Best of 2009: Records...

The problem with doing a best albums list is that you skip over the gems that you find along the way. Plenty of albums are mediocre, but on a lot of those there is a 'perfect' song. This list is dedicated to those songs that when you hear the first time you think, "holy sh*t, this song is really good," or just that ones that make you wanna dance or sing along with in the car/shower/bar or wherever you like to sing. So here are my 10 favorite songs of this last year - some of them were on albums in my top ten but most of them are not. Some of these you may hate by now because you've heard them way too much or you never liked them in the first place. Some of these you may have never heard. This a list of my favorite songs of the year and I love them. Anyways, here they are...

10.) Sexual Healing by Hot Chip
Awesome cover of an already legendary song. It's hard to make a song this well known your own but give this a listen if you haven't heard it and see why it made the list. "I'll never be laid back as this beat was."

9.) Your Love is Like a Drug or Tik Tok by Ke$ha
I apologize for putting two in the same slot but this girl is killing me. I don't know why I love her and up until three days ago I didn't even know she was white. But damn if I don't love these songs. I swear when I sing them I feel like a 13 year old girl.

8.) Big Green Tractor by Jason Aldean
This was easily my favorite country song this year. Usually I'm all about the drinking singing along country songs that are a little more upbeat, but this one got me.

7.) Young Hearts Spark Fire by Japandroids














The best song on a great album - after hearing this, I immediately bought the whole album. This was in the running for my top ten albums and just barely missed out.

6.) Exhibit C by Jay Electronica
It seems that this is the only hip-hop song on my list for the year which is strange but I guess I didn't listen to a whole lot this year. After Mos Def's new one which I thought was pretty bland, I didn't think I'd hear anything good this year until this.

5.) Bad Romance by Lady Gaga
The first time I heard this song I wanted to kill myself. Then I heard the chorus and was indifferent. Then I started to like it. Now I love it and after a brief but persuasive conversation with Other Guy's gf (heretofore known as Other Girl) I concur that she is the most unique female pop star to come around since Madonna (back when Madonna was Madonna).

4.) I'm Yours by Jason Mraz
You all know and love this song. If you don't, you did at one point and then you fell in love with it again when you saw that Asian kid on youtube rock it out.

3.) I Love College by Asher Roth
I do love college. And I love it for all the reasons that are stated in this song. Who doesn't like reminiscing about college to a sampled beat from my favorite Weezer song (Say It Ain't So)? The only thing better than hearing this song on my ipod is hearing it at a tailgate when I'm back at MSU.

2.) The Kids Don't Stand a Chance (Remix) by Chromeo
Take an already awesome song and add a really fun beat and mix it. Chromeo hit the nail on the head with this one. I'd like to thank Leadright for filling my life with this wonderful goodness.

1.) I Like You So Much Better When You're Naked by Ida Maria


















My favorite song off her album which is in my top 10. She's awesome. The song is pretty much perfect. It sounds like a summer day, windows down kind of song and Spring can't get her soon enough to see if I'm right. She kills me with this song. I should have moved her higher up on my best albums list...

Anyways, good stuff. Go big.

-M, p, z & shredder

Best of 20009: Movies...

Now that we're settling in to the new year, I'm assuming most of you overspent as much as I did and are now looking for ways to stay in and pass the time without passing over any money. Well redbox or netflix these movies if you're bored because they're all really good (or at least I think so). I was busy for the last couple weeks of 2009 so absent from this list will be anything that came out around christmas that I haven't had a chance to see yet (Sherlock Holmes, Crazy Heart etc...also I goofed and never saw Precious but I'm pretty sure that'd make the top 5). As I went back through all the movies from last year, I realized that I saw a lot. Possibly the most I've seen in any year, so this list is really full of quality films (I'm going to leave out some of my faves like Underworld and Crank 2 because most of you don't care about those movies). When I make this list I usually jot down any movie I think might be in the top ten and then whittle it down and some of this years close calls were: Julie and Julia, Zombieland, District 9, The Hangover, Paper Heart and Funny People. Anyway, without further ado....

10.) Watchmen
This one makes the top ten by the skin of it's teeth. I moved it in here because I own the 'ultimate directors cut' which really does the book justice and gets into the politics a little more which is really what fuels the story.

9.) Up
Not as strong as Wall-e but still another classic from Pixar. Those guys really know how to tell a story and have incredible pacing. I still get teary eyed every time I see that opening montage over the credits.

8.) The Brothers Bloom
I'm officially moving Rian Johnson into my short list of favorite directors. His follow up to 2005's Brick is a real gem. Not too many writer/directors have his knack for knowing exactly what they want at every aspect from colors to lighting to performance and it's nice to see someone new like this. It also helps that he had Adrien Brody and Mark Ruffalo being an awesomely hilarious pairing as brothers.

7.) (500) Days of Summer
Hard not to like a movie starring two of my favorite actors. Joseph Gordon Levitt and Zooey Deschanel killed it. Despite the bittersweet and somewhat weak ending, it still kills overall. Great movie with a cameo from my girl Minka Kelly from Friday Night Lights at the end sealed the deal.

6.) Good Hair











Chris Rock killed it. This was one of the best documentaries I've seen in forever. It was funny, insightful and really really really good. This needs to be at the top of everyone's must see list for documentaries.

5.) Away We Go
As some of you may know, I hate Sam Mendes. I think his characters are boring, bland and one dimensional. That said, it took a screenplay written by one of my favorite writers, Dave Eggers, to get him to make a movie I love. I hate The Office, but John Krasinksi is great and Maya Rudolph killed it.

4.) Fantastic Mr. Fox












Wes Anderson. What more can I say? He's the bees knees. It seemed like he rushed through Darjeeling Limited (not just the pacing but the writing as well), but this move moved really well and I thought Clooney did a great job as Mr. Fox.

3.) Star Trek
This movie was awesome. Action packed and a great reboot of a franchise that had gotten really old, stale and dated. You do not need to be a Star Trek fan, nor do you need to see a single episode or any movie of any Star Trek series. This really stands on it's own and I've watched it with a few people now that have gone in skeptical and come out on my side. Rent it or buy it but definitely watch it and watch it again. A good sound system/tv is a plus for this.

2.) Moon



















Sam Rockwell completely dominated every other performance by any actor I've seen this year. The story is great, the acting is off the charts and the special effects are incredible considering the budget. It comes out on dvd very soon so add this to the top of your netflix queue. Seriously. You won't be disappointed.

1.) Avatar
This might be a little fresh in my memory, but really, it was the best movie going experience of my life. Not as good a 'film' as Moon, or a few others, but seeing it in IMAX 3-D really makes this an event. This sort of transcends movies and makes it more of a show or a spectacle than anything. James Cameron, as of today, officially has the number one and two highest grossing movies of all time. He hit 1.13 billion with this and Titanic is sitting high on that iceberg at number one, practically untouchable at 1.8+ billion which is insane. I think this movie can over take it considering it's only been out for 3 weeks but another 700 million is a pretty lofty goal.

So there it is. The best of 2009. Check them out. If you disagree, let me know. If I missed something, please let me know.

Go big.

-M, p, z & shredder

oh ps - here is a list of some of the worst movies of 2009. Try and avoid if you haven't already made my mistake...

Boondock Saints II: All Saints Day, Observe and Report, The Informant, Transformers, Wolverine

Best Dressed...

Sorry, I've been slacking a little. Most of you know the Golden Globes were Sunday. They were pretty enjoyable on the whole. Nothing spectacular but since there was no show last year, it was a welcome scene. Maybe they should only do the show every other year to keep it fresh and exciting. Just a thought anyways. I'm pretty happy about all the recipients. I think they did a great job and there really wasn't a single award I didn't agree with which usually never happens. I haven't seen either of the Kate Winslet movies but I guess she was pretty good.

One thing I love about going to see movies is the grandeur of it all. Seeing things on a big screen makes it special and there are movies that are geared for that. Most of the movies that I see in the theater (which is most movies that come out) are action/adventure/original type movies that, when seen on a huge screen, are enhanced by the experience. Movies that I haven't seen that are supposedly great are The Reader and Doubt. I would like to see both of those movies, but not enough to warrant seeing Kate Winslet 10 feet tall. Those movies are safe to watch on netflix and whatnot.

The reason I bring this up is because this presents a problem that has happened to our culture. I love movies and watch any film I can get my hands on, but my taste doesn't translate into my theater experience. If you count the money I've spent on movies at the theater, the breakdown would be pretty gross with a big chunk going to superhero/action/michael bay/jason statham crap that I love to watch. This becomes a problem because it makes it hard for other movies like Doubt or The Reader or The Wrestler (which was awesome) to get financial backing, thus making it hard to make original movies. I love these movies just as much as any other movie but I don't feel the need to see them in theaters like I do with ridiculously terrible/awesome movies like Death Race (which was awesome). I mean I have already planned out my spring and summer schedule (which I will share with you soon) and most of those are going to be awful, but need to be seen on a huge screen with a million watts of speaker power shaking my brain loose. Too many movies don't get made because of this fact and it really sucks. I'm not sure what to do or say about it other than, too bad I can't have my cake and eat it too.

Without further ado, the best dressed of the Golden Globes 2009 edition. Keep in mind I have yet to see People or whoever does the best dressed list so these opinions are just from watching the show and if they coincide with what the fashionista say, then that's just a testament to me being awesome. Also keep in mind that this is an overall general hotness with face/hair/dress all taken into account.

#5: Freida Pinto (first non-Lucy Liu Asian to be on my list)




















#4: Rachel Dawes (oops I mean Maggie Gyllenhall)

















#3 Christina Applegate




















#2: Elizabeth Banks




















#1: Eva Mendes

















As always, go big or go home...

-M, p, z & shredder

oh ps -
tell em what to watch: American Idol: 8pm on FOX - kicked off last night in usual fashion (down slightly in the ratings from last year; only 31 million viewers) I love this part of the competition. Also if you have the Big Ten Network (which I know you don't because no one does) MSU @ PSU - they might have embarrassed us at home in football but hopefully we go over there and kick their ass.