Best of the year...

Who Shot Sam? · Post by **Who Shot Sam?** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:06 pm

Not a great year for good music if you ask me, or maybe I just haven't been paying attention. Here are the things I enjoyed this year (I had a lot more to talk about last year):

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds - Abattoir Blues/The Lyre of Orpheus (Best of the Year IMHO - his best album in ages - first disc is power blues with a gospel choir, second is softer, more acoustic)

Bjork - Medulla (not quite as good as Vespertine, but damn good)

Tom Waits - Real Gone (real down and dirty stuff - makes you want to go take a shower)

EC - The Delivery Man (have to admit that I haven't exactly been wearing this one out - might grow on me - though I love "Country Darkness")

Franz Ferdinand - Franz Ferdinand (a real shot of energy - fun album of the year)

Ted Leo & the Pharmacists - Shake the Sheets (most underrated songwriter out there today)

And a few notes on reissues:

So happy to have most of the Dylan catalogue cleaned up - Blood on the Tracks never sounded better

Enjoying the Pixies' "Wave of Mutilation" compilation - lots of great stuff I hadn't listened to in years

Poppet · Post by **Poppet** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:13 pm

SMiLE - Brian Wilson

King of Confidence · Post by **King of Confidence** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 6:23 pm

A Boot and a Shoe - Sam Phillips
It Still Moves - My Morning Jacket (although I think it was a 2003 release)
Muswell Hillbillies - Kinks (although I think it was a 1973 release)
TDM - EC

Okay I know there were others but I'm at work and can't see my collection ... I've been buying music like a fiend lately too...

martinfoyle · Post by **martinfoyle** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:07 pm

Great albums by Franz Ferdinand, Tift Merrit, Ron Sexsmith, The Charlatans, EC, The Killers and the London Calling mash up album have brightened up my year, and I'm sure the U2 album will grow on me as well.

Mr. Average · Post by **Mr. Average** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:31 pm

The Ride - Los Lobos
Legion of Boom - Crystal Method
Il Sogno - EC
TDM - EC Imposters
Kill Bill Vol II Soundtrack - Various

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Mon Dec 06, 2004 7:47 pm

Wonderful:
Decadence - Head Automatica
Straylight Run - Straylight Run
From a Basement On The Hill - Elliott Smith
Ups & Downs: Rarities and B-Sides - Saves the Day
The Delivery Man - Elvis Costello & The Imposters
A Grand Don't Come For Free - The Streets
Cleopatra - Peter Toh
Various - Garden State Soundtrack

Disappointing:
On My Way - Ben Kweller
Et Cetera - Little Yellow Box
All Ears, All Eyes, All The Time - Piebald
Where You Want To Be - Taking Back Sunday
Guilt Show - The Get Up Kids
This Pen Is A Weapon - The Ghost

I think it's been an okay year for music.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 4:05 am

As well as some of those already mentioned ('specially Bjork, FF, Ron S, I'd like to put in a word for the Mozzer's YOU ARE THE QUARRY. This was a real grower for me. Still growing, ackchully.

miss buenos aires · Post by **miss buenos aires** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 2:42 pm

From a Basement on a Hill--Elliott Smith

mood swung · Post by **mood swung** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:25 pm

your country - graham parker.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:43 pm

No Nick Drake fans?
Made to Love Magic
Is that any good? I haven't gotten around to listening to it yet, Pink Moon has been taking all of my time.

Boy With A Problem · Post by **Boy With A Problem** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 3:50 pm

and I wouldn't be me if I didn't plug -

Bungalow Hi - Wreckless Eric

Jackson Monk · Post by **Jackson Monk** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 5:59 pm

Trashcan Sinatras - Weightlifting
Finn Bros - Everyone is Here
Your country - Graham Parker.

All three are classics of my record collection. It's been a long while since I fell in love with a record in the way I have with the Trashcans record...BUY IT FOLKS!

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Tue Dec 07, 2004 6:00 pm

Street's Disciple - Nas

Post by **BlueChair** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 6:54 am

I'll save my full list for Being There Issue #5, but for now:

Best Film - Sideways
Best Album - Brian Wilson - SMiLE
Best Book - America: The Book

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 8:39 am

Was Garden State in the running, Blue?
I'd also advise you to wait for Oceans Twelve- I know, it sounds crazy, but what I've been reading about this movie has been very unexpected. <3

Post by **BlueChair** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:07 am

Haven't seen Garden State yet, wehit.

Yeah, a lot of good films are coming out towards the end of the year. I went to see a press screening of Wes Anderson's newest yesterday, The LIfe Aquatic with Steve Zissou starring Bill Murray.

I hear Closer is supposed to be very good as well.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 9:14 am

I can't wait until The Life Aquatic. That is going to be one of my brother and I's (annual) X-mas Eve films.

Poppet · Post by **Poppet** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:06 pm

blue, tell me more about The Life Aquatic - i have a friend who wants to see that xmas day (for xmas day i have dim sum and go to the movies) but i know Finding Neverland would be a good xmas day movie. would The Life Aquatic be better?

i still haven't seen Lost in Translation. i need to go tweak my Netflix queue.

RedShoes · Post by **RedShoes** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:10 pm

wehitandrun wrote:I can't wait until The Life Aquatic. That is going to be one of my brother and I's (annual) X-mas Eve films.

It comes out Xmas day....so you might have to push your plans back a day

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:36 pm

I missed Garden State, sadly. Can't wait for Life Aquatic!

I saw and enjoyed CLOSER. I could write a coherent critique saying lots of things about it that don't work, but who cares, it's hugely enjoyable anyway, and a real thinker. Short version is: women are liars and men are possessive bastards. But starring four gorgeous actors and two equally gorgeous Damien Rice songs.

Post by **BlueChair** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:22 pm

I will try to sum up my feelings of Life Aquatic without giving too much away:

The music:

- The soundtrack is great. One of Steve Zissou's crew members is this Brazilian guy named Pele who plays guitar and sings David Bowie songs translated into Portugese.

The acting:

- Bill Murray is always great in a Wes Anderson film
- Cate Blanchett is REALLY good under Wes Anderson's direction.
- Willem Defoe is funnier than I have ever seen him.

Stylistically it's very comparable to The Royal Tenenbaums. I wouldn't say it's as good a film as Rushmore or Tenenbaums, but it's still great, and after a slow start it grows on you. I'm convinced it's a film that I'll enjoy more and more each time I see it, like Tenenbaums and The Big Lebowski.

selfmademug · Post by **selfmademug** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:32 pm

BlueChair wrote: One of Steve Zissou's crew members is this Brazilian guy named Pele who plays guitar and sings David Bowie songs translated into Portugese.

Can't wait to hear more of this-- I was hooked from just the snippet of STAR MAN in the trailer. Also New Order's CEREMONY is in the trailer. Surely this'll be a soundtrack for Otis.

wehitandrun · Post by **wehitandrun** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 1:59 pm

RedShoes wrote:
wehitandrun wrote:I can't wait until The Life Aquatic. That is going to be one of my brother and I's (annual) X-mas Eve films.
It comes out Xmas day....so you might have to push your plans back a day

Oh, silly me. The Aviator is our Xmas eve movie.