A New Beginning

Well, it has been six months since I have written about something useless. I have decided to start anew and you can find my new and not-improved blog at http://icecreamspinach.blogspot.com/

Thanks.

Wow! It has been awhile.

Hello to all of you five people that read my blog. Time flies. I am sitting here typing with a head cold and I realized that since Spring Break, I haven't wrote anything. Lots has happened since then. I managed to go to Seattle and see the Phoenix Suns (Shaq and Nash!) play the Seattle Supersonics. It is real sad to think that the Sonics will be leaving town. What a shame. I don't want to start getting into a rant about how the NBA took away the Grizzlies.

Then I went to Las Vegas (my stag) for the weekend over Spring Break. I survived.

I saw Eddie Vedder play his first solo show ever last Wednesday. He was rough around the edges, but for a die hard Pearl Jam fan like myself, it was bliss. He sang some great covers like "I Won't Back Down" and "Throw Your Arms...". It was an eclectic set and the sound was superb in the Centre for Performing Arts. I still can't believe I scored a ticket to the show (yes, I went by myself).

I realized that I have been craving for any new television after I found myself yelling at Paula Abdul during American Idol tonight. I don't think my life can get any lower. I however have learned a new negotiation tactic in the future. Just speak like Paula to confuse your superiors. "I like you as a boss, you're definitive, you have a glow about you... a positivity that radiates, you are just, you."

LOST has been glorious and this month will bring about the return of some shows, thank goodness. The episode "The Constant" I think ranks as my favourite episode of the past four seasons. Just brilliant. Time travel has never been so cool (except for Back to the Future).

Enough rambling...

Ciao!

Random Ricky Gervais clip

Stumbled across this clip from the brilliant mind of Ricky Gervais. The guy is brilliant at times. If you have never seen the original version of "The Office" you should definitely give a try. Gervais' last series, "The Extras", which is comedic gold as well, is currently on Showtime. Gervais always manages to do awkward to perfection and he often captures the petty feelings that many of us harbour, but never really say out loud. He can show how low humans can be at times, which creates tons of humour. Only Gervais could get away with the making fun of world hunger and poverty. OK maybe Chris Rock could as well.

Here is the clip.

Hope your Leap Year Day was most enjoyable.

The Price is really Right

One summer, probably just after grade 4, my younger sister and I would sit down and watch "The Price is Right" every single morning. 10 am. Monday to Friday. And me, being the simple person I was, would dream about being on the show, screwing someone over by making the "$1" bid, winning $20,000 playing Plinko, spinning the gigantic wheel and hitting "$1.00", and winning both showcases with a bid that was only $99 off of the actual retail price. Considering how many episodes I watched that summer and in my entire lifetime, I think I only ever saw two contestants win both showcases. I happened to catch the prime time broadcast of The Price is Right last week with the newish host Drew Carey (no Bob Barker) and check out this unbelievable win. (Background info: The girl BIDS on the first showcase, which is quite possibly the worst move ever. Everybody knows you PASS on the first showcase. I think I have only seen one instance where the first showcase was better.)

Other movies that I saw in 2007:

Into The Wild:
A tad overrated. I know people enjoyed this one and I did too during the showing, but then afterwards I was a bit mystified why I should feel for someone who went out of their way to go into the wild on their own and made the mistake of eating a poisonous mushroom. Up until that point, I found the movie very enjoyable and Catherine Keener does a great job in the role of a motherly hippie.

Superbad:
If you get past the gross, immature setups, this movie is really a movie about friendships and kids acting like adults, but with no clue what that means. The two cops represent trying to get back to that youthful, carefree age. That is what life is really about... when we are younger, we try to act older, and when we are older, we try to become younger. This movie was well done and I liked it more than Knocked Up.

Knocked Up:
Some very funny bits. Some great insight on relationships and marriage. Yet, I can't really place why this is not my favourite Apatow movie. Maybe I just don't buy the main relationship between Seth Rogan and Katherine Heigl.

300:
Visually arresting film, but ultimately I got worn down with the continual battle scenes. This movie epitomizes pop culture... full of fluff and sweet and disposable like candy. I am interested in Zach Snyder's next film, The Watchmen.

The Host:
A Korean film that you may have not seen, but it did get released here in the North American market. To explain that this film is about a mutant monster on the loose by the Han River in Seoul and the bonding of a dysfunctional family that attempts to rescue their young sister who gets kidnapped would not fully capture what this movie is about. The movie is about redemption, love, the bonds that tie family, and it just happens to involve a monster that eats people by the bucketloads. Highly enjoyable.

Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix:
Not my favourite HP, but nonetheless I enjoyed this film. I enjoyed it even more after watching it in 3D at the iMax. I am a bit disappointed that David Yates is doing the next movie. I liked how the HP franchise was bringing in new directors with each new film. Number 3 still remains my favourite of the bunch. Thank you Alfonso Cuaron.

The Darjeeling Limited:
It always seems like when PT Anderson releases a film, Wes Anderson does the same. Only Spike Jonze is missing from the mix. This is not my favourite Wes Anderson film, although I know most of the critics liked it. I found that the pacing of the movie was staggered and that the usual idiosyncracies of a Wes Anderson film did not make me laugh as much as others. Maybe I need to see this movie again, as I viewed it on a small screen flying on an Air Canada flight. Rushmore remains the high water mark for me.

I can't think of any other films that I saw this year. I did not see as many films as I usually do.

Ciao

Oscar Madness: Finally the Movie Review of 2007 (or the longest blog entry you will ever see)

The Oscars are tomorrow and I realized I better chime in on my movies of 2007. Here goes...

I must confess that I did not see as many movies this year as I normally do. I think being so very busy and more addicted to TV caused me to miss so many films in a really banner year. Many people are claiming 2007 to be one of the best year’s in film and I feel like I cannot chime in properly on this debate (for me personally 1994 ranks up there). However, I thought I would share with some of my thoughts with you, whether you want to hear them or not.

First off, movies that I didn't see in 2007 and wish to see in no particular order:
- The Simpsons Movie: One of my all-time favourite comedies, a show that I stopped watching after season seven or eight. Season four represents comedic perfection. I never got around to seeing this one in the summer. I have heard that it is decent.
- 3:10 To Yuma
- The Assassination Of Jesse James By The Coward Robert Ford
Both cowboy movies that brought the Western back in full force. I can’t remember the last James Mangold (Copland) directed movie. As for the Brad Pitt-Jesse James movie, it looks good, but it
-Gone Baby Gone
Ben Affleck as a director sounds scary, but the reviews from this movie are scary good. Casey Affleck supposedly scores a double dose of goodwill with this movie and “The Assassination of Jesse James… yada yada”.
-Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street
Tim Burton looks like he goes back to his strengths of blending bizarre with horror.
-Michael Clayton
I have heard that this movie is a compelling feature. I am a big fan of Tom Wilkinson.
-Before The Devil Knows You're Dead
Sidney Lumet supposedly still has something significant to offer to the cinematic world in this film that supposedly showcases too much Tomei.
-The Diving Bell And The Butterfly
French film that I have heard is brilliant.

Now some comments on my favourite movies of 2007.

Movies that have endings that are a bit ambiguous or unsatisfactory resolutions OR movies that might not appeal to the average moviegoer:
There Will Be Blood
Zodiac
Atonement
No Country for Old Men

Before I begin, I you to understand that I wish I knew more about movie-making and I wish I have had some formal education when it comes to films. So what I say, I say from my miniscule knowledge and experience with film.

Two of my favourite directors are David Fincher (Seven, Fight Club) and PT Anderson (Boogie Nights, Magnolia, Punch Drunk Love). Let's start with PT's latest offereing "There Will Be Blood first." This movie, starring Daniel Day Lewis, has gained critical acclaim within the film critic society. I saw this two weeks ago and I have still been wrestling with it in my head. The story follows Daniel Plainview's ascension to an oil tycoon. I would love to spend a day talking to Daniel Day Lewis. This guy is simply intense. This guy is like the Tiger Woods of the acting world. Tiger Woods doesn't enter as many tournaments as the other pros, but he pretty much wins any of the ones that he enters. Daniel Day Lewis doesn't do many movies, but he pretty much wins an Oscar every time. That has to be pretty deflating for all those other actors trying to hone their craft. I almost feel like that Daniel Day Lewis' performance is an extension of his Bill the Butcher character from Gangs of New York.
DDL is riveting in every frame that he appears in and his eyes... his eyes burn with a maniac edge that won't be denied his black fortune. "I drink your milkshake!" What a line. This is not my favourite PT Anderson movie (Magnolia may be it) but it is an interesting film that is propelled by the dynamic soundtrack of Johnny Greenwood (of Radiohead fame). However, I don't know if I could sit through this movie again. It is long and only simmers without exploding. It is like a trapped geyser that never gushes and I think that may be frustrating for most viewers. And I suspect that people may not be entirely satiated with the final ending.

Oscar prediction: There Will Be Blood will bring another Oscar for DDL. And that will be it.

Zodiac, by David Fincher, is another movie about obsessions. This story recreates the San Francisco Zodiac killer's reign of terror back in the 70s. I found the movie completely engrossing as a character study of how people get so engrossed and involved in something to the point where everything else falls apart on them. I want to watch the DVD version of this, because supposedly Fincher uses tons of CGI in subtle ways to recreate an older San Francisco. There are moments of tension and apprehension peppered throughout the film, but again I believe viewers will be upset that nothing is tidied up like a stupid one hour episode of CSI. Mark Rufalo, Robert Downey and Jake Gyllenhall do a great job in this movie. I liked it, but I don't know if you will.

Atonement:
Once when I was in grade one, I lied to my mother about needing money for Beavers (like a mini-version of Cubs or Boys Scout). Instead, I really wanted the money to buy a pack of hockey cards. My mother sensed that I was lying to her and she pressed me why I needed the quarter. I folded like a cheap lawn chair and she quickly sussed out that I was lying. She was extremely disappointed, because this was the first time I ever lied to her. I felt a deep shame and I still vividly remember that moment even today.

Like my lies, Atonement is about lies that can linger for a lifetime. Mind you my lying didn't have damaging consequences that cut deep into my life. Atonement has a certain freshness to a period piece and the pacing of the first half allows the film to simply fly. The heat between Kiera Knightley (never a big fan of hers, but she is smoldering in this film) and James McAvoy is almost uncomfortable to watch and never has such a vulgar four letter word been used as such a damaging weapon. This movie again, has an ending that will leave many viewers a bit unsatisfied. The pacing of the last half of the movie cannot match the first, but I would pay to watch this movie again just to view the elegant single cut scene of James McAvoy's character as he wades his way through the evacuation of Dunkirk. The single cut scent surpasses the ones in Children of Men and almost, almost matches the one in Goodfellas (the one where Ray Liotta's character enters into the bar).

Oscar prediction: I wouldn't be surprised if Atonement walked away with the Best Film Award, simply because it is a safer choice than the others.

No Country For Old Men:
At the end of January, I was invigilating the Math 12 provincial and as I walked around and glanced at some of the questions that the students were working on, I became a bit wistful. I used to know how to do those questions. I used to be at a level of math that probably represented the pinnacle of my academic prowess. I was no longer that high school student full of youth and energy. I was just a teacher who could no longer remember the trig identities, like the cosine law, from a decade ago. Youth has faded for me, much like it faded for Tommy Lee Jones in "No Country for Old Men". The movie title did not make much sense for me until the end. Then the title rang through loud and clear with a truthfulness for all those who are aging and see their youthfulness fade.
I must say that I really enjoyed this movie. The suspense was ratcheted up in many scenes and Javier Bardem's Chirgurh character is absolutely chilling. A pure evil killer. This movie is violence and madness all recaptured by the Coen Brothers, who haven't done something like this in awhile. I know people will feel robbed of a proper climax, one that happens off screen, one that frustrated me as I left the theatre. But as I thought more and more about this movie, maybe that is what the Coens were trying to achieve. Maybe through the violent nature of the movie and the fact that someone like me felt ripped off by the lack of a violent resolution, the Coens hope to reveal that bloodthirst is within us and permeates our culture. In math, I am not satisfied with just using the cosine law, rather I want to know how it works in all its bloody glory. But by knowing all the details will that illuminate how the cosine law works? Will the knowing of the process satisfy me? Is it necessary? Maybe the Coens are saying that the end result and the answer is all that we should focus on. Maybe using the cosine law and having an answer mysteriously pop up, allows us to use our own imagination of how we got that answer. We are allowed to fill in the gaps. Which is why I don't think the average filmgoer will like this compelling journey about the madness that can arise from our choices in life. Sometimes we want the gaps filled in by someone else.

Oscar prediction: Coens walk away with Best Director and Best Film. Javier Bardem takes the Best Supporting Actor

My other favourites?

Juno, the indie darling.
The very beginning of the movie threatened to throw this film off its rails as the dialogue of Diablo Cody was so fake and forced. The scene with The Office's Raine Wilson in the grocery store was almost vomit inducing. However, this movie settled down afterwards and Jason Reitman showed a deft hand in this comedy/drama about a pregnant teenager named Juno. Ellen Page is outstanding as Juno and thank goodness that Michael Cera has been given time to stretch his wings in both this movie and Superbad. He is brilliant. Top notch work by Allison Janney, JK Simmons, Jason Bateman, and Jennifer Garner, make this a film that is enjoyable to watch. The biggest thing I liked is that this movie kept a couple together even though most movies means a pregnancy will split the couple up. This year had two quality high school movies, Superbad being the other, and I have no qualms saying this one was one of my favourites of the year.

Oscar Prediction: None for Director or Actress, but I bet Diablo Cody will win one for Best Original Screenplay, making her the female version of Quentin Tarantino for the next two years.

Ratatouille:
Pixar is magic. This film about a chef rat was a delight to the eyes and almost brought me to tears near the end. Fantastic movie from a fantastic company. Brad Bird's track record (Iron Giant and The Incredibles) will continue to soar.

Bourne Ultimatum:
Remember the game Hungry Hungry Hippos? You would just nail the heck out of the hippo levers and the marbles would go crazy and you would have no idea who was winning and then finally after the frenzy the last marbles would disappear and the game would be over.

That is what is feels like watching this movie. Matt Damon has completely won me over with these films and I think this third one may be my favourite of the bunch. An enjoyable adrenaline ride that I want to see again. The close quarters fighting in Casablanca (is that the right location) was just nuts and I never thought a textbook could be used for such lethal force. This was my favourite popcorn movie of the year.

Worst films?

Spiderman 3:
What a letdown. Simply horrendous. Sam Raimi fell into the Joel Schumacher Batman trap of adding way too many characters. Listen, either focus on Venom or Sandman, but not both. Comic book characters like Spiderman have so much history and lore and to shove two villians in together is asking for too much. I was so disappointed after seeing this film, especially considering how good the first two were.

Transformers:
I am the biggest Transformers geek out there. I can name pretty much any Autobot and Decepticon from the original series (go ahead, try me). I almost cried when Optimus Prime died in the original cartoon movie. (Optimus Prime would have to rank right up there with the best fictional leaders of all time... included in there would be Captain Jean Luc Picard.) I literally jumped up and down with joy when I say the commercial that advertised the return of Optimus Prime. Soundwave is my favourite Transformer of all time. I can even do a pretty good Soundwave impression if you ask politely.

So, with all that geekiness out of the way, this movie was terrible. I don't know where to begin. The eye candy girlfriend who happens to be a grease monkey/tom boy? The wise cracking Shia LaBeouf who is the only half decent thing about this movie, which is sad because this movie is supposed to be about TRANSFORMERS! The too fast CGI fighting scenes, where you can't tell one robot from the other. The terrible robot designs that make the Transformers look like pieces of scrap metal linked together by dental floss. The convoluted plot about some cube that is all powerful, yet when the Autobots find it, they give it to the tiniest and the weakest being... a high school kid, to run around with it to a rooftop. The fact that a robot would assume the form of an ugly ghetto blaster not an iPod. Where to stop? If I were the Autobots, I would send out a signal to warn all the other Autobots to stay away from Earth, because if you came you would have to stay in disguise of a stupid car shape allowing humans just to sit inside of you and boss you around. Stay away Autobots! Earth sucks, just like this movie sucks.

And on one last negative note, is there really a need to nominate Enchanted for THREE songs? Really three? Why not four while you are at it? And has anyone even heard the three songs from Enchanted? Eddie Vedder and Jonny Greenwood were robbed. Talk about an irrelevant music award. (I am so excited to see Eddie Vedder live in Vancouver... I managed to score a ticket to his sold out show at the Centre.)

Enjoy the Oscars everyone.

Oh yeah, other predictions?

Best Actress: That lady from that Madame Cotille movie or whatever it is will win.
Ratatouille takes Best Animated
Best Supporting Actress: Amy Ryan
Best Adapted Screenplay: No Country For Old Men

I already stated, DDL, Coens, Javier, NCFOM as winners in the other bigger categories.

Oh yeah, and Enchanted wins for Best Song. Hurrah!

Good News!

Good News item #1:

The TV strike is over! Just wrap up the last eight episodes of LOST. Forget about the rest. (If you love LOST, check out Doc Jensen from EW... he writes the craziest theories). The first two episodes were spectacular and I can't wait to see the next six.

Good News item #2:

Radiohead is coming to Vancouver!!! When? The site doesn't say, but if you scroll down to the bottom, you will see all that you need, the word "Vancouver".

Too bad the Kanye/Rihanna/Lupe Fiasco/N.E.R.D tour only comes as close as Seattle. It doesn't make sense to me that they are going to Calgary, Saskatoon and Edmonton, but not Vancouver. I would love to see Lupe Fiasco and N.E.R.D. live.

Who cares? Radiohead, Radiohead, Radiohead. To hear "Reckoner" live... can't wait.

Grandma's Grammys

I confess that I don't watch the Grammys that often, but I found myself watching this year's show for a couple of reasons:

a) the dearth of new TV shows
b) wanting to catch a glimpse of Amy Winehouse, Alicia Keys, and Feist

First, Alicia Keys simply owned the stage and I cannot stop gushing about her. Check out her performance here. As much as I dislike Jon Mayer, even his presence couldn't ruin Miss Keys' performance. The only negatives? Her hair (much prettier in her first song) and that weird aluminum popcorn crinkled dress.

Personally, I really liked her NYC 2008 New Year's gig. Here is part of that performance. My crush for Alicia Keys grows.

Feist! So proud to see her career sky rocket and she always puts a fresh spin on her tunes. I find it amusing that Kanye West is a fan of hers. A solid performance of 1,2,3,4 by Feist. I am sure that I posted this already, but this is still my favourite version of Feist's Apple ditty. If you have not seen her live and you are a fan, make sure you see her play. She is playing a 2010 show coming up soon in Vancouver.

Amy Winehouse was quite uneven, but I loved her reaction when she won a Grammy.

What irks me about the Grammys is that I feel at times that the voters are out of touch with music in our society. Let's first ignore the fact that there is tons of music out there that doesn't get acknowledged, but I think these Grammys did a fair job of reflecting some solid albums out there. But Foo Fighters over Bruce Springsteen and Wilco?

Further proof that the voters are out of touch is shown with the last award of the night. Doesn't the concept of "Album of the Year" mean that people have actually heard of the album? Herbie Hancock's "River: The Joni Letters" just mystifies me as ALBUM OF THE YEAR! This is why I don't really put much stock in the Grammys. Look I love Joni Mitchell and I got nothing against Herbie Hancock ("Rocket" kicks ass), but c'mon! I never even knew this album existed. I think of the albums in the category I might have given the nod to Amy Winehouse.

Long live the Grammys

Bring on the Oscars

One more thing...

Why Alicia Keys why? I heard about her new North American tour and became excited to see this talented beauty in concert. Then I view her tour dates and it hits me. She manages to visit every single city except for Vancouver! She doesn't even come close to the Pacific Northwest. Adding insult to injury, she goes to Toronto and Montreal. Curses. How can anyone reasonable expect to stalk their celebrity crush if they don't come near their neighbourhood?

What's also sucks is that Tom Petty (good work during the Super Bowl Tom) comes only to Seattle and not Vancouver.

Boo-urns I say. Boo-urns.

Uh oh! Belated blogging...

So I have been wanting to post a year in review for movies of 2007. Now it is February 2008. I guess you can expect me to come up with something in the next year or so. Maybe I will manage to share some of my thoughts before the Oscars.

So with the writer's strike what have I been doing?

-more of my Masters course. This officially means that I have run out of multiple things to do, leaving only my school work. Sad sad sad.
-enjoying the few scraps of tasty TV morsels (Friday Night Lights [which had a great three week stretch, but has been awful of late because of some really, really cruddy volleyball scenes, almost comparable to that laughable scene in Top Gun where Tom Cruise plays beach volleyball in fricking blue jeans], House, and

OMIGOODNESS!!! LOST!

The season premiere was most excellent with a great structure that will define television narration. To think that the show will be telling what happened on the island, what is happening in the present to get back to the island, and what will happen once everyone is back together... brilliant. This is one of the best TV shows ever. And even more exciting for me, no Jack-centric episodes in the next seven. Can't wait. Someone end the writer's strike already, because I want to see the full season of LOST.

Oh yeah, the last couple episodes of Gossip Girl have been excellent as well. The writers were approaching some ridiculous regions with the possibility of father and son dating mother and daughter. I am so glad that they addressed this ickiness with semi-realism. Any show that can make you feel almost a bit sad for Chuck is doing a fine job.

The jury is out for me on the new show "Eli Stone". Johnny Lee Miller looks different and this show is pretty cheesy at times, but funny as well. Natasha Henstridge still looks beautiful (O Canada, where has she been all this time?). Did you know Johnny used to be Jonny (Hackers anyone?) and that he was briefly married to Angelina Jolie? I think people don't realize that he is actually British as well.

Super Bowl was spectacular and I think I laughed hardest at the Justin Timberlake commercial even though it really didn't make that much sense. What's up with the lowbrow humour of getting hit in the crotch? I am practically drooling over the Iron Man movie. I also get a chuckle out of hearing Nevada losing $2.6 million on the New York Giants upset.

Check out all the ads at www.myspace.com/superbowlads

I still can't believe the Pats got dominated in terms of defense.

Somebody please help our Vancouver Canucks on defense.

Lastly, this topic matter is quite crude. It is not for people who are sensitive to lots of swearing and tasteless humour. But it does show Matt Damon doing an effective job of comedy.

1st: Jimmy Kimmel's riff on Matt's last flick "The Bourne Ultimatum"

2nd: Matt Damon doing a great impression of Matthew McConaughey on David Letterman

3rd: TASTELESS ALERT. NOT FOR EVERYONE. I know this will offend many of you, so you have been forewarned. I bear no responsibility for this viewing. I am absolved of any possible outrage. Let me off the hook please. Jimmy Kimmel and Matt Damon have a long running joke where Kimmel magically bumps Damon from the show. This is a video made by Kimmel's girlfriend, the potty-mouthed Sarah Silverman, for their anniversary, aided by Matt Damon.

Also, if you are a fan of Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart, or Conan O'Brien, check out this colossal meeting of the masters of nighttime linked on Entertainment Weekly. It is a fairly long clip, but it is worth it near the end to see Stephen Colbert execute a wonderful dance.

The best video game that I have been playing intermittently is "Rock Band". You play with four players--> involving a mic, drums, bass, and guitar. The gameplay is brilliant and surprisingly fun... you ALMOST, almost feel like you are rocking out in a band.

Finally, I love living in Canada, but seeing a musical lineup like this year's 2008 Bonaroo Festival makes me wish I lived in Europe simply to catch the multitude of amazing festivals that go on. Pearl Jam and Metallica? Kanye and Death Cab? I can only dream.

Peace out.

Last week’s announcement of Heath Ledger’s death was extremely sad. Sad to think that he not only left behind a burgeoning acting career, but a family with a two year old daughter. I really thought after “The Dark Knight”, his career would go off with the Joker bringing him more commercial acclaim. Instead, I think the movie will feel weird to watch at times, much like “The Crow” was, knowing that Brandon Lee died during the filming of the movie. Actually if you brought up the images of both actors, they look eerily similar.

Brandon Lee here:

Heath Ledger here:


The difference here was we knew that Heath Ledger was a great actor and that his potential was just beginning to be met. I enjoyed his turns in “A Knight’s Tale” and “The Patriot” (awful movie though) and his silent turn in “Brokeback Mountain” was heart-breaking. Heath Ledger’s passing is a sad ending for a star that was on the rise.

2007 Music Year in Review

Considering the lateness of this post, one could argue that this may be a list of the best of 2008.

About four years ago, a friend of mine, Chad, started a most exclusive club where we submitted a mix disc of our favourite tracks of the year. It has become a yearly thing that I look forward to as it forces me to reflect on what I have listened to AND gives me the excuse to make a good mix disc. The group has grown to 16 "people" (there are couples involved) and I also enjoy discovering new bands throughout the years (such as LCD Soundsystem, Jason Collett, Peter Bjorn, and a host of others).

So for my first part of my 2008 year in review, I present my track listings and some extended comments. I am quite pleased with my track selection order, because for a short span, the titles start to mirror an abbreviated recap of Britney Spears life in 2007.

I will first list the tracks and if you want to read more about my choices, just scroll down. I have also linked some of the artists so you can sample some of their tracks at their website:

1. Tournament Of Hearts (The Weakerthans) Album: Reunion Tour
2. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)... (Jay-Z)
Album: American Gangsta Soundtrack
3. Unless It's Kicks (Okkervil River)
Album: The Stage Names
4. Big Casino (Jimmy Eat World)
Album: Chase This Light
5. Intervention (The Arcade Fire)
Album: Neon Bible
6. Reckoner (Radiohead)
Album: In Rainbows
7. Rehab (Amy Winehouse)
Album: Back to Black
8. Hate It Here (Wilco)
Album: Sky Blue Sky
9. No One (Alicia Keys)
Album: As I Am
10. 1 2 3 4 (Feist)
Album: The Reminder
11. Paper Planes (M.I.A.)
Album: Kala
12. Rise (Eddie Vedder)
Album: Into the Wild Soundtrack
13. Long Walk Home (Bruce Springsteen)
Album: Magic
14. All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem)
Album: Sounds of Silver
15. Comfy In Nautica (Panda Bear)
Album: Person Pitch
Guilty Pleasures of 2007:
16. Stronger (Kanye West)
Album: Graduation
17. Umbrella [Feat. Jay-Z] (Rihanna)
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad
18. Don't Shoot Me Santa (The Killers) Click to listen to it.
2007 Christmas Single (

1. Tournament Of Hearts (The Weakerthans)
Album: Reunion Tour
This band is my favourite Canadian band. Their previous release, Reconstruction Site, stands as one of my favourite albums ever. This latest offering has some tasty tracks, with this being my favourite. Seeing how I started curling this year, I appreciate all the nods to curling. I can't get enough of the lyrics "hack weight". I once saw the band at at Burgoo (on 10th Ave) and I rarely get compelled to say anything to celebrities, but my unbridled enthusiasm of seeing the band that I was seeing in concert that night led to one of the most awkward exchanges ever.
Me: "You are the best Canadian band ever."
Them: "Thanks."
Me: "I am seeing your concert tonight."
Them: "Great. (translation: back away from us freak!)
This was followed by a prolonged silence.

2. Roc Boys (And The Winner Is)... (Jay-Z)
Album: American Gangsta Soundtrack
I am not the biggest fan of rap. I enjoy Public Enemy, Beastie Boys, Wu-Tang Clan, and a smattering of others, but I have a hard time taking some of the other current rappers seriously. I have however always enjoyed Jay-Zed. There is something about him. He has sophistication as a rapper and you know you don't want to mess with him. I think I got hooked from his glorious MTV Unplugged outing where he had The Roots backing him up. Just some great music and when Mary J. Blige took the stage with him things got really cranked up. I still haven't seen this movie, but I enjoy the album. This track gets me with the sweet brassy hook. The best MC is back.

3. Unless It's Kicks (Okkervil River)
Album: The Stage Names
I think this album is up there for my album of the year. It has track after kick ass track. This song just starts with a propulsive beat layered with vicious strumming and wailing horns. I cannot stop my feet from tapping when I listen to this track. When the tambourines kick in I have lost all control and am swept up by this solid, solid track. Check out "Our Life is a Movie or Maybe Not" as well.

4. Big Casino (Jimmy Eat World)
Album: Chase This Light
I am not the biggest fan of this band and I think my hangup is with their lame-o band name. I feel like I just can't respect them because of their Jimmy-Neutron-nerdish name. However, this track I can respect which rocks with a ferocious attacking rhythm.

5. Intervention (The Arcade Fire)
Album: Neon Bible
Sometimes you get bowled over by an album that doesn't sound like anything you have heard in a long time. The experience becomes revelatory. I still remember listening to the first album by this band and I just knew that I was hearing something so different yet so familiar, if that makes sense. And then I saw the band live and their performance confirmed that I was witness to something special. With that in mind, it would be quite difficult for their second album, Neon Bible to top their first, Funeral. But through extensive listening, I realized that the new album isn't that bad. I have favourite tracks like "Black Mirror" and "Keep the Car Running", but I always go back to the organ entrance of "Intervention". Just a great build-up and it is one of the tracks that uses Regine Chassagne's vocals in a restrained manner that adds depth to Win Butler's emotional tone. I get annoyed when Chassagne's hyper-Bjork vocals are the focal point and I think this track demonstrates how Arcade Fire should sound when all pistons are firing. I saw them at Deer Lake Park in Burnaby (my third time) and they still put on a raging show. If you like them, make sure you go see them live.

6. Reckoner (Radiohead)
Album: In Rainbows
These guys are probably one of my favourite bands of all time. I mentioned about the struck-by-a-bolt-of-lightning feeling when hearing something so beyond what you are used to, in regards to Arcade Fire. The same could be said about so many of Radiohead's albums with "OK Computer" being the biggest one for me. This album simply cements Radiohead's status as one of the best working bands together. Track after track employs Thom Yorke's vocals as an propelling instrument that intertwines, disappear, and reappears within the structures of Johnny Greenwood's guitars, and Phil Selway's sharp percussion. I can't stop listening to this track, because I find it so haunting and it just lingers within my bones. This album is another sonic experience delivered by one of the best. I think because you can actually make out many of Yorke's lyrics this time out, this album is easily more accessible than some of their previous offerings. Check out "All I Need" and "15 Step" as well.

Come back to Vancouver Radiohead! It has been too long. I have seen them three times which is not enough at all.

7. Rehab (Amy Winehouse)
Album: Back to Black
Her debut album is a blazing, brassy proclamation that someone with a damaged soul needs to bear her rage through vicious renderings of music that recall classic jazz. Upon hearing this album earlier in 2007, I couldn't get it out of my rotation. It is a bit sad now to think about how her lyrics are almost a cry for help. I hope she survives to produce more work and that she is not snuffed out a la Kurt Cobain, a distraught genius that has their personal demons spiraling out of control.

8. Hate It Here (Wilco)
Album: Sky Blue Sky
I am beginning to realize that 2007 was a tremendous year for music. I love love Wilco. I place one of their concerts in my top five of all time. Wilco's "Yankee Foxtrot Hotel", showcased a completely different side of this supposedly alt-rock band. With this album, Wilco gets away from the sonic explorations of "Ghost is Born", their latest album, and offers a much cleaner and understated album. That sounds like a bad thing, but there are some gorgeous tracks on this album. I remember driving down Marine Drive to UBC and the sun peeked over the trees and hit my face and the song "Sky Blue Sky" played on my car stereo and I couldn't help beaming like the very rays of sunshine hitting my face. I picked this track, because the song speaks about ordinary settings, but manages to convey the powerful feeling of loss of a lover.

9. No One (Alicia Keys)
Album: As I Am
I think I am allowed to have one celebrity crush with Mina and Alicia Keys is the one I choose. I remember swooning (can guys swoon?) when I first heard her album "Songs in A Minor". She is beautiful, plays the piano, and her voice... I can't begin to describe how much it can kick some ass. This track shows off her powers and I can't get the beat out of my head.

10. 1 2 3 4 (Feist)
Album: The Reminder
I saw Feist for the second time this year and she did not disappoint. I remember being really sold by the song "1 2 3 4" and that soon became my favourite track off of her album. Then I saw her perform it on Saturday Night Live and I liked it even more. Then it culminated with an appearance on Conan O Brien, where she was backed by people from Broken Social Scene, New Pornographers, and Grizzly Bear. (Maybe the SNL show was after? I forget now). Then in August, her song became attached to the iPod commercials, sending Feist off to the stratosphere, and of course, I became sick of this song. But I still included it, because it was my favourite track off of her excellent sophomore album (I think it is better than "Let it Die").

11. Paper Planes (M.I.A.)
Album: Kala
Her album is hit and miss with me. Some tracks are so weird and some grate on me. But this track is such a disturbing mix of singing children, cash registers “chinging”, and guns firing & loading that I find it completely hypnotic and catchy. Maybe that means I have problems.

12. Rise (Eddie Vedder)
Album: Into the Wild Soundtrack
I think the movie is a tad overrated. And being the biggest Eddie Vedder/Pearl Jam fan, I thought there could have been more tracks of substance, but hearing the ukulele with Vedder's distinctive deep voice, appeals to me in ways that I cannot explain.

13. Long Walk Home (Bruce Springsteen)
Album: Magic
I still have not seen the Boss live. Maybe I will catch him this March. His newest album has a terrible name, but plenty of tracks that show that even at his age, the Boss still knows how to rock.

14. All My Friends (LCD Soundsystem)
Album: Sounds of Silver
The BEST track of the year. I cannot withstand the slow build-up of this track. I once listened to this track five times in a row in the car. The album is also great and I thank whoever introduced me to LCD Soundsystem last year.

15. Comfy In Nautica (Panda Bear)
Album: Person Pitch
It was the year of the bear. There is another band that I couldn't find room (Grizzly Bear) on my best of, and I decided to go with Panda Bear, because their music is a sonic exploration that is challenging and rewarding. I don't like listening to their music in the car. It is the type of the music that you need to sit in a chair for and just allow your mind to drift off into space. I couldn't decide what track to include, but then was forced by the time limits of my CD to include the shortest offering.

Guilty Pleasures of 2007: Everyone has guilty pleasures, tracks that you know are not the best, but you can't get out of your head and then you eventually find yourself humming to it. Mine are:

16. Stronger (Kanye West)
Album: Graduation
I have liked parts of all three of his albums. He has the bravado to come up with some of the silliest rhymes yet he manages to pull them off with his usual verve. I really love the robot beginning of this track and this song is a good pump-up anthem.

17. Umbrella [Feat. Jay-Z] (Rihanna)
Album: Good Girl Gone Bad
I wanted to include Avril's Girlfriend as well, because these two tracks were used as funny gags in "The Office". This song by Rihanna makes no sense. Who thought you could revolve a chorus around the word "umbrella"? This was the dance hit of the summer.

I liked this funny track, because the lyrics crack me up. "Sweet Mojave rain" bit gets me everytime.
18. Don't Shoot Me Santa (The Killers)
2007 Christmas Single

Whew! OK, I have to go to bed. I will gather my strength to get my TV and movie list out sometime before 2008 ends or the writer strike ends. Whichever comes first.

Happy New Year!

Wow. Where does the time go? I see that I haven't posted anything since December 18th. I had a very restful break, visiting Mina's family down in Atlanta. The Georgia Aquarium is something else and I also got to watch a great basketball game involving the Atlanta Hawks. If I had my druthers, I would have seen the Thrashers and the Falcons as well. Mina put a kibosh on that idea. What is up with all the Atlantaean teams going with birds as their names? I love birds and find them fascinating, but I don't think they make for the greatest sports names. But then again, what do I know? I follow a team called the "Canucks".

Just wanted to let you know that I am currently working on a "Best of 2007" for movies, TV, and music.

Hopefully it will be posted up by this weekend. Take care.