Favourites of 2006

List time! Now in it’s 5th year, it’s time to hand out props to my favourites… So who will follow the likes of Radiohead, The Strokes, Doves, Modest Mouse and Sufjan Stevens as my hot picks for best CD? Well you need wait no more.

Favourite CD’s of 2006

1. The Wreckers – Stand Still, Look Pretty

Who? Ahhh, therein lies the beauty of this hidden gem. Michelle Branch does country with the help of Jessica Harp and it’s hard not to fall in love with this surprising release. Seriously, listen to songs like “Tennessee”, “Cigarettes” and “Lay Me Down” and then say this isn’t one of the best things you’ve heard all year.

Sweet, soulful, funny and just downright rocking, what more could you possibly want?

2. The Knife – Silent Shout

Another who? The Knife are a Swedish electronic/synth pop duo who should really get more exposure then they do. Recently they had a song available for free on iTunes so thats a good start. This is a darker album than their previous releases, good music to put your headphones and just drift off with, especially the opening track “Silent Shout.”

It might take a few listens to get into it, but it’s well worth it.

3. Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins – Rabbit Fur Coat

Rilo Kiley’s Jenny Lewis goes it alone with the help of The Watson Twins (and the alt/indie superstars Ben Gibbard, Conor Oberst and Matt Ward on a fantastic cover of The Traveling Wilburys “Handle With Care”) and comes out with a really endearing album.

Impossibly not to like, listen to “You Are What You Love” and try not to bob your head along with the beat. Simple but simply brilliant.

4. Arctic Monkeys – Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not

Hyped up to the rafters by all and sundry, but was it worth it? I’d say yes, even if they do sound like a glorified pub band in places, though for me that’s part of the charm, and not to mention it’s sung in a broad south Yorkshire accent, something most people in the UK find undeciferable at the best of times, a truely unlikely band to conquer America, but time will tell. I’m also a sucker for a song with a catchy bassline, and this has plenty of that.

Too many songs to list that I like, this is the perfect type of CD, 45 minutes that breezes past and before you know it you’re looking to play it again.

5. Gnarls Barkley – St. Elsewhere

After just 4 beats of the into to Crazy, you knew this would be the sound of the summer, “Crazy” is probably my pick for song of the year, it’s just a shame that this album lacks in places. Sure, outside of “Crazy” there is plenty to be had, but in he end I can’t help but think that maybe if a couple of songs were trimmed off it would be a tighter cd.

Still, a stunningly original album and like I said, it was hard to go anywhere and not hear the beat of “Crazy” blasting at you.

Bubbling Under: The Beatles – Love, Red Hot Chili Peppers – Stadium Arcadium, Muse – Black Holes & Revelations, Snow Patrol – Eyes Open, The Raconteurs – Broken Boy Soldiers

Favourite Movies of 2005

1. Little Miss Sunshine

Where was I? Oh yeah, Little Miss Sunshine, this can be wrapped up in seven words “dysfunctional family go on a road trip” but really, it’s so much more than that. As I said, it’s the tale of a dysfunctional family who drive from New Mexico to California so the young daughter can take part in the “Little Miss Sunshine” beauty pageant, along the way they fight and argue and eventually come together when needed. The characters are very engaging, from the loud, abrasive, heroin snorting grand father (yes, you read that right) to the silent, angst-ridden, Nietzsche reading teenage son, they are all very well written and portrayed on screen.

Read my full review here

2. Capote

What we got from the adaptation of these events was that Capote was basically manipulating one of the killers, Perry Smith, into telling his events of the night of the crime, aiding and assisting him with the help of lawyers to get stays of excecutions, but as the years (about 5 or so) went by it became clear he couldn’t finish this great american novel while the killers remained alive which drove him to a mental breakdown, or near enough. The classic case of his ultimate triumph being his eventual downfall…

Read my full review here

3. V For Vendetta

Now, some people aren’t happy about the useage of a terrorist/freedom fighter/anarchist as a hero (more like anti-hero if anything) and that’s all fair and good, but c’mon now, it’s just a freaking action movie… An action movie I really enjoyed… Though I have to admit I felt somewhat indifferent when the Houses of Parliament were blown up at the end, most people around me thought that was a cool bit, but I guess it’s comparable to them seeing the White House blown up in Independence Day, it was kinda cool, but a bit scary at the same time…

Read my full review here

4. Superman Returns

I really liked this, and the 3D bits were worth the hike in ticket price alone. From the opening credits which was a nice homage to the original 1978 movie ones to an appearance by Marlon Brando from beyond the grave, it was perfect in every way. Brandan Routh is a very believeable Superman, Kevin Spacey is damn near perfect as Lex Luthor, a nice preogression from Gene Hackman’s Luthor, Kate Bosworth is so-so as Lois, a bit on the young side but OK… The most underrated performace was probably by Parker Posey as Kitty (this movie Miss Teschmacher for all extents and purposes).

Read my full review here

5. Clerks II

But be warned, if your easily offened then this might not be for you, it’s rated r for a good reason, put it this way, Joel Siegel walked out due to Randal talking about a donkey show, had he stayed to the end he probably would have had a stroke. Yes, there is an actual donkey show scene… But it’s not all offensive, it’s actually very funny too, espesially if you like previous Kevin Smith films…

Read my full review here

Bubbling Under: Snakes on a Plane, Mission Impossible III, The Da Vinci Code, The Chronicles of Narnia

Feel free to talk amongst yourselves…