As long as people continue to make music, other people will make year end lists chronicling it. Artist of the year? Song of the year? Album of the year? Depending on how much you care about these things, there are literally dozens of different places for you to find out who and what, in very esteemed professionals’ opinions, have taken these top honors (Spin, Rolling Stone and Pitchfork being the most notable).

But have you ever wondered what other people who care lots about music but don’t necessarily make their livings criticizing it think the best music of the year is? Hype Machine, the indispensable music blog aggregation portal, is sure hoping that you have, and they’ve decided to make yet another list of the top 50 artists, songs and albums of 2008. This list, which they’re calling Blog Music Zeitgeist, is compiled by the people, for the people. Instead of lame old professional music critics calling the shots, they’ve reached out to some of the coolest, most prominent music bloggers on the net and asked them to capture the defining musical spirit of ‘08 in list form.

The results are… well, they’re kind of the same as all the other lists. Santogold, Wolf Parade, No Age, Deerhunter, Girl Talk, Hot Chip, Lil Wayne and Coldplay are there, just like every other list. However, their 50 songs of the year, which lists songs in order of release date instead of best-ness, has very little in common with the other lists, and has lots of excellent, easy to download tunes and remixes.

Maybe you didn’t know this, but Rolling Stone releases a super-rad article a couple of times a year called “Artists To Watch,” which includes brief but well rounded bios of up-and-coming artists in the music world. While I’ll admit that the magazine definitely has misses each year (They’re not freakin’ fortune tellers), they had some great hits this year.

My favorite of their “Artists to Watch” this time is Georgia’s Dead Confederate. And I’m not just saying this because they made me BBQ one night while they were crashing with friends of mine in Queens. (Even though the BBQ was soulfully delicious). Rather, they’re just an amazing band. I’ve caught them live a few times and they are truly one of those bands that makes you go: “Hold on, why aren’t these guys famous yet?”

They have been working their butts off for years now making Nirvana-Meets-Dirty-South tunes and their ever-improving songwriting is a testament to that. You should do yourself a favor and check them out while you can still afford to see them play live. Also on Rolling Stone’s list this year were: Lykke Li, 3OH!3, Ra Ra Riot, Laura Izibor, and Low Vs Diamond. While these are all great artists to watch out for, I think Rolling Stone missed a few. So here’s COED’s four additions to 2008’s “Artists to Watch.”

Check out COED’s “Artists to Watch 2.0″ after the jump! (more…)

In April 1996 Robert Downey Jr. was arrested for possession of heroin, cocaine and having an unloaded .357-caliber Magnum, while he was speeding down Sunset Boulevard.

Now, eight years later the 43 year-old Iron Man star has been to hell and back, showing “how he defeated his demons to become Hollywood’s badass superhero in the latest issue of Rolling Stone.” [Just Jared]

In this recent interview, Downey Jr. discusses his current identity, his crazy schedule since Iron Man, the release of Tropic Thunder and how he is moving forward with his life since his days of drug addiction and living on the edge.

Downey Jr. is one cool cat!

Check out the full interview or pick up the issue of Rolling Stone on news stands, now.

Instead of slapping on suntan lotion, smokin’ a doobie, and heading to Grant Park to watch tons of awesome bands at this year’s Lollapalooza, we’re still at the office like a bunch of frickin’ dumbasses. But we know we’re not alone, so we’ve scoured the Web to find all the best coverage, videos, tidbits and music coming out of Lollapalooza 2008. It’ll seem like you’re actually there, but without all the sweaty people and $25 bottles of water.

Check out the best Lollapalooza-covering Sites on the flip side! (more…)

Instead of slapping on suntan lotion, smokin’ a doobie, and heading to Grant Park to watch tons of awesome bands at this year’s Lollapalooza, we’re still at the office like a bunch of frickin’ dumbasses. But we know we’re not alone, so we’ve scoured the Web to find all the best coverage, videos, tidbits and music coming out of Lollapalooza 2008. It’ll seem like you’re actually there, but without all the sweaty people and $25 bottles of water.

Check out the best Lollapalooza-covering Sites on the flip side! (more…)

Finally! Mega-hottie Megan Fox, who’s only 22-years-old, has called off her engagement with Brian Austin Green, 34, saying she’s too young to settle down.

From HollywoodRag.com:

A source close to the ‘Transformers’ star said: “Megan still cares about
Brian, but she now realizes she’s too young to marry him.”

She reportedly notified her friends and business associates of the news last
week. (more…)

Before now, you might have thought groupies were only to be enjoyed by the lucky few sons-of-bitches that become rock stars. But when those groupies become wives and girlfriends (probably because they’re the hottest), sometimes they get pregnant. And sometimes those babies turn into super-hot chicks that get their picture taken. That’s where we come in.

Check out “COED Presents: Sexiest Rock Star Spawn” after the jump! (more…)

Combining gritty guitar licks with back-breaking drum beats and a voice that seems to echo the pain of the world in its every note, The Black Keys‘ rich but simple grooves meld the wail of Southern blues with a rocked-out jam to deliver us a much-needed dose of 21st Century soul.

Take a listen after the jump! (more…)

Creed – Higher

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Sugar Ray – Fly

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