MY BEST OF '08

I'll hold off on my movie picks until I see at least one of the following three movies in the coming week: FROST/NIXON, DOUBT or REVOLUTIONARY ROAD. But I'm happy to share some of the other highlights of pop culture that I experienced from the past year. As always, your comments are welcome!

Top Music Downloads

Album Category
TV On The Radio, "Dear Science," (partial review in a previous post) -- Album of the Year.

Vampire Weekend

Raphael Saddiq, "The Way I See It"-- Old style 60's soul dressed up with a little modern day hip-hop sheen from one of the masters of the genre. If you haven't heard it, you've gotta check it out.

Beck, "Modern Guilt" -- perfect blend of Beck's patented wacky white boy funk (see "Odelay") and his more, somber and mature singer-songwriter side (see "Sea Changes").

Lil' Wayne, "Tha Carter III" -- Profane and insane, it is nevertheless plain that the new wizard of rhyme is none other than Lil' Wayne.

Singles Category
Beyonce, "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" -- just try and resist this song. I dare you. No, I double-dog dare you. Even Sigourney Weaver confessed her love for this song and that's when you know a song is huge--when everyone from age 7 to 70 is referencing them.

The Wild Beasts, "The Devil's Crayon" -- discovered this song through radio airplay (remember that?) on KCRW in Santa Monica and wound up downloading it. The rhythm is reminiscent of middle-era Talking Heads and the energy is infectious.

Kanye West, "Heartless" -- I didn't care much for Kanye West's new 808's & Heartbreak album (the idea is artistically interesting--what if you use icy cold computer technology to try to cover the pain of love and life lost? But ultimately it was too much Auto-Tune and too few beats) but there is something about this particular song that I found very affecting.

Lil' Wayne, "Tie My Hands" -- "Lollipop" and "A Milli" get all the airplay, but this is the best song on the album.

Vampire Weekend, "A-Punk"

Dido, "I Don't Believe in Love" -- It's groovy but typically gloomy technoblues from Dido. Nevertheless, you'll find yourself singing along to the song in your car, but not through your headphones, because that would be unsafe.


Top Five Television Shows

1. MAD MEN (AMC) - you've heard enough about this show from me and others. If you're not watching it, start! (Returns July of 2009).
2. John Adams [HBO - miniseries] - the best movie I saw all year was this 7 1/2 hour masterpiece on HBO. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney were riveting portraying Mr. and Mrs. Adams from the dawn of the American Revolution to their respective deaths.
3. The Shield (FX) - after seven harrowing seasons, The Shield shut down and oh yes, THEY WENT THERE. Every harrowing, horrible, depressing thing that could happen to our favorite conflicted cops happened this year. And it was thrilling.
4. The Office (NBC) - Finally, a traditional network show. The Office survived a writer's strike and a sluggish start to season 4 to continue delivering the funny in an increasingly offbeat, yet endearing ways.
5. Carrier (PBS) - Sensational verite documentary about life on an active duty aircraft carrier headed for the Persian Gulf. Great cinematography and compelling stories from start to finish.

Top Podcasts

This American Life - adapted from the WBEZ public radio show in Chicago hosted by Ira Glass (and also produced as an occasional TV series on Showtime), This American Life features the best storytelling on radio, producing compelling and informative features centered around a variety of different themes every week. It's also never stodgy which is a tremendous accomplishment in itself.

The Dan Patrick Show - also available through syndication, but I prefer to download the show in hour segments. Dan Patrick is just as funny and engaging on the radio as he was on SportsCenter and he always manages to get the most interesting guests in sports and entertainment.

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A Quick DVD Review: BURN AFTER READING

A Coen Brothers Film. Stars George Clooney, Frances McDormand, Brad Pitt, John Malkovich and Tilda Swinton. Rated 'R'.

This movie provides numerous chuckles as it explores what happens when idiotic, self-deluded employees at a D.C. gym collide with idiotic, self-involved government operatives over what is thought to be a piece of lost intelligence (get it?) This shaggy dog story shambles along amiably (and with relatively little blood for a Coen Brothers film) until it dawned on me that it had no real point and no real ending. Although still a trademark Coen Brothers dark comedy, I guess this film counts as a lighthearted trifle after the unrelenting, sober darkness of the Oscar-winning NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN. BURN is still worth a rental, especially for Brad Pitt's goofball performance as a gym trainer named Chet. His work here confirms what I've always suspected--he is truly a character actor trapped in a leading man's body.

My grade: C+

Peace...