I go through odd musical phases sometimes. For some reason, lately, I've really been feeling freestyle (well, it's probably because I've been listening to the classic dance station all day at work that plays way too many ballads). Not freestyle as in MCs rhyming off the top of their heads, I mean that odd post-disco stuff from the 80's. It's a form of music that's totally ripped on by house and techno purists (myself included), but damn if there weren't some gems from this era. It's also fun picking up on stuff that flew right over my head when I was a kid, like how Coro's "Fallen Angel" samples Kraftwerk's "Numbers" (how's that for street cred, yo?).

As with most music on now defunct independent labels, the bulk of this stuff is currently unavailable for purchase or download, and I can't help but feel that there will be some sort of organization created within the next few years that will preserve (by digitally cataloging) much of this stuff, as well as early house, techno, and rave (for a good laugh, of course). I'm sure I have Lisette Melendez' "Together Forever" in mint condition somewhere (you really must watch the video).

And no, I have no idea why it's called "freestyle". Yeah, it really doesn't make any sense.

Tarantino was an Elvis impersonator on the Golden Girls? Now I've seen everything! Just a fun diversion as you spend your Tuesday wishing you had a four day weekend instead of a plain old three.

Here's some fantastic photos of our neighborhood from the olden days. I often kick myself for not taking a picture of every block down Smith (which has changed drastically) and Court (surprisingly, not nearly as much) when I first moved out here eight years ago. My memory completely fails me when I try to remember what used to reside in the current locations of Boat or Quench or even Cafe Luluc. With a second round of major changes rumoured to be in the near future, maybe it's still a good idea to get the camera out.

The Village Voice has a pretty darn tootin' hilarious play by play review of last night's Grammy awards. I tuned in 3 minutes late, and just caught Madonna's performance. I then spent the next 3 and a half hours waiting to see the Gorillaz' performance, only to find out at the end of the show that I had missed them by tuning in three minutes late. Oh well, that's what the internet is for, I suppose.

Their Pazz and Jop poll of the year's top albums and singles is out as well. I generally hold this list in higher regard than the other year end lists that come flooding around come mid-December, but I'm a bit disappointed by how indie leaning the albums list is. I'm just not all that convinced that anybody is going to care about Spoon in five years.

So, in the spirit of useless lists, and since I caught so much flack for last year's country club unfriendly list, here's what got the most airtime on my iPod this year.

Albums:
Kanye West:Late Registration - Anyone who can make a half blazing, half touching album, and then publicly speak out against homophobia in hip-hop gets two thumbs up in my book.
Madonna:Confessions of a Dancefloor - Amazingly enough, some of the best dance music I heard this year. Props to her for getting a filter breakdown on MTV.
Gorillaz:Demon Days - Music this eclectic and leftfield isn't supposed to be this popular.
Common:Be - Finally, a Common album that doesn't put you to sleep.
The Arcade Fire:Funeral - Yeah, I'm a year late.
Herbert:Bodily Functions - Yeah, I'm five years late.
Richie Hawtin:DE9 Transitions - Minimal seems to be the only thing preventing clubland from becoming an electro dumping ground. Electro must die a bloody death in '06 (please!).
M.I.A.:Arular - Like crack and red bull, great in small doses.
Depeche Mode:Playing the Angel - Is it safe to add Exciter to my used-CD-store-trade-in-pile now?

Singles:
Madonna-Hung Up
Gwen Stefani-Hollaback Girl
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah-The Skin of my Country Yellow Teeth
Ciara-1, 2 Step
Cam'ron feat. Kanye West and Syleena Johnston-Down and Out
Amerie-1 Thing
The Killers-Mr. Brightside (Thin White Duke Mix)
The Game-Hate It Or Love It
Jennifer Lopez-Get Right
Sizequeen-Tribal Madness
Lindstrom-I Feel Space
Gorillaz-Feel Good Inc.