Steve Kane: blogger, http://stephenckane.blogspot.com:
Top 5 Guilty Pleasure Songs of 2008:
Metro Station - Shake It
The record came out in 2007 but "Shake It" didn't get released as a single until this year. Thus forcing the question, why did they wait until the 3rd single to drop this gem? Seriously, I cant think of a catchier track to come out this year. Metro Station cornered the market on completely vapid pop with choruses that seem to never end. Edgy enough for your parents to momentarily wonder if you're sleeping around as the lyrics suggest, but mainstream enough to hear at a hockey game... or anywhere else that plays music.
Kanye West - Love Lockdown
This song is not good. Kanye West has always been a great producer, a sub-par rapper and a world class crybaby when he doesn't get his way, but he's always held it down in one way or another. His strong points have always been his singles which are typically the only truly stand out tracks on his solo records. Seemingly throwing a wrench into the gears of his typical first single banger, Ye drops this stark, boring, self-produced joint that doesn't go anywhere and finds him singing through auto-tune instead of rapping (which was never his strong suit anyway). I've read the interviews where he references the bleak influence of Phil Collins' "Face Value," so I get where he's coming from, but everything about this track feels like he's phoning it in. However, that doesn't stop it from getting stuck in my head on a daily basis.
Vampire Weekend - A-Punk
Preppy Ivy League hype machines defied all uninformed criticism I bestowed upon them prior to actually hearing their record by dropping the best post-punk single of the year. It took a video of singer Ezra Koenig covering Blitz and Descendents songs with Fucked Up before I payed this band any mind, but it makes sense why every blog nerd and johnny-come-lately rock critic is singing their praise. Plus, with degrees from Columbia University, they actually have something to fall back on. It's good to have a Plan B, you know?
The Ting Tings - Shut Up and Let Me Go
It took me a good few months of sporadic run ins with this song before I made the connection that it was The Ting Tings, a name I'd been hearing for months. The vocals are shouted and annoying, but the main riff is so instantly familiar it's like you've been listening to it your whole life. Enjoying this song makes me feel feel like a casualty of iPod advertising, but it's too good for me to really care.
The Cab - I'll Run
As a 27 year old man, this is probably the LEAST cool song I can admit to liking, but The Cab really brings out my inner tween every time I hear "I'll Run." The verse is bouncy, the chorus is understated and singer Alex Deleon has an incredible voice that soars to the heavens. Cool or not, they know how to write a great pop song without beating you over the head with vocoder and whatever else is so prevalent in pop music these days.
Mike Rogers: bass, vocals, guitar for All Get Out, http://www.myspace.com/allgetout :
Top 5 Albums
5. Anathallo - "Canopy Glow"
4. Dignan - "Tangled Woods Sessions"
3. Kevin Devin - "I Could Be With Anyone" EP
2. Colour Revolt - "Plunder, Beg, and Curse"
1. Parachute Musical - "Everything Is Working Out Fine In Some Town"
Peter Gurnz: founder of BOXeight in Los Angeles, photographer, artist, http://www.myspace.com/petergurnz :
Movie - Benjamin buttons was incredible - f Scott Fitzgerald remake if im not mistaken...
Music - kids by MGMT - i think its going to be one of those generational identifying songs...
Food - Yerba Matte - the new starbucks
Books - Celestine Prophecy by James Redfield or The Fountain Head by Ayn Rand not this year but just a must if you havent had the pleasure
Health - Kundalini yoga - not new - but new to me i suppose
Meag Schwartz: http://www.myspace.com/meaglee :
The Shack (Book)
The Dark Knight (Movie)
The Swell Season-Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglová
(Album)Released in 2006, found in 2008.
Barack Obama (President-Elect)
Flipsides (The cracker/pretzel combo)
Lil Wayne (Artist)
Olympic Opening Ceremony (Event)
Nate: mixed CD extraordinaire, fashion savvy, http://www.myspace.com/hotgimmick :
These are all just my personal opinion, btw. When I say memorable, I'm thinking in terms of like...the amount of possibility I'll refer to the movie at any given second, how into the film I was at the time, how much anticipation, etc.
10. Funny Games
I love that this entire film was a social experiment, and that once everyone realizes it, they get mad and throw their hands in the air while me and the director smile at eachother and nod cause it's all going according to plan. Other than that, the bright white/grey color palette was done very well and, somehow, became memorable on it's own. Why.
9. Atonement
BRIONY. Her character instantly skipped with crossed fingers behind her back into my all-time favorites. One of my favorite shots of the year is the one pictured above, and the long shot of the post-war beach is VERY definitely memorable on it's own.
8. The Dark Knight
I assume this is going to be in every top list for 08, so I'll go ahead and state that I don't love it for The Joker. I love Christopher Nolan's writing and absolutely brilliant use of psychology, period. He applied it to The Joker's character very well, and I think he would do a perfect Riddler, but that's beside the point. The "Why So Serious?" marketing strategy was really awesome, and probably my favorite ever. Also, I think we're all aware by now of how much I loved the camera spin during the Rachel/Joker confrontation.
7. Speed Racer
This is hands down my choice for best art direction this year, followed closely by The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Changeling. I still hardly understand what is going on half the time when I watch it but that is the point because this film is seriously the funnest ride ever. Also, Trixie is the get it girl.
6. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
Sometimes a movie comes along and just instantly strikes a chord that makes me incredibly in love with it. There are SO many things I love about this film, I don't even know where to start. The use of time as a motif was beautifully done, the "accidents" scene was perfectly put together, and every other frame of the film could be a gorgeous image on it's own.
5. Cloverfield
I still remember everyone seeing the teaser trailer for the first time and being like "WHAT". I love that Abrams didn't answer anything, and that I am seemingly the only one who appreciated this fact, because it was kind of the point of the film, seeing as uh, it was from the viewpoint of a random group of civilians. Also Marlena's boots and disaster survival chaos poses. Marlena in general. Are you aware of Garfield?
4. Penelope
My favorite genre will always be the modern fairytale, no matter what kind of take on it there is. There are darker sides to it, such as Pan's Labyrinth, middle-ground-odd ones such as A Series Of Unfortunate Events, and then there are films like Penelope. I would go on but I think you really just have to experience the movie yourself, cause the only thing I can think of to say is along the lines of ":)" or ":D".
3. The Tracey Fragments
Tracey. The cinematography alone would make this movie get onto my list, but the character of Tracey was also really memorable on her own. "But how do you know what's real and what's not when the whole world is inside your head?" I'm pretty sure that all of her little quips and monologues are still twirling around in my brain.
2. The Ruins
This is hands down the prettiest horror film ever made. Carter Smith did an amazing job on everything, and the use of paranoia was A+. I really hope he does more movies in this genre, because seriously, without his direction, I really think this movie would have been just another summer thriller. He took the simple hour-and-a-half formula and really did make it it's own experience.
1. The Strangers
PINUP GIRL AND DOLLFACE. Liv Tyler and the husband were annoying but I only paid attention to all of the girls' movements and blocked the ugly one in the mask out of my mind. The trailer was amazing and the fact that model Gemma Ward played a stoic neighborly killer who plays on a swingset only made me love it even more.
Janet Fitch: author of White Oleander and Paint it Black, http://www.myspace.com/paintitblackbook :
1. Elegy - the film, with Ben Kingsley and Penelope Cruz. Though I normally hate the older man younger woman thing, and am not a huge Phillip Roth fan either, this movie of the Roth book kicked ass. I thnk what I usually hate about the younger woman/older man scenario is that it's taken for granted. Of course Helen HUnt and Jack Nicholson. Of course whoever and Harrison Ford. But Elegy is ABOUT the dynamics of that relationhip, beautifully directed by a Frenchwoman who does it all with a light, underplayed touch, unlike heavyhanded American directors who shove your face into everything in case you could possibly have NOT gotten it.
2. Man On Wire - Film about the man who walked a tightrope between the twin towers in NYC. A portrait of perfect obsession. Speaks to artists everywhere.
3. Love Junkie - Book by Rachel Resnick, about love addiction. Horrifying, fascinating, and makes you think back on your own relationships with a fair amount of shock and nausea.
4. Cai Guo-Qiang - at the Guggenheim. Chinese artist who among other things paints in gunpowder and sets it on fire, or sets off charges. He did the fireworks at the Olympics. Falling cars from the top of the Guggenheim, 100 stuffed wolves smashing into plate glass, mindblowing.
5. Election night - One minute Obama was 70 delegates behind. The next, "President-Elect". What happened??? we were ready to stay up to 5 a.m. if necessary, but it was 8 p.m. and suddenly "President-Elect". What happened/?? Then we realized-THE POLLS HAD CLOSED IN CALIFORNIA!!!! Thrilling thrilling moment. We felt that we, personally, had done it.
Dan Suh: DJ, ‘the Korean Tom Cruise,’ http://koreantomcruise.blogspot.com :
i have a borderline obsession with r. kelly so in celebration of his acquittal this year here is my list of top 5 r. kelly remixes released in 2008
chopped and screwed remix (t-pain) - r. freestyles over one of the best beats of the year and then stops to ask "just imagine if i had set my ass down and took my time and really wrote it".
if i were a boy remix (beyonce) - kells lets everyone knows exactly what he thinks about if beyonce were a boy. "so i go to the club with the guys / sometimes flirt with the girls / i should be able to roll out as long as i come home to you"
touch my body remix (mariah carey) - another one from the remix killa. he wants all the ladies to know that anywhere they tell him he will "mmmm-uah". genius.
love lockdown remix (kanye west) - r. puts his own spin on one of the most talked about tracks of the year. highlight of the track:
"if you bored girl / we can blow this club
if you sweating girl / you can get in my tub"
flashing lights remix (kanye west) - r. addresses rumors in his own signature style. "tasha told kim that lisa said mike said kells doin drugs now / man he's a crackhead / ya'll mean to tell me ya'll believe that?" can't argue with that logic.
Brian Benham: musician, http://www.myspace.com/brianbenham :
1. Tristan Prettyman 'Hello...x'
2. City and Colour 'Bring me your love'
3. Ani DiFranco 'Red Letter Year'
4. Zach Gill 'Stuff'
5. Raphael Saadiq 'The way I see it'
Isaiah Garnica: model, actor, photographer, musician, http://www.myspace.com/isaiahgarnica :
5. Sia - "some people have real problems" album
it's quite possibly one of the best albums of the year
4. Me shaving my head - exciting and drastic, it was a nice little flip out.
3. The Dark Knight - OBVIOUSLY
2. Kath and Kim - The TV show that fuckin is fuckin spot on!
1. The huge ass new years eve party that i'm throwing in New Mexico!!!
Kamtin: The Chain Gang of 1974, http://www.myspace.com/thechaingangof1974 :
these were my top 5 albums of the year
1) Bon Iver - "For Emma, Forever Ago"
2) The Presets - "Apocalypso"
3) Sun Kil Moon - "April"
4) Ryan Adams - "Cardinology"
5) Phantom Planet - "Raise The Dead"
Drmanhattan: http://www.myspace.com/drmanhattan :
Do's:
1. wear your own band's t-shirt
2. wear your own band's t-shirt ON STAGE
3. nudity
4. costumes & formal wear in casual settings
5. full body pj's with footies
Dont's:
1. wear your own band's t-shirt
2. wear your own band's t-shirt ON STAGE
3. clothes
4. hair gel
5. look like us
This is Matt's Top 5 Candy Bars:
1. butterfinger
2. butterfinger bb's
3. butterfinger crisp
4. butterfinger fun size
5. butterfinger KING SIZE
Danielle: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=22885879 :
Top 5 Bands of 2008
1. Cobra Starship
2. The Academy Is
3. We The Kings
4. All Time Low
5. Hey Monday
Drucilla: http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewProfile&friendID=225578679 :
2008 - top 5 in music:
5. the academy is... - fast times at barrington high
4. lil wayne - tha carter III
3. panic at the disco - pretty. odd.
2. t.i. - paper trail
1. cute is what we aim for - rotation
2008 - top 5 in movies:
5. the dark knight
4. traitor
3. the incredible hulk
2. iron man
1. wall-e
2008 - top 5 in events:
5. youtube goes widescreen!
4. the election of barack obama
3. lil wayne is the musical guest for the 2008 season premiere of saturday night live
2. michael phelps wins 8 gold medals for usa at the olympics
1. gas prices around the world go down drastically!!!
2008 - top 10 top 40 songs
10. pussycat dolls - when i grow up
9. savage - swing
8. katy perry - i kissed a girl
7. three 6 mafia - lolli lolli (pop that body)
6. t.i - live your life
5. shontelle - t-shirt
4. rihanna - rehab
3. taylor swift - love story
2. lil wayne - lollipop
1. t.i. - whatever you like
top 5 worst things to happen in hollywood
5. paula abdul's stalker kills herself outside of abdul's home
4. heroes ratings plummet to all time lows (i have faith that the show will hang in there!!)
3. kanye west's ego gets even larger
2. madonna and amy winehouse are still alive
1. jennifer hudson's nephew, mother, and brother are murdered
Quentin Delafon: the Teenagers, http://www.myspace.com/theteenagers :
1 winter in australia
2 lykke li
3 APC
4 my PC
5 2009
Alex Suarez: Cobra Starship, This Is Ivy League, http://www.myspace.com/alexalexsuarez : 5. The Butcher and Sisky sleepover weekend.
4. Rescuing the kittens
3. Xbox Live
2.Going to Japan this summer.
1. Finally Leaving T-mobile so that I can switch to Verizon and get service in my apt.
Tyler Dziubinski: King of Fierce, http://www.myspace.com/tylerwithat :
1. Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchage Scholarship & coming out to my parents
2. Licor 43
3. Katy Perry
4. Lolita (I finally read it...)
5. Pokémon (They're always fuckin' rad)
Hope you all had a fun New Years Eve. Thank you for reading, and look forward to more awesome things in the future!
-Courtney Kaz & Tabitha Jones
1 comment:
shittt why wasn't i a part of this....next time!
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