Let's not forget that George W. Bush was President ON 9/11, not just somehow responsible after that date. And excuse me, but "keeping us safe" doesn't involve sitting in a classroom while kids read My Pet Goat for 6 1/2 minutes...
Keith Olbermann (back in September of 2007) lays out a nice collection of failures before and after 9/11, and how NO ONE was held responsible or accountable for being wrong and outright lying about the connections between Iraq and 9/11...in fact, most got promoted:
And don't even get me started on Katrina. Here's how badly the Bush Administration fucked up that disaster...watch this clip from Hannity & Colmes, on FOX NEWS, six days after the levees broke. You will see Geraldo Rivera and Shepard Smith pissed off and teary, begging people at home watching to do something! It's the saddest, most honest reporting done during the entire storm:
Listening to the President tonight, watching interviews over the past couple of weeks, it's almost like he thinks we've forgotten all of this shit. Well, sorry sir, we haven't. You're a disgrace to all of us and it's a damn shame you're given the time to attempt to pat yourself on the back.
1.15.2009
BUSH GONNA TALK TO US ON TV TONIGHT!
For the very last time. Let's hope it's half as eventful as his very last press conference...
Has it been 8 years already?! Sigh...
Has it been 8 years already?! Sigh...
1.13.2009
LOST IS ALMOST BACK!!!
It's been a long EIGHT months, but the best show on television is about to return. Sadly, we still have one week left, but one of the highlights of being addicted to LOST is peeking into various insights of fan's theories and suggestions. And lucky for us, Doc Jensen over at Entertainment Weekly went ahead and began his weekly Lost column today!
1.12.2009
TOP 10 MOVIES OF 2008
Before I start, I want to remind you all that I live in Kansas City, and some notable releases such as The Wrestler haven't open here yet. So this list is simply based off movies in 2008 that actually made it to Middle America and that I was lucky enough to see.
10. TROPIC THUNDER
I know, it's a Ben Stiller movie. It's a comedy. It's not the type of thing you think of as "Best of the Year" quality, but dammit...it was funny. Robert Downey Jr. gave his best performance of the year in this, (sorry, Iron Man) and both Jack Black and Ben Stiller managed to NOT get on my last damn nerves. (which is rare.) The last scene, with Stiller running towards the helicopter while a small child is stabbing his back...pure awful. Awfully funny, that is.
9. GHOST TOWN
Again, not a film you're going to see on a ton of "Best of" lists, but a surprising favorite of mine. I expected a "meh" date movie, but completely underestimated Ricky Gervais' amazing charm...even when he's being a total asshole. The love story is fun and believable and Tea Leoni has real chemistry with Gervais. I was kind of surprised it came and went without making much of a dent at the box office. I suppose Ricky's not "leading man" material quite yet, but I imagine the word of mouth after seeing this must have been positive.
8. MAN ON WIRE
A documentary about a French tightrope walker named Philippe Petit who walked between the World Trade Towers. He did it back in 1974, but you'd think he'd done it last week with the energy and excitement he still has talking about it. Truly a feel-good film about just attempting something for the sake of pure enjoyment.
7. DOUBT
A tough, sober, and intense performance-driven drama about a priest who may or may not have molested a young boy. You get a feeling you know exactly where this film is headed, who's right and wrong, and it forces you to go back and forth. Filled with incredible actors who all bring their A-game, (including a wide-eyed Amy Adams, caught in the middle of fierce battle of certainty.) I also love the way that numerous people I've talked to have variations of what reeeeeeally happened. In the end, the film leaves you with your own sense of doubt.
6. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Danny Boyle has now earned the credibility for me to automatically see whatever his next film might be. The man takes chances, does dark horror, (28 Days Later) and follows it up with a kids film, (Millions.) Now he brings us a Bollywood movie that follows 3 orphans through Mumbai and how that leads to the main character in the hot seat on Hindi version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" The lil' indy film that could, Slumdog takes you on a journey of love, the ability to change your life, and rising up above your surroundings. It's a heartwarming film, that will leave you smiling (and perhaps dancing along to the end credits.)
5. RELIGULOUS
A pseudo-documentary, (along the lines of Borat) that follows Bill Maher on his quest to prove that religion is bullshit. At least, the kind of religion that gets people all over the world to start killing one another. (Here's looking at you, Middle East!) Rasied by a Catholic Father and a Jewish Mother, he wondered why Mom never went to church with them, and why one day they simply stopped going to church all together. It's probably my personal favorite film of the year, but based solely as a "movie" it misses the mark in some spots. If you're like me, not sure what you believe but pretty sure that NO ONE has all the answers, you won't find a more entertaining (or enlightening) film this year.
4. MILK
I had no idea who Harvey Milk was. I had no idea that cops used to bust up gay bars like scenes out of the prohibition era. I had no idea of the incredible transformation of San Francisco in the late 60's early 70's in the Castro district. But after seeing this film, Gus Van Sant opened my eyes. Sure, Sean Penn delivers a knockout performance, but it's Van Sant's direction, his use of actual footage and eye for detail, that brings this movie to life. This happened, this is a part of our history. And the saddest part, is that so little has changed over the past 30 years. Watching footage of Anita Bryant rant and rave against homosexuality and how it destroys families and our morals is timeless. Sure, she was arguing against homosexuals getting rights protecting them for being fired simply for being gay, (including teaching in public schools) but the same tired arguments are now being used to reject them from being able to marry one another. Milk was the most important and poignant film of the year.
3. THE DARK KNIGHT
These next two are just fantastic films that just so happen to be things I was already in love with. Comics and cartoons. The Dark Knight destroyed my expectations of what "comic book" movies could be. This was a film. Period. A classic in cinema that will stand the test of time. From the opening shot, with Joker's goons robbing a bank, then shooting one another in the back, each thinking they're going to be the one actually in on the big haul...Christopher Nolan tosses aside the usual predictable campy notions of what bank heists go like. This is something out of Heat, this feels real, yet somewhat off-putting. And then you have Heath Ledger. Someone forgot to tell him that super hero villains are supposed to be over-the-top and corny. His Joker is destined to become placed aside Hannibal Lecter. If there's any justice, they'll simply give him the Oscar and not even bother getting anyone else's hopes up. This movie made me feel awesome about being a geek.
2. WALL*E
Ranked above The Dark Knight, simply because I'm a hopeless romantic. WALL*E says it best when it says nothing at all. Who else but Pixar would spend the first 20 minutes of their feature film dialogue-free? On a children's movie, no less. Except this isn't a children's movie. It's powerful enough for anyone and everyone. Young and old, from this side of the planet or the other. Shit, you feel love between two robots for crying out loud! How can you get more timeless than that?! It made me want to go back and watch old silent movies and study how you can get across so much emotion without saying a word. And it's fucking beautiful to look at as well. Makes me glad I gots me a PS3 to enjoy Blu Ray.
1. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
A lot of people say it's too long, a lot of people say there's no emotion, a lot of people say it's too similar to Forest Gump, but I say it was a touching reminder that nothing ever lasts. Loosely based of the short story of the same name, David Fincher has created a film that defines the word "subtly." Brad Pitt plays his cards close to his chest, and never lets his emotions pour out. His "Benjamin Button" is one of little words, and more importantly, a sense of "I wasn't even supposed to live this long." Nothing phases him as he takes most of his life in stride...except for Daisy. He first meets her when she's only a child, when he himself is wrinkly old man, (who is actually only a few years older.) Over the next couple of decades, they're unable to connect, but feel something deep between them. A love unlike any other. And when they finally get together, from that scene up above, they're both in their 30's, living in a small apartment, sleeping on a mattress in the middle of the living room...and happier than ever. That scene and one of the very last, with Daisy walking a 2 year old Benjamin along the sidewalk, bending down to kiss him, made me just cry like a baby. Tears of happiness, tears of sadness...just hoping that I too will be able to live a nice full life before the rest of time passes me by.
10. TROPIC THUNDER
I know, it's a Ben Stiller movie. It's a comedy. It's not the type of thing you think of as "Best of the Year" quality, but dammit...it was funny. Robert Downey Jr. gave his best performance of the year in this, (sorry, Iron Man) and both Jack Black and Ben Stiller managed to NOT get on my last damn nerves. (which is rare.) The last scene, with Stiller running towards the helicopter while a small child is stabbing his back...pure awful. Awfully funny, that is.
9. GHOST TOWN
Again, not a film you're going to see on a ton of "Best of" lists, but a surprising favorite of mine. I expected a "meh" date movie, but completely underestimated Ricky Gervais' amazing charm...even when he's being a total asshole. The love story is fun and believable and Tea Leoni has real chemistry with Gervais. I was kind of surprised it came and went without making much of a dent at the box office. I suppose Ricky's not "leading man" material quite yet, but I imagine the word of mouth after seeing this must have been positive.
8. MAN ON WIRE
A documentary about a French tightrope walker named Philippe Petit who walked between the World Trade Towers. He did it back in 1974, but you'd think he'd done it last week with the energy and excitement he still has talking about it. Truly a feel-good film about just attempting something for the sake of pure enjoyment.
7. DOUBT
A tough, sober, and intense performance-driven drama about a priest who may or may not have molested a young boy. You get a feeling you know exactly where this film is headed, who's right and wrong, and it forces you to go back and forth. Filled with incredible actors who all bring their A-game, (including a wide-eyed Amy Adams, caught in the middle of fierce battle of certainty.) I also love the way that numerous people I've talked to have variations of what reeeeeeally happened. In the end, the film leaves you with your own sense of doubt.
6. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE
Danny Boyle has now earned the credibility for me to automatically see whatever his next film might be. The man takes chances, does dark horror, (28 Days Later) and follows it up with a kids film, (Millions.) Now he brings us a Bollywood movie that follows 3 orphans through Mumbai and how that leads to the main character in the hot seat on Hindi version of "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" The lil' indy film that could, Slumdog takes you on a journey of love, the ability to change your life, and rising up above your surroundings. It's a heartwarming film, that will leave you smiling (and perhaps dancing along to the end credits.)
5. RELIGULOUS
A pseudo-documentary, (along the lines of Borat) that follows Bill Maher on his quest to prove that religion is bullshit. At least, the kind of religion that gets people all over the world to start killing one another. (Here's looking at you, Middle East!) Rasied by a Catholic Father and a Jewish Mother, he wondered why Mom never went to church with them, and why one day they simply stopped going to church all together. It's probably my personal favorite film of the year, but based solely as a "movie" it misses the mark in some spots. If you're like me, not sure what you believe but pretty sure that NO ONE has all the answers, you won't find a more entertaining (or enlightening) film this year.
4. MILK
I had no idea who Harvey Milk was. I had no idea that cops used to bust up gay bars like scenes out of the prohibition era. I had no idea of the incredible transformation of San Francisco in the late 60's early 70's in the Castro district. But after seeing this film, Gus Van Sant opened my eyes. Sure, Sean Penn delivers a knockout performance, but it's Van Sant's direction, his use of actual footage and eye for detail, that brings this movie to life. This happened, this is a part of our history. And the saddest part, is that so little has changed over the past 30 years. Watching footage of Anita Bryant rant and rave against homosexuality and how it destroys families and our morals is timeless. Sure, she was arguing against homosexuals getting rights protecting them for being fired simply for being gay, (including teaching in public schools) but the same tired arguments are now being used to reject them from being able to marry one another. Milk was the most important and poignant film of the year.
3. THE DARK KNIGHT
These next two are just fantastic films that just so happen to be things I was already in love with. Comics and cartoons. The Dark Knight destroyed my expectations of what "comic book" movies could be. This was a film. Period. A classic in cinema that will stand the test of time. From the opening shot, with Joker's goons robbing a bank, then shooting one another in the back, each thinking they're going to be the one actually in on the big haul...Christopher Nolan tosses aside the usual predictable campy notions of what bank heists go like. This is something out of Heat, this feels real, yet somewhat off-putting. And then you have Heath Ledger. Someone forgot to tell him that super hero villains are supposed to be over-the-top and corny. His Joker is destined to become placed aside Hannibal Lecter. If there's any justice, they'll simply give him the Oscar and not even bother getting anyone else's hopes up. This movie made me feel awesome about being a geek.
2. WALL*E
Ranked above The Dark Knight, simply because I'm a hopeless romantic. WALL*E says it best when it says nothing at all. Who else but Pixar would spend the first 20 minutes of their feature film dialogue-free? On a children's movie, no less. Except this isn't a children's movie. It's powerful enough for anyone and everyone. Young and old, from this side of the planet or the other. Shit, you feel love between two robots for crying out loud! How can you get more timeless than that?! It made me want to go back and watch old silent movies and study how you can get across so much emotion without saying a word. And it's fucking beautiful to look at as well. Makes me glad I gots me a PS3 to enjoy Blu Ray.
1. THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON
A lot of people say it's too long, a lot of people say there's no emotion, a lot of people say it's too similar to Forest Gump, but I say it was a touching reminder that nothing ever lasts. Loosely based of the short story of the same name, David Fincher has created a film that defines the word "subtly." Brad Pitt plays his cards close to his chest, and never lets his emotions pour out. His "Benjamin Button" is one of little words, and more importantly, a sense of "I wasn't even supposed to live this long." Nothing phases him as he takes most of his life in stride...except for Daisy. He first meets her when she's only a child, when he himself is wrinkly old man, (who is actually only a few years older.) Over the next couple of decades, they're unable to connect, but feel something deep between them. A love unlike any other. And when they finally get together, from that scene up above, they're both in their 30's, living in a small apartment, sleeping on a mattress in the middle of the living room...and happier than ever. That scene and one of the very last, with Daisy walking a 2 year old Benjamin along the sidewalk, bending down to kiss him, made me just cry like a baby. Tears of happiness, tears of sadness...just hoping that I too will be able to live a nice full life before the rest of time passes me by.
12.18.2008
OLD CLIPS FROM DAVID LETTERMAN
I dunno why these sprung to mind tonight, but they're both cherished memories from being a teenager. Both are from 1994, the same year my Mother passed away, and both are extremely funny. (I used to tape things on VHS tapes and go back and watch them over and over again. TV shows, comedy specials, cartoons...it was waaaaaaay before you knew that they'd just turn around and sell this shit to you all over again on DVD.)
This first clips is of Madonna on Letterman. If you haven't ever seen this, you're missing out on one of the best moments in talk show history. She's on for nearly 20 minutes, refusing to leave, cursing like a sailor, making lots and lots of sex jokes, insulting Dave...it's the best thing I ever remember about watching The Late Show.
The next segment is broken up into 2 clips, but man, this interview stuck in my brain for years. I loved how nervous Chris Farley was...how humble and shy and sweaty he was to be sitting next to David Letterman. I love when he slams his hand down on the chair and goes, "I'm on his show!!!" I thought to myself, "I'd do the very same thing if I were ever on there." Right down to telling stories about my family and using lots of self-depricating humor.
This is when the interview gets soooooo good. Him talking about his dad is exactly how my own father was. And the way Farley makes Letterman laugh, almost coughing...so best.
This first clips is of Madonna on Letterman. If you haven't ever seen this, you're missing out on one of the best moments in talk show history. She's on for nearly 20 minutes, refusing to leave, cursing like a sailor, making lots and lots of sex jokes, insulting Dave...it's the best thing I ever remember about watching The Late Show.
The next segment is broken up into 2 clips, but man, this interview stuck in my brain for years. I loved how nervous Chris Farley was...how humble and shy and sweaty he was to be sitting next to David Letterman. I love when he slams his hand down on the chair and goes, "I'm on his show!!!" I thought to myself, "I'd do the very same thing if I were ever on there." Right down to telling stories about my family and using lots of self-depricating humor.
This is when the interview gets soooooo good. Him talking about his dad is exactly how my own father was. And the way Farley makes Letterman laugh, almost coughing...so best.
12.08.2008
TOP 10 VIDEO GAMES OF 2008!
10. GRAND THEFT AUTO 4 (PS3)
You don't have to be a video game nerd to know all about the Grand Theft Auto series. "It's that game where you kill cops, right?!" Sure is. It's also the poster child for everything wrong with America. Oh, and it's incredibly fun. You can do anything in this game. Run over people, lead the cops on a high speed chase, or, you know, actually play the storyline. It plays out like an episode of The Sopranos with twists and turns, and plenty of dead bodies. Plus, this was the first GTA for the "next gen" systems, so the graphics finally caught up to the point where the characters don't look like they're The Penguin from Batman comics, with their webbed-claw hands.
9. PATAPON (PSP)
Patapon could have easily been the stupidest game of the year. It's a sidescroller where instead of hitting buttons to attack and defend, you perfectly play "beats" as they march to the drums of war. Depending on the pattern you're playing, they'll react accordingly and either attack or hold up their shields. So it's basically a music game disguised as an action platformer. Oh, and did I forget to mention that the Patapons themselves are totally adorable?! I'd follow them into battle any day.
8. GOD OF WAR: CHAINS OF OLYMPUS (PSP)
For a PSP game, this sucker is a beautiful masterpiece. The amount of graphics, speed, intense battles, and awe-inspiring gameplay they managed to pack into a handheld is something to marvel at. This game had been played out on the PS2 before this installment, and Chains of Olympus doesn't feel like a cheap knock-off...instead it competes with the best of what the prior games offered us. If you have a PSP, you owe it to yourself to play this game!
7. BIOSHOCK (PS3)
Already an award-winning masterpiece from the XBOX 360 last year, us PS3 owners finally got a chance to dive into the depths of Rapture and discover what the fuss was all about. Turns out, this game was huge helping of fucking fantastic with a sprinkle of "guilty conscience" decision making on the side. You're asked to kill these "Little Sisters" (or save them) throughout the game, and your choices determine which outcome awaits you. It's the rare treat of a first-person-shooter with a heart and soul. One that begs to be appreciated.
6. PRINCE OF PERSIA (PS3)
If this game hadn't just came out last week, I'd probably rank it much higher. The animations in this game are so fluid, you'll swear you're watching a Japanese anime instead of playing a video game. A simple, yet thrilling adventure of great heights and incredible feats. You'll run along walls, climb up the sides of buildings, perch over railings, and swing amongst polls. All with the help of a woman sidekick that never lets you die...ever. That's the strength of this game. It feels it nice and relaxing and allows you to enjoy the experience, instead of worrying about what's coming up next.
5. ROCK BAND 2 (PS3)
The ultimate party game, hands down. Nothing is awesomer than rocking out with 3 friends to "Livin' On A Prayer!" Which is a blessing and a curse. Playing by yourself isn't nearly as fun (is it ever?!) and since Molly sings while I play drums, our band is usually on hiatus. But Rock Band 2 brings all the fun from the first one, allows you to bring over all your old songs, (and the hundred or so you've downloaded from their weekly updates) and gives you new challenges and skills to keep you busy for at least the next year. (...or at least until Rock Band: The Beatles comes out!!)
4. DEAD SPACE (PS3)
A survival horror title played on an abandoned space ship instead of scary houses or creepy villages. Sounds, okay, I guess. But boy, did I underestimate this game. It's easily the creepiest, most intense, gory, and disgusting game of the year! Sure it rips off 15 different sci-fi movies and the main character never speaks, but the visuals and the sound mixing create an incredibly believable world...that you pray you'll never actually visit. Since the spaceship is entirely made of metal, you'll hear things scrape and bump hundreds of feet away from you. It's an odd thing to get giddy about, but the sound in this game is outstanding! Oh, and the monsters you're fighting are basically the remains of your fellow crew mutated with Aliens. They use the dead bodies as a host and stretch the skin to create horrid images that seriously resemble that of car wreck victims. (which the producers of the game studied to recreate the grotesque designs. How'd you like THAT job?!)
3. PIXEL JUNK EDEN (PSN)
A $9.99 downloadable game off the Playstation Network came >this< close to being the best game of the year. It's got simple, easy-to-master controls and the graphics of old screensavers...but man, if you're not careful, it'll steal your heart. Well, the early levels anyway. For what seems like a carefee, relaxed, laid-back experience, becomes quite challenging about half-way through. The simple notion of jumping from one plant to the next, while spinning into the lil' round things that release more pollen, gets trickier with each and every new level. In fact, I never actually beat the damn thing. But man, I sure had a smile on my face each and every time I played it.
2. DE BLOB (Wii)
Again, the entire time I played this game, a smile graced my face. From ear to ear. It's rare that I play my Wii, and even rarer to play something that isn't a collection of mini-games. De Blob was overlooked and will probably not end up on many "Best of 2008" lists, but dammit, it's amazing! The premise is a simple one. All of the color in the various cities has been removed and you play as a blob who is able to mix and match red, blue, and yellow to create whatever colors the citizens desire. You repaint everything...and I mean everything! Trees come back to life when you brush up against them. Buildings require you to touch each and every wall, jump from one level to the next, in order to let the citizens come back out into the world. You have to play it to understand the joy this game brings. Because it somehow touches into your childhood and how much fun you had coloring away on a white piece of paper, leaving your mark on the world, creating art and having fun.
1. LITTLE BIG PLANET (PS3)
Good Lord. There cannot be a better video game this year...possibly this decade. A simple 2-D sidescroller, Little Big Planet becomes so much more after you've beaten the 50 levels that come with the game. One way to look at this game as one giant tutorial for all the tools they give you throughout the levels. Because there's an entire new experience awaiting you once you get done "playing" and start "creating." And even if you don't want to create a damn thing, there's plenty of people creating levels online every single minute...all over the world! This game has charm, a wow-factor, and makes you feel excited to see what new things are around the corner. This is the reason video games are becoming more and more of a mainstream success story. You can play it alone, with friends, create new levels, challenge your friends online, search the various worlds online like some sort of Youtube system where you get ranked and the cream of the crop rises to the top. This is the future of video games, and I'm glad innovation and creativity is alive and well.
12.05.2008
IT MAKES ME CHUCKLE...
The way some people refuse to believe facts.
Anti-Obama Bloggers Challenge Birthplace
That was the headline a couple days ago on the front page of The Kansas City Star.
And man, it sure makes me feel better about these "challenges" when the websites look so 1996 and uber-professional. I mean, it's gots the Bald Eagle!!! And a flagz!! What more "proof" do you need?
Even the always (never) reliable WorldNetDaily is in on the action! They need your help raising money to get a TV ad on the air.
Slate does a good job laying out both the facts (psssssssst...he actually was born in Hawaii!) and the reasons this story won't die anytime soon.
It'd be even funnier if it were so damn sad.
12.03.2008
12.02.2008
TOP 10 ALBUMS OF THE YEAR
I know, it's early, there's still an entire month left before 2009...but glancing at Amazon's "New Release" list, I can't see anything coming out between now and the end of the month that would change my mind. (Other than a Cat Power vinyl EP...grrrr...)
Unlike movies, (which I hope to actually get done THIS YEAR) the music industry doesn't wait until the last possible second to release the best it has to offer. So without further ado, here's my picks for the Top 10 Albums of 2008:
10. SHE & HIM * VOLUME: 1
I've loved Zooey Deschanel's voice ever since she sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Leon Redbone on the ELF soundtrack. M. Ward, I actually passed off as just another singer-songwriter who's friends with Jack Johnson. But together, they created one of the sweetest, most romantic melodies of the year. Try and not get goosebumps while listening to "You Really Gotta Hold On Me." It's impossible.
9. NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS * DIG!!! LAZARUS, DIG!!!
Still randy off singing "No Pussy Blues" from his Grinderman days, Nick Cave brought his Bad Seeds along on a wild and adventurous ride following Lazarus's tale of coming back to life. Songs like, "Lie Down Here (And Be My Girl)" and "We Call Upon The Author" demand your full attention, or else there will be consequences.
8. DAVID BYRNE & BRIAN ENO * EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN TODAY
This album would probably be ranked higher if it didn't just come out a couple weeks ago. I've listened to it repeatedly ever since I bought it, and love most of the tracks. A few here and there wander off too far for my taste, but given enough time, I probably would have fallen in love with them all. Give "Life is Long" a spin and see if you dig it as much as I do.
7. FOXBORO HOT TUBS * STOP DROP AND ROLL!!!
I'm a sucker for 50's type sock-hop music. You give me a backbeat, and I'm all yours. Toss in the members of Green Day and a sense of fun and nonsense, and I'm swooning. This record just encompassed the fact that you can sell millions of albums, win plenty of Grammy awards, and still make a silly, pointless album. They are so carefree and loose on here, and songs like "Mother Mary" just echo the call that more bands should try this.
6. RANDY NEWMAN * HARPS & ANGELS
Yes, he's that old guy who sang the Toy Story song. He's also one of the sharpest wits out there and can write a sad love song that can rip your heart out straight from your chest. Oh, and he's damn funny. Basically, he's insanely awesome and you should feel like a total asshole for assuming he's lame. Even Amazon doesn't respect him enough to make his album picture regular size. Go listen to "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" and educate yourself...fool.
5. BOB DYLAN * TELL TALE SIGNS: BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 8
Everyone knows I'm a huge Bob Dylan fan. Especially late Dylan. Sure, "Blood on the Tracks" is a classic, but "Time Out of Mind" is the best for me. Lucky for me, this collection of out-takes and B-sides focus mostly off that album and ones thereafter. It's two discs of bliss, (if you're a Dylan fan, obviously. Molly would define it as "torture.") and songs like "Red River Shore" are so good, you wonder how they ended up on the cutting room floor.
4. VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Much like the David Byrne & Brian Eno album, this one is probably suffering from the time it was released. But in this one's case, it's the fact that it's nearly a year old now. Don't get me wrong, it was one of the few albums to match the humongous hype surrounding it, but it's kind of slid a lil' bit in recent months. I love it like it's the 2nd child I'll never have. The other three albums before it are mighty awesome and wonderful...and Vampire Weekend is good too. Just in a different way.
3. LITTLE JOY
A side project from the drummer of The Strokes and the guitarist from Los Hermanos, Little Joy is probably my biggest surprise of the year. It caught me off-guard and completely stole my heart. A cross between The Velvet Underground (with Nico!) and sipping fruity drinks on the beach, this album will make you smile. Period. It's simple, romantic, and short enough that each listen leaves you longing for more. What more could you ask for from a record? Listen to "Don't Watch Me Dancing" and remember what it feels like to get swept off your feet.
2. RA RA RIOT * THE RHUMB LINE
The circumstances surrounding the recording of this album are tragic and weigh heavy on the sound they were able to achieve. Their drummer drown in the ocean following a concert in Massachusetts, and as a band, they had to make the difficult decision of continuing on without him. With only an EP under their belt, The Rhumb Line is actually their debut, and it's simply remarkable. They create a rich sound with stings, dual vocals, and just incredibly catchy pop melodies. This album is top notch and all around a treat for your senses. It took me to the East Coast, even though I've never been to New England. See where songs like, "St. Peter's Day Festival" take you.
1. ELBOW * THE SELDOM SEEN KID
Easily the best album of the year. I made that statement when I bought it, and throughout the entire year, nothing was able to beat it. It's glorious, it's epic, it's outstanding in scope and purpose. Elbow set out to make a masterpiece and they delivered. Each and every song sets the bar higher. This is truly the reason people come up with "Albums of the Year." To showcase something that slides in under the radar. Something that captures the essence of why we all adore music so much. Songs like "One Day Like This" prove that this band is no fluke, and that this record deserves all the praise it can get.
Unlike movies, (which I hope to actually get done THIS YEAR) the music industry doesn't wait until the last possible second to release the best it has to offer. So without further ado, here's my picks for the Top 10 Albums of 2008:
10. SHE & HIM * VOLUME: 1
I've loved Zooey Deschanel's voice ever since she sang "Baby, It's Cold Outside" with Leon Redbone on the ELF soundtrack. M. Ward, I actually passed off as just another singer-songwriter who's friends with Jack Johnson. But together, they created one of the sweetest, most romantic melodies of the year. Try and not get goosebumps while listening to "You Really Gotta Hold On Me." It's impossible.
9. NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS * DIG!!! LAZARUS, DIG!!!
Still randy off singing "No Pussy Blues" from his Grinderman days, Nick Cave brought his Bad Seeds along on a wild and adventurous ride following Lazarus's tale of coming back to life. Songs like, "Lie Down Here (And Be My Girl)" and "We Call Upon The Author" demand your full attention, or else there will be consequences.
8. DAVID BYRNE & BRIAN ENO * EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS WILL HAPPEN TODAY
This album would probably be ranked higher if it didn't just come out a couple weeks ago. I've listened to it repeatedly ever since I bought it, and love most of the tracks. A few here and there wander off too far for my taste, but given enough time, I probably would have fallen in love with them all. Give "Life is Long" a spin and see if you dig it as much as I do.
7. FOXBORO HOT TUBS * STOP DROP AND ROLL!!!
I'm a sucker for 50's type sock-hop music. You give me a backbeat, and I'm all yours. Toss in the members of Green Day and a sense of fun and nonsense, and I'm swooning. This record just encompassed the fact that you can sell millions of albums, win plenty of Grammy awards, and still make a silly, pointless album. They are so carefree and loose on here, and songs like "Mother Mary" just echo the call that more bands should try this.
6. RANDY NEWMAN * HARPS & ANGELS
Yes, he's that old guy who sang the Toy Story song. He's also one of the sharpest wits out there and can write a sad love song that can rip your heart out straight from your chest. Oh, and he's damn funny. Basically, he's insanely awesome and you should feel like a total asshole for assuming he's lame. Even Amazon doesn't respect him enough to make his album picture regular size. Go listen to "A Few Words in Defense of Our Country" and educate yourself...fool.
5. BOB DYLAN * TELL TALE SIGNS: BOOTLEG SERIES VOL. 8
Everyone knows I'm a huge Bob Dylan fan. Especially late Dylan. Sure, "Blood on the Tracks" is a classic, but "Time Out of Mind" is the best for me. Lucky for me, this collection of out-takes and B-sides focus mostly off that album and ones thereafter. It's two discs of bliss, (if you're a Dylan fan, obviously. Molly would define it as "torture.") and songs like "Red River Shore" are so good, you wonder how they ended up on the cutting room floor.
4. VAMPIRE WEEKEND
Much like the David Byrne & Brian Eno album, this one is probably suffering from the time it was released. But in this one's case, it's the fact that it's nearly a year old now. Don't get me wrong, it was one of the few albums to match the humongous hype surrounding it, but it's kind of slid a lil' bit in recent months. I love it like it's the 2nd child I'll never have. The other three albums before it are mighty awesome and wonderful...and Vampire Weekend is good too. Just in a different way.
3. LITTLE JOY
A side project from the drummer of The Strokes and the guitarist from Los Hermanos, Little Joy is probably my biggest surprise of the year. It caught me off-guard and completely stole my heart. A cross between The Velvet Underground (with Nico!) and sipping fruity drinks on the beach, this album will make you smile. Period. It's simple, romantic, and short enough that each listen leaves you longing for more. What more could you ask for from a record? Listen to "Don't Watch Me Dancing" and remember what it feels like to get swept off your feet.
2. RA RA RIOT * THE RHUMB LINE
The circumstances surrounding the recording of this album are tragic and weigh heavy on the sound they were able to achieve. Their drummer drown in the ocean following a concert in Massachusetts, and as a band, they had to make the difficult decision of continuing on without him. With only an EP under their belt, The Rhumb Line is actually their debut, and it's simply remarkable. They create a rich sound with stings, dual vocals, and just incredibly catchy pop melodies. This album is top notch and all around a treat for your senses. It took me to the East Coast, even though I've never been to New England. See where songs like, "St. Peter's Day Festival" take you.
1. ELBOW * THE SELDOM SEEN KID
Easily the best album of the year. I made that statement when I bought it, and throughout the entire year, nothing was able to beat it. It's glorious, it's epic, it's outstanding in scope and purpose. Elbow set out to make a masterpiece and they delivered. Each and every song sets the bar higher. This is truly the reason people come up with "Albums of the Year." To showcase something that slides in under the radar. Something that captures the essence of why we all adore music so much. Songs like "One Day Like This" prove that this band is no fluke, and that this record deserves all the praise it can get.
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