Sean’s Top 10s of 2000

Here’s a fun little monthly feature I thought I’d take up in the wake of T3’s death. As we all know, 2009 marks the end of the first decade of the 21st Century. This requires much celebration, and I’m sure by the end of the year we’ll be writing top ten lists of the decade, along with for 2009. But I’ve only been making top tens for the past couple years. To make up for this lack of representation, I thought I’d do those lists now, posting one a month until I’m all caught up. So let’s go on a journey back to the first year of the decade.

Top 10 Films of 2000

10. X-Men
As far as I’m concerned, Brian Singer’s movie is the reason for the popularity of super hero films in the era of CG motion pictures. The first X-Men was full of great effects

9. Requiem for a Dream
This is a cool movie, and one of the most sobering cases against drug use I’ve ever seen. Our characters are stuck in such a horrbile downward spiral, it’s actually pretty hard to watch. But an important cinematic effort.

8. Almost Famous
I assume this is pretty much what it was like being a band before corporations really took control of rock and roll. I’m about it. It’s a lot of fun.

7. Best in Show
Can you believe I saw this in theaters? I guess it’s not that bonkers. But I remember my dad took me to it, and initially I hadn’t wanted to go. I didn’t understand the mockumentary concept. But I did see, and I laughed the whole way through it. Thanks, dad.

6. Croucing Tiger, Hidden Dragon
And so it came to pass that wire fu rose in popularity in motion pictures. For some reason, the Ottenis just can’t like this movie. They have some wacky problem with fantastic martial arts and actors speaking in Chinese. Everyone else, however, is free to enjoy this landmark movie.

5. O Brother, Where art Thou?
As far as I can recall, this was the first Cohens movie I saw. It seemed weird, but I was about it. Nowadays, I’m even more about it.

4. Traffic
Oh, Traffic, you think you’re so cool. You deal with a bunch of realistic modern issues and inspired beloved one word title films like Crash and Babel. But you’re better than those movies, aren’t you?

3. Gladiator
Oh man, how cool was this movie back in the day? Not only a marvel in regard to special effects, but just a damn fun movie to watch. Russel Crowe is the badass Maximus, but I think you’ve really got to give it to Joaquin Phoenix, for playing such a creepy villain. He’s just so easy to hate. Plus, back then, the violence was inspiring for the young me.

2. Memento
What a cool movie. With a fantastic editing job that keeps the viewer just as in the dark as our leading man. It really makes you wonder why Guy Pearce doesn’t get more play these days.

1. High Fidelity
Every time I watch this movie I like it more. The clever asides, the top ten lists, the effective romance, it’s all good. Of course, this was also the breakout role for Jack Black as far as I’m concerned. I love it.

Top 5 Albums of 2000
In a time without iPods, where Napster reigned supreme at the forefront of the Internet music phenomenon, I can’t say I really listened to that many albums. I probably listened to The Essential Bob Dylan and The Beatles 1 more than any contemporary work from that time. I probably should look back in time for stuff that I would enjoy, but since this was a spur of the moment type deal, for this very first feature I’m only going to have a top five. Please forgive me (that’s a reference to that David Gray album that came out in 2000 that I never listened to but became casually aware of later on).

5. Death Cab for Cutie – We Have the Facts and We’re Voting Yes
???

4. Modest Mouse – The Moon and Antarctica
The first Modest Mouse album that I cared about. Everyone’s heard “3rd Planet” and “Gravity Rides Everything,” and there are plenty of other tracks that are just a good. If you haven’t heard it yet, why not check it out? Why read these lists if you’re not going to check out the albums I’m recomending?

3. Coldplay – Parachutes
I think at this point most readers will know that I love this album. So I won’t write about it any more.

2. Radiohead – Kid A
It took me a little while to understand why Kid A is great. I think I sort of get it now. All I really know is that I enjoy hearing the sounds that come from these songs. My peers probably get the technical reasons.

1. U2 – All That You Can’t Leave Behind
Probably my favorite U2 album of recent years. I totally dig what they’re doing here, especially the first few tracks. I’ve noticed that’s a pattern for me, a lot of albums I’m all about the first few tracks and kind of lose interest at the end. Not that the latter songs on this CD are bad, no, quite the opposite.

R.I.P Top Ten Thursdays

February 14th 2008 – April 2nd, 2009
It seemed like the consensus last time we all met that “Top Ten Thursdays” have become too much of a hassle. Seeing as we haven’t had one in awhile, I think it’s safe to say that T3’s can now be put to rest. Though we’ll still be doing “Top Tens” every now and then, they will most likely be for special occasions. It’s tough for me to see them go but I understand, it can get exhausting after awhile. I wished we could of kept them but I suppose it became more of a burden than something to look forward to as the months went by.

So I guess this means “Classic Album Tuesday” is next? Well not yet it isn’t. I know Colin and I enjoy it, so maybe it’ll just be up to me and him to continue on it’s legacy and if Sean wants to pop in with an occasional Journey album than he should go for it.

To really make this the last “Top Ten Thursday” I thought I’d list my personal favorite T3’s in no particular order. Feel free to leave a comment with some of your favorites as well.

– T3: Rock Em Sock Em Robots
By Colin
: Robots are always cool, am I right?

– T3: X-Cited
By John
: It was a lot of fun sitting down to watch a bunch of X-Files and see what episodes were my favorite. This post probably had the most enjoyable research for myself.

– T3: Holiday Things
By Nancy
: Anything that reminds me of how hilarious it is when someone crashes in my yard is good enough for me.

– T3: The Best Double Albums Rock n’ Roll Has To Offer
By Collin
: Doesn’t seem like there was enough music themed T3’s, but this one was pretty good. It’s what finally gave me the initiative to listen to London Calling which I now love.

– T3: Gaming Peripherals
By Sean
: Sean said this would probably go down in history as the worst T3, but I think he’s suffered brain damage. Very nostalgic, especially the “Super Disadvantage.”

– T3: Most Hated Mariners
By Nancy
: I love “Worst” lists, it shows that we can look back at past mistakes and now laugh at them… Or be haunted by them.

– T3: Aaahh!!! Real Monsters
By John
: It seems like I rarely get to talk about Cryptozoology so this was a rare treat.

– T3: Rob and Big
By Nancy
: What can I say? They’re such good friends.

– T3: Uh, Oh, Well…
By Sean
: Sean’s apparently random ranking of bizarre sea life was certainly a comical surprise… Except for the addition of Dolphins, what the hell was that?

– T3: Action Jackson
By John
: Not that I think it’s a great list but it was just a lot of fun to write.

P.S. This isn’t some late April Fools joke, this is the real deal.

T3: Who Watches the Watchmen?

Ten reasons to see Watchmen
Well if it isn’t top ten thursday and just a day a way from the release of Watchmen one of the most anticipated movies of 2009. I was trying to think of Watchmen themed T3 when I decided “Why don’t I just do another top ten reasons to see list” like what I did for Indiana Jones last year. I always like to round it with two stupid ones, usually the last two, but I think it’s a suitable T3, why don’t you take a look?

10. Hometown Hero
Though I’m not that familiar with Jeffery Dean Morgan’s work, his role in Watchmen has the potential to make him the biggest celebrity to of ever lived in our hometown of Kirkland, WA (aside from maybe the lead singer of Alice in Chains). Jeffery was born in Seattle but just happened to go to Lake Washington High School, so we got to go give him our support by seeing Watchmen. One thing is for sure, if I ever meet Jeffery Dean Morgan I know exactly what I’d ask him “Did you have Mr. Mabbott and if you did, did you have to do that stupid rock assignment?”

9. The Final Frontier
Maybe you really don’t give a shit about Watchmen at all and you’re more looking forward to Star Trek. Well the word on the street is that there will be a new Star Trek trailer attached to some prints of Watchmen. I personally don’t care that much but I’m sure somebody does, plus I had to round out this list somehow. Am I right?

8. I Love the 80s!
It should be pretty cool seeing a flick set in a strange alternate 1985. Tensions between the Soviets and the U.S. are at an all time high, Nixon is still president and they even have some extra playing Ted Koppel, that’s some freaky stuff man.

7. It’s Epic!
It’s not often that you see a superhero movie come along that’s almost three hours long and it’s definitely intriguing. Seems to be a good indication that the film will be fairly loyal to it’s source material. Apparently the Director’s Cut is 191 minutes long, that blows my mind.

6. V is for Violence
If there’s one thing I like to see in superhero movies it’s guys exchanging blows and Watchmen’s R-rating is a good sign that it wont disappoint in the action department.

5. The Cast of Characters
It’s intriguing to see someone make a big budget Superhero movie with few big name actors. Though it seems likely that it could of been to keep down costs, I like to think it’s a rare opportunity to give some of these smaller character actors the spot light. Billy Crudup is probably the most recognizable of the bunch for his roles in Almost Famous and Big Fish but you also got Patrick Wilson from Hard Candy, Little Children and the classic Lakeview Terrace, former teenage bad boy Jackie Earle Haley known for his roles in Bad News Bears, Breaking Away and an oscar nominated performance in Little Children, English actor Matthew Goode, Malin Akerman from that terrible Ben Stiller movie, Jeffery Dean Morgan and more. It’s an unusual cast so let’s hope they all have something to bring to the table. Oh yeah and it’s got dwarf actor Danny Woodburn in it, you know he was Mickey on Seinfeld.

4. Movie Magic
From Nite Owl’s sweet air ship, to a glowing Billy Crudup, to that part in the trailer where Dr. Manhattan makes those dudes explode, this flick looks to be an incredible smorgasbord of special effects. Tie this together with the jaw dropping backdrops and settings and this film could be a cinch for some of the visual awards at next years Oscars.

3. In Living Color
Based off of what we’ve heard and seen in the trailers, the makers of Watchmen have made sure to make this adaptation of the legendary graphic novel as detailed and loyal to David Gibbon’s artwork as possible. I mean look at the all the elaborate sets and vibrant colors, it really looks amazing. Some scenes even look to be exact recreations of panels from the graphic novel so if anything this should be top notch eye candy.

2. From the Page to the Screen
Arguably the greatest graphic novel of all time, creepy comic writer Alan Moore’s legendary story of former super-heroes living in an alternate American 80s setting is one of the most impressive works to ever come out of the medium of comics. Even if this film doesn’t hit all the right marks, I’m sure that even on the screen you’ll be able to see a great story in all the fancy effects and imagery.

What I’m looking forward to the most is to see how the character of Rorschach is handled in the film. He’s a great, complex character and easily my favorite part of the graphic novel. If you ask me he’s definitely the breakout character of Watchmen and definitely has the potential to really rub off on audiences. Come ’round next October he could even take the Joker down a notch for the most popular Halloween costume.

1. The Hype
It took years to get this film off the ground and now that it’s finally coming out, so people have set some pretty high expectations. Chances are it wont be as beloved as it’s comic book counterpart but for anyone who’s ever read the graphic novel or had some kind of mild interest in Watchmen prior to knowing it would become a movie, this is a big deal so let’s see if it satisfies it’s legions of fan-boys. The reviews seem to be mostly positive thus far.

T3: …And The Oscar Should Have Gone To

Seeing as though the Oscars are this weekend, I thought I’d look back at the years in which the Academy got it wrong, and failed to give the award to the best film that was nominated for Best Picture. Now despite the fact that John said that I’m the most qualified for this kind of list, as I started looking at all of the Best Picture nominees, I wasn’t so sure if I am that qualified for this. So this list definitely takes into account the films that I have seen, so there’s probably a few that could’ve made this list but don’t because I haven’t seen them. So here’s my list of the ten biggest mistakes in the Oscar category of Best Picture.

10. What Should Have Won: My Left Foot (1989)

Winner: Driving Miss Daisy

This inspiring story of Christy Brown, a man born with cerebral palsy doesn’t quite seem like an obvious choice for a Best Picture Winner, but it’s certainly the best film out of those nominated that year. The main reason this one is on the list is the fact that they gave the best picture oscar to Driving Miss Daisy, which is pretty weak, especially when a much better film that tackled the issue of racism in America, Do The Right Thing, came out the same year. But I guess you can usually count on the academy to play it safe.

9. Dr. Strangelove (1964)

Winner: My Fair Lady

This was probably far too unique to garner a Best Picture win, in fact I’m kind of surprised to see that it was nominated, but it’s certainly one of Stanley Kubrick’s best films and pretty much the movie which all political satires are measured against. I haven’t seen the musical My Fair Lady, which did win best picture that year, but it’s reputation is no where near the level of Dr. Strangelove’s status as one of the best dark comedies ever made.

8. Raiders of The Lost Ark (1981)

Winner: Chariots of Fire

This is another movie that really isn’t the kind of film that wins best picture, especially during the ’80s when the award was pretty much given to an uplifting light drama every year. But you can’t deny how awesome this movie is, I mean I’m sure Chariots of Fire is alright, but there’s no way it’s a thrilling as any of the scenes in Raiders. But it seems action/adventure movies will always get the shaft when it comes to Best Picture, well except for Return of the King I guess.

7. A Street Car Named Desire (1951)

Winner: An American In Paris

Streetcar is not only one of the best movie adaptations of a stage-play ever made, but there are also very few films that feature so many great performances. So it’s hard to see why they would pick the Gene Kelly musical An American In Paris, which is an OK movie, but no where near as great as the other musicals MGM produced in the early ’50s like Singin’ The Rain or The Band Wagon, so I’m puzzled why it’s this one that would win a Best Picture Oscar. But at least Streetcar holds the distinction of being one of two films to ever win 3 of the 4 acting oscars.

6. Saving Private Ryan (1998)

Winner: Shakespeare In Love

I haven’t seen Shakespeare In Love, but I’m sure it’s not half as brilliant as this unforgettable depiction of World War II. I mean they gave Spielberg the Best Director Oscar, it’s seems strange that they wouldn’t give him the best picture win. But I guess I can’t feel to sorry for him, he did after all win another oscar back in ’93 and probably has more money than God.

5. Pulp Fiction

Winner: Forrest Gump

Another prime example of the academy playing it safe instead of giving Best Picture to a far superior and much more important film. Pulp Fiction is easily the most influential movie of the past 20 years, but some how managed to lose to a movie about “a retard that plays ping pong and gets shot in the ass”, not that Forrest Gump’s a bad film, it just ain’t Pulp Fiction.

4. E. T.: The Extra-Terrestrial

Winner: Gandhi

Another year in which I haven’t seen the Best Picture winner, Ghandi, which seems to be a pretty well-regarded film, but E.T. is easily one of Spielberg best movies as well as one of the best movies of the ’80s. Though it is a sci-fi film, I don’t think there are really any sci-fi movies that are so heartfelt and brimming with human emotion, despite the fact that it stars an alien from outer space.

3. Apocalypse Now

Winner: Kramer vs. Kramer

Kramer vs. Kramer is certainly a nice little drama, but I don’t think anyone can deny the sheer power of Apocalypse Now. This is definitely another film that seems just a little too unique to win Best Picture, but it’s hard to make a case against it when it tackles the subject of war with a psychological impact that pretty much no other film has had to date.

2. GoodFellas (1990)/Raging Bull (1980)

Winners: Ordinary People and Dances With Wolves

Just because both of these were so deserving in there respective years, they share the spot for number 2. Raging Bull is Martin Scorsese’s masterpiece and should’ve won Best Picture, so you’d think they’d give it to him again when he came out with GoodFellas, another equally brilliant film. But no, they managed to fuck it up again by giving it to another first time actor-turned-director, Kevin Costner. But at least justice was finally served when Scorsese got his Oscar for Best Director and Best Picture with 2006’s The Departed.

1. Citizen Kane

Winner: How Green Was My Valley

I don’t think I really need to explain this one, I mean you’d think the movie often regarded as the greatest American film ever made would’ve won Best Picture. I guess when you look at the fact that Kane wasn’t nearly as applauded when it came out as it is today, it isn’t that surprising that it lost to John Ford’s How Green Was My Valley. But still, the fact that this landmark film didn’t win Best Picture is just another testament to the fact that many of the films that win best picture won’t be remembered at all, it’s only the truly great ones that people will remember, and that awards don’t mean shit.

Honorable Mentions: Double Indemnity (1944), Fargo (1996), High Noon (1952), Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966), It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

T3: Most Anticipated Movies of 2009

Remember when I did this a year ago? Yeah, a year ago (Saturday). Well, it’s time to do it again. Uh, I think John said This Side of the Truth isn’t coming out this year any more, so I guess it doesn’t get to make the list.

10. Public Enemies

July 1

Michael Mann, the Great Depression, the FBI, Johnny Depp, Christian Bale. I hope I don’t need to give you any more reasons to get excited for this July release. Now, sure Miami Vice sucked hard, but that shouldn’t even enter into the equation. Because this sounds sweet.

9. Star Trek

May 8

There is so much about this film that can go wrong. The guy they’ve got playing Kirk doesn’t seem like a better choice than Matt Damon, but what do I know? I’ve only seen the trailer, but what’s that shit going on about Kirk being like a troubled youth and all that nonsense? I don’t know, maybe that works for the character. What I do know is that I love me some sci-fi and we certainly do not get enough of that out of Hollywood. To Hollywood: if you make a movie with spaceships or giant robots (probably even Transformers II: Sequel to a Bad Movie with a Worse Title) I’ll probably go see it.

8. Up

May 29

I’m not entirely sold on this concept yet, but Pixar always delivers so I’m sure I’ll enjoy it. This is the story of an old man (Ed Asner) who flies his home to fulfill his deceased wife’s last wish. While that’s pretty much all I know now, I’m sure this film will be both heartwarming and completely charming.

7. Funny People

July 31

John will agree with me when I say Adam Sandler can be quite good when he doesn’t stick to his usual played roles. It looks like he’ll be breaking the mold here in the Judd Apatow-directed film about a dying stand-up comedian. It features Apatow regulars Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill and Leslie Mann, and it will probably be pretty good. Pretty, pretty good.

6. Inglourious Basterds

August 21

Will this really come out? Really? Because I feel like we’ve been waiting for a pretty damn long time now. Quentin Tarantino is simply one of those directors that you have to follow because you know each project is going to be interesting. I hear this one pays homage to war movies and spaggheti westerns. The cast is insane. Sign me up.

5. Where the Wild Things Are

October 16

This might just make a hell of a movie. Spike Jonze is directing, and the cast includes Catherine Keener, James Gandolfini and Forest Whitaker. A project this ambitious is certainly something I’m going to want to see. And I do.

4. The Fantastic Mr. Fox

November 6

What can I say, I like me some Wes Anderson. It’s got George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Cate Blanchett, Anjelica Huston, Bill Murray and even more great talent. It’s based on a Roald Dahl book. It’s claymated. Really, how can this disappoint?

3. Ashecliffe

October 2

Don’t even remember what this is about. When Martin Scorsese makes a film, you just go see it. That’s how it works. I’m guessing Leo DiCaprio’s in it. You know, cause he’s like the new Robert De Niro. It’ll be good.

2. Watchmen

March 6

The trailers for this film certainly have captured the attention of America’s youth, like 300 before it. Hopefully it can live up to that movie’s faithfulness to the source material. Watchmen certainly is among the most celebrated graphic novels in the history of the medium, and a lot of what makes it great will be lost in translation. But if they can capture just a pinch of its brilliance, we’ll be in for quite a ride. Woo, Jeffrey Dean Morgan!

1. Avatar

December 18

Seriously, this film has been in development for like a decade. James Cameron says it is going to be this generation’s Star Wars (even though we already have that, it’s called Attack of the Clones). Now, we don’t know much about the film’s premise, or its rising star Sam Worthington, but after all these years I can’t wait to finally see if this can live up to any of its hype.

T3: Worst Album Covers Ever!

Posts have been slow at Cat Fancy lately, so for this week’s “Top Ten” I thought I’d blow your mind and do the first ever “Top Twenty”. I was recently looking up terrible album covers and immediately I felt inspired. There’s just so many great (By which I mean horrible) covers so I had to go the distance. Most are extremely obscure artists but I looked at over a hundred album covers to narrow it down to this tight twenty. I’ll keep most of my comments brief as I belief the images speak for themselves. It’s hard to decide which covers are worse than others, but something that we can all agree on is that these are all terrible.

20. Freddie Gage – All My Friends are Dead (1969?)
: Oh yeah that’s uplifting.

19. Dwarves – The Dwarves Must Die (2004)
He died for our lollipops, poor little feller.

18. Eulenspygel – Eulenspygel 2 (1971)
This is cruel, unusual and very, very sad.

17. Larz Kristerz – Stuff Party 2 (2004)
If you thought “Stuff Party 1” was intense than wait till you hear the followup!

16. Tiny Lynn – Little Lehman’s Half-Fast Songs (????)
Is this foreign? I can only imagine what kind of great material is on this album.

15. Elvez – G.I. Ay! Ay! Blues (1996)
What the hell is this? Is this guy like the Latin Elvis?

14. Fabio – After Dark (1993)
Yeah it happened…

13. Boned – Up at the Crack (2005)
Yes, yes, this rocks!

12. The Braillettes – Our Hearts Keep Singing (1968)
They all ready have to deal with being blind, now they have to deal with people laughing at their cover behind their backs.

11. Tino – Por Primera Vez (1983)
: You cannot resist the Tino!

10. Herbie Mann – Push Push (1971)
: If women want to “push” with anyone it’s Herbie Mann. He’s sweaty, balding, hairy, he plays the flute, what more could you want?

9. Pooh Man – Funky As I Wanna Be (1992)
A guy named “Pooh-Man” between a woman’s legs, what comes to mind?

8. Millie Jackson – Back to the S..t! (1989)
: Seriously, that’s just disgusting.

7. Joyce – Self Titled (1983)
Who’s the target audience here? Who’s Joyce and why would I want her album? I guess that’s why she went for such a great cover.

6. Christian Crusaders with Alvin Davis – Self Titled (1972)
: Looking spiffy! I bet all the hip kids loved the Christian Crusaders.

5. Heino – Liebe Mutter (1972)
: For those who don’t know “Liebe Mutter” loosely translates into “love mother”. I guess this makes Heino like the German Norman Bates. If Norman Bates recorded an album.

4. The Handsome Beasts – Bestiality (1996)
You have to admit they make a cute couple.

3. The Ministers Quartet – Let Me Touch Him (1964)
: Let Me Touch Him?!? You have a picture of four middle aged religious men and you name the album “Let Me Touch Him”?

2. The Handsome Beasts – 04 (2004)
What’s that guys obsession with being naked?

1. Ken – By Request Only (1976)
Widely considered as the worst album cover of all time, I’m not sure what’s so striking about By Request Only. Whether it’s Ken’s late 70s porn star look or the lame overlaying of his vacant expression, By Request Only is beyond hilarious.

As a matter of fact, people were so taken by this cover when it first popped up on the internet that it became somewhat of an urban legend. Who is Ken? Is this an actual album? What kind of music did he do? Well it didn’t take long for a copy of this baby to appear on eBay and soon all the secrets were revealed.

Ken Snyder is his name and this is indeed a real album. Released in 1976 the album contains Christian music. Apparently the real Ken has actually found this whole fiasco quite amusing. He’s sold a few copies online (with his autograph) and has embraced the legend. I’m glad this whole thing could end on a good note.

Dishonorable Mention
There’s a lot of horrible 80s hair metal album covers. Scorpions and Man-O-War definitely have some of the worst in that genre. There’s a lot of other religious albums that are pretty bad as well.

The Most Anticipated Blog Post of 2009

Nancy here with my top 3 things in 3 categories of 2008.

Top Albums
2008 was a pretty weak year for music as far as I’m concerned. It’s not that I did not particularly like most of the albums that my favorite artists released including Chris Walla’s Field Manual(Seriously buddy, stick to the backup vocals), Jenny Lewis’ Acid Tounge, and Louis XIV’s Slick Dogs And Ponies. However there were a few diamonds in the rough and here they are.

3. Connor Oberst – Connor Oberst
Connor Oberst from Bright Eyes fame released his first solo album in 2008. Most people think Bright Eyes is just his alias and that whats the point of releasing a solo album? Well his good friend Mike Mogis plays a slew of instruments as well as producing the Bright Eyes albums and was not involved with this record so Oberst decided not to use the name for the project.

The band involved in this project Oberst put together and named them the Mystic Valley Band. They all went down to Mexico and rented a house and recorded an the album.
The record has a more upbeat tone than what fans are used to with Bright Eyes. A lot of faster paced, happier themed music was on display which was a nice change of pace for Obersts song writing.

Favorite Tracks: Cape Canaveral; Souled Out!!!; Milk Thistle; Maob.

2. Dr. Dog – Fate
Fate was one of my most anticipated after buying their first two albums about a year earlier. I was not disappointed. I love the old reel-to-reel sound that they produce and it really seems as if every sound was thought about very thoroughly before it was recorded. It seemed a lot simpler than the previous We All Belong but was still strong in that vocal harmony that makes me weak in the knees.

Favorite Tracks: The Breeze; The Old Days; The Rabbit, The Bat, And The Reindeer.

1. Heathers – Here, Not There.
These sensational indie teenagers from Ireland were first brought to my attention by the Dunc. After months of trying to track down a way to find the album I finally found the record label’s website where you could buy it. A few weeks later I was the proud owner of one of the most vocally satisfying albums I’ve ever heard.

Armed with one guitar and two incredible voices, these two Irish friends sing all the words together but hardly ever sing the same note. Their understanding of harmony is one thing, but their execution of singing them is a whole other thing. They seem to sing up and down scales never getting lost to where they are or where their counterpart is. Such a conscience awareness of music amazes me everytime I listen. They are THE most talented musicians I’ve come across in a long time and hope they expand beyond just one acoustic guitar.

Favorite Tracks: Remember When; Margie; Fire Ants.

Top Video Games
In order to regain some of the respect from Sean I have lost over the years I reinstated my video game career. Heres some stuff I stumbled on this year.

3. NHL 09
This game rocks. It has a completely different engine from the previous titles that I had played making it even more exciting. Utilizing the two analog sticks for basically everything it makes the game much more realistic, some times to a point where it starts to annoy you. Pro’s for that system is hitting people. Just like in Madden you can lay people out with one flick of the stick. Some cons are things like dekeing (juking) and shootouts. In shootouts its basically impossible to score so if you and a buddy are tied after one overtime you might as well give up. But all in all it is a great experience and the “Be a Pro” mode is oodles of fun.

2. Shaun White Snowboarding
The thing I always hated about games like 1080 and SSX was the racing element. I always wanted a game just like Tony Hawk except for snowboarding. There was one back in the day with the same engine as Tony Hawk but I don’t remember liking it this much. The great thing about Shaun White is they got the engine right utililzing the analog sticks for most of game play and including the GTA element. The four levels are absolutely HUGE and it would take you at least 10 runs to explore each mountain fully. There are tons of different lifts and helicopters to take you where ever you want to go.

1. MLB The Show 2008
Even though this franchise is supposed to be heralded for its “Road to the Show” mode, I’ve never played it. All I’ve been doing is playing the Franchise mode where you get complete control over a franchise. Everything from blockbuster trades and free agent signings to ticket prices and concessions. They have rosters from Double-A up to the Bigs they only real minor league players are Triple-A players that have had a taste of the majors. It would be really cool if they had all the minor leaguers and stadiums but I guess thats a bit much to ask.

Top Movies
As John mentioned I’ve probably seen 10 movies but I’d rather just be consistant post. Whats the point of a top 10 list if you are just gonna include all 10 you’ve seen?

3. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This movie was f**ked up. I thought it would have been cooler if he was born like big. Cuz its not like he grows up to be a huge baby. He’s just a normal baby. But he’s born a baby-old man. Something to chew on.

Everybody’s seen this poster too many times.

2. The Dark Knight
I’ve still only seen it once. Ben got it for Christmas, maybe I’ll watch it again soon.

1. Clone Wars
Syke. Forgetting Sarah Marshall was definitely my favorite movie of 2008. I’ve seen it about dozen times in the last 4 months just because it is constantly playing on our TV. So many quotable scenes and Aldice Snow is one of the funniest characters. EVER. On a scale of 1 to 1.

As you see the lists get weaker as it goes down, but thats just how blogging works. Heres to hopefully a great 2009.