Staff’s BEST of 2008 List

We wanted to sit down and put together our favorite lists for this year. This year there was ALOT of quality releases that made it down the line, and we wanted to share our thoughts with you on them. We have best albums, record labels, and more.

Staff 1: Top 10 Albums Of 2008:

10. North – What You Were
Wonderful little surprise of the year in the form of this ambient metal from Arizona. Coming from the underground Cavity Records, it showed that even the little guy can put forth something great and challenge the major label backed artists.

9. Forever The Sickest Kids - Underdog Alma Mater
These bunch of guys are nuts live and this record was filled with catchy tunes for the summer. Hilarious antics and addictive rock are their game and this album, while dipping into the ink of similar artists in the genre, had all the makings of being some of the most energetic music around.

8. Amon Amarth – Twilight Of The Thunder God
These Sweds have been responsible for the forming of modern death metal. They already get point for being a band for 2 decades and being named after Mount Doom from Lord Of The Rings. And their latest record continued their onslaught of melodic guitars and shattering death metal. Thank god there are bands out there that can last 20 years and 9 albums and still have what it takes.

7. Attack Attack! – Someday Came Suddenly
This record had energy and a pension for serious head banging. It’s balance of furious screamo, synth, and song bird vocals made almost every song an absolute hit from the very beginning. Plus if you cover Katy Perry, then you must be cool right?

6. Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
From mixtape to full-length, Lil Wayne has scooped up adoring fans by the truck loads. His beats don’t let you down, and while he does show his love (maybe gay) for Birdman in many of his former lyrics, this record is filled with amazing producers, features, lyrics, and samples, and was a great following to Tha Carter II and has the sales numbers to prove it.

5. The Maine – Can’t Stop Won’t Stop
Many can’t stand The Maine and their “hipness” that takes some of the most infectious pop punk ever created and adds tongue in cheek lyrics that serve to be catchy and hilarious. Don’t be hatin’ because while this record does hold back on the funny level, its fundamentally sound pop rock and infectious acoustics make this record shine.

4. Dance Gavin Dance - Dance Gavin Dance
Dance Gavin Dance’s “Deathstar” record (Self-titled) not only continued their amazing style and manic guitars, but it also proved that you can lose one of the best vocalists and still put forth an even better record than before. To bad their other founding vocalist left as well. Don’t expect another amazing album from DGD, so enjoy this amazing record.

3. Our Last Night - The Ghosts Among Us
Going virtually unnoticed by many other’s top lists for 2008, OLN’s record combined a technical prowess that rivaled more experienced bands and provided one of the most unstoppable records of the year. The guitars were melodic and plentiful with raging vocals (coming from a teenager) and excellent production.

2. Underoath – Lost In The Sound Of Separation
Proving nay sayers wrong and adding to the list of amazing albums that UO has already released, this album refocused the band’s sound and did it with passion and poise. This is one of their best records and certainly one of the best of this year.

1. Thrice – The Alchemy Index III & IV: Air & Earth
Serves as the book end to their fabled Alchemy Index and sports some of the most amazing and creative sets of songs that have ever been released. Thrice’s two earlier EP’s in the index topped our best of list for 2007 and I guess it isn’t really a big surprise that it’s up here again. Although experimentation can get the best of some bands, Thrice always seems to be able to make amazing music every time.

Staff 1: Top Record Labels 0f 2008:

6. Equal Vision Records
5. Rise Records
4. Vagrant Records
3 Fearless Records
2. Metal Blade Records
1. Epitaph Records

Staff 1: Best “Other” Webzine:

4. DrivenFarOff.com
3. DecoyMusic.com
2. ThePrp.com
1. Absolutepunk.net

Staff 2: Top Albums of 2008

10. 3Oh!3 – Want
9. Lil Wayne – Tha Carter III
8. Houston Calls - The End Of An Error
7. Secondhand Serenade – A Twist In My Story
6. Promise Of Redemption – When The Flowers Bloom
5. Our Last Night – The Ghosts Among Us
4. Hollywood Undead – Swan Songs
3. Underoath – Lost In The Sound Of Seperation
2. Brightwood - Wake
1. Thieves And Villains – Movement

Staff 2: Honorable Mention

5. Dance Gavin Dance – Self-titled
4. Alive In Wild Paint – Ceilings
3. Kanye West – 808′s And Heartbreaks
2. Rookie Of The Year – Sweet Attention
1. Copeland – You Are My Sunshine

Staff 2: Best Labels Of 2008

5. Tooth & Nail Records
4. Equal Vision Records
3. Fearless Records
2. Epitaph Records
1. Victory Records

Staff 2: Most Anticipated Albums Of 2009

The Higher
The Dangerous Summer
Red Fox Grey Fox
A Day To Remember
Saosin