Alright, folks, here’s the scoop: No “Top Ten” or “Top Five” movies/video games/music/books. No, what you’re going to get is simple. My favourite movie, video game, album, and book of 2009 with some honourable mentions and some disclaimers. Well, perhaps that’s not exactly simple after all, but I think it’ll all make sense.

WTG’S BEST MOVIE OF 2009

Star Trek

I quite honestly can’t think of a better thrill ride this year (Disclaimer: I have not had a chance to see Avatar yet). Sure, there were movies that were more profound, were more critically acclaimed, etc This movie also wasn’t without its faults, but at the end of the year there was no movie I enjoyed watching more. I saw it three times in theatres, and have watched it twice already on Blu-ray. Call me a trekkie if you must (it wouldn’t be totally without merit, however utlimately incorrect), but this movie was just pure fun. Well done JJ Abrams.

Honourable Mentions: Up, District 9, The Hangover, Zombieland, I Love You, Man, Watchmen

Movies I haven’t seen that probably would have made the list: Avatar, Up In The Air, (500) Days of Summer

WTG’S BEST VIDEO GAME OF 2009

Call of Duty – Modern Warfare 2

This was a no-brainer in terms of what I played in 2009. Let’s just say that the week after this came out I picked up both Left 4 Dead 2 and Assassin’s Creed 2 but have yet to even crack the cases as Modern Warfare 2 hasn’t left my 360 since buying it. The single-player campaign may be short but it’s intense, and if a game can get me playing multiplayer despite my fear of being PWN’d, it must be good. If you’re into First-Person Shooters, there’s no better game in the current generation of consoles. And yes, I’m including Halo 3.

Honourable mentions: Batman: Arkham Asylum, Battlefield: Bad Company (not a 2009 game, but played in 2009), Tiger Woods PGA Tour 10

Games I either didn’t play enough or didn’t play at all but probably would have made this list: Assassin’s Creed 2, Left 4 Dead 2, Borderlands, NHL 10

WTG’S BEST ALBUM OF 2009

Thrice – Beggars

Thrice’s previous effort(s), the ambitious Alchemy Index Volumes 1-4 (Fire, Water, Earth and Air), did nothing for me, but I kept the faith that my beloved Thrice could pull off another stellar album. They blew me away when I first started listening to them after The Artist in the Ambulance back in 2003 and they’ve completely rekindled my love for them with this album. I remember, after listening to the leak back in the summer, saying to my friend “I know it’s only halfway through 2009, but this is my album of the year, without question.” If you’re in doubt, have a listen to “In Exile” and you’ll completely understand my stance on this album.

Honourable Mentions: Treelines – S/T, You Say Party! We Say Die! – XXXX, Metric – Fantasies, Joel Plaskett – Three, Two Hours Traffic – Territory, Dan Mangan – Nice, Nice, Very Nice, We Were Promised Jetpacks – These Four Walls, Passion Pit – Manners

Albums I didn’t listen to enough to make an informed decision that might have made the list: The xx – xx, Paramore – Brand New Eyes, Muse – The Resistance, Brand New – Daisy, Said The Whale – Islands Disappear, Yeah Yeah Yeahs – It’s Blitz!, Neko Case – Middle Cyclone, Tegan & Sara – Sainthood, Telekinesis! – Telekinesis!

WTG’S BEST BOOK OF 2009

Wil Wheaton – Memories Of The Future

Wait, did I say earlier that I’m not a trekkie? Oh right, I’m still not, but this isn’t exactly helping my case now is it? Wil Wheaton, or you may know and loathe him as Ensign Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation, takes a humorous approach to recapping the first half of the first season of Star Trek TNG which is notoriously known as “This is so bad, how did this show even make it past the first season?” Wheaton has a real knack for comedy, and his ability to look back on these episodes and mock his own character and realize for himself exactly why everyone had a hate-on for Wesley, really legitimizes this book. This is obviously for fans of the series, but would be a great companion novel for those who are watching the series for the first time.

Honourable mentions: (aka, other books I read in 2009 that were pretty good) Guillermo Del Toro – The Strain, Christopher Moore – Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal, Orson Scott Card – Invasive Procedures, Wil Wheaton – Just A Geek

Disclaimer: I’m not what you would call a heavy reader. My Goodreads says I read just 9 books in 2009. My reading time consists of 10 minutes on the train on my way to work, and 10 minutes on the way home.

CONCLUSION

This concludes my week-late look at 2009 in movies, video games, music and books. I have this sneaking suspicion that 2010 is going to be just as good if not better for movies video games and music.

Personal Bests - View Comments

Taken from my Last.FM journal.

So it’s been a while since I’ve done a introspective look at my listening history, and although I said I would do one at 40,000 I find myself only getting around to it now, at 52,882 plays. Let’s have a look at what my top ten are overall, as well as my 3 month top ten to get a better picture of where I’m going.

10. Funeral for a Friend (870 plays) – Honestly, Memory And Humanity was not what I was expecting considering how amazing Tales Don’t Tell Themselves was (which is where the majority of these plays have come from).

9. Sparta (907 plays) – This stems from how amazing Threes was but considering how much I’ve played it and the fact that another Sparta album is NOT in the works, I don’t expect Sparta to rise too much higher.

8. Paramore (1,075 plays) – Let’s face it, RIOT! was absolutely amazing and with another album on the way this year, I’m expecting a lot more plays from Paramore.

7. Minus the Bear (1,239 plays) – Planet of Ice was really just an ok album for me and did not live up to Menos El Oso however, on the advice of many, I’ll be giving it more of a chance. Besides, the Acoustics are amazing.

6. New Found Glory (1,279 plays) – Do I really need to explain why these guys are in my top ten? The new album should be amazing.

5. Muse (1,333 plays) – Let’s just say that I haven’t listened to Muse in quite a while because I overplayed Black Holes And Revelations. Still an amazing band and I’m sure I’ll be back in the mood when new music surfaces.

4. Jimmy Eat World (1,415 plays) – One of my all-time favourite bands. Chase This Light isn’t their best but it’s no slouch itself.

3. The Receiving End of Sirens (1,666 plays) – To say that I’m deeply saddened that after just two albums, Between the Heart and the Synapse and The Earth Sings Mi Fa Mi, would be the understatement of the century. R.I.P. I will continue to represent.

2. Gatsby’s American Dream (1,708 plays) – How the mighty have fallen. Since my 30,000 plays (when they were my numero uno) they have only managed 137 plays. Ouch. This is a most likely due to the fact that their self titled effort just did nothing for me.

1. Thrice (1,931 plays) – Although their recent efforts, The Alchemy Index: Vols I & II/Fire & Water and The Alchemy Index: Vol. 3 & 4: Air & Earth haven’t really peaked my interest yet, The Artist in the Ambulance and Vheissu still get regular plays.

So there you have it.

Do I expect much change between now and my next introspective? Not necessarily. Peaking at the rest of my Top 25, there aren’t many bands I would expect to sneak in. Perhaps, Attack In Black or The Reason.

Now, what do my recent listening habits have to say about me?

Top Ten in the past 3 months:

1. means (178 plays) – Only just discovered these guys and am sad to hear that they are no more…
2. Frightened Rabbit (152 plays) – Wow, these guys are awesome.
3. The Reason (124 plays) – Their recent acoustic EP The Brilliant Disguise EP is brilliant and their new album this year should be killer.
4. Funeral for a Friend (122 plays) – Well, they’re still getting regular rotation, so perhaps they’ll surpass Sparta soon.
5. The Receiving End of Sirens (114 plays) – See above.
6. Harry Connick, Jr. (113 plays) – His Christmas albums are the other reason for the season.
7. Blink-182 (80 plays – Nostalgia for Dude Ranch
8. (tie) Less Than Jake (70 plays) – Me likey LTJ. That is all.
8. (tie) Bend Sinister (70 plays) – The new album Stories of Brothers, Tales of Lovers is extremely well crafted.
10. New Found Glory (68 plays) – Probably fueled by the new split with their alter-egos International Superheroes of Hardcore

Guitars and Unicorns - View Comments