Bests of the Year
Anyone mind if I combine our best lists into one post?
Albums:
I haven’t really been keeping up with new releases this year, so I look forward to hearing from everyone what they’ve been into. My faves:
Midlake - The Courage of Others
Local Natives – Gorilla Manor
Dillon Warnek – Idaho (available free here)
Dax Riggs – Say Goodnight to the World
Alcest - Ecailles De Lune
Movies:
I’m not too big on movies. The only one I remember seeing was Toy Story 3 and Inception. Toy Story 3 wins.
TV Shows:
I’d have to go with Community. My favorite episodes this season were the astronaut/space movie spoof, the Halloween zombie movie spoof, and the blanket fort episode.
Concerts:
I only went to a handful of concerts this year (10). The best has to be the Frames last week in Seattle. I just saw them again this week in LA. One of the best live bands going. There isn’t much video online from the Seattle show, but there’s tons from the LA show:
I’d write a review of both shows but it’s hard…some shows are so powerful it’s hard for me to even think about them much for a week or two afterward.
Another highlight of the year in shows for me was seeing Ted Leo cover the Waterboy’s “Fisherman’s Blues”–my favorite song of all time:
You can even see me in the video, I’m between the shiny metal bars with my hand on my chin at the beginning of the video. A magical experience for me.
So what are your bests of 2010?
Posted on December 2, 2010, in Film, Live Shows, Music, Television. Bookmark the permalink. 37 Comments.
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One other great show that deserves mention from this year–Converge. I don’t think I ever posted a review of the show. Seriously intense. I saw the singer punch a crowd-surfing kid right in the face as he rolled by the stage. Later I was standing next to the kid and asked him if the singer had hit him. He had a big red mark on his cheek. He said “Yeah!”
Albums
Vampire Weekend – Contra. Not as good as the last one, but there are still plenty of catchy songs that I enjoy.
The Bird and the Bee – Interpreting the Masters (I kid you not, awesome covers of Hall and Oates)
Crazy Heart Soundtrack – various people. I’m not even much of a country fan, maybe it’s because I enjoyed the movie.
I like the new Florence and the Machine and Kings of Leon, but not my favorites.
Movies
Inception, Toy Story 3, Babies, September Issue. Babies is so simple but amazing. I think I’ve watched it 10 times already. September Issue is a documentary following around the Editor of Vogue as she puts together the biggest issue of the year. It totally consumes her life (and deals a lot with photography which I like).
Television
Walking Dead, Community, Top Chef (woohoo All-Stars started last night!), Breaking Bad, Rubicon and Terriers.
Terriers and Top Chef are probably the only ones we don’t talk about much here. Anyone that likes great writing and characters with depth should be watching Terriers (start at the beginning since it will probably be canceled after the low ratings this season). It’s an amazing show.
I love reality television that forces the contestants to create something. Project Runway, Work of Art, etc. Top Chef is the best of all of this type of reality tv. I like the judges and usually the annoying personalities of the chefs don’t get in the way of watching them create the food. It’s so much better than Hell’s kitchen.
Biggest letdown of 2010 on tv for me was Glee. I don’t know if I just fell for the hype, but I really liked the first few episodes of the first season. Now I read a book while my wife watches it, pausing to watch the ditsy cheerleader Britney say something hilarious.
Susan, was the kid okay w/ the fact that he got punched in the face?
Albums
My faves as of now…
Kylesa, Spiral Shadow
Ariel Pink’s Haunted Graffiti, Before Today
LCD Soundsystem, This is Happening
Wavves, King of the Beach
However this year I didn’t have that one album that just rises above the rest like I do have most years. There are still quite a few that I think I’ll like but haven’t had a chance to fully digest yet. Favorite song of the year is Kylesa “Don’t Look Back.”
TV Shows
My faves more or less in order:
Boardwalk Empire (way above the rest of the competition)
Bored to Death
True Blood
Walking Dead
Dexter
Overall pretty disappointed w/ the state of TV programming right now.
Movies
Have not seen too many this year. Inception was very entertaining, but didn’t linger long in my thoughts. I liked the Girl w/ the Dragon Tattoo trilogy (I think I saw all of them in 2010, the last two for sure).
Shows/Concerts
A down year for me. Did see LCD Soundsystem at the Hollywood Bowl and it was fun for a large crowd, but I was way to far back to see much.
Recently saw High on Fire, Torche and Kylesa w/ Susan and it was fun too, but not mind blowing. Kylesa was good, HOF was good (what I expected), but Torches vocals were to weak in the mix and they mostly played songs from their new EP, which isn’t nearly as good as their last album or songs by the lead singer/guitarist’s previous band, Floor.
I’m pretty sure I went to some other shows but can’t remember at all what they were. Hoping next year is better, already have tickets for Godspeed You! Black Emperor.
Oh, yeah. No live concerts. I prefer to buy the dvd or cd of a live concert rather than actually attending. The White Stripes live album is pretty great.
Best TV: Justified. Hands down. Nothing else comes close (although I did truly like Rubicon).
Best Movie: Hmm. Been a busy year and I’ve not seen that many. Probably Kick Ass which was a great send up of the superhero genre. I was shocked it only made $50 million. Overall though it’s been a poor year for movies. I looked at the list and I didn’t really miss much. Next year is looking pretty solid though.
Concert: Heh. I can’t remember the last time I had time to go to a concert… Years and years ago.
Albums: I really dug Arcade Fire‘s album The Suburbs. Although I also liked Contra from Vampire Weekend. As others said nowhere as good as the previous one but still good.
TV:
Justified and Rubicon by far. Great characters, writing, and dialogue. I was completely caught up in both series and couldn’t wait until the next episode.
Movies:
I’m always a bit behind in my movies but I thought Inception was fantastic. I should probably withhold final judgment until I see True Grit.
Albums:
The Suburbs by Arcade Fire
Contra by Vampire Weekend
Infinite Arms by Band of Horses (took me a while but I came around on this one)
God Willin’ and the Creek Don’t Rise by Ray Lamontagne (best album since Trouble)
Permalight by Rogue Wave
Best Concerts:
Pearl Jam with Band of Horses kicking off their US tour.
David Gray with Ray Lamontagne
@Clark
I forgot about Kick Ass. I loved that movie.
Awesome, some albums I want to check out listed already!
Mike: The kid didn’t seem that upset. A little indignant is all. I saw the shock on his face when he got punched and I can’t help but chuckle over it. I don’t know why Jacob gets violent at shows (he was hugging and shaking hands with everyone afterward, sitting on the edge of the stage–I didn’t wash my hand for a week).
Tim J: What was it you liked about Inception?
Oh, and Mike: The Melvins are playing every weekend in January at Spaceland, a different set each time. Haven’t decided which night I should go…I have a feeling one night will probably be all feedback, so it’s a gamble.
Also Low is playing as part of their Christmas tour next week.
Dang, I forgot Boardwalk Empire and Justified. I know people complain about the state of television, but there is definitely enough great stuff to keep me occupied once you get away from the four networks.
I did see Inception. That was a great film, although there was something about Kick Ass I liked better. Actually Toy Story 3 and Inception were the only memorable movies of the summer that I can recall.
I’ve been hearing great things about True Grit too. I love the Coens although a few of their films sucked. (Ladykillers, Burn After Reading)
TV
Justified, Breaking Bad, Rubicon, Community. 30 Rock is still funny.
Movies
How to Train Your Dragon was good. I find myself turning it on for my kids more often the TS3, maybe because it’s shorter…but if it isn’t shorter, it feels shorter.
Kick Ass
…looking forward to True Grit and Tron. Did anybody see Exit Through the Gift Shop? I’ve heard great things.
I’m really bad at these kinds of lists, but I’ll give this some thought.
Yeah I saw Exit Through the Gift Shop, forgot it came out this year. I loved it but I’m really into graffiti. It’s not what I expected it to be at all.
albums: The Tallest Man on Earth (though his show is on my worst list for the year), Janelle Monae, Big Boi, Twin Tigers, and I do love that Midlake album.
shows: The Mountain Goats, Suckers and Local Natives, and the surprise was St. Vincent. She rocked that eff out of that show.
movies: I’m lame, I don’t watch movies. I did like Toy Story 3 and Inception.
TV: Seriously, Community is kicking ass. So clever and crazy. Balls out. I love 30 Rock this season. And also Dexter.
Just saw The Social Network last night. Although I need more time to let it sink in I think it was one of the best movies of the year.
Also I’ve recently been listening to Kanye’s new album. Not the type of music I’m typically into, but some of the songs are surprisingly good, especially “Runaway.”
I wouldn’t presume to call these “best of the year,” just my personal favorites:
Movie: “Inception,” even if it ripped off a Donald Duck comic book from the 1990s. Got my fingers crossed for Tron.
Album: Phoenix – “Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix”
TV: Fringe, Community, 30 Rock (the live episode of which totally rocked), Boardwalk Empire
Not to be too picky, but that Phoenix album came out in 2009.
Albums:
LCD Soundsystem “This Is Happening”
Joanna Newsom “Have One on Me”
Sufjan Stevens “The Age of Adz”
Beach House “Teen Dream”
The Walkmen “Lisbon”
Yeah, Phoenix’s album was on the list last year:
http://www.kulturblog.com/2010/01/2009-albums-of-the-year/
No fair nominating it two years in a row.
Whoops. Sorry about the Phoenix reference. As I get older, the years just merge into one memory…
Let me nominate instead The Bird and the Bee’s album “Interpreting the Masters, Vol. 1: A Tribute to Daryl Hall & John Oates”
Albums:
Spoon
Arcade Fire
National
Movies:
127 Hours
Toy Story 3
Kick Ass
Concerts:
Deerhunter/Spoon
Quasi/Pavement
Calexico/Arcade Fire
Bridge School Benefit (Grizzly Bear, Modest Mouse, Jackson Browne, Billy Idol, Lucinda Williams, Kris Kristofferson, Emmylou Harris, Elvis Costello, Pearl Jam, Buffalo Springfield)
TV:
Mythbusters
Community
Park and Recreation
Modern Family
Jackson Browne? How was he?
I don’t know JB all that well, and it was a short set (with David Lindley) but he was great. He played a Warren Zevon cover, a Bruce Springsteen cover, “For Everyman,” “Looking East,” and “These Days.” That last one is a quiet classic.
Re: Bridge School — the SF Giants clinched the World Series during Billy Idol’s set, and I think he was confused about all the excitement for his old Generation X songs. Hope he realized what happened before the reunion planning started.
He wrote “These Days” when he was 16.
Really? Wow. Reminds me that Frank Black wrote “Here Comes Your Man” at age 15, and Neil Young wrote “Sugar Mountain” on his 19th birthday.
Albums: Truthfully, I didn’t hear that much I liked, and was either underwhelmed or outright annoyed with what everyone else seemed to like (e.g., LCD Soundsystem, former, Sleigh Bells, latter) this year. Here are a few that stuck:
Together – The New Pornographers
Everything Under the Sun – Jukebox the Ghost
Bible Stories – The Foxymorons
Contra – Vampire Weekend
Singles: There were a few great singles. Here are some, though I know I’m missing a bunch more.
Animal – Miike Snow
Bloodbuzz, Ohio – The National
Fall Hard – Shout Out Louds
Movies: I’m going to go with the same movies as everyone else here. Not a very strong year for movies, I think, though there are a bunch that I haven’t seen yet.
Deception
Toy Story 3
TV: Narrow, but great, selection of TV programs.
Rubicon
Community
Stargate Universe
Fringe
Parks & Recreation (if 2010 includes last season)
Concerts: Sigh. I guess it’s time to admit that I’m getting old.
Movies: The Social Network, Inception, The Last Exorcism.
TV: Boardwalk Empire, The Walking Dead.
Finally saw Exit Through the Gift Shop and thought it was great, although I’m still trying to figure out my opinion of what actually happened. Best documentary of the year in my book.
A lot of people think it’s a hoax. Which I think is awesome. If it’s not a hoax, and people think it is, I’m sure Banksy loves it. So he wins either way.
Music: The Young – Voyagers of Legend
TV: Louie
Movie: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Book: Cardboard Gods by Josh Wilker
I gave the following albums to family members (so that I can burn them and listen to them myself, of course):
Belle and Sabastian Write About Love
Matt and Kim – Sidewalks
Slow Club – Yeah, So.
All are pretty darn good, from my initial Christmas morning listening.
I’ve finally come around to Local Natives. (I know, took me long enough.)
Oh, and Gorilla Manor is $5 at Amazon’s mp3 store through the end of this month.
Love that album.
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