Who cares if I've only heard a handful of the albums that have come out this year, and seen even fewer films? I certainly don't- so here are No Target's highlights of the year, each with a short pretentious spiel about how wonderful they are:
Best Song
Geraldine by Glasvegas
On an album that, for the most part, is more depressing than waking up for work on New Year’s Eve (yes, sadly that is relevant), Geraldine offers a brief respite from the teary-eyed anthems that prevade the rest of Glasvegas’ eponymous debut. While the song’s optimism is tempered by a tangible sense of desperation, it never gets close to descending into the self-pity of It’s my own Cheating Heart that makes me Cry or the more recent Please Come Back Home (from the Christmas EP “A Snowflake Fell..."). This song’s got energy, it's got heart, it's got clever lyrics; and now, it's got the highly prestigious No Target Song of the Year Award.
Runners up: Kids by MGMT, A-Punk by Vampire Weekend
Best Film
The Dark Knight
The final scene in Batman Begins made it pretty inevitable that the Joker would turn up in the sequel. And I must admit, after watching the first of Christopher Nolan’s Batman films I felt pretty sorry for whichever poor actor might get cast in the role. Jack Nicholson seemed to have made the part his own in Tim Burton’s Batman, and I didn’t see how anyone could match, yet alone surpass, that masterful performance by one of my favourite actors. But Heath Ledger made me a look a fool for ever worrying. His Joker is as perfectly pitched as you could hope for: sinister but charming; manic yet calculated; suicidal but utterly evervescent.
But it’s not just Ledger who deserves credit (and probably an Oscar). Nolan crafted a genuinely 'thoughtful' action film that still packed in more bangs for your buck than almost any other. Of course, as in most blockbusters, the plot was holier than macaroni, but you won't see an action film this gripping, and dare I say it, thought-provoking, for a very long time.
Runners up: Err, okay, I really didn't see many (good) films this year. I wouldn't mind seeing Wall-e though...
Best Game
Fallout 3
A game which demonstrates perhaps more clearly than any other the power and potential of videogames. Some might say it's not a massive step on from Bethesda's earlier games like Morrowind or Oblivion, and others might say it's not a true Fallout game, but they're missing the point. It's the atmosphere and genuine sense of tension that makes it something truly special. It evokes the desperate struggle to survive brilliantly, let's you go wherever, and do whatever you like, and is full of beautiful little touches that bring the world to life. It's a long way from perfect, but it's as close as you could get from a game this year.
Runners up: Left4Dead, Grand Theft Auto 4
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