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.

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, this week we gave everyone else a chance to chime in with their own lists and explain (or defend) their choices. You'll find all of the staff faves of 2008 here.

By Rachel Josue, Digital Producer

I would like to preface this list with the following disclaimer: I did not see "Twilight" yet. OK, with that out of the way, like last year, I was really into this year's blockbusters. I go to the movies for the entertainment value, not so much the deep story of this and that, so fun is my #1 priority. Here are my picks for the most entertaining films of the year.

10. "Penelope": I saw this film two years ago, actually, and loved it then. It didn't get the attention it deserved.

9. "Vicky Christina Barcelona": What I appreciated most about this film was that I had seen so many blockbusters and superhero movies during the summer, this film became a breath of fresh air.

8. "Sex and the City: The Movie": The girls will always have a place in my heart.

7. "Hancock": I loved what they did with Charlize Theron's character. I would love to see a sequel for this one.

(Which movie did Rachel pick as her #1 most entertaining film for 2008? Find out after the jump!)

6. "Wanted": If Angelina Jolie only did action movies like this and "Tomb Raider," I'd be happy.

5. "Tropic Thunder": Best comedy of the year. I didn't stop laughing for one second. Robert Downey = genius.

4. "Dark Knight": I agree with the rest of the world: Heather Ledger was great. I wish I had seen it in IMAX, but even on a regular ol' screen, I loved it.

3. "Wall-E": What's not to love? Thank you, Pixar, for another triumph.

2. "Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist": Adorable. Real. As a New Yorker, I enjoyed watching the gang weave their way around the LES music scene.

1. "Iron Man": Watching Robert Downey Jr. get in and out of the Iron Man suit was awesome. I'm usually not a gadgets gal, but even I can appreciate how intricate that was. The best scenes were when Downey was alone in the basement, interacting with his 'bots and gizmos.

What were your top 10 most entertaining films for 2008? Hit us up in the comments!

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, this week we gave everyone else a chance to chime in with their own lists and explain (or defend) their choices. You'll find all of the staff faves of 2008 here.

By Sabrina Rojas Weiss, Senior Copy Editor

10. The Ting Tings, We Started Nothing: I love singer Katie's shouty power and the way their beat makes me jump around like a little kid. "That's not my name!"

9. Chromeo, Fancy/ Fancier Footwork: With this playing on my headphones, I am instantly in an '80s movie montage. (The original came out last year, but I bought this year's "deluxe" set.)

8. Coldplay, Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends: I avoided buying this for months because the hype bored me. But that soaring wall of sound in the title track finally got under my skin.

(What was Sabrina's #1 album from 2008? Find out after the jump!)

7. Death Cab for Cutie, Narrow Stairs: I have a short attention span, and yet I can totally get lost in all eight minutes of "I Will Possess Your Heart."

6. Magnetic Fields, Distortion: This isn't my favorite Fields album ever, 'cause of all the distortion, but "California Girls" is the perfect antidote to a day of editing too many stories about Heidi and Spencer.

5. Vampire Weekend, Vampire Weekend: For a few years when I was a kid, my mother played Paul Simon's Graceland every single time we were in the car. Amazingly, that didn't traumatize me. Anyway, I went to Columbia and live in Brooklyn, so I've got to love the VW boys.

4. Beck, Modern Guilt: I love the retro, melodic sound of this album. Booty-shaking Beck is so much better than experimental or mopey Beck.

3. The National, The Virginia EP: I worship the National in the same overly emotional way my 15-year-old self worshipped the Smiths and the Cure. So, even though this is just an EP, I'm making up for not having a list last year on which I could place Boxer.

2. Kings of Leon, Only by the Night: OK, I can't always understand what Caleb's saying, but this entire album makes me feel like I'm on a road trip and in love for the first time and I'm going to live happily ever after.

1. Girl Talk, Feed the Animals: I have ADD, and Girl Talk's songs are like looking inside my head: There are usually two or three things playing at once, and each track flits from topic to topic every few seconds. It's like flipping through radio stations in a magical world where there is only good music. This album's introduced me to a ton of hip-hop artists I'd otherwise only know by name (UNK, Birdman, the Cool Kids) and brilliantly blended them with guilty pleasures from the '80s and '90s (Kenny Loggins, Sinead O'Connor). Also, it’s the best workout music ever.

What were your top 10 albums for 2008? Let us know in the comments!

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, this week we gave 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 Daniela Capistrano, Digital Producer

I am addicted to movies, particularly the kind that make me jump, cry and think — and the best make me do all of those things in that order.

"Let the Right One In," a Swedish horror film directed by Tomas Alfredson, was a rare gem that slipped by many this year (particularly those already distracted by another teen vampire movie) — but not me. It was my favorite film of 2008.

Like "Twilight," "Let the Right One In" took a different angle on the vampire genre. Both films were based on a book. Both starred young, and (at the time) fairly unknown actors. Both films dealt with topics such as social isolation and your not-so-typical young romance, but, for me, "Let the Right One In" is the superior film. Why?

(Find out why Daniela prefers "Let the Right One In" over "Twilight" and check out her top 10 horror/gore/thriller movies list, after the jump!)

Even on your most basic aesthetic level, the film is of a higher quality. The cinematography, capturing the dreary landscape of young Oscar's world, is framed like a nightmarish fairytale onscreen — the visuals convey subversive details in a way that is simple, classic and haunting. If you knew nothing about the "Twilight" book and went to see the movie because you wanted to see an unusual story about young vampires, you would note that "Twilight"'s composition is completely subpar in contrast to "Let the Right One In." "Twilight" looks like it was shot for Lifetime — tacky and clichéd scene-framing abounds — all it was missing was a slow pan past a curtain fluttering in the breeze. I don't go to the theater to watch TV-looking content. To put it plainly, "Let the Right One In" looks like a film; "Twilight" does not.

In terms of plot, I judge vampire films (again, I recognize "Twilight" isn't just a "vampire" film, but without the context and community around the book, it still is) by how they connect with a universal audience in the immediate sense — you don't need to be a part of some established community to "get" what is going on, because the film is lacking what the book provided. "Twilight" the film was an extension and outlet of all the romantic and sexual frustration female readers were left with. The studio was counting on all these salivating teens to rush and catch glimpses of the book characters personified onscreen in the flesh. Even many "Twilight" readers had to admit that they weren't really paying attention to the mediocre plot — they just wanted to catch a glimpse of RPattz.

"Twilight" the film was not a real movie — it was a promotional vehicle that will continue to debase the vampire film genre as more books are made and subsequent films are financed. The "Twilight" series is a great read — I'm not discounting that — but the first film was a whopper of a "meh." "Let the Right One In" provides you with a coherent and engaging plot, not muddled with a bunch of sappy love clichés, but it still manages to be romantic, on more than one level, in its own bizarre and intriguing way. It is also more than a little scary, with enough shocking violence to appease even the most extreme gore fans. The ending is both touching and extremely violent and left me confused about whether to shed a tear or leave the light on — THAT is what a great vampire film should do. "Let the Right One In" is made of awesome and somehow manages to be even better than the book. "Twilight" is made of the diluted dregs of Stephanie Meyer's real masterpiece and should not even be called a movie, despite some of the talented cast's best efforts.

So, after championing "Let the Right One In" and being removed from Twimom's Christmas-card list (although I did pitch creating the post that let you react to the "Twilight" cast on the VMAs — you're welcome), here is my complete personal list of the Top Horror/Gore/Thriller Films of 2008.

10. "The Ruins"
9. "Cloverfield"
8. "Funny Games"
7. "Tokyo Gore Police"
6. "Inside"
5. "Tamami: The Baby's Curse"
4. "Quarantine"
3. "The Strangers"
2. "Teeth"
1. "Let The Right One In"

"Saw V" and "The Eye" were intentionally left off this list because they were GARBAGE. I didn't see "Midnight Meat Train" so I couldn't put it on my list, but I heard it was great.

Agree/disagree with this list? What great films did I miss? Hit up the comments and let me know.

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, this week we gave everyone else a chance to chime in with their own lists and explain (or defend) their choices. You'll find all of the staff faves of 2008 here.

By Christina Garibaldi, Daily News Coordinator

Pop music seemed to rule the airwaves this year, from the Jonas Brothers to Miley Cyrus to Taylor Swift, so here's a look at the biggest pop stars of 2008.

10. Pink: Turning her heartbreak into a smash single with "So What," Pink made a huge comeback in 2008.

9. Leona Lewis: I believe there was a period of two months this year when you could not go anywhere without hearing "Bleeding Love."

8. Demi Lovato: She's adorable and talented, and she and best friend Selena Gomez had a YouTube fight with Miley Cyrus. What more can you ask for?

(Find out what who Christina picked as the top pop start for 2008, after the jump!)

7. Chris Brown: Even though he's at number seven, Chris Brown had probably the biggest year out of everyone on this list. With smash hits like "Forever" and "No Air," it looks like Chris is going to be around for a long time.

6. Jonas Brothers: Making all the teen girls swoon, these boys certainly have made their mark in 2008. Plus, like me, they are from New Jersey, which automatically gets them on my list.

5. Miley Cyrus: The teen pop star had it all this year: a hit album, about five photo scandals and a private birthday party at Disneyland — just a normal year for any 16 year old.

4. Katy Perry: After releasing two of the biggest singles of the year, Katy Perry proved that she was no one hit wonder.

3. Taylor Swift: With the biggest debut album sales of a female artist in 2008, Taylor Swift has been everywhere, and is still talking about that breakup with Joe Jonas!

2. Britney Spears: She had one of the biggest comebacks to date and proved to everyone that she is still the princess of pop.

1. Rihanna: Everything this girl touches turns to gold. With her impeccable style and songs that you just can't get out of your head, Rihanna definitely deserves the top pop star of 2008.

Who was your top pop star of 2008? Let us know in the comments!

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, this week we gave 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 Joe DeShano, Video Editor

10. "Bolt": Rhino!!!

9. "Doubt": The verbal sparring between Philip Seymour Hoffman and Meryl Streep is worth the price of admission alone.

8. "Milk": The movie, brilliantly acted, drove home a story of struggle not often seen in film. It's interesting to see how a movie made about the late '70s is still so relevant and poignant today.

7. "Mama Mia": The most audacious camp I've seen in a long time. The "Rocky Horror" for this generation.

(Check out Joe's complete list, after the jump!)

6. "Iron Man": It's all about Robert Downey Jr. and how awesome he is. Great action, but without Downey this movie would fall flat.

5. "Changeling": Angelina Jolie is amazing. The movie is riveting. Reminded me a little of "Frailty," but that's a good thing.

4. "Twilight": I find myself kind of surprised that "Twilight" is in my top 10. And what's it doing at #4? Well, I remember a movie back in 1989 that got fans really excited. Long lines of people dressed like the characters. Everyone was excited about its particular genre again. That was Tim Burton's "Batman." What a glorious day that was. This movie is that for the younger, female generation. What's better is that it isn't necessarily some sappy love story. There's action and vampires and, yeah, a love interest, but there are also subplots and interwoven texture, which are rare to the vampire genre. I actually liked this film a lot and love that it became a big hit, despite all odds. Good job, "Twilight" folks. I look forward to the sequel.

3. "Dark Knight": I'm a Batman fan ... a Batman fanatic. I know more about Batman than any other superhero. I have more comics about him than I probably should admit. I loved "The Killing Joke." I loved "Batman: The Long Halloween." I loved this movie. R.I.P., Heath Ledger. You brought the true (preferred?) nature of the Joker to the big screen. For that, I'm eternally grateful.

2. "Wall-E": Pixar is magic. The company that continues to push what animation can accomplish has brought us a masterpiece. Disney should be grateful to have such a movie-making powerhouse. For me, "Wall-E" is a fantastical story about robots that shows us how disconnected humans can be when we stop paying attention to how lucky we all really are.

1. "Slumdog Millionaire": Sparingly, a movie comes along that makes you think, "This is why movies are made." This is one of those. It's a piece on Indian culture told through the eyes of an unassuming hero with very real issues, explained through very unusual circumstances. Anything more said about the film would do it, and you, injustice, robbing you of your own personal visceral experience. Just go see it.

One of the bands getting a ton of love across the board is Seattle's Fleet Foxes. Their song "White Winter Hymnal" was thought to be one of the indie songs of the year — and when the band stopped in for an interview with John Norris — we got them to play a stripped down version of the new classic.

There's been a lot of similar music like theirs in recent years — think the Shins meets My Morning Jacket meets Band of Horses (or something like that) — but maybe no band has put together melodies as tightly as this Northwestern quintet. They received gigantic raves from their shows and will surely be watched closely by many as they continue to rise to fame. Rolling Stone put their self-titled album at #11 on its Albums of the Year list. Spin has it at #5, and both the Times Online and Pitchfork named it #1.

John also got more in depth with the band after the performance — so be sure to check out the complete sit-down if you like what you hear.

Don't miss James Montgomery's Albums of 2008 List, and be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments below.