Hey all– just wanted to drop a quick note to everybody to say Merry Christmas (and, for our British colony fans– Happy Boxing Day!).

Hope everybody is having a great holiday!

Love, g14

Hey all! Look who finally remembered the password to login into the site! Who’s a big kid? ME! And I am ready to drop some year-end knowledge on y’all.

A lot of lists are making there way to interwebs, and I humbly offer one more for your reading pleasure. But I would never assume to be able to list the ‘Best of 2007’, for that is the way of pop culture snobs everywhere that only want to show off by saying they experienced the best that 2007 had to offer. Not me. Movies, Music, TV, Books, and Comics were all catch as catch can. (By my count, there are15 movies out right now that I haven’t seen and REALLY want to.)

What I am listing are the things I recommend you ‘Check Out’ as they may bring you a portion of the fun, joy, and memories that the items on this list brought to me. And I’ll also let you know which of the things I am looking forward to come 2008!

Music (in no particular order):

5. Interpol – ‘Our Love To Admire’
Lot of talk was thrown around about how Interpol is changing their sound and branching out as band. Yeah, I guess that’s true. But they are consistent in kicking ass. Moody, electric rock/pop that sounds like a slight more chipper Joy Division. Some say that they co-opted the sound from the band that would be New Order, but if they get a new generation (or Jeff) to discover JD, then by all means, co-opt. Because if Interpol’s songs didn’t crawl into your brain as effectively as they do, than what would they be?

Oh, right… they’d be the Killers. DAMN!!!

4. Patrick Wolf – The Magic Position
I discovered this guy from his last album, ‘Wind in the Wires’ – a fine collection of low key ballads that stayed in heavy rotation for many a months. But this new one is dynamite, kicking things off with so much more energy and vitality than he’s displayed in the past. A great pop record with some eccentric leanings.

3. Arcade Fire – Neon Bible
When Arcade Fire’s debut ‘Funeral’ hit back in 2004, many an indie rock fans swooned and bowed at the alter of Wen Butler and co.’s brand of Canadian melancholy. It seemed there was no way people could over-hype them and no way they could match that level of reverence with their 2nd album. Well… they didn’t. And that’s ok, because Neon Bible still kicks the ass out of 90% of any other record released this year. And its also a fairly angry album. While the first record touched on the nervous twitter of a post-9/11 world, this new one cries foul at the state we’re in – with themes branching out from the individual to the institutional. An ambitious album that sometimes overstretches, but never bores.

2. Radiohead – In Rainbows
Yep, you could get it for free. Yep, it ‘changed the face of music distribution for ever and ever, amen.’ By the by, it’s also best thing they’ve done since OK Computer. If Radiohead of the last 10 years left feeling cold, give this one a shot. If you never like Radiohead, this won’t change you’re mind. If you’ve always been one of the faithful, you already have this.

1. The National - Boxer
One of my most favorite things to do is drive a long stretch of road at the dead of night. I acquired this love whilst making many a weekend trip between Leesburg and Harrisonburg while making g14’s first feature, ‘Stranger Than Paradise.’ There is something amazing about moving along an isolated stretch of road with just your thoughts. What the National does is put that in music form. The dissonant sounds of a rambling mind at 1am on an empty artery of the American landscape. Both intimate and epic at once… and honestly, my favorite album of 2007.

And the album that I am looking forward to in 2008? New Death Cab for Cutie in May AND Chris Walla’s solo debut in February. Seth Cohen is freaking out RIGHT NOW! It’s emotastic!

Okay… I’ll have more over the next few days as we count down to the end of year!

I wanted everyone to take a moment and pause, because today is a very special day. It’s Jeff Lofgren’s birthday. Today is the day he graced this earth with his gentle grace and each year we at g14 celebrate the holiday that brought Jeff to us. Because we couldn’t be g14 without Jeff. Meaning we wouldn’t have as much homoerotic humor and Blitzarugi jokes…and dudity. Jeff brought us dudity. Thanks Jeff! Have a happy day! We love you! ;)

I just wanted to post a (belated) birthday wish for Safetysaurus! She celebrated the anniversary of her birth yesterday. SO… HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Woot!

In honor of this momentous event, I present, “Safetysaurus’ Guide to Safe Thanksgiving Cooking”

STEP #1: Do not trust Jeff to Deep Fry a turkey.
STEP #2: If you are foolish enough to do so, please dial 9 and 1 on your cell phone, and be prepared to dial the final 1 at any second.
STEP #3: Dear God, please, please have a heavy duty fire extinguisher near by.
STEP #4: Reflect on all the good deeds you’ve done in your life.
STEP #5: Die.
(If You Skip Step #5, Please Proceed Directly to Step #6)
STEP #6: Reflect on how lucky you are to have survived, and enjoy a tasty bird.

Happy birthday to the dude who makes sure everything functions on-line, Brian Stearns! He’s as close as we come to having a god of the internet, and today he’s finally as old as I am!

Now, last year, all the ladies of the blog celebrated by having a naked oily pillow fight. How are you going to top that?