2011: Year In Apu
Right off the jump, this is by no means a truly comprehensive list for me. At one time, my list was comprised of a Top 10 but due to multiple mitigating factors, Top 5's will have to suffice this year. In at least one category, an item or two might have been released in a different year, but was discovered by me in 2011 (mostly the books). This year, I've decided to do a Top 5 in Music, Film and Books (fiction/non/collected). With any luck, I can put my time and effort into these lists for 2013.
Music
5. The Cars - Move Like This
I really thought I would hate this album, especially upon hearing "Sad Song" on XRT. That was after the first listen. Multiple stumblings upon later, I knew I had to own this. You can completely abandon any notion of The Cars trying to evolve their sound into even late 20th Century territory. Simple rhythms coupled with Casio-infused hand claps find their way into every non-ballad on this retro synth-pop gem. My favorite pop group of the mid-80's returns to greatness with some help from Doc Brown and Starbucks.
4. Anthrax - Worship Music
I like most of the John Bush-era of Anthrax. It's not in the same league as "Among The Living" or "State Of Euphoria", but there were some good songs in there. Few that were great. "Worship Music" is great. Very much so. Joseph Belladonna brings his bellowing vocals back to the band that made them all "legends" in their respective heyday. While some of the borderline 90's riffing still finds its way into a song or three, there is no doubt that this is the best this band has offered up in 20 years.
3. Arch/Matheos - Sympathetic Resonance
Rumor is that this was going to actually be the "new Fates Warning" album. Had I not accidentally stumbled upon this on Amazon, I would not even be aware that this even existed. Musically, this is Jim Matheos' finest writing since "A Pleasant Shade Of Grey". Bobby Jarzombek…I knew the man was a good drummer but I really had no clue that he had this level of technical ability. His drumwork on this album is amongst the finest percussion work of Mike Portnoy, Mark Zonder or Gavin Harrison. John Arch sounds as he did back in the "Awaken The Guardian" which, for me, can be a tad much after awhile. Regardless, the musicianship is such that no vocal disharmony could even mildly dent any moment of brilliance displayed within.
2. Mastodon - The Hunter
New Mastodon…no shock here. Shorter songs, even more clean vocals and even more rock moments, but the dizzying riffs and athletic drumming still smothers every track. There is no denying that this album feels less ambitious than "Crack The Skye" though. Rather than a cohesive work, this just feels like a collection of songs. Really damn good songs, but songs nonetheless. The negative space inhabited by "Creature Lives" keeps this album from being my complete favorite of 2011.
1. Atheist - Jupiter
Much like Cynic, I was surprised to find out that Atheist had released new material when a reunion-only tour seemed likely. Having been only partially introduced to their mid-90's recordings, I honestly did not expect a whole lot, but "Jupiter" is what Burnt By The Sun's "Heart Of Darkness" was for me in 2009. The album resides in the same realm of technicality with some of the other picks for me, but the song craftsmanship is varied, catchy and loaded with hook after hook. If one could burn a hole through a digital album, I certainly went for the gold over this past summer with this one.
Film
5. Thor
Like all of the comic book films of 2011, I was as excited for "Thor" as any other. With its impressive visuals of Asgard, "Thor" was a expert blend of Lord Of The Rings-style epic fantasy with Norse mythology. Marrying that with the greater cinematic Marvel Universe was well done, the pacing was fast without feeling rushed and it grew my interest in checking out the comic series.
4. Cedar Rapids
I've been a fan of Ed Helms since I became a regular viewer of The Daily Show, but his movie choices have been less than memorable until I saw "Cedar Rapids". He plays to his strengths of being the awkward guy a la Andy Bernard and is surrounded by a John C. Reilly with the volume turned past the limits. The film is funny and clever without being overbearing in that increasingly excruciating Judd Apatow manner that is far too popular. And Jonah Hill is nowhere to be found. Solid all around.
3. Captain America
I wanted this movie to be a home run on so many levels. Aside from my ever-growing affinity for the title character, I had read several stories of the director mining his story from the Ed Brubaker version of Steve Rogers. With its ties to the Marvel Universe and teases towards The Avengers, Captain America got it all right and made a character that could be sometimes seem as almost laughable to some not only very relevant again, but exciting and inspiring.
2. Rise Of The Planet Of The Apes
My nipples stood at full attention during the epic "no". Earlier last year, I watched "Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes", supposedly the worst in the original series. And I loved it. It was kitschy and a bit ham-fisted, but deeper than given credit for with its tale of morality. So despite James Franco trying to lambast this latest version months before opening, I still had hopes that this would be a good prequel. Instead, I got the nipple thing.
1. X-Men First Class
Aside from "The Dark Knight" and "Watchmen", this is easily my favorite comic book film ever created. The casting was brilliant in every way (yes…even January Jones). The story was layered, complex and timely. The direction was pitch-perfect, never going too dark or too comedic to become even slightly hacky. This film was guided with precision, written with absolute love for the characters and made to be not a just great comic book film, but a great film in any sense of the terminology. It touched down on several levels that gave the whole piece depth and bravado. When it was over, I wanted to watch it again.
Books
5. "This Land Is Their Land" by Barbara Ehrenreich
Similar to Sarah Vowell, this is a collection of humorously serious essays that dabble in a variety of subjects of various social import. Written in 2008, a lot of ground covered here revolves around the beginnings of the collapse of the economy. Sadly, not much has changed or improved since. Still, it makes accepting what seems to be the overall downgrade of the middle class slightly less harsh for a while when enjoying this collection of well-written, insightful and funny essays.
4. "Sleeper: Volume One" by Ed Brubaker
Amongst the comic book writers that are fully influenced by noir and crime writers such as Elmore Leonard or Richard Stark, there is no one finer than Ed Brubaker. Not even the master Brian Azzarello has quite the ability to draw out the darkest recesses of life and marry it with science-fiction storytelling like Brubaker. Combining superhero mythos, violent crime fiction and conspiracy in a perfect mixture, "Sleeper" is impossible to put down.
3. "Back To Our Future" by David Sirota
For some,it might be hard to imagine how 1980's pop culture was created to indoctrinate a generation of young people into arguably destructive thought processing, but this book makes a very good case for just that. Was the A-Team just good, old-fashioned action fun? Or was it created with dual purpose to both inspire hyper-militarism while enforcing negative racial stereotypes? On the surface, it seems a bit far-fetched at best, but the presentation given here is thought-provoking and often times hard to punch a hole in.
2. "Criminal: Deluxe Edition" by Ed Brubaker
Where Ed Brubaker mixed the fantastic with real-world elements in "Sleeper", "Criminal" just digs down deep into the grimiest of grime that one can mine from the darkest corners of the mind. In the same way as "100 Bullets" is a larger story told in a series of short stories, "Criminal" finds seedy people in seedy places doing seedy things to get ahead for one more dreary day. The cinematic capabilities available within this hardcover are overwhelming.
1. "Griftopia" by Matt Taibbi
In my opinion, if you have any interest at all in any detail of how the economy's collapse was planned more than just pure happenstance, this is the most important book written to date. It's difficult to read without getting violently angry and subsequently depressed, knowing that there is nothing that anyone of us can do about it. The information is tough to swallow, but definitely necessary to be available if humanity has any chance at all of finding a sliver of recovery down the road. If I had the money, I would buy a copy for everyone I know.
Music
I really thought I would hate this album, especially upon hearing "Sad Song" on XRT. That was after the first listen. Multiple stumblings upon later, I knew I had to own this. You can completely abandon any notion of The Cars trying to evolve their sound into even late 20th Century territory. Simple rhythms coupled with Casio-infused hand claps find their way into every non-ballad on this retro synth-pop gem. My favorite pop group of the mid-80's returns to greatness with some help from Doc Brown and Starbucks.
I like most of the John Bush-era of Anthrax. It's not in the same league as "Among The Living" or "State Of Euphoria", but there were some good songs in there. Few that were great. "Worship Music" is great. Very much so. Joseph Belladonna brings his bellowing vocals back to the band that made them all "legends" in their respective heyday. While some of the borderline 90's riffing still finds its way into a song or three, there is no doubt that this is the best this band has offered up in 20 years.
Rumor is that this was going to actually be the "new Fates Warning" album. Had I not accidentally stumbled upon this on Amazon, I would not even be aware that this even existed. Musically, this is Jim Matheos' finest writing since "A Pleasant Shade Of Grey". Bobby Jarzombek…I knew the man was a good drummer but I really had no clue that he had this level of technical ability. His drumwork on this album is amongst the finest percussion work of Mike Portnoy, Mark Zonder or Gavin Harrison. John Arch sounds as he did back in the "Awaken The Guardian" which, for me, can be a tad much after awhile. Regardless, the musicianship is such that no vocal disharmony could even mildly dent any moment of brilliance displayed within.
New Mastodon…no shock here. Shorter songs, even more clean vocals and even more rock moments, but the dizzying riffs and athletic drumming still smothers every track. There is no denying that this album feels less ambitious than "Crack The Skye" though. Rather than a cohesive work, this just feels like a collection of songs. Really damn good songs, but songs nonetheless. The negative space inhabited by "Creature Lives" keeps this album from being my complete favorite of 2011.
1. Atheist - JupiterMuch like Cynic, I was surprised to find out that Atheist had released new material when a reunion-only tour seemed likely. Having been only partially introduced to their mid-90's recordings, I honestly did not expect a whole lot, but "Jupiter" is what Burnt By The Sun's "Heart Of Darkness" was for me in 2009. The album resides in the same realm of technicality with some of the other picks for me, but the song craftsmanship is varied, catchy and loaded with hook after hook. If one could burn a hole through a digital album, I certainly went for the gold over this past summer with this one.
Film
Like all of the comic book films of 2011, I was as excited for "Thor" as any other. With its impressive visuals of Asgard, "Thor" was a expert blend of Lord Of The Rings-style epic fantasy with Norse mythology. Marrying that with the greater cinematic Marvel Universe was well done, the pacing was fast without feeling rushed and it grew my interest in checking out the comic series.
I've been a fan of Ed Helms since I became a regular viewer of The Daily Show, but his movie choices have been less than memorable until I saw "Cedar Rapids". He plays to his strengths of being the awkward guy a la Andy Bernard and is surrounded by a John C. Reilly with the volume turned past the limits. The film is funny and clever without being overbearing in that increasingly excruciating Judd Apatow manner that is far too popular. And Jonah Hill is nowhere to be found. Solid all around.
I wanted this movie to be a home run on so many levels. Aside from my ever-growing affinity for the title character, I had read several stories of the director mining his story from the Ed Brubaker version of Steve Rogers. With its ties to the Marvel Universe and teases towards The Avengers, Captain America got it all right and made a character that could be sometimes seem as almost laughable to some not only very relevant again, but exciting and inspiring.
My nipples stood at full attention during the epic "no". Earlier last year, I watched "Conquest Of The Planet Of The Apes", supposedly the worst in the original series. And I loved it. It was kitschy and a bit ham-fisted, but deeper than given credit for with its tale of morality. So despite James Franco trying to lambast this latest version months before opening, I still had hopes that this would be a good prequel. Instead, I got the nipple thing.
Aside from "The Dark Knight" and "Watchmen", this is easily my favorite comic book film ever created. The casting was brilliant in every way (yes…even January Jones). The story was layered, complex and timely. The direction was pitch-perfect, never going too dark or too comedic to become even slightly hacky. This film was guided with precision, written with absolute love for the characters and made to be not a just great comic book film, but a great film in any sense of the terminology. It touched down on several levels that gave the whole piece depth and bravado. When it was over, I wanted to watch it again.
Books
Similar to Sarah Vowell, this is a collection of humorously serious essays that dabble in a variety of subjects of various social import. Written in 2008, a lot of ground covered here revolves around the beginnings of the collapse of the economy. Sadly, not much has changed or improved since. Still, it makes accepting what seems to be the overall downgrade of the middle class slightly less harsh for a while when enjoying this collection of well-written, insightful and funny essays.
Amongst the comic book writers that are fully influenced by noir and crime writers such as Elmore Leonard or Richard Stark, there is no one finer than Ed Brubaker. Not even the master Brian Azzarello has quite the ability to draw out the darkest recesses of life and marry it with science-fiction storytelling like Brubaker. Combining superhero mythos, violent crime fiction and conspiracy in a perfect mixture, "Sleeper" is impossible to put down.
For some,it might be hard to imagine how 1980's pop culture was created to indoctrinate a generation of young people into arguably destructive thought processing, but this book makes a very good case for just that. Was the A-Team just good, old-fashioned action fun? Or was it created with dual purpose to both inspire hyper-militarism while enforcing negative racial stereotypes? On the surface, it seems a bit far-fetched at best, but the presentation given here is thought-provoking and often times hard to punch a hole in.
Where Ed Brubaker mixed the fantastic with real-world elements in "Sleeper", "Criminal" just digs down deep into the grimiest of grime that one can mine from the darkest corners of the mind. In the same way as "100 Bullets" is a larger story told in a series of short stories, "Criminal" finds seedy people in seedy places doing seedy things to get ahead for one more dreary day. The cinematic capabilities available within this hardcover are overwhelming.
In my opinion, if you have any interest at all in any detail of how the economy's collapse was planned more than just pure happenstance, this is the most important book written to date. It's difficult to read without getting violently angry and subsequently depressed, knowing that there is nothing that anyone of us can do about it. The information is tough to swallow, but definitely necessary to be available if humanity has any chance at all of finding a sliver of recovery down the road. If I had the money, I would buy a copy for everyone I know.
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