Me, a few hours ago, as the Patriots come from 12 points down to defeat the Giants 38-35 and end the season with a unique 16-0 record. And yes, it’s pretty cold.
Archive for December, 2007
Best of 2007
Hooray. It’s time, once again, for my definitive guide to the best music of the year. This time round, I’ve decided to use the magic of embedded YouTube videos to showcase the albums do it the same way I did last year, so that you can make you’re own mind up as to whether I’m a) full of marvelous musical wisdom, or b) full of shite.
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20. Rhubarb The Julius Work Calendar Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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19. Malcolm Middleton A Brighter Light Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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18. Nina Nastasia & Jim White You Follow Me Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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17. El-P I’ll Sleep When You’re Dead Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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16. Burial Untrue Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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15. Example What We Made Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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14. Jim Lauderdale The Bluegrass Diaries Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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13. Okkervil River The Stage Names Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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12. M.I.A. Kala Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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11. Lucky Jim All The King’s Horses Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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10. Wilco Sky Blue Sky Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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9. Gogol Bordello Super Taranta Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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8. Rachel Unthank & The Winterset The Bairns Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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7. Arcade Fire Neon Bible Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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6. Battles Mirrored Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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5. Friska Viljor Bravo! Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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4. Alela Diane The Pirate’s Gospel Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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3. Tinariwen Aman Iman: Water Is Life Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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2. The Imagined Village The Imagined Village Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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1. Fanfare Ciocarlia Queens & Kings Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
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Notes:
1) Only two hip hop albums, both by white artists? Ouch.
2) Perhaps worryingly, my favourite song of the year is also by a white rapper.
3) It’s a much folksier selection than usual.
4) Best gig of the year? Goran Bregovic, Guca Festival, Serbia.
5) Worst gig of the year? Easy. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Shepherds Bush Empire, London. Only show I’ve walked out on in anger since Bowie’s useless Glass Spider tour.
6) Most overrated record of the year? Stars Of The Lid’s And Their Refinement Of The Decline. Let’s compare two viewpoints:
“I simply feel that they are making the most important music of the 21st century.” Ivo Watts-Russell – 4AD label founder.
“What a load of noodley old bollocks. Don’t be suckered into buying this twaddle.” Fraser Lewry – blogjam.com
7) Tip for 2008? The Imagined Village will win the Mercury Prize.
Previously:
Best of 2006
Best of 2005
Best of 2004
Best of 2003
Best of 2002
Best of 2001
Best of 2000
The Best Walking To Work Song Ever
My walk to work takes 25 minutes. It’s a fairly leisurely ramble, certainly not part of any ludicrous fitness campaign, with the iPod generally switched to shuffle to accompany the stroll. One day last week, the following track took its turn. It’s Atlas, by Battles.
It’s perhaps the most infectiously rhythmic record of the year, and a remarkable thing happened. My stride lengthened. I walked with a greater urgency. And I seemed to get to work a little more quickly than normal.
So today I tried something. I followed my regular route to work, but I only played this track. Each time it finished, I started it again. By the time I reached the office my knee joints were aching and my calves aflame, but I’d shaved an entire three minutes off my normal journey time.
I wonder if this technique would be of use to Britain’s Olympic hopefuls. I’d certainly like to think so.
POSSIBLE FACT: When Battles signed to Warp Records, they apparently spent all of their advance on the mirrored box you see in the video. I would love this to be true.