Best Rediscoveries

At Needle Noise we enjoy looking back in our libraries from time to time and there is just no telling as to what old classic album will become one of the best listens of the year. I would like to honor those albums that stand the test of time and continue to capture me.

1.) Curtis Mayfield: Superfly

2.) Lou Reed: Transformer

3.) B.B. King & Eric Clapton: Riding With the King

4.) Lauryn Hill: The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill

5.) Pavement: Slanted & Enchanted

6.) Otis Redding: The Great Otis Redding Sings Soul Ballads

7.) Nick Cave: The Lyre of Orpheus (Thanks Harry Potter)

8.) Jimmy Cliff: The Harder They Come

9.) Robert Johnson: King of the Delta Blues

and for my number 10 spot, I have to give it to a single track that quickly rose up my "most played" list

10.) R. Kelly: Ignition (Remix)

- Michi Oshima

Best Albums of the Year

After countless, thorough listening sessions I think I have finally picked my top ten albums for 2011. This was tough but there will be many in the honorable mentions.

1.) Youth Lagoon: Year of Hibernation

2.) Yuck: Yuck

3.) The War on Drugs: Slave Ambient

4.) Typhoon: A New Kind of House

5.) Jay-Z & Kanye West: Watch the Throne

6.) M83: Hurry Up We're Dreaming

7.) Wilco: The Whole Love

8.) Real Estate: Days

9.) Los Campesinos!: Hello Sadness

10.) Cults: Cults

- Michi Oshima

Best Films of 2011

On day two of our year in review we are bringing you some movies that we think are worth your while. Whether you want an action flick, riveting drama, or a hilarious comedy something on this list will certainly meet your needs.

1.) 50/50

2.) Moneyball

3.) Bellflower

4.) Hesher

5.) Red State

6.) Midnight in Paris

7.) Super 8

8.) Bridesmaids

9.) Take Shelter

10.) Winnie the Pooh

Be sure to check out these great films.

Personal Worsts Of 2011

2011 was a year full of highs and lows, the following were the lowest of the lows.

Movies:

5. Cowboys and Aliens - Cheesy dialogue, pathetic plot

4. Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Best Worst Title

3. The Hangover Pt. II - Same movie, different setting

2. Zookeeper - What's funnier than taking a gorilla to TGI Fridays?

1. Spy Kids All The Time in The World 4D - More movies should have aroma-scope.

Video Games:

5. LA Noire - LA Noire can be considered a good game, yet personally it was my most disappointing game of 2011. The game didn't live up to its hype, it was extremely repetitive, there is little to no replay value, the game's protagonist wasn't very likable, the free-roam was extremely limited, and the story ended on a bad note.

4. Any Kinect Game with the exception of Rise of Nightmares.

3. The Sims 3: Pets - Pet simulators are overplayed and the game's description speaks for itself: "The sims 3: Pets gives you control over the looks and personalities of your various pets.

2.Transformers: Dark of the Moon - Because great movies always make great games

1. NCIS - Almost as good as the television show.

-AA

Worst of the Year

Starting off the end-of-year rundown with a bang. As we prepare to give you the best of the best, first we wanted to get the garbage out of the way. Here are the 5 worst reviewed albums and films of 2011.

Worst Albums
1. Lulu: Metallica & Lou Reed
2. Who You Are: Jessie J
3. Sorry for Party Rocking: LMFAO
4. Gold Cobra: Limp Bizkit
5. All Things Bright and Beautiful: Owl City

Worst Films
1. Jack and Jill
2. Battle: Los Angeles
3. Bucky Larson: Born to be a Star
4. The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn part 1
5. Mr. Popper's Penguins

Enjoy skipping these gems of 2011


-Michi Oshima

Update: Sorry

Hey guys, sorry to be out of commission for so long. Between the holidays and final exam preparation, time has been sparse to write reviews. As a way to make up for it all next week we will begin our end of the year review of 2011. This will include what we consider to be the best and worst albums, movies, and games of the year as well as what we are looking forward to most in 2012. We will also have a Grammy nomination analysis along with Academy Award nomination predictions. So keep checking back because everyday next week will bring a new post about our favorite and hated things this year.

-Michi Oshima