There’s one thing I have to say about Chris Robinson and company: they know how to deliver a comeback for studio releases (their last studio release was 2001’s “Lions”). This is one of the few best straight-up rock album releases in the past year. See my review for further details. Favorite track: Movin’ On Down the Line

I’m not that big of a Coldplay fan, but the release of the single “Viva La Vida” is alone worth making this album one of the best of the year. It’s a damn near perfect song, written about something other than love and relationships. The group proved with this release that they are expanding. Favorite track: Viva La Vida

2008 saw PLENTY of young female pop artists all having top selling albums. However, it's ironic that the best of them all was one who had the lowest sales. Soon after debuting her version of “Umbrella” on YouTube, Digby was signed onto a record deal. She’s one of the few that writes her own songs and that makes her extremely talented. See my review for further details. Favorite track: Spell

One of THE best albums in 2008! Sounding like classic Bob Dylan and The Band, these guys take pure Americana folk music (mixed with rock) and make it their own. It’s uncanny how much the lead singer sounds like Dylan through most of the album and how great the songwriting is! I can’t wait to see what they do with their next album! Favorite track: “Frankie’s Gun” and “Loves Me Tenderly

This was the score that I had been anticipating its release for what seemed like years! Giacchino should win several Emmys for his work on this season alone! The music was so appropriately matched to every scene that to not have this special music would definitely have robbed the show of all its magic. Favorite track: Looking Glass Half Full

With all of the greatness of The Flaming Lips and The Polyphonic Spree, I’m From Barcelona (a line taken from BBC’s Fawlty Towers) is a 29-person band hailing from Sweden. They also recently released their second album “Who Killed Harry Houdini?” which is the melancholy companion to this album. I can honestly listen to this album the whole way through. Favorite track: The Painter

Taking a cue from the movie soundtracks to Garden State and The Last Kiss, and with hits from the likes of Belle & Sebastian, Moldy Peaches, The Velvet Underground, Mott the Hoople, Kimya Dawson, Buddy Holly, Cat Power, and The Kinks, the Juno soundtrack just about has it all for that mix tape/CD fan! Just as quirky as the movie it accompanies. Favorite track: “Anyone Else But You” (Moldy Peaches)

This is one of those albums by one of those bands I thought I’d despise, but, is it good! Invoking all kinds of sounds from Pink Floyd to Ween, The Flaming Lips to Neil Young, MGMT’s album contains songs that each sound different from the other. Even if you don’t like the bands I listed, still give this album a try. You might be pleasantly surprised. Favorite track: Kids

My guilty pleasure of ’08. Regardless of what anyone says, this is a great pop/dance rock album. As much as I despise the exploitation and cashing in on lipstick lesbians and bisexuals, Perry’s hit single “I Kissed a Girl” works. Some songs fall flat, but it’s very few. Favorite track: Self Inflicted

Actress Zooey Deschanel and musician M. Ward teamed up to form this duo, recording tracks that are heavily reminiscent of Dusty Springfield and 60’s girl groups. There are three cover songs on here, but they pale in comparison to the originals, all composed by Deschanel herself. See my review for further details. Favorite track: “Why Do You Let Me Stay Here?” and “Sweet Darlin’

Composed by underrated composer Johan Söderqvist, this beautiful score is the best movie score of the year! It's difficult to find but so worth it! I can't recommend this enough. It covers the entire spectrum of genre music for every taste. Favorite track: Eli's Theme