Don't fight it, Curtis.

I can’t believe it’s the end of another year. I’ve always heard that the years fly by as you get older, and it’s true. I’ve got my aviator glasses on and doing a few barrel rolls right now.

I’m already seeing some ‘best of’ lists, and I figured since I’m hanging solo on Christmas, I should go ahead and get this done so I can just party all next week. I’m not going to refer to my list as ‘best of’. I do work in the music industry, but I’m no taste maker. These are simply some of ‘my favorite’ things of 2010.

Without further ado…

Let’s start with music.


Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More

This will most likely be showing up on many ‘best of’ lists of the year, and it very well should. Before the Mumford bandwagon left the station, I had started to hear their name amongst a few of my music city peers. I’ll admit, it’s hard for me to buy music these days. Well, let me clarify. It’s hard for me to take a chance on new music these days. Sort of indicative of the industry itself, but that’s another conversation.

So, okay – I confess. I downloaded the record for free. Initially.

I’ll just say it. It hands down one of the best albums I’ve gotten in the past 5 years, probably 10. Hell, it might be a desert island CD for me. It’s just the embodiment of what I love about music. It’s emotive, soulful, hopeful, and genuine. It has an honesty and rawness that just connected with me instantly.

In fact, I loved it so much, that I deleted it and went and purchased it on itunes. Again, I’d say that's indicative of the music industry right now.



The National – High Violet

Where Mumford connected with me instantly, The National’s new release slowly worked its way outside in, much like its predecessor, ‘The Boxer’. Once High Violet does begin to gain traction, it’s like learning a secret handshake to a special club - a rewarding one at that.

Because I loved ‘Boxer’, I had no trouble purchasing this record immediately (digitally). I also recently bought the expanded edition of the record, making it the first physical CD I’ve bought in probably at least 6 or 7 years. I also bought tickets to see them live. Suck, music industry.



Johnny Flynn – Been Listening

I mentioned Johnny recently in another blog. My friends and neighbors at Thirty Tigers are working this release, and I first heard it pumping downstairs at Grimey’s record store.

Something about the first track just grabbed me. It was different and infectious. Needless to say, I quickly ran up and snagged a copy from the Thirty Tigers vault. It doesn’t disappoint.




Vampire Weekend – Contra

A wonderful continuation of their earlier self-titled release, Contra is a quirky, fun record. For me, it’s a quick jaunt through the fair. It doesn’t provoke deep emotions, and I don’t think it intends to. It’s perfect to listen to while working and exercising. Hell, it’s perfect for most occasions.



Yeasayer – Odd World

I f**king love this record. Not sure how to explain, and its admittedly not usually my cup of tea. I saw them perform this year as a part of Next Big Nashville, (although they hail from Brooklyn, NY), and they just sort of burned the place down.

Just to note, I paid for this record as well. Emusic is a great way to explore and invest in new music.




Okay, lets move on to the theater…

Honestly, it’s rare that I go to the movies these days. Rising ticket costs and a better home experience can do that to someone in their mid-thirties.

Granted, there are still many movies of 2010 that I’ve yet to see. Many of which I’m sure are deserving to be written about. Again, I’m not a taste maker, and this isn’t a list of Oscar worthy movies. More just fun.


The A-Team

Oh, man. It’s so bad, and so good. As a child that watched the original series as a kid, I couldn’t resist seeing this one at the theater.

The bad, well – it’s just ridiculous. Not much more to say. The good, well – it’s just ridiculous.

It keeps the spirit of the show, and it’s perfectly cast. Bradley Cooper is great as ‘Face’, and Sharlto Copley as ‘Murdock’ takes the movie over the edge for me. Liam Neeson is Liam Neeson, and Quintin ‘Rampage’ Jackson plays the iconic ‘BA’ perfectly. Better than ‘Mr. T’ himself, actually.

Don’t fight it people. Kiddy pools are still fun, and they’re shallow.





The Town

This is a tough call. I really liked this movie, despite my distaste for one Benjamin Affleck. It does seem to me that Sir Ben does his best work off camera and in the director’s chair. Perhaps that’s what made this work.

I say it’s tough call just because I don’t want to give it too much credit. It’s really good, but I’m old enough to have seen ‘Heat’ at the theater, and you sir, are no ‘Heat’.

It’s a great crime drama for a younger generation, and a great way to spend an evening. Damn, those masks were creepy.





Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 1.

This is the first Harry Potter movie in years that I haven’t seen at midnight. One reason being that our beloved IMAX Theater is now closed due to the Nashville flood of 2010. The other reason, well, I have to blame the ‘Half-Blood Prince’. I could write a whole essay on why I despise ‘HPP’, but let me just say – two thumbs down. For a series that has done a great job adapting book to film, I was baffled by some of the choices made in ‘Half-Blood’. It left a bitter taste in my mouth and took the wind out of my Harry Potter sails.

I’m happy to report that Deathly Hallows does deliver, and it seems that the series will go out on the high note it deserves. I was wary of another David Yates directed Potter, but it does seem as if he’s hit the mark for the finale.

Also, I love a fall Harry Potter movie, much more than the summer release.




True Grit

The Coen Brothers are hit and miss with me, Jeff Bridges isn’t. I don’t know that the movie is worthy all the high praise it’s getting, but it definitely doesn’t suck.

Mr. Bridges is stellar as always, and Hailee Steinfeld is quite good as well. Matt Damon barely out acts Glenn Campbell here, but Josh Brolin’s voice makes up for that.






And, on the small screen…

Dexter

It’s rare for a show to get better every year, but Dexter continues to deliver. I honestly didn’t think they could top last year, and while they didn’t necessarily outdo themselves, season 5 very much held its own.

Julia Stiles’ character was a surprisingly wonderful addition, and Peter Weller stole every scene he was in. In fact, my only complaint is that there was not enough Robocop.



Eastbound and Down

It was a long wait between seasons for fans of the now legendary Kenny Powers. Let’s be honest, would anybody want the task of trying to follow up season 1? It is perhaps the funniest and raunchiest 3 hours of television ever made.

Well, I don’t care to compare. Kenny Powers cannot disappoint. Throw in a little Stevie J., Michael Pena, and Don Johnson, and you’ve got a whole new set of one liners to recite.

(warning: F-Bombs)

Grab some popcorn...

Let me just say, I love You Tube - especially for music.  Don't get me wrong, I love to watch people pull g-forces, eat peppers, and punch each other in the face. I watch those things a lot. I also love 'fail' videos.

But, back to music. How awesome is it that I can watch live performances from the 50's and 60's. Buck Owens, The Doors, rare Steely Dan - it's all a search and click away, and it's pretty amazing. Such a great way to connect with artists and their music.

That said, I thought I'd post a few videos I've been digging lately. I could try and make this a weekly segment, but I would just fail miserably. I will however try to to do this from time to time.

I've been enjoying Yeasayer's Odd World album since catching them at Next Big Nashville a few months back. I recently came across this video for 'Madder Red' on another blog. Seeing it's my favorite track on the record, and the video has Kristin Bell in it - well, I can't believe I've missed it.

I still love the song, but this video sorta messed me up. Kinda like that MIG did 'Cougar' in the opening scene in Top Gun. How can something be so odd and yet make me cry. (Whew) Dammit, man. You've been warned.



Mark Knopfler is kinda like Sex Panther to me (Ron Burgundy reference). Sixty percent of the time, it works every time. The stuff of his I love, I really love. Both with Dire Straights and as a solo artist. I had the pleasure of seeing him at the Ryman years ago, and it was one of the best shows I've ever been to.

His first non-soundtrack solo release was 'Golden Heart' in 1996, and to me it's right up there with 2001's Sailing To Philadelphia'. The stand out songs are the title track, 'Golden Heart', and the closing tune, 'Are We In Trouble Now'. I think Randy Travis had a hit with his own version of that song.

Not many musicians make me want to play these days, but Mark is one that does. That rumbling vocal and his fat, warm guitar tone just make me want to pick up an instrument and join in. He has a call and response quality to his solos, and the chordal phrases that he does like at (2:48) just slay me. They really do.   

This one didn't want to embed, so just click the image and you will magically be transported.

My lovely neighbors at Thirty Tigers have been working this new Johnny Flynn record, 'Been Listening'. I first heard it downstairs at Grimey's and immediately headed up to swipe a copy.

It's always interesting to finally put a visual on the music. This isn't what I was necessarily picturing, but it all makes sense now. Such a great tune.



I think this video is a few years old now, but if you haven't seen it then take a moment. It's a great tune, but this video makes me laugh so hard. Bloody brilliant.



Okay, this did hit Deadspin today. Not a music video, but the music takes it to the next level.

The Bears are who we thought they were...

I have an overinflated opinion of myself. Not really in any sort of arrogant way, I’m pretty self-deprecating actually. (Read my previous post about self-confidence.) No, this is more so a feeling that I have more importance and affect on people’s lives than I really do. It's wishful thinking perhaps. 

For those of you that keep up with my blog, you know that the last few posts have been a little more personal than usual. Several reasons play into that. One, I really want to blog more. Not just more frequently, but I want to write with more meaning, more substance. Some of the recent inspiration has come from great conversations with friends that I love dearly. Other inspiration has been found with more distant acquaintances daring themselves to open up in their own blogosphere. 

For the most part, I’ve gotten some amazing responses to my last few posts. I’ve made some deeper connections with friends, and reconnected with old ones in familiar ways that make us remember our importance in each other’s lives. I’m so fortunate for those relationships. I don’t really believe in an afterlife, but if there is one, (spoiler alert) I hope we meet up like the castaways on Lost – that would be awesome.

I think another reason for the more personal posts is that I feel a little broken right now. Don’t be worried, this wouldn’t be the first time. Lately my mind has just been swirling with thoughts, feelings, worries, and fears that I can’t quite process. I’m feeling vulnerable, distant, and numb. Usually when this happens, my first instinct is to withdraw. Yes, pretty much like a turtle going into its shell. Well, this time is no exception. My head and limbs are trying to retract, and I’m trying to fight it, but it’s hard.

In a moment of feeling venerable, I felt that I had exposed too much about myself. In haste, I deleted my twitter account. Yes, I’m twit-less. I used to promote my blog there, but the reality is, that was too much for me. While some folks connected with me, I think some begin to feel differently. In other words, I think I freaked some folks out.

I’ve recently reconnected with a few people from my past. Mind you, these are people that I haven’t talked to in years. When I say years, I mean ten or more years to be specific. More like fifteen to twenty. I was recounting a memory to an old friend, however they didn’t remember this particular story. I was devastated. I didn’t tell them, but it immediately made my think of the age-old question – ‘if a tree falls in the woods, and nobody is there to hear it, does it make a sound?’ Am I only what people remember me as? 

I don’t have a big family, just mom and I, really. To clarify, I'm talking about immediate blood family that is to say. Right now, my posterity is dependant upon you, my friends. I think a lot of folks would call me an extrovert, but in reality, I think I’m just and introvert trying to climb out of my box. . Although, my kindergarten did tell my mom that I 1) talked too much 2) hugged people too much. Okay, so maybe I’ve spent years suppressing my extroverted-ness. (I do look really creepy in this picture.)

My point is, I really just want to connect with folks. If I feel a connection to you, I want to let you know. I want to be a positive part of your life; a memorable part of your life. I’ll usually try to make you laugh. Laughing soothes my soul.

I think this post maybe a blog fail, honestly. Just wanted to say thank you to those who’ve read some of my latest post, and thank you for your comments and emails. It’s very much appreciated. I’d say probably every eight out of ten visitors, ‘I love ya’ll very much, and no I won’t stop yelling, cause that I’ll mean I lost the fight.’ – Kenny Powers.