Albums of 2012: The Nearly Men - Part 2

First Aid Kit - "The Lion's Roar"

Released: 18th January

Johanna and Klara Söderberg's second album features the sisters singing in tight harmony over acoustic guitars and gentle drums. It's simple, yet highly effective as the girls' vocals soar up the register in a quite beautiful manner. Produced by Bright Eyes' Mike Mogis and featuring a guest appearance from Conor Oberst, "The Lion's Roar" is a triumphant moment in modern folk.

Key Tracks: "The Lion's Roar", "Emmylou", "King of the World".

Alabama Shakes - "Boys & Girls"

Released: April 9th

Alabama Shakes' debut album hits you like a lightning bolt, mainly due to the exceptional vocal talents of Brittany Howard. Howard's powerful voice soars above a primal southern blues rock fusion to create stirring soul influenced tracks that could have come straight from the 70s, yet feel as fresh and relevant as they truly are.

Key Tracks: "Hold On", "Hang Loose", "Heartbreaker".

The Mars Volta - "Noctourniquet"

Released: March 26th

"Noctourniquet" is the sixth studio album from The Mars Volta and another intricately ambitious journey through progressive rock. Experimentation has always played a part in the band's music, and "Noctourniquet" takes it on further, as lops, synths and all manner of keyboards float in and out of the guitar, bass and drum led rhythms. A fully sonic record, best experienced fully immersed in the music, and quite special when you do.

Key Tracks: "Dyslexicon", "In Absentia", "Zed and Two Naughts".

TV of 2012: The Nearly Men Part 1

The top ten TV Shows of 2012 had some select criteria. The show must have premiered new episodes in 2012. This means the first showing of the episode anywhere (i.e. something that debuted in the USA in 2011, but was not shown in the UK until 2012 would not be eligible). The shows would be judged purely on the episodes broadcast in 2012, so no coasting on past glory. An initial longlist of 34 was reduced to 33 when I realised I haven't seen any of the Boardwalk Empire episodes originally broadcast in 2012. The list was further whittled down to a shortlist of 17, of which I was surprised to find that 12 were of the 22 minute format. Over the next three days, I'll look at the 7 shows that didn't quite make the cut.

Community

NBC (US), Sony TV (UK).

Community aired 12 episodes in 2012, the latter half of its third season being shafted around the schedules by NBC. With the threat of cancellation looming, creator and showrunner Dan Harmon worked his magic with some of the finest episodes of the show's run. Unfortunately some of the episodes fell a bit flat - although perhaps only due to the sheer quality of the best episodes - but as a whole, the 2012 output was more than solid. The high concept episodes generally worked - especially the utterly outstanding "Digital Estate Planning" which saw much of the episode take place in an 8-bit video game - and the more straightforward few (straightforward for Community at least) set the scene perfectly for a season finale that played like a series finale. The last few minutes of "Introduction to Finality" wrapped up the season absolutely perfectly, and if the show had ended on that note, it would have been a wonderful way to go out. As it is, Community will return in 2013, but sans the inexplicably fired Harmon and for the latter part the bonkers Chevy Chase. Whether it can withstand the upheaval is yet to be seen, but the legacy has been left. And it's a fine legacy at that.

Key episodes: "Pillows and Blankets", "Digital Estate Planning", "Introduction to Finality".

Suburgatory

ABC (US), E4 (UK).

Coming into 2012, Suburgatory had aired only 9 episodes, and was still finding its feet. The latter 13 episodes of the first season, starting on January 4th found those feet, steadied them, and just continued to improve. Seven more episodes have aired in the second season so far, and of the 20 episode output in 2012, 17 have been great. The show is at its best when the biting satire is in force, but does tender, emotional moments surprisingly well, especially in the early part of the second season. The Alicia Silverstone arc was an unfortunate blip (possibly not her fault, most would have struggled with the character) but otehr than that, it's been a strong year. The lead actors are all very good in their roles, but the real star has been Carly Chaikin's deadpan delivery as Dalia. Watch the "You Missed A Spot" music video from the latest episode "Krumpus" to see exactly what I mean. It's not been perfect, but Suburgatory has been a show I've looked forward to every week in 2012.

Key Episodes: "The Body", "Down Time", "The Witch of East Chatswin".

Songs of 2012: The Nearly Men Part 1

The top ten songs of 2012 was compiled by sorting my iTunes by year and browsing through the selection (I am an obsessive, every song in my iTunes has a year attached!) Once again if it wasn't in the database, I obviously didn't feel it important enough to have a copy of, and not worthy of the list. The initial longlist was a ridiculous 132 songs long, and was quickly shortened to a more manageable 42. The final shortlist of 19 was eclectic, and compiling the final top 10 was not an easy job. Over the next 3 days I will look at the 9 songs that failed to make the final cut. 

Bruce Springsteen - "Wrecking Ball"

From the album: "Wrecking Ball"

Released: March 5th

Originally written in 2009 as a tribute to the then soon to be demolished Giants Stadium, "Wrecking Ball" is a quite wonderful track which became a rousing anthem against adversity. The lyrics work in many ways, being able to be taken both literally and as social metaphors ("Where Giants played the games." "All our little victories and glories, are turned into parking lots" being two examples.) The song, written from the perspective of the stadium features some of the final recorded work of Clarence Clemons, and serves not only as a eulogy to the stadium, but to "The Big Man" as well. A triumphant blue collar anthem, does The boss ever fail us with those?

Bruno Mars - "Locked Out of Heaven"

From the album: "Unorthodox Jukebox"

Released: October 1st

Where on Earth did this come from? Twee R&B pop star Bruno Mars, best known for the sappy but irritatingly catchy "Just the Way You Are" came out of nowhere with this absolute pop gem at the start of October. Sounding just like The Police did in the early 80s, even down to the Sting style vocals, Mars recorded one of the best pop songs of the decade. Unexpected, and quite fantastic.

Gallows - "Victim Culture"

From the album: "Gallows"

Released: September 10th

When Frank Carter left Gallows in August 2011 some wondered if they would ever be the same. They aren't the same band with Wade McNeil, and as "Victim Culture" the opening track on their self titled return shows, that's not a bad thing. The track opens with a sinister female spoken word intro which then launches into a brutal hardcore punk frenzy.  Gallows came back hard in 2012, this was just the start.

Albums of 2012: The Nearly Men Part 1

The top ten albums of 2012 was compiled by sorting my iTunes by year and browsing through the selection (I am an obsessive, every song in my iTunes has a year attached!) If it wasn't in the database, I obviously didn't feel it important enough to even listen to. From the albums in the database, 51 were initially selected as contenders. A first cull left the list at 34, and a second cull left a shortlist of 19. The 19 came from a variety of genres, styles and performers and I had listened to every one of them several times. Compiling the top 10 took some time, and over the next three days I'll look back at the 9 records that didn't quite make the cut.

Halestorm - "The Strange Case Of..."

Released: April 10th

Halestorm's second studio album is a wonderful ride from start to finish, full of punchy rock anthems and beautifully paced ballads. Lzzy Hale solidifies herself as one of the finest vocalists in rock music, showing exceptional range and surprising grit throughout the record. "The Strange Case Of..." is a rousing, powerful set that gets better with every listen, showing evolution and maturity and bodes well for a great future for this highly underrated band.

Key Tracks: "Love Bites (So Do I)", Beautiful With You", "Here's To Us".

Calexico - "Algiers"

Released: September 11th

You're never quite sure what to expect from Calexico, a band whose roots are steeped firmly in country music, but who spin so many different sounds every time they record. Moving out of their Arizona comfort zone to record in New Orleans - the album is named after the district they recorded it - they pick up some new influences while keeping the sound that makes them such a special band in the first place. "Algiers" doesn't break any ground, but it sits very nicely on the ground it's on.

Key Tracks: "Sinner in the Sea", "Puerto", "Hush".

Dr John - "Locked Down"

Released: April 3rd

New Orleans bluesman Dr John has been making music for upwards on 50 years now, and shows no signs of slowing down on his 27th solo outing. Produced by The Black Keys' Dan Auerbach who also plays guitar, "Locked Down" is a roots influenced hybrid of blues, jazz, funk and classic Louisiana R'n'B, that owes as much to the present as it does to the past. It's Dr John's best record in over 20 years, and one of the year's most rewarding listens.

Key Tracks: "Locked Down", "Revolution", "Eleggua".

TV Review: What I Watched Last Night: 04/02/12

Really short reviews here, as I have very little time and absolutely tons to do!

Happy Endings - "Full Court Dress" (S02 E08) ABC (US) 23rd November 2011 
Continuing to be great. All three plots worked well, especially Max and Penny's babysitting exploits. Another great example of an ensemble working in sync.
****

Spartacus: Vengeance - "Fugitivus" (S02 E01) Starz (US) 27th January 2012 
The tragic loss of Andy Whitfield could have been the death knell for this show, but Liam McIntyre has stepped in and done fairly well, playing the character in his own way. With the slaves free and running amok, this debut felt a little unfocused, but the feel of the first season is still there.
*** 1/2

The Big Bang Theory - "The Friendship Contraction" (S05 E15) CBS (US) 2nd February 2012 
The show goes back to the core with Leonard and Sheldon at the forefront. The dynamic works really well, and the jokes - especially from Sheldon - are really good. The B-Plot is a bit sloppy, but does have a good payoff. Pretty good.
*** 1/2

30 Rock - "Today You Are a Man" (S06 E05) NBC (US) 2nd February 2012
Liz learns to negotiate with Jack by watching tapes of Jack giving a negotiation seminar. That's all you really need to know about this episode. Elsewhere, Kristen Schaal pops up as a new Page while Kenneth looks for a new vocation, and Tracy and Jenna attempt to grow as people. 30 Rock really does continue to deliver.
****

Archer - "The Limited" (S03 E06) FX (US) 2nd February 2012
Archer finally gets to fulfil his life's ambition by chasing a guy on top of a train. Yup, this episode sees the ISIS gang transport a Canadian terrorist back over the border. The expected chaos ensues, with grenades, guns and an ocelot. Archer is consistently proving to be one of the best things on television.
**** 1/2

Up All Night - "Preschool Auction" (S01 E14) NBC (US) 2nd February 2012
Chris' brother comes to town, and their competitiveness prevents them from telling each other the whole truth.  Meanwhile, Reagan tries her best to get Amy into a prestigious pre-school and enlists Ava to help out. It's another lovely little episode, with some very funny moments. Nice to see Up All Night snap out of the stagnation it had been in.
****

The Office - "Jury Duty" (S08 E13) NBC (US) 2nd February 2012 
I can't help thinking that The Office got the dynamic of this episode all wrong. For some reason, the main focus was put on Jim skipping work to spend time with his kids. While this would have been a perfectly acceptable B-Plot, the actual B-Plot should have been the focus. It becoming apparent that Dwight is the father of Angela's baby and not her (possibly gay) husband is a thread that should shape the rest of the season. Could do better once again.
***

Whitney - "Mind Games" (S01 E14) NBC (US) 1st February 2012
I was stunned and delighted when John Cleese showed up as a couple's therapist in this episode, because I had no idea he was going to be in it. His cameo was much funnier than Chelsea Handler's similar role earlier in the season, but Whitney's plot fell flat again, which unusually meant that Alex also fell flat. However, the weird relationship between Mark and Roxanne went into another gear. Once again, funny in places, frustrating in others.
***

TV Review: What I Watched Last Night: 02/02/12

New Girl - "Jess and Julia" (S01 E11) Fox (US) 31st January 2012 
As I said about the last episode, Zooey Deschanel and Lizzy Caplan really are my dream team. So it's lovely to see them spend a lot of time together in this episode, which is yet another fine slice of warm comedy. Jess enlists Caplan's Julia to help her get out of a traffic ticket, but it soon becomes apparent that Julia has a problem with Jess. Quite how this is possible, I don't know, but it does lead to a nice little storyline, and at the end up, the two seem to be slowly becoming friends. Elsewhere, it's nice to see the return of June Diane Raphael as Jess' lesbian gynaecologist friend Sadie, and Cece is back as well after an unexplained absence. The guys, especially Nick have some nice threads, and this New Girl is another strong episode of a show that has been consistently fun.
****

Raising Hope - "Gambling Again" (S02 E12) Fox (US) 31st January 2012 
Greg Garcia always likes to use actors he's previously used. Gregg Binkley, who recurred in My Name Is Earl is now a credited star in Raising Hope, while Jason Lee, Ethan Suplee, Eddie Steeples and Jaime Pressly have also appeared. This week, he re-uses a character, as Patty the Daytime Hooker plays an integral part of the episode. "Gambling Again" sees the Chances develop a common gambling problem. Attending a support group along with Barney, Frank and Patty, they realise betting against them sees them on a hot streak. It takes a sly intervention from Sabrina and Shelly to snap them out of it and see what's really important. It's a pretty funny episode, with some very funny moments, but not the best of what this show is capable of.
*** 1/2

That '70s Show - "Battle of the Sexists" (S01 E04) Fox (US) 20th September 1998 
One of the advantages of making a television show set more than twenty years in the past, is that you can tackle the issues of the day, knowing exactly how they turned out. The episode sees Donna continually beating Eric at sports and games, which irritates him to the point of him no longer wanting to hang out with her. As they both get advice, Donna from Jackie, and Eric from Kitty, they realise that having fun is more important than who wins. The relationship is bubbling along slowly, and it's nice to watch it grow. Elsewhere, Kelso is urged to stand up to Jackie by Hyde and Fez, while a bored Red decides to "fix" everything around the house, much to Kitty's dismay. That '70s Show's first season continues to be a really excellent repeat watch.
****

Better Off Ted - "Heroes" (S01 E02) ABC (US) 25th March 2009 
"Heroes" follows on from where the pilot left off, with Ted still having to do the right thing while Veronica pushes him to be ruthless. The episode sees Phil and Lem fall out when Phil is given a phony award to stop him suing the company following the botched cryogenic experiment of the pilot. This happens at a crucial time where they are attempting to crow cowless beef. Yup, it's a pretty ridiculous plot, but in the context of this show, Veridian Dynamics are a ridiculous company. There's also continuing sexual tension between Ted and Linda, which it looks like may go on for some time. Better Off Ted is off to a solid start.
*** 1/2

TV Review: What I Watched Last Night: 01/02/12

With February Sweeps starting tomorrow in America (a concept I still can't really get my head around) there's been pretty much fuck all on TV this week. So I've watched some older stuff instead.

That '70s Show - "Streaking" (S01 E03) Fox (US) 6th September 1998
President Gerald Ford is visiting Point Place and the guys fancy some civil disobedience. After deciding that streaking (while wearing Richard Nixon masks) is the way to go, it ends up that only Foreman goes through with the deed when he sees his dad floundering over the saccharine pre-determined question he had been chosen to ask. Red then asks his own question after the commotion, and Foreman gets further into Donna's good books. It's amazing looking back at this show and seeing the sheer quality of the early episodes. And it's nice to know there's loads more to come as well.
****

Better Off Ted - "Pilot" (S01 E01) ABC (US) 18th March 2009
Better Off Ted only lasted 26 episodes over the course of 2 seasons, but on the strength of the pilot, it looks like I'll be enjoying watching all of them. Head of the research and development department at a large multinational company, Ted is a sharp suited, fast talking, doting single father. His character is the main focus of this first episode, although it also focuses on his seemingly soulless boss Veronica, the new girl - and probable love interest - Linda, bumbling scientists Phil and Lem, and his young daughter Rose. The pilot sees Ted struggle with doing the right thing while keeping the company happy, with Rose acting as his moral compass. It strikes me how many similarities there are in this pilot to the currently airing House of Lies (a similar lead character and an ensemble not a million miles apart, the breaking the fourth wall, the big business setting, the single dadness), but there will surely be enough differences in the upcoming episodes. A strong start, I look forward to seeing more.
*** 1/2

It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - "The Gang Gets Racist" (S01 E01) FX (US) 4th August 2005
I've been recommended to watch It's Always Sunny... for some time now. I tried it once before, but didn't really get it, but have decided to give it another go. And while I still don't think the pilot is great, I've now seen enough to sense that there is real potential in this show. "The Gang Gets Racist" introduces us to the titular gang, bar owners Mac, Dennis and Charlie, plus Dennis' twin sister Sweet Dee. After being accused of being racist, the guys hire Dee's black friend (who works in PR) to help fill their bar. After inadvertently turning the bar into the hottest gay hangout in town, they have mixed emotions. It takes a series of run ins - Dennis having a threesome with two gay guys (supposed to be a fake set up by Dee, but later revealed to probably be real), and Charlie looking like a twat, things go back to normal. I think what got me about the pilot, is it doesn't feel like a pilot at all. I do think I'll enjoy this show more once I've gotten to know the characters, so look forward to watching the next few episodes.
***