Fueled By Ramen Records (Staff)

[Garett Press]

Adam Samiljan (New Media)
TOP 8 OF '08
Forgive Durden - Razia's Shadow
Good Old War - Only Way To Be Alone
Bayside - Shudder
Dear And The Headlights - Drunk Like Bible Times
Less Than Jake - GNV FLA
TI - Paper Trail
Girl Talk - Feed The Animals
Torche - Meanderthal


BEST NEW BAND OF 2008
There For Tomorrow
not 'new' to everyone, but I have a feeling that 2009 will continue a lot of the big things tft started this year


BEST LIVE SHOW
Rancid at Irving Plaza
great songs, great band, great live show. the best show i've seen this year.


BEST RECORD LABEL
Fueled By Ramen
some of the best bands and people around. i wouldn't want to work any place else. no idea and metal blade rule, too.


MOST OVERRATED BAND
Metro Station
i just don't understand this one. at all.


CATCHIEST SONG
Parry Gripp - Cat Flushing A Toilet
listen to this once and try to get it out of your head.


BAND OF THE YEAR
Paramore
i'm so proud to work with this band. they've become something that so many bands strive for but rarely reach. i can't what to see what happens in 2009.


BEST ARTWORK
Mondo Primo - 2FN HOT
the 3d packaging and glasses are such a cool idea for an album and executed flawlessly.


BEST BOOK OF 2008
Sloane Crosley - I Was Told There'd Be Cake
such a fun read - the awkwardness of arrested development or the office in print.


___________________________________ ________________
Johnny Minardi (A&R)
Top Albums of 2008
1) Radiohead - In Rainbows
2) Forgive Durden - Razia's Shadow
3) Panic At The Disco - Pretty. Odd.
4) Alkaline Trio - Agony & Irony
5) Taylor Swift - Fearless
6) Bayside - Shudder
7) Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead
8) Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night
9) The Academy Is - Fast Times At Barrington High
10) Fall Out Boy - Folie A Deux
11) Vampire Weekend - S/T
12) Less Than Jake - GNV FLA
13) Empires - Howl
14) Anthony Green - Avalon
15) Cute Is What We Aim For - Rotation
16) The Maine - Can't Stop, Won't Stop
17) Hit The Lights - Skip School, Start Fights
18) Danger Radio - Used and Abused
19) Lil Wayne - Tha Carter III
20) Augustana - Can't Love, Can't Hurt


Best TV Shows of 2008
1) It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia
2) The Flight Of The Conchords
3) The Office
4) 30 Rock


Most Anticipated Releases of 2009
1) New Found Glory
2) Taking Back Sunday
3) Every Time I Die
4) Cartel


Album from past years that I finally discovered how amazing it is:
1) My American Heart - Hiding Inside The Horrible Weather
___________________________________ ___________________________________ _____________
Jason Russum (New Media)
Top 8 of '08
Dear and the Headlights - Drunk Like Bible Times
Girltalk - Feed The Animals
Matt Pryor - Confidence Man
Dragonforce - Ultrabeatdown
Summerbirds In The Cellar - Druids
The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
Less Than Jake - GNV FLA
Protest The Hero - Fortress


Top 8 of '98
Far - Water & Solutions
Rancid - Life Won't Wait
Less Than Jake - Hello Rockview
Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty
Jimmy Eat World - Jimmy Eat World EP
Refused - The Shape Of Punk To Come
Jets To Brazil - Orange Rhyming Dictionary
Saves The Day - Can't Slow Down


Best Producer of the Year
Jerry Bruckheimer


Best Live Show
08.13 - Rancid at Irving Plaza


Best TV Show
Thundarr The Barbarian


The Next Big Thing of 2009
fueledbyramen.com/evan (http://fueledbyramen.com/evan)


___________________________________ ___________________________________ _____________
Melissa Uselton (Merchandising Director)
Top Albums of 2008
Alkaline Trio – Agony and Irony
Forgive Durden – Razia’s Shadow
Phantom Planet – Raise The Dead
Death Cab For Cutie – Narrow Stairs
Counting Crows – Saturday Nights & Sunday Mornings
Four Year Strong – Rise Or Die Trying
The Academy Is... - Fast Times At Barrington High
3Oh3 - Want
Worst (Most Disappointing) Albums of 2008
Kayne West
Weezer
Best Live Show – Foo Fighters – Orlando, FL – Jan 2008 with Jimmy Eat World and Against Me


Best Record Label – Fueled By Ramen (duh)


Most Overrated Band - 3OH3


Best (Catchiest Song) Single – Calling All Skeletons – Alkaline Trio


Band of the Year – Forgive Durden


Best Movies of 2008 – Dark Knight


Best Book of 2008 Twilight


Best TV Shows of 2008 – Its Always Sunny In Philadelphia, The Office, Top Chef


___________________________________ ___________________________________ _______________
Amy Zaglauer (Merchandise Brand Manager)


Top Albums
1. Alkaline Trio- Agony and Irony
2. Ra Ra Riot - The Rhumb Line
3. Death Cab For Cutie- Narrow Stairs
4. Phantom Planet- Raise The Dead
5. Good Old War
6. Lydia- Illuminate
7. Margot & The Nuclear So and So's- Not Animal
8. Dear And The Headlights- Drunk Like Bible Times
9. The Academy Is...- Fast Times
10. Brighten- Early Love


___________________________________ ___________________________________ _______________
Megan Rondeau (Merchandise Department)


Top Albums of 2008
1. Good Old War - Only Way To Be Alone
2. The Academy Is... - Fast Times At Barrington High
3. Phantom Planet - Raise The Dead
4. 3OH!3 - Want
5. New Found Glory - Tip of the Iceberg EP
6. Death Cab For Cutie - Narrow Stairs
7. Vampire Weekend
8. Empires - Howl
9. T.I. - Paper Trail
10. This Is Hell - Misfortunes


Worst (Most Disappointing) Albums of 2008
The Maine - Can't Stop, Won't Stop
Weezer - Weezer (Red)


Best Live Show
1. Honda Civic Tour - Panic At The Disco, The Hush Sound, Motion City Soundtrack, Phantom Planet
2. Easycore Tour - New Found Glory, Four Year Strong, Crime In Stereo
3. The Faint


Best Record Label
FBR!


Best (Catchiest Song) Single
MIA - Paper Planes


Best Songs of 2008
1. MGMT - Time To Pretend
2. 3OH!3 - Don't Trust Me
3. Kings Of Leon - Sex On Fire
4. Panic At The Disco - Northern Downpour
5. Anthony Green - Dear Child (I've been dying to reach you)

[losethegirl]

Love the MAH love by Johnny Minardi. I don't care what anyone says about that band, that album is solid!

[makeoutmags]

I can't believe Minardi put the Jacks album as his biggest disappointment. Ouch?

And nobody at FBR mentions the Hush Sound?! i'm surprised!

[xdylanx]

rise or die trying came out in 2007!

[emkvetwin]

hmmm... 3OH3 a top album AND most overrated? otherwise, interesting stuff.

[googirl8907]

I'm surprised to see TGP on Johnny's list as his biggest disappointment.

[brandnizzle2419]

Cat Flushing A Toilet For The Fucking Win.

[Undue Noise]

I'm surprised TGP is listed as a biggest disappointment. The lack of The Gaslight Anthem on any list (I think) also is disappointing. But there are many good choices here, especially the call out of Metro Station as most overrated.

[caitlinlee]

Worst (Most Disappointing) Albums of 2008
1) Jacks Mannequin - The Glass Passenger
Um, what?!

[harveyn590]

Cool to see Ltj and Good Old War on the lists even though niether are with the label anymore

[vegasbabyvegas]

I can't believe Minardi put the Jacks album as his biggest disappointment. Ouch?
To clarify my reasoning, I just expected more. I don't hate the record but I was disappointed in it. I absolutely love everything Andrew has done but was a little let down.
-johnny minardi

[denissuxx]

I can't believe Minardi put the Jacks album as his biggest disappointment. Ouch?

And nobody at FBR mentions the Hush Sound?! i'm surprised!
Yeah, very suprised by the exclusion of THS

The Jack's Mannequin album...

It took me a LONG time to get into it.

When you do, its great, but its very difficult to get into it

[soulineyes]

why FBR didnt sign TFT when they had the chance.....the world may never know.

[makeoutmags]

To clarify my reasoning, I just expected more. I don't hate the record but I was disappointed in it. I absolutely love everything Andrew has done but was a little let down.
-johnny minardi
Gotcha. It took me awhile to get into it. I think there are some weak spots, but like most people, I'm a bit Andrew obsessed and don't like to admit to these things :P

[thisisnotsteph]

I have to agree with the Jack's Mannequin, I did enjoy the album but it wasn't as good as I had hoped it to be

[MattRM]

TAI's newest being higher than FOB's newest = huge fail.

[humanafterall]

People need to stop putting In Rainbows on 2008 lists.

[Zinja]

It's nice seeing Forgive Durden so strongly supported by the staff! They really do believe in them! Such an incredible album dare i say work of art.

[Jeremy Aaron]

I just had to check out "Cat Flushing a Toilet". I don't know that it's the catchiest song of the year, but it's definitely good for an LOL.

[mickmadethelist]

Glad to see empires on someone elses list.

[vegasbabyvegas]

People need to stop putting In Rainbows on 2008 lists.
In Stores 01/01/08

[Gleebo]

I just had to check out "Cat Flushing a Toilet". I don't know that it's the catchiest song of the year, but it's definitely good for an LOL.
Numa Numa
The Landlord (Pearl)
OK GO on treadmills
I Has A Bucket
Charlie Bit Me
Chocolate Rain


Cat Flushing the Toilet has joined the ranks of the all time internet viral video legends.

[queenofcrouton]

I like the "Top 8 of '98". Good stuff.

[Gleebo]

I have to agree with the Jack's Mannequin, I did enjoy the album but it wasn't as good as I had hoped it to be
Its just inconsistent for me. I started liking more songs when I put down the lyric booklet and just listened. I still don't feel the love that everyone else has for "Caves"...its a decent song with probably his most heartfelt and introspective lyrics but its slow start and the closest to cringe-worthy vocals Andrew has ever recorded(some people like the raw stripped down reaching for high notes but I dont). Once the song picks up towards the end it starts sounding really good but the payoff isn't really worth the wait. If im gonna go nuts for a 8+ minute song ill take "Konstantine" or "MFEO" over "Caves" any day of the week.

I hated "American Love" the first time I listened with the lyrics. On paper the lyrics seemed really generic as compared to what I have come to expect from Andrew. But after a couple listens it really started jumping out as one of the standout songs from TGP for me. I also credit the people running the merch table for drawing the song to my attention after I saw the humor in the "American Heart" shirt that they labeled "Big Farts" on the price tag. Poo humor sells!

A lot of my friends consider "Swim" their favorite track from the album but its still one of the few songs(Swim, Orphans, Hammers & Strings) that I just can't force myself to love.

The first time I heard "The Resolution" I dubbed it my favorite song of 2008...and my opinion still stands on that. "Bloodshot" isn't far behind.

If I was the record label I would be doing my damndest to get a video made for "Spinning" while JM is still relatively current and new.

[ddojo]

No one else loved "Jerry Bruckheimer" as top producer of 2008?