My choice will have to be Lowkey's long-awaited "Soundtrack To The Struggle" which finally appeared but still has to surface as a physical product (after all the hype and expectation you would have thought that they would have got that sorted). Most of his killers were included but a couple of tunes fell a little short. As a searing political soundtrack of the times we live in though, it is an unrivalled set.
2. Re-issue Album Of The Year:
This one is an easy choice. Kourosh Yaghmaie's amazing collection "Back From The Brink" featured the most awesome pre-revolutionary psychedelic rock from Iran I have ever heard. It also wins praise for its brilliant packaging and super cheap price. Yaghmaie's name needs to be universally recognised for such wonderful music. Running it close though was the brilliant "Nippon Guitars" collection from Takeshi Terauchi which was chock-full of Japanese surf guitar and psych workouts. Other great compilations worth searching out include "Those Shocking Shaking Days" (Indonesian early 1970s psychedelia); "Life Is Dance" (more Lollywood musical gems); and a short but sweet self-titled retrospective from the Persian chanteuse Googoosh.
3. Gig Of The Year:
2011 was another great year for live concerts. I managed to see my old buddies Skindred five times with the three shows that I witnessed on their Union Black tour being stupendous. Gilad Atzmon and Jadid Ensemble all in Bradistan were wonderful occasions. There were also a slew of high octane punk gigs of which the Angelic Upstarts and Oi Polloi took my plaudits. However, this year there is a joint winner. First was the sheer heart-warming brilliance of Bradistan Reggae Sunsplash from August which provided an inspiring line-up with the community spirit of this town and its inhabitants. Second was Syrian legend Omar Souleyman's gig in Bradistan which put a big smile on the faces of all who attended.
4. Song Of The Year
This is a new category for this year and I award it to Lowkey for his killer combination with M1 (from Dead Prez) and Black The Ripper entitled "Obama Nation Part Two". Part One was superb but this reprise even bettered it. Righteous anger and indignation at the US President and his country's imperialism has rarely sounded so powerful.
5. Performer Of The Year:
I am making an unchanged choice this year and handing the title once again to Skindred frontman Benji Webbe. Skindred gigs are always an event and Benji is the catalyst at the heart of it all.
6. Film Of The Year:
I only made a handful of trips to the cinema this year mainly due to a lack of time, high ticket prices and a fairly underwhelming selection of choices. The powerful and moving "Incendies" which featured two siblings' search for the truth of their mother's life in civil war strewn Lebanon made a big impact on me. Some critics commented that the twist was stretched just a little too far but it was still mind-blowing with a incredible performance by Lubna Azabal.
7. Documentary Of The Year:
"The Black Power Mixtape 1968-75". This uneven yet revealing documentary about black American revolutionary leaders made by a Swedish crew was very illuminating and really gave the viewer a sense of those heady times and the key personalities.
8. TV Channel Of The Year:
Every year running there is only one winner and that is "Al Jazeera English". Their live transmissions of the Arab revolutions, particularly the battles in Tahrir Square in Cairo, were unmissable viewing. Their only flaw was the poor coverage of the revolution in Bahrain, the suppression of which was aided by the channel's owners.
9. Highlight Of The Year
My main highlight would be my photographic work being recognised locally and ending up being featured in an exhibition would be impossible to top. This has given me extra impetus and focus as a photographer and I am now concentrating on my Middle Aged Punks series which has made a good start and I plan to develop it further in 2012.
10. Scumbags Of The Year:
Israel. No more needs to be said.
11. Heroes Of The Year:
The youth of Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen and Bahrain in particular who rose up against their respective dictatorships.
12. My Blog Highlight Of The Year:
There have been many brilliant moments and events this year. I don't have one overall highlight but when it comes to my city Bradistan, I will have to mention the brilliant Vaisakhi procession that was a credit to the city; the powerful theatre of both "The Mill - City Of Dreams" and "It's Like He's Knocking"; and last but not least, the awesome Bradistan Reggae Sunsplash. A big thanks also to all those who posed for me and my camera in 2011.
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