A belated top 20 albums of 2009

A list. Everyone’s already done one and, to be honest, I feel kinda left out. Sure, I dislike them, but I'm bored and hungover, and maybe someone out there would appreciate a 2009 list that’s  released after the year has actually ended. Seems everyone else has already moved on to the new year. Just a couple of weeks ago I read quite possibly the worst article ever. It was based around  the confidently held premise that “Vampire Weekend are going to turn out to be the Strokes of this decade!”.

Anyway, now I'm going to do a quick reflection thingy on 2009, which is what you do before you release the list. Builds tension or something. Ok. 2009. Here we go.

Big Boi releases new video for Shine Blockas

Check the freestyle in the Wal Mart and the awkward still photos of Gucci Mane, who couldn't make the shoot due to being currently incarcerated.

I like this Chillwave song and maybe you like it to?

Chillwave. What the fuck is it? A genre, a sub-genre, some awesomely named Mexican kid? Or is it just one of those little indie-specific-uber-crazes that lasts approximately one year and probably began with a combination of some asshole journalist and Neon Indian's song "Terminally Chill"?

I really don't know and you probably have no idea what I'm talking about, but I think it's a shit name and it makes very little sense when you listen to all the bands that are generally lumped into the Chillwave category (Washed Out, Memory Casettes, Neon Indian, Nite Jewel, Teengirl Fantasy, Nosaj Thing, Gold Panda, blah blah blah). The only thing that seems to unite them is that they generally have two words in their name that when placed together amount to something that sounds "cool" and means absolutely nothing (kind of like a band name version of a Guy Ritchie film).

Are Fuck Buttons Chillwave? If not, they should be, because that name has perfect Chillwave credentials. Anyway, what I've been meaning to get at is that while I think I hate Chillwave as a whole and I hope it dies in the ass (or maybe I'm just jealous that I wasn't that asshole journalist?), I also happen to like a lot of the bands that are touted as purveyors of Chillwave. An example is the song above. It's by Toro Y Moi (still two words...almost) and it's called "Blessa" and I like it. 

Bangs took da world to da Mooooovies...shawtyyyyyyyy

[Interview I did for Vice with my boy Bangs. My boy Tommy took the pretty photos]

You remember my boy Bangs, right? He’s an internet phenomenon/international hip-hop superstar all thanks to his smash-hit single “Take U To Da Movies”, which revolves around taking a shorty to the movies and buying her popcorn and a drink. If you haven’t seen the video clip, watch it NOW. It’s the best. We were all over that shit when it first hit YouTube. No wonder he’s been referred to as everything from the “Sudanese 50 Cent” to “the illest rhyme-spitter this world has ever seen!”

I caught up with Bangs and had a good long chin-wag and photoshoot in the driveway of the carpark that happened to be next-door to the peculiar Latin-themed restaurant he was playing at in Sydney. We talked about popcorn, ladies and how inspirational Chingy is. Bangs turned out to be much more likeable than Kanye West at an awards show.

Fuck you, Mr. Versatility

Ashrita Furman (born Keith Furman) happens to be the douche that holds the douchiest world record on earth: the record for holding the most records in the Guinness Book of Records. He began his record-breaking career after meeting his inner spirit while riding a bike non-stop for 24 hours (he’s a devout follower of the Indian mystic Sri Chinmoy), and has kept on breaking records in order to “inspire” normal people to find their very own inner spirit. He currently holds 98 records and habitually demands people to refer to him as Mr. Versatility. We decided to fuck with Ashrita Furman in the only way that Ashrita Furman can be seriously fucked with: we set out to break some of his records. And then laugh in his shattered face.
read more