Best Of 2009—Cities: By Shannon Wheeler

Image from Smaddy

1. New York

The city gets better with every visit. Art, food, parks, architecture. . . the city is amazing. The subways are a wonder; that I can go out and drink beer until 4 a.m. and take a subway home insures this city the number one spot in my book. The best and brightest people gravitate to New York to test their merit and make their mark and my nightly excursions give me some of the best conversations I’ve had. And the more I visit the city the more people I befriend. It’s a plus to travel to places where you know people—it’s an event when you arrive and party while you’re there.
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Best Of 2009: By Drew of Toothpaste For Dinner

I’m Drew, writer and illustrator of the comics Toothpaste For Dinner and Married To The Sea. I live in Columbus, Ohio and stay inside most of the time. In February 2010, I’ll be releasing my rap album CRUDBUMP: NA$TYJAM$. You heard.
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Best Of 2009—Top Ten Albums: By J Howell

It’s worth noting that there are several records that may’ve made the cut if I’d have had more time to get to know them a little better by year’s end; this year’s TV On The Radio and Califone records come to mind, as well as Tom Waits’ Glitter and Doom Live. And since the release date of Jim Campilongo’s Orange was moved to February 2010, I guess it’ll just have to go on next year’s list. Furthermore, though it came out in ’08, I didn’t pick up a copy of Giant Sand’s proVISIONS until early this year, and it’s pretty amazing. Check it out!
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Best Of 2009: By Danny R. Phillips

These are my favorite albums in no discernible order.
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Duran Duran, Hammersmith ’82!

By Less Lee Moore

As a longtime Duranie, I remember all too well the anti-Duran Duran sentiments of the 1980s. Duran Duran’s career has now lasted about thirty years and due to the band’s impressive longevity, unique sound, undeniable influence, and general affability, I thought that phase was long past.

After seeing one incredibly nasty comment made about the band recently, I felt almost personally offended, shocked that anyone still clung to such negative thoughts after all this time. Haven’t Duran Duran more than proven themselves by now?

I invite such haters to watch the newly-released Hammersmith ’82! DVD and defy them to feel anything but joy after seeing it.
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Top Five Movie Musicals

By Jemiah Jefferson

Find out how to win a copy of the soundtrack to Nine at the end of this article! The contest has now ended.

In light of the upcoming release of Nine (on December 18), starring everybody and Fergie, it’s time for a small countdown of my particular favorite movie musicals. Of course, this list probably won’t line up with yours (although you should remember to check the lists of runners-up at the bottom!), but these five films were instrumental in transforming me from a scowling punk who had nothing but contempt for movie song-and-dance to a glitter-afro-wearing, Twyla-Tharp-worshipping show tune queen.
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Best Of 2009—Albums: By Julie Finley

This year was actually a MUCH better year than last year, in regards to album releases. Lots of anticipated stuff (at least for moi) came out, and made me quite positive and hopeful. Last year I was starting to wonder why I still bothered to pay attention, but this year made me bite my tongue. The only thing this year lacked regarding music? There weren’t enough concerts worthy of attendance; it seems those who released stuff that I liked didn’t play anywhere I could get to!

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Best Of 2009: By Emily Carney

Gogol Bordello at The Ritz in Ybor City, July 2009

Gogol Bordello put on a fantastic show despite the gymnastic theatrics of kiddie fans who only wanted attention and to “shock.” Ukrainian gypsy punk folk hero Eugene Hütz did not disappoint; his on-stage exuberance electrified the crowd for a full 90 minutes. The rest of the band gave it their all as well.

. . . And so did the crowd, unfortunately. I managed to leave with no fewer than 35 bruises on various parts of my anatomy from overeager crowd surfers. Despite all of this, I left happy and quite dazed, as the band happily greeted fans back at their tour bus and enthusiastically welcomed our requests for autographs and some music chatter. Everyone was overwhelmed by this superstar band’s European brand of generosity, both artistically and otherwise.
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Top Ten Holiday Tunes: By Less Lee Moore

1. “Do They Know It’s Christmas?” Band Aid

I know this song’s privileged, paternalistic attitude is totally inappropriate, but it just reminds me so much of teenaged Christmases, I can’t help but love it. Plus, it features many of my teen musical crushes: Duran Duran, Spandau Ballet, Boy George, and of course, Marilyn (before the drugs took their toll).
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My Very Own Christmas (and Hanukkah!) Mixtape

By Jesse Roth

Every holiday season, the media never fails to deliver its audience the unwelcome gift of what I’d like to call the “and your point is?” story. From what I can tell, the big story this time around reflects on this new phenomenon known as “people other than Bing Crosby recording Christmas music.” Thus far, most of the stories have gone along the lines of “Oh. My. God. You mean Bob Dylan released a Christmas album?! And Mariah Carey released one in 1994?! And wait? What’s this? Andrea Bocelli has one too, and he’s singing with MUPPETS?!? What a craaaazy decade we’re suffering through!”
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