Random Thoughts: December 15th, 2008

Shot on my way to work, November 26th.

• Howdy. How you doin'? I see you've been taking care of yourself. Props. Work out like crazy, but don't you dare lose that fine ass of yours.
• Lists. It's that year-end shit again. I'm still debating about how many albums are going to be on my list, and why I feel compelled to make one. Admittedly, this will give me a chance to look back at the stuff I bought this year and see which titles truly stuck with me. Having an iPod has definitely changed how I listen to stuff, although, I'll still listen to an album in a linear fashion, and that's on any format. That'll probably never change, except when it comes to a really spotty album.
  Of course, my other list will contain my resolutions, which are never too lofty to break.
• The Polar Express. I was at my brother and sister-in-law's house watching this on CBC while helping decorate their tree. While there was some terrific imagery in this, I think it's a good time to point out a two part review that fellow blogger Ward Jenkins posted four years ago (which got him a ton of attention).
  The Polar Express: A Virtual Train Wreck
  The Polar Express: A Vitrual Train Wreck (conclusion)
• Strong-ass inertia. Yeah, I'm behind. I'ma get back on that horse. Shut up. The War of Art has been recommended to me, and I'm looking into gettin' a copy.
• Blu. I really don't know why I slept on this dude last year. I was at a new year's house party when my homie Jared mentioned his debut album with Exile titled Below the Heavens. I told him that I saw a number of reviews, but didn't go beyond looking at those.
  Several months later, I discovered the HVW8 podcast and found myself stuck to an episode of hosted by Blu and Exile full of demos, finished tracks, exclusives and Blu's hungover charm.
  Fast forward to last month, and this post at UGSMAG about Blu's new project (with Mainframe) called Johnson & Jonson. I instantly became enamored with the song and the fun, laid-back vibe of the video. It's truly been a long time since I've heard an emcee come off so raw and smooth at the same time.
  
  
  (Folks on facebook, go to the high quality version of the vid here.)
  
  I'm quite confident that Johnson & Jonson self-titled album would end up on my "best of" list, if I actually had said album in my hands. Hell, I'll put it on next year's. I can do that.
• Bed. That's where I'm goin'. Peace.