnick.)

Ive seen them 3 times in concert. They can put on a show for certain.

[Double Down]

Yep. Attack and Release is their best CD yet (I put it on my top 12, which I posted earlier).
This was easily one of the best songs of the year:
N8EVNdbbYoA

[The Chairman]

I judge pop music like this. A whole bunch of songs that you listen to, and if it gets stuck in your head and you find yourself singing it in an elevator or something, then it was a successful as a pop song. I had a lot of **** stuck in my head this year, so as far as pop music goes, it was probably an up year.

And you only hate the Jonas Brothers because whoever dumped Taylor Swift's skinny ass. :o

No, that just intensified my already deeply seething hatred towards all things Jonas related.

And I guess I partially agree with what you said, because as much as I hate that ****ing "Single Ladies" **** Beyonce did, I find it strangely infectious as well.

[gogetter0587]

Yep. Attack and Release is their best CD yet (I put it on my top 12, which I posted earlier).
This was easily one of the best songs of the year:
N8EVNdbbYoA

Raconteurs album is Awesome.

The name is suspect at best but Back Door Slam is Awesome as well.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eoUDjFMgUKM

[Double Down]

If anyone is ever looking for some good new music, try http://rcrdlbl.com/artists. They offer free (legal) downloads of music offered by record labels. There are new songs, live versions and remixes.

[Double Down]

Mystery Jets- Twenty One (awesome album, 80s style pop fun The Killers might have made before they became serious and boring)
Young Love-http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qz-FoGp3p0s
Two Doors Down- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=K2Dl3VQ2K2U
Half In Love With Elizabeth- http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=P0SjfLqzwj8


Here is a blog comparing Young Love and Way Back Into Love and there is no denying the similarity. In fact, when my girlfriend first heard Young Love, she said, "Oh, they covered the song from the Hugh Grant movie."

[gogetter0587]

Here is a blog comparing Young Love and Way Back Into Love and there is no denying the similarity. In fact, when my girlfriend first heard Young Love, she said, "Oh, they covered the song from the Hugh Grant movie."


Double what kind of music are you into in general?

Singer songwriter? Anything Heavy? Folk?

[chamber-music]

I really like what I have heard off this CD, but it isn't sold in the U.S.
I have Zootime and the Young Love CD single, and I have been able to track down a few other songs. But I can't get the full CD.
I have the Foals CD, but I admire it more than I enjoy it.
And I only recently started to get into Friendly Fires. I think their best song is On Board.

I don't imagine Mystery Jets will tour outside of europe much as well because of the lead singers disability.

The Jonas Brothers are nothing new. In the 70s you had The Osmonds and the 90s Hanson. Clean cut unoffensive boys with christian values is always gonna be around because parents can be sure their music isn't corrupting their children.

[Double Down]

Double what kind of music are you into in general?

Singer songwriter? Anything Heavy? Folk?

These are my favorites: Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Tokyo Police Club, Kaiser Chiefs, Maximo Park, The Crystal Method, We Are Scientists, The Dandy Warhols, The Streets, Phoenix, The Chemical Brothers, Boy Kill Boy, The Cribs, Chester French, The Fratellis, Rooney, Hard-Fi, The Rakes, Gomez, The Rapture, and Badly Drawn Boy.

[gogetter0587]

These are my favorites: Franz Ferdinand, Arctic Monkeys, Tokyo Police Club, Kaiser Chiefs, Maximo Park, The Crystal Method, We Are Scientists, The Dandy Warhols, The Streets, Phoenix, The Chemical Brothers, Boy Kill Boy, The Cribs, Chester French, The Fratellis, Rooney, Hard-Fi, The Rakes, Gomez, The Rapture, and Badly Drawn Boy.

You like all those and you don't like spoon?

[Double Down]

I don't imagine Mystery Jets will tour outside of europe much as well because of the lead singers disability.

The Jonas Brothers are nothing new. In the 70s you had The Osmonds and the 90s Hanson. Clean cut unoffensive boys with christian values is always gonna be around because parents can be sure their music isn't corrupting their children.

Being a fan of primarily British music has advantages and disadvantages.
Disadvantage: Not every CD actually gets released over here.
Advantage: When they do, they are often cheaper and have more songs as an enticement.

Disadvantage: They don't play on tour here much, and when they do, they focus on the coasts (New York and LA - maybe Chicago if they travel to the middle).
Advantage: When they do come here, the tickets are cheap and the venues are small. We have a club in Cleveland called the Grog Shop. The tickets are usually $10-12 and the crowd size is approx. 100 or so, but I have seen Bloc Party, The Cribs, and We Are Scientists (who aren't British, but might as well be) play there. In March, Tokyo Police Club is playing there. I have my tickets.
I saw Phoenix play a gig in Cleveland in 2006 and the ticket was $5. I saw Arctic Monkeys in Columbus (where Ohio State is) for less that $20.

So, like I said there are both advantages and disadvantages.

[Double Down]

You like all those and you don't like spoon?

I do like Spoon. There are MANY other bands I like. I just stopped where I did. Spoon's last CD was just fantastic.

[gogetter0587]

I do like Spoon. There are MANY other bands I like. I just stopped where I did. Spoon's last CD was just fantastic.


Fair enough. I was just making sure you had heard of them because if you like all those you pretty much have to like spoon as well.

[Double Down]

Here is another fun site for free (legal) music:

http://www.buffetlibredjs.net/rewind.php

It's a bunch of bands you have never heard of covering songs from the '80s, but there is some good stuff.

[gap5ewl]

This has just been a dreadful decade for new music with each year getting progressively worse. 2008 was just utter ****. Go look at what was the number one songs that year. :csad:. I seriously can't even remember the last good year in music. Is there any originality left?

[Star]

You guys should check out :

Los Campesinos : We are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.

Great 2008 album.

Also Hercules and Love Affair.

Kind of non-mainstream stuff but AMAZING

[Star]

Fb8S51M2GAc

[Double Down]

You guys should check out :

Los Campesinos : We are Beautiful, We Are Doomed.

Great 2008 album.

Also Hercules and Love Affair.

Kind of non-mainstream stuff but AMAZING
\
What kind of music is it?

[Star]

Hercules and Love Affair is sort of... retro? I don't really know what genre it would be. I posted a video (but more for the song) of them

Los Campesinos is sort of Twee.

I don't really listen to the radio so I really only pay attention to music that gets buzz in magazines like Spin...

[Double Down]

The music in the video reminds me of the Scissor Sisters (minus the Bee Gees influence). It's a good song.

[ComicChick]

Lady Gaga's The Fame is definitely one of my favorite albums of 2008 by far.

[Bnightwing]

Viva La Vida is one thing some others but I can't think right now what else.

[Double Down]

I don't listen to the radio. What were the worse songs of the year?

[chamber-music]

Hercules and Love Affair is sort of... retro? I don't really know what genre it would be. I posted a video (but more for the song) of them

Los Campesinos is sort of Twee.

I don't really listen to the radio so I really only pay attention to music that gets buzz in magazines like Spin...
I like Blind by Hercules And Love Affair. Its very 70s disco but in a good way.

I occasionally read Spin and sometimes NME (even though they are kind of jackasses they do spotlight some good new bands and singers every now and again).

Being a fan of primarily British music has advantages and disadvantages.
Disadvantage: Not every CD actually gets released over here.
Advantage: When they do, they are often cheaper and have more songs as an enticement.

Disadvantage: They don't play on tour here much, and when they do, they focus on the coasts (New York and LA - maybe Chicago if they travel to the middle).
Advantage: When they do come here, the tickets are cheap and the venues are small. We have a club in Cleveland called the Grog Shop. The tickets are usually $10-12 and the crowd size is approx. 100 or so, but I have seen Bloc Party, The Cribs, and We Are Scientists (who aren't British, but might as well be) play there. In March, Tokyo Police Club is playing there. I have my tickets.
I saw Phoenix play a gig in Cleveland in 2006 and the ticket was $5. I saw Arctic Monkeys in Columbus (where Ohio State is) for less that $20.

So, like I said there are both advantages and disadvantages.

Why don't you download music off itunes or something or do you prefer owning the actual CD?

Its really hard to get tickets for the Arctic Monkeys in the UK. They sellout really fast even when they are playing huge arenas, plus they are pretty expensive.

I've seen Bloc Party, Tokyo Police Club and We Are Scientists before. I wanna see the cribs especially now Johnny Marr is in the band. The good thing in Britain is in the summer we have about a 100 different music festivals so you can see all the bands you wanna see in the year at one venue.

The reason why some of current British music isn't played in America is for a couple of reasons. First is the fact you guys have clear channel which pretty much controls what you guys hear on the radio. Radio DJs can play just about whatever they want over hear. The BBC has national radio and on its stations DJs have near enough unlimited freedom to play whatever because its public funded so has hasn't got appeal to the record industry.

Also America is a huge country and in europe its easier to build a buzz. You can play a few shows and appear on a couple of TV shows and you will get mainstream exposure.

No offence to any midwesterners but middle America also tends to have slightly less exposure or knowledge about stuff going on outside the states compared to the east and west coast. European bands can go to the US and know they will sell tickets in NY or California but they are unsure about places like Ohio, Utah, ect.

Also some record execs are just plain xenophobic and don't want to give a share of the market over to foreign bands.

[Double Down]

^ A lot of the time (most of the time, actually), if you can't buy the CD here, they aren't selling the music on iTunes either.
The part where you mention the Arctic Monkeys, that's what I'm talking about. It was easier for me to get an Arctic Monkey than it was for you. I just have less opportunities. The show sold out, for the record.
I saw the Cribs on March 23, 2008. The ticket was $8 and I literally stood five feet from the band. I was surprised by how much faster and more intensely they play their songs live as compared to the CD. Great show.
I read NME so I see the festival listings and I would love to see one of the shows. I went to Ireland a few years back, but there weren't any going on at the time.
The part about coming to middle America I understand. But if they don't come here, they don't get exposure. If you ever get a chance (and haven't already done so), check out Sting's autobiography, "Broken Music." It has a great account on what a risk the band took by "barnstorming" America and how nicely it paid off.
But I will be honest, I don't want a lot of the bands I like to break really big over here. It's really hard to be a one-hit wonder if you don't have a hit. And having hits makes some bands instantly unpopular, as odd as that seems. No one hated Panic at the Disco until they had some hits, same with Fall Out Boy. They had their core fans and they were happy, but now it's "fashionable" to say you don't like them. I know the UK is the same way a lot of times.

[chamber-music]

Tne NME does that hating popular bands thing. THey talk them up when they are an up and coming band but when they hit mainstream they start writing articles how much they suck.

I know alot of british artists who do get successful in America usually have a major label behind them or gig like crazy and play every damn venue they can get booked at.

Its harder for alot bands that can sell out large venues in their own country to come and play for 5 people who have never heard of them. They are starting at the bottom again and a few of them haven't got the drive and hunger for it to go through that again.

I saw Cribs play Glastonbury on TV and they play really fast. I remember seeing Ryan Jarman stage dive at NME awards where he had internal bleeding and had to go to hospital.

Live music has taken off alot in Britain over the last decade. Ireland has the Oxygen festival which is always pretty wacky as alot of people turn up in costumes.

[Double Down]

I'm really excited about this Tokyo Police Club show. How are they live?

[Mee]

I don't listen to the radio. What were the worse songs of the year?
Too many to name.

[chamber-music]

I'm really excited about this Tokyo Police Club show. How are they live?

Quite good when I saw them.

[Star]

I've seen Tokyo Police Club three times live :up:

So fun.

[Double Down]

Canada's best band :up:

[Star]

I dunno about that though.

Crystal Castles, The New Pornographers, Arcade Fire, and Final Fantasy all come pretty close. Plus Broken Social Scene is fantastic too. And Stars! Gah. So many good bands haha.

[Double Down]

I stand by my choice.

[Star]

Also We Are Wolves haha. Damn do I love Canadian bands.

[Double Down]

I prefer We Are Scientists. America rules!

[chamber-music]

Also We Are Wolves haha. Damn do I love Canadian bands.
I like We Are Wolves. Crystal Castles have got a few good songs and Arcade Fire are great. Born Ruffians are a good Canadian band too. As long as Canada stops producing artists like Bryan Adams and Avril Lavinge I happy.

I saw We Are Scientists do a Q & A. It was comedy gold. Those guys should have their own TV show. They should of gotten Gary Powell from The Libertines/Dirty Pretty Things as their full time Drummer. He is way better then their new drummer and was awesome when he played with them.

[Double Down]

I like We Are Wolves. Crystal Castles have got a few good songs and Arcade Fire are great. Born Ruffians are a good Canadian band too. As long as Canada stops producing artists like Bryan Adams and Avril Lavinge I happy.

I saw We Are Scientists do a Q & A. It was comedy gold. Those guys should have their own TV show.

We Are Scientists are hilarious. They are funny during the concerts, too.

[Kmack]

Madonna, Beyonce, Coldplay, Kanye, The Killers, T.I. & heck even freakin Britney! In one year?! Yeah, that's pretty much heaven for me. :D:up:
I'm also enjoying this little mini-British Invasion lol.

Oh yeah, and how could I leave out Weezy!:heart::heart:

[The Batman]

I do like Spoon. There are MANY other bands I like. I just stopped where I did. Spoon's last CD was just fantastic.

"You got yr Cherry Bomb" FTW...that's what pop music should be, imo...

[Double Down]

Finer Feelings, Don't You Evah and The Underdog are great songs, too.

[Chris Wallace]

By & large I say the music of 2008 sucked. I like what I heard from Jennifer Hudson, Lalah Hathaway & Jazmine Sullivan. Nothing else comes to mind that even remotely appealed to me. My ears are still bleeding from teh atrocities committed by the likes of Rhianna. And if I'm forced to listen to "Single Ladies" or "Chopped & Screwed" one more time I'm gonna hurt somebody. And not even anyone in particular. I'm just going to pick a random person & cause them physical pain.

[The Dude]

Metallica, The Killers, and Coldplay albums where all good, which was enough for me. I hardly care about 95% of mainstream music nowadays.

2008 was a great concert year for me though, seeing Megadeth and Stone Temple Pilots.

[The Dude]

double post

[Double Down]

You know how occasionally on a tv show, one of the kids makes a song and a video and everyone on the show loves it, and it becomes a hit? Meanwhile, you, the viewer, thinks "there is no way that would be a hit in real life." This is that song and this is that video.

p7cUrBu7C_0

[Double Down]

I hate to say it, but some of the catchiest music of the year was in those FreeCreditReport.com commercials. I'm not saying it's good, but it is catchy.

[Incrediblejeff]

I thought 2008 was ok.I brought a decent amount of albums.More compared to last year.Santogold's album was nice.I liked T.I.'s new album,and I actually liked Kanye's new album.I also liked Q-tip,Janelle Monae,Erykah Badu,N.E.R.D.,The Roots,and J*Davey's albums.Gym Class Heroes disappointed me.

[Double Down]

I was going through my CDs today and I have to say that the release that disappointed me the most last year was Here We Stand by The Fratellis. The first one was great and I couldn't stop listening to it, but this one just didn't have it. Honestly, though, I had a bad feeling when I heard the lead singer complain about how popular they had gotten off the first disc. That's rarely a good sign.

[chamber-music]

I thought 2008 was ok.I brought a decent amount of albums.More compared to last year.Santogold's album was nice.I liked T.I.'s new album,and I actually liked Kanye's new album.I also liked Q-tip,Janelle Monae,Erykah Badu,N.E.R.D.,The Roots,and J*Davey's albums.Gym Class Heroes disappointed me.
That reads like a who's who of the Blipsters music list.
I was going through my CDs today and I have to say that the release that disappointed me the most last year was Here We Stand by The Fratellis. The first one was great and I couldn't stop listening to it, but this one just didn't have it. Honestly, though, I had a bad feeling when I heard the lead singer complain about how popular they had gotten off the first disc. That's rarely a good sign.
The Fratellis have gone from being the band everyone likes to being the band everyone either hates or is embarassed to admit they like the UK now. I feel king of sorry for them.

[Incrediblejeff]

That reads like a who's who of the Blipsters music list.


I had to look up Blipster to see what the means.I guess I am slowly turning into a Hipster(or Blipster).Not that I have a problem with that.

[Double Down]

The Fratellis have gone from being the band everyone likes to being the band everyone either hates or is embarassed to admit they like the UK now. I feel king of sorry for them.

Since few people I know have ever even heard of them, that has had no effect on me. But, about what you are saying, they brought it on themselves with the singer's arrogant quotes and the not-so-good second disc.

[Cmill216]

As a fan of even the most mainstream and commercial of pop, I have to say:

2008 sucked ass.

[chrisfishlock]

Pretty good year for music in my opinon, my highlight is having two NIN albums that are both amazing, and new Bloc Party and Futureheads.

Then other highlights include Weezer, Slipknot and Metallica.

But my absolute musical highlight of the year is seeing RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE LIVE!!!

[Motown Marvel]

2008, like the last few decades sucked. raconteurs album was sweet, black keys was cool, and its great seeing the black lips getting some recognition. good bad, not evil was a great album. but overall, the music industry is still working over time to keep quality musicians down just so they can continue manufacturing the same old mediocrity.

[chamber-music]

Pretty good year for music in my opinon, my highlight is having two NIN albums that are both amazing, and new Bloc Party and Futureheads.

Then other highlights include Weezer, Slipknot and Metallica.

But my absolute musical highlight of the year is seeing RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE LIVE!!!

I'm guessing you went Reading festival last year :woot:

[Mr.Webs]

It was a pretty crappy year, save for a few bright spots. Like the debut albums of the Fleet Foxes and Duffy. Other than that...:confused:

[chrisfishlock]

I'm guessing you went Reading festival last year :woot:

I did indeed :D