Best of 2008: Rolling Stone

Rolling Stone published their lists of the best albums and singles of the year today with just a couple of surprises.

Probably the biggest is naming Bob Dylan's Tell Tale Signs as the second best album of the year. While this isn't the first mention of the album in the best of lists, it is definitely the highest ranking. What is amazing is that this album of rejected takes and tracks is more critically acclaimed than the albums for which they were originally recorded.

Also of note is the first mention of the album and track Time the Conqueror by Jackson Browne along with only the second time John Mellencamp's Life, Death, Love and Freedom has been picked.

As always, here are the top three picks, no matter the age of the artist, and all other mentions of veteran artists on the lists.

Rolling Stone 50 Best Albums

• 1. Dear Science - TV on the Radio
• 2. Tell Tale Signs: The Bootleg Series, Volume 8 - Bob Dylan
• 3. Tha Carter III - Lil Wayne
• 5. Life, Death, Love and Freedom - John Mellencamp
• 9. Death Magnetic - Metallica
• 16. Harps & Angels - Randy Newman
• 17. One Kind Favor - B.B. King
• 18. Little Honey - Lucinda Williams
• 22. Time the Conqueror - Jackson Browne
• 26. Mudcrutch - Mudcrutch
• 27. That Lucky Old Sun - Brian Wilson
• 35. Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! - Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds
• 41. Black Ice - AC/DC
• 42. Every That Happens Will Happen Today - David Byrne & Brian Eno

Rolling Stone 100 Best Singles

• 1. Single Ladies (Put a Ring On It) - Beyonce
• 2. LES Artistes - Santogold
• 3. Time to Pretend - MGMT
• 14. Toe Jam - The BPA featuring David Byrne and Dizzee Rascal
• 15. Lay It Down - Al Green
• 37. Someday Baby - Bob Dylan
• 48. Troubled Land - John Mellencamp
• 50. Time the Conqueror - Jackson Browne
• 53. Big Boi - AC/DC
• 80. Crystal River - Mudcrutch
• 93. Candy Shop - Madonna
• 95. Real Love - Lucinda Williams