The best movie I saw in December was a tie between Juno and Sweeney Todd. Both made me laugh, one made me cry (just a little!), they both had great music and great acting. If I was forced at gunpoint to pick one, I’d probably go with Juno. Sweeney Todd is as good as you would expect, but not necessarily moreso; Juno was better than you could know, given the previews and the ridiculous whining some critics are doing (IGNORE THEM!).

The best book I read in December was…even harder to pick than the movies as I really loved almost everything I read this month. The funniest was a tie between “An Uncommon Reader” and “Gentlemen of the Road”. The most unusual was “Red Spikes” and the two I perhaps liked the most (and didn’t know at all what to expect from either one) were “Simplify” and “Incendiary”. But honestly, I would recommend ALL my December reads.

The best gig I went to in December…doesn’t exist because I didn’t go to any concerts in December! Can you believe it? I kinda can’t…

My favorite tunes in December were Sea Wolf “Leaves in the River” and Bat for Lashes “Fur and Gold”. Also loving Lupe Fiasco‘s new one “The Cool” and the soundtrack to Juno. Have a lot of new stuff that I haven’t spent enough time with yet, but can’t stop pressing repeat on the first few off The Avett Brothers “Emotionalism”.

Random personal highlights: Two and half weeks off. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOT.
Lowlights? The worst drive home I’ve had in YEARS. One of the worst drives EVER in my LIFE. Really scary.

I kept not finishing writing things up so I had to keep putting off writing this post. Ah, the life of a slacker…
The best movie I saw in November was No Country for Old Men, with Gone Baby Gone a close second. Both violent, icky, and GOOOOD.
The best book I read in November was the collection of short stories Why the Devil Chose New England for His Work, by Jason Brown. Very subtle. Very good. Families, relationships, losers, loners, struggles.
The best gig I went to in November was a tie between Athlete, a band I have been longing to see and was so blown away by their show, and Griffin House, who I had no idea how good he was going to be.
My favorite tunes in November…. hmmmm… well, my favorite album purchased in November would have to be Great Northern “Trading Twilight for Daylight”. I don’t know if I had read about them somewhere (a blog? Paste? who knows?) but for some reason I was checking them out on iTunes and I’m really diggin it… Otherwise I spent a lot of time listening to stuff from earlier in the year (Band of Horses, Travis, Rogue Wave), thinking about year-end lists, and buying lots of random singles (old Jay-Z, new Anthony Hamilton (American Gangster), stuff from the I’m Not There soundtrack)…
Random personal highlights: Hangin’ out with the nephews, who get both more lovable and more irksome every time; Michelle visits! for almost a week! yay!; Pam & Steph come down for the night!.
Lowlights? Fresh TV is drying up but for a few shows; FNL is wandering far from its strengths; meant to see a bunch of movies I never got to; and seem to have gotten almost nothing done all month. Man, what a whiner! Suck it up, eh?

The best movie I saw in October was Control, the Ian Curtis/Joy Division biopic that I actually went to twice. Beautifully filmed, powerfully acted, with great tunes.

The best book I read in October was … a three-way tie? Hmmmm, OK the one I’ve thought about the most since reading it is “In the Woods” by Tana French. But I thought both the new Haven Kimmel and Jonathan Coe were really, really good as well.

The best gig I went to in October was Rogue Wave. Really compelling and the lead singer has such a distinctive voice.

My favorite tunes in October were the latest albums by Band of Horses, Mr. Hudson & The Library, Joe Purdy, and singles from Nada Surf “See These Bones” (via Fuel/Friends) and folksinger Tom Paxton “George W Told the Nation.”

Random personal highlights: Brunch with MaryKay!; Chicago Film Festival.

Lowlights? White Stripes concert cancelled, thank you Meg’s stupid internet sex tape; Steph’s visit cancelled, thank you stupid airlines.

Seems like a slow month, doesn’t it? But October is very busy at work for me, so there you go. Stupid work.

It’s a two-fer month, a study in contrast. One high energy, intense and dramatic; versus one calm, deliberate, determined and yet still as dramatic in its own way.
The best two movies I saw in September were “In the Valley of Elah” and “The Bourne Ultimatum” (I’m a little late on that one, I know). Both were excellent in very different ways.
The best two books I read in September were “Under the Banner of Heaven” and “A Three Dog Life”. As with flicks, high contrast between the two, yet equally satisfying.
The best two gigs I went to in August were Ben Harper & the Innocent Criminals and The National.
I’ll [add to this] post later my favorite tunes in September…[I’ll talk about September tunes. Later. In another post. Hopefully. We’ll see.]
Random personal highlights: Buying lots of new Fall clothes, although hardly getting to wear them this month; Jen in town for drinks!!!; and FINALLY it’s time for FALL TV!!! [Kinda a slow month, eh?]
Lowlights? Can the summer heat go away now please? I’ve had enough.

The best movie I saw in August was also the only movie I saw in August (pathetic!): Stardust. Lucky for me, I quite enjoyed it.

The best book I read in August was a tie between “Run” by Ann Patchett and “Seven Types of Ambiguity” by Elliot Perlman. The former is relatively short, concise, but emotionally overwhelming, family drama. The latter is long, meandering, stream of conscious from various narrators, personal relationship drama. Both were highly enjoyable.

The best concert I went to in August was a three-way tie: the Lollapalooza performances by The Polyphonic Spree, Lupe Fiasco and Ben Harper.

My favorite tunes in August were: Matt Nathanson!!! both his new album “Some Mad Hope” and his live album “At the Point” are totally awesome. Awesome!!; Okkervil River “The Stage Names”; and Earlimart “Mentor Tormentor” (hypnotic! entrancing!). And I’m still listening to the stuff I bought in Belgium en français…right now I really like David Hallyday, MC Solaar’s “Chapitre 7” and Kaolin’s “Mélanger Les Couleurs”.

Random personal highlights: Lollapalooza! Trip to Belgium! Plus some quiet days with the Fam up in MN.

Lowlights? Tired out. Two weeks off really throws you for a loop when you return to normal. Need a vacation to recover from my vacation.

The best movie I saw in July was probably La Vie en Rose, although I don’t think it was the movie I enjoyed the most (given my ridiculous Pisces empathy trait, watching movies about people whose childhoods were just SO crappy kinda stresses me out). And despite me not liking the last 15 minutes or so, I thought Sunshine was pretty good.

The best book I read in July was “Freddy and Fredericka” by Mark Helprin, which was just side-splittingly hilarious and super sweet and nostalgic all at the same time. Worth its weight.

The best concert I went to in July was Travis. It was just a wonderful show. Really made me smile.

My favorite tunes in July? Hmmm. Well, I still spent a LOT of time listening to The National “Boxer” which is really leading the running for my number one album this year. I also really like Jason Isbell‘s solo album, the new Magic Numbers (!!), girlie music from Sara Bareille and Maria Taylor. For easy mellow listening, you can never go wrong with the new Josh Rouse or Stars.