The Office

I love The Office. I love Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant, and above all, Martin Freeman as the adorable Tim Canterbury. I have all the episodes, and the 2 series-ending specials, on DVD; and I could probably quote most of the dialogue (and sing along with "Free Love on the Free Love Freeway"). This new American one is just not...funny. It has its moments; but they're ripped from the original and the little Tim/Dawn-esque relationship is way too obvious, it doesn't look like a documentary, and the temp guy was way taller in the original...

Basically, I think that part of the reason why the original series is so funny is the very British humour. People make a lot of British humour, the same way that they make a lot of the friendliness of people in Newfoundland; but there's truth to our generalizations, especially in this case. Funny dialogue and gifted writing aside, when you take the same lines (yes, the same EXACT lines), they're funnier with a British accent.

Oh, and this boss guy...he laughs too much. The whole point is that he's supposed to be oblivious to his own stupidity and insensitivity!!

I give this a few episodes at most. It's just not funny.

For anyone out there thinking that The Office isn't worth their time: it is...but go to a store and buy the DVDs of the original series. You will laugh and you will not miss this American one when it fades into amnesia.

My top 10 records of 2004

I've been waiting more than a month to post this, because I was trying to compile a list of 10 records (see post title). Unfortunately, since I'm not someone who makes "best of" lists, I could only come up with 9. But they're good ones! 2004 was a good year for music for me. Here goes:

1. Corin Raymond - Record Lonesome Night (*sigh*...I'm so glad to finally have these songs on CD. Nothing says "lonely" like "lonesome"...)

2. Greg Hobbs - Threats & Promises (I can't put this one down, especially the title track)

3. Loretta Lynn - Van Lear Rose (produced by Jack White of The White Stripes, this is a triumph for Loretta Lynn...a truly beautiful record)

4. The Backstabbers - Deep, Dark & Dangerous (who doesn't love The Backstabbers? And with more original songs, you can't go wrong)

5. Michael Franti - Songs from the Front Porch (I'm not that familiar with Franti's Spearhead work; but this disc is awesome...from what I understand, there are some stripped down versions of Spearhead songs. He can sing and groove with the best)

6. Bob Dylan - Live in 1964 (Well, it's Dylan. He's young, he's funny, and he slays with epic tales and sweet love songs)

7. Jory Nash - Spaz Loves Weezie (Jory's long-awaited new disc is a must have. The new songs are great - he's topped "Lo-Fi Northern Blues", which is not an easy task)

8. k.d. lang - Hymns of the 49th Parallel (the list of songs isn't all that original; but her interpretations of Leonard Cohen's 'Hallelujah' and Joni Mitchell's 'A Case of You' are stunning)

9. Kim Beggs - Streetcar Heart (she's a carpentress troubadour with a wry wit and a green guitar...makes me want to find out what they're putting in the water in Whitehorse...)