f . , . :1 i ti x.l ri - LAN ; ji 4 L . { « M'' I ' ' III 111 1 ,, , _ _ :.u w D The Michigan Daily I michigandailycom ( Thursday, January 5, 2012 .EST o20 Best Albums . JayZ&Kanye est-Watch the Throne The ostentatious, Rolly-on-my-arm, Bentleys-and-broads rap - ubiq- uitous on Watch the Throne - is nothing spectacularly original. But what separates Jay and Ye from the other McMillionaire clowns is the scope and vision that propelled them to their Beyonce-shaped winner's circle in the first place. Throughout their careers, Ye-Z have succeeded by eschewing rap stereo- types rather than attachingspace-shuttle-sized engines to the back of them and blasting that shit into outer space. Watch the Throne is no different. Ye-Z plant their Yves Saint Laurent flag everywhere, conquering foes like dubstep, Lex Luger and Frank Ocean with German shepherd snarls and Genghis Khan cries. And they probably aren't even tryingthat hard. Jay-Z and Kanye West chum around like old pals on Watch the Throne, trading verses like Pokemon cards, proving, once and for all, thatgame truly does recognize game. - Andrew Eckhous Best Albums, Page 2B ROC-A-FELA -ECORDS Best TV Shows 1. Game of Thrones In its heyday, HBO created programs that transcended genres and offered something for everyone. With "Game of Thrones," HBO has worked its magic again, turning George R.R. Martin's fantasy saga into a refreshingly audacious program with incredible mass appeal. The show's set in a world where seasons last for years and dragons used to fly around. But that's largely ignored. Instead, HBO presents a delightfully dark tale full of political and military intrigue. Armies move at the behest of lords manipulated by seemingly minor players, such as Littlefinger and the Imp - Tyrion Lannister - who truly run the show. Illusions of chivalry and grace are shattered by pragmatism and horror. Elaborate plots and wry wit are a credit to the writers room. The cin- ematography and production design are a testament to HBO's attitude of "Budget? Psh, we can pay for it with Skinemax." And of course, there's that final, shockingbeheading. - David Tao >> Best TV Shows, Page 3B Best Films 1. Drive A guy supplements his income by getaway driving for the Los Angeles underworld and becomes trapped between the mafia and the woman he loves. It sounds utterly conventional, yet somehow, "Drive" defies expec- tations, an example of everything Hollywood's missing. Director Nicolas Winding Refn's masterpiece is more arthouse than blockbuster, but it isn't the arrogant wish-fulfillment of "Midnight in Paris," nor is it Terrence Malick's, "I studied philosophy at Harvard" brand of condescension. Refn takes us back to a time when filmmakers cared about how their films looked, designing the composition of each frame, each action set piece, each incredibly choreographed outburst of white-hot violence, with meticulous detail. With the help of lead actor Ryan Gosling, who turns in his best performance, Refn's filnmreinvigo- rates the crime-action genre, breathing new life into a tired field. - David Tao Best Movies, Page 2B DESIGN BY KRISTI BEGONJA