2007

Now that I've settled into my one post a year rhythm, the time has come for my 2007 mix. All in all a somewhat disappointing year, with everything kind of settling into an R&B routine that, in this writer's humble opinion, reflects the general malaise of the populace. In this shitty modern time, where everything is going in the toilet, it's inevitable people would turn to pop to help them through the hard times.

Still, there is some great pop here, particularly dance-focused tracks ranging from Justice to Chris Brown. Two tracks featuring T-Pain grace the mix - there could have been three with Kanye's "Good Life," (not to mention T-Pain's own work) but I went with "Can't Tell Me Nothing" (which I prefer to "Stronger," which does not approach the original Daft Punk track for energy or quality). Great female R&B is provided from Alicia Keys, Rihanna, and the infamous Amy Winehouse, who despite being a truly depressing human being continues to show enormous promise as an artist if she ever gets her shit together. Let's hope this isn't another Pete Doherty in the making...

Elsewhere, some great indie singles from Arcade Fire and Spoon (who would have thought they would become as big as they are?), another Mac marketing success story, and some honest-to-god hip hop from Pharoahe Monch, southern gods UGK and Outkast (RIP Pimp C), and the phenomenon that is Soulja Boy. There's also a spectacular cut from MIA's Kala, the best record of 2007, and Lil' Wayne's most successful track (out of approximately 4000 released last year). He's already having a huge year in 2008, and it will only get bigger when his official full-length is released.

The year was mostly a holding pattern, but a strong one in some regards. Here's the list, hope you like it:

1. Crank Dat Soulja Boy - Soulja Boy
2. Rehab - Amy Winehouse
3. Int'l Players Anthem (I Choose You) Featuring Outkast - UGK
4. Paper Planes - M.I.A.
5. Way I Are (Feat. Keri Hilson & D.O.E.) - Timbaland
6. Kiss Kiss (Feat.T-Pain) - Chris Brown
7. Can't Tell Me Nothing - Kanye West
8. You Don't Know What Love Is (You Just Do As You're Told) - The White Stripes
9. Duffel Bag Boy (Feat. Lil' Wayne) - Playaz Circle
10. Gravity's Rainbow - Klaxons
11. Body Baby - Pharoahe Monch
12. The Underdog - Spoon
13. 1 2 3 4 - Feist
14. Archangel - Burial
15. D.A.N.C.E - Justice
16. All My Friends - LCD Soundsystem
17. Keep The Car Running - The Arcade Fire
18. Low (Feat. T-Pain) - Flo Rida
19. Umbrella (Feat. Jay Z) - Rihanna
20. No One - Alicia Keys

Download the mix here.