[Yeah, it's about that time...and here we go adding to the pollution. Ready? - KJ]
ALBUM OF THE YEAR: TV On The Radio Dear Science (Interscope)
The move to a major has not affected this adventurous quintet’s sense of experimentation and wonder on their third album and second for the big league imprint.
Runner up:
Death Cab For Cutie Narrow Stairs (Atlantic)
Sun Kil Moon April (Caldo Verde)
FAVORITE ALBUM OF THE YEAR: None
Nothing did it for us this year, unfortunately. Well, maybe The Golden Age (Merge) by American Music Club. But not really.
WORST ALBUM: AC/DC Black Ice (Columbia)
Even after an almost decade-long recording hiatus all they could come up with was yet another installment in their 25-year saga of diminishing returns?
Runner up:
Todd Rundgren Arena (Hi-Fi)
FAVORITE TV SHOW: The Life and Times of Tim (HBO)
Despite crude animation that makes South Park look like a Michael Bay extravaganza, this animated half-hour is pure comedy gold. The “Latino Tim” / “The Priest is Drunk” episode is especially funny.
WORST TV SHOW: That Metal Show (VH1 Classic)
Eddie Trunk teams up with 2 unfunny comedians to interview the likes of Lita Ford and Yngwie Malmsteen; give out numerous copies of the Kiss box set as prizes; keep tabs on the touring prospects of Cinderella (!) while failing to even acknowledge current metal bands like Mastodon, The Sword, etc. What’s not to love?
BEST REISSUE: Led Zeppelin Limited Edition Definitive Collection Mini LP Replica Box Set (Atlantic)
The mighty Zep’s entire catalog on CD, including several alternate In Through the Out Door covers. Sweet.
MOST WELCOME COMEBACK: Guns ‘N’ Roses
The long-awaited Chinese Democracy was no masterpiece but it doesn’t suck. Fuck you.
Runner up:
My Bloody Valentine; The Pharcyde
MOST UNWELCOME COMEBACK: Madonna
Need way say more?
BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Chris Cornell Scream (Interscope)
His second solo album was DEFINITELY NOT worth the wait; this one is just pathetic.
Runner up:
Matthew Sweet Sunshine Lies (Shout! Factory)
MOST UNDESERVED HYPE: The Noel Gallagher/Jay-Z feud.
Runner up:
Joe Satriani suing Coldplay for copyright infringement. Jeez, it’s bad enough that both artists put their names on their respective lame songs. [yawn]
BEST THING TO LOOK FORWARD TO NEXT YEAR: The implosion of blog rock
We can only hope.
Runner up:
XL Recordings goes under. (Sorry but Clap Your Hands, Say Yeah; Tapes 'n Tapes; Vampire Weekend? It's warranted.)
* * * * *
GOODBYE:
Beatles' Apple Corps Ltd honcho, Neil Aspinall; jazz guitarist Joe Beck; drummer for Frank Zappa's Mothers of Invention, Jimmy Carl Black; guitarist/producer Hiram Bullock; Cuban bassist and bandleader Israel "Cachao" Lopez; Brazilian legend Dorival Caymmi; influential comedian George Carlin; noted composer Alexander Courage, who wrote the original Star Trek series' theme music; the great Bo Diddley; long-time keyboardist for Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band, Danny Federici; producer/engineer Jerry Finn; former Replacements drummer Steve Foley; Grammy and Academy Award-winner, Black Moses himself, Isaac Hayes; blues guitarist Jeff Healey; drummer Michael Lee (The Cult, Page and Plant); Sean LeVert of ‘80s R&B act LeVert; award-winning actor/comedian Bernie Mac; Miles Davis producer, saxophonist Teo Macero; South African vocalist Miriam Makeba; comedian Dick Martin, co-creator of '60s variety show Laugh-In; jazz organist Jimmy McGriff; Jimi Hendrix drummers Buddy Miles and Mitch Mitchell; saxophonist and founding member of The Dave Matthews Band, LeRoi Moore; original Descendents guitarist Frank Navetta; folk singer Odetta; ground-breaking session drummer Earl Palmer; noted director and occasional actor Sydney Pollack; saxophonist Jason Rae, husband of Grammy-nominated British singer Corinne Bailey Rae; country music's "Guitar Man", Jerry Reed; painter, jazz vocalist and actress Esthelle Reiner; political commentator Tim Russert; original Rush drummer John Rutsey; jam band icon Merle Saunders; Queens of the Stone Age/Chris Cornell/Eleven keyboardist and producer Natasha Shneider; Dave Clark Five vocalist Mike Smith; The Kingston Trio's John Stewart; vocalist for Motown's legendary Four Tops, Levi Stubbs; original Ten Minute Warning vocalist Steve Verwolf; visionary record producer Jerry Wexler; Motown songwriter/producer Norman Whitfield; longtime Pink Floyd keyboardist Richard Wright; Classics IV vocalist Dennis Yost.
