2007
Its Xmas Eve, and I got nailed with some nasty holiday flu bullshit so what better time than now to reflect on the 359 days prior. Cause I'm like that.

2007 was pretty alright. As where in the past two years, I've had some big ugly drama, meltdown or struggle that stood out, I spent most of 07 clear of mind and more often than not happy. I mean... I ended a relationship which is not necessarily fun or chill, but the dust settled and I was no worse for wear, no more closed off, no more disillusioned or fragile or somethin than I was when I came into it. There was the dissolution of Hotbodies version 1, which was a bummer. I had to can the album I was working on this time last year due to me killing my computer by attempting to create an 11 minute prog pop epic suite called "Gold Heart Black Heart." But things happen for a reason. I worked on that song for so long that it wasn't a demo anymore, it was something I mythologized. I created this like... monument of anger, heartbreak and resentment and in ways it took over me and certainly it took over my operation of Hotbodies. So when the computer died, I took it as a sign. I'm not meant to be angry, and I'm not meant to hold grudges. I can get pissed and I can be sad or angry or whatever, but those are just passing emotions and unless I can get that out into a song quickly, it's much better to let it go.

So I let all the hate go, and I did a little bit of MDMA, and thanks to the fruits of a week long drug induced depression, I had the material for a new album. I moved into a new home, finally got a room of my own (and a bed thats not in a closet) and a new computer (a present for a college graduation that hasn't happened yet... oops). I was supposed to take a vacation to San Francisco in August but God blessed me with some kidney stones that kept me home, so I labored away. And with the residual effects of the ecstacy, the impending doom of fucking rocks coming out of my dick hole, and five days off of work, I created (the majority of) "Static"... I MADE A FUCKING ALBUM! ITS 42 MINUTES LONG! IT COUNTS!!! AND 3 OF THOSE MINUTES ARE "BRITTANY THIS SONGS FOR YOU"! I walk a little easier now knowing that should I take a bullet from a psycho for being so dope (tends to happen) I've left something behind that I can consider a legacy.

I met a lot of dope people this year, got back in touch with some dope people and unfortunately lost touch with some dope people as well. To you I say what up. I guess I've changed a lot this year, but that's nothing new. Yes, I wear bigger, more baller jackets now. I've accepted it, as should you. I still like ska, so I'm still myself. Cogito Ergo Ska. It's everyone's personal evolution that turns me on so much. Fearing change is pointless cause change is part of life. I like seeing where the ride goes and finding out who I get to see naked on the way there. Bullshit will probably always be around, despite my best efforts, but I've got noseplugs in my pockets at all times, so let's keep the party goin on into 2008. And by the way HOTBODIES ARE PLAYING JANUARY 6 AT THE KNITTING FACTORY!

Enough pseudo philosophical end of the year shit.
Here's the pseudo music expert end of the year shit.

My favorite albums of 2007

10. Wu Tang Clan "8 Diagrams"

This is the most recent album of 07 to blow me away. It might be my favorite Wu Tang record, except in many ways, it's not really a Wu Tang record. In fact, the Wu has played (at least one) show recently sans RZA with a setlist of all older material. Ghostface has gone on record as saying this album is where he thinks RZA's gone too far. He's right-- "Diagrams" is dark, artsy, at times psychadelic and at times pretty much leaving hip hop in the dust, and Wu Tang pretty much has to stay real ass hip hop or the world might implode on itself. But I say fuck the world, this album is fuckin awesome.

9. Panda Bear "Person Pitch"

Early in the year, Avey Tare and Kria Brekken released "Pullhair Rubeye", an album released entirely backwards. While the pair apparently decided to do this after watching Inland Empire (can't hate), the record was bummer because potentially great music was engulfed by the desire to go avant-garde thus becoming novelty. And really if your band is Animal freaking Collective, do you really need a side project devoted to your weird side? In some cases, I guess the answer is yes, because around the same time, Tare's AC collaborator released "Person Pitch", the most obscenely beautiful, positive, soothing, challenging and downright warm and fuzzy drug trip album of the year. I could smoke a bowl, wrap myself up in this album and go to sleep.

8. Jay Z "American Gangster"

SPEECH! (Yeah Rolling Stone already did that.) What more can be said about this one than already has? After Kingdom Come, a hit or miss departure that should not have been released as Jigga's big comeback, Sean Carter watches the new Denzel and gets all gangsta again. And while one can question his choice of inspirational material, and more particularly, his use of "L'Chaim" in a flow, there is no question that THE BOY IS BACK!

7. Bomb the Music Industry! "Get Warmer"

While this is not Jeff Rosenstein's greatest album, (that would be last years mini-epic "Goodbye Cruel World") this album is another strong entry into the catalogue of excellent, innovative releases from the only band I know of that blends Minor Threat style hardcore with Brian Wilson level compositions, while at the same time remaining a ska band. "25 Hour Goddamn Telethon" is the best song of the year and combined with it's follow up track "Depression is No Fun!" it is part of the best one-two punch of the year. The best part: BTMI! makes all of it's albums available for free download on it's website. I highly implore you to download this and "Cruel World"... cause free is good. And free amazingness is better.

6. Radiohead "In Rainbows"

It's almost not worth writing about because it's fucking Radiohead. Of course its one of the best albums of the year. And if you look up to what I wrote about Bomb the Music Industry then you'd know free shit is good shit. Yes Radiohead pretty much shot a cannonball through what's left of the ship that is the record industry. Now for the actual music... It can be said that it is the only Radiohead record on which the band doesn't try anything new, but the effect this has for me is that they sound stronger and more confident than on anything they've made before. And there's not a weak song on the whole album. So nyeagh.


5. Dan Deacon "Spiderman of the Rings"

All hail the future of music.
Dan Deacon's ultimate box office blockbuster is one of the most bizarre records to make a splash on the indie scene in a long time. I know why I love it, but I'm continually surprised that so many people get it. It's ridiculous music. Really bizarre noises that are as colorful as they are abrasive. And it's kind of a dance party. Underneath it all though lies some really amazing beats and compositions. Deacon puts his image of a psychadelic jester-ringleader on the front lines so that all possible pretentiousness gets washed away.

4. El-P "I'll Sleep When You're Dead"

This record is very similar in aim as Wu Tang's "8 Diagrams" in that it's dark, avant-garde... Orwellian at times, but the difference is that is no departure for El-P, he's been doing it for years. On this album though, he takes it to the next level, with flows that leave your jaw hanging at the pure level of candidness and crippling honesty. Also... THIS SHIT IS HARD. And it's got guest spots from Trent Reznor, Mars Volta, and Cat Power as well as Def Jux regulars Aesop Rock and Mr. Lif. Ultimately though, it's El-P's show and it's a really fucked up show.

3. Animal Collective "Strawberry Jam"

Avey Tare redeems himself with the latest AC record by surprisingly, wiping away much (not all) of the psychadelic gauze and releasing an album of insane pop ditties and every one of them is solid. Panda Bears presence is felt too, but it is ultimately Tare's spotlight. To anyone unfamiliar with Animal Collective, this record could never be seen as a "safe" record, but it is. However, pop is dope-- I'm way more of a sucker for pop songs than avant-garde. And it's still Animal Collective.

2. Justice "Cross"

Yup, it's trendy as all hell, and time will only tell if it's a fad or not, but at this moment, Justice is my soundtrack. It's unabashedly dance party music, but I haven't bass this gorgeously nasty since Weezer's "Pinkerton" and the beats get so hard at times that it can resemble punk rock. After seeing them three nights in a row when they came through southern California, the punk rock comparisons continue. Even if it turns out to be one-dimensional in the long run, it's a really good party right now.

1. Of Montreal "Hissing Fauna, Are You the Destroyer?"

This was a close call because it's definitely not the coolest record of the year (see the television commercials the band has scored paychecks from over the year), that would be Justice. But I got this record as a leak in late 2006 and it still puts me in awe when I think about it. There are weak tracks, sure, but the sum of the parts is an amazing thing. A band of mine who used to be possibly my favorite band, fully realizes their new chosen path and in doing so cause me to reevaluate the material I haven't given a chance to... and it's all amazing. Almost as good as a steak from Outback.

My favorite movies of 2007.
I barely went to the movies this year but Paprika was the best one I saw, and 30 Days of Night was dope off the top of my head.

Biggest personal disappointments

Fog "Ditherer"

Not a bad record (I'd probably put it in my top 25), but he should go back to revolutionizing sound in his bedroom.

The Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"

A lot of people loved this one but it never clicked with me anywhere close to how "Funeral" did.

Oh well.


Oh yeah. This year I also saw Daft Punk and Rage Against the Machine. So that was cool. And that's pretty much 07.

And now I'm gonna lay down and be sick
Much love,
Josh Boyd