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Modern Drift by Efterklang from Rumraket on Vimeo.

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Albums of the Year:

1. Thee Oh Sees - Help:

Two things are magical about this release. Well, honestly, way more than two things are magical about this release. I wrote a blog post about it earlier this year that you should read if you want to hear the album described (or read it described, I’m sure you understand my meaning). But let me sum up it’s position at number one on my list by saying this:  1. I guess this just taught me that I could follow my own beat, without anyone’s recommendation I could pinpoint what I like and pull it off the shelf and throw it in my player and be satisfied for months. Musical enjoyment independence and freedom you could say.  2. This firmed up the fact in my mind that albums like Jay Reatard’s Blood Visions had started. An album doesn’t need to be by Radiohead or TV on the Radio to be solid gold.

I know that all sounds gushing and the like, but the point is, not only was this my favorite album of the year, it changed the way I see the music enjoying experience. It’s not for everyone, but it’s certainly my favorite.

2. Converge - Axe to Fall

I think this is my favorite Converge record. I didn’t spend much time with No Heroes and Jane Doe will forever be their defining moment, but this absolutely gorgeous. The best heavy metal release not only of the year, but of my recent memory, good start to finish, time and time again. A thinking man’s grind album.

3. Kurt Vile - God is Saying This to You…/Violators EP/Childish Prodigy

Kurt is my most listened to new artist this year for sure. Ever since Dusted magazine turned me on to Constant Hitmaker at the end of last year. This guy totally slayed 2009, and I don’t care what any major publication says, all three of these releases are worthy of an album of the year nod. I went by myself and waited 6 hours to see the guy earlier this year, and I still have no ounce of anger for him. (Not that that was his fault. He and the Violators were amazing once they went on, and he was a very nice dude to talk to afterward). Any other year this guy would have been #1. Totally owning bedroom folk with God is Saying This to You? and then hitting the major indie circuit with a well developed trippy/bluesy rock one two punch on Childish Prodigy. Totally awesome year, and I’m looking forward to many more.

4. DOOM- Born Like This

What can I say. DOOM is amazing. Best rapper going for sure. A wealth of clever and intelligent word play. And then there’s the guest spots (rock solid) and the production (right up there with Madvillainy). I’ll wait another 5 years if it means something this good.

5. Animal Collective - Merriwether Post Pavillion

This is everyone else’s number one. I know why. Insane amounts of continuously progressing originality, a record that even your girlfriend could like. I love it too guys. They haven’t made a misstep yet. So what, it’s still my number five.

6. The Points North - I Saw Across the Sound

And this isn’t just because I work here. (You don’t see any other amazingly solid Grinding Tapes albums listed here. Although you can and should find them listed HERE.) This album was the soundtrack to my home life this year. Chris, Regina, and Dylan made the album that defines what I think of when I’m in Boston, and well, I’m loving being in Boston. They have earned every accolade coming to them, and many more.

7. Avett Brothers - I and Love and You

I love these guys. The introduction of the piano, solid. The production nod from Rick “the mad monk of major label music” Rubin certainly didn’t hurt either. Tuneful. Undeniable.

8.  The Black Crowes -  Before The Frost…

It’s the Black Crowes, I’m a sucker.

9.  Dawes- North Hills

Rock Solid Country Rock.

10. Ganglians- Monster Head Room

Very Underrated. Solid group of influences. Definitely a promising debut.

Honorable Mentions:

Best Artwork and Packaging: Elijah Wyman - tiny mtns

Most Impressive on Just One Listen: Tune-Yards - Bird Brains

Should have gotten more spins: Mos Def - The Ecstatic, Pissed Jeans - King of Jeans, Maxwell - Blacksummersnight

Movies of The Year:

1. Fantastic Mr. Fox

Oh boy, do I love Roald Dahl. Oh boy, do I love Stop Motion Animation. Oh Boy, do I love Wes Anderson. Oh Boy, Oh Boy do I love it when everything goes right.

2. Coraline

I have been watching a lot of kids movies lately I feel. this one was the most rock-solid. An enormous triumph for 3-D animation AND storytelling.

3. A Serious Man

The Coen Brothers best since No Country for Old Men. That’s not saying much I guess. But I would put this in their Top 5 ever. So dry, hilarious, interesting and moving. Their second best comedy effort. Second only to The Big Lebowski.

4. District 9

Awesome action. Stomach turning plot and effects. But most importantly, amazingly relevant Sci-Fi storytelling.

5. Watchmen

This is based on the best graphic Novel I’m aware of. It gets a million points just for not disgracing its namesake. But on top of that, man does this film got style.

6. I Love You, Man

Interesting twist on the romantic comedy formula. Surprisingly well executed. Amazing improv from Paul Rudd and Jason Segal. Better than you ever thought it was going to be.

7. Drag Me To Hell

I love scary movies. But only if I can laugh on the way out of the theater. Thanks Sam Raimi. R.I.P. Spiderman 4.

8. Moon

Only this low on the list because I hyped myself out of my mind and only would have been satisfied with Alien meets 2001 meets Blade Runner. Duncan Jones and Sam Rockwell made an amazingly simple, subtle and mind-blowing movie. Not bad for a start. His next one will probably fulfill my every heart’s desire.

9.  Star Trek/Up

Star Trek was the best reboot summer blockbuster since Batman Begins. Totally fun. Maybe a little bit of a guilty pleasure. But damn if that wasn’t the most clever way to reboot one of the best series ever.

Up, on the other hand, continued the legacy of Pixar after Wall-E changed it forever last year. Incredibly interesting general direction, but a few things were hauntingly Disney.

10. Zombieland

Just amazing comedy, with Zombies. This, not Adventureland, is the best Michael Cera movie that he wasn’t in. Totally fun and gratifying.

(note- these last three bored me at times, or fell short of my high expectations, but still that certain “I don’t know what” that makes them worth mentioning)

11. Where the Wild Things Are

Again, my hopes were to high. The only way I would have been satisfied is if this was Charlie in The Chocolate Factory meets Adaptation meets well, exactly what the visuals were.

12. Inglorious Bastards

Lots of good performances. Amazing dialogue. Totally gratifying ending. I could have done with a little more Brad Pitt and a little more Inglorious Bastards.

13. Limits of Control

Art house. I won’t get this fully until there is a text book written about it.

Honorable Mentions:

Most Game Changing Movie of the Year- Avatar (and not half bad either)

Most Amusing- Step aside Hangover, I choose G-Force.

(To be fair: Movies I have yet to see: The Messenger, The Informant, Bad Lieutenant, In the Loop, Hurt Locker)

Comic Book Series of the Year:

1. Daredevil

Issue 500 carried the best series of Superhero comics into the next decade for sure.

2. Secret Warriors

Best new comic last year, interesting team of good guys, menacing bad guys, tons of fun that is sure to keep on giving.

3. X-Factor

I’m not even caught up, I’m just loving it.

4. Batman and Robin

Grant Morrison almost makes up for Batman R.I.P.

5. X-force

Despite a few stupid cross overs, this potentially mindless slash-fest was the best X-book this year. Awesome art. Consistently good writing.

Yeah, I’m a dork, so shoot me.

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The song is “Don’t You Evah” from their totally awesome Gagagagaga record.

The robot is a thing called the Keepon.

Spoon is apparently playing the Orpheum December 4th with Phoenix and Passion Pit.

I really wanna go.

Their new album Transference comes out on January 19th in the states. It’s on the dope-a-licious Merge Records.

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If there is one movie I’m excited for right now, it’s Moon. Just ask my roommate, who has to deal with the fact that I come running into his room every time there is an update. Or ask my girlfriend who had to deal with me dorking out with jealousy when she told me that her boss got to see the flick at Sundance.

There may be other films I’m excited for (cough, Wild Things, cough). But the fact of the matter is, this one looks amazing.

It was independently made–by David Bowie’s son, Duncan Jones, no less–and it has been picked up by Sony Classics for a wide release. It stars Hollywood up-and-comer Sam Rockwell, star of Choke, Snow Angels, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, and The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. Just that is enough to draw attention. But it doesn’t end there. The trailer and all early reports say that the movie is cut from the same stuff that made films like 2001: A Space Odyssey and Alien. That stuff is the stuff of being alone and scared in space.

Here’s the premise: Sam’s character has signed up to do a year of farming moon rocks on the moon… by himself. A few days before he is to be relieved, he starts seeing things. I’ll just let you watch the preview.

Oh yeah, Kevin Spacey voices the robot. And how about that little taste of score they gave us?

OK, I’ll stop.

The movie comes out September 3rd. You can count this guy as being extremely impatient and excited.

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Yes. I’m still excited.

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I think a lot of people are pretty psyched about this…

Well, I’m no different.

Spike Jonze directs, David Eggers adapted the script, Arcade Fire in the preview and Jim Henson workshop did the critters.

Now you tell me if you are not psyched too.

P.S. Going to see Elijah record tonight, pretty excited for that.

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So, it’s been a minute since I’ve posted and for that I am sorry (cause it looks like things are really heating up)… but here is something completely worth your time to check out….

Sigur Rós is a really excellent band from Iceland. I know I’m not the only one who would agree in saying they are one of the best bands going. But whether or not you are familiar with them, this video of them in a bar singing a tune off their incredible and notably underrated last album Með suð í eyrum við spilum endalaust is definitely an eye and ear pleaser.

Sigur Rós - Við spilum endalaust - A Take Away Show from La Blogotheque on Vimeo.

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That’s right.

You may have just thought that this was another cheap-o SNL film to avoid ala “It’s Pat,” but boy were you wrong. You probably noticed the curly mop of SNL cast member Andy Sandberg at the center of that poster, but you may have missed Jorma Taccone and Akiva Schaffer, the other two-thirds of the three-man comedy group, The Lonely Island. It’s an amazing treasure in and of itself, but these man also star in and direct this film respectively, and are writers full time with SNL. You may have noticed their work in the highly-sought-after “Digital Shorts” portion of the show.

All that aside, the movie is certainly no throw away. Hilarity ensues as Andy, or Rod, tries to live up to the legacy of his stuntman father and earn the respect of his bitter and combative stepfather by performing stunts in the community.

Also featured here in are Bill Hader (SNL), Danny McBride (Eastbownd and Down, Pineapple Express), Will Arnett (Arrested Development), Ian McShane (Deadwood, Kung Fu Panda) and Chris Parnell (SNL). Different reports suggest the movie was originally intended for Will Ferrel or Dane Cook, but boy are we glad it landed in the hands of these  folks. It is also important to note that the eighties-style anthems reign supreme in this film and Queens of the Stone Age appear as hair metal band “Gown” in the climactic scene.

If you’ve checked out www.thelonelyisland.com and you’re not already sold, you’ll have to take the word of this humble critic and maybe ask Elijah Wyman what he thinks, but the movie can be rented most anywhere including on the interwebs through Netflix. But if you can find it, its worth the measly $3.99 Blockbuster will charge you for a used copy.  I know it hasn’t stopped getting played at my house.

Fans of Digital Shorts, motorcycle stunting and sophmoric humor, take note.

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