“At this time of year” (as Big Brother winner Craig Philips once sang) we gather our thoughts and trot out an endless supply of lists and top-fives. Well, as unoriginal as this may seem, you can piss off if you think we're not joining in the fun!
Tv
1. Green Wing - What do you get if you cross Casualty and Chris Morris’ sick and prophetic Jam? Well, given that the feed line was under the title ‘Green Wing’, you should already know. After the initial doubts - is there a plot, what’s with all the effects and ‘are there any actual jokes?’- GW revealed itself to be the most refreshing comedic platform since The Office said goodbye last Christmas. A perfect blend of surreal and dark humour, mixed with an unbeatable soundtrack and starring heroes and villains that any pantomime worth its salt would be crying out for, we await the next series with baited breath.
2. Peep Show (s2) - If last year’s excellent second series of Marion and Geoff was the peak of comedic first person story telling, Peep Show almost bettered it by involving two opposing but down right funny and depraved perspectives. A sort of post millennial Lee and Herring style paring, Mark and Jeremy’s endless quests for anything pure or even vaguely likeable in life turned out to be one of the most compelling half an hour’s tele seen for a very, very long time.
3. Nighty Night - Mark Gatiss of the league of gentlemen must have thought that he’d never be involved in something so sick and wrong ever again in his professional life. How wrong could he be? However, too much attention has already been drawn to the darker elements of this show (and I’m not helping am I?), so much so, that it’s easy to forget just how damn funny it was! Julia Davis created a tale of terror and laughter in brilliantly equal measures, and in the process revived the corpse of Angus Deyton’s career and allowed most of Alan Partridge co-stars a new platform. Hug for Jill?
4. Little Britain (s2) - A series with many flaws (the omission of Scottish Hotelier Mr McCooney and inclusion of Bubbles De Vere) but many, many highlights. Messrs Lucas and Walliams, with a little help from Mr Tom Baker, invited us on another trip round the land that we call home with the same degree of disgust and cheap humour which made the first run such a success. Yet, in this case, surely the accomplishments are measured by the number of catch phrases introduced into the playground and pub – ‘Bitty?’, ‘Computer says no’ and ‘Oooh, he’s gorgeous’ were introduced into common parlance as quickly as you could say “yeah, I know”.
5. Harry Hill’s TV Burp – Mr Harry remains on the best form since his Fruit corner radio series ten years ago. Ditching the badgers for clips of Eastenders seems to still be paying dividends in terms of his TV career, and with his natural talent for bringing out the funniest in the most ordinary and mundane, this remains the ONLY program worth watching on ITV.
Stephen Morse.
1. The Shield – A subdued season by its standards, it still managed to shock, and flirt with major changes which would look to set up intriguing plot developments.
2. NYPD Blue - Unceremoniously shunted into a graveyard shot, its long overdue return was met with the welcome introduction of new blood; Detectives Clark and Ortiz.
3. Carnivale - HBO allows such wonderful storytelling to take place without the pressure of ratings affecting the pace. The basic theme of Good Vs Evil has barely scratched the surface, but we have received enough insight into the various characters of the troupe, we warm to them, and can side with a particular character depending on the scenario.
4. The Smoking Room - Probably the best gimmick-based comedy this year. With all the action taking place in the Smoking Room, and characters entering and leaving and re-entering, it freshen up the dialogue throughout the 30 minutes and manages to keep the balance between likeable and detestable characters.
5. City of Men - Spin-off to Acclaimed film City of God, this was a masterpiece but seemed to fizzle out by the end of the second series. Still the slapstick of Acerola, and the crises Laranjinha and his amigo put themselves in made for entertaining television, or the threat of the gangs at times made for frightening television.
6. Outlaws - I never really watched North Square. I’m reliably informed that it was better than this, which suggests North Square was superb, as this was at times impressive. The cynical Dunbar receiving his motivation for caring about the people he defends was a tad predictable, but the straight-talking of Phil Daniels as the uncompromising Dunbar encouraged you to root for him and his naïve partner Gulliver (Ray Emmett-Brown). It started strongly with humour, dwindled about in important messages conveyed in more dramatic than comedic terms, but regained its humour to close the series hoping for a return.
7. Bodies - Incompetence, Gore, Sex, Politics and Morality were paramount in this excellent drama from Cardiac Arrest creator Jed Mercurio. Unlikely to please the intensely squeamish or those embracing motherhood, it was nevertheless a thrilling series, highlighting failings of a health service risking quality of care, for the sake of increased funding, or improved status in the public eye. A second series has been commissioned, and will hopefully continue in the same standard of quality television.
8. The Keith Barret Show - Two series of Marion and Geoff, a prequel, and Rob Brydon has firmly established himself as the new Mrs Merton with this, the lightest in mood of all three vehicles for Keith, as he interviews celebrity couples on how their relationships work. Personal favourites were Ronnie and Anne Corbett, and Richard and Judy.
9. Arrested Development - Dysfunctional sitcoms don’t get much better, with a stellar cast including Jason Bateman as Michael Bluth, Jeffrey Tambor as George Bluth, and Portia De Rossi as Lindsay Bluth. Siblings George Oscar and Buster Bluth prove to be the most entertaining for their slapstick.
10. Early Doors - The working class humour of the Royle Family was extended to this Craig Cash penned comedy, which got an element of closure this year, but left us in stitches along the way. Introducing us to Tommy’s profession and the patter between the policemen were highlights, and hopefully there will be one more series before time is called.
Honourable Mentions: Line of Fire, Boomtown (cancelled just as they were hitting their groove)
Craig Aston.
1. Peep Show – Initial worries that this may not be as good as the first series evaporated after just five minutes. Okay, it was dark, it was squeamish, it was uncomfortable viewing occasionally, but oh how it was bloody funny too.
2. Shameless (Series One, not the Christmas special) – The first series of Shameless proved that C4 can produce astounding drama comedy still, even though with Teachers they’ve done their best to convince us otherwise. Constantly surprisingly, and rather charming in it’s own strange way too. Let’s just hope the rather OTT Christmas Special was a one off mishap, and that the new series will be as strong as the first.
3. Six Feet Under – In it’s penultimate series and stronger than ever, it was darker material than previously shown, as Nate struggled with his feelings concerning Lisa’s death, but as evocative and emotionally affecting as it always has been. A real gem in the schedules.
4. The Sopranos – A bit of a mixed year for Tony and co., as control over various families was fought over, but the addition of Steve Buscemi to the cast was it’s ace in the hole, and hell, even a dodgy Soprano’s episode is lightyears better than most drama series.
5. Nip / Tuck – It’s getting depressing now how in the US they seem to be able to trot out these seemingly effortlessly outstanding drama’s whilst we struggle to even produce one or two over here in the UK, but it can’t be denied just how strong a series this was. Dealing with a variety of issues, but never patronising it’s audience, the show leapt from idea to idea, and rarely faltered.
6. The Shield – As Craig mentions above, The Shield faltered a little this year, but the ultra-violent escapades of Vic and co still made for one of the most watchable shows on the box.
7. Big Brother 5 – Ah BB5, just as everyone predicted the reality boom was over, you came along and made us love it all over again. From Victor’s diary room entries, the big fight, Stu and Michelle shagging and all the other insanity, it was easily the best Big Brother thus far.
8. Bodies – Gripping, dark drama from the Beeb? Surely some mistake was the first thing that popped in to my mind, but no, this truly was great tv, and one not afraid to delve in to some particularly disturbing themes.
9. Arrested Development – Very, very funny comedy which has seen Jason Bateman on our tv again. I’d only been waiting, what, sixteen years since the last series of It’s Your Move? Anyway, it’s fast moving, sharp, and intelligent, and definitely worth catching each and every week.
10. Family Guy – An honourary mention as I’m not sure if it’s been on Sky much this year, but as I got the series 2 and 3 DVD’s for Crimbo I just had to include it here. Truly the finest animated comedy around, and thanks to everyone discovering it on DVD, a fourth series has just been commissioned. Which makes me very happy indeed.
Alex Finch.
Film
1. Zatoichi – Blind man batters Kill Bill for Blood, and avoids scrimping on the plot. Takeshi Kitano is a genius among men.
2. Hero – Cinematically Superb, Delightful colour schemes and an ending which emphasised the importance of one man’s sacrifice.
3. Shaolin Soccer – Hilarious take on the current vogue of wire-work martial arts films with a touch of Bend it Like Beckham romance.
4. Spellbound – Top documentary on America’s Spelling Bees. Forerunner to BBC’s Hard Spell. I pitied the geeky kids for spending so much time on learning obscure words, but felt equally inept for not being able to spell words like apocape.
5. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind - Quirky, interesting, if a tad baffling. The sort of film you need to see several times to understand fully, and I’ve only seen it once. Carrey and Winslet are fantastic in their roles.
Craig Aston.
1. I Heart Huckabees – Bizarre, unpredictable, but incredibly smart and funny comedy.
2. Lost In Translation – My Sister bizarrely hates this, and walked out half way through. But then she’s a fool for doing so, it’s one of the subtlest, gentlest comedies ever made, but all the more rewarding because of this.
3. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind – Quite possibly the most innovative film of the year, with a toned down performance by Jim Carrey, and superb direction by Michael Gondry. Don’t let your preconceptions about Carrey stop you from seeing it.
4. Shaun Of The Dead – Simon Pegg and Edgar Wright’s utterly lovable zombie comedy is slightly flawed, but when it gets going it’s blindingly good.
5. The Motorcycle Diaries – Insightful, intelligent and yet not over-worthy biopic of the early days of Che Guevera. Astounding in places, come Oscar time this really should be rewarded. Though it probably won’t be.
6. Bubba Ho-Tep – Bruce Campbell as Elvis sounds idiotic, but by God does he pull it off, turning in a considered, careful portrait of a man full of regrets.
7. Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy / Dodgeball – I make no apology for having both these films in the top 10, they’re incredibly hilarious throughout, smart, original and idiotic comedy all mixed in to one. Well. Two. Ah, you know what I mean.
9. Hero – A sumptuously beautiful martial arts epic, that runs out of steam a little before the end, but up until then it’s jaw droppingly impressive.
10. Napoleon Dynamite – The Geekiest comedy ever made, for sure, but also one of the funniest. Secretly rather adorable too.
Alex Finch.
Music
Izzy and Colin's Albums of 2004
Izzy:
Ilya: They Died For Beauty - With their debut album Ilya managed to produce one of the most stirring works of 2004. On first listen it may seem like 9 laid back tracks of that thing they call the chilled variety but listen again and again and see how the emotions buried deep under the chunky bassline's and ghostly vocals penetrate your musical sensibilities. Going where many have gone before including Portishead, Goldfrapp and Lamb to name but a few, Ilya take the genre of trip hop and sprinkle a layer of musical gold dust on it. Heavenly's middle section evokes the feeling of driving in an open top down breezy alpine roads or along the promenades of the South of France. The Piano lament and Joanna Swans understated vocals on Pretty Baby come pretty near to breaking your heart and They Died for Beauty with its hook and soaring close finishes the album in an epic grandiose manner.
This album should prove to be timeless but more to the point could quite easily end up in the realm of overlooked classics. Play when you want to be transported to a cosmopolitan world of sun and cotton wool clouds.
The Go! Team: Thunder Lightning Flash - How to describe this album? It’s a toughie. Annoyingly cool is one way. The other is my opinion that it sounds like someone took the theme tune to Bonanza and messed about it whilst having a particularly interesting time under the influence of something. It mixes elements that are clearly going to help it appeal to a broad range of differing tastes, in fact so much does it mix it’s genres it’s difficult to classify this album. But why would you want to? It’s quite simply amazingly ace. You can’t help but smile like a loon at the mad dash of pop that is Huddle Formation, indeed it’s the only piece of music I do the housework to now such is it’s ability to get my ass moving.
Play when you need a great big smile putting on your face.
The Killers: Hot Fuss - Not many American bands have the ability to make and sell indie pop so beloved of our shores as staggeringly well and quickly as these guys. Hot Fuss for all it’s flaws and yes it DOES have flaws, is an assured blast of a debut. Front man Brandon Flowers has been quoted as saying that their choice of listening ranges from Iggy Pop to Duran Duran, and boy do those influences show. From the synthesiser smothered pop of Smile Like You Mean It to the gospel infused singalong manner of All These Things That I’ve Done, Hot Fuss ranges from the swaggering to the swoonworthy in its near 50 minute running time. The low points for me are Andy, You’re A Star and Jenny Was Friend Of Mine which, nestled amongst the breathless Mr Brightside and rousing Glamorous Indie Rock and Roll, don’t catch your attention as immediately as the others. But it’s a minor criticism and simply put Hot Fuss has had more airplay in my household that most this year.
Play when you wanna jump on the sofa and indulge in some air guitar.
Kanye West: College Dropout - He writes, he MC’s, he produces. Is there nothing this man cannot do? West used a melting pot of musical styles to bring us one of THE hip-hop albums of 2004. Dealing with more issues than the usual blah blah bling bling acts, The College Dropout had plaudits raining down on Mr West’s shoulders. Me, I just love the fact that it gave some much-needed employment to a Smurf on Through The Wire.
Play it because it’s better than Jay-Z.
Embrace: Out Of Nothing - It wasn’t without trepidation that I first listened to Embrace’s fourth offering. After an absence of nearly 3 years following the release of the poorly received If You’ve Never Been and their departure from Virgin subsidiary Hut records, the band needed something. Something big. So on the back of the “yawn yawn” Chris Martin penned single Gravity along came Out Of Nothing. And it was big.
From the swooning of Looking As You Are which saw Danny produce a vocal performance of unexpectedly great proportions, to the glorious upbeat thumping pop of album opener Ashes and onto the hushed arrogance of Out Of Nothing and its bombastic guitar led close, Out Of Nothing rightly put Embrace firmly back on the musical map.
Play it because if you think you know Embrace, you need to think again.
Craig Armstrong: Piano Works - Armstrong is yet to produce a duff piece of work as far as I am concerned and his latest offering produces a much simpler stripped down take on his brilliant ambient style. With just a piano, Armstrong creates deep rich soundscapes worthy of your focused attention. The production is crystal clear and even at 17 tracks long you don’t want it to end. A work of innovative, original and gorgeous music.
Play it went you want to feel infused with bliss.
Colin:
Ben & Jason: Goodbye - I’d never been a big Ben and Jason fan before I got this album (through ignorance, not dislike), but hearing this makes me realise what a tragedy it is that they won’t be making music together any more. I doubt you could find a more immaculate collection of bittersweet songs which was released this year. $10 Miracle is completely bare - acoustic guitar and vocals and nothing more - and it’s very very good indeed.
Fennesz: Venice - As good as an album of hoovers and radio interference has any right to be, this is very high on my “whatthefuckisthis” list for the year. And as loathe as I am to use the word “soundscapes”, that’s exactly what has been created here.
Avril Lavigne: Under My Skin - I wasn’t keen on young Avril’s debut, but there were a few songs which tickled my fancy. This album realises the potential of those songs and shows a lot of maturity. Her voice is truly superb, and the pop sensibilities remain. The striking ending to How Does It Feel is a high point, forgoing the standard structure of the rest of the song for a strung out closing.
James Hardway: Big Casino - I stumbled on this completely at random, and it was a very pleasant surprise. Lo-fi but beat laden, this is good dance music, funky (eurgh, what a dirty word) and rhythmic. In a world where the indie minions think of dance music as something to hate unless it contains a collaboration with one of their false gods, this sort of thing is a rare gem which bridges the gap. Having said that, Big Casino isn’t an album of the dreaded indie dance. No. It’s just a cohesive collection of songs to make you dance.
The Streets: A Grand Don't Come For Free - Enthusiasm for this has faded through the year but for me it remains a defining record. Completely different from the debut, it retains that great strand of dark humour throughout. The much-vaunted narrative which runs through each song is important, but these tracks all stand-alone. From the cheeky first single, to the top three single which laughs at indie band’s attempts at ballads, to the uplifting, touching, clever album closer, this is a great album.
The Shins: Chutes Too Narrow - “Clap clap clap clap clap HEY!” Any album that STARTS with handclaps is going to be ace and The Shins don’t disappoint. Shimmering, haunting and beautiful by turns, but it is a pop album at heart.
Embrace: Out Of Nothing - A missed opportunity. While this album contains some of their best ever work, a run of weaker tracks turns it into a nice “safe” unit shifter. The much vaunted production turns out to be nothing more than good - I think its strength lies in the way the band were pushed into finishing this collection. Mind you, an album by Embrace which is just good is still better than 90% of the other albums released this year, and it paves the way for them to create something truly amazing. Will they seize the opportunity?
Picks of the year:
Izzy Brooks & Colin Ramsay.
Top 5 albums I bought in the past year
1. Finn Brothers: Everyone is Here - A truly simplistic, wonderfully personal record. Great harmonies, emotively strong and the one album I looked forward to, and wasn’t disappointed when I bought it.
2. Belle and Sebastian: Dear Catastrophe Waitress - The true winner of the Mercury Music Prize, and just a great collection of songs. My attention to this band from afar became much closer thanks to this record. From the humour of the opening track, to catchy pop of Wrapped up in Books and I’m a Cuckoo. All wonderfully built thanks to producer Trevor Horn.
3. Glenn Tillbrook: Transatlantic Ping Pong - A real grower of an album. The impact of some songs is more immediate than others, but one half of the former Squeeze songwriting partnership proves he can still write infectious, toe-tapping, great pop songs with the best of them. Not quite a masterclass in songwriting, but pretty damn close.
4. Elvis Costello: The Delivery Man - After the saccharine Schmaltz of North, it was a welcome return to the sound adored from Attractions’ delights Brutal Youth and Blood and Chocolate. From the fantastically kitsch Monkey to Man, to the dark and gruff title track, to the poppy There’s a story in your voice, to the deeply moving Country Darkness.
5. Rammstein: Reise Reise - Very strong ambient-metal record that followed up the catchy 2001 album Mutter, and tackled the popular subject of America. Feats of cinematic panache married with metal riff rhythms last heard on Metallica’s St. Anger. One of the few big names in Metal to actually do a good album.
Honourable mentions:
Auf Der Maur: Self titled - Clearly the most talented member of Hole from this outing. 3 of the best rock tracks this year, and all released as singles. Collaborated with the right people, and produced a really solid album.
Charlotte Hatherley: Grey Will Fade - Really fun, raw indie-pop album with nods back to XTC and the like. Bastardo, Summer, and Kim Wilde were all superb. As solid as Ash’s Meltdown was, it wasn’t as spectacular as this.
Top 5 Albums not bought, but wished that I had on the evidence of what I have heard.
1. The Divine Comedy: Absent Friends - Neil Hannon ditched the bare sound of Regeneration, returning to what made him popular. I liked Regeneration, but I liked this immensely. I think his songwriting has got better with age. The Happy Goth, Our Mutual Friend and Charmed Life were particular favourites that encapsulate what is so special about Hannon. Sometime in the near future I will buy this album. I urge you to do the same.
2. The Cure: The Cure - Return to the dazzling quality of Disintegration, as the cartoon-ish image and played for laughs sound of Wish and Wild Mood Swings is dumped for a really good sounding record, based on the two singles released. If the whole album is like that, it would be a really great record, and a much needed return to form.
3. Joanna Newsom: The Milk-Eyed Mender - Distracting voice aside, personal attachment to songs Swansea and Sadie mean the harpist received a surprising amount of attention from me on the Car CD player. Cascading melodies juxtaposed with a harsh vocal made for an interesting listen.
4. Graham Coxon: Happiness in Magazines - Similar to situation to Miss. Hatherley, as great guitar led pop songs showcased and receiving the attention they deserve from everywhere but the mainstream. Freakin’ Out may have got the Moby treatment, but Bittersweet Bundle of Misery was fun to listen to, and Spectacular was decent enough to merit interest in buying the album. Perhaps the interest will morph into action in the new year.
5. Air: Talkie Walkie - On the strength of Cherry Blossom Girl, I would be interested in considering this album. The weird whistling on Alpha Beta Gaga was a tad off-putting, but there may be enough spark from hearing Another Day a couple of days ago to merit more interest.
Top 10 songs (heard on the radio, downloaded and just loved)
1. Kings of Convenience: I’d Rather Dance With You - Infectious, fun. Perfect for car journeys
2. Elvis Costello: Monkey To Man - A great listen.
3. Kaiser Chiefs: Oh my God - Promising start to a band that sounds similar to XTC and SFA, but are more than OK in their own right.
4. Sondre Lerche: Two Way Monologue - One of the weirdest, but most wonderful songs of the year.
5. Feist: Inside and Out - Canadian band that recalls an 80’s Disco style but laden with dreamy hooks that entice you on.
6. Nellie McKay: Ding Dong - The antithesis of Norah Jones.
7. The Killers: Mr. Brightside - The true star of the new-wave renaissance.
8. Modest Mouse: Float On - Geek-pop at its finest.
9. Zero 7: Somersault - Inspires thoughts of Noir films with cinematic passages of French Countryside .
10. Air: Cherry Blossom Girl - Cynically you could say it sounds similar to Enigma, but as with Zero 7, it sounded dreamy to me, and far more sophisticated than the normal tag of elevator music.
Honourable Mention:
Outkast: Roses - The only single to get mainstream success and really, really deserve it).
Craig Aston.
Top Five Albums
1. Belle and Sebastian: Dear Catastrophe Waitress - Okay, technically released last year, but as I only bought it this year it gets included here. They’ve shed the ‘twee’ tag, and come back with their strongest album yet, full of blissfully lovely tunes with lyrics which are alternately wry and meaningful. I’ve played it to death, and still haven’t grown tired of it.
2. Embrace: Out of Nothing - Stop caring that the NME despise them and join in the second coming of what must surely be Britain’s most loved band right now. Judging by their recent live gigs, their next album will be even more special too.
3. Ash: Meltdown - In which Ash shed their metal-lite tag and go all Billy Corgan on us. And it works, it’s infectious, danceable, and they pull of chorus’ which make grown men jump up and down.
4. The Libertines: The Libertines - A disappointing return from Carl and the now wayward Pete, with only a few songs matching the genius found on the first album. Still very likable, but only that.
5. Kasabian: Kasabian - In which Kasabian listen to The Stone Roses a lot, and somewhat effortlessly improve on them. Controversial? Well, yeah, but it’s all true, trust me.
Alex Finch.
Misc. Hopes for 2005
TV: The Wire steals the show on FX. The Daily Show finds an audience in the UK. Bodies follows up the first season with a great second. NYPD Blue comes back on TV at a reasonable hour. Shameless is still good. Rescue Me does well on Sky One. House comes to the UK. No more decent shows getting cancelled due to ‘poor’ ratings. Six Feet Under creator Alan Ball changes his mind and decides not to end the show; The Soprano’s creator David Chase doesn’t change his mind and the show does end this year; Family Guy series four is as good if not better than the three which preceded it; Peep Show series three is greenlit.
Film: Independent and foreign film-makers continue to pleasantly surprise us. Wes Anderson’s The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou turns out to be as good as it looks; The Coens stop making crap and return to form; David Lynch makes another film; Micheal Gondry wins the best picture Oscar for Eternal Sunshine… and is given a huge budget and complete control over his next picture; Joss Whedon’s Serenity is a huge hit and thus the Angel movie is greenlit; Post Alexander there are no more historical epics made for a while; Zach Braff isn’t allowed to make any more movies for at least a couple of years.
Music: That Idlewild, Fountains of Wayne, Doves, System of a Down, Queens of the Stone Age, Hot Hot Heat follow up their last great albums with better one. Anderson and Butler come back with a great partnership in The Tears. Link: http://www.albumvote.co.uk/albums/prerel.htm. The Libertines reform with Pete in the line up (Yes, yes, I know, it’ll never happen); Pulp return with a superb Different Class-esque album (ditto); Neil Hannon decides to stop acting all grown up and just releases a great poppy album instead; Do Me Bad Things fulfil their promise; Wembley Arena is banned from hosting gigs; The Flaming Lips’ movie is finally realised and turns out to be superb; Grandaddy’s next album is as good as the past two have been.
Craig Aston, Alex Finch.
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