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Fernando Torres scores the winner as Spain beat Germany to lift Euro 2008.

1. Coldplay-Viva La Vida/Lil' Wayne-Tha Carter 3
Both albums are amazing in very different ways, inseparable.
Beginning with Coldplay, their 4th album marked a welcome return to form for the band, after the disappointment of X and Y (still a great album). this album proper restored my faith in them, a return to more of the sounds of parachutes and a rush of blood but with an added of boost of african and latin american influence, big guitar and arena filling tunes. Viva La Vida is the most uplifting (musically) song of the year, strawberry swing is chilled ryhtmic beuaty that coldplay seem to create so easily and so well, and my favourite song (lovers in Japan) is a brilliant driving ryhtm oddly tagged together with the lovely piano track reign of love. Not sure what the band were thinking with the couple of tracks that are attached together, its a bit Justin Timberlake...The album is seriously special though, Chris Martin seems to have the knack for writing sentimental yet poignant songs, I hope he can continue long past the next album (when he claims the band will split...as if...)
Metacritic (72)
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Joint top is the best hip-hop album of the year, Tha Carter 3. I used to hate lil' Wayne. His southern drawl just seemed messy to me, I had only heard a few featureds (and lollipop), and I couldnt understand the hype surrounding him. I decided to give Tha Carter 3 a go though. It is amazing. To me, Weezy's Southern lazy drawl is now a brilliant voice, and his lyrics although sometimes messy are brilliant, mixing hilarity with the odd soft moment. Its so impressive how consistent this album is (i love every song until lala-track 13, except got your money). My highlights are mr carter, comfortable and dr carter. Mr Carter has been billed as a "handing over the baton" moment from GOD MC to the new "best rapper alive" but weezy does have a way to go before matching Jay-Z, comfortable is so sweeet, the subtle sampling of "you dont know my name" is so brilliant (credit to Kanye) and of course Dwayne kills it. Dr Carter is then a lessen from Weezy in how to be a rapper, its big. A Milli is an absolute beast, as is 3 peat. the two slow tracks "tie my hands" and "mrs officer" are fantastic for different reasons, one about the impact of Hurricane Katrine on New Orleans...and the other about hot policewomen. love the consistent shout outs to Andre 3K on this album as well. 1 million sales in the US in its first week, need i say more? oh and 50 cent doesnt like him, so that just adds to his appeal.
Best track: Lil' Wayne-Comfortable feat. Baby Face
A Milli Freestyles:
Jay-Z
Chris Brown
Ne-Yo ("your girlfriends favourite song is mine", merks it)
There are loads more on youtube.
Metacritic (82)

3. Fleet Foxes-Fleet Foxes
Only narrowly missing out on a 3 way tie for album of the month, my words cant quite describe how good this album is...so (as it was their album of the year..)
"The lyrics are non-narrative but vivid nonetheless. See the way the Fleet Foxes refrain "and Michael you would fall and turn the white snow red as strawberries in summertime" plunges you into the stunning guitar-and-voice counterpoint that blows "White Winter Hymnal" wide open. Lead singer Robin Pecknold has a strong, clear voice and knows when to let fly with a drawn-out, impassioned bellow and when to withdraw into the shelter of his bandmates' harmonies. The group shares his sense of dynamics, and Fleet Foxes flows like a river, wild and free but logical, filling what needs to be filled and moving on" PITCHFORK
Also gave me one of the best gigs of the year, stunning performance!
Best track: Fleet Foxes-Ragged Wood
Metacritic (87)
4. N*E*R*D-Seeing Sounds
I hyped myself up so much for this album after Everyone Nose came out and Spaz leaked, so I was pretty disappointed with the 3rd effort from Pharrell's band. In Search Of is a great album, but Fly or Die has about 3 good songs on and this is much the same. Pharrell really isnt a very good lyricist and the band have always relied on his singing and Neptunes production, but this isnt even very well produced. I am very excited about a future CRS album, the Everyone Nose remix they did is awesome, but not sure if NERD will make another album, and the way they are going it wont be much of a shame.
Best track:
N*E*R*D-Spaz
Bonus:
N*E*R*D-Everyone Nose (Douster Remix)
Honourable Mentions:
Dirty Pretty Things-Romance at Short Notice
I can see why the band split up, their second effort is far from Waterloo to Anywhere (a really good album). Carl Barat was always the weaker Libertines lyricist and you can really tell on this album. Its pretty dreary and generally boring. Tired of England is a great song, they can clearly work the trumpet intros lol. Wonder what Carl's gonna do now....
Dirty Pretty Things-Tired of England
Feeder-Silent Cry
Haven't listened to this enough to judge, but it seems fairly good. No stand out tracks in particular, but Miss You is pretty good.
Feeder-Miss You