By: David Schultz

In the past month the Internet has been flooded with Best of 2007 lists. While some say more than others, the consensus seems to be that Radiohead’s In Rainbows and The National’s Boxer were the cream of the crop in 2007 and that the full repercussions of Radiohead’s pay-what-you-want pricing scheme have yet to be felt. Anyway, enough with 2007 already; I’m looking ahead to 2008 and here’s what I’m excited about.

The Hold Steady’s New Album
Listening to Boys And Girls In America made me feel young again. I’m not sure I could give an album a greater compliment. You can never have enough literate songs about the follies of youth, especially when they're delivered in Craig Finn’s wry, expressive voice. Word is they have returned to the studio and will deliver a new album late in 08.

The Winehouse/Fielder-Civil Trial
When she wasn’t figuratively or literally saying no to rehab, Winehouse turned herself into one of the most Grammy nominated train wrecks of all time. Now that she’s been arrested and charged with perverting justice, the same crime for which her husband Blake Fielder-Civil is currently awaiting trial, we’re headed for a good-old fashioned media circus of a trial. Personally, I’m hoping she abandons the beehive in favor of Phil Spector’s freaky-fro and shows up in court wearing the pink bra and jeans combo.

Black Crowes: Warpaint
Rested and reinvigorated, the Robinson brothers brought guitarist Luther Dickinson into the studio and recorded their first album of new material in more than 7 years. With one of the more potent lineups in years, they’ll celebrate the March 4 release by playing the album on stage in its entirety.


The Led Zeppelin Reunion Tour
Maybe just like wishing Tinkerbell back to life, if we all clap our hands and wish real hard, it will happen.

Lenny Kravitz: It’s Time For A Love Revolution
It really is time as it’s been about four years since Kravitz released his last album or embarked on a major U.S. tour. If thee first couple songs are any indication, Kravitz has returned to the hippie lyrics and fuzzed-out Hendrix guitars that made him a star. 2008 may also see the release of Funk, an album he’s been periodically working on since 1997.

New Year’s Eve at the HighLine with U-Melt
It’s a tradition. U-Melt will be ushering in 2008 with an electrifying show that will begin in the wee hours of the morning. There is no better way to start of a new year than with a few hours of U-Melt. If you wanted to engage in idle speculation: Jamie Shields and Darren Shearer (New Deal) and Marco Benevento and Joe Russo will be playing the HighLine earlier that evening – maybe they’ll stick around for the U-Melt festivities.

Drive-By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
The Truckers previewed some songs from their upcoming album on their The Dirt Beneath tour and don’t appear to be missing a step in the absence of guitarist Jason Isbell. In addition to Patterson Hood and Mike Cooley’s next edition of Southern drama, bassist Shonna Tucker will even sing.

Lynne Spears: Pop Culture Mom: A Real Story of Fame and Family in a Tabloid World
It’s comical enough that Britney’s mom wrote a book praising her own parenting skills when the rest of the world takes vicious delight in laughing at her daughter’s misadventures in parenting. If raising one selfish, neglectful mother wasn't enough, Ms. Spears just had her book release delayed because her 16-year-old daughter is pregnant. This is a best seller just waiting to happen.

North Mississippi Allstars: Hernando & Mississippi Folk Music Vol 1
2008 is poised to be Luther Dickinson’s breakout year: in addition to being a new Black Crowe, the NMA will release Hernando, a new studio album, as well as an online compilation of their interpretations of traditional Mississippi songs.

Licorice: A Million Grains Of Sand
One of New York’s most proficient foursomes will release their debut EP later this winter and give everyone a taste of the delicious jams they’ve been putting together over the past few months. A sample serving can be found here.

In Parental Advisory, Eric Nuzum's excellent compilation on censorship, he points out that censorship has less to do with defining appropriate expression than it does with defining appropriate people. Nuzum has found an unlikely ally for this view in 50 Cent. As you probably have heard, the rapper/actor, who is still fuming over American TV stations changing the title of his latest single from "I Still Kill" to "I Still Will," has expressed disbelief that no one has raised a fuss over Britney Spears welcoming people to her comeback single "Gimme More" with the phrase, "It's Britney, bitch." It appears we have focused so much of our attention on her parenting skills and driving ability that we've stopped listening to the words that are coming out of her mouth. Given the recent sensitivity to misogynistic lyrics in rap and hip/hop, 50 makes a fair point. Why is it acceptable for a white girl from Tennessee to use the word "bitch" when a black man from Compton would be sharply rebuked? Would everyone sit silent if Spears decided to use Nas' proposed title for her latest album?

The platinum selling artist suggests that if he or one of his peers starting a song by using the word "bitch" they would be demonised. "I guess they have their rules that apply individually to each artist," he says. "Matter of fact, my next single, I'm going to start it (with), 'It's Britney, bitch.'" Fitty may be on to something here. If people get upset, he can simply say, "Oops, I did it again." What's good for the loose should be good for the bad ass.