Len Gutman's Blog, page 18

AFI #65: The African Queen

Humphrey Bogart may be the most well-known and revered actor in American film history, but in his illustrious career he only won one Academy Award. Some might say he was a "popular" actor but not necessarily a great actor — to them I say phooey! He starred in one of my top 10 favorite films of all time — Casablanca — and his portrayal of Rick Blaine has been immortalized. Throw in memorable roles in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre, The Big Sleep, The Maltese Falcon, Key Largo…and on and on…he is one of the greatest actors ever. It seems strange then that he finally won an Oscar for playing a drunk and none too bright boat captain in The African Queen, made just a few years before his early death at age 58.

For co-star Katharine Hepburn, her portrayal as the tightly wound church spinster Rose Sayer was one of her least rewarded roles, having won four Best Actress Oscars in her career (On Golden Pond, The Lion in Winter, Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, Morning Glory). She did get nominated for The African Queen but lost the Best Actress nod to Vivien Leigh in A Streetcar Named Desire. By the way, for my money Ms. Hepburn was never better than in The Philadelphia Story, another of my all-time top 10 favorites.

For me The African Queen is simply a vehicle for the two greatest actors of their generation. To be honest, if the film starred anyone else it wouldn't have made the cut. It's a bit corny and unbelievable and both Bogart and Hepburn are past their respective primes. But it's Bogie and Hepburn so you have to forgive the silly plot and the ridiculous love story. What makes the film great is the play between the two icons — they each play over-the-top characters and together they make the film worthwhile. In fact, there are very few scenes in the film that are not simply Bogart and Hepburn together.  There are only nine other actors credited for acting in the film! The rest are African extras.

Next: Network

Filed under: AFI Top 100, Film

How to Feel Alive

For obvious reasons I have been thinking a lot about life these days, and this week I had two totally unrelated experiences I'd like to share. Just observations…no epiphanies here.

On Tuesday morning I was stuck in traffic on I-10 and as I'm sitting there listening to music and enjoying the morning the car next to me got slammed into by the car behind it. It was not a soft bump…the car that did the plowing into was smashed pretty good. The guy in the car that got hit was rightfully pissed, but a couple of things came to mind as I sped off (everyone was fine by the way). Mainly I thought how fucking random life is. I was inches away from getting my new car rear-ended, but it happened to the guy next to me instead. At the same time, the accident happened right in front of a highway patrolman who was off to the side of the diamond lane waiting to ticket solo drivers. The guy who got hit simply rolled down his window and called to the cop and within minutes I'm sure they were safely off to the shoulder. Crazy how things like that happen.

Last night on the flight home from San Francisco I was reading Greg Graffin's book Anarchy Evolution. For those of you who don't know who Greg is, he's the lead singer of a punk band called Bad Religion and he also happens to have a PhD from Cornell and teaches evolutionary biology at UCLA when he's not touring. The connection to the car wreck is that one of the chapters I read on the plane last night was about how natural selection alone is not the only thing that influences evolution — there's a crap load of plain old luck involved. Luck like not getting hit by that car. Luck like surviving a heart attack (or "luck" in even having a heart attack). I wouldn't call it fate, and I definitely don't believe it's part of some grand design…you can only make so many choices yet some things are left to chance. I couldn't have planned for my heart attack any more than the guy in the car couldn't have planned to get rear ended. As Mike Tyson once famously said about his opponents in the ring — everyone has a plan until they get hit.

I think the point for me in all of this is to not over-think things. One day you're driving down the freeway minding your own business and some idiot smashes into you. One day a co-worker quits and you get a promotion. One day you run into an old friend on the city streets of a town you're visiting. One day you have a heart attack. You never know what life has in store.

The other thing that is floating around in my brain this morning is how alive I felt in San Francisco this week. Yesterday morning I was sitting in Starbucks having a bowl of oatmeal and a latte and I sat there quietly watching all of the people coming and going. Everyone was in a rush and zipping around on their way to work…it was surreal to sit there calmly observing. A little later I was walking down Market Street on the way to the office finishing my latte and I was in no real rush to get to the office. But the street was buzzing with energy. People running to catch buses, folks climbing up the stairs from the BART station, people walking briskly to work in all directions. It was a beautiful morning and I just took it all in and I felt totally alive. It was like I was part of some larger organism called The City and we were all connected. It must be amazing to live in a big city like San Francisco and experience that every day. I wonder if people realize how much energy is all around them. I doubt it…but I highly recommend every so often simply soaking in everything that is going on around you — it's life affirming! That being said, I like living in suburban Phoenix. But it's sure fun to visit the big city once in a while to feel that rush of excitement.

Filed under: General

AFI #66: Raiders of the Lost Ark

It was June 1981 and I had just gotten out of school for the summer. Ninth grade was behind me and I was moving to a new school for high school following the summer. I was looking forward to more than two months of riding my bike, going to the beach and just hanging out. Of course, I was also looking forward to summer blockbuster movies. That summer was stellar for films, especially for a 14-year-old. Clash of the Titans. Superman II. Cannonball Run. Stripes. For Your Eyes Only. Escape From New York. Arthur. Heavy Metal. An American Werewolf in London. Even Zorro the Gay Blade! I saw them all and more…but summer 1981 will always be about one film — Raiders of the Lost Ark.

It was the dawn of the summer blockbuster. The year before Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back took in $290,271,960 in the U.S. In 1982 E.T. raked in $435,110,554. In 1983 Return of the Jedi brought in $309,205,079. Prior to 1980 only Jaws ($260,000,000) and Star Wars ($460,998,007) had ever taken in those kinds of numbers. Stephen Spielberg and George Lucas had changed the game forever. You may have a favorite from these great summer blockbusters, but mine was, and still is, Raiders of the Lost Ark.

Indiana Jones was the perfect hero for a young teenager. He was smart, capable of amazing physical feats, had a wicked sense of humor and of course the ladies loved him. Not only that, he was fighting the Nazis! This film made Harrison Ford the biggest movie star in the world. Sure, he was Han Solo, but he was just a supporting character in that. In Raiders of the Lost Ark he was the leading man and action hero.

What I love so much about the film is that it's non-stop action from the moment it begins. The first scene where he tries to steal the idol from the natives is one of the most memorable action sequences ever filmed and the scene with the boulder rolling after him has become iconic. Indiana Jones made archaeology exciting, which let's be honest is not an easy thing to do. Another iconic scene is when Indy is chasing the ark and is jumping back and forth between the Nazi trucks trying to steal the truck from the driver. When he loses his grip off the front of the truck but slides under and hangs on by his whip it's pure Hollywood. And of course, the final scene with the ark getting lost in the rows and rows of boxes in that giant government warehouse…spot on political commentary. My favorite scene is when he comes face to face in Cairo with the huge guy with giant Arabian swords and instead of fighting him a just reaches down for his gun and shoots the guy. LOL.

For me Raiders of the Lost Ark is the ultimate adventure film, and while many have tried to imitate it none have captured the greatness of this Hollywood classic. It's just as cool and exciting today as it was in 1981 and the proof is that my son and I watched it recently and he loves it too. I suspect sometime 20 years or so from now his kids will love it as well.

Next: The African Queen

Filed under: AFI Top 100, Film

Extremely Amazing and Incredibly Gifted

Earlier this week in my movie discussion group on Facebook we were asked what the best acting performance by an actor under 13 is that we've seen. Those mentioned included some wonderful performances including Haley Joel Osment in The Sixth Sense, Natalie Portman in The Professional, Jodie Foster in Taxi Driver and even Dakota Fanning in I Am Sam. I added Saoirse Ronan in Atonement. But that all changed for me today — I saw Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close and witnessed a performance for the ages by 13-year-old Thomas Horn…in his first ever acting role…ever…not even a commercial or a school play. Simply amazing.

Yes, the subject matter of the film is difficult and heart-breaking. It's the story of a boy who loses his father on 911 and who goes on a quest to find the lock to a key that he believes his father meant for him to find. When the novel by Jonathan Safran Foer came out in 2005 many people thought it was too soon for a 911 themed novel. Some are even questioning whether we are ready for it 10 years later. But Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close is not a true story, it simply uses 911 as a backdrop for a powerful story of love and heartbreak. I'm sure there are people who were in New York on 911 who won't see this film because it still hits too close to home, and I respect that, but they are going to miss one of the finest acting performances ever by an actor of any age.

I read the novel in 2007 and was a little disappointed quite honestly, most likely because I was so blown away be JSF's first novel (Everything is Illuminated) that the follow up was sure to disappoint. I liked the novel, but didn't love it and now I can say this is one of the rare occasions for me when I liked the film version better than the book. Rare indeed. The film is superb and I would certainly consider it among the best films of 2011. It's hard to watch, but you can't take your eyes off of Thomas Horn.

Horn has a very interesting life story himself. He was "discovered" when he was on Jeopardy during kid's week and won $31,000. Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close director Stephen Daldry ( The Reader, Billy Elliot, The Hours) had been looking at literally hundreds of kids for the part and when he saw Horn on Jeopardy he knew he found his Oskar Schell. The role called for a special kid, one who was quirky, maybe even borderline Asperger's. I don't know how much like Oskar Thomas is in real life, but he hit the role dead on. If you know any kids with Asperger's or similar issues you know they are often brilliant, precocious and moody as hell. Horn gave us all of those moments in the film, some of which were so expressive they seemed real. The scene in which he has a mental breakdown was heart-wrenching yet so powerful that he should be nominated for an Oscar based on the one scene alone. I will say, if young Horn is not nominated for a best actor Oscar there is no point in watching the Academy Awards this year because they will be a fraud. The kid stole a film from two Academy Award winners (Tom Hanks and Sandra Bullock) and Academy Award nominated actor Max Von Sydow. If George Clooney is the front runner for The Descendants (in which Clooney was very, very good) then Horn is a shoe in!

 

Filed under: Books, Film

Three Months and Still Ticking

My blockage was in the left anterior descending coronary artery

Yesterday marked the 90-day anniversary of my heart attack which occurred on Oct. 15, 2011. I figured this is as good a time as any to give everyone an update on my condition, especially since I went to the cardiologist today. Here's the latest:

I feel great. I am back to work full time, attending cardiac rehab twice per week, walking briskly 3-4 additional days per week, eating amazingly well (thanks in no small part to Leslie's wonderful skills in the kitchen) and doing pretty well emotionally too.
At the time of my heart attack there were two main concerns — I developed a clot in the lower portion of my heart and there was muscle wall damage there as well. The good news from the cardiologist appointment today was that both of these have improved. The clot has shrunk considerably (the echocardiogram tech couldn't even see it) and my heart function has improved as well.
Clots are common with heart attacks. The goal is to eliminate it, and to do that they put me on a series of drugs to thin my blood and lower my heart rate and blood pressure. The doc says another few months on the drugs and the clot should dissipate or be absorbed into the heart wall.
Heart function is measured by what is called an ejection fraction (EF). Basically it is the percentage of blood that's pumped out of a filled ventricle with each heartbeat. A normal ejection fraction is anywhere from about 55 to 70. At the time of my heart attack the cardiologist estimated my EF to be around 35 and today it is closer to 45! An EF under 40 can be life threatening and may be a sign of heart failure, so the fact that mine went up so dramatically in just three months is a great sign. This improvement can be attributed to taking my meds, exercising and eating a low fat, low sodium diet.

So, what's next? In mid-February I will be taking a stress test to see how my heart performs when my heart rate goes up. Since I have no other blockages and my stents have fixed the one I did have, I should be able to exercise vigorously going forward without any trouble and this test will show my doctor how my heart performs under duress. Even though I am exercising now with no trouble, my heart rate has remained low because of the drug therapy. I'd like to start increasing the intensity of my workouts so this will tell the doctor if that is ok. In March I have another appointment with my cardiologist to check my blood work (my cholesterol was around 70 in December…yes, 70, not 170!) and then a few weeks after that I'll get another echo to see if the clot is gone and if my EF has gone up any more. I can have a very normal life with my EF at 45 but of course the closer to normal the better.

Physically I feel great. Psychologically I am doing good, but I still have bouts of anxiety although these are fewer and further between. The big mental part is wondering what the future holds and whether or not I will be able to do all the things I want to in life. Intellectually I know I will, but the anxiety can still get to me. It's weird, but it hits at strange times like when I see a commercial on TV where someone is talking about retirement or when someone is working out really strenuously (damn you Gatorade!). I'm sure this will all get better over time, although I am seriously considering starting a local Meetup group for young heart attack victims to have some people to share stories with. It's hard when all the patients in cardiac rehab are 20-30 years older than me! If you know anyone who might be interested in this kind of meetup group send them my way…

That's it for now. Take care and thanks for listening!

Filed under: Heart

AFI #67: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf is about a train wreck. Well, okay, it's about a husband and wife who seem to get off on verbally abusing each other, but it felt like a train wreck…the kind you don't want to watch but something deep inside you makes you sneak a peek. The film is a big screen version of the Edward Albee 1963 Tony Award-winning play by the same name and it's not a a comedy despite the play on words that it its title. The thing is you can't really tell if the husband, George, or the wife, Martha, is the big bad wolf!

I wanted to dislike this film after the first 10 minutes, but I couldn't seem to stop watching it and as it went on I took some sick pleasure in how abusive these people were to each other. Just when you think maybe their relationship is playful, the booze continues to pour and the repartee gets harsher and harsher. Damn…these two fucking hate each other. It's one thing to verbally beat each other up by themselves, but they do it in front of a couple they don't even know. Poor Nick and Honey just wanted to stop by the house for a quick drink, but they get dragged into this heavyweight bout and they barely survive. There is so much going on between George and Martha it's hard to keep track, but the gist is that he is an assistant professor and she is the daughter of the college president and neither of them have lived up to each other's expectations. Add to that their inability to conceive a child and a ridiculous amount of alcohol and what you get is a marriage that makes Frank and Estelle Costanza look like June and Ward Cleaver.

Did I like the film? I did, but sort of in the way you like a good crash at a car race. One thing that is certain though is that the acting is tremendous. All four characters were nominated for Oscars and both Elizabeth Taylor (Martha) and Sandy Dennis (Honey) took home a trophy. So much for the men, though Richard Burton was intense and brutal as George and a young George Segal was wonderful as Nick. This was Taylor's second and last Academy Award for acting (she also won in 1961 for Butterfield 8), though she was nominated three other times. She's a bit older and thicker around the middle in this film, but her performance is mesmerizing as the boozy Martha. I understand the film was also a bit risqué for 1966, but mostly for language. If you want to see people who have a co-dependence on each other's cruelty this is the film for you.

Next up: Raiders of the Lost Ark

Filed under: AFI Top 100

AFI #68: Unforgiven

I enjoy a good western, and Unforgiven is a good western. But in my opinion it's not a great western, which is why I remember not loving it when it first came out in 1992 and also being very disappointed when it won the Oscar for best picture. Looking back at the list of nominees that year it's clear now why I was upset — Unforgiven beat out two films I loved that year in The Crying Game and Scent of a Woman (hoo ha!).

But I'm actually quite glad I watched it again today. Maybe 20 years have given me some perspective. When the film came out a lot of reviewers lauded it for being the first realistic western, meaning it showed the ugly side of violence rather than glorifying it. Clint Eastwood made a hell of a living playing glorified cowboys and outlaws, so there is a sort of poetic justice here in him portraying the dark side of violence. His character, Will Munny, is not a hero. In fact, I'd argue he's an anti-hero even though he avenged a brutalized woman. He didn't do it for justice, rather he did it for money pure and simple. He also ran off on this ill-advised adventure leaving his young children home alone to fend for themselves — with no guarantee he'd ever return alive. That is no hero. The title I think could speak not to the fate of the cowboys who cut up a whore in a brothel, but rather to Munny who should be unforgiven for leaving his kids alone and putting himself at risk.

Unforgiven is dark, and unlike the traditional western you don't feel a sense of justice at the end — you feel like the events of the film were a waste of energy and lives. Lots of people get killed, including some innocent bystanders and several lawmen. It portrays a west that is also unforgiving and hard, which is probably pretty realistic…at least more realistic than the classic western towns of films like High Noon and pretty much any John Wayne film. I guess that sets the film apart, but it doesn't make it great and even though I liked it I wouldn't call it great and I wouldn't put it in the top 100 of all time.

One highlight was certainly Gene Hackman's portrayal of sheriff Little Bill. Hackman won an Oscar for the role, and he was devilishly good. Eastwood was nominated for best actor but rightfully lost to Al Pacino for Scent of a Woman though my vote would have gone to Robert Downey Jr. for Chaplin or Denzel Washington for Malcolm X. All in all a great year for film!

Unforgiven also marked the beginning of Eastwood's dark and introspective directing career. For me these past 20 years have been filled with ups and downs for Clint. I hated Million Dollar Baby and Bridges of Madison County, but loved what I'd call some of the best films of the past 20 years — Mystic River, Gran Torino, Changling and Letters From Iwo Jima to name a few. He is undoubtedly one of the best filmmakers of our time.

Next on the AFI list: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf

Filed under: AFI Top 100

AFI #69: Tootsie

One way to tell if some of the films on the AFI list hold up is if Connor enjoys them. A film that translates well across generations surely must be a worthy film. Given that, 1982′s  Tootsie definitely belongs on the AFI list.

Tootsie is a funny film that doesn't rely on the silliness of Dustin Hoffman in drag to get laughs but rather provides its laughs through the brilliant writing of Larry Gelbart and others. Sure, Hoffman is not exactly an attractive woman, and there are a few moments of physical humor thrown in because it's always funny when a man tries to walk in heels, but the dialogue makes this film so amazing. Here's an example of my favorite rant by out-of-work actor Michael Dorsey:

: That's what I said. So if he can't move, how's he gonna sit down, George? I was a stand-up tomato: a juicy, sexy, beefsteak tomato. Nobody does vegetables like me. I did an evening of vegetables off-Broadway. I did the best tomato, the best cucumber… I did an endive salad that knocked the critics on their ass.

A juicy, sexy beefsteak tomato! And some of the best lines are left to Michael's playwright roommate Jeff, played deadpan by Bill Murray. Teri Garr is classic, and Charles Durning is great as Jessica Lange's smitten dad. And Dabney Coleman is perfect as the chauvinistic soap director. Jessica Lange was just ok, but somehow she managed to get an Academy Award for best supporting actress. You gotta feel for Dustin Hoffman being nominated against Ben Kingsley for Gandhi — he never had a chance. Gandhi also rightfully beat Tootsie for best picture.

I can't provide praise for Tootsie though without saying something about director Sydney Pollack, who not only directed the film but acted in it as well, stealing some scenes as agent George Fields. Pollack was a great director who along with Tootsie is well known for directing Absence of Malice, Out of Africa, The Way We Were, The Firm and many more. Pollack liked to act as well and over his career he had some memorable roles, none better than George Fields. He made some cameos in Entourage, The Sopranos, Michael Clayton, Husbands and Wives, and many more. The guy was a Renaissance man and we lost him too young.

Next Up: Unforgiven

Filed under: General

AFI #70: A Clockwork Orange

I think A Clockwork Orange is a film for young people. I remember really liking this film when I first saw it, which was probably when I was in high school. What could be more interesting to a high school student than a film about a bunch of young thugs getting high and performing a little ultra-violence? The thing is though, watching it now as a 45-year-old man it simply doesn't hold up. In fact, I'd go as far as to say it's so camp that it 's just not very good at all.

Stanley Kubrick directed some winners, including The Shining, Dr. Strangelove and Full Metal Jacket, but he also directed some duds (2001 A Space Odyssey is totally overrated). I won't say A Clockwork Orange is a dud, but it's not as good as I remember thinking it was. There are some highlights: certainly Malcolm McDowell's performance is tremendous and the juxtaposition of violence with classical music is thought-provoking. Kubrick's direction is unique — there are some very strangely shot scenes including a fast-motion menage a trois and that eery scene of Alex with his eyes propped open being forced to watch violent scenes in an effort to desensitize him to it. It definitely has a late 60s style that is common to the period (feels like Barbarella a bit). I don't know…it sort of left me feeling…in the words of my 14-year-old…meh!

If you saw it when you were younger and haven't seen it since you're probably thinking I'm nuts and that it's a classic. But I promise if you see it again you won't think so…

Next Up: Tootsie

Filed under: AFI Top 100

Len's Top 10 Albums of 2011

As the end of 2011 approaches it's time for everyone to publish their "Best Of" lists for everything from films to books to music. For the past few years I have posted my lists on Facebook, but now that I have this blog it makes more sense to post them here and share via Facebook. But if you'd like to look back at previous lists head over to Facebook and you can find them via my timeline.

Without further ado, here are my favorite albums of 2011:

Honorable Mentions

Superheavy by Superheavy — Ordinarily I'm not a big fan of so-called "supergroups" but this album tears it up and got major airplay in my car this fall. This genre-bending record features Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Dave Stewart, A. R. Rahman, and Damian Marley. It's R&B meets reggae meets rock and it's great from top to bottom. Dave Stewart is really the brains behind this collaboration and that shouldn't surprise anyone given his body of work. Jagger gives the band a rock and roll edge, and Joss Stone is her usual soulful goddess. Throw in Rahman (the Indian guy known for the for the Slumdog Millionaire music) and Damien "son of Bob" Marley and you have one of the most intriguing combinations ever recorded. Miracle Worker was the big hit this summer but I loved the whole album. Have I mentioned that I'm in love with Joss Stone?


The Goat Rodeo Sessions by Yo-Yo Ma, Stuart Duncan, Edgar Meyer and Chris Thile — I saw these guys on The Colbert Report and was truly blown away. What would happen if you took four of the world's best classical musicians and put them together to record a classical/bluegrass album? A Goat Rodeo apparently, which is their term for a chaotic situation. It's friggin amazing. Take a listen to Attaboy and you'll get the idea.

Top 10

10.  Sky Full of Holes by Fountains of Wayne — I suspect this album isn't going to make too many "best of" lists for 2011 but FOW is one of my favorite bands and even though this isn't one of their best efforts it's still Fountains of Wayne and that means I like it. Sky Full of Holes is not as upbeat as the band's last few releases, but the slower songs are still full of the story-like lyrics and biting wit that defines these guys. It's a solid listen with a few gems. Richie and Ruben is definitely one of the highlights.

9.  Different Gear, Still Speeding by Beady Eye — Yes, it's pretty much Oasis without Noel Gallagher but it's Oasis nevertheless! If you are an Oasis fan (and you bloody well should be) then you'll really love Beady Eye. This record begins where (What's the Story) Morning Glory left off and delivers on the Oasis sound. Love it. Check out The Roller for your Oasis fix.

8.  The Awakening by James Morrison — This record sneaked up on me this year and provides some proof that Spotify is great for introducing people to new music. I've liked Morrison's voice for years now but never listened to an entire record — but Spotify changes the game so I was able to hear the whole album. It's wonderful and has inspired me to go back and listen to his older records. Take a listen to I Won't Let You Go for a sample of his unique sound. Sure, he looks like Chris Martin but he sounds like Seal!

7.  Yes & Also Yes by Mike Doughty — This guy has been making great music since the 9 but I only discovered him a few years ago when a neighbor dragged me down to Tucson to see a live show. He has been in heavy rotation for me ever since and his new album is classic Doughty. The former lead singer of Soul Coughing keeps on rockitty rolling and his voice is one of a kind. My favorite tune on the new record is Na Na Nothing…enjoy this great song and amazing video!

6.  Ukulele Songs by Eddie Vedder — This is one of the most beautiful records in years and the combination of ukulele music and Vedder's tremendous voice makes me want to run away to Maui for good. The ukulele is awesome and Vedder plays it like a true fan, but let's be honest — the voice is the star of this record just like every Vedder/Pearl Jam record ever made. If you liked the Into the Wild soundtrack he did from a few years ago you'll love this. Longing to Belong is my favorite song on this moody and gorgeous album.

5.  Codes & Keys by Death Cab for Cutie — I love DCFC and Codes & Keys is a great album. These guys keep getting better and better and I can't get enough of their sound. Check out this amazing video for Home is a Fire directed by artist Shepard Fairey.

4.  Mylo Xyloto by Coldplay — I'm still a huge Coldplay fan and consider them one of my all-time favorite bands…so there! I'm still spending a lot of time with Mylo Xyloto to fully take in all the nuances and beauty but I have to say it's another very strong recording from the band. Like all of Coldplay's albums the more I listen the more I like. The hit songs are always solid, but some of the lesser known songs also rock…for example Charlie Brown which I love. I was looking forward to this release all year and it does not disappoint.

3.  21 by Adele — By now there is no denying that Adele is a superstar. 21 has taken the world by storm and tops many a "best of" list for 2011. It deserves all of the accolades and it will likely add to Adele's Grammy count. She's such an unassuming superstar, especially when you compare her to the likes of the other artists at the top of the charts like Rihanna, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry. She has an incredible voice, and for such a young woman she writes songs like she's seen it all. I surprised a lot of my friends by listing 19 as my favorite album of 2008 and 21 came close to topping my list this year. I loved 21 top to bottom from the very first listen and apparently most of the world agrees — the girl can sing. My favorite song from 21 is Set Fire to the Rain but every song is special.

2.  El Camino by The Black Keys — It has only been out for a few weeks but it's already wearing out my iPhone and testing the speakers in my new car. El Camino is everything you want in a rock and roll album and I'm thinking I already like it more than last year's Brothers. It's upbeat from start to finish and the Keys' play their instruments like each performance is the last they'll ever have. There's not much you can say about this besides turn it up! Here's a clip from SNL last week of the Keys doing Gold on the Ceiling.

1.  The King is Dead by The Decemberists — I have to admit it was a tough call this year because I liked so many albums equally, but if I'm being honest the album that I enjoyed the most this year was this one. I think it all starts with Colin Meloy's voice and then you add in all the unique and interesting musical sounds from the band and this record just delivers. I'm not sure where you stick them in terms of genre because there's elements of folk, rock, country, baroque, you name it. All I know is that I love it. The more I listen to The King is Dead the more I hear early REM, which is not too shabby of a comparison. I absolutely loved 2009′s The Hazards of Love which was sort of a folk-rock opera, but The King is Dead delivers the same sound plus a handful of really great memorable pop songs like Down by the River, This is Why We Fight and my favorite…Calamity Song.

Filed under: Music