The best movie I saw in November was Milk and it was EXCELLENT. My No. 2 movie for the year. So good.

The best book I read in November was “The Way of Shadows” by Brent Weeks. It was a slow month reading-wise but I did really enjoy that book.

The best gig I went to in November was….some gig that I didn’t go to! First month all year with no shows. Am I slowing down? I’m certainly feeling old and decrepit but it may just be I wasn’t paying attention to what was coming up so I missed out on tickets I would have wanted. Who knows!

My favorite tunes in November were new albums from Jem, and The Killers, and Matt White, and Vancougar, and Ryan Adams, and Pink, and Kanye, and Winter’s Fall and…some others. I bought a ton of music over the month (click on the link and you’ll see!).

Random personal highlights: HuffenCooper Halloween party; “HOLY FUCK OBAMA WINS!” is what it says on my calendar for November 4. Certainly a day that will not be forgotten; did some serious shopping in the burbs with Sara; I hung out with my nephews for the first time in ages; beers at Guthrie’s with Lauren; bought some cool shit at the DIY show; I visited my “second (or third, really) home” in Milwaukee for Thanksgiving; and Michelle was in town for a day. There was a lot going on (hence the aforementioned lack of reading!).

Lowlights? Fallout at secondary browsing location continued. Missed seeing Francine Prose & Anne Carson speak, both of which I had tickets to but I’m too dumb to look ahead in my calendar when the month rolls forward. Was very tired.

I seem to have fallen behind here, haven’t I. Kept waiting for myself to have written up movies, books, etc., before doing these. Ah well.

The best movie I saw in September (of only two, so take that as you will) was Tropic Thunder, which will definitely make my Top 10 this year.

The best book I read in September was the short story collection “Dead Boys” by Richard Lange. (But I did really like both the other books (one, two) I read in September as well.)

The best gig I went to in September was (overall) Monolith and my favorite performance there was Band of Horses, a magical twilight moment.

My favorite tunes in September were (the only in some cases or the most recent) albums Schwayze (yeah, I know I’m the only one, but it’s FUN), The Billionaires, The Wave Pictures and Everlast.

Random personal highlights: The aforementioned weekend at Monolith (including visiting Mariah, Stephan and Jack!).

Lowlights? Well. If you know about the secondary browsing location and events therein, then you know I had a very, very, very shitty September. Very Shitty. And honestly, the fallout is still going on.

The best movie I saw in August would have to be the ONLY movie I saw in August which is ridiculous and pathetic but that’s something for a different post, eh? Yeah, so anyway, that’d be Wall-E, which was fine but animation isn’t really my thing.

The best book I read in August was The Likeness by Tana French. It’s somewhat of a sequel but you don’t really need to have read the earlier book to enjoy it; different main character.

The best gig I went to in August was Great Lake Swimmers.

My favorite tunes in August were the songs that wound up on my current favorite playlists.

Random personal highlights: (Only) one day at Lollapalooza (this time around); Silvia came to Chicago two weekends in a row! Woot!; Hot Doug’s with Cinnamon. I actually went to KIP twice, if you can even believe that. And then there was this little thing I went to called Dragon*Con (which also encompassed a week long trip to Georgia to crash the Happy Pants home).

Lowlights? I don’t know, looking back it seems like it was a fairly decent month. Maybe bursting into uncontrollable tears about 15 minutes after meeting my crush? Fun times (poor Carrie and Cat).

The best movie I saw in July was also the only movie I saw in July (or the only one I saw for the FIRST time anyway…). It was The Dark Knight and it was pretty fantastic. I had reservations, but they weren’t “I don’t love you” reservations. More like “I do love you, but I probably wouldn’t marry you, because I know you’ll only hurt me in the end.”

The best book I read in July was Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart, which was just outrageously fucking funny.

The best gig I went to in July was either the Fleet Foxes set at Pitchfork or the Earlimart show at the Hideout. Probably have to tip the hat to Earlimart since the sound was better (purely by locational happenstance), but I remain equally entranced by both.

My favorite tunes in July were Fleet Foxes and (more) Joseph Arthur and The Kills and Nana Grizol “Love It Love It”(which you sooo need) and this totally awesome mixdisc/playlist I made for Juno. My question for you is*: What would you give me to get a copy of that?

Random personal highlights: Visit from the Nipper. Secret Family Craft Project.

Lowlights? Long slow stressful month. This summer has sucked some fucking rotten ass, let me tell you. I mean, except for that it’s all shit I can’t tell you.

*Do you remember when I used to use this phrase ALL THE TIME? Dang, I miss it.

Just in time to write up Best of July… I mean, once I get the individual reviews of that stuff up. So slackerass I am this summer.

The best movie I saw in June was Wanted, which I just loved. But I also thought The Fall was visually stunning.

The best book I read in June was a tie between Lush Life by Richard Price (gritty, real and modern day) and Life Class by Pat Barker (artistic and historical). I also really enjoyed Dark Roots by Cate Kennedy, dark short stories, and I just cannot get enough of Patricia Briggs sci fi/fantasy stuff this year.

The best gig I went to in June was definitely Sea Wolf. Soooooo wonderful live.

My favorite tunes in June….were mostly things I bought in April. When I look back through my posts, I was listening to a lot of: Joe Purdy, Joseph Arthur, Fleet Foxes, Meg Hutchinson, Mason Jennings, the aforementioned Sea Wolf and Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin.

Random personal highlights: Amy’s whirlyball birthday party (whirlyball! so much fun!); Weis [college roommate] here for a weekend; out to dinner with Cinnamon.

Lowlights? I’m sure there were some (primarily secondary browsing location and stress related presumably) but thankfully all I can tell you right now by looking at my calendar is that I was too lazy to go to the Printer’s Row Bookfair this year (either day!) and that’s pathetic.

Just in time for June!!

The best movie I saw in April was Leatherheads, which might seem like it’s not saying much since how hard is it to be the best of only two, but on the other hand, I thought it was really really good. It’s not its fault my lack of movie viewing didn’t give it much competition.

The best book I read in April was Belong to Me, by Marisa de los Santos but Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Goff was also good and a bit more high-brow if that’s what you’re looking for.

The best gig I went to in April was Bon Iver. A beautiful album done even more beautifully live.

My favorite tunes in April…. You know, at this point I’m not sure what I was listening to then, probably stuff I bought in February and/or March. The memory, it ain’t what it used to be.

Random personal highlights: The yearly trip to Portland, yay, including burgers, beers and brunch; trying out my new camera (Hasselblad, yo). Not much else good happened; it was a rough month.

Lowlights? Had the punes; which seemingly caused a mysterious shoulder injury (look for “physical therapy” in May’s highlights); had a LOTLOTLOT of stress at the secondary browsing location. And, I’m sure, airport delays on the way to Portland because you KNOW planes are delayed in every direction if I am flying on them.

Ah, March, I barely remember you… Ha! Kidding!

The best movie I saw in March was also the only movie I saw (Be Kind, Rewind), so good thing I enjoyed it.

The best book I read in March was definitely The Complete Stories by David Malouf. Really wonderful stories.

The best gig I went to in March is harder to pin down. I was excited to finally see Matt Nathanson and (separately) Dan le Sac. I thought the Raveonettes sounded great. I probably enjoyed Griffin House the most as he was all sassy and laidback and it was a really fun night.

My favorite tunes in March were lots of stuff I was already listening to from February, like new albums from Missy Higgins, Nada Surf, Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, Bon Iver, Mike Doughty and the Raveonettes; but also stuff I bought in March like new albums from Jesse Malin “Glitter in the Gutter” (which I lovelovelove), Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks and Gnarls Barkley (DangerMouse can do no wrong)!!

Random personal highlights: Hmmm, let’s see, nine-day trip to Japan, I guess that was kind-of a highlight (I guess! Ha!); my newest/youngest cousin was born!: Clark and I had a joint party; and I had a great long Saturday with Carlos and Shei getting back into shooting film (vs. digital).

Lowlights? Long, long, long airplane rides.

I know the rest of you complain about it, but February is my favorite month, even when it’s one day longer than usual…

The best movie I saw in February was probably There Will Be Blood, but I actually liked Cloverfield better. And honestly, why is no one going to see it? Monsters! Mayhem! New York mashed up! So much to enjoy there.

The best book I read in February was The Good Soldier Svejk by Jaroslav Hasek, a rollicking tale of a misfit, fumbling soldier’s sojourns. But I did LOVE both the sci fi/fantasy books I read this month as well (here and here).

The best gig I went to in February was a tie between Jason Isbell and Griffin House, both of whom havewho has serious stage mojo and far more rockingness than you can hear on theirhis studio albums. Isbell was fiery and intense and rocking out; House was sassy and sarcastic and living it up. [I’m an idiot, Griffin House was in March! Doh!]

My favorite tunes in February were Bon Iver “For Emma, Forever Ago” (never found a copy of the 2007 release, could barely hold my breath waiting for this one and it was soooo worth it, absolutely gorgeous heartaching music); Missy Higgins “On a Clear Night” (husky and gorgeous); Nada Surf “Lucky” (awesome and rockin’ and leading off w/ my favorite single from last year); and Clare Bowditch & the Feeding Set “The Moon Looked On”. Also loving some previews of new tunes by the Counting Crows (featured on Fuel/Friends). Enjoying, but still getting to know, The Scotland Yard Gospel Choir, new Mike Doughty “Golden Delicious” (“I wrote a song about your hips!” Yay! first heard in 06, finally on an album!). Bought a few others but haven’t listened enough to have an opinion — hopefully soon!

Random personal highlights: French movie night resurrected (and thanks for chili, Carla, and the Tarte Tatin, Jess!); long weekend in Vegas visiting Monica and Charlie (and Buddy and Ella!); annual milestone passed successfully; meeting Baby J for the first time (Curious George #1 recipient).

Lowlights? Not really a “lowlight” per se, but man I have been eating like crappyassola for at least a month. Gotta get back on track before my pants don’t fit! Not that I regret having sour cherry pie for breakfast and molten chocolate cake for lunch on the same day. Not at all!!