2010's been a banner year, if we define "banner" as "Sisyphean Emotional Rollercoaster," which, of course, we do. Here is my traditional (if we define "traditional" as something done twice) list of the best of everything for 2010.
Best radio show always on while I'm driving home from yoga: Deep Roots.
Best radio show always on while I'm trying to fall asleep: Inside the Music.
Best existential CanCon TV programming: Being Erica.
Best slightly disappointing final book in a dystopian teen trilogy: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins.
Best show (non-Kingston category): Wilco at the NAC in March. So good I'll forgive the fact that Jeff Tweedy bantered about the Olympic hockey tournament to get people to clap. Oh Jeff, honey, don't you know I don't need you to pander? I just need you to love me.
Best show I left early after thinking it was actually over only to find out later that he came back on for another set (Kingston category): Jason Collett at the Grad Club in April.
Best show with parents in attendance: Young Rival and PELT at the Mansion in March.
Best in-store appearance by a singer songwriter: Jim Bryson, at Contact Music in November.
Best musical discovery: My secret husband, Dan Mangan.
Best musical rediscovery: Does The Band count? I thought I lost my copy of The Basement Tapes in the divorce and was pretty excited when I later found it behind a bookshelf.
...actually, I'm going to give this one to the Strokes. I've always thought of them as the background music to my twenties, but lately I've started really listening to them, and shit man, they really are as good as everyone always said.
Best essayist I wish were my friend in real life: Sloane Crosley.
Best nightmare-inducing weirdscape involving time travel and car accidents: Rant by Chuck Pahlaniuk.
Best re-read (dusty paperback found in Mexico category): The Hotel New Hampshire by John Irving.
Best re-read (greatest book of all time category): The Wonder Spot by Melissa Bank.
Best literary discovery (Carol Shields void-filler category): Elizabeth Berg.
Best ballsy ladywriter: Celia Rivenbark.
Best way to spend a dirtieth thirtieth birthday: Haunted Walk of Kingston. Water bottle filled with wine strongly recommended.
Best thing: This year is over, friends. See you in hell, 2010. I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't miss your particular brand of whimsical batshittery just a little bit.
I lurve Sloane Crosley. I lurved her already, but now I love her more becasue she is the only person on your list I had heard of (apart from Chuck Pahlaniuk, and I read Rant and liked it and was disturbed by it in equal measures. He writes about used sanitary products better than anyone I know.)
ReplyDeleteI check back every now and then, hoping you've posted something new, but never.
ReplyDelete2010 was the worst year of my life, and I loved this entry so much because it made me feel like maybe 2010 had screwed over someone else and I wasn't alone.