My top 5 albums of 2008

5.) Santogold/ Santogold
I accidently came across Santogold on YouTube one day. My first thought watching her perform was, “Why the hell is MIA performing I thought she was pregnant?” But, I was wrong because in my eyes Santogold is less annoying than MIA. Her music is a brand of her own, with punk, new wave, and eclectic all over her album ‘Santogold’. After giving the album a good few listens, it grew on me. Her first single “Les artistes” was an indie/rock hit and made her a fixture among music artists. The album has received great praise from magazines and the industry itself.

www.myspace.com/santogold




4.) N.E.R.D/ Seeing Sounds
I’ve always been a fan of this band, until they broke up out of nowhere in 2005. I settled to listening to their second album ‘Fly or die’ for almost a year until I eventually lost it…on purpose. But, due to random boredom, they got back together to make their third album, ‘Seeing Sounds’. The first single “Spazz” received less airplay than their other single ‘Everyone nose’ which had a music video. I hated the music video due to Lindsay Lohan making a worthless appearance in it. The album shows their true producing talent as every song is written by Pharrell Williams. Every song is more unique and unlike them, which makes it even better.

www.myspace.com/nerdofficial




3.) Does it offend you yeah? / You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into
Does it offend you yeah?, formed in 2006 in Reading, England. Their electro/ dance punk sound has made critics compare them to Daft Punk, Justice and Digitalism. As for the name of the group, according to an interview it came from an episode of the British TV show “The Office”.They have a way of screaming at you, literally. As soon as you go on their MySpace page at less one of their songs immediately grabs you full attention.The one song that made me pay over $20 bucks just to get their album from a friend in the UK was “Let’s Make out.” Every song is a different dance track that I guarantee has been played at a rave.The only way I can hate this band is if I hear another one of their songs in a horrible movie trailer.

www.myspace.com/doesitoffendyou




2.) Lykke Li/ Youth Novels
I’ve tried so many ways to avoid her when she first came out. I just remember seeing her video one day on MTVU in the cafeteria. However, I gave her a try when my two persistent friends kept singing her songs out loud and posting her other songs all over MySpace. And I must say that I’m pissed that I actually avoided her. Her music is a mix of soul and electro and her voice makes it better, even though she’s kind of talking. Rolling Stone magazine put her song “I’m good, I’m gone “in the # 24 spot for the 100 best songs of 2008. Her album “Youth Novels” is apparently a book of her life, which sounded like it was filled of break ups and makes ups…cliché I know but I had to do it. She even did a cover of the song “Knocked up” which is by and featured Kings of Leon and that makes her awesome in my eyes.

www.myspace.com/lykkeli


And drum roll please ….




1.)Mindless Self Indulgence/ IF

If you have never heard of Mindless Self Indulgence you need to choke on something…I don’t care what it is but choke! I never heard of this band until 2007 when I went to Projekt Revolution and ended up working by the second stage where new artist performed. MSI hit the stage with the lead singer Jimmy Urine (yes, that is his name) talking about animals having sex and throwing condoms into the audience. After their set I had the chance to get an autograph and picture with him. Yes, I just bragged about it, because it was that fucking awesome! With their new album, IF their sound stays the same as their first album. However, this album was more of a big fuck you to their record executives. Every song is showcases Jimmy’s true ability to make masturbation and sex on the road funny. This album made my summer more interesting due to my friend and I blasting it every day after work and during our road trips. In other words this album deserves to number one for one reason…”IT’S MOTHER FUCKING AWESOME!!”

www.myspace.com/mindlessselfindulgence

Honorable Mentions:
Paramore –The Final Riot!
Kings of Leon- Only by the night
Jack’s Mannequin- The Glass Passengers
The Killers- Human

The wait is almost over for No Doubt fans

With the spring approaching, slowly music artists are beginning to plan those summer concerts students love. Recently, one tour was announced that made the recent snow day 20 million times better. The ska punk, pop band No Doubt announced that they will be going on tour in May.
If No doubt is a vague memory from your adolescent years, then it’s time to refresh your memories. No Doubt is a band that originated in Anaheim, Calif. in 1986. They gained major success from their single “Just a girl” which was released in 1995.
Their third album “Tragic Kingdom” was diamond certified and featured three singles that were billboard hits, won two Grammy awards and sold over 27 million records worldwide.
The band mixed in a reggae and dancehall sound into their fifth studio album Rock Steady in 2001.
The group features Gwen Stefani on vocals, Tom Dumont on guitar and keyboard, Tony Kanal on bass guitar and Adrian Young on drums and percussion.
No Doubt last toured in 2004 with Blink 182. That same year, they went on a hiatus. All members did solo projects.
Stefani began working on her solo career in 2003. When 2006 hit, she released two successful albums and made a family with her husband, Gavin Rossdale.
There has been speculation about an upcoming album from the quartet.
“Hopefully, the tour will inspire us to make new music,” Stefani told E! Online.
The initial shock of No Doubt going on tour wasn’t complete until it was announced that pop punk band Paramore will be joining them.
Paramore’s first album ‘All we know is falling’ was a commercial success in their hometown of Franklin, Tenn.
The band just wrapped up their ‘Final Riot Tour’ in December and has begun working on their third album. They gained a worldwide audience with their smash single, “Misery Business.”
“I just love their music....when you listen to it at first it may sound like it makes no sense, but it’s really deep, and I can relate to their songs....especially ‘CrushCrushCrush’ and ‘Spiderwebs’ by No Doubt,” said student Cheron McMullen.
Paramore’s leading lady Hayley Williams provides some of the best live vocal’s ever performed I have heard. Her fellow band members Josh and Zac Farro, Jeremy Davis and Taylor York help her bring true energy to the stage.
Opening up for both bands are Janelle Monae, Bedouin Soundclash and The Sounds.
Ticket prices and dates have not been announced yet, but fans are hopeful that they will come to the Carolinas.