Best Music of 2008

This is the first year that I’ve focused on reviewing movies and music for you. It’s a lot of fun doing it: reviewing American Idol runner-up David Archuleta’s debut, the Jonas Brothers’ newest record on a whim and Family Force 5′s outrageous new dance party on CD. So here now is my final summation, my review of 2008 in music. I’ll go through my top 10 albums and top 15 songs for you and hit artist of the year, Christian artist of the year, band of the year, soloist of the year, songwriting of the year and, well, you’ll obivously get “Song of the Year” and “Album of the Year.” It will be shown CATEGORY: “Song” or Album - Artist – Composer

SONGWRITING OF THE YEAR: “Thief in the Night” – Leeland – Leeland Mooring: Leeland’s debut record, Sound of Melodies, had several good songs as far as writing goes. So this is no surprise that something from their sophomore effort, Opposite Way, makes it on here. “Like a thief in the night/ you’ll take us away” is the main part of the lyric that combines a great simile with a great message. RUNNER-UPS: “Fight Inside” – RED – Rob Graves, Jason MacArthur, Jasen Rauch, Bernie Herms; “One Life to Love” – 33Miles – Jason Walker & Clint Lagerburg

SOLOIST OF THE YEAR: Lecrae – Rebel: Lecrae is a Christian hip-hop/rap artist who made waves with his album Rebel, which ended up at #3 on the iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap chart after the album released. His beats are so “hot,” as they might say, and his lyrics are so honest that he deserved to be here. RUNNER-UPS: Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak featured singles such as “Heartless” and “Love Lockdown”; David Archuleta – David Archuleta had a “Crush” and was “A Little Too Not Over You”

GROUP OF THE YEAR: Relient K – The Bird and the Bee Sides: With The Bird and the Bee Sides and three new songs and a music video for “Sleigh Ride” on Let It Snow Baby…Let It Reindeer, Relient K has thoroughly worked this year and become #1 as far as bands go. With great songs (including 1 in my Top 10), look for more from these guys as they go even further in their careers. RUNNER-UPS: Coldplay – Viva La Vida was an eclectic collection instrumentally and the title track and “Violet Hill” both made radio; Family Force 5 – Not as successful mainstream wise, their Dance or Die was amazing and gave me a “Fever” for “The First Time.”

CHRISTIAN GROUP OF THE YEAR: Kutless – To Know That You’re Alive: From having a song as a download for Rock Band 2 to a straight up great song on Christian radio, Kutless may not have been as successful as others, but they were still great. While they dont have a song in my Top 10, they would definitely be in the top 15 with the title track or “The Feeling.” RUNNER-UPS: Sanctus Real – We Need Each Other is a step in the positive direction with “Turn On the Lights” mixing with “Black Coal” and the title track; Third Day – With an appearance on the cover of Billboard Magazine and playing on late night TV, this band’s Revelation ”Call(ed) My Name” and told me to “Slow Down” and listen to them.

ARTIST OF THE YEAR: Family Force 5 – Dance or Die:  If you wonder why these guys weren’t band of the year, then calm down. Relient K had a bit more success I think because they still had radio (Christian radio, really) hits throughout 2007 and the beginning of 2008. But the Phamily (what they were called before they became the FF5) put out one of the greatest records of all-time, in my opinion. Granted, I haven’t heard a lot of the older 70s or 80s CDs, but it might not work. RUNNER-UPS: Relient K – Check out the “Group of the Year” category”; Lecrae – Check out “Soloist of the Year” category.

Now is the time you’ve all been waiting for. I count down my top 10 albums, then top 10 songs, of the year.

ALBUMS OF THE YEAR

• 10. Viva La Vida – COLDPLAY
• 9.  To Know That You’re Alive – KUTLESS
• 8. David Archuleta – DAVID ARCHULETA
• 7. Hawk Nelson is My Friend - HAWK NELSON
• 6. Revelation – THIRD DAY
• 5. Opposite Way - LEELAND
• 4. Never Going Back to OK -THE AFTERS
• 3. Rebel - LECRAE
• 2. The Bird and the Bee Sides – RELIENT K
• 1. Dance or Die - FAMILY FORCE 5

Alright there’s my top 10 albums. So Family Force 5′s Dance or Die captures the crown for Album of the Year. They have at least one song on the Top 10. You’ll find out after the commercial break… jk.

SONGS OF THE YEAR

• 10. “Heartless” – Kanye West – 808s & Heartbreak
• 9. “A Little Too Not Over You” – David Archuleta – David Archuleta
• 8. “Give Me Your Eyes” – Brandon Heath – What If We
• 7. “The First Time” –  Family Force 5 – Dance or Die
• 6. “D-I-E 4 Y-O-U” – Family Force 5 – Dance or Die
• 5. “Fight Inside” – RED – Fight Inside – Single (iTunes only)
• 4. “MySpace Girl” – The Afters – Never Going Back to OK
• 3. “Identity (feat. Cam, JR)” – Lecrae – Rebel
• 2. “Turn On the Lights” – Sanctus Real – We Need Each Other
• 1. “Curl Up and Die” – Relient K – The Bird and the Bee Sides

So “Curl Up and Die” by Relient K is the Song of the Year. This wraps up my review of the Best Music of 2008. Coming at the very end of the year will be my Princes (my Oscars), the review of the best in film of 2008. I still have to see a couple movies but early favorites include The Dark Knight and its players and Fireproof and its players. So, look out.