Music: boygenius, MJ Lenderman, 100 gecs put out my three favorite albums
Movies: Barbie was the most fun I had watching a movie in years. And The Holdovers is fantastic
Book: I didn't do a whole lot of reading (even though I bought 18 books) but I did read Chris Payne's "Where are your Boys Tonight" which is an oral history of emo from 1999-2008. Fantastic, fascinating read
Mrs. Plaid and I listen to audio books on long drives, and Where Are Your Boys Tonight is on the list--we listened to Sellout (which was fantastic) and Our Band Could be Your Life (which is pretty good but show its age a bit) this year.
I enjoyed The Bear, but I want to talk about HBO/Max's Perry Mason with Matthew Rhys. Sadly not renewed, but man if you like noir detective shows, it was great.
Music: didn't see as many concerts as I'd intended, but I did get to see Peter Gabriel live for the first time in forever, and his voice was great.
I cannot say enough about Five Decembers. It was a refreshing WWII era novel. It's one of the few books that I immediately reread.
Another book this year that I liked was by Righteous Prey (John Sanford). I know its a serial but it raised questions about the murderers that made me stop and think. If this was real life, what would the actual feeling be where those untouchable undesirables (crooked politicians, business folks, entertainers) were murdered and then large sums of money given to charities working in the same realm. Sort of a massive puppy mill owner being removed and millions are given to the local SPCA. And with most groups paranoia sets in and the rest is history.
Film - Im late to the party but Fury and Sisu were top picks this year from my viewings.
I finally got to rectify a decade old mistake in seeing The Walkmen live this past May. I went back to vet school early in 2013, telling myself I would catch them the next time they were in town. They went on hiatus at the end of that tour.
Hamilton opening the show by going "It's been a while since we played this song" and then knocking 22 songs out of the park was worth the wait.
Best movie I saw for the first time this year was Godzilla Minus One. Everyone should see that on a truly massive screen.
The two best things I saw this year were Hadestown and the Eras Tour. Both absolutely wowed me. The best thing I read was Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Yeah, Oppenheimer was great, but some smaller recs that might not be on your radar.
"Rye Lane" - very cute rom com that feels both old school and fresh at the same time.
"Somewhere in Queens" - Ray Romano's directorial debut. Not visually flashy, but has a warmth to it that struck a chord with me. Not the kind of movie that gets made much anymore.
"Missing" - Spiritual sequel to "Searching." A very compelling and tight mystery thriller all told via screentime/devices. It's gimmicky, yeah, but super well-executed.
TV:
I loved "The Bear" too, but some other stuff you should check out.
Paul T. Goldman (Peacock) - Fascinating pseudo-documentary series that is ostensibly about a crazy dude, but ultimately reveals itself to be an examination about self-delusion and the lies we tell ourselves. Also, darkly hilarious.
Trying (Apple TV+) - Nobody is talking about this show! It's Apple TV's best comedy (let's be real...Ted Lasso was only actually good for one full season). Heartwarming show about a dysfunctional (but very loving) couple who are trying to adopt a child.
Players (Was paramount plus, but now only, sadly, only available to rent or buy). NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WATCHED THIS!!! It's a mockumentary from the "American Vandal" team about a competitive e-sports team done in the vein of the "Last Dance." It's funny, yes, but you actually get super invested in the characters. And, like any good sports story, watching them come together to win the "big game" is tear-inducing.
Dave (FX Hulu) - Legitimately great show from "joke" rapper Lil Dicky. It's so funny that when things do get serious/real, it knocks you in the gut.
How to with John Wilson (HBO). Impossible to describe. Delightfully weird. A miracle that it even exists.
Books:
My new year's goal was to read more, and I successfully read at least one book a month (sometimes 2)!
My favs were:
"The Lemon" (brilliant satire about a Bourdain-esque celebrity's death)
"Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" (about video games, but only as the foundation for the most well-developed platonic love story I've ever encountered in popular media)
"Birnam Wood" (eco-thriller about very in vogue topics that expertly weaves concurrent storylines and multiple characters)
Games:
Cocoon - A perfectly paced, ingenious puzzle game that will break your brain in the best way.
I only went to one concert this year, a sentence I wouldn't have been able to write in probably 20 years. But it was an all-timer. I saw Tool in Knoxville. Crowds at Tool shows are a fun mix of stoners and music nerds. The musicianship is unparalleled and the setlist at this show included some really fun deep cuts. There was nothing special about the location, but catching this band at this stage in their life is really special. Introspection without navel-gazing, self-awareness, fun, and more talent than should be allowed in three bands, let alone one.
Also, "Forks" from The Bear was amazing. Good call.
It's not often that a new band or new album gets so much rotation in my listening, but this year Geese did it. Their album 3D Country is such a fun listen, and if your ears don't perk up in the first 30 seconds of the opening track "2122" then I don't know what to tell you.
Book: Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Embarrassingly(?) the first book I read in 2023. Not that it wasn't earned, it's just somehow I feel like I'm in a reading slump despite having read 36, hopefully 37 by next week, books this year! I will fully admit to being one of those people who liked Fourth Wing, though. Not a work of great literature, but a fun romp in my opinion!!
Movie: by far, Monument to the Dream, the documentary at Gateway Arch National Park! (This is not sarcasm, and I am not a crackpot) Barbie was really good too.
Music: this year was a big Noah Kahan/Taylor Swift year for me. I saw them both in concert, within weeks of each other, and they were both amazing!
I'll stick to books: I just finished listening to Time and Again on your recommendation and it was simply amazing. I've got a physical copy in the mail (along with the sequel) that I'm going to go through next year for the illustrations. I also read Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre early in the year and was obsessed with the story.
Music: My list is always so long so some highlights are the latest albums by Black Country, New Road | Pile | Amaarae | HMLTD | Home is Where | Emptyset | James Blake | TEETH | Young Fathers | and Ox En Mayo Alto
Movies: Still have a lot of movies I'd like to see, but my favorites from 2023 are Killers of the Flower Moon and Beau is Afraid. The best movie I watched all year though was Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, and Tokyo Godfathers was also in the running.
TV: Watched a bit less TV than usual this year. I'm pretty much in agreement with others that Succession, Barry, The Bear and Reservation Dogs were the best things this year. So to give a less consensus approved pick I'll go with History of the Minnesota Vikings on YouTube and my anime pick is Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.
Books: I never have kept up with contemporary books so this year I enjoyed reading The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, and Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Books: I think so many of the books I read this year came from the newsletter and I thank you for that. My favorite of the year was likely “The long way to a small angry planet” by Becky Chambers which either was a direct recommendation or found because you recommended another book of hers.
I have a bad habit of thrusting it in people's faces and demanding they read it (Psalm very especially), and then they don't believe me about how lovely and peaceful it is.
Favourite book I will second Where Are Your Boys Tonight. I'm not big on oral histories in book format and would rather it be written as narrative but when it's good enough I'll make an exception and this is one of them
Favourite game was Baldur's Gate 3, the big exception from my usual type of game (paradox map games)
Didn't watch any scripted TV and only saw one movie that I didn't love so I guess by default my favourite non-sports thing I watched was Australian Survivor Heroes vs. Villains, a very good season with an all-time character in a pretty strong year overall for the franchise
Music: boygenius, MJ Lenderman, 100 gecs put out my three favorite albums
Movies: Barbie was the most fun I had watching a movie in years. And The Holdovers is fantastic
Book: I didn't do a whole lot of reading (even though I bought 18 books) but I did read Chris Payne's "Where are your Boys Tonight" which is an oral history of emo from 1999-2008. Fantastic, fascinating read
Mrs. Plaid and I listen to audio books on long drives, and Where Are Your Boys Tonight is on the list--we listened to Sellout (which was fantastic) and Our Band Could be Your Life (which is pretty good but show its age a bit) this year.
Sellout was so good
putting Where are your Boys Tonight on my to-read list now
if that era of emo is your thing, you're going to love it
Are you accusing me of making homemade Taking Back Sunday t-shirts to wear to school? If so, you're not wrong.
TELEVISION: Taskmaster
CINEMA: Barbie
I consumed no other media this year.
I enjoyed The Bear, but I want to talk about HBO/Max's Perry Mason with Matthew Rhys. Sadly not renewed, but man if you like noir detective shows, it was great.
Music: didn't see as many concerts as I'd intended, but I did get to see Peter Gabriel live for the first time in forever, and his voice was great.
I liked the boygenius record.
Video games- I loved Baldur's Gate 3. Just what I needed to distract me from work.
Karlach! Karlach!
In this vein, The Outsider (also on Max I think) looks good.
I cannot say enough about Five Decembers. It was a refreshing WWII era novel. It's one of the few books that I immediately reread.
Another book this year that I liked was by Righteous Prey (John Sanford). I know its a serial but it raised questions about the murderers that made me stop and think. If this was real life, what would the actual feeling be where those untouchable undesirables (crooked politicians, business folks, entertainers) were murdered and then large sums of money given to charities working in the same realm. Sort of a massive puppy mill owner being removed and millions are given to the local SPCA. And with most groups paranoia sets in and the rest is history.
Film - Im late to the party but Fury and Sisu were top picks this year from my viewings.
100% agree on Five Decembers. One of my favourite books ever.
I finally got to rectify a decade old mistake in seeing The Walkmen live this past May. I went back to vet school early in 2013, telling myself I would catch them the next time they were in town. They went on hiatus at the end of that tour.
Hamilton opening the show by going "It's been a while since we played this song" and then knocking 22 songs out of the park was worth the wait.
Best movie I saw for the first time this year was Godzilla Minus One. Everyone should see that on a truly massive screen.
Totally agree about Wrestlers and The Bear!
The two best things I saw this year were Hadestown and the Eras Tour. Both absolutely wowed me. The best thing I read was Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.
Speaking of wrestlers and the bear, the Von Erich movie is gonna be good.
Reads:
World Within a Song -- Jeff Tweedy
How We Got To Now -- Steven Johnson
The New Ballgame -- Russell Carleton
A Prayer for the Crown Shy -- Becky Chambers
Maybe We'll Make It -- Margo Price
And There Was Light -- Jon Meacham
Watches:
The Bear
Beef
Succession
Righteous Gemstones
Barry
Listens:
My playlist: https://music.apple.com/us/playlist/best-of-2023/pl.u-RRbVvB7tye9PgW
Strays -- Margo Price
Weathervanes -- Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit
The Window -- Ratboys
Book of Fools -- Mipso
Thin Places -- Jason Hawk Harris
Movies:
Yeah, Oppenheimer was great, but some smaller recs that might not be on your radar.
"Rye Lane" - very cute rom com that feels both old school and fresh at the same time.
"Somewhere in Queens" - Ray Romano's directorial debut. Not visually flashy, but has a warmth to it that struck a chord with me. Not the kind of movie that gets made much anymore.
"Missing" - Spiritual sequel to "Searching." A very compelling and tight mystery thriller all told via screentime/devices. It's gimmicky, yeah, but super well-executed.
TV:
I loved "The Bear" too, but some other stuff you should check out.
Paul T. Goldman (Peacock) - Fascinating pseudo-documentary series that is ostensibly about a crazy dude, but ultimately reveals itself to be an examination about self-delusion and the lies we tell ourselves. Also, darkly hilarious.
Trying (Apple TV+) - Nobody is talking about this show! It's Apple TV's best comedy (let's be real...Ted Lasso was only actually good for one full season). Heartwarming show about a dysfunctional (but very loving) couple who are trying to adopt a child.
Players (Was paramount plus, but now only, sadly, only available to rent or buy). NOT ENOUGH PEOPLE WATCHED THIS!!! It's a mockumentary from the "American Vandal" team about a competitive e-sports team done in the vein of the "Last Dance." It's funny, yes, but you actually get super invested in the characters. And, like any good sports story, watching them come together to win the "big game" is tear-inducing.
Dave (FX Hulu) - Legitimately great show from "joke" rapper Lil Dicky. It's so funny that when things do get serious/real, it knocks you in the gut.
How to with John Wilson (HBO). Impossible to describe. Delightfully weird. A miracle that it even exists.
Books:
My new year's goal was to read more, and I successfully read at least one book a month (sometimes 2)!
My favs were:
"The Lemon" (brilliant satire about a Bourdain-esque celebrity's death)
"Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow" (about video games, but only as the foundation for the most well-developed platonic love story I've ever encountered in popular media)
"Birnam Wood" (eco-thriller about very in vogue topics that expertly weaves concurrent storylines and multiple characters)
Games:
Cocoon - A perfectly paced, ingenious puzzle game that will break your brain in the best way.
I hadn't heard of Players! You had at me ‘from the “American Vandal” team.’
Loved How To With John Wilson this season, bummed we aren't getting more
I only went to one concert this year, a sentence I wouldn't have been able to write in probably 20 years. But it was an all-timer. I saw Tool in Knoxville. Crowds at Tool shows are a fun mix of stoners and music nerds. The musicianship is unparalleled and the setlist at this show included some really fun deep cuts. There was nothing special about the location, but catching this band at this stage in their life is really special. Introspection without navel-gazing, self-awareness, fun, and more talent than should be allowed in three bands, let alone one.
Also, "Forks" from The Bear was amazing. Good call.
It's not often that a new band or new album gets so much rotation in my listening, but this year Geese did it. Their album 3D Country is such a fun listen, and if your ears don't perk up in the first 30 seconds of the opening track "2122" then I don't know what to tell you.
Book: Shards of Earth by Adrian Tchaikovsky. Embarrassingly(?) the first book I read in 2023. Not that it wasn't earned, it's just somehow I feel like I'm in a reading slump despite having read 36, hopefully 37 by next week, books this year! I will fully admit to being one of those people who liked Fourth Wing, though. Not a work of great literature, but a fun romp in my opinion!!
Movie: by far, Monument to the Dream, the documentary at Gateway Arch National Park! (This is not sarcasm, and I am not a crackpot) Barbie was really good too.
Music: this year was a big Noah Kahan/Taylor Swift year for me. I saw them both in concert, within weeks of each other, and they were both amazing!
I'll stick to books: I just finished listening to Time and Again on your recommendation and it was simply amazing. I've got a physical copy in the mail (along with the sequel) that I'm going to go through next year for the illustrations. I also read Operation Mincemeat by Ben Macintyre early in the year and was obsessed with the story.
Music: My list is always so long so some highlights are the latest albums by Black Country, New Road | Pile | Amaarae | HMLTD | Home is Where | Emptyset | James Blake | TEETH | Young Fathers | and Ox En Mayo Alto
Movies: Still have a lot of movies I'd like to see, but my favorites from 2023 are Killers of the Flower Moon and Beau is Afraid. The best movie I watched all year though was Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring, and Tokyo Godfathers was also in the running.
TV: Watched a bit less TV than usual this year. I'm pretty much in agreement with others that Succession, Barry, The Bear and Reservation Dogs were the best things this year. So to give a less consensus approved pick I'll go with History of the Minnesota Vikings on YouTube and my anime pick is Jujutsu Kaisen Season 2.
Books: I never have kept up with contemporary books so this year I enjoyed reading The Wind Up Bird Chronicle by Haruki Murakami, Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov, The Years of Rice and Salt by Kim Stanley Robinson, and Say Nothing by Patrick Radden Keefe
Books: I think so many of the books I read this year came from the newsletter and I thank you for that. My favorite of the year was likely “The long way to a small angry planet” by Becky Chambers which either was a direct recommendation or found because you recommended another book of hers.
I haven't rec'd that one specifically, but "To Be Taught, If Fortunate" and the Monk/Robot duology are both ones I've rec'd here (and loved).
The monk/robot was my favorite of last year and I have recommended to so many friends when they have asked for a nice peaceful book.
I have a bad habit of thrusting it in people's faces and demanding they read it (Psalm very especially), and then they don't believe me about how lovely and peaceful it is.
Favourite music was Ratboys' The Window
Favourite book I will second Where Are Your Boys Tonight. I'm not big on oral histories in book format and would rather it be written as narrative but when it's good enough I'll make an exception and this is one of them
Favourite game was Baldur's Gate 3, the big exception from my usual type of game (paradox map games)
Didn't watch any scripted TV and only saw one movie that I didn't love so I guess by default my favourite non-sports thing I watched was Australian Survivor Heroes vs. Villains, a very good season with an all-time character in a pretty strong year overall for the franchise
TV: "Shrinking" on Apple TV. Nearly every episode had me and my girlfriend both laughing hysterically and crying.
Music: "Weathervanes" by Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit. Beautiful album.
Book: "There Will Be Fire" -- AC recommended!
BONUS: "The Wok" by J. Kenji Lopez-Alt. Has really changed my approach to cooking.