June 2012
4 posts
6 tags
Iron Man 2 (Jon Favreau, 2010)
With the forward momentum and strong villain missing from its predecessor, Iron Man 2 is still easily the lesser movie, messily constructed and, at times, mind-numbing. Still, its willingness to embrace its absurdity makes it possibly more enjoyable. Sam Rockwell is a riot at a slimy weapons manufacturer. Avengers crossover did not bother me as much as it did two years ago, but maybe that just...
7 tags
Moonrise Kingdom (Wes Anderson, 2012) →
If the wildly overrated Fantastic Mr. Fox’s biggest flaw was its lack of drama and danger, Moonrise Kingdom represents a welcome return to form for writer-director Wes Anderson. The turmoil and frustration bubbling under the surface of each carefully composed shot drives the best of Anderson’s work, and as Spike Jonze did with Where the Wild Things Are, Anderson here filters the anger and sadness...
15 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1978
Previous: 1977
I must have a musical bald spot because my metalhead is starting to show. Bob Dylan never stopped writing great songs, even with his weaker albums. I will never cease to be amazed by Eddie Van Halen’s work on “Eruption.” There are two by Elvis Costello because he’s the man, but Bruce is on top because he’s the boss.
10. The Police- Born in the...
5 tags
The Avengers (Joss Whedon, 2012) →
Did I fall into Marvel’s trap? I have never read a non-Star Wars comic, and the Avengers tentpoles are never great. And yet, with each progressive installment, I fancy myself a fanboy, eagerly waiting through credits for Easter eggs that will reveal villains and plots points that mean absolutely nothing to me. But somehow, the marketing has trapped me, or franchise fever got to me because I’m...
May 2012
13 posts
6 tags
Iron Man (Jon Favreau, 2008)
Revisiting Iron Man for the first time confirmed Captain America as my favorite of the Avengers franchise. Movie has great moments and a strong performance by Downey Jr., but story lacks a certain narrative thrust. It never quite feels like there’s much at stake, despite the presence of war. Instead, it plays like extended exposition with limited depth. But this is all nitpicking, as...
3 tags
Alien 3 (David Fincher, 1992)
The third Alien lacks the fresh thrills of the first two, but Fincher does the best he can with a lifeless, obvious script. At its best, the film is visually mesmerizing, understandably the slickly shot and edited work of a director then best known for music videos. The threat of sexual violence hangs over the entire film, and the climactic set piece delivers the suspense absent from the...
Dan Harmon Poops: HEY, DID I MISS ANYTHING? →
danharmon:
Kids:
A few hours ago, I landed in Los Angeles, turned on my phone, and confirmed what you already know. Sony Pictures Television is replacing me as showrunner on Community, with two seasoned fellows that I’m sure are quite nice - actually, I have it on good authority they’re quite nice, because…
29 tags
Top 20 Tracks of 1977
Previous: 1976
As I did with 1969, I have selected 20 songs. Quite simply, there’s too much good stuff. 1977 might actually be my favorite year in rock music: the birth of the Clash, Cohen working with Spector, two game-changing albums from Bowie and Costello’s debut album. Even Fleetwood Mac’s Rumours, an album I feel like I should hate, is pop perfection.
20. Billy Joel- Just...
4 tags
With Paul’s Boutique, the Beastie Boys went from fun frat rap backed by rock riffs to thoughtfully crafted hip hop with artfully layered sampling. In my book, it’s still the greatest rap album ever.
“You be listening to my records, a number one sound.”
4 tags
We’re trashing hotels like it’s going out of style.
18 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1976
Previous: 1975
Punk is a wonderful thing, or at least it used to be. I recently saw Blondie live, and it would have been nice if they had played “X Offender.” (They didn’t.) I can’t think of “Long May You Run” these days without thinking about Conan O’Brien’s last week on NBC. ABBA is best known these days for an upbeat dance tune (and a horrible...
3 tags
I’m currently obsessed with Bjork’s Homogenic.
5 tags
Stavisky... (Alain Resnais, 1974)
Not as formally inventive as Hiroshima Mon Amour or Last Year at Marienbad, Stavisky… remains essential Resnais viewing for its intricate, moving tale of a con artist whose scandal topples the French political order. As always, Belmondo’s charm is effortless, inviting sympathy for a sociopath seeking love (much like Charles Foster Kane). The theme by Stephen Sondheim haunted me for...
6 tags
Dressed to Kill (Brian De Palma, 1980)
Originally written March 18, 2012
If De Palma had simply made gripping, cheeky trash art, it would have been enough. But Dressed to Kill is more, an extension and deconstruction of Psycho. It delves deeper into the psychosexual subtext of Hitchcock’s masterpiece and even pokes fun at (or pays homage to) the infamous scene explaining Norman’s condition. And with Pete, we get a hint of...
3 tags
Passing Fancy (Yasujiro Ozu, 1933)
Originally written March 3, 2012
This is possibly my least favorite of the 13 Ozu films I’ve seen, but that doesn’t mean I didn’t like it. Passing Fancy sensitively explores unconventional father-son relationships, the difficulties of aging and, most importantly, the harsh realities of class struggles. Ozu’s keen eye for human behavior is revealed in deceptively simple...
4 tags
Mike D: Your pops caught you smoking and he said, “No way!”
MCA: That hypocrite smokes two packs a day.
4 tags
I’m going to post one Beastie Boys music video each day along with an MCA quote because I’m sentimental like that.
“I come out at night ‘cause I sleep all day.”
April 2012
9 posts
22 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1975
Previous: 1974
I discovered the greatness of “So In Love” by Curtis Mayfield when I was going through my iTunes library for a song to use in a homemade Chicago video. I don’t like Horses as much as I should, but I adore “Free Money.” I just don’t like Young Americans, but I adore “Young Americans.” Seeing Blaine listen to “Love is the...
19 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1974
Previous: 1973
Despite a handful of highlights, 1974 was not a particularly strong year for music. I don’t particularly like Queen, so their presence alone is a sign, though “Killer Queen” is admittedly one of their great recordings. “Late for the Sky” used to be my all-time favorite song, but I think I’ve listened to it far too many times during break-ups and...
21 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1973
Previous: 1972
For the longest time, I only knew “Kodachrome” as Paul Simon’s “crap I learned in high school” song. High Fidelity is the reason why I fell in love with Marvin Gaye’s “Let’s Get It On.” I distinctly remember being confused the first time I heard “Time” (or all The Dark Side of the Moon for that matter). I...
17 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1972
Previous: 1971
Looking at this list, I seem to love what Barry calls “old sad bastard music” in High Fidelity. I mean, Jackson Browne AND Rod Stewart? Still, no shame because these are incredible songs. I rediscovered “Mother and Child Reunion” recently when I was prepping to see Paul Simon live in October. The Temptations and other Motown acts are making more appearances...
25 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1971
Previous: 1970
A number of these songs land very high on just about every all-time song list (and with good reason): “What’s Going On,” “Imagine” and “Stairway to Heaven.” I heard the live version of “Maggot Brain” on the One Nation Under a Groove EP before the original album cut, and in some ways, I’m more fond of the former. Still, I...
19 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1970
Previous: 1969
A new decade! This year reps the last possible appearance by the Beatles as a group. But as you can see, nothing is stopping solo career tracks from making these lists. My love for “Stage Fright” can be traced back to the first time I saw Martin Scorsese’s rock doc The Last Waltz. What a performance! Gordon Lightfoot wouldn’t be on this list if it...
27 tags
Top 20 Tracks of 1969
Previous: 1968
I set out to make top 10 lists for each year, but I decided that 1969, perhaps the greatest year in rock history, warranted 20 songs. MC5 would have been much higher a few years ago, but I’ve listened to “Kick Out the Jams” too many times, and consequently its sheer brutality doesn’t seem quite as fresh as it did upon first listen. The fact that Led Zeppelin...
March 2012
12 posts
17 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1968
Previous: 1967
For some strange reason, I originally had “America” by Simon & Garfunkel on my 1966 list. That error has been corrected, making room there for the Lovin’ Spoonful’s “Daydream.” The Byrds’ best music is their country-rock with Gram Parsons. For a period of time, “Sister Ray” seemed like the greatest song of all time, but...
22 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1967
Previous: 1966
I have to think that these particular Leonard Cohen and Jefferson Airplane songs are here thanks in part to McCabe and Mrs. Miller and A Serious Man. I first recognized the greatness of the Temptations track after reading Rod Stewart rave about it in Rolling Stone. “These Days” is such a perfect song, so just about every recording of it deserves to be on any list. Sam...
15 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1966
Previous: 1965
I never provide any explanation for my rankings, so I’m going to say a few words whenever possible. For a while, these top 10s are going to be unavoidably dominated by the Beatles and Bob Dylan. I put Otis Redding’s “Try a Little Tenderness” on my 100 favorite songs list at #82 in part because I used to listen to the song all the time, but after revisiting...
30 tags
100 Favorite Albums of the 1980s: The Top 20
Previous: 40-21
20. N.W.A- Straight Outta Compton
Paste: excluded
Slant: +4
19. Prince- Sign O’ the Times
Paste: -5
Slant: +10
18. Run-D.M.C.- Raising Hell
Paste: -27
Slant: -26
17. Eric B. and Rakim- Follow the Leader
Paste and Slant: excluded
16. Pixies- Surfer Rosa
Paste: -2
Slant: -13
15. Bruce Springsteen- Nebraska
Paste: two-album rule exclusion by Paste
...
15 tags
Top 10 Tracks of 1965
I recently picked my top 10 albums for each year starting with 1965. (Note: I compulsively update these lists.) More recently, I made an updated list of my 100 favorite songs. In the spirit of those two projects, I’m going to list my top 10 songs for every year starting with 1965. These lists are redundant, but they’re fun and therapeutic to make.
No more than one song per album
...
30 tags
100 Favorite Albums of the 1980s: 40-21
Previous: 60-41
40. De La Soul- 3 Feet High and Rising
Paste: +22
Slant: +32
39. U2- War
Paste: two-album rule exclusion by Paste
Slant: -20
38. Husker Du- New Day Rising
Paste: +6
Slant: excluded
37. The Jesus and Mary Chain- Psychocandy
Paste: +4
Slant: +6
36. Tom Waits- Rain Dogs
Paste: +21
Slant: +24
35. My Bloody Valentine- Isn’t Anything
Paste: -13
Slant:...
30 tags
100 Favorite Albums of the 1980s: 60-41
Previous: 80-61
60. Bruce Springsteen- The River
Paste: #26 on adjusted list
Slant: excluded
59. Mission of Burma- Vs.
Slant: excluded
58. The Replacements- Sorry Ma, Forgot to Take Out the Trash
Slant: excluded
57. XTC- Skylarking
Paste: #30 on adjusted list
Slant: +11
56. Pretenders- Pretenders
Paste: #42 on adjusted list
Slant: +13
55. The Police- Synchronicity
Paste:...
30 tags
100 Favorite Albums of the 1980s: 80-61
Previous: 100-81
80. Black Flag- Damaged
Paste: #48 on adjusted list
79. Slayer- Reign in Blood
78. New Order- Low-Life
77. The Stone Roses- The Stone Roses
Paste: #29 on adjusted list
Slant: #23 on adjusted list
76. Bruce Cockburn- Humans
Paste: #43 on adjusted list
75. Stevie Ray Vaughan- Texas Flood
74. Minor Threat- Out of Step
73. Sonic Youth- Sister
Slant: #49 on...
30 tags
100 Favorite Albums of the 1980s: 100-81
About a month ago, Paste (which still exists online) posted its “80 Best Albums of the 1980s.” I enjoyed the list but forget about it soon thereafter.
This past week, Slant published its “Best Albums of the 1980s.” It was odd that these two sites both decided to do the same amusing but otherwise random list. Naturally, I played along and also ranked my top 100 albums of popular music’s most...
February 2012
7 posts
24 tags
100 Favorite Songs: The Top 10
See 100-11
10. Public Enemy- Fight the Power
9. Depeche Mode- Enjoy the Silence
8. Rage Against the Machine- Killing in the Name
7. Neil Young- Cortez the Killer
6. Sonic Youth- Teen Age Riot
5. The Beatles- This Boy
4. The Replacements- Bastards of Young (Non-Album Live Version Below)
3. Pulp- Common People
2. Stevie Wonder- Love’s In Need of Love...
22 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 20-11
See 100-91
See 90-81
See 80-71
See 70-61
See 60-51
See 50-41
See 40-31
See 30-21
20. OutKast- B.O.B.
19. The Clash- Train in Vain (Stand by Me)
18. The Smiths- Is It Really So Strange?
17. New Order- Blue Monday
16. The Rolling Stones- Rocks Off
15. Guided by Voices- Smothered in Hugs
14. My Bloody Valentine- Sometimes
13. Bjork- Hyperballad
12. The...
24 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 30-21
See 100-91
See 90-81
See 80-71
See 70-61
See 60-51
See 50-41
See 40-31
30. R.E.M.- At My Most Beautiful
29. Arcade Fire- Rebellion (Lies)
28. Led Zeppelin- Stairway to Heaven
27. The Hold Steady- Stay Positive
26. The Stooges- Search and Destroy
25. Portishead- Glory Box
24. Joni Mitchell- River
23. Jackson Browne- Late for the Sky
22. Wilco- A Shot in the Arm
21....
24 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 40-31
See 100-91
See 90-81
See 80-71
See 70-61
See 60-51
See 50-41
40. The Velvet Underground- Sister Ray
39. The Jesus and Mary Chain- Just Like Honey
38. Broken Social Scene- 7/4 (Shoreline)
37. Pavement- Silent Kit
36. Aretha Franklin- A Change is Gonna Come
35. Radiohead- Let Down
34. Roxy Music- Love is the Drug
33. U2- Wake Up Dead Man
32. Beastie Boys- Sabotage
...
23 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 50-41
See 100-91
See 90-81
See 80-71
See 70-61
See 60-51
50. Fleetwood Mac- Dreams
49. TV on the Radio- Staring at the Sun
48. The Strokes- What Ever Happened?
47. Elvis Costello- I Want You
46. Nine Inch Nails- March of the Pigs
45. David Bowie- Quicksand
44. Ray Charles- You Don’t Know Me
43. Rod Stewart- Every Picture Tells a Story
42. The Animals- Don’t Let...
23 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 60-51
See 100-91
See 90-81
See 80-71
See 70-61
60. PJ Harvey- To Bring You My Love
59. Pedro the Lion- Options
58. Michael Jackson- Man in the Mirror
57. Ryan Adams- Oh My Sweet Carolina
56. Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Rich
55. Pixies- U-Mass
54. Nirvana- Serve the Servants
53. Pink Floyd- Comfortably Numb
52. Neutral Milk Hotel- Two-Headed Boy
51. Bon Iver- Flume
See 50-41
See...
22 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 70-61
See 100-91
See 90-81
See 80-71
70. LCD Soundsystem- Losing My Edge
69. A Tribe Called Quest- Scenario
68. The Police- Wrapped Around Your Finger
67. Judas Priest- Painkiller
66. Daft Punk- Digital Love
65. M83- Don’t Save Us From the Flames
64. Teenage Fanclub- I Don’t Want Control of You
63. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five- The Message
62. Beck- Lost...
January 2012
3 posts
20 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 80-71
See 100-91
See 90-81
80. Marvin Gaye- Let’s Get It On
79. The Flaming Lips- Do You Realize??
78. Tom Waits- 16 Shells From a Thirty-Ought-Six
76. The New Pornographers- The Laws Have Changed
75. The Zombies- Care of Cell 44
74. ABBA- Waterloo
73. Talking Heads- Once in a Lifetime
72. The Fugees- Ready Or Not
71. Animal Collective- Fireworks
See 70-61
See 60-51
...
23 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 90-81
See 100-91
90. The White Stripes- Icky Thump
89. Frankie Valli- Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You
88. The Avalanches- Frontier Psychiatrist
87. Iron Maiden- Hallowed Be Thy Name
86. Van Halen- Jump
85. Lady Gaga- Bad Romance
84. Big Star- Thirteen
83. Massive Attack- Teardrop
82. Otis Redding- Try a Little Tenderness
81. Weezer- Tired of Sex
See 80-71
See 70-61
...
24 tags
100 Favorite Songs: 100-91
It’s been about two years since I last made a list of my 100 favorite songs. I’m due for an update. I’ll be posting 10 songs a day, each with an embedded YouTube video. As usual, I limited myself to one song per artist. More importantly, I tried to pick songs that are actually my current favorites. I sometimes try too hard to make lists of my “ALL-TIME FAVORITES,” and...
December 2011
7 posts
30 tags
Top 10 Albums of 2007
1. Spoon- Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga
Listen: “You Got Yr. Cherry Bomb”
2. Dinosaur Jr.- Beyond
Listen: “Crumble”
3. Bon Iver- For Emma, Forever Ago
Listen: “Flume”
4. Kanye West- Graduation
Listen: “Can’t Tell Me Nothing”
5. Various Artists, I’m Not There
Listen: “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door” by Antony and the...
30 tags
Top 10 Movies of 2011
I often wonder if I’ve seen enough movies to make a top 10 list at the end of the year. Even though I saw nearly 60 new releases in 2011, probably more than most people, I feel that my habit of largely seeing critical favorites results in an incredibly predictable list. But this is an honest reflection of what I saw and liked this year, and that means something (I think). And indeed, the fact that...