Top five avant-rock for 2006

Feel free to link your “Things of the Year”. Here’s mine: Top five avant-rock for 2006

James Brown RIP

This planet gets light and warmth from the Sun, protection from the atmosphere and funk from Mr James Brown. As of Christmas Day, one of those things is no longer with us. Hit it on the one in tribute!

Best film of 2006?

I’ve just watched Film 2006’s countdown of the public’s favourite films of the year. In this and other end-of-year round-ups, an important, critically acclaimed, multi-award-winning film is absent, maybe because of its complete lack of big-name actors, its limited publicity and its extremely depressing subject matter. I hope that United 93 (official site) is remembered as one of the most moving and important films of the year. Currently with an impressive 7.9 score on IMDB, it is surely the definitive filmed account of what unfolded on September 11, 2001. I can’t imagine any way the acting, direction and general story-telling could be improved upon.

In a year which has given us other harrowing dramas (Syriana, The Wind That Shakes The Barley and Pan’s Labyrinth all excellent films but with gut-wrenching, explicit torture), I hope the public doesn’t neglect United 93 because they lack the stomach to watch it.