It seems that the consensus is that 2010 was the worst year ever for movies and music. That is, until 2011 comes to an end. Every year is “the worst.” I mean, really, what came out in 2007 that was worth while? Or 2001 for that matter?
As entertainment falls further under the thumb of big business, we’re going to have fewer and fewer “movements” in media. The grunge music of Seattle in the 90s, the pure funkadelic madness that came out of Minneapolis in the 80s, and the string of fun fantasy and sci-fi films produced by Steven Spielberg between 1981 and 1987 are a thing of the past. The industry is more diverse, with studio executives throwing random things at the dart board, hoping something sticks.
A few things from 2010 will stick. Here are the five albums and five films that rose above the dreck of the year. I guess this was the worst year ever for entertainment. Unless you count 1997. Boy, did that year suck.
Music
I have a simple rule for music. If it rocks, it works. Genres are insignificant. My ipod playlist makes no sense. It may be the only place, besides the red carpet at the Grammys, that you can find Snoop Dogg next to Toby Keith.
This eponymously named album sounds like it came out in 1992, right between the Gin Blossoms and Counting Crows. And that is a-okay with me. A soulful album that rocks when it needs to, rolls when it wants to. Her vocals are great, and the orchestrations and shifts between genres elevate this band above the boring female singer/songwriters that fill the airways. Yes, Sara Bareilles, I’m talking to you.
Covered in Gas – Evil Cowards
Frequent “Red Eye” guest Dick Valentine released this side project while taking a break from his equally awesome band Electric Six. This album is definitely NSFW, but since when is rock and roll supposed to be safe? Clever lyrics, crazy synthesizers, and beats that are more infectious than swine flu. Not everybody will dig it, but if you do, your cool meter just went up from David Lee Roth to Fonzie.
Light Me Up – The Pretty Reckless
Brent Bozell over at Newsbusters has some issues with the band’s lead singer Taylor Momsen. Point taken Brent, but unlike Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga, there is a bit of authenticity behind Momsen’s rock star persona. You get the sense that it isn’t a bunch of Hollywood types exploiting a young girl to appeal to an oversexed male audience, but a young girl exploiting an oversexed male audience. A messed up young girl, to be sure, but I think she’s driving the car while we all sit in the back sipping our Slurpees. If you’re like me and you’ve worn out your Hole “Celebrity Skin” CD, this is a worthy successor. Taylor Momsen may be the reincarnation of Courtney Love. What, Courtney Love is still alive? Yeah, right. Keith Richards is “alive” too. Suckers.
The Archandroid – Janelle Monae
This album has been discussed on Big Hollywood before. Like most leftists, Monae confuses ideals and actions, problems with solutions. Her personal politics may be off base, but the messages in her songs are pitch perfect. Plus, you’ve never really heard anything like it before. That’s the mark of a true artist.
Charleston, SC 1966 – Darius Rucker
HOOTIE!!!! Such a great album. “I Don’t Care” featuring Brad Paisley is country music perfection. Smooth vocals and rock solid country stylings make an album you can listen to over and over again. And I have.
I probably should have mentioned Kanye West’s new album. It is pretty awesome. But man, he is such a tool.
Movies
Were there great movies in 2010? Why, dare I say it? “You Betcha”! (Note to editors, you can now feel free to tag Sarah Palin in this post to drive up hits.)
The Mack Daddy of Mack Daddy movies. An action movie. A science fiction movie. An exercise in existentialism. Everything is pretty damned perfect. It’s great to watch a master filmmaker at the top of his game. And hey, he managed to make Leonardo DiCaprio and Ellen Page likable. That’s some mad skills.
I already went into some detail about how this is a great Libertarian manifesto. You can read it here. And to sell my point further, I noticed while watching the Blu-Ray that the main character has an “Atlas Shrugged” poster on the wall in his room. Coincidence? I think not.
Are people so tired of Michael Cera being Michael Cera that they stayed away from one of the best movies of the year in droves? Box office says, yes. That’s a shame. Edgar Wright’s homage to video games and twenty something angst is one of the most inventive films ever made. It’s also wildly entertaining. Although, I will say that the first time I saw it, I left the theater physically exhausted. Yes, it’s that intense.
This movie is an odd experience. It’s so well crafted, so engaging, so “interesting” that you can’t help but love it. Yet, it is so emotionally detached at the end of the day that you feel a bit empty after seeing it. Wait, it’s a film about Facebook and how a culture run by socially dysfunctional nerds may lack true human interaction? Whoa, David Fincher, working on multiple levels there. That empty feeling in my heart was the point? Nice!
How is crap like that new James L. Brooks movie in theaters and this movie barely got any screen time? I mean it was in and out faster than a date with Jullian Assange. (I kid, I kid. You know we love you, you immature, ignorant, narcissistic, fascist douchebag). This movie has it all. Overacting British actors. Ridiculous violence. Over the top cinematography. And hot chicks with weapons. It’s like a Leigh Scott movie not made by Leigh Scott. I’ll have to watch this over and over until Zach Snyder’s “Sucker Punch” comes out in March to get my fix.
There you have it. Ten good things about 2010. Not the worst year ever for music and movies.
Clearly, that was 2003.
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