1. Show: Ghosty, Fourth of July, Terodactyls

The boys in Ghosty have a new record and put on a great show. While Answers is still growing on me I was quite impressed with Fourth of July. This was my second time seeing them. I think they have gotten a lot better and I am loving their full length On The Plains. The Terodactyls also proved to be one of the best up coming bands from the area.

2. Album: Ida- Lovers Prayers

Of course a new Ida record is going to make my top 5. This band is one of my favorites for a long time. They provide a perfect late night winter soundtrack. They recorded this record in the wilderness and it has more of a live feel to it. I still hear every bit of passion that I feel like their records contain.

3. Movie:Cloverfield

I thought this movie looked pretty interesting from the trailer. I really love trailers that don’t tell you the entire plot of the movie. All you really knew was there was going to be some monster action in NYC. It had a Blair Witch meets Godzilla kind of feel to it. It was just about everything I expected.

4.Album: Basia Balut- Oh My Darling

I really like that left of center female singer/songwriters are starting to get more attention. Basia Balut fits this category to a tee. She has a great voice and great and really great quirky songs.

5.TV Show: The Wire

About once a year I find a new show and pretty much sit down and watch it from start to finish. This year it has been this The Wire. I always thought Soprano’s was HBO’s best drama but I was wrong by a long shot. I love how you see both sides of the story from both the police and the drug dealers side of it. Its just an interesting look at today’s drug trafficking and inner city life in a major American city.