2008

Landmark Presidential election aside, 2008 was also one hell of a year for pop music. As familiar as some sounds were (the ingenious Clash sample of "Paper Planes," the arena-revving peaks of Coldplay, a whole lotta Rihanna), the Top 40 was also home to some serious breakout artists, including the post-[i]X Factor[/i] — England's version of [i]American Idol[/i] — invasion of Leona Lewis, the secular (and saucy) second career of former Christian music singer Katy Perry, and the new King of Rock, rapper Lil Wayne.

As for the stars in our Next Steps, many of them changed more in a year than most artists do throughout their entire career.

We can hardly believe it either. And by [i]it[/i], we mean the fact that Snoop Dogg's been one of hip-hop's reigning mic manipulators for more than 15 years. Actually, it makes sense when you consider the electro-funk experiment that is "Sensual Seduction," a tasty tribute to late, great '80s R&B kingpin Roger. Also reinventing themselves in 2008 were Radiohead, with the arty but mainstream-crashing rock and pay-what-you-will plan of [i]In Rainbows[/i]; the Killers, courtesy of the gleaming, club-ready cuts of [i]Day & Age[/i]; and Beck, thanks to the psych-infused Danger Mouse pairings of [i]Modern Guilt[/i].

Which leads us to our Deep Cuts, a window into tomorrow's game-changers.

Wondering how Fleet Foxes — an unassuming Seattle act with a stunning grasp of '60s folk and baroque pop — ended up at the top of so many 2008 countdowns? The heavenly harmonies, gut-punching percussion, and slight Neil Young-isms of "White Winter Hymnal" are a good start. While you've probably heard of half our Deep Cuts (from Wyclef Jean and Weezer to Robert Plant and the Raconteurs), Fleet Foxes isn't the only new name on our list. We've also included the bold, genre-blurring debut of Santogold, the prep-schooled Afro-pop of Vampire Weekend — think [i]Graceland[/i]-era Paul Simon outfitted in L.L. Bean — and the Technicolor soul/hearty blues of Adele, which far surpassed any and all "next Amy Winehouse" expectations.

Another year, another Britney Spears comeback — one that grabbed its fair share of headlines and precious playlist spots (especially the twitchy "Tainted Love" tactics of "Womanizer"). But Britney's just the beginning of what 2008 had to offer: On one level, Rihanna was the Barack Obama of the pop charts, a rising star with a hit streak (the shimmering hooks of "Disturbia," the breakup balladry of "Take a Bow," and the club-clobbering beats of "Don't Stop the Music"). Elsewhere, her Usher-like boyfriend, Chris Brown, competed for our attention with a lovelorn Kanye West, a Timberlake/Timbaland-backed Madonna, a couple of American Idols (Jordin Sparks, David Cook), and, well, Usher. Not to mention a slew of Next Big Things (M.I.A., MGMT, Duffy), scruffy rockers (Foo Fighters, Kings of Leon, My Morning Jacket), and alt-rock standbys (Death Cab For Cutie, Beck, Spoon). Your move, 2009.