Scott Freeman

So, I’m already jazzed to see The Police perform this Sunday night at The Grammys. I’m pumped that Genesis has reformed for a tour and are talking about recording again.
Then, I get the great news this morning that Wham! might be getting back together. Yes, I’m a Wham! fan and I’m not ashamed to admit it (“If you’re gonna do it, do it right baby”). Besides, anything that keeps George Michael out of the rest areas is a good thing.
This got me to thinking: what other reunions would I like to see? This was more difficult than I thought it would be since every 80s band I love is always in a cycle of breaking up, reforming and playing county fairs (et tu, Night Ranger?) or dropping like flies (alas, The Ramones will not make this list.
Anyway, off the top of my head, here is my list of reunions I would most like to see:

10. Shaq and Kobe: Come on guys, don’t let it end like this. I’m not a fan of either of you but I’d like to see you work through the differences and do it one more time. Kobe you need Shaq.

9. Mr. Mister–Their second album, Welcome To The Real World (1985), was a pop masterpiece producing such nuggets as Kyrie and Broken Wings. They recorded a follow-up with the beautiful tune The Border two years later and then disappeared. Their spiritual searching lyrics were a blessing in an otherwise vapid culture.

8. 10,000 Maniacs and Natalie Merchant–It’s been 13 years now since Natalie recorded with the Maniacs. She left us with the poignant unplugged album and then embarked on her solo career. The Maniacs have tried to soldier on but they need each other.

7. ‘Til Tuesday–Aimee Mann and company recorded one of my favorite albums of all time in 1988 when they released Everything’s Different Now. The album inexplicably tanked (seriously, it is one of the greatest albums ever) and the group disbanded shortly after.

6. St. Elmo’s Fire–This was a defining movie for me as it came out just as I was beginning my senior year of high school. The themes of friendship, growing up and finding meaning resonated with my 17 year old self. 22 years later I would love to see where each of the characters ended up.

5. Meatloaf and Jim Steinman–Steinman’s operatic lyrics and Meat Loaf’s bombastic vocals combined to produce one of the greatest rock and roll albums of all time in 1977′s Bat Out of Hell. I know that Meat Loaf just released Bat Out of Hell 3 that included a couple of older Steinman tunes, but I would love to see them lay aside the animosity and the ego and see them produce one more classic.

4. Queen–I know that Freddie Mercury is no longer with us and that his vocals are irreplaceable. But here is what I see: Rock Star: Queen. Let’s bring back the greatest reality show on TV with this band seeking a new front-man. It worked for INXS.

3. Guns and Roses–Axl and crew have promised that this is the year we finally see Chinese Democracy. I’m not holding my breath but I want to hear it.

2. Sports Night–Felicity Huffman is the only member of this classic sitcom who has something better going on. But Desperate Housewives and Studio 60 both need to be put out of their misery. What better way to do it than take another run at it? Seriously, Josh Charles needs the work.

1. Seinfeld–It’s been 9 years. What happened to the gang after they got out of jail? I’m dying to know.

What did I miss?

I cannot get this song out of my head.

I’m never going in a cave again.

I love Oscar, but he is an imperfect beast. Frankly, he often makes the wrong call. This is my list for the 10 biggest mistakes they have made through the years in handing out the statuette for picture:

10. Titanic over L.A. Confidential (1997)–Honestly, I got caught up in the hoopla just like everybody else. The movie that could have sank, instead floated on an Oscar tidal wave. But it was the adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel that stands the test of time. It is deeply reminiscent of the hard-boiled detective stories of yesteryear, full of layers of intrigue and mystery.

9. Dances With Wolves over Goodfellas (1990)–The Academy’s dismissal of Scorcese’s work has been going on for almost three full decades. There is no more glaring oversight than this one. Sure, this was the first of Costner’s overblown ego projects and we didn’t fully realize where that would end up. But come on. If you have both DVD’s in your hands right now, which one are you putting in? I thought so.

8. Lawrence of Arabia over To Kill A Mockingbird (1962)–Don’t get me wrong, Lawrence is a great film but it has none of the epochal virtue of Mockingbird. The adaptation of Harper Lee’s novel signified the beginning of a seismic shift in American culture.

7. Gladiator over Traffic (2000)–Sure, Crowe’s Maximus brings out the inner warrior in each of us. I get that. But Soderburgh weaves a complicated and intricate web of seemingly unrelated stories on the drug war in America that sends the viewer reeling. Seeking dialogue over resolution this is one of the important films of the 21st century. Oscar missed that.

6. Going My Way over Double Indemnity (1944)–Bing Crosby as a priest? No thanks. The definitive film noir? Yes, please.

5. Driving Miss Daisy over every other nominated picture (1989) This year brought us the following nominees: Born on the Fourth of July, Dead Poets Society, Field of Dreams and My Left Foot. There is no defense or excuse for this bone-headed of a pick. It’s the academy’s version of the BCS.

4. All About Eve over Sunset Boulevard (1950)–Both movies explore the theme of aging stars. Bette Davis and, especially, Anne Baxter are phenomenal in Eve. However, it is Gloria Swanson’s frightening, yet moving, portrayal of Norma Desmond that has become a cinematic touchstone.

3. A Beautiful Mind over Lord of the Rings (2001)–How many people did Russell Crowe have to threaten to throw a telephone at to score this upset? Peter Jackson created one of the most amazing visual feasts in cinematic history with a story that many thought was unfilmable. Sure, he was rewarded for the first entry, but he lost here to a joke of a movie.

2. How Green Was My Valley over Citizen Kane (1941)–Sure, Orson Welles had ticked off too many powerful people in the making of this film. And, granted, the Academy made many missteps during the World War 2 years. But this is one of the greatest crimes in its history. I’m not usually given to the build-up of hype over Kane and its overblown melodrama. But it is one of the greatest films ever made. How Green Was My Valley was not.

1. Forrest Gump over The Shawshank Redemption (1994)–Gump, and Hank’s cloying portrayal, make me want to hurl myself under a bus. The fact that this insufferable 2 and a half hour mess of a film beat out one of the true great depictions of redemption ever captured on celluloid is the greatest misstep in the Academy’s history. Treacle, I have met thee, and thy name is Forrest Gump.

Your thoughts or suggestions?

Call me a nerd, but I am an Academy Award buff. I’ve seen every best picture and actor winner. Over the last 10 years or so I’ve seen every best picture nominated film and 90% of the acting nominees.
Tomorrow morning the Academy will announce their nominations for the 79th Academy Awards. Here is the way I’m predicting it will go:

Best Picture–There are three absolute locks in this category. One almost lock. And one movie with a head of steam coming into the announcement.
Babel–Lock
Dreamgirls–Lock
The Departed–Lock
The Queen–Almost a lock
Little Miss Sunshine–Gaining ground fast and at this point is a dark horse to win it all.

Analysis–The Queen seems to have slowed a bit, although it is a fantastic film and I think it still will make it through. People are beginning to acknowledge Sunshine for being one of the best movies of the year and I think it gets through. There are still a few movies that are hanging around that could pull a stunner. They are:
–Children of Men: The problem with this film is that it began to get the rave reviews and the push too late in the game. If the nominations were a month from now, it’s chances would be better.
–United 93: Critics love it, naming it the best picture in 9 different circles. But, divorced from the emotions of those events, it’s not a great film.
–Letters from Iwo Jima: The Academy loves Clint Eastwood. But this time I think he has to settle for just a Director nod.

Best Actor–This is shaping up to be a great year for African American actors. As it shapes up right now, they could pull out three of the four trophies this year. And after the two locks this field gets rather shaky. Here is my best guess:
Forest Whitaker in Last King of Scotland–Lock
Will Smith in Pursuit of Happyness–Lock
Peter O’Toole in Venus–Oft nominated but never a winner. And he won’t win this year. But look for him to haul in #8.
Leonardo DiCaprio–Two stellar performances. The question is which movie garners the nom. I think it will be for Blood Diamond since his role in The Departed is being pushed for supporting. If so, I think Leo will be twice rewarded this year.
Sacha Baron Cohen in Borat–Golden Globe win proves that this performance is being taken seriously. It’s that good.
Note–Look for Ryan Gosling to sneak in here if Leo splits his vote.

Best Actress–For the first time in years this category has more weight than the Actor field.
Helen Mirren in The Queen–Lock. She has won EVERY award for her incredible performance. Time to start dreading the Oscar backlash.
Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada–Lock, but isn’t she always?
Judi Dench in Notes On a Scandal–Lock, but isn’t she always?
Kate Winslet in Little Children–Her fifth! nomination. The next, or current, Meryl Streep.
Penelope Cruz in Volver–I can’t believe I’m writing this.

Supporting Actor–Great performances, with one clear front-runner. And that is:
Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls–Eddie was a revelation in this film. Tremendous.
Djimon Honsou in Blood Diamond–This is one of my favorite performances of the year. His love for his son will preach.
Alan Arkin in Little Miss Sunshine–A career topping performance.
Jackie Earl Haley in Little Children–Kelly Leak is back.
Brad Pitt in Babel–I’m going for a long shot here. It’s Pitt’s time knocking out contenders like Nicholson and Wahlberg.

Supporting Actress–I’m reaching here because I haven’t seen as many films with legitimate contenders in this field. I’ll start with what I think should happen:
Jennifer Hudson in Dreamgirls–WOW. This is a lock. And with Whitaker and Murphy this is three African American frontrunners. A first.
Abigail Breslin in Little Miss Sunshine–Give her the nod. To upstage Steve Carrell, Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette takes some chops.
Cate Blanchett in Notes On a Scandal
Adriana Barraza or Rinko Kikuchi in Babel–But not both.
Emma Thompson in Stranger Than Fiction–I’m afraid this becomes a rubber stamp here rather than giving it to who truly earned a nom: Emily Blunt in The Devil Wears Prada

Best Director–I am hoping against hope that Eastwood in not nominated here, because it is LONG past time that Scorcese is honored. He is the greatest living director to have not won. He’s way past due.
Martin Scorcese for The Departed
Bill Condon for Dreamgirls
Alejandro González Iñárritu for Babel
Clint Eastwood for Letters From Iwo Jima
Steven Frears for The Queen
Note: We could see the Academy acknowledge United 93 here with a nod for Paul Greengrass

OK, that’s it. I felt more confident in my predictions last year but it will be interesting to see. I am now heading to some other prediction sites to see how I compare to the “experts.”
Any thoughts?

Update

I only got 25 out of 30. The only one I got completely was Best Actress. Kinda disappointing. But I did name all the ones in my potential spoilers so that means no true shocks except Dreamgirls getting shut out of best picture. When I saw that Condon was not nominated for Director I sensed it was coming. But I thought it was a lock. I must make a mental note to myself: never underestimate the Academy’s love for Clint Eastwood.
It’s a wide open field. Should be interesting.

Luis Cardenas had one great album. But the guy could bang. He was at one time listed in the Guinness Book for the largest Drum kit in the world. See it in this cover of the Del Shannon classic. Also look for the obligatory Del Shannon and Donny Osmond cameos.

As you know by reading my blog, I am somewhat of a pop culture junkie. I love TV, movies, reading and devour Entertainment Weekly.
However, that does not mean that I like the relentless pounding of certain stories and celebrities into our brains. So here is a list of people and stories that are dead to this blog. If you want to read in the coming months about any of these individuals this will NOT be the place to come:

10. Fred Phelps–What would be better would be if all of us would commit to not bringing any more publicity to this guy and his venomous hatred. He feeds on the publicity, so why do we keep giving it to him?

9. Donald Trump–I can’t even bear to comment, here.

8. Rosie O’Donnell–Ditto above.

7. Pat Robertson–I will not respond to any of his visions, dreams or prophecies this year. The guy can leg press 12,000 pounds. Why would I want to mess with him?

6. Grey’s Anatomy–I know all of you love this. But I don’t watch it and don’t intend to. It has that Friends-Syndrome going on, where the individuals overshadow the show.

5. Britney Spears–Haven’t we all seen enough?

4. Any political scandal that involves the suffix -gate. Isn’t it time to get a little bit more creative? How about using -insky or -anamo? We could refer to the build-up of troops in Iraq as surgeinsky. How about the Scooter Libby stuff being Scootanamo?

3. American Idol–Yeah, I’m probably going to watch at least some of it because my two older girls want to see it. But I’m not going to talk about it.

2. I will not use the following words: emerging, emergent, ancient-future, the prefix neo-, crunchy con, Nazi in relation to any viewpoint, last days, end times, information superhighway, snap, cyber or top 8.

1. The following sports topics will be banned: Mel Kiper’s hair, athletes and coaches leaving the University of Arkansas, nefarious recruiting practices, and the integrity of baseball.

What else should be banned?

My blogging schedule will return to normal on Tuesday when I return to the office full-time. I’m on vacation this week and I am trying to use as much of that time as possible planning sermon and class schedules for the summer and the fall.
It’s not going as well as I would like.
It’s difficult to plan for the future when my current theological underpinnings are being so challenged. Right now, I am leaning toward focusing on relationships in the fall. If we aren’t loving people then we aren’t loving God, right?

In the meantime, here are some scattered thoughts:

–Always great to see Notre Dame lose a bowl game.

–Can we acknowledge that Brady Quinn is just the latest product of the Notre Dame hype machine? He’ll be as great a pro QB as Ron Powlus.

–On that note, it would be fitting for him to drop down to #2 in the draft (Kiper has him #1 at this point). If the Detroit Lions are going to insist on continuing to allow Matt Millen to destroy this team, then they truly deserve Quinn.

–There are no safe picks for the Super Bowl. It’s wide open. I’m pulling for a Chargers/Saints finale.

–If you aren’t watching Beauty and the Geek on the CW then find a replay of last night’s season 3 premiere. It continues to be a top notch reality show that transcends the genre and displays heart and the goodness of people rather than banking on humiliation and cut-throat competition.

–I’ve seen several good movies in the last few weeks in preparation for my Oscar predictions coming up. Right now, I’m hoping for nominations for Little Miss Sunshine and Sacha Baron Cohen.

–On a related note: Am I the only one who did not like either United 93 or World Trade Center?

–Is it just because the Razorbacks are no longer powerhouses? Or have I truly lost the love for basketball?

–I hope to blog soon about books that I have read recently but for now let me recommend three: Gregory MacDonald’s The Evangelical Universalist, David Kuo’s Tempting Faith, and Cormac Mccarthy’s The Road. All of them are tremendous reads.

–I gave Josh Ritter’s The Animal Years the number one slot on my list of best CD’s of 2006. Here is another video from the album. This one is called Lillian, Egypt:

It’s already been pointed out that there is an overwhelming number of female artists on my list this year. I think that there are several reasons for that. First, I’m in touch with my feminine side. A real 90s guy, so to speak.
More importantly, they are just great artists who cranked out some stellar work.

Here is my top 10 of the year. Get these albums.

10.5. Mark Knopfler and Emmylou Harris–All The Roadrunning: You get a bonus album because when I was putting this list together I inexplicably forgot about Rhett Miller. You wouldn’t think that this two seemingly disparate voices would blend together so beautifully. But they do. The sacred ethereal quality to Harris’ vocal lifts Knopfler to heights he has never attained. And in the process he makes the beauty of Harris’ voice a little more tangible to us mortals. This album, recorded over seven years, is a travelogue of heartbreak, hope and redemption. Download This: If This Is Goodbye

10. Brett Dennen–So Much More: If Van Morrison had a guitar-playing, folk-singing child, it would be Dennen. He’s getting lumped in with Jack Johnson, but that’s not fair. This guy can write a song that is much more grounded and real than Johnson. His songs are vivid and powerful with a voice that conveys vulnerability. He looks like he is 12 years old but there is great wisdom in these lyrics. Download This: Ain’t No Reason

9. Dixie Chicks–Taking The Long Way: Hate them all you want. But these Chicks rock. This album is, at turns, reflective and defiant. Vulnerable and at arms-length. But regardless of how you slice it, their musicianship is unsurpassed. These are songs of family, hope and longing. Download This: The Long Way Around

8. Rhett Miller–The Believer: The Old 97′s frontman returns with another stellar solo outing on the heels of 2002′s must-have The Instigator. The title song is a tribute to the late, great Elliot Smith. Every song here is brimming with regret and hope. Miller is a master craftsman of catchy tunes. Download This: Help Me, Suzanne

7. Indigo Girls–Despite Our Differences: After all these years I still don’t know which one is which. And that’s the way I like it. Their voices blend together in anthems of protest, love and social awareness. I didn’t think they could record an album that I would enjoy more than Become You, but I was wrong. This album rocks from start to finish with defiance wrapped around a tender core. If you havent listened to them in a while, it’s high time to check them out again. Download This: Rock and Roll Heaven’s Gate or Pendulum Swinger

6. Tilly and The Wall–Bottoms of Barrels: It’s hard to classify this Omaha quintet. Take a folk sensibility, 60s psychedelia, soaring harmonies, hand claps and the obligatory tap-dancing member of the band and you have the most eclectic and fun band out there. They describe themselves, aptly, as having “pockets full of melodies and a lot of pockets.” They are products of the Conor Oberst machine. And that’s a good thing. You won’t find an album that will put a bigger smile on your face. Download this: Sing Songs Along and Rainbows in the Dark

5. Neko Case–Fox Confessor Brings The Flood: You won’t forget this album after you hear it the first time. Her voice is transcendent and she has made an album that is making all of the best of lists. Deservedly so, for this is a sonic masterpiece. You make get lost in her voice, but don’t let that obscure the sheer weight of those lyrics, exploring working class themes and love for those who have fallen through the cracks. Download This, Hold On, Hold On

4. Jenny Lewis and The Watson Twins–Rabbit Fur Coat: This might be higher if I had listened to it earlier. But, man, this is incredible. Don’t call Lewis a former child actress any longer. The Rilo Kiley singer gets better and better and in this solo debut stakes her territory as a top-notch songwriter. Her voice is enchantingly soulful with a quality of that verges on pure heart-break. This album is rife with songs of spiritual seeking and tremendous stories. Download This: Rabbit Fur Coat.

3. Kasey Chambers–Carnival: My wife is a little freaked out by how much I love Kasey Chambers. But it’s that voice. I can’t get it out of my head. It’s not the best, but it might be my favorite of all time. There is this childlike vulnerability to her vocal that leaves me speechless. In fact, if you listen, you can often hear the break in her singing. I find it enthralling. This album, though not as great as her debut The Captain, but I still can’t stop playing it. It seems that this Aussie has disappointed her long-time fan base with this more commercial effort. But it still rocks. Download This: The Rain

2. Mark Erelli–Hope and Other Casualties: Only Springsteen has recorded as indelible a 9/11 reaction album. This song is born out of the destruction and calamity of one of the darkest days our nation has ever experienced. But out of that carnage comes an album brimming with love and hope. Every song resonates with the power to respond, not with vengeance, but with all that is innately good in us. It is the album to listen to when we wish to stop and reflect as to how we should behave. And more importantly, how we are all children of God. Download This: The Only Way

1. Josh Ritter–The Animal Years: This 29 year old can write. His entry into this years field is unsurpassed in genius, artistry and daring. I defy you to listen to this artist and not be wowed by the greatness of an album that is destined to become one of the most important in rock history. This is his Blonde on Blonde. From the aching “Girl in the War” (video below) to the sonic 9 and a half minute tour-de-force of “Thin Blue Flame” this is, hands down, the album of the year. Download This: Thin Blue Flame

There you have it. The twenty best albums of the year. I didn’t mess with links but, by all means, scope them out on youtube, myspace and their personal websites. You won’t be sorry.

One side note: Sandi Thom, the august, Kate Campbell, Hem, Brett Dennen, Neko Case, Mark Erelli and Josh Ritter are all available on emusic. Sign up and get 25 free downloads. Get an invitation from me and I get 50 free downloads. If you are interested, let me know.

That’s right, I said top 20. That’s because I could not limit the number of albums that I absolutely loved these past 12 months to just 10. There has been some great music churned out recently. There are a million best of lists out there. This, my friends, is the definitive one:

20. Sandi Thom–Smile, It Confuses People: This one makes it on the virtue of the sugary goodness of “I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker.” Thom was a starving British artist. Too poor to tour, she decided to do a virtual tour from her basement. That led to a recording deal and one of the more upbeat, foot-tap worthy, offerings of the year. Download This: I Wish I Was A Punk Rocker (With Flowers In My Hair)

19. Neil Young–Living With War: Young churned out this angry, political soaked record on the fly but the passion and intensity keeps the power of this record afloat. It’s no cheery record and will not withstand the test of time. But for now, it’s tremendous protest music. Download This: After The Garden

18. Jars of Clay–Good Monsters: A thin year for Contemporary Christian Music has a couple of bright spots. One was this veteran group blessing us with another stellar outing. There is nothing new here as they explore the same ground that has served them well for over a decade. Download This: Oh My God

17. Roseanne Cash–Black Cadillac: All the pain, anger and heartbreak of loss channeled into one poetic tour de force. This is an album that captures the the complexity of grief and managing relationships in a fallen world. This is an album that ranks up there with the best that anyone in her family has ever recorded. And that says a lot. Download This: God Is In The Roses.

16. Bruce Springsteen–We Shall Overcome: The fact that the Boss sits at number 16 is testament to how much great music has been churned out this year. I’ve long been a fan of folk music and Pete Seeger is one of my favorite voices of protest music. The melding of Rock’s Poet Laureate with Seeger’s tireless words of activism conspired to produce a disc that I’ll still be listening to when I’m Seeger’s age. Make sure you get the re-released version with extra tunes. Download This: Bring ‘Em Home

15. the august–Thistle, Sparrow and the Tall, Tall Grass: This mesmerizing debut from these Chicago area folk rockerss might be higher on my list but their album came out less than two weeks ago. If this is any indication of the music that they will bless us with then I will be a fan for years to come. Jacky Dustin’s voice is compelling and silky smooth. Download This: Sugar Momma

14. Yusuf Islam–Another Cup: He will always be Cat Stevens to me. That melancholic voice that I grew up listening to is back with his first pop recording in 28 years. It’s like he never left. If you love vintage Stevens, you will love the sound of his voice cranking out those same profound nuggets of searching for truth, even if you don’t like his destination. Download This: Maybe There’s A World

13. Kate Campbell–For The Living Of These Days: Campbell is a revelation as she parlays a love for hymns, traditional and contemporary, into a disc of unsurpassed beauty and meaning. Listen to this offering and you will come face to face with a Jesus of incomparable grace and mercy. Download This: God of Grace and God of Glory

12. Hem–Funnel Cloud: You will not find a more ethereal voice than that of Sally Ellyson. This album is a further indication that they are the heir apparent to all things Timmons and display the sleepy Americana that would make the Cowboy Junkies proud. Fall into that sweet vocal and allow those elaborate strings to wash over you and you will fall in love with these masters of haunting folk-rock. Download This: Not California

11. Derek Webb–Mockingbird: This is the one Christian album in the last 10 years that made me stop mourning the passing of Rich Mullins. This is a wake-up call for the church to be the in-breaking of the Kingdom. A welcome breath of fresh air in the derivative world of CCM. Download This: A King and a Kingdom

Tomorrow I will be back with the 10 best albums of 2006. Any thoughts about the first 10? Any guesses about what you will see in the next post?