GKarsEye
Regular
Let's review what got us going in the worlds of literature, music, film, and television over the past year, shall we?
This post is not definitive and I'll probably add more stuf to it as I think of it.
Film:
Probably the most fun and revelatory experience for me in the theater this year was, amazingly, a freakin' cartoon. The Incredibles singlehandedly revived an interest in animated film (albiet tentatively). It was just so much fun.
DVD:
I happily continue my love affair with Netflix, including it's assistance in my participation with the greatest fad in home viewing, TV shows on DVD, the most notable (for this forum) example being catching up with the entire Farscape series. I also discoverd the hilarious Da Ali G show and plan to get into quirky comedies and police/law shows at some point.
Of course the greatest DVD release for me was the completion of the Babylon 5 series... duh. Coupled with some custom DVD cover art, it's just awesome to have. Criterion had an outstanding year with their continued and even improving excellence in putting out some great cinema, the Looney Tunes vol II came out ("kill the wabbit...") and, of course, The Return of the King walloped us with another 89,000 hourse of ass-kicking DVD goodness.
Television:
The medium to ignore, for me, for the most part. However, here are the few highlights I enjoyed:
- The Sopranos's last season was controversial but I love its meditative pace.
- Deadwood just kicked some serious ass and when the hell will it come back I miss it? It forces us to deal with the difficult question, "Am I a bad person for kind of liking Al Swearingen?"
- 24 was kind of a mixed bag, but I don't think I could ever really hate this show, it's just too much fun to watch.
- Enterprise: talk about a swing in quality! 2004 saw the hieghtened stupidity and merciful end of the Xindi.
- The Daily Show is a more reliable source of intelligent political analysise than all the other cable news networks combined. Think about that.
Best TV moment of '04: John Stewart on Crossfire.
Literature:
The Da Vinci code proved that people are more interested in fake history than real history. Meh.
I spent the year reading Dickens. Mailer, and Terry Goodkind's continued self-absorbed but entertaining mish-mahs of Ayn Rand and Robert Jordan.
Jenna Jameson released a book called "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star." I, however, still prefer her filmwork for that lesson.
Music:
Best new album: Marillion, Marbles
Paid for in advance by hardcore fans like me, this album continue their unique songwriting skills. My reaction to it was that of approval and interest upon first (and second and third) listening. Then I had to leave it for a while. Then saw them in concert (amazing show). Now am revisiting it and fully "grokking" it.
Best "older" music discovery: The Grateful Dead
Yep, I'm becoming a dead-head. This year's release of Beyond Description, a 12 CD monster box set documenting the entirety of their officially released albums from 1973-1989 continues in the tradition of their previous monster set from Warner Brothers. After this, it will be onto the live stuff!
Best archival music find: Mosaic records
These lavish jazz box sets are revelatory and gorgeous.
General music collection obsession of 2004: box sets
Yes, love 'em! From Mingus to Hendrix to Parker to Ella, amazon.com marketplace and ebay allow me to hunt for these things at affordable prices. Biggest box set acquired: Ella Fitzgerald Complete Songbooks (16 CDs).
Older bands with kick-ass records this year: U2, Fates Warning, Wilco. Brian Wilson's "Smile" is getting smashing reviews.
Best rock concert attended: Marillion
Best jazz concert attended: Joe Lovano quarter (with Hank Jones on piano, the real reason I went). Also was the first date with current girlfriend.
Video games:
This the year I finally got myself a consol and have tentatively returned to gaming with a Playstation 2. In retrospect, regret not getting and XBox, but don't even play much after acquisition of girlfriend and Mosaic box sets.
Bablyon 5 related:
Am currently re-watching series, this time with sister, my first ever successful addition to the fan base. Still lovin' it.
This post is not definitive and I'll probably add more stuf to it as I think of it.
Film:
Probably the most fun and revelatory experience for me in the theater this year was, amazingly, a freakin' cartoon. The Incredibles singlehandedly revived an interest in animated film (albiet tentatively). It was just so much fun.
DVD:
I happily continue my love affair with Netflix, including it's assistance in my participation with the greatest fad in home viewing, TV shows on DVD, the most notable (for this forum) example being catching up with the entire Farscape series. I also discoverd the hilarious Da Ali G show and plan to get into quirky comedies and police/law shows at some point.
Of course the greatest DVD release for me was the completion of the Babylon 5 series... duh. Coupled with some custom DVD cover art, it's just awesome to have. Criterion had an outstanding year with their continued and even improving excellence in putting out some great cinema, the Looney Tunes vol II came out ("kill the wabbit...") and, of course, The Return of the King walloped us with another 89,000 hourse of ass-kicking DVD goodness.
Television:
The medium to ignore, for me, for the most part. However, here are the few highlights I enjoyed:
- The Sopranos's last season was controversial but I love its meditative pace.
- Deadwood just kicked some serious ass and when the hell will it come back I miss it? It forces us to deal with the difficult question, "Am I a bad person for kind of liking Al Swearingen?"
- 24 was kind of a mixed bag, but I don't think I could ever really hate this show, it's just too much fun to watch.
- Enterprise: talk about a swing in quality! 2004 saw the hieghtened stupidity and merciful end of the Xindi.
- The Daily Show is a more reliable source of intelligent political analysise than all the other cable news networks combined. Think about that.
Best TV moment of '04: John Stewart on Crossfire.
Literature:
The Da Vinci code proved that people are more interested in fake history than real history. Meh.
I spent the year reading Dickens. Mailer, and Terry Goodkind's continued self-absorbed but entertaining mish-mahs of Ayn Rand and Robert Jordan.
Jenna Jameson released a book called "How to Make Love Like a Porn Star." I, however, still prefer her filmwork for that lesson.
Music:
Best new album: Marillion, Marbles
Paid for in advance by hardcore fans like me, this album continue their unique songwriting skills. My reaction to it was that of approval and interest upon first (and second and third) listening. Then I had to leave it for a while. Then saw them in concert (amazing show). Now am revisiting it and fully "grokking" it.
Best "older" music discovery: The Grateful Dead
Yep, I'm becoming a dead-head. This year's release of Beyond Description, a 12 CD monster box set documenting the entirety of their officially released albums from 1973-1989 continues in the tradition of their previous monster set from Warner Brothers. After this, it will be onto the live stuff!
Best archival music find: Mosaic records
These lavish jazz box sets are revelatory and gorgeous.
General music collection obsession of 2004: box sets
Yes, love 'em! From Mingus to Hendrix to Parker to Ella, amazon.com marketplace and ebay allow me to hunt for these things at affordable prices. Biggest box set acquired: Ella Fitzgerald Complete Songbooks (16 CDs).
Older bands with kick-ass records this year: U2, Fates Warning, Wilco. Brian Wilson's "Smile" is getting smashing reviews.
Best rock concert attended: Marillion
Best jazz concert attended: Joe Lovano quarter (with Hank Jones on piano, the real reason I went). Also was the first date with current girlfriend.
Video games:
This the year I finally got myself a consol and have tentatively returned to gaming with a Playstation 2. In retrospect, regret not getting and XBox, but don't even play much after acquisition of girlfriend and Mosaic box sets.
Bablyon 5 related:
Am currently re-watching series, this time with sister, my first ever successful addition to the fan base. Still lovin' it.