The Twenty-Five Best Movies I Saw in 2022

1. The Menu

2. Prey

3. Fresh

4. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story

5. Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe

6. Rosaline

7. The Valet

8. DC League of Super-Pets

9. Inside Out

10. Spider-Man: No Way Home

11. OLIVIA RODRIGO: driving home 2 u (a SOUR film)

12. Significant Other

13. Honor Society

14. Emergency

15. The Princess

16. No Time to Die

17. The Map of Tiny Perfect Things

18. Crush

19. Orphan: First Kill

20. See How They Run

21. Darby and the Dead

22. Werewolf by Night

23. No Exit

24. 7 Days

25. Turning Red

I Want My Music Television: 10/1/2018

Africa - Weezer


What strange long trip this year has been to Weezer’s biggest hit in over a decade. From a kid requesting they cover Toto on Twiiter because she heard the song on Stranger Things and culminates with “Weird Al” Yankovic. Though if you are going to parody Undone, where are the dogs? Even Africa mentions wild dogs crying out in the night.


Mary Don't You Weep (Piano & a Microphone 1983 Version) - Prince


Leave to Prince to have one of the best albums of the year even after he died with a simple piano live to tape album. And he does not get enough credit for his social activism despite Sign O’ the Times being very profound, but the video just follow his legacy in that matter.


Colors - Beck


Here is a video Beck released six months ago on Apple Music but it has only become available on YouTube now. But anything with Alison Brie and directed by Edgar Wright is certainly worth the wait. Thankfully there have not been many exclusive since.


Head Above Water - Avril Lavigne


Everyone has to grow up sometime (except for maybe Angus Young) but it is weird seeing Avril Lavigne in what could have been a treatment for a Celine Dion music video. Unfortunately the song is about as boring as a Celine Dion ballad.

The 40 Worst Songs of 2011

You want to know just how bad music was this year, what was claimed by the internet earlier this year as the single worst song ever in the history of the world barely even made my list of the worst songs of the past twelve months.

1. True Faith - George Michael



2. Sexy and I Know It - LMFAO

3. Do It Like a Dude - Jessie J

4. Swagger Jagger - Cher Lloyd

5. Jam (Turn It Up) - Kim Kardashian

6. E.T. - Katy Perry

7. I Wanna Go - Britney Spears

8. Wet the Bed - Chris Brown featuring Ludacris

9. T.H.E (The Hardest Ever) - will.i.am featuring Mick Jagger and Jennifer Lopez

10. Dirt Road Anthem (Remix) - Jason Aldean featuring Ludacris

11. Run the World (Girls) - Beyoncé

12. Leck mich im Arsch - Jack White and the Insane Clown Posse

13. Mr. Saxobeat - Alexandra Stan

14. Champagne Showers - LMFAO featuring Natalia Kills

15. The View - Lou Reed and Metallica

16. This Is What Rock n Roll Looks Like - Porcelain Black featuring Lil’ Wayne

17. Fly - Nicki Minaj featuring Rihanna

18. Rolling In the Deep - as sung by anyone not named Adele

19. Blow - Ke$ha

20. On The Floor - Jennifer Lopez featuring Lil’ Wayne

21. Last Friday Night (T.G.I.F.) - Katy Perry

22. Hold It Against Me - Britney Spears

23. Bass Down Low - Dev featuring The Cataracs

24. Judas - Lady Gaga

25. We R Who We R - Ke$ha

26. Just Can't Get Enough - Black Eyed Peas

27. Till the World Ends - Britney Spears

28. Super Bass - Nicki Minaj

29. That Should Be Me (Remix) - Justin Bieber featuring Rascal Flatts

30. Don't Wanna Go Home - Jason Derulo

31. Give Me Everything - Pitbull featuring Ne-Yo, Afrojack and Nayer

32. Bow Chicka Wow Wow - Mike Posner featuring Lil’ Wayne

33. Wet - Nicole Scherzinger

34. Yoü and I - Lady Gaga

35. John - Lil’ Wayne fearuring Rick Ross

36. Perform This Way – “Weird Al” Yankovic

37. What the Hell - Avril Lavigne

38. Friday - Rebecca Black

39. Footloose - Blake Shelton

40. Motherlover - The Lonely Island Boys featuring Justin Timberlake

Best of the Week - 9/30/11

Quote of the Week: Honestly after all you sleepovers with the brown boy, a girl is a relief. (Howard’s Mom, The Big Bang Theory)

Song of the Week: Hello - Lionel Richie (Community)

Scene of the Week:



Big News of the Week: Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees Announced: The governing body (or whoever does the nominating) of the Rock Hall released the names of fifteen acts of which five will be inducted next year. Most notable include repeat nominees Beastie Boys, Red Hot Chili Peppers, newbies Eric B. & Rakim and Guns N' Roses. With both the Beasties and Peppers releasing albums this year, I bet both will make it this year (though I contend the Peppers should not get in until the 25th anniversary of Blood Sugar Sex Magic). I have GnR as a lock if only because everyone wants to see who will actually show up. And though a first ballot Hip Hop Hall of Fame inducted, Eric B. and Rakim will doubtfully get in especially with other rappers Beasties likely to be enshrined. If I were a betting man I would put Joan Jett & The Blackhearts and The Spinners grabbing the other two spots. If I am not mistaken, inductees will be announced in December with the ceremony taking place in March here in Cleveland (and I am available to cover the festivities if anyone wants to hook me up with a ticket). Stayed tuned next year when Debbie Gibson finally becomes eligible.

Free Download of the Week: Pilot - Pan Am, Season 1 (iTunes): For those that have missed what I decreed as the best pilot of the new season that I have seen so far, you can catch up before the second episode by downloading the episode on iTunes.

Deal of the Week: Miramax Movies as Low as $5.99 (No Country for Old Men, Sin City, Kill Bill)

New Album Release of the Week: Metals - Feist

New DVD Release of the Week: Friday Night Lights: The Complete Series We are 85 shopping days until Christmas and for those wondering what you can get me, this will do just fine.

Video of the Week: After a slew of some pretty poor chick flicks, Kristen Bell is returning to television this January for House of Lies. I did not know until this teaser that the show is actually a comedy. And hopefully the pantsuit is not a sign of Bell’s wardrobe on the show, but I am always down for watching her dance more.

House of Lies Tease


Next Week Pick of the Week: Pop Up Video, Weekdays at noon on VH1: I have no idea why they ever canceled Pop Up Video returns after a ten year hiatus Monday for sixty new episodes. Personally I cannot wait until the first weekend marathon where I can veg out and enjoy the new episodes for a whole day.

On a side note, "Weird Al" Yankovic Live! - The Alpocalypse Tour hits shelves Tuesday but for those that cannot wait until then or just rather watch it for free, tune in tomorrow to watch Weird Al perform songs from his new album like TMZ, classics like Smells Live Nirvana and of course some polka, most in his traditional costumes. And since the special was filmed in Toronto, Al naturally breaks out Canadian Idiot.

I Want My Music Television - 9/26/11

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


Gonna Get Over You - Sara Bareilles




Sara Bareilles dancing. That’s all.


Polka Face – “Weird Al” Yankovic

Jokes.com
"Weird Al" Yankovic - Polka Face
comedians.comedycentral.com
Jokes Joke of the Day Funny Jokes

Sure nine of the songs featured in the song made my Worst Songs of the Year lists (as opposed to three that made a Best list) but “Weird Al” Yankovic has the Midas touch in his ability of turning crap into gold.


Time Spent in Los Angeles – Dawes



Dawes makes Los Angeles sound a little drab in this song but do you know what the city of Angels has that, say Cleveland does not? When you throw a house party there, it is stocked with absurdly attractive chick even if the dudes look like darned dirty hippies while here Mellissa McCarthy would be one of the more attractive party-goers if she attended. And it is even worse in the winter when what constitutes as hot chicks here seem to go into hibernation. I really need to spend some time in Los Angeles.


Bad - The Cab



An interesting video from The Cab only told through cell phone messages, but they really over played the amount of pictures, something that has been done before, they should have kept it to a more realistic amount. Well except for the sexting scene, more pictures there would have been preferable.

I Want My Music Television - 6/28/11

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


TMZ - "Weird Al" Yankovic



Last week “Weird Al” Yankovic released his painful to sit though Lady Gaga parody (I am pretty sure that is what the Nazis say when they opened the Arc of the Covenant), thankfully Al is already cleansing the mind pallet with his new video where a Taylor Swift look-a-like (I am assuming that since I Belong to You is the song getting the Weird Al treatment) gets harassed by TMZ.


Space Bound - Eminem



What the frack Eminem? Is there supposed to be some big deep meaning behind this video that I am not seeing, or did you just film this video as an excuss to hook up with Sasha Grey?


Love You Like a Love Song - Selena Gomez & The Scene



Holy Max Headroom homage! Although if I did the math correctly, Max Headroom predates the birth of Selena Gomez. That really makes me feel old.


Faster - Matt Nathanson



I am getting a strong George Michael / Faith vibe from the latest Matt Nathanson video. The both feature a solo artist in blue jeans and jacket playing an acoustic guitar. Even musically they utilize the same famous Bo Diddley beat.

I Want My Music Television - 6/22/11

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


Perform This Way - "Weird Al" Yankovic



I have been listening to “Weird Al” Yankovic my whole life, would tape the Dr. Demento Show whenever he was on, even bought his Box Set release even though I owned all his albums, but I really need the Men in Black mind eraser gadget so I can wipe this music video from my memory. Remember his song Do I Creep You Out? I can finally answer that question with an emphatic yes.


Block after Block – Matt and Kim



Matt and Kim are back to their guerilla tactics on the streets of New York City, but managed to keep their clothes on. Why cannot all music videos be this fun?


Calgary – Bon Iver



After working with Kanye West for his Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, I was interested on if Justin Vernon (aka Bon Iver) would take any of that influence into his new album. And from the sounds of Calgary, in this song at least his sound is fuller. And he also seemed to take Kanye’s recent penchant for weird visuals in his music video.


Life Is Life – Noah and the Whale



When we last saw Noah and the Whale they were telling us that life goes on (or at least spelling it) and now Life Is Life. But with the cheerleaders in the performance shots I cannot help but think of the lost nineties gen Popular by Nada Surf.

Best of the Week - 4/22/11

Quote of the Week: Wait! I think I hear future Lily sending us a message from her stripper pole. Thanks gay-dad dads; this dance is for you! (Cameron, Modern Family)

Song of the Week: Hard Times Come Again No More – Brett Dennen (Parenthood)

Big News of the Week: Weird Al Has a New Subject: Something fishy went on in the world of "Weird Al" Yankovic this week. Early Wednesday Al posted an extremely lengthy post on his website detailing the run around Lady GaGa gave him as he tried to get her approval to parody her Born This Way (permission by law he does not even need but does out of respect of the artist) only to reject his Perform This Way which Al then uploaded to YouTube for everyone to hear since we would not get it on his next album. Wouldn’t you know after a day of bad press, Gaga throws her manager under the bus saying she never rejected the song and now give full permission for Al to give it a proper release. Alrighty. Although given the song a lesson, it may have been for the best, because Perform This Way is not his strongest parody. Give the song a listen for yourself:



Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Free Download of the Week: 20 Years - The Civil Wars (Amazon MP3): The more I hear from this duo, the more it makes me want to find more. If you liked the Robert Plant & Alison Krauss album but wished they made more music together, you will want to check out The Civil Wars yourself, starting with this free track.

Deal of the Week: Seed Your Cloud: Amazon is continuing to deeply discount great ablums to announce their new Cloud and you can get albums by The Avett Brothers, Drive By Truckers, Jay-Z and The Black Crowes or under four dollars.

New Album Release of the Week: Layla and Other Love Songs [Super Deluxe 4CD, 2LP, DVD] - Derek and the Dominos

New DVD Release of the Week: Growing Pains: Complete Second Season

Video of the Week: I have distaste for crappy talent competitions so I will not be tuning into The Voice this Tuesday at 9:00, but I am intrigued by the competition aspect of the “mentor” picking their singers to compete against the other ones. But at the end of the day it is just dudes singing karaoke. But on the other hand, this happened:



Next Week Pick of the Week: NFL Draft, Thursday at 8; Friday at 6; Saturday at Noon on ESPN: During the Super Bowl, the NFL likes to run a commercial saying everyone is undefeated tomorrow. This gives fans of perennial bad teams a sense of optimism for a couple months. That optimism usually ends draft day when the offseason gets kick started. After a great draft last year and Peyton Hillis on the cusp of being the first player voted onto the Madden cover (EA Sports would not actually let dog killer Michael Vick win right?) things are looking up for my Browns. Of course that is they actually play any games in 2011.

I Want My Music Television vol. LXXX

There have been a couple of videos that have caught my eye lately so I thought I’d give them some love since the death of Musical Television left a void for a forum on the art form. If you are interested in buying the video through iTunes, click the title link (where available). If you are interested in buying the song, look for a link in the analysis.


Thinking ‘bout Somethin’ - Hanson



I wonder if Hanson, the original pre-pubescent trio of brothers, can make a comeback since that is back in vogue with the Jonas Brothers. Granted the Jonas Brothers have never written anything as catchy as MMMBop. And they certainly haven’t made a video as entertaining this one featuring one Hanson brother as Ray Charles, another as a Blues Brother, and the third as, um, is that supposed to be Zac Efron circa 17 Again? John Travolta in Grease? Oh yeah, and a hair straightened “Weird Al” Yankovic on tambourine.


You and Your Heart – Jack Johnson



Naturally the new Jack Johnson video would feature him surfing, but I wonder what was harder, lip syncing while riding the waves or doing it backward for Sitting, Waiting, Wishing.


Drunk Girls – LCD Soundsystem



You would think a video for a song called Drunk Girls would features less creepy dudes in panda suits and more, well, inebriated females, but not when Spike Jonze is directing a video.


Wheels – Jamie Cullum



When I saw the wheel at the beginning of the video I thought, “Sweet, Jamie Cullum is going to play in the middle of a Murderball match.” Unfortunately there was one solitary wheel for a reason, but the unicycle routine was kinda cool, but not as cool if it had been a Murderball game.

Best of the Week vol. XXXIX

Quote of the Week: Pancakes is not just breakfast, it’s an edible way for saying thank you so much for last night. (Det. Esposito, Castle)

Song of the Week: All Night Long (All Night) - Lionel Richie (as sung by Michael Wilbon, Pardon the Interuption)

Big News of the Week: Don’t Marry Dudes Who Would Leave Their Pornstar Wife to Marry You: Just one of my rules for life.

Gratuitous Token Hot Chick Picture of the Week:



Free Download of the Week: Walk A Mile In My Shoes – Elvis Pressley (Amazon MP3): It may not be one of his thirty number one hits, but it is live Elvis and free, so that works for. For those out there with kids, you may want to head over to iTunes where they have a pre-air free download of Disney Channel newest show Good Luck Charlie (which is too close to the name of an unwatchable Dane Cook movie). There is also all ten episode of 10 Things I Hate About You from ABC Channel that are available for the low, low price of free.

Deal of the Week: DVD's as Low as $5.99 (Atonement, American Pie 2, Mystery Man)

Video of the Week: Of course a “Weird Al” Yankovic biopic would itself being a parody. Although as good as some of the casting is (Olivia Wilde as Madonna, Patton Oswald as Dr. Demento, Gary Cole as papa Yankovic, Al as a shady record exec) they could have done better than Aaron Paul as Al. Off the top of my head Jim Parsons or Jay Baruchel would have been better.

"Weird: The Al Yankovic Story"

Next Week Pick of the Week: Saving Grace, Monday at 10:00 on TNT: Check out my preview of The Final Season here.

The 50 Best Music Videos of 2009

I have embedded the first couple videos, the rest you can click the link to follow to YouTube and if you are interested in buying the videos, click the iTunes badge.

1. Nothing to Worry About - Peter Bjorn and John



2. True Player for Real - MC Lars featuring "Weird Al" Yankovic



3. (If You're Wondering if I Want You To) I Want You To - Weezer



4. Low Rising - The Swell Season



5. Daniel - Bat for Lashes



6. Run This Town - Jay-Z, Rihanna, and Kanye West

7. CNR - "Weird Al" Yankovic

8. Chasing Pirates - Norah Jones

9. I Could Break Your Heart Any Day of the Week - Mandy Moore

10. People C'mon - Delta Spirit

11. WTF - OK Go

12. Wrong - Depeche Mode

13. Cousins - Vampire Weekend

14. Falling Down - Oasis

15. Uprising - Muse

16. Heartless - The Fray

17. Goodnight, Travel Well - The Killers

18. Lessons Learned - Matt and Kim

19. Who'd Have Known - Lily Allen

20. Grapevine Fires - Death Cab for Cutie

21. Stay Up! (Viagra) - 88-Keys featuring Kanye West

22. Treat Me Like Your Mother - The Dead Weather

23. Cowboy Casanova - Carrie Underwood

24. Sleep Alone - Bat for Lashes

25. Nothing but a Miracle - Diane Birch

26. Death to All But Metal - Steel Panther

27. Sweet About Me - Gabriella Cilmi

28. 21 Guns - Green Day

29. A Dustland Fairytale - The Killers

30. You Belong With Me - Taylor Swift

31. I Love College - Asher Roth

32. He's Frank - The B.P.A. featuring Iggy Pop

33. (Expletive Deleted) You - Lily Allen

34. We Made You - Eminem

35. Carol Brown - Flight of the Concords

36. Brick by Boring Brick - Paramore

37. Money - N.A.S.A., David Byrne, Chuck D, Ras Congo, Seu Jorge and Z-Trip

38. Life In Technicolor ii - Coldplay

39. Life Is Better - Q-Tip and Norah Jones

40. Mykonos - Fleet Foxes

41. You And Me - Dave Matthews Band

42. Don't Forget - Demi Lovato

43. Give Me the Meltdown - Rob Thomas

44. Best I Ever Had - Drake

45. She's a Genius - Jet

46. The Fear - Lily Allen

47. Melody - Kate Earl

48. Magnificant - U2

49. New in Town - Little Boots

50. Make Her Say - Kid Cudi, Kanye West, and Common