Best of October

The best movie I saw in October was a three-way tie between Zach and Miri Make a Porno, Let the Right One In, and Hunger, all of which I saw at the Chicago Film Festival. In regular movie releases, I also really liked The Duchess.
The best book I read in October was The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, by Stieg Larsson. I also really liked Conversations at Curlow Creek, by David Malouf, my favorite Aussie author.
The best gig I went to in October would be Fujiya & Miyagi. I didn’t write up any of the October shows so here’s the quick and dirty: Liam Finn, was completely unlike his album, super into experimental, extemporaneous, and jam band-type style if you can be a jam band when there are only two people on stage; Catie Curtis sang some really nice sweet songs, but also some goofy stuff that isn’t really my thing. And Fujiya & Miyagi was good, they sounded great, people were into it, the beats were hoppin’….but at some point all the songs start to sound the same. Felt like we heard an hour of one long song with a great beat.
My favorite tunes in October were the latest albums from Keane and Ray LaMontagne and my top two favorite songs were “Honey Let Me Sing You a Song” Matt Hires and the First Aid Kit cover of Fleet Foxes’ “Tiger Mountain Peasant Song”.
Random personal highlights: My dad came to visit and joined wholeheartedly in my 365 project and it was outstanding.
Lowlights? Fallout at secondary browsing location continued. My Morning Jacket concert cancelled and then I wound up blowing off a Joseph Arthur concert as I just didn’t have any energy that day. Also had a weird shiatsu massage that bruised/hurt my back so badly I could barely sit in a chair for two days afterward

Best of August

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).

Best of June

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.

Best of April

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.

Best of March

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.

Best of February

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!!

Best of January

The best movie I saw in January was Atonement, which was both really beautifully costumed and filmed AND the most faithful screen adaptation I think I’ve ever seen of a book. Lovely.

The best book I read in January was a tie between You Must Be This Happy to Enter, by Elizabeth Crane (short stories), who I’ve read and enjoyed before but this time I felt took the bar even higher, and Native Guard, by Natasha Trethewey (poetry), an xmas gift from my pops, really beautiful and entrancing poems about her personal history as well as civil war history.

The best gig I went to in January was Bon Iver. It was the only gig I went to in January but it was really, really good (and I’m going to see him again in April! And you know I only go see the same artist again that soon if I LOVED it).

My favorite tunes in January were Cat Power “Jukebox”, Matt Costa “Unfamiliar Faces” (quirky and fun!), and an old album Chris Bell “I Am the Cosmos”, which I picked up in San Fran. Bell (now deceased I believe) was in Big Star, who I started listening to last summer thanks to Rob Sheffield (yes I am a loser and didn’t know about that band back in the day). Also enjoying tunes from Zoey Deschanel and M.Ward (as “She & Him“), Crowded House offspring Liam Finn‘s debut I’ll Be Lightning, and another San Fran purchase Tracy Johnson (which to me is good old-fashioned female-vocaled pop music!).

Random personal highlights: Brunch in Chicago with Carrieoke and Cathy!!!; dinner with Cinnamon; rainy weekend in San Fran visiting Ms Silvia.

Lowlights? A month and a half later, I don’t remember any so they must not have been that bad!!Oh, I know! Four to six hour flight delays in both directions. Airports = hell on earth.