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Flap_jackson (Level 32)
Last month, I thought the world needed more Silversun Pickups. Now that I've heard their new album, I realize I was wrong in this thought.
followed by
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With the start of September, School, Colder Weather, Hurricanes, and other Fall-ish stuff, it's now time to look back on all of Summer 2011 and pick the best in media.
Song of the Summer (My Most-Played Song)
With well over 40 plays, which is a lot for me, over the summer, Foster the People is proof that the America Sheeple are still willing to accept original music with challenging lyrics. It's currently the #3 song in the nation, and I think it could hit #1 with the momentum it has. Telling the story of a troubled teen and potential shooter, it comes from a dark place, and important place since these stories need to be told, but also it's sugar-coated in Indie Pop Psychedelia, making it basically a really dark MGMT song.
Album of the Summer
A more polished and less druggy Amy Winehouse, Adele officially took over the reign of Soul Queen with her ode to love loss and broken. The result is a collection of songs fiery and as angry as the sun. Led by Rolling in the Deep, which ruled the airwaves over the summer, the album kind of fits with the season. By the way, I don't think the album is done giving us songs for your girlfriend to blast when she's ticked at you.
Also, if you don't like this choice, there's also Katy Perry again, but I doubt you'd like that. I could have given it to Torches by Foster the People, but I figured I'd spread the love.
Best Video Game
While I loved all levels that the Angry Birds threw at us over the summer, including Mine & Dine and the new Rio levels, Summer Picnic from Seasons was essential playing, with a new level being released everyday for 30 days. It was sublime putting those pigs in their place, and it always gave me something new to look forward to over the summer.
Best TV Show
You heard me right. Awkward. The MTV show over the summer that wasn't Teen Wolf. It wasn't great or anything, but it was entertaining enough, and GREAT by MTV standards. That, plus TV over the summer kind of sucked. Breaking Bad will have its best days in the fall. Wilfred was inconsistent. Alphas is pretty entertaining, but doesn't have enough WOW to keep me tuning in week-to-week. And dang it, Ashley Rickards is simply cuter than Louie C.K.
Best Action Movie
All you really want in your summer movie is really some jaw-dropping action sequences that will blow your freakin' mind like air condition in July, and a great movie to go around it that you will cherish when you ask for it this Christmas. Fast Five is that movie through and through. It's insane. It's amazing. It's a nothing short of a masterpiece. And I predict that Fast 6 will now open well north of 100 million. I'll also be the first person lining up for it.
Best Action Hero
Pure of heart, full-on bad-ass, America fell in love with its Captain, and for good reason. He's just awesome, and totally the person I most rooted for this summer as I saw him knock Hydra minions out like it was nobody's business.
Best Villain
Tom Hiddleston is kind of a preternatural bad-ass. Loki is quiet, but fierce. He's one man, but you totally believe he'd be the one person that would require the Avengers to form in order to take him down. Dude's got a chip on his shoulder, and he will destroy you in order to take it off.
Best Actress/New Talent
I loved all the kids in Super 8, but Elle Fanning is just mesmerizing to watch on screen. Nuff' Said.
Best Scene
The Coin Scene in X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class was filled to the brim with great moments, but that coin scene with the demise of Kevin Bacon is simply a haunting piece of cinema.
Best Laugh
The Wolverine Cameo in X-Men: First Class
Here you go. Enjoy.
Worst Movie
It's not terrible by any means, but it had the worst use of 3-D that I saw all summer, and I saw a lot of films in 3-D, it was the most actively mediocre film of the summer, with the exception of the Mermaid scene. Other films tried and failed, but this didn't really even try. Also, we were promised a Captain Jack solo film, but instead the characters from the old trilogy were just switched for winier, more annoying versions of the exact same people.
Best News Story
Those were the days...
Song of the Summer (My Most-Played Song)
Pumped Up Kicks by Foster the People
With well over 40 plays, which is a lot for me, over the summer, Foster the People is proof that the America Sheeple are still willing to accept original music with challenging lyrics. It's currently the #3 song in the nation, and I think it could hit #1 with the momentum it has. Telling the story of a troubled teen and potential shooter, it comes from a dark place, and important place since these stories need to be told, but also it's sugar-coated in Indie Pop Psychedelia, making it basically a really dark MGMT song.
Album of the Summer
21 by Adele
A more polished and less druggy Amy Winehouse, Adele officially took over the reign of Soul Queen with her ode to love loss and broken. The result is a collection of songs fiery and as angry as the sun. Led by Rolling in the Deep, which ruled the airwaves over the summer, the album kind of fits with the season. By the way, I don't think the album is done giving us songs for your girlfriend to blast when she's ticked at you.
Also, if you don't like this choice, there's also Katy Perry again, but I doubt you'd like that. I could have given it to Torches by Foster the People, but I figured I'd spread the love.
Best Video Game
Angry Birds Seasons
While I loved all levels that the Angry Birds threw at us over the summer, including Mine & Dine and the new Rio levels, Summer Picnic from Seasons was essential playing, with a new level being released everyday for 30 days. It was sublime putting those pigs in their place, and it always gave me something new to look forward to over the summer.
Best TV Show
Awkward
You heard me right. Awkward. The MTV show over the summer that wasn't Teen Wolf. It wasn't great or anything, but it was entertaining enough, and GREAT by MTV standards. That, plus TV over the summer kind of sucked. Breaking Bad will have its best days in the fall. Wilfred was inconsistent. Alphas is pretty entertaining, but doesn't have enough WOW to keep me tuning in week-to-week. And dang it, Ashley Rickards is simply cuter than Louie C.K.
Best Action Movie
Fast Five
All you really want in your summer movie is really some jaw-dropping action sequences that will blow your freakin' mind like air condition in July, and a great movie to go around it that you will cherish when you ask for it this Christmas. Fast Five is that movie through and through. It's insane. It's amazing. It's a nothing short of a masterpiece. And I predict that Fast 6 will now open well north of 100 million. I'll also be the first person lining up for it.
Best Action Hero
Captain America
Pure of heart, full-on bad-ass, America fell in love with its Captain, and for good reason. He's just awesome, and totally the person I most rooted for this summer as I saw him knock Hydra minions out like it was nobody's business.
Best Villain
Loki
Tom Hiddleston is kind of a preternatural bad-ass. Loki is quiet, but fierce. He's one man, but you totally believe he'd be the one person that would require the Avengers to form in order to take him down. Dude's got a chip on his shoulder, and he will destroy you in order to take it off.
Best Actress/New Talent
Elle Fanning
I loved all the kids in Super 8, but Elle Fanning is just mesmerizing to watch on screen. Nuff' Said.
Best Scene
The Coin Scene in X-Men: First Class
X-Men: First Class was filled to the brim with great moments, but that coin scene with the demise of Kevin Bacon is simply a haunting piece of cinema.
Best Laugh
The Wolverine Cameo in X-Men: First Class
Here you go. Enjoy.
Worst Movie
Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
It's not terrible by any means, but it had the worst use of 3-D that I saw all summer, and I saw a lot of films in 3-D, it was the most actively mediocre film of the summer, with the exception of the Mermaid scene. Other films tried and failed, but this didn't really even try. Also, we were promised a Captain Jack solo film, but instead the characters from the old trilogy were just switched for winier, more annoying versions of the exact same people.
Best News Story
Anthony Weiner
Those were the days...
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