A Love of Hip Hop

This evening, with my partner out with a friend who recently broke up with her boyfriend of ten years, I find myself trying to create a list of my favourite hip hop albums. I don't pretend to be an expert or even have good taste in hip hop music. I just listen to what's consider the best and see what I like. This being said, here's what I've decided are my favourite hip hop records

1. Public Enemy - Fear of a Black Planet
2. The Roots - Things Fall Apart
3. Mos Def - Black on Both Sides
4. Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
5. Madvillian - Madvilliany 
6. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d. city
7. Kanye West - The College Dropout

I could probably include Wu-Tang Clan, T.I., and some other stuff but these are the ones when I put them on I'm in love with them. 

We try and we fail

It's Sunday morning.

I'm at work updating desktops to Windows 10 after unsuccessful trying yesterday. Today it's been going much better. Half the computers will done by tomorrow morning, which is nice.

While the computers go through the automatic process, I'm updating my other website, writing some content. I'm trying to take control of my work and being able to market myself has an educator with skills that fit the current marketplace. My position at work is pretty stable at the moment, but I want to always be trying to get a little better.

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)

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 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.

My Favourite, Not Theirs

There's been TONS of press regarding the Replacements' reunion shows. Most of the reviews I've read seem to think that the shows were fine, which I would agree with. I liked seeing them. They played the "hits" and it wasn't embarrassing, which sadly can't be said for most reunions. I waited almost a month to let it sit with me. I'll be doing the same thing with my thoughts on Breaking Bad.

Got me thinking about which Replacements album was my favourite. From my point of view, there isn't ONE album that I consider their best. I mean, some people really like Let It Be while others prefer Don't Tell a Soul. Some support Tim, their major label debut, and many think Please To Meet Me is their crowning glory. I've been all over the place. When I first started listening to the Replacements I really like Don't Tell a Soul. I now realized that the artists I was listening to in the early 2000's were ripping off the ballads off that record. Now that I've settle into a early 80's American hardcore disposition, Westerberg & Company's earlier work sounds better to me. For all the production mistakes, Tim is my favourite at the moment.

So here's the question that came up while I was thinking about my favourite Replacements album - What happens when your favourite album by an artist isn't generally thought of as their best work? How do you react? Does it happen often with you? Probably doesn't really matter to most people. I realize that as an adult whose identity shouldn't be still tied to the ability "like" the critically acceptable but, yeah, I haven't changed that much.

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). 

Please be on your honour

Went to Riotfest on Sunday. Ran into a couple of old coworkers & friends, and overall it was nice day. Missed the first two bands. Best Coast were more mellow than I expected (still good). Dinosaur Jr. were a surprise to me because I've never really gotten into them. Rocket from the Crypt were fantastic and Speedo seemed to be having a blast with egging on the crowd. I posted a short video I took on my tumblr. The Weakerthans were as reliably good as ever. Iggy and the Stooges... I'm not really into them and they didn't convince me otherwise but they put on a good show and lots of people were into them. The Replacements reunion (you can hear the entire thing) was good and they ended very strong, not just in terms of song selection (Bastards of Young & IOU) but also got tighter as the set progressed. Overall, it was a nice cool, summer day to watch a bunch of excellent bands.

Should I put them at your gate?

I may have discussed something similar to this before but it seems I only listen to records and read old comics when I've got an extended block of time where I don't have anything to do AND am alone. I'm not sure what it is about these two things that when anyone's around, I don't even consider them.

Actually, the record thing is pretty easy - we've got a small apartment. If the television's on, even in the other room, the sound carries making enjoying records difficult. I don't want to get in my partner's way so I enjoy it when she's out. Nothing sinister, just being contentious.

Reading comic books has always been something I haven't really shared. It's always been a solitaire activity for me. Even going to convention, which seems to be about people coming together to socialize over their shared interests, have always been nothing more than excuse accumulate more books at discount rates (which hasn't really been easy with the price of admission going up dramatically and dealer's .50 bins not making the trek). Comic books have been something I enjoy. I haven't need outside validation. In grade school, I wanted to fit in so badly, like every kid, that I didn't share anything that distinguish me from the other kids. I didn't baseball but since we played it at recess I had to join a league to get better. So comic books became something that I enjoyed by myself. I don't need outside validation for my hobby. And the only person who would

I'm not young anymore

At work, a younger coworker told me she was, "really into music." I didn't respond but I believe the assumption was that I wasn't into music. And I might not be. At least not as much as twenty-something me was. I'm not in the clubs trying to find the next big thing or listening to over hyped acts that no one will care about in two months. I follow the big music sites/blogs and listen to a couple of podcasts but I let the music come to me now instead of searching it out. And this new state of being doesn't bug me at all. Younger me would be shaking his head at present-day me (as he should).

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.

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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)

The Crossover Country Singer says...

 I remember when first saw this video. My roommate bought the record this song appears on, Nocturama, and we must have watched this video (on an accompanying CD) five or six times. It's fifteen minutes long but it's doesn't seem like it. I've never been much of a Nick Cave fan but, along with the Grinderman project, over the last five years I've really come around, especially with the release of Dig! Lazarus! Dig!.

Anyway, I'm listening to this while I finish up updating an guide for Excel 2010. Seems like a silly project since Office 2013 is coming very soon but it's necessary since I don't think we'll be upgrading in the near future. Next project is a short guide to navigating webmail.

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.

Dear John

It's well documented (maybe not on this blog but in my personal life I've said, on many occasions, that Heartbreaker is one of my all-time favourite albums) my love for Mr. Mandy Moore, a.k.a. Ryan Adams. What's less documented is my new found interest in the music of Ms. Norah Jones. I think it started with Danger Mouse's Rome album from a couple of years ago, but ever since I've been keen on Ms. Jones. Then I remember I absolutely LOVED her duet with Adams on his Jacksonville City Nights album from that year he released 3 albums (I've decided against adding links to this post for some reason). So I was surprised when I found an interview with Jones and Adams discussing how the song came to be. A quick Wikipedia search later, I discovered ...Featuring, an album consisting only of Norah Jones' guest spots of various artists albums (and some of her side projects). Come Away With Me got over played when it was released, especially at art house theatres and snobby coffee shops, but now I can re-discover the album without prejudice. BitTorrent here I come.

Call Me Maybe?

So this is one super catchy song. I think I like this version only because of the guy in background on the left. He's got the awesome combination head-bob / grin that puts everyone else to shame. Gotta love the Roots.

Art for Art's Sake

So I've decided to commission a piece for this blog. If all things go according to plan, it'll be done mid-June so I can add it as a banner or something. The inspiration will be one of my previous post about having to do the dishes in the bathtub. A throw away post could become something. I'm willing to pay for this because it's interesting and something I've always wanted. Oh yeah, it's going to be a 3 panel comic strip. I'm excited and a little nervous.

So why did I pull the trigger now? (1) I've actually got a little disposable income. The stability of my employment situation has allowed me to be a little less frugal. But more importantly, (2) while I don't intend for this blog to become a huge success, I wanted to commemorate the little changes I've made with my online presence, growing up a little (but not that much). Basically put my money where my mouth is. 

  

So Lucero is a new favourite of mine. I discovered them while watching this web series called $5 Cover (produced by MTV, so I'm going to link to the companion documentary $5 Amplified) about the music scene in Memphis, another American city I'd like to visit now. Lucero sounds like just like all my favourite country-punk / alt-country bands. Can't believe I didn't know about them before. Also discovered Jack Oblivian's solo work. It was worth watching all those episode.

Muzzle of Bees

I don't usually search YouTube for covers of my favourite bands/songs but I haven't turn of the television today therefore I must amuse myself online (I'm also trying to prepare for the upcoming week). What I like about this cover is the song selection. Muzzle of Bees isn't a song most Wilco fans would chose to cover. Jeff Tweedy has written lots of folk and country-styled songs that lend themselves to singer/songwriter covers. Muzzle of Bees is a full band song, a highlight off the A Ghost is Born album. Lots of distorting but he handles the song well. This is under 100 views so hopefully this will help jump start at least ten more views.

And, also there are lot of mediocre covers. They aren't bad just nothing special; simply lacking the spark. The last two sentences aren't anything new. Just thought I'd add my semi-positive spin on the amount of videos posted on YouTube.

Also, I find it difficult to watch the people sing directly into the camera. Then again, I'm not biggest fan of music videos in general so that might just be my preference to listen and not watch my pop music.

Staying in tonight and making a mix

Okay, so I'm going to create a mix tape for myself of my favourite songs. A biography mix. Telling my story through other people's creativity. It won't be chronological nor will it be thematic. I might try to go by genre and feel. I haven't started yet but I'll figure it out.

Part of the reason for doing this project is the many SXSW podcast/coverage I have consumed in the last two weeks. I really like the song I've heard by the Wild Belle (pictured above). I'm debating ordering the vinyl single. According the Sound Opinions, this band is a brother and sister combo.

Sorry, I got lost for a moment because I'm writing and watching Our Idiot Brother. It's okay. Kind of funny... and now a couple hours later I'm watching SNL. The musical act, the British pop group One Direction, are the usual level of horrible but one of the young men in the group is styled very similar to Matt Smith's 11th Doctor from Doctor Who, bow tie and all. 

Blogs, and other things, aren't dead

In this new age of social networking, I've often worried that blogs were on the way out. I've recently come across new crop of blogs that were started within the last year or so that has renewed by "faith." Most are written by young urbanites in their early twenties, but that's not so different than it was five years ago.

Also, I am enjoying the sports blogs. They are exactly what I need during this week long sickness, a.k.a. the yearly springtime cold. This year's edition really knocked me out. I guess this is getting older.

On a side note, it's great to see that the Wanted's "Glad You Came" single (no links. If you really want to hear it you can google it yourself) continues the tradition of getting children to sing along to horribly inappropriate suggestive lyrics.

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