Jeffrey Luppino-Esposito and Stelios Phili EDITORS

Don't tell me you actually thought those were ALL the best blogs in 2008?! We're coming back with the second set to keep you entertained (not to say that PopSense can't keep you entertained, but come on, these guys are good). Get ready for more of the best in pop culture, music, and humor of 2008 as determined by the editors here at PopSense. If you didn't make the list, never fear, you could make our next installment! Oh yeah, and like last time, we're hooking you up with some hot tunes along the way to make you love these blogs even more by association!

Gorilla vs. Bear - Luckily the decision as to whether or not to visit this website isn't as hard as choosing the winner in a battle to the death between the animals in its title. What the hell do I mean by that? Deciding whether a Gorilla or a Bear would win in a fight is difficult, deciding whether or not to go to this website every single day to get the absolute highest quality in the hottest music news that you need to know if you want to exist as a hip human being is not difficult. Just do it.

Jazekiel - A Rossz Testvér.mp3

We All Want Someone to Shout For – AHHH!!! There, I shouted. But it’s in the best way possible. A man who loves the Artic Monkeys, reviews shows in NYC like its no one’s business, annnnd keeps me updated on the freshest artists, is certainly a friend of mine.

The Music Slut– What can I say, I’m a whore. There is no other website to which I’d rather prostitute my ears. To put it simply, The Music Slut is for those looking for bountiful music affairs. And from their plethora of daily updates, new artist coverage, and good-ole fashioned music news, this site puts out. Oh do they put out.

Sufjan Stevens - Come On! Let’s Boogey to the Elf Dance!.mp3

La Blogotheque – French video blogger extraordinaire. La Blogotheque has found a way to rally every artist that we know and love (Grizzly Bear, Man Man, Yeasayer, Department of Eagles, Bon, Iver, the list goes on. . .) and plops them in the middle of Paris to perform while traveling through streets, homes, or restaurants. And it is beautiful.

Streetkiss – Okay so what, I’m a Francophile, deal with it. Taking French this semester has improved my love for those Parisian fiends tenfold. Streekiss is the ideal melting pot of French culture and the oh-so-hip music of today. As for you non-speakers, don’t be deterred, a handy translate button is available. Bon Appétit!

M83 - Kim & Jessie.mp3

The Culture of Me – The hippest of the hip, The Culture of Me chronicles music that should be in the know as well as the happenings of those in the know, specifically of NYC nightlife. Tunes + tales of the city = cultural coolness

You Ain’t No Picasso – Just as the names implies, it is more than likely that you are not an uber-talented, world renowned artist. The best alternative? A music blog that provides you with the details to find these uber talented folk – concert reviews, calendars, interviews, and daily mp3’s. Tasty

Johanna Samuels - Do It All Again.mp3

Minneapolis Fucking Rocks - Classic awesome music blog. Everything about this site is beautifully to the point. So let me do the same: The articles are poignant, the layout is clean, and their message is clear-- Minneapolis really does fucking rock.

Brooklyn Vegan - Ok, I want you to stop and think for a second about everything you know to be hip. Do you imagine yourself living anywhere other than Brooklyn? Can you see yourself eating meat or animal-related products? Would you go a day without finding out about every must-see concert and getting the scoop on the latest must-hear bands? No. No you wouldn't do any of those things. You would go to Brooklyn Vegan.

The Dodos - Fools.mp3

Predator Press - One of the few outright humor sites that we included in this list, but it is a spot well earned. LOBO of Predator Press brings the funny on a regular basis with clearly developed posts that aren't just weak attempts at bathroom jokes that you normally get from humor blogs. This is a classy laugh-a-minute, enjoy!

MOSSIP - There are few sites more comfortable with themselves than Mossip. Thankfully for the insecure among us, we can live vicariously through their posts about Beyonce, Flo Rida, and JT, because dammit, we all know we actually get a ton of guilty pleasure listening to them. Go to Mossip when you need to be reminded that being too hipster is just lame sometimes. Oh yeah, and they also cover all the same hipster stuff that you want too.

Flo Rida - Right Round.mp3

Chromewaves - There are few sites left in the music blog world that I can actually be surprised by. Chromewaves is one of them. Go to their main page at any time and you will be impressed by the artists featured there. Chromewaves makes learning fun again!

Elbo.ws - Our first friend on the web. The only true music aggregator out there.

Little Boots - Love Kills (Buffetlibre vs. Sidechains remix).mp3

Pop Muse - We love these guys for more than just the shared 'pop' in our names. The Pop Muse brings the beats and the funny with a beautifully human feeling that a lot of blogs lack. His love for 90s culture is something we obviously admire, and he has a great eye for lots of hot stuff around the web. Be inspired, invoke the Pop Muse!

8/1 - All the music you know you love, put together in one place for your listening pleasure. Ok, so most of it isn't in English, but music is the universal language of love my friends!

Bon Iver - Your Love (The Outfield Cover).mp3

Hipster Runoff - Let's be honest, when we first saw this site, we hated it. If this happens to you when you go to it then we suggest a few things -- Stop. Reassess who you are as a human being, and then re-read it. You'll "get" it eventually.

Radio Exile - An extremely personal and professional blog, Radio Exile remains at the top of the music world while still reaching out to its readers regularly. With great reviews, interviews, daily linkage and the return of the question of the week, Radio Exile is a must-read!

Hercules Love Affair - Blind.mp3

Culture Bully - This is the type of site that other bloggers look up to. Extremely professional, top of the line music reporting, classy design. They simply have their shit down, there's really no other way to put it.

Nasdank - What a bunch of badasses. Seriously, Nasdank is just damn cool. They serve up the finest in their Fresh Picked posts and they just keep the beats coming strong. Get on that.

Hot Chip & Peter Gabriel - Cape Cod Kwassa Kwassa (Vampire Weekend cover).mp3

The Line of Best Fit - By far one of the most organized and thorough music sites you can visit - reviews of upcoming CD releases, live shows, and a highly active readership. This is for those of you who like to hang out with the internets on forums (you know who you are). It's okay, we still think you're cool.

East of LA - With heavy representation from the North, East of LA is our link to the, well, East. The site definitely provides a different blogging perspective from the all too common New Yorker's blog. Go here for a heavier emphasis on underground hip-hop and just the right amount of your usual hipster flair. Yum!

Another set down, future parts on the way!-- Don't forget to Subscribe Now to get updates so you know right away if your favorite site, or your very own site, will make the list!
MORE»

Jeffrey Luppino-Esposito and Stelios Phili EDITORS

Yes, that's right folks, the Power PopSense Awards are rolling out the red carpet and it is bleeding with anticipation! The best in music, culture, and humor, in no particular order, in a series that doesn't have a clear end point, but you damn well know it's exclusive because we could end it right here and then all other blogs would be forced to assume their inferior role to these champions of the blogosphere. Thankfully, that isn't the case, so if you don't see yourself on this list, never fear, you might make it in the upcoming episodes, so stay tuned! Let the games begin! (Oh yeah, plus we decided to put sweet songs between a bunch of them to make you love these blogs even more by association!)

Largeheartedboy – By far the most cultured man on the internet. Not only does the site provide delicious independent music for download, but the Large Hearted Boy reads 52 books in 52 weeks and reviews all of them. Literature + music + pop culture = a sophisticated audience. Would you like tea with that?

Sufjan Stevens - Angels We Have Heard On High.mp3

Metaphor – With a slogan like, “Stop Listening to Crap,” you know its good. Metaphor will steer any set of misbehavin’ ears in the right direction with its excellent coverage of new artists (see MUST DISCOVER ARTISTS VOL.VI) and tasty tidbits of music news. Plus, “Lili Chou” reads and has PopSense. By jove, does this girl have it.

The Yellow Stereo - Excellent independent artist coverage. I would visit this site solely for their daily graboid, which serves as the ultimate indie goody-bag of tunes. Tuning into the Yellow Stereo is a must if you desire to expand your musical repertoire.

Iron & Wine - Flightless Bird, American Mouth.mp3

I Guess I’m Floating – Tastenakers, in the truest sense. I Guess I’m Floating has excellent artist profiles of bands that have yet to (and most certainly should) grace your eardrums. Get over there now before any traces of hipster goodness float away from your lame soul!

Thieves by Tuesday - Not only does this blog provide the best in underground music and the wittiest of insight, but it does it with a whole lot of style. J-Dawn of 'Thieves' makes your eyes and your ears happy with a classy site that delivers the hottest tracks without fail. Oh yeah, and she has so much popsense it's not even fair.

Lil Wayne ft. Coldplay - Viva La Milli (Terry Urban Remix).mp3

Pretty Much Amazing - The name says it all; the masterwork of Luis Tovar is nothing short of amazing. PMA brings the best in everything from indie electric tunes to the absurdly popular hits that we all secretly love. This is a blog that provides the the absolute hottest in music news on an extremely exclusive level, yet still manages to remain remarkably personal with its readership and other bloggers. Make this blog a daily requirements before you fall behind.

Daytrotter – The best blog for exclusive live content from up and coming indie bands. What’s more is that all the tracks from any given live session are posted for free. 5 bands per week. 20 free tracks. And iTunes thinks it’s generous with its weekly (crappy) free song? Psh. Also included are really sweet artist portraits.

Bon Iver - Flume.mp3


Allan's World of Music - Don't be deceived by this blog's name (which could very well have been conceived during the dot com craze). Allan is a delightful music blogger who adds a sincere personal touch to each and every post. There is something fantastically real about the experience one has on AW. Check out this Toronto treat asap!

Stereogum – Ah yes, the mothership of all blogs. They have exclusive content up the wazoo. And I usually never say “wazoo.” My favorite features are Progress Report (progress on upcoming albums), Premature Evaluation (reviews of albums that have yet to be released), and of course, the bitchin’ giveaways. This is the site for those who want first dibs on music news. Yum!

Lily Allen - The Fear.mp3

I Am Fuel, You Are Friends - Ever get the feeling that the bands you like just aren't quite as hip as you thought they were? Well then it's time you got over to Fuel/Friends and changed that immediately. Creator and writer Heather Browne demonstrates unparalleled care in every single article she posts on the site and you will be caught up in her world of musical knowledge as you read along from day to day. Both she and her site are incredibly honest and fun while remaining professional in a pleasantly simple sense.

An Aquarium Drunkard - Justin Gage has redefined what a music blog can do, and we're not the first to realize it. A widely acclaimed site, An Aquarium Drunkard delivers daily by blending a range of sounds, tossing in their own show on SIRIUS radio (now 2 hours a week), and bringing you some of the best music reviews and interviews on the web. For the guarantee of a smooth mix of professional and personalized music news, AD is the place to be.

Santogold - L.E.S. Artistes.mp3

Spinner - Ok, so Spinner doesn't have that home-grown feel that we love in most blogs, but that doesn't stop the fact that it simply delivers. It stays classy with a daily mp3 instead of flooding the web with tracks, and it has a professional level of insight that gives the web a sense of trust, even for you old print-lovers out there. Brush up on your Rock Almanac and check this site out.

My Old Kentucky Blog - The endlessly witty squad of contributers over at the official colonel-protected home of MOKB bring all the best in music news that your snap happy soul could desire. These guys stand out from the crowd by providing some top-notch interviews and by seriously working hard for their readership to keep up with the absolute latest in the music world. Plus, they've got their own Sirius XM show... that's hot.

Pacific! - Hot Lips.mp3

Fluxblog - Matthew Perpetua started an mp3-blog revolution in 2002 and since then has continued to deliver reliably consistent reports on the latest in new music. His analysis is personal and subjective, but in the best way possible -- he has a huge body of musical knowledge that allows him to effectively put into words things that usually seem accessible solely through sound. Unique, one-of-a-kind insight from the personal expert of the mp3 world-- need we say more?

Lykke Li - Little Bit.mp3

Idolator - The Idolator brand is simply something you want to be a part of. I dare you to read whatever their first article is at this very moment and then not go onto their next post. It's impossible. The writing is smooth, incredibly digestible, yet undoubtedly one-of-a-kind. It's not surprising that they have an active community of readers who add to the experience as well. Get over there, get your music and cultural needs fulfilled right now.

Pigeons and Planes - How he finds the most obscure/underground/unreleased songs, the world may never know. He is the licks to the center of the tootsie pop of the blogosphere. What makes this whole operation even more amazing is that he's a new blogger in '08 but he delivers like a seasoned pro. A must read, especially for the hip hop lovers out there, prepare to be wowed by Pigeons and Planes.


That's all for now my blovers (yup, just made a word for 'blog lovers'), Part 2 is on the way-- Don't forget to Subscribe Now to get updates so you know right away if your favorite site, or your very own site, will make the list!

Still not entertained? Check out our latest in music!
MORE»

Jeffrey Luppino-Esposito EDITOR
For those of you ready to be disappointed, click on the titles of the movies for the 'actual' plot via IMDB.

5. Revolutionary Road (Dec. 26)
The heart-wrenching true story of sex, drugs, and lies behind the 'founding' father of 35% of the children of Boston; the definitive exposé on the man, the legend, Paul Revere.

4. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (Dec. 25)
Follow the unbeaten path at the fork of the forest and discover the sad tale of the washed up child star, Benjamin Bunny, now living under the thinly veiled alias, Benjamin Button.

3. Street Fighter: The Legend of Chun Li (Feb. 27)
HOLY SHIT!! THERE'S A NEW STREET FIGHTER MOVIE ABOUT THE CUTE ASIAN CHICK WHO KICKS FAST?!?!!!1ONEONE1!

2. Seven Pounds (Dec. 19)
The adorable story of a lonely, innocent seven-pound baby... discovered in a seven pound pile of fresh Columbian cocaine, thus making him both the youngest and the most high-strung superhero ever.

1. Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience (Feb. 27)
Another sick ploy to try to convince 13 year old girls that the Jonas Brothers are real people. Why do we hate them so much?

Everything's better in list form. Check out the entire PopSense Top 5 collection.

Have a little new music - The Sweet Serenades - Mona Lee.mp3

----------------------------------------------------------
End of article, check those comments - MORE»