Sometimes Year-End Lists Don't Quite Cut It
By Adam D. Miller
Well, it’s 2005. More than this, it’s early 2005. It is a time when I should properly equip myself with the editorial responsibility of exposing myself to as much new music, film, and culture as possible. But I’m not quite ready for that. Whether I try to or not, I always manage to discover a few gems that I missed entirely in the year that has just passed. I don’t know if it’s my obsession with the Year-End Best Of lists compiled by others or if it’s just blind luck. Last year it was Josh Rouse and Calexico. This year I have compiled a list of one album, one DVD, and one film that I missed entirely in 2004 but have recently come to appreciate.
Best Album of 2004 I missed
Nellie McKay’s Get Away From Me is a lot of things. It’s an eighteen track double album loaded with styles and methods ranging from Kirsty MacColl-styled pop (complete with a faux-British accent), Diana Krall-styled jazz piano, white-girl hip-hop, and cynical Randy Newman satire; it’s a 19-year old girl that suddenly burst on the scene, playing great piano and singing with an expressive and sophisticated voice; it’s the first album I’ve seen since The Beatles and Elvis Costello with the name Geoff Emerick on it (as producer, no less); and it’s a lot of fun while remaining smart – much like a Wes Anderson or Coen Brothers film. Slap yourself if you missed this one like I did. This is someone you’ll want to have your eye on.
Best DVD of 2004 I missed
Big Fish is sweet without being too sappy, fantastical without annoying the hell out of me, and filled with a great cast and great visuals. Had I seen it, I’m not sure I would have ranked it alongside my favorites listed in our last issue, but it still deserves a special place in my heart. Ewan McGregor manages to not be annoying, and Albert Finney is fabulous. I was also very happy to see cameos from Steve Buscemi and Loudon Wainwright III.
Best Film of 2004 I missed
I saw Spider-Man on its opening day and I liked it a lot. As an adolescent I was a huge fan of comic books, Spider-Man included, but in more recent years my appreciation of the genre has kind of soured. But I enjoyed it. Why I didn’t see Spider-Man 2 in the cinema is a mystery. The characters, story, and visuals were all better in Spider-Man 2 than in the first one. It amazes me that it received such mixed reviews. Perhaps fans of Spider-Man couldn’t deal with the title character becoming as human as any of us, having to deal with the pains of being in love and lack of inspiration. In my opinion it made for a stronger film, and I am very anxious to see Spider-Man 3. And don’t worry; I’ll be there on opening night this time.
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