* Album Of The Year: Mogwai -- "Mr. Beast"
The mostly-instrumental music of Glasgow's Mogwai has been described as big instrumental rock music for a soundtrack. The soundtrack of your whatever-you're-doing. If whatever-you're-doing really rocked.
Learned post-rock power with the rise-and-fall energy of a high tide's waves. Persuasive, intricate, enthralling.
Watch the video for the song Travel Is Dangerous here. Quicktime required.
* Song Of The Year: A.T.O -- "Break Out"
This is a mystery. No idea where this perfect piece of surf rock confection came from (perhaps Japan?), but it is the best song that we've heard in the last year. Do you have any idea who this is? What band? What album? We'd love to know.
Download the song here, and if you know anything, please let us know or speak of it in the comments section below. We'd really appreciate it.
* Movie/Book Of The Year: An Inconvenient Truth
Best horror movie in a while.
Seriously though, it's a frightening/galvanizing thing to see all the facts on global warming strung together in concussive fashion. You do good work, Al.
* Game Of The Year: Madden 07 (PS2)
A crippled, rushed, unfinished entry in the Madden NFL series that obviously suffered as EA Sports moved its flagship gaming franchise onto the next gen consoles.
Doesn't matter, it's still the best NFL video game available, and a source of simple joy to our heart. Of course, it's the only NFL video game available. Hrrrm.
Frank Gore's player ratings next season are gonna be .
* Television Programme Of The Year: Metalocalypse
A TV show hasn't had an opening sequence this good since Sky Commanders.
Super-silly metal-based amusement from Brendon Small, the co-creator and star of the wonderfully subtle Home Movies cartoon.
* Restaurant Of The Year: Absinthe
Never before had a meal driven us to tears of joy, yet that was what happened.
Susy and myself treated ourselves to oysters, goat cheese, wine, and unforeseen tears rolling down our cheeks. Incredible. Totally brightened up a dreary day.
* Website Of The Year: cuteoverload.com
Hell yeah, it is!
