Freestyle Footballers Show Off

Remember all those joga bonito commercials that Nike had on during the last World Cup? These dudes put all that to shame. However. doing just about anything on a helipad probably makes it way more epic. Heck, you could do some extreme knitting on a helipad and it would look awesome. [...]

This Year in Music

Posted on December 30th, 2007 by Ed Lau

Although there were plenty of low points in the world of music for 2007 like…ugh, a new Britney Spears album and the rising popularity of soulless crap-pop teen stars like High School Musical, there was also much to suggest there is hope for mankind after all. Albums from Rilo Kiley’s delightful Under the Blacklight and LCD Soundsystem’s Sound of Silver were highlights for me, for example. They’re proof that great music is still around, even when MTV is full of lame reality TV and the radio has garbage (not Shirley Manson-fronted Garbage, if you’re wondering) on shuffle and repeat.

Kanye West, glasses, Stronger, Daft Punk

The song of the year is undoubtedly the Kanye West x Daft Punk masterpiece Stronger. Although Mr. West’s ego shows itself once again, it’s so unbelievably catchy that you can’t help but like it, probably one of the best club songs in recent memory.

The best albums I’ve heard all year came down to just three. Arcade Fire’s amazing Neon Bible was good enough to be beyond music…almost a spiritual experience just to listen to it. Well, I guess it was recorded in an old church, after all. Same with Radiohead’s In Rainbows, which was definitely good enough to pay for. Y’know, with money.

But the album I seriously couldn’t get enough of was †, by Justice which marked the re-emergence of French house along with other artists on the Ed Banger label. There isn’t a dull moment on the entire disc. You can also find Justice on some of the year’s best remixes.

I might regret saying this later but I also seriously enjoyed The Reminder by Canadian chanteuse Feist, which was just a fantastic album to have on and chill to. No, you don’t have to be at Starbucks or a girl to enjoy her music, as some dudes might suggest. Most won’t admit it but I’m guessing most of them stole the album from their girlfriend more than once.

There wasn’t a whole lot to be thankful for in hip-hop, although Lupe Fiasco’s The Cool comes rather close and there are plenty of great tracks on the movie-inspired American Gangster from Jay-Z. It might be a good idea to wait for Lil’ Wayne’s new album, Tha Carter III. If there was any doubt to his skills, check out…this track. Ignore the lame video…