Anyways, reviewing a list like this made me realise how quickly I forget how important certain tracks were for me at a given point in time. So without further ado, two lists, one rock, one hip hop.

Warning: YouTube videos ahead.

Rock Tracks of 03-07/03-08!

Last year it was hardcore (Corta Vita, Rosesdead, and the like), two years ago it was all-indie all-the-time (Death Cab, Wintersleep, etc.) and this year … indie-pop. Awkward transition, but possibly due to the fact that I’m not an artsy snob, melancholy, or angry anymore.

Like many other college-aged, white people, I really appreciated the Juno soundtrack, and stuff they play as background music at Booster Juice.

10. Belle & Sebastian – Piazza, New York Catcher
9. Peter Bjorn & John – Young Folks

I listened to far less Canadian music this year than last, but at least my hardcore pick of the year, The Kidcrash, broke into the top 10.

8. Tegan and Sarah – The Con
7. The Kidcrash – Ground Eats You

The Kidcrash – A Conduit Rather than a Vault (at someone’s house in California)

One of these albums is terrible, one of them is fantastic. Though I pretty much exclusively either buy or download entire albums at a time now.

6. Kate Nash – Foundations
5. Kings of Leon – Trani

There is this great collection of Brit-centric indie, 500 songs per month, that comes out on torrent servers every month.

4. Maximo Park – Books from Boxes
3. The View – Face for the Radio

Ultimately I rocked out to some melodies that were probably marketed to people ten years younger than me.

2. Tokyo Police Club – Cut Cut Paste
1. Silversun Pickups – Lazy Eye

Silversun Pickups – Lazy Eye

Hip Hop I Grind’ed (Ground?) To

After going to Mississippi twice for Hurricane Katrina related stuff, I developed an appreciation for the South. New York (specifically the Wu and NaS) once had my heart, but the South has a grip on ma’ booty and diamond-studded chalice.

Mixtapes are back in MP3-blog-promoted form.

10. Mick Boogie & Marco Polo Newport Authority Mixtape (free download)
9. Ghostface Killah – Kilo

After seeing interviews with both David Banner and Fifty, it’s obvious Banner would both kill, and probably give a far more eloquent eulogy than, our dear Curtis. That link is David Banner defending hip-hop infront of Congress. No word of a lie.

8. David Banner – Lost Souls
7. 50 Cent – I Get Money

Weezy and Wiz are easily my two favourite MCs of last year, both of whom I probably found via exposure to Cocaine Blunts and Nah Right.

6. Lil’ Wayne Greatest Rapper Alive series, especially #3
5. DJ Nicolay ft. Wiz Khalif – Way It Used to Be

Birdman ft. Lil Wayne – Pop Bottles (Clean, boo)

… and now, please put some dirty Souf’ in yo mouf’. I’ve been head-bobbing and watching dance-off videos basically non-stop. Huey, from St. Louis, seems to be hopping on that bandwagon, but whatever, it all works for me. More interesting, less club-worthy artists like Bun B, UGK, Shawty Lo, and Rich Boy (sorry) are keeping my playlist busy this year.

4. Hurricane Chris – Ay Bay Bay
3. Unk – Walk It Out
2. TI – Big Shit Poppin (most embarassing entry)
1. Huey – Pop Lock and Drop It

Unk – Walk It Out