The 2010 Ho Media Awards
Website of the Year - Pat's Fantasy Hotlist
Pat stirs up a lot of, well, let's say "emotions" amongst those who read his blog. But even if I don't agree with every review he writes or particularly care about Cirque du Soleil, I like his reviewing/interviewing method because he addresses each of the most important qualities that readers look for in books. I'm also happy to hear that he'll be continuing to write his reviews, even if he'll be cutting back to focus more on the world of flesh and blood.
Book of the Year - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Towers of Midnight
It might be more accurate to create a category called "Author of the Year" and give it to Brandon Sanderson without any reservations at all, because The Way of Kings was almost as awesome. But ToM was the book that most of us have been waiting for for almost a decade. If you thought prophecies were being fulfilled before ToM, then ToM itself will leave you breathless. Sanderson also made major improvements in the way he wrote Mat's character, which was far too slapstick in The Gathering Storm.
And those last two scenes...GOOSEBUMPS.
Note to first-time readers: Do NOT read/skim the glossary in the back until you've finished the book.
Movie of the Year - Avatar
I'm pretty there's nothing I can tell anyone about this movie that readers don't already know. Forget the bickering about "insulting representations" of indigenous populations and enjoy the story for what it is: a visually breathtaking romp across an alien planet.
$4 Artist (Discovery Artist) of the Year - Charlie Winston
Try as I might, I just wasn't able to find a copy of Charlie Winston's album "Hobo" for $4. But it was still one of the best $12 purchases I've made in a long time. Brother to Tom Baxter, Winston writes equally beautiful music with a bit more...fun. This isn't anything against Baxter, whose albums are both gloriously contemplative. Sometimes, I just like a little more funk 'n' bump.
Album of the Year - Tom McRae's The Alphabet of Hurricanes
You know how this story goes. Artist releases debut album. Debut album is brilliant. Awards and adoration follow. Artist writes follow-up album. Follow-up receives lukewarm reception and fans flock the other way. Artist never writes a good album again. Artist dies.
This story takes a miraculous turn for the best about halfway through. After two albums which received half-hearted praise (at best, and unfairly in one case), TAoH blew me away. THIS was the singer-songwriter I fell in love with when I heard his debut album. He's still got it! The pacing is perfect, and it has a great mix of the uptempo and the suicidally depressing.
Special note of irony: Last year's top album was also a comeback album for a band whose greatest work to date was their first (Starsailor). Unfortunately, they split amicably after that tour was finished. I'm glad Tom can't really split up with himself.
Song of the Year - Tom McRae's "Please"
This is the album's highlight - the first single from the album. Hand-claps, stomping, and backing vocals shouting "I don't care no more!" build to the best crescendo of 2010.
"Hey, What About THAT Album?
---Tom McRae's The Streetlight Collection
If this had been a real album instead of a b-side collection, it would have been the second greatest album of the year. I don't understand how record execs could listen to any of those songs and order that they be cut. "Precious Cargo"? "Election Day"? "Hear Me Now"? I'm only mollified by the fact that they've finally been made available for general consumption.
---Sister Hazel's Heartache Highway
Meh. Really, that's the best I can do. Meh. Their last album hasn't aged well either, so I think SH's best days may be behind them.
---Brandon Flowers' Flamingo
I thought that after the suckitude that was Day & Age, I would find a lot to like about Brandon Flowers' solo effort. Wrong. What a floater.
---Midlake's The Courage of Others
I'm so confused. Did they just decide to play the same song at 10 slightly different tempos?
---Fran Healy's Wreckorder
I just got this for Christmas, so my official opinion has to wait until next year's countdown. But I can say that my reaction here is the exact opposite of Flamingo.
---Mt. Desolation's Mt. Desolation
It's still too early to say what kind of staying power this album has, since I just got it at the end of November. If I tried to put it in the perspective of the top ten as it stands now, it would be at least #8.
Playlist of the Year
Take a track from each of the top ten albums along with the following and make your own disc of brilliance:
Bell X1 - "The Curtains Are Twitching"
Death Cab for Cutie - "Tiny Vessels"
Tom McRae - "Election Day"
Mt. Desolation - "Annie Ford"
Charlie Winston - "I Love Your Smile"
Beady Eye - "Bring the Light"
Looking Ahead: 2011
Early 2011 has a pretty bright outlook! The Decemberists, Elbow, Bell X1, and Beady Eye all promise new albums, while three big book releases before May are expected from Steven Erikson, Patrick Rothfuss, and Robert V.S. Redick. It might be too much to hope that Lynch's "The Republic of Thieves" comes out in 2011, but here's hoping!
01/18 The King is Dead (streaming on NPR until the album's release)
03/01 The Crippled God
03/01 The Wise Man's Fear
03/07 build a rocket boys! ("Lippy Kids" is streaming on the band's website right now)
03/07 Different Gear, Still Speeding
04/05 Bloodless Coup
04/21 The River of Shadows
Happy New Year from the Ho's household to yours!
Pat stirs up a lot of, well, let's say "emotions" amongst those who read his blog. But even if I don't agree with every review he writes or particularly care about Cirque du Soleil, I like his reviewing/interviewing method because he addresses each of the most important qualities that readers look for in books. I'm also happy to hear that he'll be continuing to write his reviews, even if he'll be cutting back to focus more on the world of flesh and blood.
Book of the Year - Robert Jordan and Brandon Sanderson's Towers of Midnight
It might be more accurate to create a category called "Author of the Year" and give it to Brandon Sanderson without any reservations at all, because The Way of Kings was almost as awesome. But ToM was the book that most of us have been waiting for for almost a decade. If you thought prophecies were being fulfilled before ToM, then ToM itself will leave you breathless. Sanderson also made major improvements in the way he wrote Mat's character, which was far too slapstick in The Gathering Storm.
And those last two scenes...GOOSEBUMPS.
Note to first-time readers: Do NOT read/skim the glossary in the back until you've finished the book.
Movie of the Year - Avatar
I'm pretty there's nothing I can tell anyone about this movie that readers don't already know. Forget the bickering about "insulting representations" of indigenous populations and enjoy the story for what it is: a visually breathtaking romp across an alien planet.
$4 Artist (Discovery Artist) of the Year - Charlie Winston
Try as I might, I just wasn't able to find a copy of Charlie Winston's album "Hobo" for $4. But it was still one of the best $12 purchases I've made in a long time. Brother to Tom Baxter, Winston writes equally beautiful music with a bit more...fun. This isn't anything against Baxter, whose albums are both gloriously contemplative. Sometimes, I just like a little more funk 'n' bump.
Album of the Year - Tom McRae's The Alphabet of Hurricanes
You know how this story goes. Artist releases debut album. Debut album is brilliant. Awards and adoration follow. Artist writes follow-up album. Follow-up receives lukewarm reception and fans flock the other way. Artist never writes a good album again. Artist dies.This story takes a miraculous turn for the best about halfway through. After two albums which received half-hearted praise (at best, and unfairly in one case), TAoH blew me away. THIS was the singer-songwriter I fell in love with when I heard his debut album. He's still got it! The pacing is perfect, and it has a great mix of the uptempo and the suicidally depressing.
Special note of irony: Last year's top album was also a comeback album for a band whose greatest work to date was their first (Starsailor). Unfortunately, they split amicably after that tour was finished. I'm glad Tom can't really split up with himself.
Song of the Year - Tom McRae's "Please"
This is the album's highlight - the first single from the album. Hand-claps, stomping, and backing vocals shouting "I don't care no more!" build to the best crescendo of 2010.
"Hey, What About THAT Album?
---Tom McRae's The Streetlight Collection
If this had been a real album instead of a b-side collection, it would have been the second greatest album of the year. I don't understand how record execs could listen to any of those songs and order that they be cut. "Precious Cargo"? "Election Day"? "Hear Me Now"? I'm only mollified by the fact that they've finally been made available for general consumption.
---Sister Hazel's Heartache Highway
Meh. Really, that's the best I can do. Meh. Their last album hasn't aged well either, so I think SH's best days may be behind them.
---Brandon Flowers' Flamingo
I thought that after the suckitude that was Day & Age, I would find a lot to like about Brandon Flowers' solo effort. Wrong. What a floater.
---Midlake's The Courage of Others
I'm so confused. Did they just decide to play the same song at 10 slightly different tempos?
---Fran Healy's Wreckorder
I just got this for Christmas, so my official opinion has to wait until next year's countdown. But I can say that my reaction here is the exact opposite of Flamingo.
---Mt. Desolation's Mt. Desolation
It's still too early to say what kind of staying power this album has, since I just got it at the end of November. If I tried to put it in the perspective of the top ten as it stands now, it would be at least #8.
Playlist of the Year
Take a track from each of the top ten albums along with the following and make your own disc of brilliance:
Bell X1 - "The Curtains Are Twitching"
Death Cab for Cutie - "Tiny Vessels"
Tom McRae - "Election Day"
Mt. Desolation - "Annie Ford"
Charlie Winston - "I Love Your Smile"
Beady Eye - "Bring the Light"
Looking Ahead: 2011
Early 2011 has a pretty bright outlook! The Decemberists, Elbow, Bell X1, and Beady Eye all promise new albums, while three big book releases before May are expected from Steven Erikson, Patrick Rothfuss, and Robert V.S. Redick. It might be too much to hope that Lynch's "The Republic of Thieves" comes out in 2011, but here's hoping!
01/18 The King is Dead (streaming on NPR until the album's release)
03/01 The Crippled God
03/01 The Wise Man's Fear
03/07 build a rocket boys! ("Lippy Kids" is streaming on the band's website right now)
03/07 Different Gear, Still Speeding
04/05 Bloodless Coup
04/21 The River of Shadows
Happy New Year from the Ho's household to yours!
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