Patrol’s review of 2008 continues with our most-read Scanner items on Wednesday and most popular articles on Friday.

1
Coldplay
Viva la Vida or Death and All His Friends
(Capitol)

Neither easily dismissible or instantly brilliant, Viva la Vida is precisely the record most Coldplay experts probably forecasted. [Review]

2
Chris Walla
Field Manual
(Barsuk)

Death Cab for Cutie’s guitarist releases the kind of solo album that fans are always afraid of. [Review]

3
The Killers
Day & Age
(Island)

It’s high time we all faced the elephantine reality about the Killers: they’re not going to get any better. [Review]

4
Anberlin
New Surrender
(Universal Republic)

Unlike Tooth & Nail graduates of the past, Anberlin’s major-label debut is as mature as it should be, and will provide their new acquaintances a respectable summary. [Review]

5
The Helio Sequence
Keep Your Eyes Ahead
(Sub Pop)

Frenetic drumming, walls of distortion, layers of detail—the glorious sounds of post-rock. Well, half of the time. [Review]

6
Snow Patrol
A Hundred Million Suns
(Geffen)

If the passive-aggressive, rock-as-pop Snow Patrol formula does it for you, be prepared to have a new favorite record for a few months. [Review]

7
Kevin Max
The Blood
(Dog and Pony)

Not Christian music so much as a study of Christian music, this record nostalgically holds up gospel music in its purer form. [Review]

8
The Weepies
Hideaway
(Nettwerk)

Maybe it’s the pointed, plaintive lyrics, or the once-in-a-lifetime vocal match. Who can resist? [Review]

9
Underøath
Lost in the Sound of Separation
(Tooth & Nail)

This time, out of reach of most any peers, Underoath have made their best attempt at a truly cohesive album. [Review]

10
Chairlift
Does You Inspire You
(Kanine)

Does You Inspire You is a window-dressed shop of styles and ideas, the false starts and experiments of a band still deciding what exactly to wear. [Review]