The 10 Best Albums of 2009

Disregard my absence from this blog. You know I couldn't pass up the opportunity to make a year-end list! Here it is, and once again, I didn't try to make picks that would be popular with an audience of hipsters or scene kids, I chose albums based on my own personal definition of what good music is and should be. Enjoy!

10. Lady GaGa - The Fame / The Fame Monster



Now, I'm well aware of how many scene points I lose for this pick, but you simply won't be able to look back on 2009 without having a Lady GaGa song playing along to your memory. It was a huge year for GaGa and Taylor Swift (unfortunately, I'm really happy for Taylor, but GaGa had one of the best videos of all time so I can't have Ms. Swift in my countdown too). Whereas Taylor mostly appeals to heartbroken teenage girls, GaGa appeals to a wider audience. You may think GaGa is weird, you may think she's a dude, but as much as you resist, her songs are way too catchy to not sing along to. "Bad Romance", "Paparazzi", "LoveGame", and "Poker Face" have all been mainstays on iTunes' list of top singles throughout 2009 so it's hard to deny that others would agree this is a great album from Lady GaGa.

9. Thrice - Beggars



I was very confused by Thrice's quadruple-disc The Alchemy Index in 2007 and 2008. I never fully understood what they were going for, and I figured it may be time to throw in the towel when it came to loving this band; however, Thrice returned with a vengeance with Beggars in 2009. With one of their most cohesive and focused efforts to date, Thrice managed to salvage their sinking ship of a career by going back to what they do best. Teppei Teranishi's guitar riffs are as atmospheric as ever and Dustin Kensrue has ditched his twangy country-style vocals for his traditional scratchy scream. Four albums later, this is an effort the band can be proud of.

8. Taking Back Sunday - New Again



Taking Back Sunday has never disappointed me... until now. Though they still managed to put out a good product, the loss of guitarist/back-up vocalist Fred Mascherino was a major blow to a band that has endured innumerable lineup changes over the years. While Mascherino was a good replacement for former guitarist John Nolan (the two had similar vocal stylings, in my opinion), new guitarist Matt Fazzi has taken the band in a totally different direction filling in Mascherino's spot. This is most evident on the song "Swing". It's not necessarily bad... it's just new and different. It also presents songs like "Cut Me Up Jenny" which is actually my favorite song on the album, it's just a big departure from classic TBS. For more classic TBS see (or hear, rather) "Carpathia" and "Everything Must Go" - an awesome ode to a failed engagement of singer Adam Lazzara's. This album can be hit or miss at times. For every "Sink Into Me" there is a "Summer, Man" that makes you question the band's direction. But taken at face value, it's still an enjoyable listen.

7. Jay-Z - The Blueprint 3



"The only rapper to rewrite history without a pen" is back with his third installment on the Blueprint series. The bad thing about coming out with another Blueprint is that critics and fans will always compare it to previous Blueprint albums, and everybody knows the original is always the best. The Blueprint is one of my favorite hip-hop albums of all time, so, naturally, The Blueprint 3 had a lot to live up to in my mind. The greatest accomplishment on this album is Jay's remarks about Auto-Tune on "D.O.A". Aside from that, Jay doesn't seem to make any profound statements. He seems to spend too much time trying to prove he is the game's greatest when I thought we had all agreed on that already. After the king makes his decrees on "D.O.A." he moves into radio-friendly territory with songs like "Empire State of Mind". There are some great collaborations here like "Hater" featuring Kanye West and "Already Home" featuring Kid Cudi, but even Jay's vocal stylings can become redundant when left alone on songs like "Venus Vs. Mars" and "Reminder". And for all you 80's music fans out there, "Young Forever", featuring a sampling of Alphaville's "Forever Young" and guest vocals by Kanye's protege, Mr. Hudson, is a must-listen.

6. Cobra Starship - Hot Mess



Cobra Starship is never going to be the kind of band that pulls a Green Day and starts trying to make these big, grandiose statements with their music. Like the song says, "I don't care if I'm a guilty pleasure for you." Cobra will never be anything more than a guilty pleasure, but that doesn't mean that they don't make good music. While the album cover and title may mislead some to believe this is just another neon-covered electro band with not much to offer, let me say, well, don't judge an album by its cover. From their good-guy bashing "Nice Guys Finish Last" to their Gossip Girl-aided hit single "Good Girls Go Bad", it's clear this band is trying for nothing more than to be the background music to your next party. If that's the case, then mission accomplished. This is one hell of a fun album.

5. Matt & Kim - Grand



Sometimes less is more. It seems that New York indie-rockers Matt and Kim have fine-tuned this saying with their second album, Grand. You may recognize their opening song "Daylight" from those super classy Bacardi commercials, but get ready to hear them more heavily featured in every indie movie and TV show to come (they've already made it onto Gossip Girl a few times). Anyone looking for a more poppy version of the White Stripes will enjoy songs like "Good Ol' Fashioned Nightmare" and "Lessons Learned". Still, songs like "I'll Take Us Home" show why all you really need for a great song is drums and a keyboard. Matt & Kim are the indie definition of simplicity.

4. Yeah Yeah Yeahs - It's Blitz!



For me, this album is the equivalent of 2008's Day and Age by The Killers. It presents a band that I "kinda like" and finally pushes them over the edge into a band that I love. In both cases, all it took was a little more electronica and 80's sound. To me the Yeah Yeah Yeahs have always been a good indie band, but they've never leapt through the speakers as they have on this most recent effort. Whether Karen O is sexually moaning on "Zero" or matching her vocal melody to the beat of the song on The Ting Tings-esque "Dull Life", her voice is simply irresistible. Just put on "Dragon Queen" and allow yourself to be seduced through your speakers.

3. Brand New - Daisy



Although it seems this album would make more logical sense being made between 2003's emo archetype Deja Entendu and 2006's The Devil and God Are Raging Inside Me, it's still a welcome addition to Brand New's amazing catalog of music. The opening song, "Vices", showcases the raw emotion of Jesse Lacey's voice that was void through most of The Devil and God... Lacey's usual dark lyrics are on display, as usual, on songs like "At The Bottom" and "Daisy" as he gives us yet another glimpse into his tortured soul. Longtime fans of the band will appreciate the more energetic songs like "Gasoline" and "Noro" that are reminiscent of Deja Entendu. With Daisy, Brand New continues to show why they are one of the most important bands of our time.

2. Phoenix - Wolfgang Armadeus Phoenix



The first time I heard anything off of this album was when Phoenix surprisingly performed on Saturday Night Live and played "Lisztomania" and "1901", two songs that I immediately fell in love with. As it turns out, those are the first two songs on their new album and it just might be the best one-two-punch on any album released this year. Other songs like "Lasso" and "Fences" also impress. While Cobra Starship is finally being appreciated in the pop scene, it seems that Phoenix is finally being appreciated in the indie scene, and it's about time. From start to finish, Wolfgang Armadeus Phoenix is an amazing album by an amazing band.

1. Paramore - Brand New Eyes



Once a year an album comes out that leaves you at a loss for words. In 2009, this was that album. This presents a challenge for me, since I have to explain why I think it's the best album of the year. Simply put, no other album released this year has offered a more wide range of lyrical content, vocals, and musical genres while still managing to sound cohesive. Paramore became pop-rock's new darlings with their release of Riot! in 2007, and there are still those token pop tunes like "Ignorance" and "Where the Lines Overlap" here, but there are also breath-taking acoustic ballads like "The Only Exception" and "Misguided Ghosts". There are hints of indie and emo on songs like "Playing God" and songs like "Turn It Off" that really show vocalist Hayley Williams' vocal maturation since Paramore's last album. Forget about Paramore being a band for teenage girls, if Williams' vocals on "All I Wanted" don't give you chills, then you are hardly human.

I Just Need Some Space (The Death of Myspace)

Remember when Myspace was "the next big thing"; when all the old people on CNN were trying to understand the complexity of Myspace and its world takeover? We are now far removed from those days. Now those same people are trying to figure out Twitter and its place in society. Tom must be pissed.

Myspace really was the innovator here. Sure, it wasn't the first social networking website, but it was definitely the first to catch on and attract the masses. Facebook, in my opinion, has taken the torch right out of Myspace's hands, and Twitter is always nipping at their heels (Friendster, where you at?). Partly in an attempt to keep up with the changing times, I have recently been considering deleting my Myspace account. Why? Let me count the reasons...

I think most people would agree, Facebook is the real innovator now. Myspace is constantly trying to copy Facebook in a desperate attempt to stay relevant, which is transparent to everyone who uses both sites. The last "idea" Myspace had that really caught on was choosing your top friends. That came over to Facebook in the form of a downloadable application. Since then, Myspace has taken status updates from Facebook and has even tried (but failed) to make people's pages and homepages more aesthetically pleasing. Hell, even Twitter got its idea (its only idea) from Facebook. It basically took Facebook's status updates and cut everything else out of the equation.

What I'm getting at is that I hardly even check my Myspace anymore. I'll check my Facebook on average about four times per day. That's what I used to do with Myspace, but now I might not check it for a few days. Not only does Myspace feel kind of left in Facebook's dust, but it also just doesn't interest me much anymore. My friends don't seem to use it as much either. Nobody blogs, nobody writes me comments or messages like they used to. Most of my online communication between friends occurs through Facebook now.

When I first got Myspace, I had about 15 real friends on it. I got it because my ex-girlfriend insisted. I originally thought it was a dating website and was angry that she would use it while we were dating... little did I know. My first profile pic was the typical bathroom mirror self-portrait. My first blogs were immature and angst-ridden. Now Myspace is associated with all those thoughts and those feelings of being young. Facebook feels more mature (since I got it while in my junior year of college). After a couple years, I deleted my Myspace out of annoyance and then opened a new account weeks later. If I delete it this time, it will surely be permanent. I'm just not sure if I'm ready to make that leap yet. Maybe I'm just being reminiscent, but I feel like Myspace could still have a comeback up its sleeve. I think at this point I just need some space from "the 'space".

The thing about Warped Tour...

The thing about Warped Tour is... it's fake. By that, I mean that it's like that guy/girl who pretends to be something they're not. You know, a poseur who says things and acts a certain way just to seem cool.

Before I go any further though, it is worth noting that I love the old Warped Tour. Even the ones I didn't go to because I was "too young" in my parents' opinion to go to concerts. I love what it was about: combining good music with extreme sports, and still asking a reasonable ticket price. Over the years I feel like Kevin Lyman and Co. have lost sight of their goals and of what they set out to achieve in the first place. After making Warped Tour a yearly rite of passage for me and my friends, I actually haven't gone in the past three years. The lineups just don't attract me anymore. Ticket prices are still reasonable, but I think to myself, "Do I really want to mosh in 100-degree heat all day with teenyboppers just to hear one or two bands that I like?" Now, part of what was cool about Warped was always discovering bands you had never heard and leaving the show with a new album to buy. Somehow though, even that has lost its appeal when you know all the bands that play this show pretty much sound shitty, or sound just like every other band out there.

Sure, there are some great memories of Warped Tours past, but memories are all they are. I remember going to my first Warped in 2000 with my best friends and making them listen to some of my favorite bands like Mest, Early November, and Senses Fail. We stayed till the very end to see Sum 41; singing "Fat Lip", feeling like I was either going to touch the stage or die from crushed lungs. We left with sunburn and dehydration. We were tired, hungry and miserable, but we knew we would be back next year. With Warped I got the opportunity to see Less Than Jake, New Found Glory, The Ataris, Taking Back Sunday, The Used, My Chemical Romance, Fall Out Boy, The Transplants, even Billy Idol. I watched Underoath and Hidden In Plain View play a side stage to a crowd of about 20 people. I met one of my favorite bands, Motion City Soundtrack, and didn't even have to wait in line to do so. True, over the years Warped Tour has provided me with numerous unforgettable opportunities, but I think 2006's Warped may be my last.

The list of bands becomes more and more ridiculous to me every year. Sometimes it seems like the bands are chosen based on if they're popular and mainstream and not if they are good or "punk". Then again, that is smart if you're trying to sell tickets isn't it? Yes, Warped Tour has always been touted as the punk-rock mecca of summer, but as many of my friends love to point out, there isn't very much "punk" about Warped anymore. The truth is, Warped has had artists playing every year who were by no means considered punk: Sugar Ray, Limp Bizkit, Eminem, Kid Rock, Incubus, Black Eyed Peas, Deftones, Staind, Alien Ant Farm... the list goes on. There have always been artists on the bill who seem to be there just to shake things up. The tour has become increasingly watered-down to the point where Katy Perry played the tour last year. I'm not saying that's good or bad, but I am saying it's not punk-rock. Warped Tour isn't always a punk-rock show with punk-rock bands, but it's usually an interesting show with a lot of popular bands. And if I'm in charge of booking and promoting Warped Tour, I would always go with the latter because that is what will sell. The former will give you more credibility, but nobody ever got rich off of credibility, right Kevin?

The thing about Warped Tour is... I can't blame it for what it has become.

Why "The Hangover" Wasn't Funny

When I first saw this preview, weeks before it began running in theaters and on TV, I thought, "This has the potential to be the funniest movie ever." I immediately liked the idea behind the movie, I was interested to see how funny Bradley Cooper could be, and the fact that the producer of "Old School" was directing made this film sound too good to be true. Turns out, it was. I had to wait a long time after the film's release to see it. Even then, I ended up going to see it alone as I had just moved and couldn't find anyone who wanted to go see it for their 5th time. I saw the movie on a Tuesday afternoon. I was in good spirits and I had high hopes. Unfortunately, not the previews, the stellar reviews, nor the raves I heard from everyone around me who incessantly quoted the movie could accurately portray how the movie really was. Maybe it was damned from the beginning with my high expectations, but I just didn't think it was THAT funny. And no, it has nothing to do with the fact that I saw it alone. I watch movies alone all the time and still have ended up liking the good ones. It seems like some people like this movie just because. Because their friends like it or because it's about partying in Vegas. Well, I just thought it was... OK. Here's why:

1. Bad Casting
First off it's easy to tell these four (but mostly three) guys have no chemistry. They're not believable as friends. They seem like four people who don't even know each other, yet end up hanging out in Vegas. Their comedy stylings in general are vastly different from one another. Bradley Cooper is a great actor. I have liked him in all of his other movies, but the guy is just not funny. They didn't even try to make him funny in this movie. He was clearly chosen as the "star power" and as the "good-looking guy". Ed Helms is funny on "The Office" but that's because the show fits his comedy style. "The Office" is dry and subtly humorous. "The Hangover" is obviously supposed to be over-the-top-funny and based on physical comedy. Lastly, I have never found Zach Galifianakis to be funny in anything he has done. His sense of humor just comes off as "weird" to me. Conversely, I did think he was funny in "The Hangover". He definitely had his moments (including my favorite scene of the movie), but it wasn't enough to save the movie. Galifianakis was supposed to be the comedic relief, yes, but the other guys had to contribute some comedy too.

2. Bad Ending (Spoiler Alert!!)
Throughout the movie you are waiting and wondering where Doug could be... then you find out... and it's just not funny. The roof? Seriously? The ending would have been far more funny to me if they stuck with the idea of having Doug been kidnapped by the Chinese mafia. That gives that element of "crazy Vegas story" to the movie. Having him be on the roof for 24 hours does not.

3. Bad Idea
When it turns out that the real reason the guys can't remember anything is because Alan put roofies in their drinks, I pretty much lost hope for this movie. Why? Well, because although I have never got blackout drunk, I do love to hear stories from friends who had crazy nights of partying only to blackout and have the story retold to them the next day. And if there's one thing I love more than these stories, it's Vegas stories. Something crazy ALWAYS happens in Vegas. When you combine the two stories into one, I'm all ears. Now see, the preview makes it look like these guys just had such an awesome time, and they got so drunk, that they can't remember anything from the night before. This makes the story interesting because it is relatable. Everyone either has a blackout story or has heard a good blackout story. If you take that element away and say that the characters don't remember anything because they were roofied, it makes it less relatable. It also makes it a little scarier and a little more creepy (especially in terms of the Alan character). Had someone told me this story as if it happened to them, the part where they tell me they found out that one the guys, who they hardly knew in the first place, drugged them is the part where I stop smiling and sitting indian-style on the floor with two fists at my chin and immediately take a concerned stance.

4. No Surprises
The only real surprise in this movie comes when the mafia turns over "Doug" who turns out to be Mike Epps. The rest of the movie is pretty predictable, and that's the problem. A movie like this should have as many twists and turns as possible so the viewer is drawn in more and more and wants to get to the bottom of things just as much as the characters do. I don't have many suggestions as to how they could have done this (beside not putting Doug on the roof and not having a fake Doug played by Mike Epps), but how about a star cameo? This movie really lacks star power, but it shouldn't have. They underutilized Heather Graham (probably the biggest star in the movie) and they underutilized their "Old School" roots. The best they could do was get Matt Walsh to play a doctor and get Dan Finnerty back as the wedding singer? Seriously? I mean, I loved the return of the foul-mouth wedding singer, don't get me wrong, but out of all the stars who did "Old School": Will Ferrell, Luke Wilson, Vince Vaughn, Ellen Pompeo, Jeremy Piven, Sean William Scott, Juliette Lewis... none of these people could make cameos? Not even Juliette Lewis!? I kept waiting for a cameo that never came. Movies like "Old School" and "Anchorman" have proven the power of the cameo and it almost seems to have become a comedic staple. I guess the people behind "The Hangover" thought they had enough in the mix to make box office gold, and well... they were right. But that doesn't mean I liked it as much as everyone else seems to hype it up to be. And I definitely won't be seeing the inevitable sequel.

Long Live The King

I don't really know where to begin with this one, but I definitely felt that I couldn't get on with my day if I didn't at least say a little bit about The King of Pop, Michael Jackson.

Michael Jackson was not just a man, he was an idea. His musical career made him larger than life, as did his life outside of music. From dancing on top of SUVs to holding babies out of windows, there is a reason that we couldn't stop watching this man. Michael Jackson had "it". Whatever "it" is. The "it" that people in Hollywood look for. Michael gave us a new dance move, dozens of innovative music videos, and even more hit songs.

I remember watching his music videos as a kid and thinking with each one that he would never be able to top it. Then, of course, he would go on and outdo himself. I remember "Thriller" was the first video that truly captivated me. I remember the day my parents bought his "History" album. They brought it home and then they never saw it again, because my brothers and I listened to it daily. We loved his old stuff and we loved his new stuff. At the time, Michael Jackson WAS music to me. There was literally nothing else. Michael Jackson's music was all I knew. Sure, as I grew up I fell in love with other artists and their music, but Michael Jackson was my gateway drug. The way you could listen to "Thriller" and feel cautious and afraid, the way you could listen to "Beat It" and get pumped up, the way you could listen to "Don't Stop Till You Get Enough" and feel like dancing; Michael Jackson made me realize that music, when done correctly, could make people feel certain emotions more deeply than any other art-form could.

Today the world has suffered a great loss. Michael, from the time he was a part of the Jackson 5 'till the time he made his last solo album, changed the face of music forever and influenced thousands of musicians and music-lovers in the process. The man may be gone, but his legacy will live on forever.

Rest in Peace, Mike.

Batman Casting Game

Last night I watched "The Dark Knight" on HBO and it got me all hyped up for the Batman movie franchise again. I started researching who was rumored to be in the third installment and who was rumored to be playing the characters. I remember doing the same research before "The Dark Knight" came out and hearing dozens of names tossed around that never came to fruition. A popular rumor was that Adrien Brody was going to play The Joker and I thought this made sense because he has a long nose and is creepy looking. This time around, the popular rumors are that Phillip Seymour Hoffman will play Penguin and Johnny Depp will play The Riddler. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if both roles were filled by other actors come filming time. Anyway, that got me thinkin'... Who would I cast to play some of the popular Batman characters? So now I give you said list... in alphabetical order!:

Catwoman: played by Mischa Barton


I know this is a pick that a lot of hardcore comic book lovers will hate, but I really feel like it's a good pick. Mischa is good at playing a girl who is simultaneously sexy, vulnerable, and mean. I would say those three adjectives sum up Selina Kyle (AKA Catwoman) pretty well. Not only that, but Mischa has a similar figure to Michelle Pfeiffer, who I think did a decent job playing the part in "Batman Returns". The only question in my mind is how Mischa's chemistry with Christian Bale would be. That would probably be the deciding factor.

Clayface: played by Mickey Rourke


I do feel kinda bad for typecasting Mickey Rourke for this role, as it seems these are the only kinds of roles he gets nowadays ("The Wrestler", "Sin City"). Then again, the dude basically has a clay face already anyway, and he knows how to play those loose-cannon, badass types perfectly.

Harley Quinn: played by Amy Poehler


Granted, Amy Poehler has never acted in a movie that was as serious or as dark as Batman, but I think she has the ability to do so. She definitely has the humorous, perky side of the character down, and I think she could even pull off that annoying accent Harley used in the animated series (New York accent?). Now, I don't think this character is necessary if there is no Joker, and , NO, I don't think they should find someone else to take over Heath Ledger's role. They can do without it. But, if they ever did decide to find a new Joker, I think I found the perfect accomplice for them.

The Mad Hatter: played by Johnny Depp


I like Depp as The Riddler, but I think he would do a better job as the mind-controlling Mad Hatter. I think with this role, Depp could be a little darker and a little bit more delirious than he could with The Riddler. As it turns out, I was searching for a picture of Johnny Depp and I found the pic above. I guess he's playing The Mad Hatter in Tim Burton's adaptation of "Alice in Wonderland" so this surely won't happen for Batman, but I stand by my selection. Obviously, Tim Burton agrees.

Mr. Freeze: played by Hugh Laurie


Hell, Hugh Laurie basically already plays this character on "House". This would probably be the easiest acting transition for any of the actors and actresses I have chosen. Hugh could play that vengeful, cold and calculating personality that sums up Victor Fries. My only concern is that he might have to bulk up and get into better shape to make this work.

The Penguin: played by Jon Lovitz


I honestly don't feel like anyone could play this part better than Danny DeVito did, but that would be a cop-out to stick with him. So in the interest of fairness I have chosen Jon Lovitz. Now here I too am concerned whether Lovitz can take this role seriously, since he is used to only doing comedy. My basic thought process was that he already looks like The Penguin so I'm sure he could pull it off somehow.

Poision Ivy: played by Jayma Mays


I thought Uma Thurman did a lame job playing this role in "Batman Forever". Jayma Mays (AKA my new crush) would do a better job and she would probably look better while doing it too. Mays is capable of playing that shy biologist and that seductive vixen at the same time. And with everyone obsessing over this whole "Go Green!" campaign, this seems like a character that should definitely be in the works.

Robin: played by Ben McKenzie


Yes, I'm digging into more former cast-members of "The O.C." for this one. Shia LaBeouf has been rumored to be getting this role, but I feel like that would be too easy. Shia is Hollywood's golden boy lately and he has been getting all the good roles. I don't even think Shia is in good enough shape to play Robin, and I don't know if he can play a "darker" role. Ben McKenzie is 100% capable of playing a "dark" role, and he's perfect at playing that young, broken, brooding-type. Plus, McKenzie is in good shape (he now stars as a rookie cop on NBC's "Southland"). This is a guy who was born to play the strong, silent-types, and he would do justice to the difficult role of Batman's sidekick.

The Riddler: played by Denis Leary


Everyone from Eddie Murphy to Anthony Michael Hall has been rumored to be playing this part, but I think we can do one better than Hall with Denis Leary. Now I don't like Denis Leary, but I think he has a crazy cynical kind of personality that deserves to be in one of these movies. I originally pictured him making a good Joker, but I think he would fit well as The Riddler too. Also, to me, he just kinda looks like a guy who could be crazy obsessed with puzzles and riddles.

Sometimes Ideas Take Time

Earlier this week, Fox aired a preview of its new show "Glee" which I watched on Hulu. My initial reaction to this show was: "What took so long?" "Glee" is a sort of musical comedy. Its basic premise is that a teacher tries to reclaim his glory days of being a singer in the glee club by starting a glee club and recruiting all the best singers around campus. Complications arise with his family, and he must decide to choose between teaching and coaching the glee club or doing more to help his family.

Well, over the past few years we have seen "Mama Mia!", "High School Musical" and "Across the Universe" have box-office success, we have seen regular music numbers on popular show like Scrubs and Family Guy, and we two of the most watched shows on TV are "American Idol" and "Dancing With the Stars". Why not make a show based around singing and dancing?

I personally enjoyed the show and think it will do well. It might have faired a little better had it come out a year or two ago, but hopefully Fox will air the show during a time-slot that will aid its success. In the pilot episode, the characters are immediately intriguing. Thankfully, the main character, Mr. Schuester, is played by a good actor. He is good at giving off that "teacher" vibe and he, like the show itself, has an interesting and dry sense of humor. Jane Lynch (the mom in "Talladega Nights" and the Steve Carell's boss in "40-Year-Old Virgin") brings sure-fire laughs to the show as the school's cheerleading coach. Also, about 10 minutes into the show, I already had a crush on the neurotic red-headed teacher who has a secret crush on Mr. Schuester. Just my luck, right?

The musical numbers were awesome. The final scene included a singing and dancing version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'". The background music is even a cappella versions of instrumental songs... It's better to listen to it than to have me explain it. I could say the same about the show. If you like any of the aforementioned musical movies and TV shows, or anything on Broadway, I'm sure you would enjoy "Glee" as well.