There are tons of these lists, but too many are snooty and focus on “raw” underproduced music. I guess for reviewers who hear heavily produced stuff constantly they get sick of it. However, there is something to be said for high music quality, no matter how famous or unfamous they are. So here’s my list of my fav of 2008

Justice – A Cross the Universe – this is a live cd, pretty much the same as last year’s Cross, but man it is epic. Maybe it doesn’t count, i dont think cds without new material should count… so here’s the other 10
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Raconteurs – Consolers of the Lonely , they mix it up, they have heavy beats, catchy vocals, various instruments. It’s a good medley of rock, and a splash of alternative. The Raconteurs have all the Jack White style, plus they have a real drummer (sorry Meg).
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Kings of Leon – Only By The Night
Being 24years old and male, I’ve heard more than my share of rock, but Kings of Leon excited me again. Nickelback they are not, they have style and freshness that is new and sounds good at the same timel. I think the vocalist might remind me of My Morning Jacket, or some soulful pop or r&b. He is not your typical American bon jovi style rocker, but you’ll never find a bon jovi album on a list of mine, so that’s a good thing.

MGMT – Oracular Spectacular
It’s slightly weird, there’s way too much talk-singing. So why is it on my list… I guess I got electric feel. They are very highly reviewed and it grew on me. Kids and Electric Feel are great songs. It gets better the more you play, and it is a full album.

Beyonce – I am Sasha Fierce
She has a lot of hits, and this is her best album by far I think. I love the pacing of “If I were a boy”, and hate the lyrics, especially grammar (If I was a boy). Her other songs on this double cd are worth the value. The put a ring on it song is annoying, but i think that’s the only one, lots of good stuff in here, and 1-2 million sales can easily lie (see jack johnson), but not in this case.

Leona Lewis – Spirit
Sorta like a new Beyonce? Similar genre for sure, I enjoyed this album a lot. I realize a lot of it would fit into just what i like to listen at the time, but she’s actually good i think. I expect this album to still get some playtime years from now. Will Leona get Better in Time, will I use such lame and easy puns? I probably will, and she probably will, and you’ve probably heard of her, so I don’t need to recommend it, but i will anyway.

Metallica – Death Magnetic
They are back. St Anger was hard to listen to with its focus away from melodies and solos. but Death Magnetic brings hard rock back to the masses. You know what Metallica is, guitar solos, hard drums, Hetfield lays down the best and purest rock vocals. The Day that Never Comes might surpass One for a song that feels like a rock movie journey. It might not be their best ever (I love black album) but its remarkable for 2008 and their 9th album.

Vampire Weekend – Vampire Weekend
I don’t know what it is about this genre, there seems to be tons of it. Light, vocal based rock with a mix of instruments, pleasant voices, British style. I’ve heard it before, and yet this album is really very good. Kudos VW, you rise above the rest in this overpopulated genre. I want to go to Cape Cod, and play the corresponding song — the best on the album.

Kanye – 808 and heartbreak, his entry into r&b voice-boxing is ok, he’s not a very good singer even with it, but the production is good, and good African drums, and I think he means business when he tries to make a high quality cd to advance the music industry. He is a trail blazer, even if voice synth is 20 years old.

Taylor Swift – Fearless
… shut up, its good. and if i were to pick some girl i had a crush on, Lights would be on this list, but she only put out an EP. Taylor also has a pleasant voice, and her money printing label helps her out with some good production values, it all sounds great, and she seems authentic too, not another miley.

The Ting Tings – We Started Nothing
Ya! Some energy always helps, especially in the sludge of subpop indie rock. Ting Tings fit in a genre that is typically shallow but they definitely show their merit. Each song has more in it that you might initially realize and they have a full CD of good songs with different styles. Definitely not a quiet girl; that’s not her name, that’s not her name.

Notable Mention
Fleet Foxes – Fleet Foxes, another one i haven’t played much, i just got it. its pretty good so far. it could squeak into my top 10. it is on a pile of other top 10s

Oasis – Dig Out Your Soul, i haven’t played it much, admittedly too much oasis over the years, but its quite good, another possible top 10 entry.

Coldplay – Viva, this fell flat for me, on the whole its a nice cd, but I just don’t enjoy enough songs. I prefer older coldplay; yes, even X&Y.

John Legend – Evolver
By fading off into boredom last album, I started to wonder if I had artificial fandom of John, but so far I think this cd is great, and doesn’t disappoint. Nicely paced, his voice is always great. It might be a bit conservative, I hope his next album is better, he has room to grow.

My Morning Jacket – Evil Urges, i’m a mmj fan, but this cd isn’t great, its just another cd. Pick up Z instead.

Roots – Rising Down, I like the roots, they make good music, but none of it ever stands out for me, ho hum.

Jordin Sparks, I played this a lot, but I’m not sure if it is good since it’s just easy urban stuff. If you like the radio, you probably like this.

Britney – Circus, She’s back, Circus is a great track. Blatant sexuality will get her in the news. Other songs have some merit. On the whole I like many Britney songs, but just not too many are on this cd. Meh.

Albums i missed that maybe I shouldn’t have.
Muse – harp
Q-Tip – Renaissance
Nas – n-bomb
Death Cab – Narrow Stairs
TV on the Radio (admittedly i hated their last one so I didn’t try very hard to hear this one)
Duffy