Year-End Pop-Cultural Zeitgeist 2008

Best of 2008 / Feature / MP3 / Music — 45 Comments
1
Jan 09

Pretty Much Amazing’s Best Albums of 2008

Pretty Much Amazings Best Albums of 2008 best of 2008
2008 was quite a year for music. Maybe it wasn’t as great as 2007, but we made due with what we had. I didn’t connect with an album in 2008 the way I connected with In Rainbows, or Neon Bible, or Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga. Those were albums that had me falling in love with every track listen after listen. However, the following twenty albums are my favorite albums of 2008 and ranking them was somewhat painful/futile — which is why we came to the conclusion that numbering year-end lists was completely sacrilegious and spat in the face of music lists everywhere.

After deciding to trash the option of numbering this list, I went with dividing my Top 20 albums into 3 categories: Big Albums by Big Names, Newcomers, and Eye Openers. Are you ready? Here are Pretty Much Amazing’s 20 Favorite Albums of 2008.

Leave your top albums in the comments, if you’d like! We’d love to hear them! Oh and if you have a blog and have posted a year end list, drop the link in the comments as well!
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Best of 2008 / Feature / MP3 / Music / Remixes — 46 Comments
31
Dec 08

Pretty Much Amazing’s Best Remixes of 2008

Pretty Much Amazings Best Remixes of 2008 best of 2008

Here’s the next installment of Pretty Much Amazing’s year-end list extravaganza. All of these remixes are top quality, hot-as-fuck, bad ass mixes that deserve to be heard again and again — even if they were whored by the Hype Machine enough. I wanted to get this list up before NYE so you can get your freak on proper. Don’t forget to leave your favorite remixes of 2008 in the comments!

Without further adieu, the best remixes of 2008 (in no particular order).

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Album Reviews / Best of 2008 / MP3 / Music / TV Shows / Track Reviews — 20 Comments
31
Dec 08

Adam’s Best of 2008

Best Songs of 2008

1. “Skinny Love,” Bon Iver- This acoustic ballad is one of the most brilliant, haunting songs you’ll ever hear. While I didn’t love Bon Iver’s complete album as much as everyone else does, this song is a stunner, and the best of the year.

2. “White Winter Hymnal,” Fleet Foxes- The Fleet Foxes did an excellent job of reviving old-school Beach Boys harmonies. This song has the perfect mix of fun catchiness and melancholy sadness. A sweet, quick little tune, but a memorable one.

3. “Walcott,” Vampire Weekend- Vampire Weekend’s anthem about getting the hell out of Cape Cod is also their best track, with violins, a sing-along chorus, a gradual build, an epic ending, and most of all, that piano chord that will always roll along in your head.

4. “Family Tree,” TV on the Radio- Another beautiful song with a little more production than “Skinny Love.” Gorgeous vocals, strings, and synths make TV on the Radio the unlikely creator of one of the best ballads of the year.

5. “Robocop,” Kanye West- Also unlikely is an epic, string-filled, Stephen King-referencing Kanye West track that cannot be defined by a genre. Kanye’s entire album is gold, but something about “Robocop” places it above all the rest- probably Kanye’s surprisingly strong vocals, which carry the tune throughout.

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Best of 2008 / Feature / MP3 / Music — 22 Comments
31
Dec 08

Ana’s Best Albums, Songs, and Movies of 2008

Anas Best Albums, Songs, and Movies of 2008 best of 2008

Best Album

Bon Iver – For Emma, Forever Ago: This album will never get old for me. It’s so simple and beautiful … or simply beautiful!

Girl Talk – Feed the Animals: I love nostalgia and so much of this album was a trip down memory lane … just fused with this year’s radio hits. Plus, anyone that can mix Jay-Z with Radiohead and not fuck it up deserves some cred.

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular: Is this not on anyone’s list?

Calexico – Carried to Dust: My first taste of Calexico and I was super impressed. I love the variety of influences and styles you hear in their songs.

Lykke Li – Youth Novels: It really didn’t take much for me to get into Lykke Li. I heard “Tonight” and instantly wanted more. It’s been love ever since.

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Best of 2008 / Covers / Feature / MP3 / Music — 37 Comments
30
Dec 08

Pretty Much Amazing’s Best Covers of 2008

Pretty Much Amazings Best Covers of 2008 best of 2008

I couldn’t do the whole “Best of 2008″ party without including some of my favorite covers, especially since 2008 was such an awesome year for cover-heads. I have featured all of these covers on Pretty Much Amazing before, you if you’re an avid reader, you might already have them. If you saw them on the blog and DIDN’T download them: shame on you, butthead, these are the cream of the crop and my absolute favorite covers of 2008. Without further adieu, here are my favorite covers of 2008 (in no particular order) Continue reading →

Best of 2008 / Covers / MP3 / Music / New Releases / Remixes / Reviews / TV Shows / Videos / You Oughtta Know / YouTube — 19 Comments
30
Dec 08

Randi’s Best (and Worst) of 2008

This year has been pretty great. I started it off in Costa Rica for 10 days, and I finished it with 5 in Florida. The music wasn’t too bad either… we were introduced to great new bands, but lost legends like Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Bo Diddly, Isaac Hayes, Richard Wright, Odetta, Eartha Kitt, and George Carlin (who I know shouldn’t count under music legends but I adored him). I must say I’m really looking forward to next year’s selections (Animal Collective, Andrew Bird, Chris Cornell, Lily Allen, The Decemberists… and that’s just what’s coming out Jan – March). I’ll also be studying in London from mid-January to mid-May (& *fingers crossed* L.A. mid-August to late-December), and I can’t wait to discover hundreds of more bands across the pond!

So without further ado, here’s my favorites and least favorites of this year – songs, covers, remixes, albums, TV shows, videos & movies [in that order]. Quick sidenote: when you look at my favorite songs, make sure to factor in the songs that I put as my favorite songs of the album in my favorite albums section. I just didn’t want to repeat myself, even though after re-reading this paragraph I’m not sure if I made myself any clearer. Anyway, I loved most of this year’s music, and here’s what I loved (and hated) the most.

I like to get the worst out of the way first, like ripping off a band-aid. So without further ado…

Least Favorite Songs (Or Songs That Made Me Hate Music)

10 – Flo Rida ft Will.I.Am – In The Ayer

9 – Rihanna – Take a Bow

8 – Kid Rock – All Summer Long

7- Miley Cyrus – See You Again

6 – Britney Spears – Womanizer

5 – Katy Perry – Ur So Gay

4 – Katy Perry – Hot N Cold

3 – Lil’ Wayne – Hot Revolver

2 – Soulja Boy – Yahh

1 – Katy Perry – I Kissed a Girl

Somehow #1 and #8 on my Most-Hated list made it to #18 and #20 on Rolling Stone’s BEST Of list, which makes me more than a little sick. But I digress. Moving on…

Favorite Songs (Just in Alphabetical Order and Probably Missing Some)

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Best of 2008 / Feature / MP3 / Music — 33 Comments
17
Dec 08

The 212 BEST SONGS of 2008

The 212 BEST SONGS of 2008 best of 2008

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Best of 2008 / MP3 / Music — 26 Comments
26
Nov 08

Blender’s Top 33 Albums of 2008: The Good, The Bad, and The OMGWTF

Blenders Top 33 Albums of 2008: The Good, The Bad, and The OMGWTF best of 2008

Blender Magazine recently released their top 33 albums of 2008.  Although it’s by no means close to what my top 33 albums would be, I gotta give them credit for coming up with a pretty eclectic mix.  I mean, they cover it all from Erykah Badu, to Katy Perry to Girl Talk.  It is the latter’s presence on the list that gives us some comfort knowing they didn’t just focus on albums released on major labels.  And the presence of artists like Bon Iver and Stephen Malkmus and the Jicks confirms that they didn’t just focus on mainstream artists.  Even old folks like Randy Newman and Al Green made the cut!  But let’s take a deeper look at the magazine’s choices:    

GOOD: Girl Talk is #2! And really, who doesn’t enjoy that album? Even though I liked Feed the Animals way more than I did Carter 3, I gotta hand it to Lil Weezy for making such a major comeback and being #1 album of the year.  I still remember when he was a little twerp running around with the Cash Money Millionaires back in the ’90s.

Although Lykke Li is my Swedish pop star of choice, it was cool to see Robyn beat Katy Perry and Mariah Carey at #6.  I don’t want to hate, but Mariah needs to give up already.  Daydream was a great album, but that was a long time ago.        

BAD: This list just might be a little too eclectic.  The variety makes you wonder if Blender sat down and grouped 2008 releases into different genres and categories, and then tried to pick at least one from each.  I’m definitely puzzled at Fall Out Boy’s appearance on the top 10.  I mean, people still like them?  Not only that but they beat Bon Iver and My Morning Jacket.  And what is with the Roots actually making it as #24? Don’t get me wrong, I love them, but Rising Down was pretty disappointing and there are definitely better hip hop albums released this year (i.e. Atmosphere, Murs, Common Market).      

OMGWTF: Mettalica is back!? Just kidding. I’m not sure if they deserve to be the 4th best album of 2008, though. What’s really shocking is they didn’t completely suck! That and they beat Hot Chip’s Made in the Dark! Even more shocking is that country music actually made the list. Way to go Hayes Carll & Taylor Swift for filling the last two spots on the list.   I’m betting it’s Taylor’s good looks that got her on the list in the first place.   

How does Ponytail make it on here as #18, or even Usher as #26, but MGMT is nowhere to be found?! I mean, C’MON!! I thought everyone loved MGMT.  And Coldplay didn’t even make top 20. Instead they got #22 behind Erykah Badu, Wale and Katy Perry.

Blender’s Top 33 Albums of 2008 Continue reading →

Best of 2008 / Listen / MP3 / Music / Year-End Pop-Cultural Zeitgeist 2008 — 55 Comments
30
Jul 08

The 11 Absolute Best Songs of 2008 (58% of it)

The 11 Absolute Best Songs of 2008 (58% of it) best of 2008

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE 212 BEST SONGS OF 2008

Best of 2008 / MP3 / Music — 8 Comments
29
Jan 08

47 Best Songs of January 2008

47 Best Songs of January 2008 best of 2008

Wow, the first month of 2008 is officially over. We survived it guys, give yourself a pat on the back. Now, I am looking forward to February and all, but I am kind of sad to see January leave. It truly was a GREAT month for new releases, and music in general. We had new music from Cat Power, Hot Chip, Kate Nash, Radiohead, Justice, Gnarls Barkley, Hello, Blue Roses, Magnetic Fields, and tons more. There were so many wonderful remixes and covers unearthed and polished for our headphones as well. Here is to January 2008, one of PMA’s best months yet!

NOTE: PMA is not an MP3 dump, even though I do tend to exaggerate on the mp3s and the amount there of, but most of these “lists” are just a means to express my opinion. So I will provide some mp3s, but not all of them, get it? got it? good.

The Best Songs of January 2008
Justice – Hope (it was a FAKE! but still, how fun)
Gnarls Barkley – Run
Kate Nash – Birds
Vampire Weekend – Campus
Cat Power – I Believe In You
Of Montreal – Jimmy (M.I.A. cover)
Radiohead – Bodysnatchers
Chris Walla – Everyone Needs A Home
Counting Crows – 1492
Hot Chip – Made In The Dark
Hello, Blue Roses – Sunny Skies
Wakey! Wakey! – No One (Alica Keys Cover)
Regina Spektor – My Dear Acquaintance (A Happy New Year)
WHY? – Close To Me
Ghostland Observatory – Heavy Heart
Vampire Weekend – Boston
The Helio Sequence – Keep Your Eyes Ahead
Cera & Page – Anyone But You
Snoop Dogg feat. Robyn – Sexual Eruption
Kate Nash – Foundations
Headlights – Cherry Tulips
N.E.R.D. – Everyone Nose
Mountain Goats – Sax Rohmer #1
Radiohead – Nude
Panic at the Disco – 9 in the Afternoon
Evangelicals – Skeleton Man
Black Mountain – Tyrants
No Kids – The Beaches All Closed
Xiu Xiu – I Do What Want When I Want
Missy Elliot – Ching-A-Ling
Feist – The Limit To Your Love
Chris Walla – Sing Again
Antarctica Takes It! – Circuits
Magnetic Fields – California Girls
The Whigs – Right Hand On My Heart
Malice – Cry Now Freestyle
What Made Milwaukee Famous – Resistance St
British Sea Power – Waving Flags
Beat Radio – Closing Scene
The Death Set – Negative Thinking
The Raveonettes – Dead Sound (Peter Holmstrom and Jeremy Sherrer remix)
The Plastic Constellations – Stay That Way
The Heavenly Tenants – Fifteen
Casettes Won’t Listen – Paper Float
Say Hi – Northwestern Girls
Islands – The Arm
Gutter Twins – Idle Hands