(no subject)

[why_me_why_not]

I know I haven’t answered comments, or responded to beta requests, or left comments on the three dozen fics that are still open on my screen. I am not in the right state of mind right now to communicate with people, I think. Everything I think to say comes out negative, and I know that I’ve been full of whining and bullshit to everyone lately, and I hate being like that. The year is almost over, and the last afternoon of 2008 is gonna be filled with a funeral, so I’m gonna allow myself these last two days to be grumpy and then that’s it, I’m over it. I am determined to make 2009 a happier year.

5 Things That Were Great in 2008:

1. Lexi, Bree, River, Isaac, & Samantha (that’s totally in birth order, to be fair. Although I’m pretty sure yall all know that Bree is my favoritest.)
2. RT & Kristina’s wedding
3. Havemercy
4. Email chains
5. Obama

And like two weeks ago I started thinking about my favorite albums of 2008. There are a few that were no-brainers, b/c they rarely left my cd player at work or in the van, and there were a few that I listened to a lot this year that were actually from 2007 and couldn’t be included (Cobra Starship’s Viva la Cobra, Miranda Lambert’s Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and Luke Bryan’s I’ll Stay Me). And I couldn’t decide whether to start with one and go from there or start from ten and work my way down, so the comments may seem a little out of order. But here are my favorite albums from 2008:

1. The Hush Sound’s Goodbye Blues
Seriously, it’s a good damn thing I made a copy of this first thing when I got it, b/c it would be worn the fuck out as many times as I played it. Also, carrying a copy around with me meant that I could give it away as I converted my friends to the awesomeness of The Hushies. I love the music on this album, I love range of feelings I get from listening to the songs, I love that Greta and Bob trade off singing lead. I do not have a favorite song on this album; I can seriously go from one track to another and be like “Oh no wait, this one’s my favorite!” Absolute favorite album of the year.

2. Empire’s Howl
Second most-played cd this year. Everyone’s heard this album, right? Especially seeing as how Empires have it on their website for free download. It is such an amazing album. And the band is made of such amazing boys. I think my favorite song off this one is Valmont. (also, more than once I’ve gotten Believe stuck in my head and have to remember that it’s an Empires song b/c it sounds very Panic-y to me, lol.)

3. The soundtrack to Shelter.
Okay, I do love the movie, so the music does give me that warm fuzzy feeling that I get at the end of the movie, but the music is seriously something all on it’s own. Shane Mack has four songs on the soundtrack, and I love all of them, but if I had to chose, I’d say Lie to Me is my favorite.

4. Lady Antebellum’s self-titled debut album
Up to this point, I was going in order of the most-played, but this one jumps ahead simply because if I had had it longer, it would definitely have been played a hell of a lot more. OMG, I LOVE THEM! The first time I heard Love Don’t Live Here Anymore on the radio, it reminded me of Steve Carlson, which is totally a quick and easy way to win my heart. The current single is Looking for a Good Time (and it’s “would you get the wrong impression if I called us a cab right now?”; I totally don’t understand why they change the words on the radio) and it seriously makes my heart smile every time it comes up. One of my favorite things about Lady A is that Hilary, Charles, and Dave are all listed as vocals (I think it’s Charles that actually does most of the singing and Dave sings harmony, maybe? Idk. Anyway.) and, I really love the way they trade off and complement each other (Like Bob & Greta on Goodbye Blues!). Home is Where the Heart Is is the song currently stuck in my head, but my favorite off the album is One Day You Will, because it has such an awesome, uplifting message.

5. Phil Vassar’s Prayer of a Common Man
Phil Vassar is almost a hometown boy (he's from Lynchburg, which is less than an hour away from me) and he has been writing songs for a long long time, and I'm so glad to see him getting the actual recognition for them since a lot of them have been sung into hits by other artists. His songs are about life as I know it, and it's amazing how he captures that life. Love is a Beautiful Thing has special memories for me, since I associate it with RT & Kristina’s wedding.

6. Brad Paisley’s Play
I <3 Brad Paisley, but that’s nothing new. And one of the things I always love about his albums is the instrumentals, so do you have any idea how fucking excited I was to hear about this album? My favorite track on this album is Cliffs of Rock City. (RT got this cd for Christmas and I made him open it just so I could put it on my iTunes before they left Christmas Eve.)

7. Panic at the Disco’s Pretty Odd
Okay, aside from the fact that I'm ridiculous about Brendon Urie, Panic is one of my not-so-guilty pleasures. I also got to see them (along with The Hush Sound!) play in Houston when I went to see irisgirl12000 back in the spring, so I have happy memories associated with them. While I don't like the overall album as much as I liked A Fever You Can't Sweat Out, I have to say I still thoroughly enjoy it. My favorite song on this album is Northern Downpour. You know, in case you missed that somehow, like maybe you haven’t talked to me all year?

8. Fall Out Boy’s Folie A Deux
Yeah yeah yeah. I totally love it, but we all knew I would before it even came out because Patrick Stump is… well, amazing. And throw Pete and Joe and Andy into the mix, and I’d say that’s totally a win. My favorite song is 20 Dollar Nosebleed. Yeah, okay, that's mainly b/c of the BRENDON in the song, but it kinda helped because when it comes to FOB, I generally have a difficult time picking ONE favorite off their album. I am really really fond of the choruses in Tiffany Blews and The (Shipped) Gold Standard.

9. The Cab’s Whisper War
About this time last year, I had no idea who The Cab was, but I had bought tickets for The Really Really Ridiculously Good Looking Tour (GABE!) and thus I needed to know. It didn’t take much for me to get hooked on the music, but then we saw them play and actually met the Cabbabies and I was even more hooked. I have played this cd A LOT this year too. I love several of the songs, but Vegas Skies is my favorite, hands down.

10. Josh Gracin’s We Weren't Crazy
I’d been waiting for a new album from Josh Gracin, because several songs off his first album are on my all-time favorites playlist. Um, I’m not even sure what I was gonna say about him/the album, other than I love him/it. My favorite song off the album is Favorite State of Mind, even though I’m really fond of Unbelievable as well.

Albums that I think deserve honorable mentions b/c I really enjoyed them too:

Madrone’s In Time
One of our local bands that I really like. Davey does too, especially when he’s in one of his “I don’t like country music” kinda moods.

Jason Mraz’s We Sing, We Dance, We Steal Things
Blame this one on wearethestars. It’s totally her fault I love Jason Mraz.

Darius Rucker’s Learn to Live
When I first heard Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It on the radio, I was going crazy trying to figure out who it was b/c I totally knew that voice. Possibly because I was a huge fan of Hootie and the Blowfish. *g* But this album is totally awesome; I’m a huge fan of it as well.

Gym Class Heroes’ The Quilt
Do I really need to explain my love for GCH? *hearts*

Montgomery Gentry’s Back When I Knew It All
Yeah, I don’t think I’ll ever stop loving them (haha).

Comments

[asimplechord.livejournal.com]

I must agree. :)

I'd add:

1. Jack's Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
2. Rise Against - Appeal To Reason
3. Alkalkine Trio - Agony and Irony
4. Thrice - The Alchemy Index (III/IV was released this year, I/II last year)
5. Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead
6. Metallica - Death Magnetic