Best Dance Rock CDs of 2008

Basing an album, a musical expression, on a book as scary as 1984 by George Orwell is a pretty risky endeavor. Having that album rooted in two distinct genres, industrial and dance, is also a pretty risky endeavor. A marriage of concept and execution could be very messy, but luckily in the case of Innerpartysystem's debut self-titled album, the fusion is a welcome one. The California quartet tapped a number of talented producers for their first album, people who have worked with The Killers, Bjork, Madonna, Pete Yorn, Arcade Fire, and Nine Inch Nails, to name but a few; people who have been known to expertly yield results. And do they ever!

Just when did The Faint become a musical force to be reckoned with, anyway? 2008 saw the release of the indie dance-punk band's fifth studio album, 10 years after the release of their debut album Media. Their style has changed over the last 10 years, each album bringing a new perspective on their sound. Whether it be pop-influenced punk tunes or monotone indie goth tracks, The Faint have managed to practically reinvent themselves with each release, while simultaneously maintaining a part of themselves that is immediately identifiable and welcome. Fasciinatiion, released on their own blank.wav records, is no exception.

When you have such pop perfection as "4 Ever," a track that seemed almost solely responsible for the rise of teen rock pop, it is difficult to imagine any possible way to redefine yourself as an artist. Especially when there are two of you that look the same. Twin sisters Jess and Lisa Origliasso are The Veronicas, and after having taken the world by storm in 2006, return with their sophomore effort, Hook Me Up.

If you don't know The Presets, here is your introduction. Julian Hamilton is one half and the side we would know as the voice. His singing is monotonous and can almost at times be described as yelling in key. Along with Kim Moyes, who is in charge of percussion, they both provide the keyboards and synths. It's a complete dual effort, as the songs would lack something if either the beats or words were gone from their compositions.

Are you more of a fan of non-traditional dance or alternative electronica? If trip-hop is more your genre than hip-hop, if you prefer spikes and mascara over glow sticks, if your style of dancing more closely resembles a tree in the wind rather than a Mexican jumping bean, perhaps you should check out Fans of Jimmy Century. With a musical style that hearkens back to mid-'90s industrial/trip-hop acts like Sneaker Pimps, and a commercial viability shown by the use of their tracks in shows like the L-Word, Ugly Betty, and Samantha Who?, the San Francisco-based group is poised to take on the mainstream.