POPBYTES' TOP TEN FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2008

good evening! finally i've gotten around to compiling my top ten favorite albums of 2008 (here's a link to 2007's list) of course i waited until very last minute (totally my style) so it's been a bit of a scramble (and i had to keep my writing on each album to a minimum) but i'm quite happy with the list - music is totally my favorite thing to post about here on popbytes - i seriously can't wait to hear what 2009 has in store for us! without any further adieu - check out the list below (and this marks my last post of '08) popbytes over & out for tonight...xoxo (please bear with any mistakes - i'll be editing this post to perfection over the next few days)

PINK [funhouse] i fell in love with this album immediately - i've been a huge fan of pink's for years now but this definitely her strongest and most personal release to date - there was no question in my mind this would be my top favorite album - it's a perfect blend of pop and rock! i can't wait to see her on tour next year (she kicked serious ass when she opened up for justin timberlake's tour) ESSENTIAL TRACKS glitter in the air, sober, ave a mary, funhouse, it's all your fault PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † PINK'S SOBER GETS REMIXED † PINK - SOBER - VIDEO! † PINK IS SOBER † PINK'S FUNHOUSE ALBUM COVER! † PINK - SO WHAT - AWESOME NEW VIDEO! COLDPLAY [viva la vida] i was never a huge fan of coldplay (you guys know i'm way more about the ladies of music) but over the years they've totally grown on me - there huge hit single 'viva la vida' should for sure win the grammy for song of the year - plus i got to see the band in person and i thought they totally kicked ass - one of the best concerts of the year and i must say lead singer chris martin is such an english cutie - his wife gwyneth paltrow is one lucky lady! ESSENTIAL TRACKS viva la vida, lost!, violet hill, death and all his friends PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † CHRIS MARTIN IS A CLEAN SHAVEN CUTIE! † COLDPLAY - VIVA LA VIDA - VIDEO! † I'M OFF TO SEE COLDPLAY! KANYE WEST [808's and heartbreak] i was caught off guard with this one - i've always thought kanye west was way talented yet i was never a big fan but after taking this album in - i was literally blown away - it's cold and downbeat but it just flows so well - he's incredible! i also got to see him during his 'glow in the dark' tour which was probably the best concert of the year - he put on an amazing show - as my pal gillian can attest to! ESSENTIAL TRACKS heartless, love lockdown, coldest winter, bad news, paranoid PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † KANYE WEST'S COLDEST WINTER † KANYE WEST - LOVE LOCKDOWN - VIDEO! † I'M OFF TO SEE KANYE WEST! MARIAH CAREY [e=mc2] oh my mariah! although this album wasn't a huge seller for ms. carey - i actually liked it way better than her last release (the emancipation of mimi) but i think the choice of singles (except 'touch my body') was all wrong - i would have picked better singles for sure (like 'side effects' or 'migrate') this past year mariah got hitched again - i thought her marriage to nick cannon would have been over by now but somehow he's managing to handle her - i totally adore her but she must be a nightmare to deal with! ESSENTIAL TRACKS migrate, touch my body, side effects, for the record, o.c.c. PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † MARIAH CAREY - I STAY IN LOVE - VIDEO! † MARIAH CAREY - LIVE AT HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND! † MARIAH CAREY - I'LL BE LOVIN' U LONG TIME - VIDEO † MARIAH CAREY IS TOTALLY THAT CHICK † MARIAH CAREY - TOUCH MY BODY - VIDEO! BEYONCE [i am...sasha fierce] there's nothing overly special or different about ms. knowles latest release but it's just a really well-crafted & produced album - showcasing what beyonce does best - sing! plus 'single ladies' was for sure the most infectious single of the year (besides britney's 'womanizer') although i wasn't crazy about the 'beyonce experience tour' i will for sure be seeing her when she comes around next summer (with her sister solange in tow) ESSENTIAL TRACKS single ladies, if i were a boy, radio, broken-hearted girl PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † BEYONCE - DIVA AND HALO - VIDEOS! † BEYONCE'S SINGLE LADIES GETS REMIXED! † BEYONCE - IF I WERE A BOY & SINGLE LADIES † BEYONCE - SINGLE LADIES - VIDEO! † BEYONCE - IF I WERE A BOY - VIDEO! DUFFY [rockferry] i've been all about duffy since the end of last year - with amy winehouse's absence on the music scene (she's too busy on the drug scene) duffy filled the void and provided us with some great soul singing (along with adele) and 'mercy' also stands out as one of the best singles of the year! ESSENTIAL TRACKS rockferry, warwick avenue, mercy, hanging on too long PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † I'M OFF TO SEE DUFFY! † DUFFY WILL NEVER BE A STEPPING STONE † DUFFY RELEASES 'ROCKFERRY' IN THE US! † DUFFY'S MERCY GETS ITS GAME ON! † DUFFY HITS THE STATES! LITTLE JACKIE [the stoop] probably the least known album on my list - it's a total gem and i highly recommend picking this one up - her single 'the world should revolve around me' is perfect to play when you're down & out (along with the rest of the fresh & funky tracks) i can't wait to see what little jackie does in the years to come! ESSENTIAL TRACKS the world should revolve around me, 28 butts, liked you better before PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † LITTLE JACKIE KICKED IT AT THE ROXY! CYNDI LAUPER [bring ya to the brink] she's been working it for years now and this album is so much fun and provided the best dance single of the year 'into the nightlife'! i also got to interview cyndi lauper by phone earlier this year but my tape came out all wonky so i wasn't able to post it (which completely killed me) but she was so very nice to chat with - she's a total legend and i've always felt she was underrated - ms. lauper rules! ESSENTIAL TRACKS into the nightlife, rain on me, lay me down, same ol'story PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † CYNDI LAUPER - INTO THE NIGHTLIFE - VIDEO SHERYL CROW [detours] hands down one of my favorite singers of all-time - sheryl crow can do no wrong and her latest release is no exception - i love her laid back & relaxed style - and she always crafts such amazing & heartfelt songs! i finally got to see her play live again this past year which was such a nice treat - she's simply incredible in concert - she's totally the real deal! ESSENTIAL TRACKS god bless this mess, drunk with the thought of you, out of our heads, gasoline PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † SHERYL CROW - GASOLINE - VIDEO! † SHERYL CROW - OUT OF OUR HEADS - VIDEO! † SHERYL CROW - LIVE AT EL REY THEATRE! † I'M OFF TO SEE SHERYL CROW! † SHERYL CROW SAYS 'GOD BLESS THIS MESS' † SHERYL CROW - SHINE OVER BABYLON - VIDEO † SHERYL CROW - LOVE IS FREE - VIDEO! LADY GAGA [the fame] i've had my ups and downs with lady gaga but i have to hand it to her - she made a really nice pop album with a number of great tracks - i've been hearing about her for over a year now and it's nice to see someone progress from being virtually unknown to becoming a grammy nominee for her super hot song 'just dance' - she'll be around for years to come - i think girlfriend is just getting started! ESSENTIAL TRACKS just dance, the fame, poker face, beautiful dirty rich, love game PREVIOUSLY ON POPBYTES † MY FAVORITE VIDEO OF 2008 - POKER FACE! † LADY GAGA LOVES ORIGAMI! † LADY GAGA PUTS HER POKER FACE ON † LADY GAGA IS ON FIRE! † POPBYTES TALKS WITH LADY GAGA!

HONORABLE MENTIONS
† BRITNEY SPEARS [circus]
† DONNA SUMMER [crayons]
† PUSSYCAT DOLLS [doll domination]
† B-52s [funplex]
† GRACE JONES [hurricane]
† ESTELLE [shine]
† THE KILLERS [day & age]
† IDINA MENZEL [i stand]
† DOLLY PARTON [backwoods barbie]
† SANTOGOLD [santogold]
† MADONNA [hard candy]

TAGS
† favorites, popbytes

RELATED POPBYTES POSTS
† PEACHES - I FEEL CREAM
† KELLY CLARKSON - MY LIFE WOULD SUCK W/O YOU
† XMAS EVE WITH LILY ALLEN
† PINK IS SOBER
† THANKFULLY SCISSOR SISTERS ARE BACK!
† PINK'S FUNHOUSE ALBUM COVER!
† JUST STAND UP (WITH THE MANY DIVAS!)
† LADY GAGA IS ON FIRE!
† DUFFY RELEASES 'ROCKFERRY' IN THE US!
† YELLE HITS COACHELLA!