Dylan's 2010 Favorites

It's been a pretty good year. We all saw highs and lows in pop culture, be it music, TV, movies, games, etc. We here at Words Finest are pop culture fanatics, so naturally, we couldn't wrap this year up without sharing some of what we thought were the "best of" when it comes to all things media and gadgets.

I'm up first, so read on for some of my picks!


My Favorite Album-Keane's "Night Train"

You could argue this experimental album from the British piano-rock trio (now a quartet) doesn't qualify since it's an EP that's only 8 tracks long, but I don't care. I've been a fan of the band since their debut album "Hopes and Fears" came out back in 2005. They have a great sound and some of the best lyrics in the music world today, especially amongst all the auto-tuned shit that's out there. The band lost some fans with their release of "Perfect Symmetry" who cried and moaned over a more electronic sound. But you know what? Their loss. As a huge fan, I think their third studio album was their best, and it's incredibly refreshing to see an artist who isn't afraid to change sound while maintaining their great lyrics and meaning.

Then came "Night Train", an 8-track EP that was released this past May and was produced to let the band play a little bit with new sounds...and the result was fantastic. They did two collaborations with hip-hop artist K'naan that blended hip-hop-like beats with introspective lyrics that are some of the band's best. Then there's the thumping electronic-infused "Back In Time" and the deceptively bright sounding "Clear Skies", a song about the dangers of fame. Keane has lost some fans because they actually refuse to stay the same, but I say good riddance-"Night Train" is a great sign of how far Keane has come and how much they still have to offer.

My Favorite New Show-It's A Tie! Justified and The Walking Dead

Right before I wrote this article, I was fully intent on calling The Walking Dead the best new show of the year. But then I remembered Justified and how much I loved it, so here I am, writing about how both are excellent additions to your TV schedule.

Justified on paper sounds like a run of the mill crime show. It tells the story of US Marshall who has to return home to Kentucky after he breaks protocol using his old-west style of justice. There he has to deal with an ex-wife, a childhood friend who is now a criminal, and a rocky relationship with his father. But the show excels due to fantastic writing and an amazing performance from Timothy Olyphant. It's funny, it's exciting, it keeps you coming back. Justified is a breath of fresh air in an era of TV that is over-saturated with cheesy crime dramas. Season 2 starts February 9th...so tune in!

I heard a lot about The Walking Dead, both leading up to it and after it premiered. I had to catch up 3 episodes in, and I must say, I cursed myself for taking even that long. The fact of the matter is, The Walking Dead is the most exciting thing to happen to TV in a loooooong time. Sure, there's the zombies. But there's also the tension within the survivors with zombies at the backdoor, and it provided for one tense ride. It's a damn shame the first season was only 6 episodes and the second season is almost a year away, but I'll be counting down the days until it returns. If you haven't seen The Walking Dead yet, finish reading this article and get to it. That is, unless you don't like quality, thought-provoking TV.

My Favorite Animated Movie-Toy Story 3

I know, I know, this is on everyone's list as the best of the year. But it damn well should be! Toy Story 3 was more than just another family animated film-it was Pixar's masterpiece and one of the best movies of the decade, not just the year. It's a film for kids and adults alike, and unlike a lot of cranked out animated films each year, it treated its kid audience like adults.

For the adults, it reminded us of that time in our lives when we stopped playing with our toys, when we left them behind for college and whatever else. But moreso, it took us back to when our toys were our life, when we wouldn't go anywhere without our favorite action figure or stuffed animal. In the end, though, we realized that even though we might have left our toys behind, there will always be another kid to love them. But biggest of all, Toy Story 3 dealt with mortality in a way that other kids movies wouldn't dare. When those toys were slowly moving towards their death in the furnace, they were panicked and frightened. But then they took each other's hands and a look came over their faces that made us realize they had accepted their death without fearing it, because they were with people they loved. Yeah...let's see Dreamworks try that.

That's all folks...thanks for reading, have a great New Years, and look out for Aaron and Butler's list this week featuring more categories!