Weezer: Pork and Beans (2008)

Weezer celebrates both uniqueness and Youtube stars. The song's genesis evolved out of a meeting Rivers Cuomo had with record execs. They wanted hits, so he wrote about it. Basically, he tells the execs and the world to piss off because he is his own person.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQHPYelqr0E

Coldplay: Violet Hill (2008)

The song began as an anti-war protest and evolved into a commentary on Bill O'Reilly and banks. The band borrow from John Lennon and the Beatles as well.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IakDItZ7f7Q

Coldplay: Lovers in Japan (2008)

Coldplay emerged as one of the bright spots in music's dark age of the late 2000s. They were one of the few acts that understood song construction. "Lovers in Japan" is a fun up tempo pop/rock tune. Music post 2010 has improved somewhat from those dark days.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OTFFQkdhw6Q

Top 10 songs of 2008

Just my favorites as usual. Most of today's music just sucks, but that is probably true of any era.

1. Pork and Beans- Weezer
2. Viva la Vida- Coldplay
3. Girls in Their Summer Clothes- Bruce Springsteen
4. Man Sized Wreath- R.E.M.
5. Use Somebody- Kings of Leon
6. Violet Hill- Coldplay
7. Nostradamus- Judas Priest
8. Supernatural Superserious- R.E.M.
9. Not My Time- 3 Doors Down
10. Saints of Los Angeles- Motley Crue
10. Nine Lives- Def Leppard

R.E.M.: Man Sized Wreath (2008)

The video for "Man-Sized Wreath" is a commentary on modern media. A digital stick figure is hounded and pursued by menacing blocks throughout. How many times have we seen a story that won't subside or has a public, or private, figure been stalked by the press or paparazzi?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFF8iwdhc0k

Judas Priest: Nostradamus (2008)

Judas Priest waited a few decades before releasing their first concept album. Nostradamus focuses on the future-seer in a new and refreshing way. The album begins with his prophesies, moves to his exile, and then the world realizes Nostradamus was right and they should have listened...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drrfx5Ogk3Y
 

R.E.M.: Supernatural Superserious (2008)

In the mid-90s, R.E.M. changed their sound and moved into a different direction. By the mid-00s, Peter Buck himself criticized their work. In 2008, they moved back to basics. "Supernatural Superserious" announced the band's return to its roots. The song became their first song to chart since "Imitation of Life" in 2001. They changed the song's name from "Disguised" on the advice of Coldplay's Chris Martin. In 2011, the band announced their breakup after releasing the critically acclaimed Collapse into Now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_We6ubpUHZs&ob=av2e

Jeff Beck: A Day in the Life (2008)

Jeff Beck's brilliant cover of the Beatles' "A Day in the Life." The Beck version appeared on the soundtrack to Across the Universe. His version won a Grammy for Best Rock Instrumental in 2010.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3uwvBizKAwc

Three Doors Down: It's Not My Time (2008)

Three Doors Down hit #1 on the rock charts, Top 40, and VH1 Top 20 Countdown with "It's Not My Time." It also reached #17 on the Hot 100. The video is reminiscent of an eighties action show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpfhcljJ9bQ