Favorite Music of 2010

2010 was a pretty good year for both music and movies, so I'll be sharing some of my favorites on here. This isn't a top ten list or anything, nor do I think this stuff is the only music worth listening to. These are just the albums I've enjoyed the most this year, all genres. Hopefully you will be able to discover something you haven't heard yet. I'll also be calling out a New York Times writer for embarrassing himself, his friends, and his family.
So, lets get this started:

(P.S. I OWN NOTHING! All media/ images are posted as a fan)

Big Boi - Sir Lucious Left Foot: The Son of Chico Dusty

 

Apparently this album sat on this shelf for a few years, which just goes to show how fucking stupid record companies are. I came late to the party, but don't hold that against me. This album is bogged down a little by the ever useless skits that rappers love to include, but if you ignore those you should be good. For every so-so track, there are two absolute bangers. Shutterbug and Daddy Fat Stacks are worth the price of admission alone. If Kanye West committed suicide after the gay fish episode of South Park, this would be hip hop album of the year.

Fo Yo Sorrows (featuring George Clinton, Too $hort, and SamChris)

 

 Skrillex - Scary Monsters and Nice Sprites

Skrillex, aka Sonny Moore, is the front man of the band "From First To Last", but I prefer him in this solo format. His electronic and dubstep music is insanely addictive, and this EP is usually never out of my car stereo for too long. Skrillex attacks samples like the musical equivelent of a Jack Chop. There are tunes to dance to, fuck to, murder to...it has everything! It also has what might be my favorite jam of the year, the pleasantly morbid:

Kill Everybody

Tokyo Police Club - Champ

Less raw than A Lesson in Crime, but more focused than Elephant Shell, Tokyo Police Club did not disappoint fans that had been waiting eagerly for this album, and I throw myself into that group. From the haunting and beautiful into track, Favourite Food, until the abrupt ending, this album is as close to perfection as you can find. 

Wait Up (Boots of Danger), they absolutely kill it on David Letterman

The Roots - How I Got Over

A lot of my friends are growing out of hip hop in one way or another, either by choice or by being exiled by new lame trends and the consequently shitty music. Which is a shame, because when you stop paying attention you end up sleeping on masterpieces like this. Just pick it up, throw it in, and keep your hands away from the seek button. The Fire featuring John Legend will have you bench pressing 100 pounds over your max and running five extra miles. The first actual song, I Walk Alone, is a perfect set up, like a well timed jab, while the jazzy yet dire Dear God 2.0 contains some of my personal favorite bars:

"They said he’s busy hold the line please

Call me crazy, I thought maybe he could mind read
Who does the blind lead?
Give me a sign please
If everything is made in China, are we Chinese?
And why do haters separate us like we siamese?
Technology turning the planet into zombies"

The Fire (featuring John Legend)

***INTERMISSION***

Ok, I have to pause a moment to call out New York Times arts blogger Jon Caramanica. There are a lot of best of lists this time of year, and unlike most people, I enjoy them. I've never actually smacked my head while reading one, however, until seeing this dudes top ten (pop?) albums of the year. While I disagree whole heatedly with Rick Ross being number one, and with a mixtape being on there (wtf?), I can deal with that. But Jon, no grown man should have Justin Bieber on their top ten list. Ever. Unless of course that list is "Top Ten People I Want to Punch in the Face". This list deserves a huge C'MON MAN! Caramanica further discredits his manhood, saying, "What Mr. Bieber lacks in oomph he makes up with slickness and musical prosthetics — and, of course, magical hair." If I were friends with this guy, I don't know if I could talk to him anymore. If I were his family, I don't know if I could talk to him anymore. Justin Bieber? Jon Caramanica, smack yourself in the face, please. 
Sorry for that, lets continue...

Vampire Weekend - Contra

Not as good as their self-titled, but then again, there is no Blake's Got a New Face to make listeners insert drill bits into their ears. My only gripe, and this happens a lot, is that they throw their best punch first; no song reaches the same level of Vampire Weekend awesomeness again after Horchata. Actually, I might write a whole blog entry on "First Song Syndrome", or F.S.S. I'd say more that half the albums I listen to blow their load on the first track. Anyway, even if you want to shoot yourself every time you hear Holiday in a god damn car commercial, this album still deserves your undivided attention.

Giving Up The Gun

 

The Black Keys - Brothers

This album is an example of why MORE does not equal BETTER. This is rock music stripped to its core: gritty, raw, loose, perfect. One of my friends told me that Rubber Factory was their best album, but the only response I could muster for that would be "No fucking way". This is also a great album for those friends you have that are stuck in the past and think that there has been no quality music since Zeppelin stopped making albums.

Howlin For You

And my top album(s) of the year:

Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy

Look, no one has been a bigger Kanye hater in the past than this guy. I thought South Park hit the nail right on the head. He just comes off as an arrogant prick with no self awareness, kind of like LeBron James. But also like LeBron, Kanye West is one of if not the most talented when it comes to his craft. There's a reason why I think Kanye is at another level than most, and it's evident here. You can almost see him killing himself over every detail, making sure every second of every song is utterly perfect. The result is a hip hop classic and a work of musical genius. As a bonus, the G.O.A.T. behind the boards, the RZA, shows up for some guest production. I still think Kanye is an asshole, but I guess according to the track Runaway, he does too. Chris Rock tries his best to ruin the album (and one of the best songs), but it's a minor gripe. My favorites:

Dark Fantasy

Ah, but My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is not alone at the top...

Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

 

Nothing I could say about this reflection on American life can really do it any justice, it should just be heard front to back. Do yourself a favor and do that.

Ready to Start

Those are the albums I highly recommend, but if you're still not satiated, I also enjoyed:

Nas & Damian Marley - Distant Relatives

Les Savy Fav - Root for Ruin

Zola Jesus - Stridulum EP

The Radio Dept. - Clinging to a Scheme

Justin Bieber - My World 2.0 (Just kidding.)

Peace.

Upcoming Films: Most/Least Anticipated

Movies I Can't Wait For:

True Grit 

Sure, I'll be seeing this movie in just a few days, but I'm excited as hell about it. Coen Brothers + Jeff Bridges? Last time that happened we got THE DUDE. Technically a remake of a 1969 John Wayne film, but hell, it's new to me. The story follows a young girl determined to hunt down the criminal that killed her father by enlisting a pair of bounty hunters (Bridges and Damon). Did I mention it's a Coen brothers movie? The trailer is sure to get any film fans blood pumping.

Possible drawback: If anything...the PG-13 rating. But whatever.


Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows pt. 2
Imagine this: you're at a restaurant with some friends and you order an appetizer. It's pretty good, and it kills some time, but all it really does is spark you're hunger. You're stomach is rumbling and damn, your actual meal can't come quick enough. Then the waitress abruptly storms over to your table to announce that your meal won't be ready for another eight months. That's what watching part one of Harry Potter & The Deathly Hallows was like. I've been a fan of the books since Goblet of Fire, and while the films are hit and miss, I'd be lying if I said i wasn't excited for the final chapter.


Possible drawback: Director David Yates, who has been at the helm since Order of the Phoenix, has a tendency to fly past the best parts of the books and dwell way too long on the mundane.  


The Dark Knight Rises
Christopher Nolan, who in my opinion sets the gold standard of Hollywood genius, is set to drop the conclusion of his Batman trilogy in 2012. False rumors have been flying ever since The Dark Knight came out a few summers ago. Next time you're discussing this movie with someone and they say something about hearing "Johnny Depp as the Riddler" or "Megan Fox as Catwoman", please politely smack them in the face. Nolan has confirmed that Riddler will not be in this movie, and other than that, it's all up in the air. But no matter what he does with this movie, you've got to trust Nolan (remember how surprised/disappointed people were when Heath Ledger was announced as the Joker?).
Just look at this guys track record: Memento, Insomnia, Batman Begins, The Prestige, The Dark Knight, Inception...I'd consider half of his movies to be all-time greats, and the others (Insomnia, Batman Begins) are under appreciated masterpieces. Every pitch he swings at goes way over the fence. I'm waiting for this with an open mind, but I have the feeling another classic is on the way.


Possible drawback: The Dark Knight set the bar impossibly high. It'll be hard for this film to exceed expectations. 


The Mechanic 
Jason Statham stars as an assassin who spends the movie assassinating people. Sure, the trailer looks a little generic, but Statham will be raining bullets alongside Ben fucking Foster, the most underrated screen presence of the past decade. And anyone who has seen 3:10 to Yuma, Hostage, or Alpha Dog knows that even if the movie is mediocre, Ben Foster will kill every scene he is in like the Terminator. 

Possible drawback: 80% of Statham's films provide more headache than entertainment.

Comfortably Numb (Movies that I wouldn't pay to see, but that don't quite induce vomiting)
 

Little Fockers 
To sum this franchise up in a form even a child could understand:

Meet The Parents = Funny.

Meet The Fockers = Not Funny.

Can't imagine another unnecessary entry is going to be redeeming by any means. And we get it, Focker sounds like 'fucker'. Hilarious! If only Robert De Niro was still alive.

Possible redeeming quality: Maybe they learned from the mistakes of the second film and surprise me. Most likely though, it's a retread to cash in on everyone who still laughs when the word "Focker" is used. It sounds like fucker, LOL! 

Season of the Witch 
Another movie in which Nicolas Cage rocks a ridiculous haircut. Come to think about it, has this guy had a normal cut since Face/Off? Every movie he comes off looking like a member of Nickelback. Here's proof if you need it:

Anyway, I'm not a Cage hater, I thought he gave the finest performance of his career with Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call, New Orleans last year, but to break it down in mathematical terms:
 Cage + Special Effects Spectacular + The Director of Whiteout = No Thanks.


Possible redeeming quality:  Haven't looked into it but maybe Sarah Jessica Parker or Bette Midler is playing the witch. That would be fun, right?


Tron: Legacy
The original was about as exciting as watching a two hour game of pong. I'm sure the new one is all pretty and noisy, if that's what you're into. So if you enjoy loud, neon colored headaches and nostalgia that harkens back to things that weren't good in the first place, then I highly recommend. The only thing that I'm interested to see is the duel Jeff Bridges performances.

Possible redeeming quality: Daft Punk soundtrack.


Green Lantern/Hornet 

Saw these two trailers back-to-back and pretty sure my facial expression matched Kobe in this picture. Both seem pretty similar: heroes with names that feature Green, both based off DC comic property and featuring leading men whose shtick is getting a little tired. Seth Rogan as the lovable chubby guy and Ryan Reynolds as the ripped, wise cracking hero. 

Possible redeeming quality: Well...Green Hornet was directed by Michel Gondry, who was also behind the camera for 'Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind', and overdone or not, Rogan makes me laugh. 

Aaaaand the Movie I Wouldn't See at Gunpoint:

Yogi Bear 
Considering the cartoon was mildly amusing at best (and that's when I was six years old), I can't imagine this CGI-Live action blend being anything but rage inducing. If you notice a sharp spike in crime rates when this thing drops, remember, you've been warned. Just seeing the trailer made me want to carjack a Chevy Blazer with a screwdriver and mow down pedestrians outside the theater. When my friend Doug said, "You know, something about that Yogi Bear movie looks good. I want to see it." I almost drove off the highway into a god damn bridge abutment.

And one more thing: does anyone really fucking care who's doing the voices? They sound like Yogi and BooBoo, right? Seriously, they could just be telling you it's Dan Akroyd and Justin Timberlake anyway. How would you know?

Possible redeeming quality: Anna Ferris maybe?