Jump Around

Late night writing.

That's what blogs are for. 

In the mid-2000s (I started to write, "a decade ago" but couldn't bring myself to do that because it made me feel old), when I was seriously using this blog as a platform for expressing my thoughts into the void, I wrote primarily at night, after a day of doing "stuff". Since I've been working full-time, I've been going to bed earlier, not spending an hour or so trying to craft something worthwhile.

2015

What happened this year?

At the moment, all I can think of how spraining my ankle in the spring screwed up my summer, how taking advantage of short term job fucked me over, and how my partner's new job leaves her with little energy to do much else in the evening or on weekends. These are all negatives but they're what comes to mind first.

So, let's go through some positives.

I went on a trip this summer, which was nice, but I took other stresses (individual and work-related) with me so it wasn't as awesome as it could have been.

I wasn't as strap for money this summer as I thought I would be, which was nice.

I don't know. I guess 2015 wasn't my best year, which is fine. I just need to learn from it and work on getting my head in the right space to be a better version of myself.

Good Stuff

• Ms. Marvel (comics)
• Lazarus (comics)
• Courtney Barnett - Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit (music)
• Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp a Butterfly (music)
• Mad Max: Fury Road (movies)
• Pitch Perfect 2 (movies)
• Spy (movies)
• Creed (movies)
• Star Wars - The Force Awakens (movies)

Identity

If you were to ask me what my interests were a decade ago I could easily list them. If you asked today, my first instinct would be rely on that old list; a list that was carefully crafted by twenty-something me to fully encapsulate who I was in short eight to ten point list. But I'm not so sure it would be a good reflection of me today.

So I think I should make a new list. Why? Simply as an exercise in self-reflection. I figure that the list was more important when I was single and dating because you're meeting tons of new people and you're trying to seem as attractive and interesting as possible. I don't have that issues anymore but I think it's still a good idea to reflect on who you are as now rather than relying on previous creating personas.

Here are the main three points from the old list (mid-twenties):

• Reading. I used to read lots of novels and non-fiction books. Today, not so much. I read probably just as much but it's online articles, opinion pieces, and such. Still read comic books, but don't spend hours or days just re-reading them (I've actually been thinking about what to do with my collection since it seems to be just sitting there. There's no real monetary value in them). I will say I'm probably more informed about current events than I was previously, but that's probably because of the Internet. 
• Music. I was OBSESSED with popular music. I still have opinions and like/dislike things but I don't spend nearly as much time listening to music. Two main causes - podcasts and communing. My listening habits have shifted to podcasts instead of music. Making dinner, doing laundry, etc now have a soundtrack of people talking rather musical instruments. Also I don't a long commune anymore so the 1-2 hours a day I'd spend in transit don't happen anymore. Also my job isn't headphone friendly (meaning I don't have hours in front of screen doing work that I can put background music on for). Add to the fact I don't spend all my free time seeking out new music means it's less of a factor in my life now. 
• Camping. I don't camp as much as I used to but I'm spending more time outdoors these days. Thought I was an indoor kid (re-writing personal history to delete all the time I spent outside in my childhood) but it seems I'm a hybrid indoor/outdoor kid. While in school (high school & university), I spent a lot of time camping. After that it was less and less. 
• Education. It was all I had known. Didn't have a career so academic status and culture were very important to me. Saw education as a sign of intelligence. Now, I know it isn't that. 

Ok, enough with the past. Let's see what my new list would look like.

1. Using Technology
2. Exploration (trying new foods, visiting new places, seeing what's around the corner)
3. Comic Book Culture (not general nerd culture; I'm focused on comic-related stuff)
4. Sharing Interests (telling stories, explaining a topic/subject)

I'm going to leave this as is right now. I'm need some more time to consider exactly what I'm saying with these points. 

Caravan

I'm listening to the Juan Tizol composition as I write the beginning of this post. The version I'm listening to is from Monkey Jungle, an album that featured Duke Ellington playing piano with bassist Charles Mingus and drummer Max Roach. It's probably my favourite jazz record. I like how chaotic is sounds, with the musicians' different styles playing off each other.

Anyway....

End of the academic year (June) was not unexpectedly a busy time for me. Aside from the usual testing and administrative tasks, I was also tasked with creating a "celebrating success" booklet and an end of year video. Got both done, but it meant that at the end of the day I had little focus left to write a follow-up June's blog post.

So I'm here now, twelve days into the new month. Applied for a job, went through three rounds of interviews and didn't get it. Silver lining - don't think I would have been terribly good at it.

So now I've got the summer to focus on "me" projects (as promised in my last post). Here's my public list:

1. Continue with my current regiment of two hikes a week, averaging between 22 & 25 kilometers a week. So far I've been doing good, not injuring myself or doing anything terribly silly. This needs to continue for the next month and a half.
2. Cooking at home more often, even if this means going to the grocery store two to three times a week. The last couple of weeks have been bad, and it's affected my budget. 
3. Listen to some new music. Been better about it lately but need more new music. 
4. Create new ideas for next year (including getting learners to create audio podcasts).
5. Buy and create my personal website (maybe even business cards). This will be an area where I can write and create documents, tasks, and resources for my portfolio.

That's the short list. There are other things like organize my comics but I'm less sure I'll get that done with my three weeks of scattered "vacation" time. 

Oh, saw two acts during NXNE - St. Vincent & Run the Jewels. Both were excellent, but St. Vincent was on another level. She's fantastic and it made me love her newest record even more. 

This post from 2006 details my music interests until that point in time. It's fairly detailed and, if I can be less than modest for a moment, fairly well written. So what's happened since?

In 2007, I went to teacher's college. While I had still had lots of time to searching through music blogs, I was doing less and less. Then there was the year after that were I did a whole lot of random things. Groups like the Pipettes, the Sadies, Fucked Up, Nick Cave's albums / Ginderman (might be a bit later) and . I did try electronic music (like everyone else) but it wasn't my thing. Never has been. But LCD Soundsystem was good.

Started working at the bookstore from 2008 to 2011, and this started the more low-key music. Had to find things I could play in the store for eight hours a day. I got into the Stax box set, the I'm Not There 2-disc soundtrack, The Hold Steady, Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings, all the Kanye West (not store appropriate), Robyn, and the Rural Alberta Advantage.

Since then leaving the bookstore, music is still awesome but it doesn't consume my life anymore. Really I just don't have a lengthy commune anymore. As I walk to work I'm listening to podcasts. At work I don't really have the opportunity because there are always people around, always asking questions. When I'm at home, there's no place to sit and listen without getting in my girlfriend's way. Every year there's at least one or two albums that I enjoy. Zen Arcade, for example, was something I discovered fairly recently and I can't get enough.

So this list is reflection of what I still like today, what I remember really enjoying at the time, and what I'm not embarrassed by.

2006 - Neko Case - Fox Confessor Brings the Flood
2007 - Wilco - Sky Blue Sky
2008 - The Hold Steady - Stay Positive
2009 - Propagandhi - Supporting Caste
2010 - Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2011 - Fucked Up - David Comes to Life (this year a little strange because I wasn't listen to much "new" music)
2012 - (tie) Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music / Kendrick Lamar - good kid, M.A.A.D. city

Holiday Project - Day 11

List of My Year

I like making lists, especially personal ones. Gives me an opportunity to write and reflect upon my experiences. End of year lists are the best for this. Today's post is about what's happened to me this year. It's a little self-involved but it lets me be thankful for everything that's happened and remember all the good things. Going to use bullet points because I don't want to rank anything.

• Grand Canyon Trip (August) - So let's start with the small negative; didn't make it to the bottom. Hurt my leg two months before going and wasn't comfortable after I began the hike down that I could complete it. Probably could have done it but wasn't going to take a chance. But I tried and then the following day did another short hike below the rim (the difference between the two trips was weight of my pack). Overall, however, I enjoyed my hike and I'm glad I did what I did. Phoenix was a great city to spend a couple of days in. I want to go back.
  But the highlight was seeing my cousin and his family. In fact, it was his entire extended family, including my uncle and his wife's parents. It was great. Hopefully this is the start of more trips to visit family all across the continent. 
• Completed Math AQ (Additional Qualification) Course - This was something I had meant to do for a while. It was nice but I learned a lot. Glad I had the opportunity and I do like being in school.
• Working for the school board - Isn't everything I thought it would be. It's a good experience because I'm learning how other instructors do things. The students are all adults so you can ask them for feedback. A little worried that unless I do some serious networking, I won't find any opportunities for advancement to full-time. 
• Becoming a volunteer with outdoor club - This has been the source of biggest change in my health. By simply going on an outdoor event, usually a hike, once a week I feel that much better. I'm a little bit stronger and it means I don't just sit at home all the time. I've met some interesting people as well, which is nice since it isn't easy to meet people in thirties. 
• Working at community literacy organization - There have been challenges this year at work (most due to funding issues) but I still enjoy the work. Over the last two years I've learned so much. It lets me expanded my teaching style, and develop teaching materials that suit my classroom. I'm getting better and it gets easier. What I need to continue working on is record keeping and organizational skills. It's much better than when I started. 
• My partner's new found interest in healthy cooking - This has been a big change for me because for the majority of our relationship I've been the person who cooks. Now she does. And it means we've had different food and it's been great. I'm glad she's taken an interest because it means we don't have to rely on what I can make/want to make. She's better at picking health choices so this is good. Also means we might go out a little less. 

Happy New Year everyone. Hope anyone who reads this has a good 2014. 

Holiday Project - Day 8

Comics, comics, comics

I feel like all I read this year, aside from instructional manuals, was comic books. And that suits me just fine. So what did I read? Well, aside from the usual superhero books (Avengers, X-Men, Justice League), this has been a year where I've continued to read more indie books, especially those I got at TCAF. Also comic book store opened a couple of blocks from my apartment so I've taken chances on new books that I would have otherwise missed (my usual comic book store is basically order-only at this point. He is, however, really good about getting me what I want). Most of these are new titles but some started last year.

• Young Avengers by Kieron Gillen and Jamie McKelvie
  My favourite comic book of the year. Never read any Young Avengers before but loved Gillen and McKelvie previous books and I wasn't disappointed with this series. So good. So very good. A little sad it's ending after issue 15. 
• Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky
  Funny and wacky. 
• FF by Matt Fraction and Mike Allred
  Tried this out and I'm glad I did. Fantastic Four without the Fantastic Four. Great concept.
• Saga by Brian K Vaughan and Fiona Staples
  Still great. 
• Fury Max: My War Gone By by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov
  Ennis is my favourite writer. This series was what's great about his "superhero" comics.  
• Lazarus by Greg Rucka and Michael Lark
  Nice sci-fi book. Can't wait to see where this goes 'cause it's a great concept and world that Rucka's built. 
• Notable: Rocket Girl, The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys, Sex, Hawkeye, and Lost Vegas.

My favourite discovery was the first volume of Love and Rocket. A little late to the game but it's great. Need a couple more issues and I'll have the entire run. 

Holiday Project - Day 7

What happens if the best movie I saw this year wasn't released this year? What if, as I write this post, I can't recall a single movie I saw this year that made me go "Whoa..."? So these are just a short description of the movies I enjoyed.

I haven't seen 12 Years A Slave, Wolf of Wall Street, or American Hustle (saw American Hustle. It was funny but nothing super special).

• Pacific Rim - giant robots fighting giant monsters but with good character development as well? That's a good formula. My partner really like this movie.  
• Gravity - First movie I've ever seen where I've been impressed by the 3D effects. Usually having to put the 3D glasses over my regular glasses isn't worth it. Very imaginative story. 
• Searching for Sugar Man - Excellent documentary. Good music and a heartwarming story. 
• Thor The Dark World - Liked it better than all the other superhero movies that came out this year. 
• World's End - I know I enjoyed it but I can't think of anything constructive to say about it. The story and actors were all good. 

So there's the short list. Might add more to it if I anything comes to mind.

Holiday Project - Day 3

This is a taste of the new music that I liked this year. Not exhaustive but a good indication of what I found interesting. Have to say this was probably the year I've spent the most time listening to pop music.


Neko Case's new album, The Worse Things Get, The Harder I Fight, The Harder I Fight, The More I Love You, is my favourite since Furnace Room. Got the vinyl with extra disc (and cool art on Side Four). Couldn't pick just one song so I went with her cool Halloween Tiny Desk Concert performance.

This album is so interesting. I couldn't get enough of the first four tracks, especially this single (and video is good as well). I don't know if every track works but the singles are killer.

Oh Miley... This song is good. I like this parody video better than the real one. Put aside all the ridiculous media conversations, Miley's singles are pretty good.

Haven't listen to the entire album, but this song got stuck in my head for a while. Wish I had more critical things to say.

Yeezus. While I don't think it will go down as Kanye's best, it's a hell of a creative statement. I like Bound 2 as the closer but it doesn't work for me as a single. You need all the crazy industrial beat inspired songs that come before it. I always enjoy Kanye's SNL performance, especially when they don't go totally as planned.

You're no rock n' roll fun

There's almost nothing better than listening to records through a good pair of headphones. I've purchased lots of headphones over the years. I try to take good care of them, so right now I've got four working pairs (and a fifth that's currently not working).

• I've got the old and new versions of iPhone ear bud headphones. These are handy because they're small and you're able to control the volume/playback with them. The downside is the sound quality isn't the greatest and they hurt if worn for extended periods of time. Also since they're ear buds they don't block out external sound well. 
• I've got a pair of $20 over-the-ear JVC headphones. These are my go-to transit headphones. They're loud and do a decent job drowning out external noise. I've worn these headphones for several hours without pain. 
• My newly purchased Sennheiser HD-201 headphones. These are perfect at home headphones. Good dynamics for the price point. They're not loud enough to use on transit. 
• An old pair of Sony noise-cancelling headphones. The detachable cord was busted two years ago and I haven't wanted to pay the $35 dollars to get a replacement, which would be the second replacement cord I've purchased in the seven years. These are great headphones, but the damn cord keeps breaking. 

I've got almost as many pairs of headphones as I do laptops (there are currently six laptops in my house, five of which work well and three are for work. The sixth works but is just a little old and super slow). 

2012 - Don't Really Have a Good List

So the year's list of stuff I liked is going to be very short. Over the last couple of days I've been trying to remember what's really caught my attention and there hasn't been a lot. But here we go. Also, this is my list is going to be an all-media list. And the order isn't what I loved the most except for #1.

1. The Avengers

So, I loved this movie. It's everything I wanted in a superhero movie. By having all the origin stories out of the way, Joss Whedon could focus on solely assembling the team and setting up a fantastic alien-invading-New-York finale. That's not to say there wasn't any character development or complex humour because there was. It just the kind of comic book movie experience I was looking for.

2. Saga by Brian K. Vaughan (writer) & Fiona Staple (artist)

When this is announced, it piqued my curiosity. A new series from the creator of Runaways and Y the Last Man... seems like a sure thing. I didn't know Staple`s work before but after doing some back bin diving, I've found that I enjoy her work. This series is an excellent science fiction adventure, a space opera akin to Star Wars. I have no idea where it`s heading but I`m sure as hell enjoying the ride.

3. The Dark Knight Rises

Great ending to the trilogy. I was more inclined to see the faults in this film than the Avengers which is why I like the Avengers better. Don't have much else to say that wouldn't sound like nitpicking fanboy stuff so I'll just leave at "I liked it but it was flawed."

4. Jeff the Brotherhood - Hypnotic Nights

This album is just a good time. Reminds me of what I like about music because it was energetic, catchy, and fun. Might be that in a year I won't be as fond of this album as I am right now. Oddly enough, I don't have any real desire to see these guys live. Makes me wonder...

5. Moonrise Kingdom

Wes Anderson started making movie when I was in high school but I saw them in university. Those movies (Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, etc) fit right in with how I saw the world. Also, the musical references he made lead to many discoveries of, mostly, music I hadn't heard of. But I'm getting off track. I liked this movie. It did everything I wanted it to do and a little bit more. Excellent performances and a little hooky.

6. The Walking Dead (TV series)

I've read the Walking Dead comic books and I like the television series better. It's just personal preference. Both are good, but the series handles certain plot points better than the comics. This season, or at least the first half, has corrected many of the problems of the second season. The tempo is quick, situations are dealt within three episodes, and the special effects has been stellar. I watched two episodes back-to-back and I nearly had a heart attack because it was so suspenseful and tense. Hoping for more of the same in the new year.

7. Wolverine & the X-Men by Jason Aaron (writer) & Various Artists

As a kid I loved X-Men comics. Wasn't a huge fan of the cartoon because the character did feel or sound right. I still watched it but it never sat right with me. Over the years I've continue to read the X-Men comics, but often I found they weren't very interesting, especially the "core" books. Wolverine and the X-Men renewed my love of the X-Men, mainly by reintroducing the idea of the school. Aaron's take on the relationship and school dynamics is new and interesting. And issue #17 drawn by Mike Allred was probably one of my favourite single issues of the year.

8. The Score by Darwyn Cooke

Cooke is a master cartoonist. The Score is an adaption of the Parker novel of the same name. Cooke doesn't update the setting/technology/etc and really doesn't change anything except to include his buddies has references for some of the minor characters. What I liked about it was the simplicity - not overdrawn, tri-colouring (black, white, & different hues of yellow), great pacing, etc - Cooke's Parker adaptions are a master class in what it means to make great graphic novels.

9. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music (Pitchfork Review)

Sweet Jesus I enjoyed this record. The production, lyrics, and delivery are first rate. My favourite track is Reagan (music video) not only because it reminds of good Public Enemy but also because it packs a mean left hook. This year seems to be the year that hipsters caught on to the awesomeness of R&B and Rap as evident by how much love Frank Ocean & Kendrick Lemar are getting [and rightly so].

10. Skyfall

I've seen many James Bond movies. Not all of them but many. Skyfall is one of the best. They take the best bits of the first two Daniel Craig films and just adding to it. It's visually stunning and Craig's Bond is even more vulnerable and human than any of the previous Bonds and well... that's just a much more interesting tale.

11. Justice League Dark by Peter Milligan, Jeff Lemire (writers) and Mikel Janin (artist)

Justice League Dark is a great concept but what does it for me is the artwork of Mikel Janin. But first, the concept - a team of DC superhero that deal solely with the magical threats to the universe. Bring back John Constantine to the mainstream DCU was good idea but cancelling Hellblazer is one of the worse decisions of the decade. |But back to Janin's art. His style is clean (might be due to using digital techniques) and constructs a page well. Janin isn't on the cutting edge but he got solid storytelling skills.

---------

There were four other things I liked but I don't feel like writing anymore about these things. It would be just more of the same (it's really good, I liked it, and basically good example of the media). So here are the final four things, which would bring

• Japandroid - Celebration Rock (music)
• Person of Interest (TV)
• The Raid: Redemption (film)
• Jim Henson's Tale of Sand (comic book)

Listening to Songs About...

Nostalgia is a strange thing. Had a conversation last night with an old friend I hadn't seen in six years about it.   Been thinking about it (again) because I've been listening to lots of my favourite albums. I always wonder if my favourite albums are objectively good or if I just associate positive memories with them. So here are the results from my exhaustive critical listening*.

Dillinger Four - Midwestern Songs of the Americas 
Minneapolis late-90s punk.
Verdict: Loud, aggressive punk that has aged well. 


Weezer - Pinkerton
Quintessential alternative rock, proto-emo album.
Verdict: It was my favourite Weezer album for a long time but the themes don't resonate as much as they once did. Guess I'm not as filled with angst as my teen-aged self.


Uncle Tupelo - Anodyne 
From the band whose first album defined a genre (No Depression Country).
Verdict: This album helped transition my love of Punk/Indie to Americana/Country. Still has the energy and lyrical content to move me today. Troubles me that my favourite song is the only cover on the album.

Rancid - ...And Out Come the Wolves
Clash-esque pop punk.
Verdict: This album has lost a lot of appeal. Songs are still catchy but the production hasn't aged well at all. In high school, my friends and I swore by this record. Formed cover bands and everything. Don't think I'd manage that kind of passion for this now. 

Elliott Smith - XO
Beautifully layered pop music with touching lyrics.
Verdict: Yeah, still sad and still beautiful.

Guided By Voices - Bee Thousands
lo-fi gods from Dayton, OH.
Verdict: One of my best friends absolutely loves GBV and he got me into them. First exposure to them was their later major label efforts but Bee Thousands is the one I liked best. While some of the songs were never good, the good ones seemed to have gotten a bit better.

New Pornographers - Challengers
Canadian power pop supergroup.
Verdict: As I going through my iPod, this New Pornographers album jumped out at me. While there are great songs on their first three albums, I find this sounds like an album instead of a loose collection of songs. Lots of sing-a-long choruses.

Wilco - Yankee Hotel Foxtrot
My favourite album by my favourite band.
Verdict: This album has the most nostalgia for me. I loved this album and must have listened to it hundreds during my second year of university. When I put this one on, I had to avoid just letting it take me back. While parts of other Wilco albums are musically better, overall this album still stands up. I also still knew the words to every song.

*Yeah, there was no rhythm or reason to how did this.

Holidays / Year End

2011 has been a year of change. Over the course of the year, I started a computer certificate program but was unable to complete because the final two parts were cancelled. Instead, I took an additional teaching qualification course online and finished it (won't know if I passed until the new year but it's likely I did). I started the year working at the bookstore and finished the year working as an adult education instructor in numeracy and digital technology (a.k.a. math & computers), with a brief stop at an after-school program. These changes have all been positive and have all be steps in the right direction.

I turned 30, went to Chicago (all things go, all things go) for C2E2 / birthday celebrations, Calgary for my cousin's wedding, and Detroit, the city where my vegetarian girlfriend's favourite restaurant is a BBQ joint that has exactly one veggie option but she LOVES that one option. This year has also been about reconnecting and keeping in touch with friends, not always the easiest thing. Social networks make easy to superficially connect with people but actually seeing them and talking in person is difficult if you don't put the time and effort into it.

Now to the "Best of" lists. (I apologize in advance for rambling.)

I've had a difficult time remember what movies were release this year that I'd say were "the best." This summer's crop of comic book movies were surprisingly good, aside from the Green Lantern which was awful. Marvel has stepped up their game with Thor and Captain America. I'm excited for next year's Avengers movie. Also, the final Batman movie looks pretty good as well. I liked Moneyball, Drive, and Bridesmaids but overall it was a pretty forgettable year for me.

This year's music scene, for me, was dominated by late entries. And by late I mean I discovered them while reading through / listening to critic's year end lists. This has been my practice for years, going all the way back to high school. I do discover music during the year, it's usually around this time of year that I discover my "new" favourites. During the year I liked Fucked Up's David Comes to Life, Adele's 21, Rural Alberta Advantage's Departing, and Danger Mouse & Daniele Luppi's Rome. These albums were good, and I've listened to them several times but they didn't excite me. Wilco's The Whole Love took me a little while to warm up to but it's as good as the last two. The Whole Love had more layers than the last Wilco record and they just seem to be getting better has a band these days. Watch the Throne was good, as was Drake's Take Care. The latest entry into this list was the Welsh band the Joy Formidable. Only discovered them last week, but I can't get enough of them. They're pretty awesome. I heard a couple of tracks by The Men but haven't heard the entire album yet but I like what I heard so far.

My favourite podcast discovery this year was the Nerdist. I don't know what to say, but this podcast has opened up my inner nerd and I just can't get enough. NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour was a close second, with its great discussions and the fantastic Mr. Glen Weldon.

As for comic books, the DC's relaunch has been the big story. I'm only reading a couple of titles (Justice League, Action Comics, Grifter, Animal Man, Justice League Dark) but that's more DC comics than I was reading before. They've only released 4 issues so far and I have say most of the stories are taking their sweet time getting going. Animal Man has moved along the best so far but I have high hopes for Justice League. Brian Michael Bendis' Avengers titles comics have been excellent like always but Warren Ellis' run on Secret Avengers has been fantastic. Each issue is a one-and-done story and they've been inventive, smart, and a little funny. Sad to see him leave the title. Criminal: Last of the Innocent was probably my favourite mini-series. At C2E2 I made two major discoveries: Mouse Guard and the Sixth Gun.Both are independent titles that were new and interesting. While I won't be picking the single issues (for space reasons), I'm definitely getting the trades. As for my first comic love, the X-Men books, I didn't like the renumbering of Uncanny X-Men but otherwise it was an okay year. The new title, Wolverine and the X-Men, looks good that's tough to say with only two issues released. Uncanny X-Force, on the other hand, seem to coming out every week this year. It was good but so books was a little overkill for me. Overall, a pretty good year.

Finally, television. So I think it's safe to say I've watched a lot TV this year. I don't believe it was anymore than I had previously watched. In 2010, I started watching The Wire and this year I finished the series. It is good and does probably rate as one of the best shows ever made. I really liked Game of Thrones. Haven't seen a well made fantasy show in a long time / ever. Community was as good as ever and I'm sad to see it go. Walking Dead and Boardwalk Empire battle for viewing time on Sunday nights because they're both worth watching when they air, a concept that's becoming more out dated every year. Friday Night Lights and Justified were highly enjoyable discoveries this year that I wish I had knew about before. High Definition television became apart of my life this year and it is good, especially for watching hockey. The puck has never been easier to follow. And then there's Doctor Who... what can I say except that it was fantastic like always, even if the two episodes were the strongest.

My girlfriend says her favourite of the year were:
Movies: Blue Valentine, Midnight in Paris (would have liked Thor but refused to see it)
TV: Oprah saying goodbye, Community, Walking Dead, Geek Love, Fanboy Confidential
Comic: Scenes from an Impending Marriage, Hark! A Vagrant
Music: She likes podcasts - I Like You, Stuff You Missed in History Class, Pop Culture Happy Hour

first l.p., first track

One of the news groups I belong to started a tread last week about what's the best first album, first track? An obvious variation on the classic question from High Fidelity, I plunged right into my record collection to enter the fray. But I didn't start with my shelves and shelves of Compact Discs and Vinyl Records. Nope, I started digitally on my computer, searching through folders. I didn't even use iTunes (which I usually do).

All the tracks I could think of were from at least a decade ago. Things like:

Weezer - My Name is Jonas (Blue Album)
Operation Ivy - Knowledge (Energy)
Tom Waits - Ol'55 (Closing Time)
Roxy Music - Re-Make, Re-Model (Roxy Music)
The Streets - Turn the Page (Original Pirate Material)
Rural Alberta Advantage - The Ballad of RAA (Hometowns)

Now, technically Ryan Adam's Heartbreaker's first track is A Conversation with David Rawlings Concerning Morrissey but the first song is To Be Young (Is to Be Sad, Is to Be High). Talking is fun and does wonders for the skin but it isn't music.

11 things

1. Someone told me I should start writing down all the books I read. This suggestion was followed by another to read a book a week. Both are good ideas but doubtful I'll follow through.
2. Going to see my first professional hockey game next week. Can't afford the NHL so the AHL will have to do.
3. I'm helping someone at work start a young adult book club at the store. First book? This year's Newbery Medal winner When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead. I'm really excited to read it.
4. Video games are addictive . Whether Angry Birds or Fallout 3, they suck you in for hours and hours of unproductive fun.
5. My night school classes are already paying for themselves.
6. The more I listen to the Florence + the Machine record, the more I like it.
7. Gave my Valentine all her gifts before hand because flowers and truffles hold last long.
8. I should update the design of the blog. I'll get around to it one of these days.
9. The Grammys suck. Started by people who didn't like rock n' roll. Just look back at the history of who wins. The Grammy voters seem to hate good music.
10. I've So much been reading lots of articles about the Huffington Post / AOL merger. Don't know if really affects me and my news consumption because I rarely read the Huffington Post.
11. Finally, what can be said about Eygpt that hasn't already been said. It's unbelievable and probably the greatest democratic event in the last five years. Let's see if it can be sustained. I have faith.

Video Game of the Year

According the internet, Angry Birds is the game of the year. UFC would agree with that. She loves it and that's why it's the game of the year. UFC doesn't play video games. She rolls her eyes when I play. This game, however, is the addictive and fun. There's so much about it that's good but the best part is probably the price. At 99 cents you can't really go wrong. Play it for fifteen minutes and it's paid for itself.

Me, I've only play two new games this year and both were sequels to games I loved - Fable 3 and Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood. Fable was okay but AC was fantastic. Now, I've only played AC for two days (got it for the holidays) but all I want to do is play the game. Even the challenges are fun. Continues the story and great game play.

But Angry Birds is the game of the year.

Top albums revisited

So, a couple of weeks ago I decided what would be my top 5 albums of the year. I don't disagree with my picks but Kanye and other have made a case for themselves. Here's my top ten (a little bit of change at the top but otherwise the same). Why was there some changes? Well, first Kanye's record is fantastic. Second, I really liked that Sharon Jones record. It's really good. The rest is good as well. I've been listening / reading a lot best of the year lists and I find that it hasn't changed my list too much. Either way, there isn't much time left in the year so this is the list.

10. Best Coast - Best Coast
9. The Roots - How I Got Over
8. LCD Soundsystem - This is Happening
7. Broken Bells - Broken Bells
6. The New Pornographers - Together
5. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid
4. Sharon Jones & the Dapkings - Naturally
3. The Arcade Fire - The Suburb
2. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
1. Robyn - Body Talk

Pitchfork Single of the Year

Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti - Round and Round (via Pitchfork)

Okay, so Kanye gets two single in the top ten, LCD Soundsystem and Arcade Fire are also there but the top spot goes to... who? Seems I'm out of touch with hipster singles. I knew and had heard every other single in the top ten (including my pick of Robyn) but not this one. On first listen? It's okay. Doesn't really grab me like some of the others but not all songs are supposed to be catchy pop songs. But that's what I like in a single - a catchy tune.

What was Rolling Stone's top single? Kanye's Runaway (came in 2nd)
And Spin? Cee Lo's Fuck You (wasn't in pitchfork's top ten)

On a slightly different note - has anyone seen the new Spike Jonze directed Arcade Fire video for "the Suburbs"? It's fantastic. Totally captures the mood of the song.

Best Music You've Already Heard Of

So I'm going through the new records I listened to this year. I spent most of the first two months listening to last year's best new music so I had a little bit of catching up to do. There was a lot of stuff I didn't really like all that much. Thought it would be difficult to make a list this year but it wasn't. Traditionally I don't listen to a lot of hip-hop, dance or soul music but this year marked a drastic change. Maybe I'm mellowing out as I approach my 30s. Then again, Refused's Shape of Punk to Come re-master has been in my rotation a lot recently. And early Replacements. God, I love the Replacements.

I want to start, however, with the album I was most disappointed in - the Hold Steady's Heaven is Whenever. There's something missing without keyboardist Franz Nicolay. Their last two records are two of my favourites of the last five years but this one wasn't on the same level. It wasn't a horrible record but the anthematic, Springsteen-esque rock just overpowers the bar stool poet vibe.

What did I like? Several hip-hop records caught my attention this year. Kid Cudi, the Roots, and Kanye West all released excellent records this year. Drake's full-length was a little too mainstream for my tastes but again it wasn't horrible, just not great. My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy is awesome, but West's ego is almost too much for me. I mean, I love his media persona. And the music is as good as the hype says it is. But I got the record less than two weeks ago so it hasn't had time to sit with me like the rest. Ask me in a month to see if cracks the top five.

Soul revivalist Sharon Jones and the Dap-Kings latest project was fantastic yet again. They didn't break any new ground but it doesn't sound old or lazy. The music swings and grooves like all the great soul music does. Worth listening to again and again.

So I'm talking about a bunch of records, but these aren't even the beginning of the list. Here's my top five:

5. The New Pornographers - Together

Once again Carl Newman and company release a great pop record. Like their previous offerings, this album is steeped in harmonies, catch melodies, and Neko Case; all the stuff I like. HOWEVER, it sounds like the last record and the one before that. Nothing new but still worth listening to.

4. Broken Bells - Broken Bells

Danger Mouse makes records I like. The Shins make a couple of great records. Combine the two and you get a Postal Service that isn't as electro-pop. A nice chill record.

3. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

Where did Janelle Monae come from? To call this album eclectic is an understatement. Do some of the experiments work better than others? Yes, but she's taking a chance. It's got a little of everything and does it well. The singles off this record, Tightrope and Cold War, are very, very strong. I haven't master the Tightrope dance yet. Give a little longer.

2. The Arcade Fire - The Suburbs

I haven't been a huge fan of Montreal's the Arcade Fire in the past. Funeral and Neon Bible were good records but they didn't capture my attention. The Suburbs, however, does. A concept record whose tracks work on their own.


1. Robyn - Body Talk Pt. 1

While Body Talk Pt. 2 and Pt.3 are excellent, Robyn's first EP (and first release in almost five years) is the best of the year for me. Hell, the rest of the record could have been horrible but with a single like Dancing on my own... well, Robyn had me. Seriously, it's the best song in at least three years. A lean record with only nine tracks, it's fantastic. The full-length compilation of all three Body Talk was release this week and I'm thinking of picking it up. I love Dancing on my own that much.

Tele-Vision

It's the end of the year which means it's time for END OF YEAR LISTS! My consumption of what usually makes up my list (movies, music, television) is down this year so it'll be short ones. I'd like to believe that my tastes are more refined but really I just seem to have less time.

What did I like on television this year? hmm...

Bored to Death - the comedy about a writer-turned-private detective had an excellent second season. Seems they've really found their groovy with the characters and the stories. The first season lacked a clear voice. And the actors are fantastic. Sad that there are only nine episodes.

Community - has replaced The Office as my favourite comedy on television (or Thursdays). Silly plots, random meta textual moments, and great one-liners are what keep me coming back for more.

Burn Notice - They just started airing the first season and I enjoy it. It's like House and The Mentalist - brilliant, unconventional who solve difficult situations (disease, murder, crimes, etc.) but who have difficult dealing with people in general. What can I say? I like this type of show.

Boardwalk Empire and The Walking Dead are great shows but everyone already knows how great they are so I'll just say I like them. I've only seen two episodes of the BBC Sherlock but it's great as well.

The best show of the year? Doctor Who. I was worried, with the new doctor and show runner, that it wouldn't be able to live up to previous seasons but from the premiere to finale, I was hooked. I don't think there was one episode I didn't love. The new doctor and companion were excellent and there was good chemistry. And the ending? Oh man, you saw it coming but still it was great. Can't wait for the new season to start.