My Favorites of 2008

When I look back on 2008 I won't remember it for the music I listened to, but for the books that I read and the television I watched. I'll remember it as the year my sister got married, the year that I became obsessed with the Twilight Saga, the year that I started working on an independent film, and the year I decided to make writing something to look forward to, not something to dread.

I listened to over 50 new albums this year, and was disappointed or bored by almost everything I heard. There were some exceptions, like Fleet Foxes self-titled album, Wolf Parade's "At Mount Zoomer," or Adele's "19." I've somehow become impatient with indie music, and I have no idea why. But I'm looking ahead, thinking about the new U2 album on the horizon...I listened to the following five albums the most throughout the year, but the Kings of Leon cd stands out as the one that will live a longer life than the rest.

Favorite Albums:
5. Coldplay
Favorite Track: Lovers In Japan
Coldplay are still Coldplay, but this album sounds more ambitious than the last one. Less became more, and Chris Martin listened to me when I told him to stop singing in that whiny falsetto. I love "Yes" and the baritone hum that comes from some mysterious place inside the over-earnest frontman. Coldplay didn't come close to reinventing themselves, but they embraced the things that make them good at what they do. I can't really tell how Brian Eno's production made a difference, but I'm sure it did something positive. "Lovers in Japan" is a beautiful and energetic track that feels like it is concerned with evoking spirit, not self-consciousness.

4. Elbow
Favorite Track - Weather To Fly
If it's good enough for Radiohead...you know the rest. I'm not in love with every song on this album, but there are several Sigur Ros/Doves moments that pierce me. Each track is heavily layered and lush. "Weather to Fly" is one of the more subtle songs, and it's just this little lullaby-like piece that crawls its way into your heart.

3. James Morrison -
Favorite Track: Save Yourself
James Morrison's music conjures something resembling Motown mixed with an updated British trend (with artists like Mark Ronson, Adele, Amy Winehouse, and Jamie Lidell) essentially appropriating and combining big band instrumentation with vocal soul. Morrison's music benefits from the raspy texture and grit of his voice, which manages to be both tender and bombarding.

2. Snow Patrol - A Hundred Million Stars
Favorite Track: The Lightning Strike
Snow Patrol have always been an anthemic band, even when they were only playing small clubs and pubs. Gary Lightbody excels as a pop-rock songwriter; his lyrics are equal parts enigmatic and lovetorn. There's a fair amount of darkness on this latest release - I'm thinking of "Lifeboats" and "The Lightning Strike" in particular, but there's also the signature Snow Patrol guitar chiming that gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling...it's like coming home.

1. Kings Of Leon - Only By The Night
Favorite Track: Closer
I love love love this album, front to back, upwards and downwards, inside and out. I used to be so annoyed with their music, so much so, that I skipped their opening act slot at a U2 show I went to a couple of years ago in New Jersey. I won't make that mistake again. Of course, "Only By The Night" hadn't graced my ears at that time, so you'll forgive me my ignorance. Their Saturday Night Live performances of "Sex on Fire" and "Use Somebody" this fall cemented interest, and "Closer" the opening track on the album, tattooed itself on my brain. They're a huge band in the UK, but somehow never got the traction they needed to make it big in the States. I think that status is swiftly changing, and hopefully their show at Madison Square Garden will make a big impression.

After listening to their past albums, many things have changed or evolved for Kings of Leon: their songwriting is tighter; their music is more polished and less clunky. The sound is haunting (Closer, Cold Desert), warm (Reverie), playful (Seventeen), and sensual (Sex on Fire, Manhattan). But the best part of it all for me is Caleb Followill's voice. He isn't purposely singing incoherently anymore. Yes, apparently he did it on purpose before...He set his voice free, and the result is an unabashed howling; it's an echoing ache that pulls me in. They're nominated for three Grammys this year, and I hope they win the Best Rock Album category. They deserve it.

The biggest musical disappointment for me this year was Keane's "Perfect Symmetry" album. I don't know what it is supposed to be, all I know is that it isn't good. It isn't even palatable. It's just empty. And that criticism is coming from a fan who has been devoted for a long time. Bleh. I guess I should have been suspicious when I read the word "Perfect" in the title. But you won't catch me badmouthing their live shows. I've seen them four times, and never once was I even close to feeling any regret. I guess that's why the crappiness of this album confuses me now.

Favorite TV Shows:
10. The Office - I can't believe that the show is so low on the list this year, but it doesn't mean that Jim and Pam love is over...Favorite episode of this season so far? "The Surplus."

9. The Mentalist - Simon Baker finally found a CBS show that suits him...well vests him. He's got a smile that breaks hearts, a keen eye, and a very f#cked up character history. He's all charm and intelligence, and I love watching him solve cases every week. I also love the Asian dude. Favorite Ep: "Red-Handed"

8. Dexter - I'm late to the game that Dexter plays, but I've always loved the brilliance of Michael C. Hall. I haven't caught up with the new season yet, but watched the first two seasons and loved every bloody minute. I hope he wins the Emmy/Golden Globe/SAG award. My favorite episode so far as been the Season One Finale "Born Free". Who knew that there could be anybody creepier than Dexter himself?

7. Doctor Who - Donna Noble as the trusted new companion? Many thought it couldn't work, but I knew that she would be a great match for David Tennant in the humor and the drama department. The Doctor's life breaks my heart, and we all know how much I love angst. I'll be so upset when David Tennant leaves the role for good. Favorite episode: "Midnight."

6. Torchwood - Did I say angst? This season caused me to engage in a full blown fit of crying at the series finale, and I can't remember the last time a tv show made me cry that hard. I never thought that Torchwood would be anything but a diversion between Doctor Who seasons, but this year, I thought Torchwood's sophomore season trumpted the Doctor's. The gratuitous sexuality was kept to a minimum and the performances were passionate and outstanding. I was stunned by the power of Eve Myles, especially in scenes where her character and her fiance were forced to deal with the impact her job had on their relationship. Pure quality. The losses the team suffered this season will be hard to recover from. Amazing. Favorite Episode: "Adam"

5. Battlestar Galactica - It's been a while since I watched the "midseason finale" of Battlestar, but the unveiling of four out of the five final cylons was total mindblowing madness. While the show is wrapping up the "mythology" next spring, I'll admire it more for the political and ethical issues it dramatized in a sci-fi setting. Starbuck rules...and she might be the final cylon - who knows? I still have no idea. Can't wait to find out. Favorite ep: "Revelations" Also, "RAZOR" was amazing.

4. Brothers and Sisters - I don't know if many people watch this show, but it provides me with a certain type of relief from all of the other sci-fi/crime shows that I seemed to be obsessed with these days. It's a straightforward family drama, that is both frustrating and endearing to watch. You feel like these characters are your family too, with their various idiosyncracies and dysfunctional behaviors. By the end of the hour, you wonder where the time went, because time with the Walker family is always wonderful and fleeting. Favorite Episode: "Going Once, Going Twice"

3. Sarah Connor Chronicles - This is the only show right now that causes me to throw tantrums if I miss it. I don't know what it is about this Sci-fi knock off that keeps me coming back for more, but I have a sneaking suspicion that it's the amazing Summer Glau in all her terminator glory. Or could it be Thomas Dekker's new haircut?
Favorite Episode: "Mr. Ferguson is Ill Today"

2. Criminal Minds - Is it healthy to watch 60 episodes of Criminal Minds in two weeks? I certainly hope not, because that's exactly what I did. This BAU team has come to feel like a family to me, and I appreciate the complexity of each of the main character's backgrounds. They all have the strengths and weaknesses, but they know how and when to come together as a cohesive group to get the job done. I don't understand how a group of writers could sit in a room and think up the macabre stuff for this show, but I'm very glad that they do. Favorite Ep: "Mayhem"

1. The Wire - This show was nothing short of epic, and down to its last episode, it delivered in every way imaginable. It's such a shame that more people didn't watch it while it was on the air, but I think that its resurrection on dvd will make it the stuff of legends. I came to this show very late in the game, but I'm glad that I stuck with it. On the many train rides I've taken from New York to DC, I've passed through those forgotten neighborhoods of Baltimore. When you see the rowhouses, the trash, the abandonment, you can't help but think about just how real The Wire was. Baltimore is a major US city that is both a sense of pride and shame. They filmed this show on location, because they knew that anything less than the reality of it all would have discredited the things the show was trying to illustrate. It doesn't just take good leadership or money to run a city, but the knowledge that inequality of wealth and power causes desperate people to do desperate things.

Deconstructing the drug trade, the shipyards, the school systems, and the police itself, The Wire allowed viewers to walk in the shoes of the dregs and the junkies, the mayor and the moms struggling to keep their families afloat. In one sense, The Wire showed us the very worst sides of our country, but it also showed, in a very skewed manner, how people use whatever resources they have to give their lives purpose. But as a viewer, I'm allowed to step away from that world when it becomes too difficult to watch, to keep riding the train right through Baltimore, towards the comforts of my middle class life. The Wire is as close as I want to get to that world. I couldn't handle anything closer. Favorite Season: One - The Drug Trade

Other cool tv I watched this year: State of Play (BBC), Mad Men, House, Life, Eli Stone, Pushing Daisies, 30 Rock, NCIS, Gossip Girl, and

Family Guy: DON'T YOU KNOW ABOUT THE WORD? EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT THE BIRD IS THE WORD!

Favorite Films:
10. Be Kind Rewind
9. Tropic Thunder
8. Kung Fu Panda
7. Iron Man
6. In Bruges
5. Wanted
4. Slumdog Millionaire
3. The Dark Knight
2. Twilight
1. The Fall - The most visually stunning film I've ever seen. Beautiful performances by Lee Pace and Catinca Untaru.

Favorite Books:
The Twilight Saga, The Host - I've spent enough time talking about these books. I've read all of them twice so far. Edward and Bella will live forever in my mind and I'm thankful for it. If you haven't read this saga yet, you should. A couple of days ago I almost convinced a complete stranger to pick up the book. 12 people and counting - and that's just within my six degrees...have faith.

Favorite Concert of the Year: Radiohead, Nissan Pavilion, Bristow VA
This was a slow year for concert going, as many of my favorite bands (U2, Muse, Franz Ferdinand) took the time to work on new material. But we were fortunate enough to see the best band play in the middle of a huge rainstorm and the crappiest venue in the greater metropolitan area. Total synchronicity, close enough to feel the heat from the stage = best concert of 2008.

Epic Fail: The Lost Finale, Fringe, Heroes, Private Practice, Keane, Gavin Degraw, Cold War Kids, the delay of both Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix AND The Road (boo), anything having to do with High School Musical or reality television.

Epic Win: The new first family standing at the edge of the stage in Chicago, Obama's acceptance speech and the tears of joy falling down the faces of 160 million Americans, including mine.

Also...Meeting Stephenie Meyer, Daniel Radcliffe, Vincent D'Onofrio, and Haley Joel Osment in the same year, Lisa Hannigan's solo album release, TV on DVD, Twilight's release being bumped up a month, Robert Pattinson's hair.

Happy 2009.