Best of Miscellaneous 2009 (part one!)
Sunday, December 27th, 2009Because we wanted to expand our “best of” series beyond movies, but lacked the ambition to create a dozen or so lists detailing each, we will instead let you know what we thought was the single best thing in each category, along with a runner-up. Today we’ll run through our favourite media from 2009, and tomorrow we’ll take a look at our favourite people from the same year. So let’s get started.
Best TV Show of 2009
Best of 09: Flight of the Conchords (HBO)
Although popular opinion seems to agree that the second (and final) season of Brett and Jemaine’s misadventures in New York City contained fewer quality musical numbers, the writing and the production had undoubtedly improved by my eye, expanding on their few brilliant minor characters, along with taking the New Zealand duo into new and silly places. Since Brett and Jemaine had to write completely new songs for this season, as opposed to writing-in their old songs into each episode, like they did in the first season. The stories and music felt more appropriate, more integrated, and created a better story because of it. Whether the 2009 season matched 2007, good or bad, Conchords is still hilariously funny and quite unlike anything else. -EM
Runner-up: Parks and Recreation (NBC)
Best Album of 2009
Best of 09: Hometowns by The Rural Alberta Advantage (theraa.com)
There’s not a lot that needs to be said of the RAA’s debut album other than it’s one of the most complete albums I’ve ever listened to. From beginning to end, there’s not one song that’s unworthy of praise. It seems an odd coincidence that so many great songs were written with my home province in mind, but maybe it’s not. Alberta is a different character from the rest of the country, and it’s not too often discussed in song. Besides a few local country singers, who make Alberta seem like nothing but a colder, more northerly Texas, you don’t really get a chance to understand what it’s like to spend the long dark winters living in Edmonton or a small town, 100 kilometres away from anything noteworthy. We all come from somewhere and I think Toronto-based band knows its Alberta roots are covered in snow. -LM
Runner-up: Fame Monster by Lady Gaga
Best Videogame of 2009
Best of 09: Blueberry Garden (only 5 dollars on steam)
2009 was the first full year that Lance and I spent both semesters at University. Even our 4 months of freedom from school was spent working full-time. Whether this is excuse enough or not, we didn’t find a lot of time to play videogames. We still played a few games here and there, but none of them stood out more than the games that we could beat in one sitting. Blueberry Garden is a game I played twice, not because I loved it so much (even though I did), but because my first game I drowned. My second play though, I reached the moon. I doubt I played the game for more than 2 hours all told, which is where I hope more games find themselves in the future (my favourite game from 2007 was the hilarious and brief Portal). Our second favourite game this year, Gravity Bone, you can beat in less time than it takes to watch an episode of Seinfeld. For as long as I remember, games had to be at least 40 hours worth of content, but now, the exact opposite is what I prefer. -EM
Runner-up: Gravity Bone (get the game for free)
Best Podcast of 2009
Best of 09: Stop Podcasting Yourself (stoppodcastingyourself.com)
I’ve been listening to podcasts for almost 4 years now, but it was only this year that I started to discover that podcasts needn’t be limited to 3 or 4 sweaty guys sitting around talking about videogames for an hour or two. One of these was about two Vancouver comedians, sitting in a basement, making obscure pop-culture references and quoting funny things they heard on the bus. Whether it’s Saved by the Bell or David Coulier or the Tigger Movie, Dave Shumka and Graham Clark serve up the comedy fruitcake every week (unlike many strictly-comedy podcasts, which update sporadically). The shows segments are also effective and original, beginning with the aptly named “Get to Know Us”, Dave and Graham, along with a guest (some of my favourites include Jon Dore, Paul F Tompkins, Abby Campbell, and YLNT’s and America’s podcast sweetheart Adam Lisagor) share stories from their lives. But the defining segment, “Overheards” where Dave, Graham, guest and even listeners share ridiculous things they’ve overheard on the bus, or on the street. Example: “Oh she’ll love it if I show up there drunk. But first, I’ve got to get drunk enough to show up there.” Comedy. -EM
Runner-up: You Look Nice Today (youlooknicetoday.com)
Best Webcomic of 2009
Best of 09: Nedroid (nedroid.com)
Every week Anthony Clark surprises with his childish dialogue and bizarre ideas. Reginald and Beartato have so much fun in the crazy world they live in that one can’t help but be charmed. The art isn’t anything tremendous, but the execution of it is always effective. From Weirdo to Harrison to Party Cat, the comic is building up a hilarious and twisted supporting cast. Even when I don’t find a comic funny, it’s usually so odd that I’m left wondering what just happened. But that’s part of what makes it great, cause when the insanity arranges itself in the right way, the biggest laughs of any comic become possible. -LM
Runner-up: Bobwhite (bobwhitecomics.com)