2007 was an astounding year for dubstep and Indo-Arab impacted American hip-hop. Chicago's long gone Los Crudos finally made it back into print, while baile thug funk and Tuareg guitar rock reminded worriers about the world music category that it's not just about happy natives penning primitive campfire songs. Thumbs up to Pressure Sounds for putting out the best dub reissue of the year. As usual, Sublime Frequencies outdid everyone by coining the term 'jihadi techno.'
In light of these observations, here's what we played the most:
Burial, Untrue (Hyperdub)
The Revolutionaries, Drum Sound (Pressure Sounds)
Los Crudos, Discography (Lengua Armada)
Oh No, Dr No's Oxperiment (Stones Throw)
Shackleton and Appleblim, Soundboy Punishments (Skull Disco)
Tinariwen, Aman Iman: Water is Life (World Village)
Madlib, Beat Konducta India (Stones Throw)
Omar Souleyman, Highway to Hassake (Sublime Frequencies)
Various Artists, Box of Dub Volume II (Soul Jazz)
V/A, Proibidao C.V: Forbidden Gang Funk From Rio de Janeiro (Sublime Frequencies)
We always aim to please. Since I didn't own it before I drafted this list, you're encouraged to check out the new Boxcutter LP, Glyphic, too. We just got a copy, and its absolutely brilliant, in an Aphex Twin kinda way.
Posted by: Joel | December 25, 2007 at 08:23 AM
And lo she is patient with herself and lookie what she gets for Christmas!
Posted by: cynthia | December 24, 2007 at 01:42 PM
If I didn't have you for listening at the edge, Joel, I would remain hopelessly historic in music. You rock!
Posted by: Joe | December 21, 2007 at 07:26 AM
Aww, thanks for the kind words. You rock, Steven.
Posted by: Joel | December 19, 2007 at 05:08 PM
One of the nice things about the 21st century is I can see a best-of list like this, and be listening to the music within minutes. And as it plays, I think of the mashdown. V.nice indeed.
Posted by: Steven | December 19, 2007 at 04:50 PM