Liftingfaces

(WITH SURPRISING VOICES)

5. Jonathan Meiburg (Shearwater) - Image / Voice

4. Kristian Matsson (Tallest Man On Earth) - Image / Voice

3. Andrew Bird - Image / Voice

2. Thomas Dybdahl - Image / Voice

1. Ray Lamontagne - Image / Voice

(WHOSE NAMES CONJURE DEATH)

5. Dead Meadow – Fuzzed out rock band, harkens to the 60′s without the nostalgic pomp.

4. Death From Above 1979 – Bad ass two-man dance-punk band from Toronto, now defunct, made famous again by CSS a year ago.

3. Death Cab For Cutie - Ben Gibbard and team continue to pump out catchy pop songs and ballads that stay in your head for longer than you like.

2. Sun Kil Moon - Okay, so “kill” is misspelled in this band name, but that can’t stop Mark Kozelek from entering this Top 5. He could probably find a way to make it into every one of my lists.

1. Dead Can Dance – Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard used to be married, and used to live in an Irish castle, and used to make some of the best music ever.

(WHO ARE, AT THE TIME OF THIS POST, STILL ALIVE.)

5. Hugo “Hurley” Reyes - He is the most naturally funny character on the island, and you can tell the writers enjoy writing for his character. He plays an integral role, and manages to stay clueless for the most part. For that reason, he is number 5 and not higher. But he is definitely responsible for several of my favorite scenes.

4. Daniel Faraday - At first, I just thought he was remixing Brad Pitt’s character in 12 Monkeys. And I still think he is, to a degree. But the writers have made him into a highly likable character, new to the show for season 4, but feels like he’s been a part of the team all along. There’s a scene where he indicates a bond with someone on the island that really intrigued me. I hope they follow up on this.

3. Desmond Hume - “See you in another life, brother.” Still one of my favorite lines of the entire series (right behind Jack’s “There’s a glass?” line). His accent and his demeanor resonate with me. He is somewhat of a rebel, and I like how important his connection to Penny and her father is becoming with every episode. I see exciting things for his future in the show.

2. Benjamin Linus - I had the same gripe about Faraday as I did about Ben, in that his character still feels like a reincarnation of Kevin Spacey’s role in the film “Seven”. But it is also for this reason that he is my favorite character to watch. The only thing holding me back from a number 1 spot for him would have to be his affinity for whining, juxtaposed to his borderline psychotic ramblings. For a guy who reads Tolstoy recreationally, he sure is an interesting character.

1. John Locke - To me, Locke embodies everything LOST has to offer a new viewer. He is easy to root for, and carries the most enigmatic qualities of the survivors. There are times you want to choke him yourself, and other times you are rooting for him with your fist in your mouth. Also, he comes off as the most distinctive superhero, a quality that personifies LOST in a lot of ways. And who knows how the guy keeps his head shiny bald episode after episode. Props to Locke.

(PAST AND PRESENT)

5. Cinnamon Toast Crunch - A solid staple in any cupboard.

4. Cookie Crisp – Cookies and milk, I mean, come on.

3. Trix – Trix are for kids, adults, and when I’m a senior citizen.

2. S’Mores – They changed the recipe, but they used to be irresistible.

1. Count Chocula – It’s like Lucky Charms, but with a gothic twist.

(WITH THE WORD “BLACK” IN THEIR NAME)

5. The Black Keys – Mp3

4. Black Swans - Mp3

3. Black Rebel Motorcycle Club – Mp3

2. The Black Angels – Mp3

1. Black Heart Procession – Mp3

(PAST AND PRESENT)

5. Shock G

4. JT the Bigga Figga

3. E40

2. Spice1

1. Too Short

(THAT GO REALLY GOOD TOGETHER. TRY IT.)

5. “Rain” – Bishop Allen

4. “Sugar Baby” – Samamidon

3. “Graveyard Girl” - M83

2. “Lost Verses” – Sun Kil Moon

1. “The Hot Hot Rays” – Fleet Foxes

(FROM DRAMAS FILMED IN THE PAST 10 YEARS)

5. “Memento” - This is technically a title sequence, rather than an opening scene as it were. But the iconic high-angle of Guy Pierce exposing a polaroid by shaking his hand, only to find out he was doing this action in reverse and the photograph was actually UN-developing, summarized the entire film so simply that it deserves a spot on the list.

4. “Michael Clayton” - The writing of this film is impeccable. Gilroy’s words, and Broadbent’s narration gave an amazing amount of tension to a visual sequence all but void of any life at all.

3. “Insider” - This film (and my wife agrees) is one of my top 5 favorites of all time. We are both big Lisa Gerrard and Michael Mann fanatics, so the merging of two artforms, as well as a great script and two stellar lead performances, made this opening sequence involving Al Pacino staring through a burlap sack in the Middle East on his way to an exclusive interview one of the best.

2. “Batman Begins” - I love Christian Bale as an actor. I love Christopher Nolan as a director (see above). I love Batman. This one is sort of a no-brainer. Though Bale was not in the opening scene, watching the child Bruce Wayne stranded in that well, with the bats, well it sort of gives you shivers.

1. “Fellowship of the Ring” - Because I have read the books, and I knew the epic nature of the characters, and where they were about to take me, seeing them on the big screen in all their glory gave me chills upon first, second, even third viewing.

(WHOSE SOLO ARTISTS HAVE BETTER ALBUMS)

5. Doveman – Sam Amidon

4. Songs: Ohia – Jason Molina

3. Whiskeytown – Ryan Adams

2. Animal Collective – Panda Bear

1. New Pornographers – Neko Case, A.C. Newman, Destroyer

(ALL OF THEM FREE)

5. Lineracer – Mindless fun.

4. Yeti Sports – Easy to play, impossible to master.

3. Polar Peril – Smooth animation, simple but fun gameplay.

2. N* – Difficult to the point of impossible, but fun physics game.

1. Amoeball** - Hard to describe why this is so good, but it is!

* This game is a standalone application, but cross-platform.
** This game requires a 3rd party plug-in to run.