The year that was...2007

Update (2) December 9th: Somehow the original post got edited so I am trying to rewrite everything as closely to how I had written it yesterday.

As I wander around the various sites and blogs that I frequent I see that some are doing some format on the 'Best of 2007' lists covering best album, artist, song, etc.
Rather than me trying to pick the bests songs (which for me would be impossible) I am offering  the best posts, etc. from the various blogs that feed me good tunes (as it were) followed by my single best song of 2007.
If you do want a good 'Best of..' list get yourself on over to Nialler9 for his top 25 picks of 2007. Also check out his reader's poll for the best Irish album or EP of 2007. (Results here- I highly recommend you check out Super Extra Bonus Party at #1).

Update (7) December 20th: Nialler has just posted his top 30 albums of 2007.

Update (1) December 9th: Stuart over at Fat Planet just put up his best albums of 2007. Very nice list to be found here.

Update (3) December 11th: Mort over at Chocolate Bobka has his 'The 3 Best Electronic Releases of 2007 (That You May Not Have Heard About)' that you may wanna check out.

Update (4) December 12th: KUT (local National Public Radio affiliate) staffer's picks of best albums of 2007.

My favourite tunes/posts/blogs from this year:                                                                               

Innersounds for many, many tunes after he went his separate ways from Horse Latitudes, but mainly this one from Coyote.

Speaking of Horse Latitudes, I gotta give a shout-out for the best looking blog out there after their resdesign this year. While getting that done they also managed to move, get married and share lots of great tunes. Always a favourite of mine.

Best newcomers:
-From a purely mp3/music blog perspective I would have to say Jamila over at Fucking Dance.
Passion for music, life and fun just oozes from the pages.

-Then we have Jim Carroll over at 'On the Record' who covers the world of music and culture from a dizzying array of angles. A top read each day.

(Very) Honorable mentions for newcomers:

Chocolate Bobka
The Dancing Panda
Audio.Out (first post was in December '06 but still).
Cheebah
State of Shock
ElectronicAustin
The Nearest Faraway Place
I Prefer The Obscure Remix
Truth and Soul Records Blog
Get Weird Turn Pro

Best Austin blogs:
-My mate Mr.Curiosity over at Covert Curiosity. A true gentleman who is like a sponge for new sounds. He really soaks music up like no-one else I know. Had been reading this blog for quite some time and eventually we got talking and discovered that we life about 3 minutes away from each other!. Music blogsphere center of Austin. ;-)
Update (5) December 13th: Speaking of Mr. Curiousity he has just put up his List of 2007 Goodness including best shows.

-Technically not a blog but none-the-less a force to be reckoned with in coverage of the Austin music  scene is Austin Sound. Doug and his merry pranksters deliver a wall of content to anyone interested in whats happening with Austin music.

Most interesting reads:
Voodoo Funk who I discovered about 2 months ago. Here's the story:
"In the summer of 2005...left Europe to dig up funk records even more obscure and elusive than US Funk 45s: I moved to Guinea on the coast of West Africa where I retired as a DJ and dedicated my entire time to the pursuit of African Funk Records. This blog is about my travels and experiences in a region that despite being plagued by civil wars corrupt governments and other diseases has so much more to offer. Maybe this site will inspire some of You to just go and buy a plane ticket and come to see where we all came from. You might find things more valuable than the rarest records and sometimes you won't even have to dig through dusty boxes to find them."
No downloads of tunes but great mixes of pretty f**king rare shit from West Africa along with great stories of literally going to ends of the earth to find tunes.

DiscoShawn and his tales from Buenos Aires, Argentina delighted many a dull day in my work. He is back in his hometown now but hopefully we will continue to hear about what he's up to.
For a snapshot of Disco Shawn's Buenos Aires go here.

Best comments on a post:
Has to go to Nialler9 with the public spat that he had with Tim (the smarmite) over some very poor handling of a Nokia sponsored night in Dublin. What follows in the comment section, after Naill called them out, was even worse handling of the negative PR. Ooops. Nice one Nialler. Check it here.

Best discussion on how music blogs are bad for the music industry/ artists:
Only here 'cos I managed to get myself involved in a 'me against them' kinda discussion with some nu-jazz/broken beats fans (whose taste I respect very much) about whether music/mp3 blogs were bad, etc.
It was a great discussion that unfortunately ended quite abruptly (I think with my comment at the end of a lengthy post " Now I have to go to my class..... 'Legal Aspects of the Music Business").

As a result of this discussion I revised my posting policy which has resulted in  benefits for CubikMusik, its readers and myself and I reach out to artists and labels to build relationships with them. See the discussion here.

Last but no least here is my favourite/best song of 2007. I got this from headphonesex back in July and in all honesty it is still on constant rotation in my ears.
This is the Optimo Espacio dub remix of Pharoahe Monch's Body Baby where they take many of the great sounds of 2007 and propel them forward by about 5 years. Just a rockin' tune.
Download 03_body_baby_an_optimo_espacio_dub.mp3

Update (5) December 17th: XLR8R has some great best ofs starting with best albums of 2007 here.

Update (6) December 18th: Audiveristy's top 12 Albums of 2007

Update (7) December 27th:  Boomkat has a phenomenal run down of various 2007 charts from the likes of Dave Howell (Fat Cat), Mark Pritchard (Harmonic 33) and many more.

http://www.boomkat.com/charts.cfm

feedback, comments, suggestions,  other best of's welcome.
Cheers

Comments

[Cubik]

Nice one Juliet/HL.
Great to have you dropping by.
Have a great Christmas and may the New Year bring lots of happiness and choice tunes to all in the latitudes. We look forward to another year of great posts from you guys. ;-)
Cheers
C

[Juliet B-K]

thanks for the hl love, your support is super welcome in the latitudes (as are you!)merry christmas & happy new year!!
jb (now mrs jbk) x

[Covert Curiosity]

Very nice post mate, can't tell you how much I appreciate the kind words. I've listened to those tracks you sent me about 10 times a piece already. Really good stuff. Cheers!

[Cubik]

most welcome Jamila.
I have no doubt it will.
:-)

Cheers

[Jamila Fucking Dance]

cheeeers for the mention :) hopefully my passion will stay intact for a good while yet.