Best Album
Weezer, The Red Album
– Julia McCandless
Why?, Alopecia
– Zack Frederick
Lykke Li, Youth Novels
– Rachel Filipinas
Kings of Leon, Only By the Night
– Laura Kroeger
Nine Inch Nails, The Slip
– Justin T. Ho
Worst Song
“Low” by Flo Rida ft. T-Pain
The tell-tale signs of a bad song: It encourages slutty – and often sloppy – dancing, it advertises ugly fashion choices and it’s exasperatingly catchy.
– Rachel Filipinas“Right Now (Na Na Na)” by Akon– Zack Frederick
“Womanizer” by Britney Spears
– Laura Kroeger
“Love In This Club” by Usher
– Justin T. Ho
Best Song
“Time to Pretend” by MGMT
Although originally released in 2005, “Time to Pretend” was rightly re-released in 2008, a year that brought the American people a historic economic crisis and presidential election. The song’s verse – full of bubbly synths and crashing drums – is a chest-beating anthem for sex, drugs and rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a vigorous acid-flashback to the dot-com boom of the ’90s when everyone seemed to be worth a million bucks.
Of course, it’s the song’s title that drives the chorus and reminds us what year this really is – the year that the economy crashed and burned while Americans watched Obama surge to victory on a campaign of hope and change. In other words, “Time to Pretend” is the song of the year because it’s untiringly optimistic and utterly conflicted – just like the America of 2008.
– Zack Frederick
“Paper Planes” by MIA
– Julia McCandless
“Machine Gun” by Portishead
– Justin T. Ho
“Kids” by MGMT
– Laura Kroeger
Best Film
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This movie stuck out to me, as it was really different from most mainstream movies. The story of a man who ages backwards, it was very strange and surreal, but that’s also where a lot of the appeal was. The fact that it’s got Brad Pitt doesn’t hurt either.
– Julia McCandless
Milk
– Zack Frederick
The Dark Knight
– Rachel Filipinas
Worst Film
The Hottie and the Nottie
I will admit: I haven’t seen this, but only because I make it a habit to avoid movies I know I’m going to hate. But based on the box office revenues for this movie, I’m guessing lots of people made the same judgment call.
It has enough components that I feel safe making this assumption right off the bat. It stars Paris Hilton who is best friends with a heavily made-up and prosthesis-laden “ugly girl.” If that guy from Dodgeball wants to sleep with the lovely Miss Hilton, he’ll have to befriend the ugly one. If the trailer is any indication, poorly written sophomoric humor ensues (and believe me, I’m a fan of sophomoric humor). Tragedy? Probably not. I’m sure Paris Hilton will get over her silver screen failure. Those millions of dollars can’t hurt.
– Laura Kroeger
Australia
– Julia McCandless
My Best Friend’s Girl
– Rachel Filipinas
The Spirit
– Justin T. Ho
Worst Trend
Old People On Facebook
It seems inevitable, but Facebook is slowly becoming an all-ages website, which is something I cannot accept. Watching parents attempt to use the Internet is bad enough – reading about their hobbies and interests on Facebook is torture. Now they can monitor your every move in their news feed – I don’t know about you, but I came to Davis to escape my parents, not to social network with them.
– Zack Frederick
Marilyn Monroe piercing
– Julia McCandless
Shutter Shades
– Laura Kroeger
For a full list of MUSE’s “Year-in-Review,” check out theaggie.org.
The Arts Desk can be reached at arts@theaggie.org.
