The best CDs, songs and concerts of 2008…so far
Photo: Cover of Moby’s “Last Night” CD, one of the best releases of the year so far.
Music sales continued to fall during the first half of 2008 — no surprise there. But that doesn’t mean it wasn’t a great time for new music, songs and concerts.
In no particular order, here is the music that moved me most January-June, though I wonder how many of these names will hold up by year’s end.
And don’t even think about looking for Usher, Leona Lewis or Panic at the Disco on any of these lists.
Which albums, songs and shows made the biggest impressions on you?
CDs
Moby, “Last Night”
Lil Wayne, “Tha Carter III”
Radiohead, “In Rainbows”
Erykah Badu, “New Amerykah, Pt. 1: 4th World War”
Duffy, “Rockferry”
Vampire Weekend, “Vampire Weekend”
Coldplay, “Viva La Vida”
Raheem DeVaughn, “Love Behind the Melody”
Estelle, “Shine”
Ladytron, “Velocifero”
Raconteurs, “Consolers of the Lonely”
Mariah Carey, “E=MC2”
Lyfe Jennings, “Lyfe Change”
Sheryl Crow, “Detours”
Death Cab for Cutie, “Narrow Stairs”
Songs
Keyshia Cole, “Heaven Sent”
Adele, “Chasing Pavements”
Rick Ross, “The Boss”
Flobots, “Handlebars”
Nine Inch Nails, “Discipline”
Madonna featuring Justin Timberlake, “4 Minutes”
N.E.R.D., “Everyone Nose (All the Girls Standing in the Line for the Bathroom”)
Lil Wayne, “A Milli”
Kooks, “Always Where I Need to Be”
David Banner featuring Chris Brown and Yung Joc, “Get Like Me”
Natasha Bedingfield, “Pocketful of Sunshine”
Mariah Carey, “Touch My Body”
Ludo, “Love Me Dead”
Snoop Dogg, “Life of Da Party”/“Sensual Seduction”
“No Air,” Jordin Sparks and Chris Brown
Concerts
Radiohead, May 14 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Chris Brown, Jan. 31 at Scottrade Center
Alicia Keys, Ne-Yo, April 27 at Scottrade Center
N.E.R.D., March 9 at the Pageant
John Mayer, July 3 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Stone Temple Pilots, June 8 at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater
Chris Rock, March 30 at the Fox Theater
Stevie Nicks, June 13 at Chaifetz Arena
Jill Scott, Raheem DeVaughn, March 26 at the Fox Theater
Wynton Marsalis, Feb. 9 at the Sheldon Concert Hall
Erykah Badu, the Roots, May 29 at Fox Theater
Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings, Jan. 30 at Blueberry Hill’s Duck Room
Story of the Year, April 22 at the Pageant
Kid Rock, Feb. 16 at Scottrade Center
R. Kelly, Keyshia Cole, Jan. 6 at Scottrade Center
Kevin C. Johnson has covered the St. Louis' music and nightlife scene for the past decade. 
hhhmm…guess you missed Rush on June 28th
One thing about these “best of” lists is that it is one persons opinion. That’s all. With an area of about 1.5 million people, there are going to be 1.5 million “best of” lists. With that being said, I am glad to see the Radiohead show listed. I am also glad to see “In Rainbows” listed as one of the best cd’s so far this year. Normally, I do not really understand the Post Dispatch’s coverage of music. Instead of cutting edge, the paper normally pushes all that is bubble gum or KSHE in my opinion, but that is what sells papers I suppose. I am a bit suprised that there was no mention of the Wilco shows, but if you are not Nelly it seems the hometown paper doesn’t give much love to a hometown boy which is sad considered that Jeff Tweedy might very well be one of the best songwriters of his generation.
The best part about Rush last month was the South Park intro to Tom Saywer. I’ve seen the band 6 times and was disappointed when I heard a copy of the show from Suckport…
The first concert at Busch, the Dave Matthews Band is not one of the best concerts of the year?!?!?! Please explain.
Wilco put on not one, but three amazing shows at the Pageant this year and they are not included?!?!
Why no Usher or Leona Lewis ?. How ignorant of you not to include “Bleeding Love” on the list of songs, yet you include the dreadful Touch My Body. Bleeding love will most likely get record of the year nom and possibly win, so it will be appearing on plenty of lists, heh.
No Wilco or My Morning Jacket? Then you’re obviously not qualified to write this column.
OK, so Kid Rock, STP, John Mayer, and R. Kelly are better then Tom Waits.
Where is Tom Waits anyway?
Best show -
The Lonely Hall of Fame
@ June 13th at Cruisn RTE 66
Can i interview for this position, cause Kevin you are out of touch and getting old.
Ok, how bout you just add a position. You cover the pop, R&B, rap, and radio rock music and i’ll handle all things indie. Cause obviously you need helping in finding what’s actually good and cutting edge. How the post’s music critic didn’t find the time to go to one of the 3 amazing wilco shows just doesn’t make sense. John Mayer…really? You chose to go see John Mayer and not Jeff Tweedy. Holy hell, this paper sucks!