2011 was the best year of everyone’s life. An earthquake united the entire East Coast in dance, and We Bought a Zoo came out in theaters. Judging by my start to 2012 (alcohol poisoning, girlfriend left me, taking approximately 3 baths a day), it looks to be another banner year for humanity. To pay homage to 2011, I’ve compiled lists of the 11 best movies, music, and books I read last year that you could potentially partake in this year making your this year marginally better than your last year as your last year lacked the knowledge presented by my last year lists this year. Thank you so much.
Top 11 Movies of 2011
1. The Artist
2. Moneyball
3. Beginners
4. Rango
5. Zeis Girl Von Ze Dragon Tattoo
6. Contagion
7. Young Adult
8. Martha Marcy May Marlene
9. Drive
10. Source Code
11. Tree of Life
Top 11 Songs of 2011
1. Lotus Flower by Radiohead
2. Video Games by Lana Del Rey
3. Midnight City by M83
4. Beth/Rest by Bon Iver
5. Niggas in Paris by JAY Z and Kanye West
6. Will Do by TV on the Radio
7. Holdin’ Onto Black Metal by My Morning Jacket
8. Kaputt by Destroyer
9. Yonkers by Tyler, The Creator
10. Glass Table Girls by The Weeknd
11. Afterburner by Panda Bear
Top 11 Albums of 2011
1. Bon Iver, Bon Iver by Bon Iver
2. Helplessness Blues by Fleet Foxes
3. Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming by M83
4. Kaputt by Destroyer
5. Aesthethica by Liturgy
6. Smoke Ring for my Halo by Kurt Vile
7. Celestial Lineage by Wolves in the Throne Room
8. Watch the Throne by JAY Z and Kanye West
9. Goblin by Tyler, The Creator
10. House of Balloons by The Weeknd
11. Apocalypse by Bill Callahan
Special Mention: Tomboy by Panda Bear, excluded due to bias.
Top 11 Books Read by Carmen This Year
Aside: It was my New Year’s Resolution to read 51 books this year. I accomplished this goal, and recommend it to no one.
1. The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes
2. Waiting for the Barbarians by J.M. Coetzee
3. Room by Emma Donoghue
4. The Marriage Plot by Jeffery Eugenides
5. The Hours by Michael Cunningham
6. Delicate Edible Birds by Lauren Groff
7. Eating Animals by Jonathon Safran-Foer
8. The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht
9. Hateship, Loveship, Courtship, Friendship, Marriage by Alice Munro
10. Leaving the Atocha Station by Ben Lerner
11. Stories for the Nighttime and Some for the Day by Ben Loory