Some of the things listed below fit into the "Best of..." category, while others make up the "Worst of..." category. My commentary should make this clear. But either way, the following list is of the things that left the greatest impression on me this past year.
Movies:
1. Shutter Island was the last movie I ever saw for free (legally, anyway) at Carmike Theatres. It came out Feb 19, and Carmikes nationwide decided to stop letting handicaps in for free on Feb 26. It was a decent movie, and whether or not Scorsese meant to, it gave us the first really legit image of Batman's Arkham Asylum.
2. Inception blew my mind, as it did to the rest of mankind. The Matrix of this generation, I'd say, in that I left the theatre questioning reality. No other movie can touch it on so many levels. Plus I got to see it in IMAX with four of my favorite people!
3. Get Low was underrated by the media. A classy, well-paced film with an ending that leaves you meditating on God's forgiveness.
4. Despicable Me was the single funniest movie of the year! It fills me with joy every time... and I've seen it enough times to be sure of that.
5. Scott Pilgrim vs the World was the most highly anticipated film for me since TDK, and it ended up just about as epically. I know it's a dumb comicbook movie with bright colors and loud music, but I honestly connected with it. I mean, the plot and characters, the point of it all, everything just made sense to me. Plus Edgar Wright is the man!
6. Social Network was much more than I expected. David Fincher is hit/miss for me (Se7en - yes... Benjamin Button - ummm...), but this time I think he hit a home-run. The soundtrack (courtesy of Trent Rezner and Atticus Ross) was brilliant, and the acting was grade-A. Most of all, the story was so well laid out that I found myself emotionally caught up in it. For a week afterward, I considered deleting my Facebook account because of all the corruption involved.
7. Survival of the Dead was sobering proof that - just because you are the Godfather of zombie films, doesn't mean everything you touch is gold. Keep your wits about you, Romero, and don't let the greatness go to your head.
Music:
1. Johnny Cash's "American Recordings VI: Ain't No Grave" is the definitive album of this generation in America. Sure, Cash has been dead for several years, but the genius of Rick Reuben has kept his spirit alive and music relevant to the ever-changing culture. As a result, we have the age old message of strength and hope accompanied by equally raw and true music of Cash's soul.
2. Maylene & the Sons of Disaster released the Deluxe Edition of "III" and proved to be just a nice reminder of how awesome they really are!
3. Jack White followed George A. Romero's lead this year with The Dead Weather's "Sea of Cowards", which was pure disappointment to me. I wish I knew the man personally so that I could discern whether he's cocky or just plumb out of good ideas.
4. Showbread's "Who Can Know It?" was a breath of fresh air, and a clear sign of their freedom from the tyranny of T&N. Truth through-and-through, BOLD TRUTH! And they showed us that confidence is not in attitude, but conviction.
5. "Buzzard", the 3rd... or 4th (depending on who you ask) full-length album from Margot & the Nuclear So and So's, was a shock to the system. Much grittier than their previous albums, their Weezer and Nirvana roots were made especially evident. Every once in a while, I like music (the mix, the lyrics, the... music) that makes me uncomfortable in a way, and Margot delivered. I've referred to this band time and time again as "my cruel mistress", in that it's awkward and rough but I can't get enough. When I first listened through this album, I thought "this could be a hit, mainstream pop-rock album... if it was a better mix and he used a different distortion pedal," and then I caught myself... THAT'S THE POINT! RICHARD EDWARDS, YOU'RE A GENIUS!
6. Mumford & Sons were introduced to the... whole world with the release of the debut full-length "Sigh No More"... and there was much rejoicing...
7. I saw a band last December called Paper Tongues, and thought "who the heck names their band Paper Tongues?" A freaking good band, that's who! Their debut album dropped a month or 2 later and was very instrumental in keeping Jantzen and I awake on the road at 3:00 AM this summer.
Books (read):
1. G.K. Chesterton's "Manalive" made me feel... not so alone in my logic. It also brought more understanding of worldview, priorities, and relationship dynamics. When I get engaged, I plan to ask my fiance to read it... maybe we'll read it together.
2. "Fiddler's Gun" was the debut publication from A.S. Peterson and it was an encouragement to me concerning modern literature. I can't wait to read more from him!
3. Four months ago, I had no idea who Walter Wangerin, Jr. was. Now I am scrambling to find as much from him as I can. "The Book of the Dun Cow" was especially great to me, redefining the "Beast Fable" genre and restoring the classic truth of good overcoming evil, though not without pain and struggle.
4. My Spanish teacher in college gave me Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" and I have just gotten around to reading it, three years later. I'm not finished with it yet, but I feel a connection to the father and I take comfort in his character. He is a weak man, dying in fact, and broken by a terrible world, but he has a boy to protect and so he pushes himself to do so... against all odds.
Memories:
1. The beginning of March, Vineyard and I took a weekend in Nashville. We stayed with the Goodman family, and Zach and Abbie joined us there. We went to Waterdeep's acoustic CD release show, and got to see our old friend Roman. It was a refreshing weekend of good family and dear friends. At the end of the month, Vineyard and I reunited with Zach and Abbie in Kentucky to record some epic musics. Road-tripping with Vineyard and recording with Zach are two of my favorite things in the world, so this was a weekend in Heaven.
2. Later that spring, Danny and Heather got married... finally! Just a great time of celebration, and very fond memories that may not be discussed outside of bachelor party circles.
3. July found me on the road with my friend Jantzen, and we followed Maylene and a ton of other bands on their Scream The Prayer tour. We met them in Charlotte and ended up in Orlando after a few shows and saw/heard/experienced so many crazy things, on stage and off. We met some really amazing people and learned so much through conversation and prayer. Jantzen and I left Orlando and spent the rest of the week in Ft. Lauderdale, where my most cherished memory occurred - my last visit with Uncle Jud. I spent 6 hours, sitting with him in his living room, talking about life, love, and Jesus. That visit was the culmination of my 5 years with him as my mentor. I will always hold dear that day and our time together.
4. In August, my cousin Curtis got married. So Vineyard and I packed up the ol' Charred Monkey and hit the road again, this time to Ontario for a whole week. We stayed with Curtis = awesome! We surprised my dear cousin Sam. Seeing her dance around the van in sheer joy = awesome! Beat my uncle Colin in Blockus (though he would claim otherwise) = awesome! Saw Scott Pilgrim opening day with Sam, Vineyard, and Connie = awesome! Recorded with Sam = really awesome! And Curt and Val got married = best awesome ever!
5. In September, my friend Reba and I ventured to the top of a parking deck in downtown Winston. We could see the city for miles, and we ate jell-o and played shadow puppets. Good times all around.
6. Over the autumn, my amazing sister Connie entertained Reba and I with a Choose Your Own Adventure story about a girl who talks to crows. Need I say more?! It is a story not yet finished, still in progress, and I can't wait to see where it ends us up.
7. November was a really difficult month for a lot of reason, but the biggest part was saying goodbye to Uncle Jud. He fell ill and just couldn't make the recovery. His daughter Jenni wrote to me and said, "I think his great heart is giving out." I spoke/prayed with him the night before he died, which was a blessing. The next weekend, I went down to Ft. Lauderdale for the memorial service. I could write a book about the things he taught me in these five years, and another book on all that went on in my heart and mind that weekend alone.
8. Most recently, Orson Scott Card did a book-signing at B&N right up the street from my house, and my friend Eran and I went to meet him. We ended up talking with him for over half an hour and I learned so many things about writing and publication. He turned out to be a really neat guy and I hope to meet him again some day.
Also this year, I began renting a house with my good buddy Thomas and have been counseling at a drug/alcohol rehab camp. Thomas has been a perfect house-mate, patient as allgetout with me, and I love counseling. Life is... well, I'm not sure what to say of life - it's unpredictable, up and down, emotionally draining and reviving all at the same time, nothing is certain... but God... God is good, and that's what matters, isn't it?
And by the way, it's the first time in my 24-year life that I haven't been scratching desperately to get out of North Carolina.
Books on Sale
