GET FIRED UP!: MAY!!!!!!!!!!!!

May is one of my favorite months because it holds my birthday and it also is kind of just the best in many ways. First in real life: BBQs, the unofficial start to summer, the May flowers wrought by April showers, Cinco De Mayo (mexican food!), the list goes on(?). And it also kind of really rocks in 2 out 3 major pop culture areas where summer movies start to ramp up and radios start kicking summer jams. So like I said May FTW. And this May of the Year Two Thousand and Ten is no different, in fact, in music it’s one of the best single months I’ve ever witnessed. Get excited! No NO NO GET FIRED UP:

Quick Review of April’s Fired Up Features:

Kick-Ass- Great R-Rated comic book movie. Some serious violence, a fun story, and the action set-pieces are excellent. This is th first time I can remember dying to have a spin-off of one of the other characters; Hit Girl in this case. I think what really struck me about the movie and story is that it focuses on Batman style superheroes. They don’t have any superpowers, they are just people who think they can make a difference, and they do. It also is a semi-coming-of-age story which I have a soft spot for. All in all I think Kick-Ass was a great triumph and I hope there is impetus for a sequel, if the story is good and original creator Mark Millar is on board, well I’m definitely on board too. 8/10

MGMT- Congratulations- Hmmm. So far this album hasn’t taken up permanent residence on my playlist like I’d expected it to. It’s weirder than their debut Oracular Spectacular, which is one of those weird albums that gets everyone. I guess what’s missing on this collection is the hooks. Oracular was like made in a underground secret hook lab, because those songs are infectious. I didn’t get that from this album right away. That being said, I can see this album as being a grower, meaning one that I’ll like a lot the more I listen to it. 6/10

Friday Night Lights- One of my readers who recently read the Summer movie preview said I should have included FNL on the list just because it is one of the best things coming out of Hollywood right now. I can’t argue with that. FNL has already done something that most shows struggle with mightily: worked in like half of a new cast and refocused the entire storylines on these folks. It’s been excellent to meet some new Dillon residents, my personal favorite addition is Steve Harris (The Practice) as a father who owns a BBQ stand and raises football-loving kids even though his football past puts him on edge toward Dillon’s favorite sons. Pitting the town against each other was a stroke of genius and I’m excited to see the rest of the season play out (Ok, I cheated and saw it when it was on DirecTV, but it’s so good!) 9/10.

For the April Win!

Top Chef Masters- ERRR. Incomplete grade. I’ve only seen like 15 minutes of one episode. Whoops. Maybe that speaks for itself though, Masters lacks the drama of the original and often times the chefs come off rather pompous. Regardless, incomplete grade.

Now onto May’s Offerings:
Movies

Iron Man 2 (5/7)- Ahhhh it’s this weekend. I’m not gonna say much more about it because you can read my thoughts here. But suffice it to say I am excited for this. I’ve seen reviews that are less than glowing, but I’m sure it’s going to be a fun ride.

Music
An illustration to show you how great this month will be; in this photo We are the Donkey and our iPods are the good musics:

Broken Social Scene- Forgiveness Rock Record (5/4)- I have only listened to this album once through, but it’s hard to go wrong with BSS.

The Hold Steady- Heaven is Whenever (5/4)- listened to a few of these jams so far and I can tell you that “The Weekenders” is already vying for my favorite THS song and that’s saying something.

The New Pornographers- Together (5/4)- Supergroup plays classic songs of their style with familiar, but not boring results.

Josh Ritter- So Runs the World Away (5/4)- If you haven’t been a Josh Ritter fan yet, this one can push you over the edge. I have been waiting for this album with bated breath and the first listen through was lovely, quiet, and spacious.

The National- High Violet (5/11)- Not my ideal summer music. But definitely my ideal brooding music. “Bloodbuzz Ohio” is one of the best singles so far this year and will probably remain very close to the top of that list when the clock strikes 12 on this music year.

Band of Horses- Infinite Arms (5/18)- I just love this band, if you don’t love them well then sorry. But I’ve listened to this album a bit and I know that “Older”, which I’ve heard in concert several times and loved, is on there and it’s a great, great tune. It has a kind of wistfulness and whimsy that BOH sometimes lack.

LCD Soundsystem- This is Happening (5/18)- Mr. Murphy returns with songs to get down to. He’s promised big things and has hinted that this might be the best LCD record and also the last. Going out on top? Time will tell, but I see a lot of end-of-the-year lists for this album.

So thanks May music releases, you’ve made a donkey of us all.

The end of LOST (5/23)- This one is kind of MIXED EMOTIONS!!!! for me. I know a couple things:

1. I am excited to see where this thing ends.

2. It’s been a great ride.

3. I am ready for disappointment both at the lack of answers and one of my favorite shows of ever is ending.

4. Kate is the smoke monster. (Or Not).

5. We will be left with one great question, things will not be wrapped up in a bow.

The Wizards in their Words Lair

Guilty Pleasure

Nothing I feel guilty about this month. Might be a sign of me just not caring about all of you JUDGING me anymore. Yeah I watch(ed) Gilmore Girls. Yeah I enjoyed Fall Out Boy‘s last record. And yeah I’ll probably see Babies in theaters. What of it?

Is there anything you all are looking forward to in the world of pop culture this month? There’s a lot going on in pop culture land so dive into some of it. Remember you can always listen to that new album while you play frisbee with your hippie friends in quad. Or take that cute girl you just met to one of the summer blockbusters. Here it comes so much fun! Tell me what you’re fired up for.

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