We here at MTV News are a pretty diverse bunch, so the views expressed by some in our more official-type year-end lists (like James Montgomery’s Top 25 Albums and Best Songs, and the Mixtape Monday Awards) are not necessarily shared by the rest of the newsroom. So we’re giving everyone else a chance to chime in with their own lists and explain (or defend) their choices. You’ll find the staff faves of 2008 all together here.
By Rya Backer, Production Assistant
I'm actually on vacation right now, and am typing this on a computer that might as well be operated by foot pedal, so no fun webcam plea from me. I don't think I could pick a definitive favorite song from 2008 anyway, not because I didn't especially like anything, but because I liked too many songs! Anyway, here are my favorite albums of 2008:
10. Passion Pit, Chunk of Change EP — These guys have, like, seven songs to their name thus far. Very excited to hear what's next.
9. Neil Young, Sugar Mountain - Live at Canterbury House 1968 — I don't think this counts as a "new" album, per se, but half the bands I've listed would be nothing if it weren't for him. "Birds" and his between-song banter are heartbreaking and heartwarming, respectively.
8. The Streets, Everything Is Borrowed — Hooray! It's more A Grand Don't Come for Free than The Hardest Way to Make an Easy Living!
7. Dodos, Visiter — At first, I listened to "Jodi" on repeat, then I realized there were a lot more songs on the album that were just as good.
6. Marnie Stern, This Is It and I Am It and You Are It and So Is That and He Is It and She Is It and It Is It and That Is That — Between Marnie Stern's fingerpicking and Zach Hill of my beloved Hella on drums, this album makes me feel untalented and boring; luckily, I need that kind of motivation.
5. Clinic, Do It! — Nobody likes Clinic, I get it — but I do, and this is one of their weirdest, most melodic offerings yet.
4. Beck, Modern Guilt — This is the album every true Beck fan can get really excited over. So it's not Odelay, but I guess we all need to let go sometime.
3. The Hold Steady, Stay Positive — "Time Flies" by Gorilla Biscuits used to be my ultimate summer song, but thanks to these guys, I have a whole album to listen to whilst wearing cutoffs, going on adventures and crushing beers — thanks, guys!
2. No Age, Nouns — I had to let his album grow on me a little, but I'm really happy I toughed it out; it's super fun to listen to and it serves as proof that you don't need fancy equipment, instruments or animal product in your diet to make a great album.
1. Black Keys, Attack and Release — It was really exciting to like an album this much from beginning to end, but you didn't have to twist my arm that much to put "So He Won't Break" on repeat.
And these were my favorite singles in random order:
» Lil Wayne, "Lollipop" — I like a song that makes me feel like taking a shower and calling my pop-music-loving little cousin all at the same time. I know everybody liked "A Milli," but that line about "menstrual" something-or-other grossed me out.
» Hot Chip, "Ready for the Floor" — I try to avoid listening to this song in public, because it's uncouth to dance by yourself in the middle of the street.
» Andy Samberg, "Ras Trent" — Having attended not one, but two liberal-arts colleges, I was very familiar with the title character — further proof that there's nothing not funny about a Trustafarian.
» The Sword, "How Heavy This Axe" — Best song title of the year! Really heavy, really drone-y, really awesome.
» Magnetic Fields, "California Girls" — I think there's some unspoken rule that every song with this title has to be good. It also sounds like Daria Morgendorffer is singing it.
» Beck, "Volcano" — This wasn't a single, but whatevs. Lyrically somber, musically complex and inspired the first time I actually meant it when I said, "Seriously, listen to it on good headphones."
» Marnie Stern, "Transformer" — I listened to this song on repeat for far too long and it never got old, so there's something to be said about that.
» Beyoncé, "Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)" — My darling grandmother has been endorsing this message for years now, but Beyoncé just made it a little more enjoyable to listen to.
» Kings of Leon, "Crawl" — This was a standout from their set at All Points West ... at least I think it was; I was too busy lovingly staring at Jared.
» Oasis, "Shock of the Lightning" — According to my zodiac sign (Pisces), I don't like change — so it's only right that I pay respect to a hardworking band that sticks to a good formula.
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