Let's get to it, shall we?
ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Sonic Youth The Eternal [Matador]
With their sixteenth album a muscular return to the classic Daydream Nation era, the veteran quartet shows no signs of slowing down—or diminishing returns—as they embark on their fourth decade together.
Runner up:
P.O.S. Never Better [Rhymesayers]
When we first heard rock and hip-hop merge we were excited about the possibilities. Of course, once it went down the road of Limp Bizkit/Linkin Park nonsense we had to throw our hands up in disgust and frustration. Stefon Alexander aka P.O.S. kept the faith, tho. And we are much better off for it.
FAVORITE ALBUM OF THE YEAR:
Pearl Jam Backspacer [Monkeywrench/Island]
A modern day classic rock record, made by full-on true believers for folks not worried about hipness, market perceptions or other non-music related nonsense.
Runner up:
Them Crooked Vultures (self-titled) [DGC/Interscope]
Vocalist/guitarist Josh Homme, bassist John Paul Jones, and drummer Dave Grohl, mine the hard-nosed, blues-influenced late '60s/early '70s rock and roll that these guys have seemingly always worshipped or, in the case of Jones, helped popularize in the first place.
WORST ALBUM:
Chris Cornell Scream [Interscope]
Scream is assembly-line, Pussycat Dolls/Britney Spears-type tripe of the most uninspired kind, making it a tough blow to witness someone of this stature pointlessly fritter away a career of note for some ill-conceived stab at who knows what.
WORST ALBUM COVER ART:
Weezer Raditude [DGC]
Runner Up:
Wilco Wilco The Album [Nonsuch]
Dinosaur Jr Farm [Jagjaguwar]
FAVORITE MOVIE:
None
Truthfully, not one movie even inspired us. (We came close to seeing Star Trek but after watching way too many Michael Bay-space-opera-type previews we chose to pass.)
WORST MOVIE:
Brüno
How is it possible, after the Borat movie, that people would fall yet again for the same nonsense and be comedic fodder for another of Sacha Baron Cohen's lame-ass concoctions?
FAVORITE TV SHOW:
Hung (HBO)
Middle-aged Ray Drecker (Thomas Jane), a divorced, high school basketball coach decides to expand his finances and become a high-priced escort, pimped by Tanya (Jane Adams), a mousy, neurotic, socially awkward, former fling, who refers to their business venture as "happiness consultants" for lonely, horny women. Pretty cool, actually.
Runner up:
Bored to Death (HBO)
Southland (ABC/TNT)
BEST REISSUE:
a tie: The Beatles Capitol catalog; and
Miles Davis’ complete Columbia Records years
Runner up:
AC/DC Backtracks [Sony]
Pearl Jam Ten [Epic]
BEST COVER:
Pearl Jam's "Why Go?" by underground rapper P.O.S.
Definitely a ten.
