As we wrap up 2008, we find ourselves in the same musical bind that has plagued us for close to a decade: records are still judged through comparison---their validation tied to their ability to mimic & replicate, to feign originality under the completely unoriginal umbrella of predestined sound & carefully constructed presentation. "man, that record is so Detroit!" or "that sounds like an old Garage record"; if I wired the store to record every conversation of the last year, I could literally compile hours of this sort of useless banter. It's come to a point where most record buyers purchase music based on image, on packaging, rather than taking the time to clear their head, open their ears and actually listen to the records they're buying. This seems to be a simple task of anti-dogmatic conditioning, but the wretched grip of rigid-music-as-fad-ideology has proven practically unyielding in it's hold over the ears & minds of countless dance music "aficianado's." Too many good people have been seduced by the fantasy of belonging to a privileged and select group of underground enthusiasts, who have, in their eyes, already earned their ear, their taste and their aesthetic superiority simply by pledging their loyalty to the often-despised but secretly cherished underworld of dance music---that secret society of connoisseurs and devoted enthusiasts who have already won the holy war of music simply by uttering the words "I like House" or "I like Techno," and then proudly standing in defiance, separating themselves from the rest and in so doing defining themselves as people & as consumers. But after all is said (and said, and said) and done, a record is dope or it isn't. Either it makes the cut or it doesn't.

"Living in a Zome ", the title track off of the E.P. of the same name by producer Analogous Doom, came as an exceptional blessing in late 2008, just as it seemed interest in original and creative audacity in dance music was at an all time low. Is it Techno? Is it House? Is it Electro? Who gives a fuck! The 2 1/2 minutes of breathtaking, risk-taking brilliance that is "Living In a Zome " decimates every 10 plus minute Techno record of this year---songs that can't seem to figure out quite where they're going, what their purpose is and where they'll end up when their finished (right where they started, of course)---going on to show that the content, the intent & the originality of a work is all that's important---a truly dope song need only be as long as it's statement necessitates, and in this case, there's more said and heard in just under 3 minutes than in the entire Deepchord catalog put together...and well beyond. There's something about "Living In a Zome " that seems so defiantly brilliant; so exceptionally unique---it's notes hit home with such baffling efficacy and emotional vivacity that it's time-frame soon dissolves and becomes beautifully immeasurable in the blissful elegance of it's dark, harmonious union. It's funky, sophisticated and completely entrancing electronic music that is unafraid to break ground, to stampede over it's rivals with unwavering savagery, determined to wage the crusade of truth over fad, content over appearance, quality over quantity.

RECORD OF THE YEAR, DOPE JAMS, 2008 

9 RECORDS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DOWNLOADS

SEAL "PEOPLE ASKING WHY" (TIMMY REGISFORD RMX)	THIS RECORD TAKES THE CAKE!!! I have not laughed so hard at any record that has ever been in this store. Butterfingaz is truly a legend in this store now. They should have called the dub "A Little Train That Couldn't". This solo is one for the ages!
AFEFE IKU "MIRROR DANCE" (OFFICAL YORUBA RELEASE)	Oh wait, it already came out on MP3 - a year before the record! I can't think of a better example of what is wrong with the music industry right now. I'm going to say this once and once only so listen carefully. There is no such thing as a PROMO MP3! MP3's are a consumer product! If you want to sell records stop putting the mp3 out first. As a matter of fact if you put out the MP3 first don't bother with the record!
VEGA FEAT. JOHNNY DANGEROUS "NEW YORK CITY"	NYC IS UNDENIABLY DEAD!!  If I hear one more  record where these guys do nothing but stroke themselves and there friends off I'm going to lose my mind. This is a tradition in dance music that needs to STOP NOW! Not since Romanthony did "In The Mix" has one of these records been even remotely acceptable.  For the love of Christ, Boddhi Satva, Allah or whoever people pray to now,  make it stop!
TIMMY REGISFORD/ADAM RIOS "RYAN'S THEME"	I don't know who to thank for this disaster. I mean I know Timmy Regisford will pretty much put his name on anything he can get his dirty little hands on so who really knows if he made this record or not. Regardless it is truly the ultimate example of Bongo House gone wrong.
BJORK "ALL IS FULL OF LOVE" (BLAZE REMIX)	I have to wonder if some of the guys at Restricted Access had something to do with this atrocity, there is no way this is by the same guys who did "Live The Happy Life", "Moonwalk" and "#6 Hubert St."! It sounds as if her vocals were shot up with heroin and they slapped any beat under it that came close to the correct BPM. Maybe it was supposed to be a "mash-up". Did they even listen to this when they thought it was done? This thing is truly a disaster.
KENNY LARKIN "KEY, STRINGS, TAMBOURINES" (2XLP)	Friends shouldn't let friends drink and drive.
THE DIRTBOMBS "KUNG FU" (MOODYMANN)	I think we could have filled this slot with a few of the recent Mahogani adventures but this one takes the cake for us. I have to wonder if Moodymann is letting one of his fan club members do A&R or something. I mean if this is the music that he compares to the stuff he has done in the past then someone may need to give him a wake up call. Although if you listen to what he has been doing recently...(for when artists still gave a shit see "Do You Know" - GR.005)
MISS PATTY "YOU DON'T WANT IT" (SOLE CHANNEL)	" Another stupid Sole Channel release...these guys suck." -Bobbi Hallstrom
ROD MODELL "INCENSE & BLACK LIGHT"	The way they justify not completely raping Basic Channel is in the titles.  I mean can you imagine a Chain Reaction release titled 'Incensce & Black Lights"?  So close, yet so, so far away!  **NOTE** - we would have added any and all Beat Pharmacy releases to this list had we ever stooped so low as to carry them.

 3 BEST CD'S OF 2008

THEO PARRISH "SOUNDSCULPTURES VOL. 1" [CD] Price: $29.99

GAS "NAH UND FERN" 4 CD BOX SET Price: $33.99

PETAR DUNDOV "ESCAPEMENTS" Price: $18.99

9 BEST CLASSIC RE-ISSUES OF 2008

HUDSON PEOPLE "TRIP TO YOUR MIND" Price: $7.99

HERBIE HANCOCK " STARS IN YOUR EYES" Price: $7.99

THE 24-CARAT BLACK "GHETTO: MISFORTUNE'S WEALTH" Price: $11.99

WAR "FLYING MACHINE/CITY, COUNTRY, CITY" Price: $7.99

FREDDIE HUBBARD/HUBERT LAWS "GIBRALTAR/FAMILY" Price: $7.99

WHAM! "EVERYTHING SHE WANTS/CARELESS WHISPER" Price: $7.99

EDDIE KENDRICKS "MY PEOPLE...HOLD ON" Price: $8.99

RAMONA BROOKS "I DON'T WANT YOU BACK" Price: $8.99

JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT "DOWNTOWN 81" (2XLP) Price: $14.99

3 BEST HOUSE RE-ISSUES OF 2008

LARRY HEARD "MR. FINGERS CLASSICS" Price: $11.99

CAN "FUTURE DAYS" (CARL CRAIG BLADE RUNNER MIX) Price: $8.99

MURK "CLASSICS VOLUME TWO" Price: $8.49