The 2006 Ho Media Awards
Bringing You the Best Since 2002
It was a tough year of judging in the Ho household. There were a number of new releases in every category. This is also a tough post to create because as of right now, my entire archives seem to have disappeared (Update: A number of other people have reported the same problem, so hopefully it's just a widespread but minor snafu.), which would have made formatting this much easier. We've got new categories this year, so let's start things off with one of those.
Website of the Year - Obfuscated Thought
OT was gently laid to rest earlier this year, but it was long the home of some of the weirdest science/tech news you could find at the time. The layout was tastefully simple and easy on the eyes, which is something 9 out of 10 MySpace users could learn a lot from. OT, you will be missed.
Book of the Year - Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon
This book is a brick. Some reviewers have said that there are parts that drag a little too slowly, but I would disagree. I think that those are simply the moments at which you realize you've read 200 pages and haven't really opened the book up to the spine yet. I couldn't even begin to describe the plot lines of the book, but I will say this: this book won the award months ago when I read the hilariously mathematical description (complete with a graph!) of time between ejaculations and level of horniness. It sounds more gross than it really is. Just go read it. Hopefully you'll be able to finish by the time next year's awards come out.
Movie of the Year - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirate's suffered from the typical "middle movie syndrome, " in that it wasn't as good as the first and it almost certainly won't be as good as the last (unless we have a let down on the scale of Matrix: Revolutions). Despite this, if you could follow the millions of plot lines and if you could understand Unexplained Jamaican Woman, then you probably enjoyed the movie quite a bit.
Discovery Artist of the Year - The Decemberists
Credit for this has to go to Jennie (years ago actually). The lead vocalist has a very distinctive voice that might rub you the wrong way on first listen if the first thing you hear from them is one of their very different numbers. I just received their latest album, The Crane Wife, for Christmas and I have to say that it's phenomenal. I hear a little bit of Pink Floyd in this album. Compared to some of their earlier work, it's also pretty new-user-friendly.
Album of the Year - Jet's Shine On
I had high expectations for Jet's second album, but for some reason I didn't expect them to deliver. Maybe that's why it so completely blew my mind. From start to finish, this 17-track (!!) rock 'n' roll gem kept me listening and drumming on whatever was in front of me the whole time. I really don't know what else to say, this album just rocks incredibly hardcore. So the next entry shouldn't be any great surprise...
Song of the Year - Jet's "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is"
As soon as I read the name of the song, I knew it was going to be good. After all, just change the way you spell "your" and you have a great song off of Oasis' 2000 album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. "Supermassive Black Hole" placed a very close second. If you want to drive fast to some music, these two songs both fit the bill. All five of the nominees in this category should be on your computer.
Misheard Lyrics of the Year - Thom Yorke's "Black Swan"
I don't expect this to become a permanent category, but it's too funny to let it go by without a mention. There's a pair of lines in a verse in the song like this:
However, my sick, screwed up mind first heard this:
I concluded that I'm apparently not very good at touching myself and found this song very depressing. Then I gave it a second listen and got it right. Whew.
As always, it's a pleasure to bring you all of this great material. 2007's awards are already looking tight, with many late 2006 releases under consideration (since I just got a few of them for Christmas). Stay tuned, stay young, and happy new year!
Bringing You the Best Since 2002
It was a tough year of judging in the Ho household. There were a number of new releases in every category. This is also a tough post to create because as of right now, my entire archives seem to have disappeared (Update: A number of other people have reported the same problem, so hopefully it's just a widespread but minor snafu.), which would have made formatting this much easier. We've got new categories this year, so let's start things off with one of those.
Website of the Year - Obfuscated Thought
OT was gently laid to rest earlier this year, but it was long the home of some of the weirdest science/tech news you could find at the time. The layout was tastefully simple and easy on the eyes, which is something 9 out of 10 MySpace users could learn a lot from. OT, you will be missed.
Book of the Year - Neal Stephenson's Cryptonomicon
This book is a brick. Some reviewers have said that there are parts that drag a little too slowly, but I would disagree. I think that those are simply the moments at which you realize you've read 200 pages and haven't really opened the book up to the spine yet. I couldn't even begin to describe the plot lines of the book, but I will say this: this book won the award months ago when I read the hilariously mathematical description (complete with a graph!) of time between ejaculations and level of horniness. It sounds more gross than it really is. Just go read it. Hopefully you'll be able to finish by the time next year's awards come out.
Movie of the Year - Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest
Pirate's suffered from the typical "middle movie syndrome, " in that it wasn't as good as the first and it almost certainly won't be as good as the last (unless we have a let down on the scale of Matrix: Revolutions). Despite this, if you could follow the millions of plot lines and if you could understand Unexplained Jamaican Woman, then you probably enjoyed the movie quite a bit.
Discovery Artist of the Year - The Decemberists
Credit for this has to go to Jennie (years ago actually). The lead vocalist has a very distinctive voice that might rub you the wrong way on first listen if the first thing you hear from them is one of their very different numbers. I just received their latest album, The Crane Wife, for Christmas and I have to say that it's phenomenal. I hear a little bit of Pink Floyd in this album. Compared to some of their earlier work, it's also pretty new-user-friendly.
Album of the Year - Jet's Shine On
I had high expectations for Jet's second album, but for some reason I didn't expect them to deliver. Maybe that's why it so completely blew my mind. From start to finish, this 17-track (!!) rock 'n' roll gem kept me listening and drumming on whatever was in front of me the whole time. I really don't know what else to say, this album just rocks incredibly hardcore. So the next entry shouldn't be any great surprise...
Song of the Year - Jet's "Put Your Money Where Your Mouth Is"
As soon as I read the name of the song, I knew it was going to be good. After all, just change the way you spell "your" and you have a great song off of Oasis' 2000 album Standing on the Shoulder of Giants. "Supermassive Black Hole" placed a very close second. If you want to drive fast to some music, these two songs both fit the bill. All five of the nominees in this category should be on your computer.
Misheard Lyrics of the Year - Thom Yorke's "Black Swan"
I don't expect this to become a permanent category, but it's too funny to let it go by without a mention. There's a pair of lines in a verse in the song like this:
You cannot kickstart a dead horse
You just crush yourself and walk away
However, my sick, screwed up mind first heard this:
You cannot kickstart a dead horse
You just touch yourself and walk away
I concluded that I'm apparently not very good at touching myself and found this song very depressing. Then I gave it a second listen and got it right. Whew.
As always, it's a pleasure to bring you all of this great material. 2007's awards are already looking tight, with many late 2006 releases under consideration (since I just got a few of them for Christmas). Stay tuned, stay young, and happy new year!
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