Here is my list of my top picks in music for 2008 … sadly, this wasn’t a great year for music. As I sat down to go over my fave releases of the year, I found that there wasn’t much to choose from. But, even tho the pickin’s are slim that doesn’t take away from the quality of the music that was released this year. Here, in reverse order are my fave albums of the year:

In the #10 position, Beyoncé’s I Am …:

Altho I didn’t love every single track on this album, much of it is really fun and very memorable. Honestly, for Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It) alone the album is a hit. I may not be totally on board with the whole Sasha Fierce thing but as long as Beyoncé keeps bringin’ the jams like the ones on this album, I think I can get used to it.

At #9, Jason Mraz’s We Sing. We Dance. We Steal Things.:

I’ve been a minor Jason Mraz fan for a while now but this album really won me over to Team Mraz. I must admit, I didn’t really pay that much attention to him before he started blogging on My Space but once he got my attention, I was hooked. I’ve yet to listen in full to Jason’s other albums but if this one is any indication, I think I’m gonna like what I hear. Additionally, Mraz just published his own book of Polaroid photos … which wins my heart in other ways as well.

At #8 is Juliana Hatfield’s How To Walk Away:

Juliana always comes at us with great music and this album is proof positive that she’s still got it. For me, this album was an even better treat because I ordered it from her official website and it came packed with a bonus disc of demos that were recorded with the album. I really wish more people knew about Juliana … I think she appeals to so many people. I’m just glad that she continues to make music because discs like this one are always welcome on my iPod.

In the #7 position is the Ryan Adams and the Cardinals album Cardinology:

Ryan Adams releases music almost on a daily basis and, amazingly, it’s all good. While I wasn’t too crazy about Easy Tiger, I really loved Cardinology. My only regret is that the album is too short. I wish there were about 3 more songs on the disc but, knowing Ryan, I’m sure it won’t be long before we get a whole new disc of stuff to enjoy.

At #6 is the new Leona Naess album Thirteens:

I was SHOCKED when I learned that Leona Naess had released a new album months before I heard about it … but was very happily surprised. Thirteens is a great album of somber and poignant tunes … and comes with 13 bonus tracks that are still downloadable HERE. One can never have too much Leona Naess … the hits just keep on comin’.

After the jump, check out my Top 5 Fave Albums of 2008 including my fave of the bunch AND my list of Top 10 Singles of the Year …

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Yesterday was a pretty fun day … after spending the afternoon with my folks, I met up with Erik, Steve and Jake who is visiting Detroit from Chicago, IL. I’m telling you, it’s been EONS since I’ve seen Jake so it was really very fun getting to hang out with him again. The four of us met up at the Living Room in Berkley, MI for a few martinis (simply, the best martinis on planet Earth) and then I was cajoled into joining the guys for dancing at Gigi’s. Here are a few pics from last night’s fun:

You can’t tell from these pics but Jake was wearing an official Pink is the new Blog t-shirt underneath his flannel. I did snap a Polaroid of it tho … it’s also been EONS since I’ve seen one of those shirts ;) Gigi’s was really fun … back in the day, I can’t even remember how long ago, Gigi’s was the first gay bar that I ever visited and I hadn’t been back since. I’m happy to see that it’s still going strong and that it’s still a good time. We had a blast. I have to give a shout-out to Pink reader Jessica who I met at the bar last night ;)

Tonight is Sarah and Mark’s world famous Holiday Party …

… which will be amazingly fun. Also, the Xmas SASS danceparty is happening at OSLO in downtown Detroit tonight as well:

I’m gonna do my darnedest to get my ass to SASS at some point tonight. I have to be at Sarah’s party for most of the night but I’m really gonna try to sneak off to SASS for a couple of hours. Mebbe I’ll see some of you Detroiters there later on tonight :)

• Eva Longoria’s biological clock is ticking hardcore.
• Kendra Wilkinson sets a wedding date.
• The inventor of the Fender guitar will receive a special Grammy Award.
• The UK begins to say goodbye to Woolworths … for good :(
• Nintendo plans to allow streaming video on Wii consoles.
• Natalie Imbruglia is planning a comeback for 2009.
• Emilie de Ravin (Lost) is 27, Masi Oka (Heroes) is 34, Wilson Cruz (My So-Called Life) is 35 and Cokie Roberts is 65 years old today. Click HERE to see who else is celebrating a birthday today.
• Kiefer Sutherland laments the loss of beloved characters on 24.

Here is this week’s batch of photos sent in by Pink is the new Blog readers — the last batch of 2008! Kari sends in an Xmas morning pic with her 9 month old daughter Lexi — Adriene sends in a pic of her daughter Edie’s visit with Santa Claus this year … I’m told that she was very impressed telling Santa, “I love your beard!” — Cody (AKA Mr. Gyllenhaal) sends in a pic with some friends at a Holiday Sweater Party — a bikini-clad Cortney sends in a pic from “balmy” Washington state — Linh sends in a cute pic of her daughter Sophia Bella posing with her Edward Cullen — Hannah sends in a pic with her sister and a friend chillin’ out … Birthday Lurve goes out to Hannah who turns 21 years old today:

Much, much love to you all … thank you for another great year of amazingly fun photos. As I say every week, it is always such a joy to have these fun photos show up in my inbox every week. This is the last batch of 2008 and I am very much looking forward to a whole new year of reader submitted photos. I hope to get a bunch of fun pics from all y’all’s New Year’s Eve celebrations! xoxo

While other celebs have made their way to the sunnier climates of the tropics, Hugh Jackman and his family made their way to NYC this week to spend their holidays in the Big Apple. Earlier this week we saw pics of Hugh lookin’ hawt all by his lonesome and today we get to see pics of Hugh lookin’ hawt with his children Oscar and Ava … behold:

As always, it’s a great sight to see Hugh with his kiddies … he spends so much time with them no matter where in the world they are. He looks like a great dad. Altho these photos don’t offer us the usual level of nekkidness that we’ve come to expect of Hugh Jackman, they are still great pics if only cuz Hugh in daddy mode is prolly the hottest mode of all.

[Photo credit: Bauer-Griffin]

Here are a few photos of James Bond hottie Daniel Craig enjoying a couple bags of potato chips while he vacays with his girlfriend Satsuki Mitchell and some friends on the isle of St. Barthelemy in the Caribbean yesterday afternoon. I can’t be sure but the shirtless hairy dude with Daniel in the third and fourth pics really looks a lot like Andy Cohen from Bravo TV … check it out:

You know, I gotta say … Daniel Craig usually looks really superhot but I’m not really feelin’ these pics so much. I mean, he looks kinda adorable licking his fingers in the last pic but … on the other hand, it’s kinda gross. But you know what, he’s on vacation and if he wants to eat chips on the beach then he should eat chips on the beach. I’m actually very curious to know if he’s really hanging out with Andy Cohen or if that guy is just a random twin doppelgänger. I must admit, there is something about Andy Cohen that tickles my fancy.

UPDATE: Pink reader Patrick informs that Andy Cohen’s Facebook profile reveals that he is currently vacationing in St. Barts — so I guess that settles that it is him :) Love it!!

[Photo credit: INFdaily, Splash News]

Earlier this week we saw a few pics of the fairly garishly-dressed Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon as they made their way along the streets of Aspen, CO … which must be a trend because today we get to check out a couple pics of Paris Hilton and her newly dubbed BFF Brittany Flickinger showing off their vibrant duds as they holidayed in Aspen this weekend, behold:

OY! Animal prints are a look that are best handled in a delicate manner and to be worn sparingly … unless you’re Paris Hilton and then, well, here you have it. She doesn’t seem to be very affected by the cold weather there in Colorado … she seems more interested in showing off her outfit … which I really wish she wouldn’t but, well, here you have it. Here’s hoping she doesn’t catch her death or anything … cuz, you know, that would be bad and stuff.

[Photo credit: X17]