We’ve reviewed a few LPs in the magazine this year. We’ve listened to even more. Here then are our top ten LPs.

1. Radiohead, In Rainbows
This only just made it to number one by virtue of being (physically) released today. It is the best album of the year and now that it’s available to everyone as a physical CD, there is awkward discussion away from the album to prevent the songs being as immaculate as they are. For a much more detailed look at In Rainbows, keep an eye out for Disposable Media Issue 10, due early January 2008.

2. LCD Soundsystem, Sound of Silver
The first listen to Sound of Silver yielded one response; where are the singles? Subsequent listens illicit two responses; 1-who cares? And 2-wow.
This isn’t a dance album. It isn’t a rock album. It’s not indie, grindie, big-beat or hardcore nor is it especially different. What Sound of Silver is though, is an album for music fans, an album for grown ups and kids, an album so immaculately conceived and produced that at times it defies belief that in 2007 someone can produce an album that sounds both perfectly now and so ‘timeless’. It is practically perfect.

3. Justice, Cross
There are times when Cross is so loud that it barely makes sense. Made of what seems like a combination of drum beats and feedback for a large majority, it’s easy to dismiss Cross as an overly simplistic dance album with no real musicianship involved. However, here is an album where every single sound is full of purpose that when layered and structured together and woven with some very heavy drum beats it not only works but also thrusts itself into your body and consciousness. The Daft Punk comparisons are lazy, this is dance-metal and it is immense.

4. Battles, Mirrored
Why does the Battles LP work? At times it tries too hard, other times it seems as though it’s not trying at all. Beneath the obvious math-rock influences and initially unfriendly noodling, is an LP full of melody, pop sensibility and modern day understanding of how music can affect by effect. It sounds like nothing else this year but is a perfect partner for the understated LCD Soundsystem by trying to do the same sort of thing but with a more modern and noisy takes on dance rock. And by god how we love it.

5. Modest Mouse, We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank
It’s Modest Mouse. With Johnny Marr on guitar. And featuring The Shins on vocals on a couple of tracks. It’s utterly ace.

6. The Twilight Sad, Fourteen Autumns and Fifteen Winters
If Explosions in the Sky came from Scotland they might sound like this. It wouldn’t be as majestic, as powerful or as Scottish as this, but at least you know have an idea of just how wonderful this album is.

7. Minus the Bear, Planet of Ice
Minus the Bear’s last album, Menos el oso was a summer album. The cover looked like summer, the album sounded like summer and some of the lyrics were about summer. Planet of Ice is a winter album. It still sounds like Minus the Bear, incredible finger tapping, ‘dance-prog’ structures and knowing lyrics/titles, but Planet of Ice is a slightly grown up affair, with much more emphasis on the prog. Listen at night in winter and be sucked in to the majesty.

8. Low, Drums and Guns
Criminally overlooked in end of year polls, Low’s latest Lp is once again a brooding affair, but now with added drum loops. Enchanting and bewitching, it’s the best Low LP since Things We Lost.

9. Besnard Lakes, The Besnard Lakes are the Dark Horse
Does this really sound like the Beach Boys having a guitar feedback fight with Spiritualized in space? Yes it does. In places. Comparisons aside, it’s a tremdous album full of both gentle and demanding guitar work, feathery vocal melodies and hugely deep production.

10. 65daysofstatic, The Destruction of Small Ideas
Vocals. There are vocals on the final track of this, 65’s 3rd LP. It’s a new departure for the band, but not a bad decision. Unlike the production. At times it threatens to undermine the thoroughly brilliant musicianship and perfectly structured songs on offer but with a few listens Destruction… allows itself to grow and truly reveal itself as the most subtle and most accomplished 65 LP to date.

This time of year is more than a little busy, with presents to wrap and probably more presents to buy. Cards to write, decorations to hang and calculations to be conducted to work out how long to roast the turkey for (remember to place it on its breast shortly after you start cooking to ensure it is as tender as possible). And amongst all that, Disposable Media is rapidly approaching the deadline for its tenth issue with staff working more feverishly than any of Santa’s elves.

But, here is a little favour for you at this busy time of year whether you’re regular readers of the magazine, or part of the staff creating the magazine - stop. Just for a couple of minutes, sit back and remember that this isn’t meant to be a stressful time of the year, it is meant to be fun. And to help you enjoy this tiny break, try this:

It’s “Hilli (At The Top of The World)” by Amiina and features the late Lee Hazelwood and was released yesterday. And if it doesn’t make you feel a bit more relaxed and a bit more comfortable there really is no hope for you.

And if I don’t get to say it again before the day, Merry Christmas.

An American student has been arrested after discussing plans to ’shoot up’ Frostburg State University over voice chat in call of Duty 4.

read more | digg story

NPD Group today released sales data for the month of November 2007, and Call of Duty 4 outsold the biggest name in video games.

read more | digg story

I can’t help but laugh at the “games are art” people sometimes. Well, not exactly laugh, but I do sympathise with them. I mean, it’s hard enough convincing people that games aren’t the spawn of the Devil, that they won’t destroy our inner humanity, that they aren’t about to defile our grandparents and bring about the collapse of society as we know it. So how on Earth are you supposed to put forward an argument for gaming as an artform? I don’t want to get into that debate just this moment, but I will say that Ico has frequently been touted as a game that provides ammunition for those who think games are more than just FIFA and Def Jam.

I haven’t had a lot of time to play the game, but I must admit to being suckered in by it’s lack of complexity: think of all the squad -based firstperson shooters where you’re launched into a chaotic battlefield with meaningless marine jargon babbling in your ear from the offset; it’s not the most subtle welcome, and after a while it gets a little predictable. However, Ico’s introduction is nice and understated: you have a chance to get a feel for the surrounding architecture, mess around with the swinging and jumping of Ico himself (I really like the attention to detail in Ico’s animation, by the way), you meet Yorda, and then you fight the weird shadowy creatures.

One of the other things I like about Ico’s initial combat sequences is that the shadow creatures have no distinct form, and you can vaguely swing at them and they’ll collapse beautifully. Again, the little details in the animation are brilliant; it’s like playing something like Flashback for the first time. And I thought Ico himself would be a lot more dorky than he actually is, but the characterisation isn’t all that bad (as for Yorda, the first thing I tried to do was swing my stick at her - old habits…)

Anyway, I’ve barely scratched the surface, and I’m in the middle of a few other titles as always, but it’s comforting to know that it is still possible to find a copy of the game if you are determined enough.

- By Dan Gassis

For this English writer, my interest in Euro 2008 has rapidly disappeared after our utterly useless team of overpaid cretins failed miserably. The tournament might be great, but it just isn’t as fun when you’ve not got anyone to support. Thankfully for the Independent Games Festival, we have.

Disposable Media is always happy to promote projects that are up to the high standards we like to see being achieved, but it is also nice when there is some vague knowledge of the people creating them. Pleasingly, Ookibloks falls under both categories. Plus, it gives us someone to cheer on at the next IDF, which whilst being one gaming event we’re always firmly behind it is more fun when you have someone to shout for.

The full list of nominations includes some fantastic titles that have made a name for themselves in the last few months as well as some that we’ve never heard of before (the full list is here) which is almost always the way. And sure, it is one of those events where everyone is a winner but that doesn’t mean we aren’t looking forward to finding out who the proper winners are in February.

The title we are backing? From the official description…

OokiBloks is an innovative action puzzle game, filled with comical mischief, upbeat dance music and synchronized sound.

Take control of Ooki the monkey and leap around the colorful cartoon play areas, making music and changing blocks to their rightful color!

But more interestingly, have a look at the video:

Monkeys, music, crabs, monkeys, war, rhythm, monkeys, monkeys, monkeys…what more could you want from a game? It is certainly enough to get us wanting to play it and supporting it…

Visit the official Ookibloks website at http://www.ookibloks.com