2008: A Year In Review

I did this last year, so I figured I should do it again this year.

Here are a few lists of my favorite things from 2008. These are not what I think are the BEST - rather my favorites - including everything that I find near and dear to my heart (music, TV, movies, etc.).

MUSIC
2008 saw the release of some really great stuff - but when I say great - I mean fun, easy going stuff that is great to listen to during long car rides. Their weren't really what I would consider a lot of truly "great" records. In terms of albums that I continually came back to day after day - there weren't many - but here are what I would consider my favorites.

Top 13 Albums (Because Everyone Does Top 10)


1. Beautiful Bird - Cindy Morgan
Cindy Morgan returns with an even more roots/country sound than her last album - Postcards. Beautiful Bird features some of Cindy's most striking songwriting to date. "Most of All" took her six years to write, and the sampling of her mother, Lola, on "Two Roads" is an album highlight. "Beautiful Bird" was a great anthem for 2008.

Read my original review of Beautiful Bird here

Read the interview I did with Cindy about the new record here.


2. What If We - Brandon Heath
Brandon Heath's debut album - Don't Get Comfortable - was a slow build for me, but his sophomore outing - What If We - was an instant hit with me. Heath is easily one of the strongest writers of his generation. Songs like "Give Me Your Eyes", "No Not One", and "London" were on constant repeat with me this year.

Read my original review of What If We here.

Read the interview I did with Brandon about the new record here.


3. Colors & Sounds - Article One
Unlike Brandon Heath, I was not a fan of Article One's debut album, AO, at all. However, the band returned with one of the catchiest and fun records of the year - Colors & Sounds. To me, the band recalls the old Reunion Records band Jake with a more updated sound - lots of euro-pop and electronic influences.

Read my original review of Colors & Sounds here.


4. Dance or Die - Family Force 5 Much like Article One, I wasn't a fan of this band's first record, but Dance or Die had from the opening beats of tracks like the extremely catchy "Dance or Die", crazy "Fever", roaring guitars on "D-I-E-4-Y-O-U". This was a great album for my 10 hour drive to Virginia which I had to make along this year.

Read my original review of Dance or Die here.


5. Opposite Way - Leeland
I've been a fan of Leeland since their debut released in 2006, but the band really won me over with 2007's smash hit "Tears of the Saints". The band's sophomore album - Opposite Way - even though not as good as their debut - still ranked as one of my favorites of last year. "Count Me In" was one of my favorite tracks of last year.

Read my original review of Opposite Way here.


6. Ending Is Beginning - Downhere
It's Downhere. What else do I need to say?

Read my original review of Ending Is Beginning here.



7. A Little Bit Longer - Jonas Brothers
Yes, it's true. This 28 year old man like the Jonas Brothers. They're catchy, fun, and most importantly - they're clean and great role models. "Burnin' Up" and "Lovebug" were great fall jams for me.


8. Faith to Believe - Mike & Kelly Bowling
This is the only Southern Gospel album of mine to make the list - mainly because I didn't feel like there were a whole lot of stand out SG albums this year. Mike & Kelly (along with Jeff Snyder) released one of my favorite albums of the year. "Your Cries Have Awoken the Master" and "We Have a Saviour" were consistent favorites of mine this year.

Read my original review of Faith to Believe here.


9. Spirit - Leona Lewis
Thanks to Simon Cowell and the British TV show X Factor - the US has been blessed by the soulful sounds of Leona Lewis. Fans of Whitney Houston, Whitney Houston, and Jordin Sparks will love this record. "Bleeding Love" is such a fun song to sing at the top of your lungs to while driving down the road.


10. One Life - 33Miles
I love 33Miles. Yes, I know they aren't the most brilliant lyrically, but darn it if they don't write some of the most catchy country/pop you've ever heard.

Read my original review of One Life here.


11. My Paper Heart - Francesca Battistelli
My Paper Heart was a great summer record. Battistelli has a bright future ahead of her.

Read my original review of My Paper Heart here.


12. Resurrection Letters, Vol. 2 - Andrew Peterson
It may not be his best - but even his worst album is better than most artists' best efforts. Another great record from Christian music's finest songwriter. Can't wait to hear Vol. 1.

Read my original review of Resurrection Letters, Vol. 2 here.


13. Til We See the Shore - Seabird
Seabird is definitely the band that caught me off-guard this year. A great jam band that sounds like a cross between Needtobreathe, The Fray, and Coldplay - Seabird's debut album was an instant favorite for me.

Read my original review of Til I See the Shore here.

Other notable albums:
Roots Run Deep - Jadon Lavik
Enchanted Soundtrack
Revelation - Third Day
Relentless - Natalie Grant
Roots - Shawn McDonald
Something to Say - Matthew West
Make Some Noise - Krystal Meyers
Trying to Fit the Ocean In a Cup - Josh Wilson
Gold & the Sand - Corey Crowder

Top 13 Favorite Songs (Non-Singles)
1. God of This City - Chris Tomlin
2. So Close - Jon McLaughlin
3. Another Layer - Jon McLaughlin
4. Punch Lines & Ironies - Chris Rice
5. Beautiful Bird - Cindy Morgan
6. Alright - Elliott Yamin
7. London - Brandon Heath
8. Heavenly Day - Brandon Heath
9. Dance or Die - Family Force 5
10. I Need Thee Every Hour - Jadon Lavik
11. Homeless - Leona Lewis
12. Popular - Kristin Chenoweth (Wicked Soundtrack)
13. That's How You Know - Amy Adams

Top 13 Songs (Singles)
1. Love Is Not a Fight - Warren Barfield
2. Feels Like Redemption - Michael English
3. Most of All - Cindy Morgan
4. Give Me Your Eyes - Brandon Heath
5. Without You (I'm Not Alright) - Article One
6. Bleeding Love - Leona Lewis
7. Suspicions - Tim McGraw
8. Love Is Here - Tenth Avenue North
9. Invisibly Shaken - Rodney Atkins
10. Britney - Bebo Norman
11. Lovebug - Jonas Brothers
12. Keep Coming Back - Marc Broussard
13. Count Me In - Leeland

According to the fantastic site, Last.fm - these were most most played artists and songs for 2008.

Top Artists
1. Cindy Morgan (809 plays)
2. Leona Lewis (643 plays)
3. Article One (493 plays)
4. Elliott Yamin (474 plays)
5. Brandon Heath (458 plays)
6. Chris Tomlin (426 plays)
7. Jon Foreman (418 plays)
8. Third Day (415 plays)
9. Jon McLaughlin (402 plays)
10. Warren Barfield (380 plays)
11. Tenth Avenue North (373 plays)
12. DecembeRadio (369 plays)
13. Krystal Meyers (368 plays)
14. Relient K (347 plays)
15. Phil Wickham (334 plays)
16. CeCe Winans (333 plays)
17. Natalie Grant (331 plays)
18. Sanctus Real (324 plays)
19. Hawk Nelson (315 plays)
20. Carrie Underwood (314 plays)
21. Chris Taylor (313 plays)
22. Shawn McDonald (306 plays)
23. Jonas Brothers (305 plays)

Top Tracks
1. Warren Barfield - Love Is Not a Fight (174 plays)
2. Michael English - Feels Like Redemption (163)
3. Jon McLaughlin - So Close (133)
4. Rodney Atkins - Invisibly Shaken (131)
5. Elliott Yamin - Alright (121)
6. Red - Lost (118)
7. Tenth Avenue North - Love Is Here (111)
8. Leona Lewis - Bleeding Love (110)
9. Augustana - Sweet & Low (109)
10. Leona Lewis - Better In Time (104)
11. Kristin Chenoweth - Popular (101)
12. Idina Menzel - I'm Not That Girl (100)
13. Bebo Norman - Britney (99)
14. Jon McLaughlin with Jason Mraz and Van Hunt - Something to Believe In (97)
15. Hawk Nelson - One Little Miracle (96)
16. Article One - Taken By the Storm (96)
17. Cindy Morgan - Most of All (93)
18. Third Day - Revelation (92)
19. Brandon Heath - Give Me Your Eyes (91)
20. Coldplay - Violet Hill (90)
21. Leona Lewis - Homeless (89)
(tie) Elliott Yamin - Free (89)
(tie) The Lost Trailers - Holler Back (89)

Movies:
Saw less movies this year in the theaters, but thanks to Red Box - I got to see more than last year. I saw 54 movies this year, but only 17 of them got the full movie theater experience.

Here are my favorite movies of the year (that is the movies that I actually saw this year, there may be some from late 2007 that I caught this year). Titles with a star (*) denotes movies I saw in the theaters.

Top 23 Favorite Movies of 2008

1. Wall-E
2. The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian*
3. Iron Man*
4. Kung-Fu Panda*
5. Quantum of Solace*
6. Get Smart*
7. The Kite Runner
8. National Treasure: Book of Secrets*
9. Ghost Town*
10. 10,000 B.C.
11. The Dark Knight*
12. Tropic Thunder
13. Four Christmases*
14. Hellboy 2: Rise of the Golden Army
15. Vantage Point*
16. Dr. Suess' Horton Hears a Who!*
17. Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull*
18. Mr. Magorium's Wonder Emporium
19. Hancock*
20. The Spiderwick Chronicles
21. The Incredible Hulk
22. Juno*
23. No Country For Old Men

TELEVISION:

I don't know how I lived life before the DVR. Man, that is easily the single best invention in the entire world. These are my favorite TV shows from 2008.

Top 23 Favorite Shows of 2008

1. The Office
2. Dexter
3. Survivor: Micronesia
4. The New Adventures of Old Christine
5. Big Bang Theory
6. How I Met Your Mother
7. Survivor: Gabon
8. Big Brother 10
9. House, M.D.
10. True Blood
11. Reno! 911
12. 30 Rock
13. Entourage
14. Fringe
15. Pushing Daises
16. Worst Week
17. Big Brother 9
18. Jericho
19. Gary Unmarried
20. Rules of Engagement
21. Numb3rs
22. Summer Heights High
23. American Idol

The Office takes the #1 spot this year. Last year's #1 (Kid Nation) didn't make its way back to TV. The New Adventures of Old Christine makes a big jump this year (was #16 last year), and Survivor ranks two in the Top 10 this year. 30 Rock re-enters after I lost interest last year (I don't know what that was all about). Due to some of my favorites from last year either falling off because of a lack of interest (My Name Is Earl, South Park) and cancellations (Rome, Extras), there are some notable new shows that I've enjoyed this year - like True Blood, Fringe, Worst Week, Gary Unmarried, and Summer Heights High (though the last two are teetering on the edge of dropping off the list, as well as Numb3rs). American Idol has to really step it up this year, or I could drop the show.
v Shows I lost interest in: My Name Is Earl, Man Vs. Wild, Survivor Man, South Park

BOOKS:


Thanks to joining a book club in August, my love for reading has kicked into high gear. I always knew it would - it just needed a little motivation. My favorite book I read this year was easily Chaim Potok's The Chosen - followed closely by Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockinbird and E.M. Bounds' The Power of Prayer (the only non-fiction book I read all the way through this year.)

List of Books Read This Year:
A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens)
Broken Angel (Brouwer)
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (Rowling)
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (Rowling)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Rowling)
House of Wolves (Brownleewe)
Next (Crichton)
Obsessed (Dekker)
Saint (Dekker)
Sinner (Dekker)
Skin (Dekker)
The Chosen (Potok)
The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas)
The Power of Prayer (Bounds)
To Kill a Mockingbird (Hines)

I already have a stack of books waiting for me to dig into for 2009. I can't wait.

2009 looks to be promising with loads of time in the studio the first part of the year (with the solo record, new Sunday Edition worship album, and another album that I don't know if I'm allowed to disclose any information about).

Thanks to everyone who helped make 2008 a great year - though one that went by way too fast!

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