To continue Hump Day Music’s last post about ‘Best Of’ music lists, here’s Spin’s Top 40 of 2008, top tens from various B-list indie music acts, and the results of the annual Pitchfork readers poll, which is bound to be totally different from the ‘official’ Pitchfork ranking.

And Tierney gave you a detailed guide to hookups last month, but not so fast, says NYT columnist Charles Blow. Blame those “relaxed values” and alcohol-fueled soirees for this “strange culture” that can promote sexual assault, gender inequality and sexiles, says Blow and Professor Kathleen Bogle of LaSalle University. Keep on shaking that fist, mainstream media! You just WISH it would have been acceptable to make out casually with your friend’s frat brother back in the day.

Hey, that shirt's from Urban! (from stereogum.com)

It’s December, and you know what that means in music journalism–everyone’s list of the best and the worst of the year, just in time for your perusal and procrastinating. Rolling Stone put up an eclectic mix, with TV on the Radio’s “Dear Science” at the top. Stereogum placed some predictable favorites near the top, but why people love Deerhunter I may never know. It’s also interesting that Ra Ra Riot’s acclaimed album placed lower than Of Montreal’s “Skeletal Lamping,” which got pretty mixed reviews. Stereogum’s list of ‘most overrated artists’ includes many acts from their ‘best of’ list–coincidence?? NYMag’s list doesn’t really say anything new, but check out their wrap-ups in all other things cultural for some good commentary (and procrastinating…see a theme here???).

So far, the common favorites are Born Iver’s “For Emma, Forever Ago,” Fleet Foxes’ epynomous release, TVOTR, Lil’ Wayne’s “Tha Carter III,” and Santogold. But Metacritic spices it up with a broader look at who got the best reviews. This is science, people–it must be true. This list has The Bug’s “London Zoo” at #2, which as you should know is a great album. And the Voice’s list includes Cut Copy’s “In Ghost Colours,” which kind of got the shaft everywhere else.
Which other albums were left on the shelves? MGMT made a splash this year, yet no love on the charts; Ratatat’s “LP3″ was inventive and kooky but is nowhere to be found. Of course, Pitchfork leaves us entrenched in suspense for their rankings, but check out The Year in News and The 20 Worst Album Covers in the meantime.
What made your top ten?