Over the past few days, out of boredom and procrastination, I have decided to compile a list highlighting my top 20 albums of year. I want to first apologize if you fail to recognize any of the artists in this list, but that's just the way my music tastes are. Second, I want to point how abysmal the hip-hop scene was this past year, so that will explain the general lack of the genre on my list. I have included a favorite song of mine off of each album as well!

20. Big K.R.I.T. - Return of 4Eva

The first time I heard K.R.I.T., I was sure it was an OutKast album I must have missed. Return of 4Eva took that slick 90's sound and gave it the 2011 treatment. With beats composed entirely by himself, K.R.I.T. has the soul of a southern gentleman while spitting lines reminiscent of 3-Stacks' glory days.

"Time Machine"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lqvvWl6tYBw

19. Radiohead - The King of Limbs

Fuck the haters. Thom Yorke and company still got it 20 years later, albeit on a smaller and more detailed scale. Sweeping rock anthems have been replaced with precise, almost tedious beats. TKOL is short and sweet, and not to be overlooked.

"Give Up the Ghost"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIupuBQ8W_c

18. Explosions in the Sky - Take Care, Take Care, Take Care

What is left to say about this band? They have revolutionized the sound of instrumental rock time and time again, and this album is no exception. My suggestion: take your car in the middle of the night, turn on this album, and just drive. Thank me later.

"Be Comfortable Creature"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4IIHvTu8_Q

17. Blood Orange - Coastal Grooves

There is something about a falsetto voice and easygoing melodies that gets me immediately hooked. The good times start the minute you press play on this gem. While Take Care, Take Care, Take Care may have been for a dark winter night, Coastal Grooves is all about hanging out at the beach with some friends and drinking a cold one.

"Sutphin Boulevard"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cTKgC1XSwgY&ob=av2e

16. Lykke Li - Wounded Rhymes

This Swedish goddess can flat out sing. A mixture of funk, electronic, and classic soul-singing is what makes this album irresistible. Ignore the lyrics and you'll find yourself dancing along with the entrancing beats, but pay attention to her message and you find a hurt woman looking for an outlet.

"Jerome"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RNxv1muGLpI

15. Kanye West & Jay-Z - Watch the Throne

Ye' and Hov really dodged a bullet on this one. A year ago, they released the Lex Luger-produced "H.A.M." and I was certain this album was headed for the dumpster. Following some delays, the two rap giants decided to rethink the album and make a more cohesive, timeless piece all the while boosting Frank Ocean into the spotlight. Kanye and Jay have made a rap-collab album for the ages.

"Niggas in Paris"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXMJ-V6MCzw

14. Toro y Moi - Underneath the Pine

Only with a name like Chazwick Bundick could you pull off music like this. Off-kilter, chillwave beats are perfect company for Chaz's ambient voice. Since releasing the album in February, Toro y Moi has been morphing its sounds into something less chillwave and more rock, but this album is still a delicious musical treat regardless of the directions the band is headed.

"Go with You"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1QKoqB5ZO4

13. Gil Scott-Heron/Jamie xx - We're New Here

Mix together the stripped-down, smoky voice of Gil Scott-Heron and the beautiful post-dubstep production of Jamie xx and you find yourself immersed in one of the coolest collaborations in music. I'm New Here was Scott-Heron's solo album from 2010, but after Jamie xx remixed a couple tracks, his label pushed for a full reworking of the album. What was born is a eloquent encomium to the talented Scott-Heron who passed away just months after the release.

"NY is Killing Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7c3wRzUUjs&ob=av3e

12. tUnE-yArDs - w h o k i l l

Merrill Garbus, the heart and soul of tUnE-yArDs, uses her voice as a force to entrance the listener while creating catchy, schizophrenic, uncontrollable, melodies and rhythms. The single "Bizness," quite possibly one of the most exciting songs of the year, has an accompanying music video equally as artistic and visceral.

"Bizness"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQ1LI-NTa2s&ob=av3e

11. Girls - Father, Son, Holy Ghost

California band, through and through.The more mature incarnation of newcomers Best Coast, Girls take on relationships and life while switching between chill, slow-moving rock, and all out jam-fests at the snap of a finger. Channeling their inner-70s, retro rock didn't sound better or more complete in 2011 with this album.

"Vomit"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ze6rg4ixjOI&ob=av2e

10. Balam Acab - Wander/Wonder

Dark, brooding beats create an atmosphere that engulfs the listener like a dismal cave. Call it witch house if you desire, but Wander/Wonder creates a sense of comfort while simultaneously leaving you perplexed and somber.

"Welcome"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJkXkf3GNxg

9. Future Islands - On the Water

Formed at ECU, these synth-poppers were taken under the helm by Dan Deacon, moved to Baltimore, and created a wonderfully mature sound. The deep-throated singing mixed with crashing beats create a highly accessible sound that leaves you begging for more.

"Balance"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_vI_kx4J8Vc

8. Washed Out - Within and Without

Washed Out are the perfect words to describe Washed Out. Ernest Greene, the mastermind behind the band, has perfected the sound of chillwave. His slow-moving voice calms the body, slowing down time, as the beats keep your heart-rate in check.

"Eyes Be Closed"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cj2HcdiOmt8&ob=av2e

7. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

Yeah, yeah. We all know. His first album was written and recorded entirely in a remote cabin.Impressive stuff, really. But Justin Vernon was far from finished. Vernon scrapped the classic folk sound and revamped his music into something cleaner and stylized. While the music has changed, his voice still carries a heavy weight that grasps the listener by the hand.

"Holocene"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWcyIpul8OE

6. M83 - Hurry Up, We're Dreaming

I have been a huge fan of Anthony Gonzalez's music for years, watching it morph into a grandiose and cinematic experience. History shows that when the musician begins to take this road, the music takes a irreversible nosedive. Instead, M83 creates a sound for the ages without abandoning the intricacies of a true album.

"Midnight City"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX3k_QDnzHE

5. Fleet Foxes - Helplessness Blues

They say beggars can't be choosers, but I can't be the only one disappointing by Fleet Foxes getting a Grammy nod...for best folk album? Sure, a quick listen of the album agrees with the label, but give it a few more tries and you begin to understand the larger implications of such an album. Don't get me wrong, I am all for Fleet Foxes winning a Grammy, but with an album like this, should be competing against the big boys.

"Montezuma"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdN2bfov9JQ

4. Wild Beasts - Smother

The mother of all falsettos, Hayden Thorpe takes his voice through impossible hurdles with the assistance of slick keyboards and subtle guitars and drums. What Wild Beasts create is an intimate affair, a black tie event for music that makes the listener feel entertained while twirling his imaginary mustache.

"Albatross"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qUJYqhKZrwA&ob=av2e

3. The War on Drugs - Slave Ambient

Their name sucks. I agree. Moving on. Their music is incredible. Slave Ambient is quite simply American rock – reserved and elusive of a simple personality. Drawing heavily from rock greats like Springsteen and Bob Dylan, this record goes above and beyond the call. Listen to their 2008 album, Wagonwheel Blues, and you begin to wonder if this is even the same band. Carefully crafted guitar riffs and the groaning voice of Adam Granduciel make this album unforgettable.

"Black Water Falls"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUNSaSkDNKQ

2. Youth Lagoon - The Year of Hibernation

Patience is key for The Year of Hibernation. You may be two minutes into a song and there is still only the faint sound of a keyboard being played alongside the lonely voice of Trevor Powers. But the buildup is key. Synths begin to pound and the personal becomes passionate. Powers' lyrics are lonely, searching for adventure, and encompass the freedom of his home town, Idaho.

"17"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4_x063rhX4

1. Wu Lyf - Go Tell Fire to the Mountain

These boys are destined for greatness. In an age of overexposure and market saturation, Wu Lyf (hailing from Manchester, England) managed to avoid interviews, marketing, and promotions all the while garnering enormous attention from the biggest critics. Keeping quiet paid off. Big time. Despite the leader singer, Ellery James Roberts, sounding like the leader of drunken pep rally, Wu Lyf takes the sweeping guitar anthems of Explosions in the Sky, combines them with the vast sound of recording in a church, and adds the simple beauty of an organ to tie it all together. If you couldn't get into this album on your first try, try again. If you still don't like it, go fuck yourself.

"L Y F"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QWxviSD79c

"Concrete Gold"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJSisOConxw

Honorable Mentions:

Adele - 21

Coldplay - Mylo Xyloto

Com Truise - Galactic Melt

Yuck - Yuck

Real Estate - Days

Neon Indian - Era Extrana

Cut Copy - Zonoscope

Kendrick Lamar - Section.80

Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest

What does it mean to be a pioneer of an art-form? How does one cope with and endure being a pioneer? A Tribe Called Quest (ATCQ), the dichotomous and so-called original "intelligent hip-hop" group hailing from Queens, New York, and stars of "Beats Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest" try to answer these questions.

With as many classic albums under their belt as there were original members, ATCQ is an endless source of debate and fascination for fans and critics alike.

I rode the 7 train on my way from Queens to Times Square to see "Travels"; the same train-ride that ATCQ members, Phife Dawg, Q-Tip, Ali, and Jarobi took on their way to the studio while recording their groundbreaking albums in the 90s.

It's a funny feeling seeing "Travels" in New York City. There I was, sitting in a subway car, looking through the window, and watching the same graffiti on the same buildings pass by as I had seen in the movie just minutes ago. It helps you understand why a hip-hop super-group such as ATCQ could fall apart while enjoying the greatest possible success. We are merely human.

Actor-turned-director Michael Rapaport focuses "Travels" on the two most vocal and influential members of ATCQ - Q-Tip and Phife Dawg - and the perpetual fluctuation of their relationship. For over a decade, fans have never been quite sure why ATCQ broke up; rumors of label pressures and fractures of friendship surfaced but nothing was certain.

A self-proclaimed ATCQ fanatic, Rapaport dutifully shies from taking sides on what turns out to be a petty and trivial feud between two geniuses of their art. And although he devotes a large amount of attention to the beef, Rapaport understands his calling to remind us what music was and can be - a striking mixture of self-enlightenment and bold ingenuity.

Unfortunately, Rapaport's focus on the pettiness detracts from such an eclectic and avant-garde period of music. But when classic ATCQ anthems like "Bonita Applebum" broke out on-screen, the theater was sure to shriek with excitement and rap along.

Although we are left with a slightly ambiguous but apropos ending, the making of "Travels" was certainly no cake-walk. Angry tweets by Q-Tip and reports of Phife breaking down and crying at the Sundance premier only added to the allure, but once the credits roll, we can all agree on one thing.

When's the next Tribe album coming out?

B

Water for Elephants

The challenge of adapting a novel into a screenplay is two-fold. One must please the audience with a story that resonates well on screen while gratifying fans of the book.

Richard LaGravenese, the writer who adapted Sara Gruen’s New York Times bestseller, “Water for Elephants,” into a feasible screenplay, succeeded. But LaGravenese is just one ingredient to the success of “Water for Elephants.” Led by veteran actress Reese Witherspoon and “Twilight” heartthrob Robert Pattinson, “Elephants” is a visual and emotional triumph.

Set in the Great Depression, “Water for Elephants” begins with Jacob Jankowski (Pattinson), one test away from graduating from Cornell University’s veterinary school, until he becomes devastated by the death of his parents in a car accident. Jacob quits school and jumps on the first train he sees, which turns out to be the famed Benzini Brothers Circus check name. After becoming the circus vet, he quickly falls in love with the gorgeous performer Marlena (Witherspoon).

Little seems to be lost in the translation to the big screen. The magic and wonder of a bygone era so carefully crafted by Gruen is remarkably depicted by director Francis Lawrence. But the same charm and emotional pull as the book is lacking.
Unfortunately, corners must be cut with a movie adaptation, and minor details and information were left out, leaving a fan of the book craving just a little more. For instance, Jacob in his older age is not given enough screen time compared to a regular presence in the book.

Another major concern for many moviegoers, “Twilight” fans and naysayers alike, was Pattinson taking the screen for a completely different kind of literary adaptation than the one he is most known for. Pattinson plays Jacob with the same wide-eyed nervousness and excitement on screen that defined his character on the pages of the book.

Certainly the most concrete performance was by Cristoph Waltz, who played August, the schizophrenic owner of the Benzini Brothers and husband of Marlena. Waltz stormed into Hollywood after his Oscar-winning role in “Inglourious Basterds,” and he hasn’t slowed down. Waltz had possibly the hardest acting task of the movie, portraying someone who can be inviting and loving one minute, then conniving and livid the next.

Acting aside, the most vital part of the movie was making sure the viewer got the feel of actually being in a 1930s circus. A large portion of the scenes were set in the railcars, and the sense of confined and overcrowded railcars was well-depicted.

The authenticity was not restrained to just the train. Sweeping landscapes, faded canvas tents and a medley of rare animals such as elephants and lions, and performers held the screen with tenacity.

Undoubtedly, “Water for Elephants” is Witherspoon’s best performance since “Walk the Line,” continues to prove Waltz is one of the best actors alive, and is a turning point for Pattinson, demonstrating he has acting chops fit for more than just a vampire.
Fans of the book will be left desiring just a little more, but solid acting and wonderful cinematography make “Water for Elephants” stand out in a wave of summer blockbusters.

B

Your Highness

From my article in The Breeze..
http://www.breezejmu.org/life/article_d44bda42-63d2-11e0-a951-001a4bcf6878.html

With the star-studded cast that is packed into Your Highness, one would expect some sort of worthwhile entertainment.

Instead, what results is a culmination of half-assed stoner jokes and tired clichés.

Funnyman Danny McBride, known for hilarious role in the HBO series, "Eastbound and Down," returns to the big screen but falls very short.

Set in a fantasy world where knights, princes and evil dragons reign supreme; "Your Highness" tells the story of two prince brothers, Thadeous (McBride) and Fabious (James Franco), on an epic mission to save Fabious' fiancée (Zooey Deschanel) from the evil wizard Leezar (Justin Theroux).

On the trip, they face perils and befriend a beautiful warrior (Natalie Portman), who is also on a quest to seek revenge against Leezar.

Directed by David Gordon Green "Your Highness" lacks compared with the director's work on "Pineapple Express." It has a story that a teenager could have easily written. While I appreciate comedies that make fun of stupidity, such as the very similar but successfully done, Monty Python and the Holy Grail, I can't respect a movie that falls back on jokes that require zero brain activity.

The dialogue lacks any original jokes, which leads to the actors throwing the F-bomb at the end of a sentence just to get a courtesy chuckle out of anyone actually still paying attention.

Instead of utilizing a distinctive and talented cast, including Oscar-nominated Franco, "Your Highness" takes no risks and seems fine with being a muddled let-down. Surprisingly, I expected Franco to be in a movie like this, his casting worked wonderfully in "Pineapple Express." But I wonder what he was thinking when he read the script.

In fact, I wonder what all the actors were thinking when they read the script. Maybe Franco felt obliged to work with McBride and Green again after "Express," but I can't fathom why the lustrous Natalie Portman or the extremely underrated Theroux would take part.

One thing everyone can take away from the movie is a glaring example of precisely what not to do in a movie. With the R-rating, "Your Highness" could have taken a much more adult-oriented route with the jokes, but instead decided to revert to high-school locker room jokes.

D-