MEDIA REVIEW 2009
MUSIC
1–Animal Collective, Merriweather Post Pavilion
This was an easy number one choice for me. By far my favorite album of the year. Some of their other stuff can be a little bit weird, but they pulled it all together for this album. The whole album is brilliant.
2–Phoenix, Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Very electro-pop. But really good pop songs. This album is not just Lisztomania and 1901. Its a great album to listen to from start to finish. I especially like the instrumental songs.
3–The Swell Season, Strict Joy
I am not a hardcore The Frames fan, but since the Once Soundtrack and seeing The Swell Season in concert, I have found myself listening to these guys non-stop. They played the majority of this album when I saw them in concert. It left me in great anticipation of the release of Strict Joy and it didn’t disappoint.
4–Andrew Bird, Noble Beast
I saw a live concert on OETA of Andrew Bird and it gave me a greater appreciation of Bird and his music. He plays like nine different instruments. Really like this album.
5–mewithoutYou, It’s All Crazy! It’s All False! It’s All a Dream! It’s Alright
This was a tough choice between mewithoutYou and Pearl Jam. I landed on this album because their lyrics are so fantastic. Every Thought A Thought of You, Timothy Hay, and Cattail Down are great tracks.

Honorable Mention
Pearl Jam, Backspacer
Pete Yorn, Back & Fourth
Matisyahu, Light
U2, No Line on the Horizon

MOVIES
1–Up
Pixar does it again. Up was funny, insightful, and moving. Interestingly, my top three movies of the year are all kids movies. Not sure Fox is considered a kids move, but still animated. Up took number one of those three. Also, interesting that both Up and Wild Things deal with a idealism.
2–Where The Wild Things Are
This isn’t really a kids movie either. I thought Jonze did such a good job visually and with the story. The story was great on the surface and also incredibly deep. I found it to be deeply profound on lots of levels.
3–Fantastic Mr Fox
One critic said, “Proof that Pixar doesn’t have a monopoly.” I like that.
4–Avatar
It was tough for me to put this here. But I was dazzled by the 3D cinematography and by world that Cameron created. The story was lacking, but I was so impressed with everything else. It was either this or Star Trek here but the special effects of Avatar seduced me.
5–Sherlock Holmes
This movie was very enjoyable. I like Guy Ritchie’s other movies as well, but I think what made me like this movie so much was that I like the show House so much. After watching this movie I saw so many parallels between House and Holmes. Actually, House is Holmes and Wilson is Watson. I love House and that’s why this movie makes it here.

Honorable Mention
Star Trek, The Soloist, 9

TELEVISION
1–House
The two hour season premiere was so incredible. I grew a greater appreciation for House this season, and I already had high appreciation for this show. The writing is not matched by many other shows on TV right now.
2–Survivor
Great season. Survivor is my guilty pleasure.
3–Modern Family
The dad, Phil, makes the whole show for me. And any show involving Al Bundy has got to intrigue you.
4–30 Rock
I am jumping on the bandwagon late here, but I now have an appreciation for the writing and the characters on 30 Rock.
5–Important Things with Demetri Martin
This only aired for six episodes but I still laugh at the thought of some of the characters on the show.

Honorable Mention
Community, FlashForward

BOOKS
1–Flickering Pixels, Shane Hipps
At some point during this year I was promoting this book to so many people, it was as if Hipps was paying me to spread the word about his book. I heard Hipps speak in Michigan during the summer and instantly got Flickering Pixels. The book is about technology but is also a great commentary on our culture. I kept saying as I was reading this, “I can’t believe I never knew this stuff.”
2–A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Donald Miller
Someone forwarding Miller’s book said, “This book read me more than I read it.” I like that.
3–Orthodox Heretic, Peter Rollins
Rollins is a genius. This is a very insightful book. He sees the angles that other people don’t.
4–Follow Me To Freedom, Claiborne & Perkins
I really liked the banter back and forth conversational format of this book.
5–The Book Of Basketball, Bill Simmons
700 pages. On the NBA. Who writes a 700 page book on the NBA? Better question, who reads a 700 page book on the NBA? He is actually a hilarious writer and has great sports knowledge. He does go by the Sports Guy. This was an enjoyable book.

Honorable Mention
Drops Like Stars by Rob Bell

That is all for 2009. Thoughts on this review? What are your picks? More reviews to come…