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Neal Vitale's Reviews: Pride and Prejudice, Review of the Year In Music

Pride & Prejudice - 4 Stars

If you are a fan of classic, period love stories, this latest adaptation of Jane Austen's 1813 novel is for you. At just over two hours, Pride & Prejudice begs for a bit of tightening up, but that complaint is a quibble in a film that is lovely and a joy to watch. All the key roles are handled masterfully - Keira Knightley (Pirates of the Caribbean) is radiant as Elizabeth Bennet, Matthew MacFayden is her perfectly reserved and rich swain, Jena Malone and Rosamund Pike stand out as two of Bennet's sisters, and Donald Sutherland and Brenda Blethyn (Secrets & Lies) give marvelous small performances as her parents.

***

I've divided this year's best CDs into two batches - a "first tier" and "honorable mentions," with the second group not quite living up to the first in terms of quality, inventiveness, and/or distinction.

In alphabetical order by artist:

1. Ryan Adams & The Cardinals - Cold Roses
This most prolific of artists released three records in 2005, of which this double disk is strongest, emphasizing his folk/country side.
2. Beck - Guero/Gameboy Variations/Guerolito
Three albums (the second two are sets of remixes of songs from the first) mark Beck as one of the most consistently imaginative artists around, mixing genres with brilliant results (catch the videos, too).
3. Coldplay - X & Y
Success breeds contempt, so it has become fashionable to be "over" Coldplay, but this album is strong, taking the band in a beefier, harder rock direction.
4. Death Cab For Cutie - Plans
The major label (Atlantic) debut for these indie faves takes singer/songwriter's Ben Gibbard's work to new and colorful literary heights.
5. Elbow - Leaders of the Free World
The only artists to land on my top lists two years in a row, Elbow continue to produce majestic music that echoes the grandest of Peter Gabriel and Genesis.
6. The Frames - Burn The Maps
There's more to Irish music than U2.
7. Kaiser Chiefs - Employment
A rousing debut from this British band, built around the great single, "I Predict A Riot."
8. The Kills - No Wow
V V (Alison Mosshart) and Hotel (Jamie Hince) combine PJ Harvey-esque vocals with sinister and bleak electronica for a powerful, haunting combination.
9. Kings of Leon - Aha Shake Heartbreak
The sophomore dose of dirty, propulsive Southern rock from this scruffy band from Tennessee.
10. LCD Soundsystem - LCD Soundsystem
Wry, entertaining dance music from New Yorker James Murphy that nicely samples many scenes and stylists.
11. Robert Plant & The Strange Sensation - Mighty Rearranger
Led Zeppelin's aging ex-lead singer finally releasing solo music on a par with that of his old band.
12. Sufjan Stevens - Illinois
13. Emiliana Torrini - Fisherman's Woman
14. John Vanderslice - Pixel Revolt
Three records of fragile and quirky beauty by three distinctive and engaging performers.
15. Neil Young - Prairie Wind
In the wake of a near fatal brain aneurism, a captivating musing on life and death.

Honorable Mentions
1. Aqueduct - I Sold Gold
2. The Bees - Free The Bees
3. Brian Eno - Another Day On Earth
4. Petra Haden - The Who Sell Out
5. Heartless Bastards - Stairs and Elevators
6. Bettye LaVette - I've Got My Own Hell To Raise
7. Nouvelle Vague - Nouvelle Vague
8. Sleater-Kinney -The Woods
9. Wilco - Kicking Television
10. Wolf Parade - Apologies to the Queen Mary

Songs
1. ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead - "The Rest Will Follow"
2. All-American Rejects - "Dirty Little Secret"
3. Nic Armstrong & The Thieves - "Down Home Girl"
4. The Magic Numbers - "Mornings Eleven"
5. Paul McCartney - "Fine Line"
6. Oasis - "Lyla"
7. OK Go - "A Million Ways"
8. Cat Power - "The Greatest"
9. Rolling Stones - "Rough Justice"
10. Shout Out Louds - "The Comeback"
11. Spoon - "I Turn My Camera On"
12. Stereophonics - "Superman"
13. Stephen Stills & Neil Young - "Round The Bend"
14. Weezer - "Beverly Hills"
15. White Stripes - "Blue Orchid"

As often happens, there are some records from the prior year that only make their way onto a "best of" list well into the next year. Here are a few from 2004 that I haven't mentioned before.

1. The Black Keys - Rubber Factory
2. Dogs Die In Hot Cars - Please Describe Yourself
3. The Futureheads - The Futureheads
4. Mark Lanegan - Bubblegum
5. Nellie McKay - Get Away From Me
6. Mercury Rev - The Secret Migration
7. Shivaree - Who's Got Trouble?
8. Wolfmother - Wolfmother (EP)
9. Various Artists - Enjoy Every Sandwich (Tribute to Warren Zevon)

January 09, 2006 in Film |

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    Vicki and I heard Dick Meyer on an NPR Podcast (from their excellent series on authors speaking at bookstores), describing this book, which explains why Americans are so angry about their culture and what can be done about it. A former CBS producer, he now works for NPR. He has noticed downward spiral of--well, nearly everything, but he does not believe it is inevitable or unstoppable. It is a refreshing book, full of pointed observations, with an abbreviated but still thoughtful "prescription" section at the end. Both the problem and the solution start with you. (*****)

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    David Sedaris: When You Are Engulfed in Flames
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    Christopher Buckley: Supreme Courtship
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Paul's Permanent Content

Favorite Movies

  • My all-time favorite movie:
    Groundhog Day. I have created a fan site that is universally acknowledged to be the best on the Internet dedicated to this work of art.

    All the rest of my favorite movies (Deadline USA, The Paper, CitizenKane) are Journalism movies.

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