My End Of 2011 Awards - Part Four

Giant Bomb. It's a website. About video games! But, crazy as it might sound, video games aren't the only thing in my life that I'm passionate about. This part of My End of 2011 Awards is dedicated to those things that aren't game-related, but still had a pretty big impact on my year - the music I couldn't stop listening to, the books I couldn't put down until I'd finished them, and the moments that I'll never forget for as long as I live. Join me as I reflect back on the non-gaming side of my 2011. If, on the other hand, you'd rather stick with the video games, you can find the individual award winners in Part One, Part Two and Part Three.

2011 In Music

As much as I love video games, I think I might love music even more. 2011 was an incredible year for me music-wise. I bought more new album releases than ever before, I expanded my catalogue of artists in some meaningful directions, and even managed to complete the Holy Trinity (more on that later in this blog). So, to keep things from getting too out of hand in this section of the blog, I'm going to restrict myself to sharing eight of my favourite albums that came out this year.

• Cold War Kids - Mine is Yours - Having never previously heard anything by American indie rockers Cold War Kids, I stumbled upon Mine is Yours while trying to round out a "two for £10" deal in my local CD store. It didn't resonate with me at first, but over time it's revealed itself to become one of my favourite records of 2011. It reminds me a little of Kings of Leon's Only by the Night sound-wise (unsurprising, considering they have the same producer), but with sparser, more interesting instrumentation. My personal favourite tracks are Royal Blue, Broken Open, and Cold Toes on the Cold Floor.
• Elbow - Build a Rocket Boys! - This Mancunian band pretty much monopolised my ears over the last few months of 2010. With the release of their fifth LP this year, they've also managed to continue that trend in 2011. Build a Rocket Boys! is a beautiful set of eleven songs, all loosely tied to the concepts of youth, home and heritage. The carefully considered instrumentation and Guy Garvey's poetic, nostalgia-tinted songwriting make this album a fitting follow-up to 2008's The Seldom Seen Kid. My personal favourite tracks are The Birds, Lippy Kids, and Jesus is a Rochdale Girl.
• Fink - Perfect Darkness - I can't even remember what caused me to first listen to Perfect Darkness. All I know is that I'm very, very glad I did. Fink (real name Fin Greenall) is a folk artist who combines traditional elements of folk music with rock, hip-hop and electronica. While the first two of those genres form a significant portion of my music library, you wouldn't find me listening to the other two. Perfect Darkness seems to strike a perfect blend, though, combining Fink's dialectic urban vocals with driving acoustic instrumentation and ambient electronic sound effects, and the result is some of the most listenable and relevant modern folk I've ever heard. My personal favourite tracks are Perfect Darkness, Honesty, and Berlin Sunrise.
• Foo Fighters - Wasting Light - Foo Fighters had big boots to fill this year, at least for me. Their previous album, Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace, is not only my favourite album by them, but also one of my favourite albums ever. Wasting Light didn't quite live up to my expectations, but it's still a rip-roaring rock record. It would have been nice to have some lighter, acoustic moments in amongst all the brilliant hard rock songs to give it a little more depth, but it's still fantastic. My personal favourite tracks are Rope, Arlandria, and I Should Have Known.
• Jon Fratelli - Psycho Jukebox - Ever since The Fratellis' Costello Music graced my ears back in 2006, I've been permanently in love with Jon Fratelli's brand of songwriting. Five years on, Jon's first solo album Psycho Jukebox proves that hasn't changed. Mixing rock-and-roll swagger with Bolan-esque psychedelia and some of his best writing to date, Jon has put together an incredible solo debut. My personal favourite tracks are Rhythm Doesn't Make You a Dancer, The Band Played Just For Me, and She's My Shaker.
• Kaiser Chiefs - The Future is Medieval - I'm not the biggest fan of the Kaiser Chiefs, although I can appreciate their brand of indie pop if I'm in the right frame of mind for it. The Future is Medieval makes the list less because of its content and more because of the unique way it was launched - the Kaisers posted twenty songs on their website and allowed fans to pick their ten favourites, design their own artwork, and then download their own custom-made version of the album. I got involved and was really happy with the results, but I was seriously impressed by how forward-thinking this business model was, especially in light of the dwindling popularity of the album format. My personal favourite tracks (from my own version of the album) are Problem Solved, Little Shocks, and Starts With Nothing.
• Kasabian - Velociraptor! - In many ways, I guess Velociraptor! is in the same boat as Wasting Light. I absolutely adored Kasabian's last album, West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, and wasn't really expecting their new work to be on quite the same level. It isn't, but it's still a fantastic record in its own right. It exchanges most of West Ryder's meandering psychedelia for more indie swagger on most of the tracks, although there are some hints at the band pushing in new directions, particularly with the album's progressive centrepiece, Acid Turkish Bath (Shelter from the Storm). My personal favourite tracks are Days are Forgotten, La Fée Verte, and Re-Wired.
• Vintage Trouble - The Bomb Shelter Sessions - In a world where 'R&B' is habitually used to refer to this drivel, it's incredibly refreshing to discover a band who embodies the true ethos of rhythm and blues. Vintage Trouble are one such band, and their debut album is proof that real R&B isn't quite dead just yet. The ten songs on The Bomb Shelter Sessions range from straight-up rock-and-roll to bluesy ballads and everything in between. They remind me of another American blues-rock outfit, The Black Crowes, and coming from me that's a huge compliment. My personal favourite tracks are Blues Hand Me Down, Gracefully, and Total Strangers.

2011 In Books

This year, I reached the end of my three-year University course (more on that below, under '2011 in Moments'). With the removal of required reading from my schedule, I was able to spend the second half of 2011 finally catching up on some of the books that I've been wanting to read. Some of these books have been sitting on my shelf for almost three years now, and many of them I really should have read sooner. The eight books listed below are my favourites from the twenty-something I was able to read between mid-June and late December.

• Carrie - I've been slowly amassing Stephen King novels over the last few years, telling myself that after my Uni course was over, I'd go on a reading binge of his works. While it didn't exactly pan out that way, I did make my way through three of his books this year - Carrie, Cujo, and his recent short story collection, Full Dark, No Stars. I enjoyed all three, but it was Carrie that stuck with me the most. While it might be Carrie White and her telekinetic powers that cause so much physical devastation and chaos, it somehow still seems inferior to the mental pain Carrie herself endures at the hands of her bullying schoolmates and delusional mother.
• Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? - Last year, I saw Blade Runner for the first time. It prompted me to pick up a copy of this sci-fi classic, which served as the film's inspiration. Clearly written, captivating and often darkly funny, the book raises some very interesting questions about what in this world constitutes being 'real' and 'human', and doesn't really leave any clear-cut answers at its end. This is the first of Philp K. Dick's books that I've read, but I'm sure it won't be the last.
• ELEVEN - Written by British comedian Mark Watson, ELEVEN is a brilliant novel. Its tightly-woven plot, centring on the life of an Australian man living in London and working as a late-night radio DJ, serves as a reminder that all of us have an influence on other people's lives, whether intentionally or incidentally, in almost every action and decision we make. It's also (unsurprisingly) very, very funny, and features one of the best accounts of a closely-fought game of Scrabble I've ever read.
• The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ - I have a lot of respect for Philip Pullman. Among other things, he's the writer of the His Dark Materials trilogy, without a doubt three of my all-time favourite books. This short work, a re-telling of the Gospel portraying the historical figure of Jesus Christ as two separate brothers, is an incredibly interesting and acerbically witty look at the foundations of Christianity, written by a man who's clearly a master of his craft.
• The Hidden - I got acquainted with novelist and poet Tobias Hill late last year, when he gave a seminar to my creative writing class at University. This year I decided to pick up and read his most recent novel, The Hidden. Set in modern-day Greece, in the area formerly occupied by the Spartans, the novel draws comparisons between that proud ancient race and a group of modern day revolutionaries to provide a thought-provoking commentary on the ethics of terrorism. Tense, chilling and beautifully written, it was unputdownable in every sense of the word.
• The Hitch-Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy - This refers to the entire five-part trilogy, as opposed to the first book in said trilogy. Douglas Adams' most famous work is certainly deserving of its stellar reputation, combining sci-fi and comedy to great effect in a way that seems almost effortless. My personal favourite of the five books was the second, The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, which seemed to strike the perfect balance that the other four stories just fell short of.
• It's Not Me, It's You! - I've been a fan of comedian Jon Richardson for a few years now, so picking up his first book was a given for me. Telling the story of a weekend in his life, the book is a heart-warming and hilarious look at Jon's obsessive-compulsive tendencies and general misanthropy, and how it's made him very unlucky in love. Reading through this journey into Jon's mind, I found myself empathising with him and noticing many similarities between the two of us which I think made me enjoy the book even more.
• The Last Four Things - The sequel to one of my favourite books of last year, The Last Four Things is the second book in Paul Hoffman's The Left Hand of God trilogy. I had high expectations and it certainly didn't disappoint, throwing protagonist Thomas Cale into the thick of the religious conflict between the Redeemers and the Antagonists. Hoffman's writing style may not be the best, but he more than compensates for it with the incredible world and lore that he's created around these two books. I cannot wait to see how Cale's story ends in the final book in the series, which I understand is on its way late next year.

2011 In Blogs

Of the three full years I've been blogging here on Giant Bomb, 2011 was my least active year. Not without good reason, I feel the need to say - much of the first half of the year was dominated by the pressures of my final year at University, while the second half of the year I was pre-occupied with trying to find a job. In spite of these commitments, though, I've still managed to pen a total of thirty-five blogs this year (thirty-seven if you include this one and the final part of these awards coming tomorrow). Below are links to eight of my favourite blogging achievements from 2011.

• When The Faction's Fractioned - After playing Fallout: New Vegas, I reflect on what made that game so much better than Fallout 3 for me - its deep and involving implementation of rivalling factions.
• Enduring Final Fantasy VII - Episode Fourteen - Picking this serial blog back up in early 2011, this particular episode covers one of my favourite parts of the game - the party's visit to Wutai.
• Pokémon Isn't For You Anymore - In possibly my most controversial blog post to date, I claim that the latest Pokémon games aren't made to appease existing fans, but to attract a brand new audience and entertain them instead.
• Thinking With Portals - After having an absolute blast with Portal 2, its unique mechanics have such a profound impact on me that I end up thinking about what I'd do with portals in real life.
• Collecting My Thoughts - The experience of searching for film reels in L.A. Noire prompts me to blog about how I'd like to see modern games handle the classic concept of collectibles.
• A Little Piece Of Personal Gaming History - I find an old PlayStation memory card still full of saves from about eight years ago, and decide to load some of them up as a reminder of my past gaming self.
• Warrior Within's Mechanical Discord - Playing through Warrior Within, it frustrates me how different aspects of the game's design seem to be at odds with each other.
• Enduring Final Fantasy VII - Episode Seventeen - Another of my favourite episodes of this series to date, this one dissects one of the game's most iconic moments - the death of Aerith.

2011 In Moments

While all of the things listed above have made 2011 for me, they're all just auxiliary aspects of my year. What really defined the last twelve months for me were the moments - the things that happened to me, the things that I did, the things that I won't forget for as long as I live. Below are eight such events from 2011, moments that I'll always associate with this year.

• February 28th - My Twenty-First Birthday - I don't usually go in for birthdays. I don't really see the point in celebrating twenty-one as some kind of milestone, either. But while my twenty-first birthday didn't feel like some coming-of-age ritual, it did end up being a pretty great day in its own right. I was able to get some time off work, go home for the weekend and visit my family. That escapism, and being able to spend time with the people I cared about, was what made it special.
• April 21st - 'Christ on a Bike' Live - Come April of this year, I'd already been a fan of comedian Richard Herring for about a year. When I discovered he was coming to Colchester to perform his then-touring Christ on a Bike show, I knew I had to seize the opportunity to see him live for the first time. He didn't disappoint - the show was hilarious, easily the best stand-up routine I've ever seen. After the show we got to chat to Richard for a bit, and he seems like a real stand-up guy (no pun intended). Easily one of the greatest moments of my year.
• June 17th - 'Funny Magnet' Live - Another bullet point, another comedian! This time I went to see another of my favourite stand-ups, Jon Richardson, in Milton Keynes, near where I live. The show was an all-killer, no-filler amalgamation of his last three Edinburgh shows, and as a result it had me in stitches constantly throughout. It's a real shame Jon isn't bigger than he currently is, because he really deserves to be.
• June 28th - Kookie Joins the Family - At the end of June, we welcomed a new addition into the family. Alaskan Malamute pup Kanook (these days shortened to 'Kookie') settled in in no time. He gets on great with Mya, our other dog, who's really come out of her shell since he arrived. None of us can remember what the house was like before Kookie. I guess that's a testament to just how well he fits in here.
• July 13th - The Black Crowes Live - This was the big one. The Black Crowes are one of my three favourite bands, up there with The Who and Paul Weller. I saw The Who in 2007 and Weller in 2009, and this year I was able to complete the Holy Trinity by catching the Crowes at Shepherd's Bush Empire in London. They were fantastic, playing a mixture of classics, newer material, and established covers. My only regret is that I had to leave before the show ended (which resulted in me missing Led Zeppelin's Jimmy Page join the band on stage for their encore). Even despite this setback, though, it was an incredible night and a very fulfilling experience.
• July 20th - My Graduation - The last three years of my life seemed to culminate in spectacular fashion this year, and this was without a doubt the biggest way in which that happened. Donning the robes and hat of a graduate was a surreal experience, and in retrospect it seems kinda crazy that everything I'd been working towards for the last three years unfolded in a matter of seconds, but it was a really great day. My whole family came down and we went for a meal afterwards, and it was just great to have something to finally show off and celebrate about after all my hard work.
• July 27th - My Return Home - Moving out of Essex and coming back to live permanently in Hertfordshire was one of the most surreal experiences of my year. After spending two years in a tiny flat, it was weird coming back here and getting used to the space of a whole house again. It's a shame that my homecoming hasn't been entirely positive (not being able to find a job has made the last five months very tough), but on the other hand it's nice to finally be spending substantial amounts of time with my family and friends.
• December 3rd - The End of Three Great Years - It's a real bummer that the year had to end this way, but back at the start of this month my girlfriend of almost three years told me that we shouldn't see each other anymore. It's been a really tough few weeks trying to grapple with this new reality, and thankfully I have a great family and some incredible friends who are supporting me and keeping me fairly upbeat through this difficult time. Those three years were great, and I'd do anything in my power for a chance for more great years with her, but that's simply not an option anymore. 2012 will be, among other things, a year where I have to pick myself up, dust myself off, and find some new focus in my life. At least we'll always have Dead Space...

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That brings to an end Part Four of My End of 2011 Awards. Tomorrow's fifth and final part will return to the subject of video games, looking at some of the also-rans before I finally unveil my ten favourite gaming experiences of the last twelve months. It's going to be awesome, and I hope I'll see you there. Thanks very much for reading guys, I'll see you around.

Dan

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Currently playing - Halo 2 (XBOX)