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Top Music for 2011 – According to Chris

December 31st, 2011

Chris Doelle

Last year, for the first time, I posted the Top tracks I had listened to in 2010. This year I am going to give you a bit more. This year I am listing the top individual tracks from 2011 and the top artists from 2011.

Lets get things started with Individual tracks. I figured the Zac Brown Band would show up quite a bit and they did in a major way. One of the surprises was Jason Aldean. I really disliked Dirt Road Anthem when I first heard it – something about mixing rap and country just didn’t sit well with me… but it grew on me and I really ended up digging it.

Although P!nk once again dominated the top artists of the year for me – individually her songs weren’t topping the charts. She has such a large number of tracks I like now that the only two that showed up in the individual list are some of her “old school” stuff.

2011 Top Individual Tracks I Listened To

1

Rodney Atkins – Take A Back Road

28

2

Zac Brown Band – Toes

25

2

Jason Aldean – Dirt Road Anthem

25

4

Jason Aldean – My Kinda Party

24

4

Bruno Mars – The Lazy Song

24

4

Keith Urban – Long Hot Summer

24

4

Hot Chelle Rae – Tonight Tonight

24

8

Zac Brown Band – Chicken Fried

23

8

Maroon 5 – Moves Like Jagger – Studio Recording From The Voice Performance

23

10

Zac Brown Band – Highway 20 Ride

21

10

Eli Young Band – Crazy Girl – Single Version

21

12

Foster The People – Pumped Up Kicks

19

12

Justin Moore – Bait A Hook

19

14

Zac Brown Band – Whatever it is

18

14

Zac Brown Band – Freet

18

14

Jake Owen – Barefoot Blue Jean Night

18

14

Hunter Hayes – Storm Warning

18

P!nk – Get The Party Started

17

18

Andy Grammer – Keep Your Head Up

17

18

Kenny Chesney – You and Tequila (featuring Grace Potter)

17

21

Eric Church – Homeboy

16

22

Zac Brown Band – It’s NOT OK

15

23

Zac Brown Band – Mary

14

23

P!nk – Leave Me Alone (I’m Lonely)

14

2011 Top 20 Artists I Listened To

(with total plays over last 12 months) Once again, P!nk led the way. What can I say? I really like her music. Zac Brown Band made a huge impression on me in 2011 blowing away everyone except for P!nk.

I have always been a fan of country music, but this year it really dominated the top plays with seven of the top ten artists. Bruno Mars was a surprise logging 83 plays (I really dig his album.) The other big surprise to me is Elton John & Billy Joel making it back into the annual chart in a big way. Those two used to dominate my play lists “back in the day” and it was cool to see them get some more spins.

1	P!nk	328
2	Zac Brown Band	283
3	Kenny Chesney	146
4	Keith Urban	100
4	Roger Miller	102
6	Billy Currington	96
7	Jason Aldean	95
8	Billy Joel	92
8	Toby Keith	90
10	Bruno Mars	83
11	Brad Paisley	76
12	Darius Rucker	67
13	George Strait	65
14	Elton John	61
15	Tim McGraw	60
16	John Mellencamp	48
17	Maroon 5	47
18	Dierks Bentley	45
19	Rodney Atkins	43
20	Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers	42
21	Queen	41
21	Coldplay	31
23	The Kingston Trio	31

A Hidden Gem named “Hugo”

December 30th, 2011

Chris Doelle

It was weird that I went to see Hugo with no preconceived notions. Not because I hadn’t heard about it – although any information about it was very scarce. It was because I heard about it over a year ago and totally forgot. I walked in just thinking it was a cool period piece with a fantasy story. This was not at all what I got.

I got a great little film that was a pleasant surprise. I got a Martin Scorsese film that is a delight to watch. The subtext of this fun jaunt into the history of film making itself was very powerful. The message that there is a purpose to everyone and that we only have to be open to seeing it is a great one. Sir Ben Kingsley was excellent as usual and even Sacha Baron Cohen stepped up his game (not hard to do after Borat.) The real surprises came in the performances by Asa Butterfield, Chloë Grace Moretz, and Helen McCrory.

Great acting, a great script, great cinemetography, great direction – what more could you want?

Do yourself a favor and see one of the absolute best films of 2011 – and one of the best, period.

RATING 10 out of 10
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Seeing a man named Sherlock about a horse

December 27th, 2011

Chris Doelle

Everyone knows that the sequels are usually not as good as the original… right? Most of the time that is true. This time however, the second incarnation is actually better. Sure, the critics and fans panned Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and many wrote at off a pale imitation of the last film. I am here to tell you however, they are wrong.

Sure, Holmes purists, like myself, do not count these films as anywhere near the top interpretations of the Sir Arthur Conan Doyle stories. I mean, Robert Downey Jr. doesn’t hold a candle to the Jeremy Brett version or even the Basil Rathbone verson. What I did like about these stories were the sequences in which director, Guy Ritchie breaks down what is going behind Holmes’ thought processes during fight scenes. Lots of fun action with an intelligent twist.

Though I am still not totally buying into the Jude Law Dr. Watson, it is beginning to grow on me a bit. Overall, I must say, this sequel was written better and ultimately, paid homage to Conan Doyle much closer in the characterization of Moriarty.

RATING 7 out of 10
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Stephen Spielberg‘s War Horse was one of those films that, from the previews, appears to be a great film. I was expecting a sweeping drama with expansive scenery and tug-at-your-heart emotional appeal. I got it – sort of.

It started off very weak and I thought, “wow, I have been duped by great trailer editing into seeing a cheesy little film.” Well, that was until it was about 1/3 of the way along. Something happened during all that cheese ball setup – I bought in. I got hooked and ended up going along for an emotional and inspiring ride. Sure, it was cheesy at times, but you can’t argue with the end result.

It was indeed a great film. No, not one that will go in the Top 100 of all time, but a good film that you will be happy to have seen. It has sweeping drama, expansive scenery, tug-at-your-heart emotional appeal and the benefit of being a well-done period piece. I won’t spoil the storyline, but it is a good one.

RATING 8 out of 10
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They DID the Impossible!

December 18th, 2011

Chris Doelle

That’s right. Tom Cruise‘s latest incarnation of Ethan Hunt in Mission Impossible – Ghost Protocol is pretty darn good. While I thought the very first MI film was average, the sequels were absolutely dismal. I was sure this was going to be more of the same – NOT.

MI-GP was written well, acted well and featured some great action. The boys and I went to see it at the IMAX and were very impressed. Sure, there were some plot holes and some over-the-top stuff, but come on, its a Tom Cruise action flick.

The supporting cast was really good as well. I always love when Simon Pegg shows up in films as he is an actor I like. I also like Jeremy Renner and Paula Patton as well.

Overall this MI was more Bond-like than it’s predecessors which could be the reason while I liked it.

RATING 7 out of 10
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As interesting as the movie was, I think the previews I saw were even better. We are talking about a good season of Summer blockbusters! Here is a rundown of the ones that played ahead of our film and my thoughts:

John Carter of Mars – this looks like a seriously fun film. The only thing that could hurt is if the story sucks, but what it has going for it is 1) an amazing cgi world and cinematics 2) Taylor Kitsch making his transformation from the brooding fullback Tim Riggins of Friday Night Lights into action hero and 3) an early start to the blockbuster season – we are talking March or April.

This Means War – The preview made this film look like a real life take on MAD magazine’s lovable spies. Not the silly kind of fun you would expect from SvS, but serious action and well-written comedy. It was only after doing a little searching that I discovered it is actually called This Means War starring Chris Pine (Captain Kirk from the latest Star Trek film) and Tom Hardy. It looks like a lot of fun and great action.

Act of Valor – while the acting may not be great, the action certainly looks to be. This fictional story apparently features some of the actors that are actual active duty soldiers. Using this heavily in the marketing, the ticket sales should be great at least on opening weekend. After that, it will be up to the film to produce word of mouth. From the preview, it looked very exciting.

There were actually several other good trailers, but frankly, I am tired of writing. Looks like a good season for film!

ChrisCast 12-16-2011

December 17th, 2011

Chris Doelle

Merry Christmas!

A quick video greeting card:

Lyrically speaking….

November 4th, 2011

Chris Doelle

This song has what has to be my favorite couple of lyrics of the year. The song is Tonight, Tonight by Hot Chelle Rae. I’ve highlighted the ones that do it for me. Fun stuff.

“It’s been a really really messed up week

Seven days of torture, seven days of bitter
And my girlfriend went and cheated on me
She’s a California dime but it’s time for me to quit her

La la la, whatever, la la la, it doesn’t matter, la la la, oh well, la la la

We’re going at it tonight tonight
There’s a party on the rooftop top of the world
Tonight tonight and were dancing on the edge of the Hollywood sign
I don’t know if I’ll make it but watch how good I’ll fake it
Its all right, all right, tonight, tonight

I woke up with a strange tattoo
Not sure how I got it, not a dollar in my pocket
And it kinda looks just like you
Mixed with Zach Galifianakis

La la la, whatever, la la la, it doesn’t matter, la la la, oh well, la la la”

Hey, any song with Zach Galifianakis is good in my book.

Worth Quoting

October 30th, 2011

Chris Doelle

“Gratitude is not only the greatest of virtues, but the parent of all the others.”

– Marcus Tullius Cicero

The best marketed ambient music track ever…

October 19th, 2011

Chris Doelle

It is being hyped as “scientifically proven to be the most relaxing song ever.” There are even hints that it may be “dangerous” to listen to while driving etc. The song is “Weightless” by Marconi Union.

According to the study, in creating “Weightless,” the band uses a process called ‘entrainment’ to relax the listener – the continuous rhythm of 60 bpm (beats per minute) causes the brainwaves and heart rate to synchronize with the rhythm, before gradually slowing to around 50.

Sure, it relaxes you – but what ambient music track doesn’t? Most relaxing ever? I don’t know. Best use of the web and social media to market a song that would normally not even pique the interest of the public? Certainly!

The Real Deal

October 16th, 2011

Chris Doelle

Okay, when I first heard they were making a movie out of the old Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots, I thought for sure it was going to suck. When I saw the previews for Real Steel, I was SURE it was going to suck.

Something happened between watching that trailer and finally watching the film this past weekend… my boys. Yes, they kept gushing over how they couldn’t wait to see it. Dallin, in particular, made sure we knew he wanted to see it opening weekend – and these comments started months before the release. I finally decided, “Heck, the boys will love it… it will be a fun to watch them enjoy it.” I was actually looking forward to the release myself.

Well, we went to see it Saturday after Dallin’s football game and all I can say is, “Wow!” I expected to see a mid-grade film with lots of crunching, explosions and over-the-top cornball lines. What I got was Robotic Rocky. And I’m not talking about the line of bad remakes… I am talking the original Rocky.

Sure, RS stole liberally from the Rocky storyline but you know what? It worked! I had a great time, and so did Dallin. If you have a 10yr old boy – or heck, a 10yr old boy inside you… this is a good way to spend a few hours with him.

RATING 8 out of 10
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