MY TOP 20 FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2008!

I love reading "Best of" lists at the end of the year, it's always a good way to discover new artists, so I thought I'd give my 2 cents. Here is my list of the 20 albums I listened to the most this year!! Let me know what you think, and add some of yours in the comments. In no particular order they are:

NERD- SEEING SOUNDS

MGMT- ORACULAR SPECTACULAR

GIRL TALK- FEED THE ANIMALS

LIL WAYNE- THE CARTER 3

VAMPIRE WEEKEND- VAMPIRE WEEKEND

Q-TIP- THE RENAISSANCE

DOES IT OFFEND YOU, YEAH?- YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT YOU'RE GETTING YOURSELF INTO

GNARLS BARKLEY- THE ODD COUPLE

KAYNE WEST- 808'S & HEARTBREAK

THE BLACK KEYS- ATTACK AND RELEASE

CRYSTAL CASTLES- CRYSTAL CASTLES

EL GUINCHO-ALEGRANZA

HOT CHIP- MADE IN THE DARK

BECK- MODERN GUILT

SANTOGOLD-SANTOGOLD

TV ON THE RADIO- DEAR, SCIENCE

RAPHAEL SAADIQ- THE WAY I SEE IT

FLYING LOTUS- LOS ANGELES

DIPLO- TOP RANKING

RATATAT- LP3

Eagles of Death Metal Still Sexy at Fine Line

It was a surprising sell-out crowd at Fine Line Saturday night, and Eagles of Death metal frontman Jesse ‘Boots Electric’ Hughes was as fired up as the first frat boy in the keg stand line.

With full locks, porn-stache and neckerchief, Jesse led his Eagles through the hits and then some – seemingly surprised at his relevance after his band seems to have soared to their greatest heights a few years ago.

In all fairness, it is hard to top Mischa Barton skanking through a strip tease to ‘Flames go Higher’ during the O.C.’s heyday.

Even with indy-dearests Blitzen Trapper playing in the sister city that night and Queens of the Stone Age stud muffin Josh Homme off hitting his gravity bong elsewhere, EODM owned the stage – Jesse even avoided falling of it, unlike a recent stop in Salt Lake City – cockblocking every dude in the joint.

Through classic jams and possible future ones from the latest release ‘Heart On’, the crowd stayed every bit as sexy as the swaggering band (save for the gray-mohawked guitarist). Jesse gushed all show about how he loved his job and those in attendance, stopping short of offering mustache rides to all as his shirt advertised -- later vowing to “burn this MFer down.”

EODM can still handily compete with the latest Left of Center sweethearts, and still has enough oats to sew any stage on the indy rock circuit. Even after those days are gone, they can play my basement beer bust any damn time – just don’t steal my girlfriend, Boots.

RIP: Star of the 4 Tops and "Little Shop'

The Great Levi Stubbles (given name) helped vault R&B imprint Motown to every turntable in America. Today the Four Tops frontman died at the age of 72.

Tell me you cant hear these playing in your head as you read: "Baby I Need Your Loving", "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", "It's the Same Old Song", "Reach Out I'll Be There", "Standing in the Shadows of Love" and "Ain't No Woman (Like the One I've Got)".

Smile-inducing fun fact: Stubbs was the voice of carnivorous space plant Audrey II in the 1986 film version of "Little Shop of Horrors" (Feed Me Seymour!)

May Stubbs live on via reincarnation in the progeny of Dirtbombs frontman and D-townmate Mick Collins.

M.I.A. Preggers!

Our dear Maya is with child. She and fiancee Ben Brewer of NYC's The Exit are expecting their first child soonish. I would love to go to that Baby Shower.

Eugene Hutz - on his tour bus - the INTERVIEW

This past June, I sat down with Eugene from Gogol Bordello. Here is what happened:

mmmmm bop.... lal la ooo wop

Hansen stopped by Fox 9 studios last week and - no kidding - there were a group of staffers that got to work early to see the former teen pop sensations. As my mother said, "They look like nice boys!" Don't they though?! They were mom, they were. Enjoy.

OMFG! Blair Waldorf!

The month I was born, Bette Davis Eyes by Kim Carnes was #1. Not quite sure what that means to Ian Van Tuyl, but I hope I am ferocious, precocious and that I got what it takes to make a pro blush. ANYWAY, my birth song and GOSSIP GIRL (who doesn't love that show?) have finally combined into one product. Behold Leighton Meester (who was born in a Texas prison and whose Popstrology song is Prince's Kiss) sing this classic ditty:



For those of you not so impressed, here is the original video:

SHARON JONES & THE DAP KINGS INTERVIEW

We were lucky enough to sit down with the Queen of Funk, Ms.Sharon Jones, of Sharon Jones and The Dap Kings at the Minnesota State Fair on August 21st. Check out what she had to say!

10k Beats at Oktoberfest!!

Eugene Hütz - Live on his tour bus - June 12

My year was made last night. Eugene Hütz of Gogol Bordello sang a song for us on his tour bus before his incredible show at the Cabooze. I interviewed him for about 30 mins on camera and he let us tape the entire show. Stay tuned for concert footage and his interview. I will even tell you about getting cussed at and then apologized to in Russian. Maybe even about how his mustache feels on your face. Fabulous.
Enjoy!
AliRose