Salı 6 Oca 2009, 20:08

Since it's six days into 2009, I should have done this already. Alas, here's a short review of my 2008 purchases.

Albums That Came Out in 2008
Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine
Over the course of the year, I've grown to like this album more than her first. So many great gems throughout. Definitely worth purchasing.
Star Tracks: Backyard, Angel and Not Givin' Up

Anna Nalick - Shine EP
Not a real album, but worth mentioning for containing an awesome Red Hot Chili Peppers cover. Can't wait for a her sophomore album.
Star Tracks: Breaking the Girl

Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement (deluxe edition)
First of all, it's so worth it to get the bonus disc. A solid effort from Alanis. Not as angry as Jagged Little Pill, yet not as happy as So-Called Chaos. Possibly her best album yet.
Star Tracks: Straitjacket, Torch, Giggling Again for No Reason, Tapes and On the Tequila

Superchic - Rock What You Got LP
A great followup to their immensely popular album, Beauty from Pain. It earned the band their first Grammy nod – and rightfully so. Rock What You Got is a great album.
Star Tracks: Practically the entire album.

Duffy - Rockferry
The incredibly catchy Mercy caught my attention, so it was a shocker when I realized the rest of the album sounded completely different. However, I was still hooked.
Star Tracks: Stepping Stone, Mercy, I'm Scared and Distant Dreamer

Charlotte Sometimes - Waves and the Both of Us
Another artist musically different than what I'm used to. Yet, I've never for a second regretted purchasing it. It's such a fun album. The lead single interested me and the rest of the album hooked me.
Star Tracks: Losing Sleep, Sweet Valium High and AEIOU

Pillar - For the Love of the Game
It's a habit of mine to check the christian rock section in the store before I start browsing. Finding this was a nice treat. I'd heard a few of their other tracks on Last.fm radio and decided to pick it up. It's a solid album. You can also have a fun time listening to Turn it Up and trying to find all of the allusions to other Christian Rock bands.
Star Tracks: For the Love of the Game, Turn it Up, Reckless Youth, Throwdown and Get Back

Jessica Simpson - Do You Know
While not as great as Irresistible or A Public Affair, it's leaps and bounds over the extremely overrated In This Skin. It's great that she's trying something new, but I love her bubblegum tracks. Her ballads don't usually do anything for me – with the exception of a select few.
Star Tracks: Remember That, Sipping on History and Still Beautiful

Fireflight - Unbreakable
A great rock album of the Christian variety. It rocks all the way through. Definitely check this one out.
Star Tracks: You Gave Me a Promise, The Love We Had Before and Wrapped in Your Arms

Adele - 19
Although she's classified in the same group as Duffy, Duffy most definitely comes out on top. That's not to say this isn't a solid album. It's still filled with mostly five star tracks in my iTunes.
Star Tracks: Cold Shoulder, Right as Rain, My Same and Tired

Marié Digby - Unfold
She was actually a Last.fm recommendation that I decided to listen to. See, the recommendation system works! This album is nonstop love. Even the Rihanna cover – I don't care for the original.
Star Tracks: The whole album, but especially Miss Invisible.

Krystal Meyers - Make Some Noise
Another artist found through Last.fm (I don't remember if Krystal was through recommendations, though). This album is definitely reminiscent of Hilary Duff's Dignity, with the exception of a few tracks. Which isn't a bad thing, as I really enjoyed that album. The title track is also in the same vein as Superchick's title track from the album further up the page.
Star Tracks: Make Some Noise, Shine, My Freedom and In Your Hands

Skillet - Comatose Comes Alive
Possibly the best live album ever! And that's saying something, as my top three favorite bands have recorded their own live albums. As good as Comatose is, it's the older tracks that really shine here.
Star Tracks: Collide, Yours to Hold, My Obsession, Savior and Best Kept Secret

Delta Goodrem - Delta
If you're looking for a solid pop album, look no further. When I saw her perform the lead single on Letterman, I was sold. I had to buy this album. I wasn't let down, either. She sounds a bit like a less folk rock sounding Amy Jo Johnson who stole Natasha Bedingfield's music. Seeing as I love both of those artists, that's a compliment.
Star Tracks: Woman, Brave Face and One Day

Nickelback - Dark Horse
This album hasn't been out for too long, but I felt I had to say something about it. The songs are catchy. I love the band when they're not spouting out ballads left and right. The "dirty" songs are like forbidden fruit. You know listening to them in public will cause dirty looks, but you just can't turn it off.
Star Tracks: Something in Your Mouth, Burn it to the Ground, Shakin' Hands and S.E.X.

Albums That Came Out Pre-2008
Foo Fighters - Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace
Star Tracks: The Pretender, Let it Die and Home

Sara Bareilles - Little Voice
Star Tracks: Bottle It Up, Fairytale and Gravity

Garbage - Absolute Garbage
Star Tracks: Only Happy When It Rains, I Think I'm Paranoid, When I Grow Up, Cherry Lips (Go Baby Go) and Why Do You Love Me

Foo Fighters - The Colour and the Shape (10th anniversary edition)
Star Tracks: Up in Arms, Drive Me Wild and Down in the Park

Finger Eleven - Them vs. You vs. Me
Star Tracks: Falling On, I'll Keep Your Memory Vague, Window Song and Easy Life

Seether - Finding Beauty in Negative Spaces
Star Tracks: Like Suicide, No Jesus Christ, Six Gun Quota and Eyes of the Devil

BarlowGirl - How Can We Be Silent
Star Tracks: Song for the Broken, Keep Quiet, Sweet Revenge and One More Round

Skillet - Comatose
Star Tracks - Rebirthing, Better Than Drugs, The Older I Get and Falling Inside the Black

Day of Fire - Cut and Move
Star Tracks: Hole in my Hand, Cut & Move and Far & Gone

Red - End of Silence
Star Tracks: Breathe into Me, Already Over, Gave it All Away and Hide

Falling Up - Dawn Escapes
Star Tracks: Exhibition, Exit Calypsan (Only In My Dreams), Moonlit, Meridians and Marathons

Best of 2008 (according to last.fm stats)
1. Superchic - Rock What You Got
2. Alanis Morissette - Flavors of Entanglement
3. Fireflight - Unbreakable
4. Charlotte Sometimes - Waves and the Both of Us
5. Pillar - For the Love of the Game
6. Marié Digby - Unfold
7. Natasha Bedingfield - Pocketful of Sunshine
8. Adele - 19
9. Duffy - Rockferry
10. Skillet - Comatose Comes Alive