I am on a bit of a roll today (two posts in one day after none for eons)
Anyway, as it is the time of the year for awards and look backs, I wonder if you would permit me to give you my 'Best of 2008' and invite you to do the same....
Here then are my suggested categoires and my 1-2-3. Let's have your choices...
Here then are my suggested categoires and my 1-2-3. Let's have your choices...
BEST GIG OF 2008 ATTENDED
1) The Stranglers - Birmingham Oct
2) The Stranglers - Cardiff Oct
3) Bruce Springsteen - Cardiff
(I saw Strangs 8 times, plus Bruce, Editors, the Pistols and Oasis)
BEST ALBUM OF 2008
1) Glasvegas - Glasvegas. Utterly compelling. The Mary Chain meets Phil Spector meets The Proclaimers. Melodies to die for.
2) Coldplay - Death and All His Friends. I genuinely can't believe I am voting for a Coldplay record - I normally HATE Coldplay. But this happens to be a pretty amazing collection.
3) Hugh Cornwell - Hoover Dam. His best ever solo album. Excellent.
I also liked other 2008 releases by The Gaslight Anthem, The Killers, The Hold Steady Oasis and Keane. I also had the Kings of Leon album for Christmas which sounds pretty funky after a couple of waxings.
BEST FILM of 2008
1 The Dark Knight. I don't normally love superhero flicks but this was outstanding.
2 The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas. Loved the book - film made my entire family cry.
3 In Bruges. Fantastic black comedy. Includes THE line of the year - 'you can't give horse tranquilizer to a midget'.
I also enjoyed Spanish horror movie The Orphanage, The Other Boleyn Girl (because it was partly filmed around the corner from my house) and The Quantum of Solace because no-one else seemed to get what was actually a pretty smart movie.
BEST TV SHOW of 2008
1 The Wire. See previous post. Outstanding.
2 The Office. (An American Workplace) Possibly, just possibly, better then the Brit version now. Wonderful characterisation.
3 Match Of The Day. My love of football is as big as ever.
PERSON OF 2008
1 Barack Obama
2 Jet Black (aged 70 and still on a rok-it to the moon)
3 Adrian Chiles (I just like the guy and most people here regard him as my doppleganger!)
THE 'WELL I WOULD'....FANTASY LIST
1 Katherine Jenkins. She may be Welsh but that is the only bad thing I can say about her...
2 The woman who plays Carla in Coronation Street. Defines the word 'foxy'
3 Nigella Lawson. OK, a bit predictable for a man of my age but you've got to admit....
MY PERSONAL HIGHLIGHTS OF 2008
1 Visting Auschwitz - nuff said
2 Interviewing all four Stranglers for their tour programme and seeing the band seven times
3 My daughter doing well in her GCSEs (and yes she would understand being beneath the other two!!)
Right, boys (and gals?) over to you.....
