Posts
Music:
Album of the year:
1-Tool
When “10,000 days” came out, i had just finished college with my bulky IPod classic. Tool had helped carry me through a lot of the studying time, along with being a trusty companion for the college bus rides i had to endure. Fast forward to this year and Tool absolutely kills it. This has been on constant repeat, with more notes, nuances and necessities being discovered with each listen; it is an album that avoids our societies attachment to quick hits and “singles released.” It must be listenened to in its entirety, as the band truly intended. I am proud to say that i put the kids down for a nap and listened to it in utter civility...for an entire week. Months later, i still do this...with a big grin of satisfaction. I always thought 13 years was a bit much in between albums, but man, this is stunning, and yet, essentially Tool. When Maynard sings “struggling/to remain/relevant” i felt that as a husband, dad, etc.
2-Pedro the Lion—“Phoenix”
I have always enjoyed Pedro the Lion and David Bazaan solo material. But none of the albums stood out to me, until this one. I listened to it and then happened to watch his documentary “Strange Negotiations” on a long road trip. Maybe it was because i did this all in one sitting, but at that moment, much of my childhood and life seemed to come together in serveal moments. I remembered riding my yellow bike as a kid “Yellow bike” and causing hurt feelings over something i said to a friend “Quietest friend.” Whatever the moment, subtle though it may be, Bazaan seemed to capture it, put it to gorgeous music that needed to be replayed and replayed. I enjoyed Tool more, but this album was played and “felt” more throughout most of 2019.
3-Weyes Blood
This album is on most “End of the year” lists, and for good reason. The entire albums seamlessly fits together in one gorgeous Titanic moment. When i hear about music being “art,” this is what i think of. A band/artist working through their voice, their identity, wrestling with communicating humanity to the rest of the world in beautiful ways. Listen to this if you love beauty and want time to stand still.
4-Slaughter Beach Do—I fully admit to being an emo guy, but i fully admit and admire the fact that i still love and miss the great emo band known as “American Baseball.” The lyrics, chemistry and fast paced commentary on society just seemed to click when i listened to them. Sadly, they are on hiatus, but Jake Ewald pressed on, and has realeased mulitiple solo albums as Slaughter Beach Dog. “Safe and Also No Fear” is the perfect title as we press forward into 2020 and the future. We long for “safe placed” but we pretend we aren’t fearful in front of others. We yearn for true hero’s, paying billions to see them interact with bad guys (Hello, Avengers), but as Jake sings, “Sometimes the good ones aren’t as good as you recall,” leaving you with a saddened sense of purpose; the idea of hero can be part of your identity, but only if the government says so. The whole album is truly indie and yet, “dad rock.”
5-State Faults/Inter Arma
I admit to liking “screams” at times, but in the right context: tough day, long run, lack of sleep, etc. Then, there are bands that just must be listened to because of their passion and skill. Both of these bands released albums this year, and they are vastly different, but i like them for the same reason: they do what they do with excellence and passion, shredding in different ways, screaming with one unity. If you like Deafhaven, i would gather you would enjoy State Faults album “Clairvoyant.” If you like to see a band build to a frenzy, then listen to Inter Arma “Sulphuric English” while you work out those New Years Resolutions you have already abandoned...and be glad your screaming about it.
Runner Ups:
American Football
Big Thief—Both albums
Better Oblivion Community Center
Great Grandpa
(Sandy) Alex G—listen to “Hansel” and be haunted
Movie: Joker
Having taken a lot of film courses, one thing that absolutely drives me nuts is when a blockbuster comes along and people claim that “the acting is top notch.” While I won’t deny that the actors put in time and effort to make something fun (“Avengers”), entertaining (“Crawl”) and “great” (“Us”), there are very few actors that truly devote themselves to their craft and art. When Christian Bale plays a magician in “The Prestige” and comments that “this, this is the act...their entire life and being is the magic trick,” he could also be speaking about Hollywood. Christian Bale may be weird and himself “hit and miss” when it comes to roles and how well they do, the man is usually all in on his films. From Dick Cheney “Vice,” to his overweight con man in the great “American Hustle,” Bale at least tries in the roles he signs up form. The best is still Daniel Day-Lewis. He always put his entire life into a character, and it is why he would only do 2-3 films every 5 years. Today, you have big name stars doing 5 movies a year, but none really standing out. Enter, Joaquin Phoenix. This, this is acting. Mr. Phoenix loses 55 pounds, isolates himself for days/weeks for the role, and works on developing a haunting laugh. This is acting, and it comes from a man who already creeped many people out with his “emperor” role in “Gladiator,” along with his excellent role as Mr. Johnny Cash in “Walk the Line.” When “Joker” realizes the brilliance/irony of his plan at the end of “Joker” and looks at the camera and says to us/therapist that “we wouldn’t understand” the brilliance is palpable. Here is a man that says things we all relate to “is it just me or is it getting crazier out there?” AND lives in an isolated life, despite being surrounded by people; things most wrestle with internally, but never act on. Joker finally acts on things and it is truly stunning. This is a film in which I knew I had watched a character truly come to life, yet spur something deeper. The ending and film continue to be discussed, and it was an easy film of the year choice—no debate needed.
Runner up: “Us.” If you want to be haunted and ask “what did I just watch?” then this is the film of 2019. The acting is stunning, as is the weird story. All i know is that to this day, I still can’t watch it at night, and I still don’t truly know what is going on. Just check out Reddit if you don’t believe me.
