Showing posts with label Best Of 2012. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Best Of 2012. Show all posts

The Culture Brats Top 10 Best Of The Rest Of 2012

Just like last year, we're recapping everything you loved the most during 2012 at Culture Brats. So far, we've covered your ten favorite reviews, your ten favorite Ranked! lists, and your ten favorite interviews. Now we're looking at the best of the rest:

The Best Hair Metal Songs That Should Have Been In Rock Of Ages
We suggest a few songs that should've been in Rock Of Ages.

Blah Blah Love And War: A Track-By-Track Breakdown With The Rescues
The Rescues share their thoughts on the inspiration, meaning, and recording of the album.

The Canyons is Already My Favorite Movie Of All Time
We ready for The Canyons!

How Mass Effect 3 Affected Me
A look at the Mass Effect 3 game.

The Man, The Myth: Dolph Lundgren
Here's something you might not know about Dolph Lundgren.

Revisiting "It's My Party," The Best Episode Of Family Ties Ever
We remember this classic Family Ties episode.

Revisiting The 21 Jump Street Pilot, Part One
We fondly remember the 21 Jump Street pilot episode.

Sex House: A Perfect Reality Show Parody
We take a look at The Bachelor parody.

Superhero Chucks
We check out some superhero Converse.

21 Jump Street Recap: Now I'll Never Be A Teen Model!
We remember the classic "13 Blown To 35" episode.

The Culture Brats Top 10 Interviews Of 2012

Just like last year, we're recapping everything you loved the most during 2012 at Culture Brats. Here are the ten most popular interviews published in the past year:

Paul Adelstein (Private Practice, Prison Break)
Paul Adelstein spoke with us about the Doris album, his influences, the video for "Ladybug Luck," The Poncey Lads, and his dream music festival.

Aaron Barrett (Reel Big Fish)
Aaron Barrett spoke with us about Candy Coated Fury, their tour with Goldfinger, the secret to the band's longevity, and the Reel Big Fish guitar.

Aimee Carrero (Level Up)
We spoke with Aimee Carrero about her character on Level Up, her favorite episode, video games, and more.

Connor del Rio (Level Up)
We spoke with Connor del Rio about his character on Level Up, his favorite episode, video games, and more.

Meital Dohan (Weeds)
Meital Dohan spoke about her upcoming album, her musical influences, trying to make it in America after being a success in Israel, Charlie the Tiger, and set us straight on her "Yummy Boyz" video.

Kristin Hersh (Throwing Muses)
Kristin Hersh spoke about the upcoming Throwing Muses album, the music industry, some of her other projects, and her thoughts on being a role model.

Jenna McDougall (Tonight Alive)
We spoke with Jenna McDougall about her music, musical influences, first album bought, what it's like being the only female in the band, Blink-182's Mark Hoppus, the Vans Warped Tour, and what she's afraid of.

Francine Pascal (Sweet Valley High)
Francine Pascal spoke with us about some of our favorite Sweet Valley High moments, the new Sweet Life series, and the Sweet Valley High movie.

Lonny Ross (Level Up)
We spoke with Lonny Ross about his character on Level Up, his favorite episode, video games, and more.

Dee Snider (Twisted Sister)
Dee Snider spoke with us about his new album, new autobiography, who would play him and his wife in the movie about his life, the PMRC, Clay Aiken, narcissism, The Celebrity Apprentice, and reality TV.

The Culture Brats Top 10 Ranked! Columns Of 2012

Just like last year, we're recapping everything you loved the most during 2012 at Culture Brats. Here are the ten most popular Ranked! lists published in the past year:

Top 24 Secondary Simpsons Characters

Top 21 Kevin Bacon Roles

Top 100 Albums Of The '80s

Top 20 Albums of 1989

Top 25 Albums Of 1987

Top 20 Albums Of 1982

Top 20 Albums Of 1981

Top 20 Movies Of 1982

Top 20 Movies Of 1981

Top 20 Movies Of 1980

The Culture Brats Top 10 Reviews Of 2012

Just like last year, we're recapping everything you loved the most during 2012 at Culture Brats. Here are the ten most popular reviews published in the past year:

Childrens Hospital
We took a look at the new season's first two episodes.

The Hollywood Complex
We reviewed the documentary about parents trying to make their kids Hollywood stars.

The Hunger Pains
We took a look at the parody of The Hunger Games.

Leogun and LOLwork
We reviewed the Leogun EP and the debut episode of LOLwork.

My Crazy Obsession
We review the TLC show.

NTSF:SD:SUV::
We review the Adult Swim comedy.

Some Nights
We reviewed the new fun. album.

Stephie Coplan
We review a Stephie Coplan concert.

Unsung: Sheila E.
We reviewed the Unsung documentary on legendary drummer Sheila E.

Top 10 Albums of 2012
We reviewed the Top 10 albums of 2012.

Pod-Fascination: The 12 Best Podcast Episodes Of 2012, Part Two

For the last few months, I've been recommending quality podcasts. In the spirit of the year's end, I'm highlighting the single episodes that I enjoyed the most. As I have mentioned before, I listen to primarily comedy podcasts, so there are obviously thousands of other episodes released this year. Leave your favorite episodes in the comments!

Here's Part One in case you missed it. 


6. It's That Episode 5: Adam Lustick/Hey Dude – Rainmen
It's That Episode seems like a podcast that was made specifically with me in mind. New York-based performer/writer Craig Rowin invites people to watch an episode of anything they want and discuss it. On episode #5 in February, Craig and guest Adam Lustick watch the old Nickelodeon staple Hey Dude and marvel at its low production values, insane racism, and their teenage crushes on Bradley and Melody. It's surprising that this show even existed, but hey, I blame the '90s; lots of crap made it to air. The best part of watching old episodes is that it leads to discussions about awkward childhoods, one of my favorite topics.

5. The Fogelnest Files Episode 11: J J J Is For Julie!
Pop culture kingpin Jake Fogelnest usually curates an eclectic assortment of weird retro YouTube clips, but in the episode with Julie Brown, he shows clips as a way to showcase her career. Those of you who who were the prime demographic for MTV in the '90s will remember Just Say Julie and the amazing Earth Girls Are Easy. Brown is a pioneer for women in comedy and hearing the "insider" news of working for MTV in the nineties is a pop culture connoisseur's dream.

4. Ronna And Bevery Episode 32 : Not Personal With Steve Agee
Stand-up comedian Steve Agee is always a delight, because he's able to be hilariously excited about a topic as well as self-deprecating and cynical. When working with characters like Ronna and Beverly, making it work means "playing along" with the characters, and he certainly does in this episode. Silliness ensues when he admits he's going commando on Ronna's expensive sofa in her home in Marbelhead, MA, and Beverly's confusion over booking a gay cruise is "classic" Beverly.

Pod-Fascination: The 12 Best Podcast Episodes Of 2012, Part One

For the last few months, I've been recommending quality podcasts. In the spirit of the year's end, I'm highlighting the single episodes that I enjoyed the most. As I have mentioned before, I listen to primarily comedy podcasts, so there are obviously thousands of other episodes released this year. Leave your favorite episodes in the comments!

12. You Made It Weird With Pete Holmes Episode 46: Harris Wittels
Pete Holmes is funny in small doses, but who is funnier than Harris Wittels? This episode also includes the sociopath test, which is something I now use at parties.



11. WTF With Marc Maron Episode 238: Michael Ian Black
Marc Maron's WTF is often lauded as one of the best in-depth interview podcasts. I find it to be incredibly self-indulgent, and that's a good thing! Maron often reveals a lot about himself in the interviews, and likes to bring up the "tension" he feels with the guests. Nothing was more tense than his interview with Michael Ian Black, original member of The State, and one of my favorite actors/writers. They both bring up their resentment with each other and it is delightfully squirm-worthy at times. Also interesting is hearing Black's explanation of his "comedic persona," which is intentionally arrogant and obnoxious. How much of that is real and how much is put on for the public? It's hard to tell.

10. The Mental Illness Happy Hour Episode 60: Jamie Denbo
The best guests on the Mental Illness Happy Hour are the guests who are willing to "go there," in other words, dig into their childhoods, talk about the roots of their depression, and share their biggest fears and insecurities. Comedian Jamie Denbo (who happens to play Beverly in my favorite podcast, Ronna And Beverly) is such a guest. She brilliantly explains how her comedy is directly inspired by and is an outlet for her anxieties.

Culture Consumption: The Top 10 Albums Of 2012

It's that wonderful time of the year where every critic in the world lists his or her favorite television shows, movies, books, and music. Here are my Top 10 Albums of 2012:

10. Fiona Apple, The Idler Wheel Is Wiser Than The Driver Of The Screw And Whipping Cords Will Serve You More Than Ropes Will Ever Do
The great thing about putting this album on your Top 10 list? The title takes up so much space, there's no room to provide commentary. All kidding aside, this was another great album from Fiona Apple, who can really do no wrong musically in my eyes.

9. The Royalty, Lovers

"Bartender" brought me to this band, a song awesome enough to make me want to check out the entire album, which I'm so glad I did. Lovers sounds like it could've been recorded in the '60s, with its mixture a mixture of blues, soul, and doo-wop, led by the unique and killer vocals of Nicole Boudreau.
8. Frank Ocean, Channel Orange
I've seen this album at #1 on several year-end lists. While I don't have it that high, I am equally blown away by songwriting on this album.
7. Wideboy Generation, No Time To Be Shy
Loved this debut album. Here's what I wrote about it back in June: "No Time To Be Shy is catchy punk, clocking in at a little bit longer than the A Side of an old C60, and will bring to mind bands you might find on an old cassette, like The Jam and the Buzzcocks. It's explosive, engaging, and truthfully, it's been pretty much all I've listened to during the past two weeks."
6. The Rescues, Blah Blah Love And War
Technically, this album doesn't come out until 2013. But the band has released it to the fans who helped fund the album through Pledge Music (and I believe if you donate to the project, you can still download the album now), so I get to include it on my best of 2012 list. This album is incredible, led by the perfect four-part harmonies of Kyler England, Rob Giles, Adrianne Gonzalez, and Gabriel Mann that weave their way through the album's dozen tracks. On their Pledge Music page, if you donate $21,474,836, you can clone The Rescues. I think we should all chip in and buy this because God knows the world needs more great music.