The All-American Rejects, 'When the World Comes Down' (Doghouse/DGC/Interscope)
Heartland heartthrobs pledge allegiance to big-tent success.
By Mikael Wood 12.15.08 12:24 PM
As 2005's double-platinum Move Along demonstrated, these Midwestern emo-rock dudes have never hidden their arena-size aspirations.
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The 20 Best Songs of 2008
Whether embracing docile chamber pop or sampling gunshots, these songs racked up this year's highest play counts.
By Charles Aaron 12.12.08 10:36 AM
The 40 Best Albums of 2008
From grizzled vets to surprising upstarts, our annual ranking of all the must-hear music.
By Spin Staff 12.11.08 8:32 AM
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Coconot, 'Cosa Astral' (Bcore)
Innovative one-man band joins friends for festive free-for-all.
By Spencer Kornhaber 12.07.08 11:55 AM
When he records solo as El Guincho, Pablo Díaz-Reixa sometimes gets pegged (a bit unfairly) as the Spanish Panda Bear. So it's not surprising that his other band could be called (a bit unfairly) the Spanish Animal Collective.
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Cat Power, 'Dark End of the Street' (Matador)
The queen of indie-rock soul struggles with the real thing.
By David Bevan 12.04.08 12:34 PM
Less than a year after her second, patchier collection of covers, Jukebox, Chan Marshall offers six slow-dancing holdovers from that album's recording sessions. While her take on Creedence's political burner "Fortunate Son" falters listlessly, the Georgia smoke bomb pays homage to soul heavyweights Otis Redding and Aretha Franklin with more success.
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Justice, 'A Cross the Universe' (Atlantic)
Behind-the-scenes doc unveils nü-electro hijinks...zzzzz...
By Barry Walters 12.03.08 9:31 AM
When the tour manager unpacks a pistol from a FedEx box, there's a strong hint that the documentary of this French electro-house duo's spring 2008 American trek will end badly. And after numerous trips to shooting ranges, the Las Vegas wedding of Justice's mutton-chopped Gaspard Augé to a blurred-faced babe, and très Girls Gone Wild–like backstage footage, it does.
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