2011 in Review: Better Late Than Never Edition

It took me the first full month of the year, but I was finally able to process the glorious year that was 2011. At least I got it done before February! Here’s my official 2011 wrap-up and review:

Music

This was an amazing year for music. I simply cannot stress that enough. There are albums that were released in 2011 that I truly cannot imagine ever living without. I’m talking all kinds of music—rock, country, pop. Everyone had a phenomenal year. The great thing about it is that a lot of the momentum that started building in 2011 is going to keep going right through 2012. We have new albums from 90s rock greats Foo Fighters and Bush; we will soon have new albums from their peers Garbage and No Doubt. I think 2011 definitely raised the bar a little bit on the variety of music we need and the level artists have to reach.

Some personal highlights:

- Britney Spears releasing Femme Fatale and embarking on her Femme Fatale Tour.

I got a chance to catch the show when she stopped in Washington, D.C. It was my second time seeing the Living Legend live . It was a spectacular show and a night I will never forget—which can be largely attributed to the fantastic material this era gave us.

- Miranda Lambert barreling ahead with Four the Record and the Pistol Annies.

The Pistol Annies’ debut, Hell on Heels, is one of the aforementioned 2011 albums that I cannot imagine ever living without. My greatest fear is that the trio won’t release another. And then there was Miranda’s fourth solo effort, Four the Record. Three months after its release and I’m still blasting this nonstop. I’m sure the fact that I just saw her on tour last week has something to do with it, but it’s also because FTR is another amazing album from a truly amazing artist.

Other 2011 albums of note (I have a feeling I’m forgetting some!):

Foo Fighters – Wasting Light (another one I can’t imagine living without)
Florence + The Machine – Ceremonials
Adele – 21
Bush – The Sea of Memories
Cher Lloyd – Sticks + Stones
Nicola Roberts – Cinderella’s Eyes
Kelly Clarkson – Stronger
Chris Young – Neon (I can’t live without the title track)

Movies

Since starting this blog, I’ve had to admit to myself that I am more of a television person than a cinephile. Going to the movies is grueling for homebodies like me. It is also ridiculously expensive. But I do the best I can between Netflix and sporadic trips to the theater. 2011 was no different. Here are some highlights:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2

The eighth and final installment of the Harry Potter film franchise opened in mid-July. I remember both anxiously awaiting opening day and desperately wanting it never to arrive. When I finally did get into the theater, the emotions started overwhelming me the second the WB logo appeared on the screen. The film itself was a beautiful piece of work fitting to serve as the finale to such a tremendous series of films. I’m looking forward to owning the entire series one day so I can marathon them any time I please.

Ryan Gosling

He had three movies this year: Drive, Crazy. Stupid. Love, and The Ides of March. I’ve had the pleasure of seeing all three so I speak with confidence when I say that Ryan Gosling is one of the most consistently fantastic actors I have ever come across. It isn’t that I like the films he’s in (truth: outside of his performance, Ides was pretty weak). It’s that I love the way he fills out the roles he’s been landing. Gosling is one of the rare performers who you believe in each role. He doesn’t just play a version of himself over and over again but with different circumstances. He plays the part, the part doesn’t play him. I could really talk about Gosling’s fabulousness all day long. I know he’s said in a few interviews over the last couple years that he doesn’t think he will act forever. I hope the day he stops acting is a very far way off in the future.

The return of the Muppets

I think The Muppets was a special cinematic event for me for two reasons: 1. I genuinely love the Muppets. I was fortunate enough to grow up with them—from watching classic Muppet Show reruns on Nickelodeon to watching Muppets Tonight in real time—and I am fortunate enough to still enjoy them in adulthood. 2. I find it interesting and enjoyable to watch people make their dreams come true, and that is just what Jason Segel did when he got to write and star in a movie with the Muppets. The movie was a true delight. And fun fact: I’m rocking out to the soundtrack right now as I write this.

Additional personal film-related highlights:

X-Men: First Class – I knew Michael Fassbender and James McAvoy were amazing, but I was not prepared for the level of awesome they reached as a duo

Captain America – In part, this was special because I saw it the day I went to the Femme Fatale Tour. But seriously, 2012 needs more Chris Evans.

Bridesmaids – I didn’t get to see this in theaters so I was late to the game, but DAMN! What a phenomenal movie and a giant leap for comediennes (i.e., lady comics).

Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows – An absolutely fantastic sequel. I’m already itching for a third. And this is the first movie I can recall that had a scene in it that just at the thought of it makes me burst into giggles (Sherlock on the pony).

Television

This past year, I definitely matured as a television viewer. I became more discerning, my instincts sharpened. I’ve brought myself to a point where I can evaluate a show based on its synopsis and cast and crew to determine if it is worth my time or not. And after that, I’ve figured out how to cut a show from my schedule if it isn’t keeping me invested. And now, I’m happier. Goodbye, Glee and Covert Affairs!

Some television highlights:

Got caught up with Parks & Recreation

I remember back when Parks & Rec started, it was a dark time for me and television. ER had just ended after 15 glorious years and Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles was on death’s door. I was pretty distraught. I remember being excited that Amy Poehler had left SNL and now had a show of her own, just like Tina Fey, but I also thought it looked like a lame reimagining of The Office. So I didn’t give it a second thought. Not until things exploded for P&R on the wonderful interwebs. And I’ve been trying to carve out time to get on the P&R train ever since. It finally happened this year and now I am a loyal and passionate Parks & Rec fan for life. Let’s put it this way: I feel the same way about P&R as I do about the Pistol Annies’ record—I cannot imagine my life without these characters and these jokes and Pawnee.

BBC America’s Dramaville

Another facet of my maturation as a television viewer was that I started branching out beyond the small handful of cable channels I watch, thus taking better advantage of what I pay for. Thanks to the hallmark simultaneous UK/US premieres of new episodes of Doctor Who, I learned all about BBC America and started watching it for more than just reruns of Kitchen Nightmares. Most importantly, I found Dramaville, which is BBCA’s nighttime programming with all the great British dramas. I finally got to see the original State of Play miniseries, which I’d been meaning to do since I saw the American film adaptation back in 2009. I got to catch the second season of Luther before it came to North America on DVD. And I know there are more great things to come in my future thanks to BBCA.

Goodbyes

2011 wasn’t without its tough times though. I had to endure some pretty rough goodbyes. Here are but a few of them (soundtrack supplied: Boyz II Men, “It’s So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday”):

The Harry Potter film franchise – There are no words.

Britney Spears’ Femme Fatale era – I will forever mourn that we didn’t get a video for “Inside Out.”

ABC Family’s original series Greek – I miss you, Cappie.

Friday Night Lights – More specifically, Tim Riggins, the Taylors, and Dillon, Texas.

***SPOILER ALERT: The Vampire Diaries season 2***

Aunt Jenna Gilbert – By far, the most shocking and difficult death to deal with from 2011 television.


And that's 2011! There is already so much to be grateful for in 2012 and I know there are a ton more surprises in store, but I definitely wanted to honor 2011 properly before we get too far along into the new year. And now I have. Hurray!

More Details on the Upcoming Garbage Album

***** UPDATED. TWICE! *****

Last October, I posted the news that the first new Garbage album in seven years was coming this spring. And that's all the news I've posted so far about this epic event. Until today of course!

I've been following every tiny detail about this for the better part of a year, but nothing has really been big enough to post about until now. The cogs and wheels are starting to loosen in place and prepare for major movement. So far, we've got an official website relaunch and an album title.

Over the weekend, the band relaunched their official website, which up until that point had simply been their logo with the message "coming soon." Now we have an open line of communication right from their main hub of information, which Garbage has since used to post a welcome message, a video, and a word scramble game (that's since been taken down) that revealed their album title. For those of you who missed the scramble, the album title looks to be Not Your Kind of People. That phrase gives me a real feeling of being a misfit and loving it, which is one of the first reasons I ever connected with Garbage as a band way back when they were starting out.

The video they posted, shown below, has clips of the band doing a promo shoot and a few members talking about how the album is—wait for it—FINISHED! Yes, that's right. The album is officially complete. All the tracks have been mastered and are ready for release. I'm sure very soon we'll have an album release date, a first single name and release date, and a full album tracklist, pre-order, the works! Check out the video for yourself and relish the fact that new music from these amazing and talented people is coming soon:



As a lifelong fan of Garbage, I feel extremely giddy about all of this. I know it's been a really long time with this slow leak of information and it's probably still going to be awhile before we get to hear anything new. But it just feels like this really special time right now, the calm before the storm, where you can just sit and prepare yourself for what's to come. I've started putting all Garbage albums, remixes, and b-sides on heavy rotation. I'm falling in love with songs I've known for over a decade all over again and finding new meanings behind my favorite lyrics. I can't wait for a new era of rock and pop music lovers to be introduced to Garbage and fall in love with them, too.

Updated 1:33pm:

BREAKING NEWS!!! Garbage just published a press release with even more details!

Not Your Kind of People will be released on May 15, 2012 via the band's own record label, STUNVOLUME.

Furthermore, the band is not going to waste any time between the release and hitting the road. They are hard at work putting a tour together. So far, they've got some EU dates and a few festivals lined up, but they say more are being confirmed and announced soon!

I know May seems like a very long time to wait, but at least we will have a single coming before that! And what's a few more months' wait after seven years?

UPDATED 8:26am 31 January 2012:

Hey, Anony Moose! I KNOW! I logged in yesterday morning to post the Garbage news and saw your comment. I was like, "OH NO ANONY DI-INT!" I, too, hope No Doubt gets it together the way Garbage has. I actually stopped following the ND album saga because they were drawing every little thing out. My dream would be for a joint tour (Shirley and Gwen are besties, after all!), but if that doesn't happen I have to admit that I am more interested in seeing Garbage. I'm getting a little ahead of myself. The point is that the 90s alt rock queens are back!

This news and a new Madonna single in the same week?? I feel like a teenager again!

Kellie Pickler's 100 Proof: A Review

Kellie Pickler released her third studio album, 100 Proof, this week.

I’ve been looking forward to this album ever since Pickler finished promoting her last record, which came out in 2009. But the anticipation has really been killing me since “Tough”, the first single from 100 Proof, was released to radio early last summer. It’s been seven long months of reading articles and wondering, but 100 Proof is finally here. And it’s Pickler’s finest work yet.

Though I received my copy in the mail (I went old school for Kellie and bought the physical disc) the afternoon of its release on Tuesday, I waited until the next morning to give it a first listen because I wasn’t feeling well. That is how serious I am about this album. I wanted to be in the right headspace to enjoy it and evaluate it objectively. So I played it for the first time Wednesday morning on the way to work. I sat in the passenger’s seat in complete silence and took in every note, every word, every twangy strum of the banjos and mandolins. I haven’t been able to stop listening to it since.

Like I said, I’ve been looking forward to this album for a long time. I’ve read a lot of interviews where Pickler discussed her goals for the album. She wanted to make a record that reflected her roots, the kind of country music that she grew up with and that inspires her. At one point, the quote was that she wanted to make “dirty” country music that was rough around the edges (just like Pickler describes herself in “Tough”). Considering what massive success Miranda Lambert and the Pistol Annies have found recently doing that, I knew that the time couldn’t be better for Pickler to—as the second track on 100 Proof says—“unlock that honky tonk.”

And that’s the first thought I had when the music started playing. The album opener, “Where’s Tammy Wynette,” has Pickler pining for a honky tonk angel—a reference to Wynette’s collaboration with fellow classic country superstars Dolly Parton and Loretta Lynn—while she sounds a lot like one herself. From there, Pickler gets more fired up and commands, “Don’t tell me country’s gone!” as she blasts her way through the second track, a surefire future hit, “Unlock That Honky Tonk.”

The next two songs see Pickler demonstrating something country gets right every time—heartbreak. With “Stop Cheatin’ On Me” and “Long As I Never See You Again,” Pickler takes us through experiences that would make anyone grow a thick skin, which she tells us all about on “Tough.”

But it’s not all sorrow and misery on 100 Proof. The second half of the album is what happens once you recover from the heartbreak and finally find some peace and happiness [“Turn On the Radio and Dance” and “Rockaway (the Rockin’ Chair Song)”]. Even the tear-jerking track “Mother’s Day”—a sort of follow-up to Pickler’s hit “I Wonder” (from her first album) that explores the way her mother leaving her as a child impacts her in adulthood—has a positive twist to it. And the wonderful thing is that, even though the figurative tune changes in the later songs, the album’s sound is consistent throughout. 100 Proof delivers authentic country music through and through.

If I’ve learned anything about 100 Proof from listening to it nonstop the last couple days, it’s that this is the most personal album Kellie Pickler has released to date—in everything from its sound and style to its subject matter. From start to finish, 100 Proof is the story of what Pickler’s been through since her last album and who she’s grown up to be. It’s safe to say that she has definitely matured in her songwriting, as well as her singing. And this is what I love about albums that aren’t firsts. It’s wonderful and inspiring to see an artist, who clearly spent the start of her career working on her craft and learning about herself and the music business, finally come to a place where she can afford and enjoy being her authentic self as a woman and a musician. It’s a great thing to witness as a fan of the artist and a fan of music.

So, just in case it wasn’t clear, I am so pleased with 100 Proof. It lived up to all the expectations I had for it after reading about the process for so long. The only disappointment is that it is quite short compared to most albums (about 34 minutes), but I’m not going to complain about that. I’m so excited to have more Kellie Pickler music to enjoy, and good country music at that!

My favorites right now (i.e., if I am forced to pick only a few—in reality, all of them are my faves):

- “Where’s Tammy Wynette”

- “Unlock That Honky Tonk”

- “100 Proof” (this is actually the second/current single)

PS – This has been a fantastic country week for me! A new Kellie Pickler album, Carrie Underwood announced that she’s releasing a new single next month, AND I am seeing Miranda Lambert and Chris Young in concert tomorrow night. WOO WOOOOOOO!!!!! Or, better yet, YEEHAW!!!!!!!!!

Reactions to the 2012 Oscar Nominations

The nominations for the 84th Annual Academy Awards are officially out! Click here to see the complete list and check out my reactions below:

- I got chills when they read Melissa McCarthy’s name for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Bridesmaids and I shouted excitedly for Bridesmaids scribes Kristen Wiig and Annie Mumolo who were nominated for Best Original Screenplay. This film deserves all of the buzz and acclaim and accolades that come its way. I am truly pleased.

- I am so happy for Glenn Close. I know Albert Nobbs has been a lifetime passion project for her so, though I haven’t had the opportunity to see it yet, I am incredibly happy for her that her hard work was recognized in this way.

- I continue to be shocked by Beginners being this silent contender all this time. I’ve had it on my Netflix queue for a couple months, but only because I caught Ewan McGregor’s most recent delightful appearance on The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson, remembered how much I love Ewan, and added his latest film immediately. Aside from that, I never heard anything about it before the Golden Globes.

- Because of the Golden Globes, I am not at all shocked by all the love for The Artist. I do have to say though that this is another film I hadn’t heard one single thing about until recently when a friend mentioned she wanted to try to see it in theaters.

- I haven’t had the chance to see this yet either (side note: This whole experience has only increased my bitterness toward my local theater. I fear nothing will ever be for my consideration…), but I know already that Gary Oldman’s nomination for his role in Tinker Tailor Solider Spy is well-deserved. I jumped when I heard his name mostly because I love him and am happy for him to be honored with a nomination, but also because I love me a good surprise nom.

- The biggest and best surprise nomination, of course, goes to EXTREMELY LOUD AND INCREDIBLY CLOSE!!! This film has gotten no love whatsoever from any other film institution and everyone has been wondering and waiting to see what would happen with it. I am so excited that this happened! And for this film, I plan on being prepared. I’ve owned the book for a good six years, but am only just now reading it. I’m hoping the film will play at my local theater before the ceremony next month, but if not—I just may have to go on a journey to find a legitimate theater.

- I'm pretty surprised Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross were not nominated for their work on The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo score. I am sad, but I can't be too mad since they won last year. Trent is well on his way to EGOTing.

Like all awards shows, the Academy Awards are not without fault, but this whole experience is still fun in its own way each year. I’m looking forward to finding out who takes home an Oscar next month!

The 84th Annual Academy Awards air Sunday February 26th at 8pm ET on ABC.

Ladyhawke Debuts New Single

New Zealand electro-pop singer-songwriter Ladyhawke is gearing up for the spring release of her long-awaited sophomore album, Anxiety. This week, the Ladyhawke camp posted her new single, "Black White & Blue," online in advance of its February 20th release. Check it out:

You may remember Ladyhawke from her absolutely fantastic 2008 self-titled debut album that spawned hit singles like "Paris is Burning" and "Magic." She also performed a notable acoustic cover of the Britney Spears pop anthem "Womanizer."

That cover is actually how I first heard of Ladyhawke and I was so glad when I finally looked into her music because her first album is truly great. It's one of those rare albums that fits any occasion. Driving in the car, doing chores around the house, concentrating incredibly hard on something tedious while sitting in a beige cubicle. On the surface, Ladyhawke delivers killer dance beats with soulful lyrics. And underneath all that, there is this calming undercurrent that lulls you into a state of peace. That sounds incredibly over the top, but I think it's that balance of calm and loud that makes her music so fantastic and malleable.

I haven't seen an official confirmation of a U.S. release date, but Anxiety will be released in Australia and the U.K. on March 19th. Hopefully, a North American release will follow soon after that.

Newcomers The Good Mad Offer First Single for Free

Thanks to the great minds behind ABC Family's The Lying Game, I've just been introduced to a wonderful new band called The Good Mad.

Lying Game star Allie Gonino, who plays little sister Laurel to lead character Sutton on the show, is not only a fine actress with a role on a hit series. She is also an incredibly talented musician who plays in a band called The Good Mad.

The trio is comprised of Gonino, Adam Brooks, and Andy Fischer-Price (mhmm). Their music is a beautiful, soft mixture of folk and country. They've got everything from harmonica and fiddle to ukelele mixed in their sound, creating a truly lovely combination. The guys recently appeared on an episode of The Lying Game ("Pleased to Meet Me" 1x13) as a house band playing a party. Gonino's character joined them on stage for a special performance.

Normally, when I see TV or film characters demonstrate a musical talent, I am moved to learn more about the actor playing the character to see if music is a part of the person's life outside of acting. I don't know why. I just love finding out about multi-talented people because they fascinate me. Viewers already knew that Laurel is a skilled violin player on the show, but this was the first episode where we got to hear her sing.

And that was just the motivation I needed to look past my fear of spoilers and do some internet research. That's how I found out about The Good Mad.

Of course, the names of the band members is just about all there is to find out right now. It turns out that the band just formed last summer and is busy working on making their first album. They debuted their first single, "What Money Paid For," on The Lying Game and are now offering it as a free MP3 download via PureVolume.

From the little I've heard from The Good Mad, I have to say that really love their harmonies and their overall sound. And at the risk of sounding old school, it's refreshing to see a young actress who is also involved in music being involved in this type of music versus the in-your-face dance pop that we get from so many other crossover stars. I love listening to that stuff, too, but like I said it's refreshing.

To check out The Good Mad and learn (a little) more about them, click here. To get right to the free download of their single, click here.

And don't forget! A brand new episode of The Lying Game premieres tonight at 9pm ET on ABC Family.

Gettin' a Bit Political: SOPA Blackout

Please click here for more information.

2012 Awards Shows Calendar

With the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards ceremony airing last Sunday night, the 2012 awards season is now officially in full swing.

I didn't used to be so into the awards shows because of the many issues that they bring in tow, but now I have a tradition with my BFF K. Fay where we watch each ceremony together and make picks and predictions and what not. So that makes it fun.

That being said, here are the upcoming key events that I will be paying close attention to this awards season:

- Tuesday January 24th - Oscar nominations (at 5:30am PST)

- Sunday January 29th - 18th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - TNT and TBS

- Sunday February 12th - 54th Annual Grammy Awards - CBS

- Sunday February 26th - 84th Annual Academy Awards - ABC

I did take notes during the Golden Globes on Sunday night and I have a few highlights to share. But mostly, I'm sorry, but they were a huge snoozefest to me. Last year's show was much more exciting, and not even because host Ricky Gervais unleashed his full offensive comedian self on the audience and the HFPA. There were just more moments. This year, not so much. But like I said, there were a few things to highlight so stay tuned!

For more information on these and other special pop culture events, be sure to check Scheduling With the Stars.