The publication of end-of-year best-of lists is a well known epidemic in the world of music blogs. I know, I have been infected by it too. I keep writing that I do it only because nothing good ever happens in the music world in December, but it has become a habit.

Well, there is a good side to it! The publication of end-of-year lists around the interweb brings forward a wonderful source of information about new music that I’ve missed during the year while not paying attention, and this year it seems that I have a lot of catching up to do! I’ve already taken notes of albums that were mentioned in some of my favourite blogs, like A Bunch of Us and Haoneg. (Yes, I did contribute to the list in Haoneg, and no, as far as I know, I did not win a CD). I have a feeling that 2008 will start with a lot of musical pleasure.

Happy New Year!

Even tough the rest of the world is numb with holiday celebrations, I am still working hard on my application. Most of it is ready, but there are a few complications, since I’m doing a double applications (two schools within the same university). The complications may be cleared with a reply to an email I sent, but it will probably have to wait until after the holidays.

Meanwhile, here’s an update:

• Addmission Application – Status: Mostly done. I filled in two forms for the two schools and paid the registration fee. I need to finish a third form for the second school. As I said, complicated.
• GMAT scores – Status: In progress. The preparation course is almost over. The exam date is February 4th, which is just one month and 6 days away. I am procrastinating at this very moment.
• Academic transcripts – Status: Done and waiting to be sent.
• Letters of Recommendation – Status: Done and waiting to be sent.
• Career gaol statement – Status: First draft written and sent to a friend in the university for a review
• Official TOEFL scores – Status: N/A. I got a letter from the university in the UK from which I graduated confirming that I studied in English, just in case.
• On-line application confirmation – Status: Done.

Xmas, originally uploaded by Deviant Brainwave.

Happy Holidays everyone!

… a jar of Branston Pickle.

I haven’t been feeling very well in the past few days. If only I had the time to be sick…

Yes, December! List time once again!

I guess that coming up with my Top 5 of 2007 list is the best I can do on an evening in which a thumping headache doesn’t allow me to study, and not studying makes me feel so guilty.

The rules for the list are just the same as they’ve been before, and if you need a reminder, you can find the lists from 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 right here.

If you read last year’s list, you will notice that there were a few albums that I missed on the 2006 list because I didn’t have the chance to buy them before the end of the year. However, I did get most of them since, and it was worth the wait.

And now for the 2007 list. My apologies for the lack of images, they got a bit messed up, but I’ll try to sort them out soon.

5. Yours Truly, Angry Mob – Kaiser Chiefs – For the second time, the Kaiser Chiefs bring out an album which is a sophisticated form of fun. It’s a great album to work out to.

4. Neon Bible – Arcade Fire – It might not be as good as their first album, but Neon Bible does show the Arcade Fire magic.

3. In Rainbows – Radiohead – It’s not about the “pay as much as you like” stunt, or about changing the face of the music industry. At the end of the day, an album is about the music, and Radiohead just can’t do anything wrong.

2. We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank – Modest Mouse – It’s Modest Mouse with Johnny Marr. Need I say more?

1. Wincing the Night Away – The Shins – I started listening to Wincing The Night Away only to know what the fuss was all about, but it got me hooked. So much so, that I just couldn’t understand why I had not listened to The Shins before. After that, I just had to look up their previous albums and somehow they just got to the top of my last.fm chart.

Despite the title, I don’t have anything funny to write about. it’s just the first thing that came into my head, as a way of telling my dear readers that I’m still alive.

The past couple of weeks have been mostly about working and studying. There’s a lot of studying to do and not enough time in which my brain works, and it stresses me out. I am occupied with thoughts about planning my time, and fear of what the future holds. There are so many changes ahead, and I’m not sure I’m ready for them.

I think I need to get it all in order in my head before I’ll be able write about it. Meanwhile I’m organizing the end-of-year album list. Coming soon to an RSS reader near you.