The best and worst year of my life. Working at a shitty job coupled with my Mom passing away could have swallowed me up whole. What kept me going was the support of friends and my creative spirit. 2010 will be a great year thanks to the debut of Everything Louder Than Everything Else, which I expect to do great things for me and everyone involved.
Top Ten Movies of 2009
A Serious Man – Experimental jet set, no stars (excuse the Sonic Youth reference). This is everything I love about a Cohen bros. comedy. As weird as Barton Fink and as hilarious as the Big Lebowski. I want to see this movie again and again.
Inglorious Basterds – Tarantino’s love of cinema shines brightly in this WWII masterpiece. After having seen The Last Metro I thought I never wanted to see another German occupied France period piece. This movie proved me wrong. Up there with Lacombe, Lucien and Murmur of the Heart for sure.
Bad Lieutenant- So different from the original, the creep factor is all but gone. The Herzog/Cage team is unstoppable in this film. Loved the scene where he interrogates the old woman.
Fantastic Mr. Fox – Restored my faith in Mr. Anderson (and possibly humanity). In a year that had a lot of great animated kids movies (Coraline, Up) this one really shone. Did not expect to ever have an animated movie in one of my year-end lists. As Larry David would say (or text) in a situation like this: NO I HAVEN’T SEEN IT! I’M AN ADULT! Honestly though, this is witty, intelligent and inspiring filmmaking. Cousin Kristofferson was the biggest surprise for me. I didn’t know it was Wes’ brother till after I saw the film.
Thirst- Another great one from Park Chan Wook. I don’t even like vampire movies.
Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus – Finally another great Terry Gilliam movie. It could have been a disaster after the death of Heath Ledger but Gilliam made it work.
Antichrist – The only director that could make me see a torture porn movie. I shouldn’t be but after seeing this movie I’m smitten with Charlotte Gainsbourg.
Anvil: Story of Anvil – Inspired to tears of joy while watching this. Their story is my story. This is why people make music! This movie is fucking amazing. Thank you for sticking with it Lipps and Robb.
White Ribbon – Very different for Haneke but I still love his use of ambiguity. How the film is framed around the events of WWI really worked for me. The kids in the film essentially grow up to be the Nazis. Some great performances by these kids and adults alike. Still not a fucked up as the Piano Teacher but that is hard to top. In a lot of ways he is the heir to Bergman’s legacy.
Humpday – Mostly because of the two lead performances by Joshua Leonard and Mark Duplass. It felt authentic and not forced like so many films nowadays that are trying to cash in on hipster culture. The best thing in this genre (I won’t use the M word) since Quiet City or even The Puffy Chair.
I still need to see the Girlfriend Experience, Hunger, Che, Moon, A Single Man
Biggest disappointments…
500 days of summer – This years Juno
The Young Victoria – Big disappointment after the stellar C.R.A.Z.Y
Funny People – After 40 year old Virgin, Judd Apatow movies are getting more formulaic and self indulgent. This could have been 45 minutes shorter. I just don’t care about the characters he chooses to put on screen.
Top Ten Albums of 2009
In a lot of ways this is the year of the comeback. So many bands that I’ve loved for over a decade really shone this year.
Grizzly Bear, Veckatimest – Been listening to this album since Dec 2008 and I still love it. This is their breakthrough. Great live act as well.
Bill Callahan , Sometimes I Wish We Were an Eagle – Most solid album he’s put out since Knock Knock. Best lyric of the year: "I used to be darker/ Then I got lighter/ Then I got dark again." If I were a tattoo person I would have that immortalized on my flesh.
Pink Mountaintops, Outside Love- Enhanced by their live show for sure. Some really great songs on this album. Vampire, greatest song about a film genre I have no patience for.
Chet, Chelsea Silver, Please Come Home - As good as anything they’ve done. Why these guys aren’t huge is beyond me. Hopefully their appearance in ELTEE can help to change that.
Solarists, Coast Spirit- The Sleeper of the year. This album crept up on me and took hold pretty hard. Band leader Cam is one of the nicest guys in music which is great and baffling at the same times. Most great artists I’ve met are elusive jerks.
Yo La Tengo, Popular Songs – Best in a decade for this trio. The variety they are known for is present on this ablum. Similar to the last two releases just more refined.
Sleey Sun, Embrace - This is a last minute addition. I thought I had this on last years list (since I've had a pre-release forever) but alas it was not there. One of the best albums from a non-Canadian band to ever come out of the hive. Inspired by Black Mountain and every bit as good. There are some sweet acid rock jams going down on this platter for sure. Wait till you hear their new one (entitled Super High), it's even better.
Wilco, (The Album)- Probably listened to Wilco (the song) more this year than any other single. Their most consistent album in a long time. Other than aforementioned song the duet with Fiest , You and I, is another stand out. Best Album cover of the year as well.
Neko Case, Middle Cyclone - Just a colossal force of nature. Amazing songwriting and delivery. Even the covers are hard to distinguish as being done by someone else. Neko owns every second of this album. When I saw her live I almost welled up when she performed “Don’t forget me”.
Camera Obscura, My Maudlin Career - Finely crafted sixties pop tunes. Just how strong of a document is this ablum? It’s place on my top ten was not jeopardized by their terrible live show. They won’t be playing my wedding, although the DJ may spin the sweetest thing during the garter toss. P.S. I’m not getting married any time soon.
Runner-ups
Lou Barlow, Goodnight Unknown - It’s like having unearthed an lost Sebadoh album. Nice mix of rockers and ballads. Still carrying the lo-fi torch after all these years and not embarrassing himself in the process.
Dinosaur Jr, Farm- as good as anything J Mascis has done. A Great wall of sound accompanied by sweet solos.
Thao and the Get Down Stay Down, Know Better, Learn Faster - Great discovery. Half of this album is amazing.
Dark Was the Night, V/A - Some of the best tracks of the year are on here (Beirut, Dirty Projectors, Yeasayer). Worth it for The National's So Far Around the Bend.
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