Hot Chosky!

1 parts whiskey (knob creek for best results)
2 parts hot chocolate

It's like being a kid and an adult at the same time!

Best Albums of 2008, maybe?

Magnetic Fields – Distortion*
This record is noisy! Obligatory "Lives up to its title...blah blah blah..." California Girls is infectious.

Black Mountain - In The Future*
Bonnie Prince Billy meets Pink Floyd...or, you know, maybe not.

Cat Power - Jukebox*
A covers album...our beloved Chan singing the likes of Billie Holiday, Hank Williams, and a nice little Dylan number. Looser, more soulful than "The Greatest." I hear that's Jim White of Dirty Three fame on the skins.

MGMT - Oracular Spectacular*
The new psychedelic era is upon us. Time to Pretend is up on their myspace, go listen to it and get high snorting sea cucumbers. It's awesome.

Ida - Lovers Prayers*
First new album in three years. It was worth the wait. Dan and Liz moved to a farm in the mountains outside of New York and recorded this album in the barn...alot of atmospheric elements come through in the recording...you can hear the crackling of the fireplace in the background and whatnot. My favorite of 2008 so far.

British Sea Power - Do You Like Rock Music?*
The eccentricity of "The Decline of British Sea Power" + the lush/full sounds of "Open Season"= Do You Like Rock Music? I think this will be a breakout year for BSP.

Mountain Goats - Heretic Pride
A few mp3's have found their way onto the internet and from what I hear...it's another great effort. I heard this one is more fantasy based, rather than Darnielle's typical autobiographical outpouring.

Beach House - Devotion
Excited for this record...have you heard this?

Sun Kil Moon - April
I loved "Tiny Cities Made of Ashes," but I think we are all waiting for an original follow-up to "Ghosts of the Great Highway."

Billy Bragg - Mr. Love & Justice
Billy could put out an album of Rick Astley covers and I would love it. He gets a free pass with me.

The Breeders - Mountain Battles
First Breeders album in oh...six years. Can you believe it's been 15 years since "Last Splash?"...I swear to god that album is more relevant than half the shit coming out now. Anyways, Mountain Battles is a great title.

of Montreal - Skeletal Lamping
Does anyone doubt that this will be anything less than amazing? My only hope is that it's more "Satan Panic" than "Hissing Fauna."

Other as-of-yet untitled offerings of interest:
Dave Bazan, Mates of State, Dan Deacon, Islands, and Built to Spill

*-Leaked

Oh God, I can feel it sliding into my coronary! It's delicious!

Ladies and gentleman, behold the McDonald's Pizza. Inspired by another blog of greatness, the McDonald's Pizza truly is the culmination of all your dreams as a seven year old, coming true in the most amazingly conceivable form. Just in case the crappy cellphone picture doesn't accurately portray how savory this pizza is...let me give you a run down of its core elements:

Ingredients

1 pre-made pizza crust
1 can of tomato sauce
2 McDonald's cheeseburgers
1 6 piece Chicken McNuggets
1 Large Fries
Mozzarella cheese

My personal favorite McDonald's pizza quadrant would have to be where the McNugget sector crosses the french fry domain.

Best Albums of 2007

"Drums and Guns" by Low

Same amazing Low, this time with more
dissonance, more violence, and an antiquated
drum machine. Best band ever.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

Murderer, Breaker


"Spiderman of the Rings" by Dan Deacon

Dan Deacon might be the best thing that has happened to me this year. Watch this...you will understand.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

The Crystal Cat, Big Milk


"†" by Justice

Another amazing French electronic duo, this shit
is dance enlightenment. I god-damn'd defy you
to sit still while listening to this album.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

Phantom, Phantom pt. II, Dvno


"Person Pitch" by Panda Bear

2007. The year indie music revisited organic, 60's pop music. Person Pitch is like "Pet Sounds" odd-ball cousin from the future. I actually think this album is about as perfect as anything has come this year.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

Comfy in Nautica, Ponytail


"Kala" by M.I.A.

Sri Lankan, genre-bending, glitch-hopping, Pixie Referencing, Clash sampling, fire-eye'd radical. M.I.A. just does it for me.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

Boyz, World Town


"Wierdo Rippers" by No Age

Lo-fi and simple. but with substance.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

My Life's Alright Without You, Everybody's Down


"23" by Blonde Redhead

I was sold the second I heard Kazu's voice hovering over the clockwork drumbeat of "23", the video for Top Ranking with Miranda July was just icing on the cake.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

Top Ranking, Silently, Spring and By Summer Fall


"Friend Opportunity" by Deerhoof

Choo Choo Choo Choo Beep Beep! Best lyric of the year? Lovable quirk-pop album with art by David Shrigley for the ultimate win!
Listen

Standout Tracks:

+81, Believe E.S.P.


"Parades" by Efterklang

Epic, sweeping choral arrangements over strings...immense in scale, beautifully depicted in the album art. Denmark's finest.
Listen

Standout Tracks:

Mirador, Caravan


"Yours To Keep" by Albert Hammond Jr

This album is a sucker-maker. Infectiously poppy first solo effort from the Strokes lead guitar player (and the real talent as far as I'm concerned.)
Listen

Standout Tracks:

In Transit, Bright Young Thing, Scared



Honorable Mentions
I Believe in You, Your Magic is Real by Y.A.C.H.T.
Kurr by Amiina
Saltbreakers by Laura Veirs
Wild Mountain Nations by Blitzen Trapper

Obligatory "Same as Everyone Else" Best of 2007
Neon Bible by Arcade Fire
Volta by Bjork
In Rainbows by Radiohead
Icky Thump by The White Stripes