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Show WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2015 1 continued from Page anticipated film BY SABA IIAMEDY MCT The Force is with moviegoers. Star Wars: Episode VII The Force Awak- - is the most anticipated movie of 2015, according to a Fandango survey. The nations largest movie ticket company said this week that the upcoming franchise blockbuster was selected as the top fan pick 1 by more than ,000 people surveyed. Abrams-directed J film takes place 30 The J. years 1 UR! DIXIESUNNEWS.COM S -- 7- ALBUMS av- -j ens L after the events of Return of the Jedi. Its a new beginning for the franchise, created by George Fucas, who sold his Fucasfilm empire to Disney in 2012 for about $4 billion. Mark Harhill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison reprise their roles as Fuke Skywalker, Ford Princess Feia and Han Solo. Cast newcomers include Adam Driver, of Girls, and Oscar-awar- d winner Fupita Nyongo. The film will hit theaters Dec. 18. Superhero film Avengers: Age of Ultron, which debuts May 1 , was voted the second most anticipated movie. The Marvel film follows Ron Man (Robert Downey Jr.), Thor (Chris Hemsworth), Captain America (Chris Evans), the Hulk (Mark Ruffalo), Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson) and Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner) as they battle against Ultron (James Spader). In third place, fans picked The Hunger Part 2, the final Games: Mockingjay installment of Fionsgates young adult franchise starring Jennifer Fawrence and Josh - Hutcherson. Fifty Shades of Grey, based on the erotic romance novel by E.F. James, was fourth, followed by Jurassic World. Meanwhile, Minions was the No. 1 anticipated family film for next year. The film, set to open July 10, is a spinoff of Universal Pictures blockbuster Despicable Me franchise. (c)20 14 Los Angeles Times InformaDistributed by McClatchy-Tribun- e Services. tion 6 Are We There by Sharon Van Etten Take a drive while listening to Van Etten s fourth studio album; let Are We Theres opener, Afraid of Nothing, blare with the windows open and hear its lush strings collide with the crunches of tires over dead leaves. Are We There is all about places and the distances between them, and Van Ettens haunting vocals only expand this quality. Standout Track: Your Fove is Killing Me 10: 9: Pinata by Freddie Gibbs Its fitting Gibbs Pinata would feature a guest verse by Danny Brown, whose album Old from 2013 included a hodgepodge that put in a collection somehow contained cohe- siveness. Pinatas sprawling 17 tracks detail s life and possible the ails of woi outlets for young people in difficult situations to overcome the direness of their situations. Standout Track: High king-clas- Salad Days by Mac Demarco Listeners might turn Demarcos Salad Days on, start tackling lifes mundane tasks, and find that the final track, Johnnys Odyssey has arrived in what seemed like moments. Few 2014 LPs flow better than Salad Days, instrumentals and although its act as perfect background noise, the albums lyrics shouldnt be glazed over. Standout Track: Passing Out Pieces Parquet Courts performs at the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, Saturday October 5, 2013. The Album Analyzer listed Parquet Courts 2014 album, Sunbathing Animal, as the years 13th best album. work, and this allows Simpson to draw influence from them but also incorporate his own personality and experience into this impressive collection. Standout Track: Turtles All the Way Down 7: Benji by Sun Kil Moon Sun Kil Moon lead singer Mark Kozelek Bob Dylan-esqu- e could craft a epic e lunch salesmans car used a detailing break. Kozelek and his attention to detail push the albums songs to greater and more meaningful levels than even exceptional songwriters can reach like on Jim Wise. Standout Track: I Love My Dad part-tim- 6: Metamodern Sounds in Country Music by Sturgill Simpson Like Waylon, Willie and Merle before, g qualiSimpson embodies the his studio second on ties of outlaw country album. However, outlaw countrys gods rarely mentioned LSD and cosmic voyages in their good-timin- inspired people to seek change. RTJ2 wouldve garnered acclaim no matter when released, though, as the odd couple continues to develop a sound seasoned with bits of Southern trap music and East Coast conscious Standout Track: Lie, Cheat, Steal El-- P hip-ho- 8: daze-induci- Killer Mike and 5: The Double Ep: A Sea of Split Peas by Courtney Barnett Naming a songwriter of the year seems like a daunting task, but in 2014, its not: That title easily goes to Barnett. I noticed you stopped talking to me; now youre talking to me all the time Do you know youre no good at listening, but youre really good at saying everything on your mind, Barnett utters in track one, Out of the Woodwork, the first of her lines. Standout Track: Avant Gardener well-word- ed 4: Hot Dreams by Timber Timbre Timber Timbres fifth LP might impact you most effectively if you picture the most haunting scene in your mind before listening. Songs like Curtains!?, Bring Me Simple Men and This Low Commotion tackle scary themes with scarier sounds, and the album builds off a suspense factor more than any album in recent memory. Standout Track: Grand Canyon 3: Run the Jewels 2 by Run the Jewels Run the Jewels 2 dropped near one of unrest in 2014s most complicated points stellar the and Missouri duos Ferguson, sophomore effort is just one of numerous ways p. 2: St. Vincent by St. Vincent Most artists title an initial album after themselves, but St. Vincents choice to do so with her fourth release hints at the confidence she holds in her current sound. Listeners hear snippets of Prince, Talking Heads and other notable St. acts throughout the Vincent, and lyrics like, Digital witnesses, whats the point of even sleeping if I cant show it, if you cant see me? from Digital Witness highlight the songstresss introspection. Standout Track: Huey Newton 70s-80- s pom pom by Ariel Pink Pink dropped 2014s strongest album, and 1: his big mouth almost still overshadowed it. Get past his questionable comments, however, and youll find the years most intriguing collection of songs. Arcade game-lik- e chimes, 60s metal to fall under tracks and too strange samples any category round out pom pom. Arguably the albums greatest quality is Pinks ability to remain accessible to a wide audience despite the risks he takes in all facets of pom pom. Standout Track: Exile on Frog Street Y II I F |