8. Hereditary (2018)

It’s hard for me to talk about Hereditary without absolutely gushing over it. I’ve talked before in this series about how A24 is so successful because they cede creative control over to their directors and there is no better example of it than Hereditary. Ari Aster’s debut film is profusely upsetting, terrifying, and utterly brilliant. […]

8. 22, A Million- Bon Iver (2016)

Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon is constantly evolving. Ever record Bon Iver dies and rises anew with something different and refreshing. This was most apparent on their their record, 2016’s 22, A Million. On their 2007 debut Bon Iver made the quintessential indie’-folk cabin in the woods record (this isn’t just me trying to describe the […]

9. Villains- Queens of the Stone Age (2017)

Josh Homme is one of rock’s superstars. He grew to prominence with stoner rock band Kyuss back in the 90s and after they broke up he formed Queens of the Stone Age, the definitive dessert rock band of this century. They made their magnum opus back in 2002 with their Dave Grohl aided Songs for […]

9. The Nice Guys (2016)

I have a weird relationship with Shane Black I absolutely love some of his movies (Lethal Weapon, Last Action Hero, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang) and I can’t stand others (Iron Man 3 is my least favorite MCU movie by a mile and I refuse to even talk about The Predator). When he’s really clicking, I […]

10. Ultraviolence- Lana Del Rey (2014)

Lana Del Rey burst onto the scene in 2012 with Born to Die, her baroque pop and trip-hop influenced debut record. Songs like the title track, “Video Games” and “Summertime Sadness” were inescapable at the time. She was well on her way to become one of pop’s newest superstars and even contributed a hit single […]

10. The Irishman (2019)

It doesn’t take a Ph.D in film to understand that Martin Scorsese is one of the most important and prolific directors still making movies. He’s released scores of hugely successful and hugely influential films. Raging Bull, Taxi Driver, Goodfellas, The Departed, Wolf of Wall Street, and those are just the few that I picked, take […]

11. Avengers Endgame (2019)

Avengers Endgame is the culmination of over 10 years and over 20 films. It isn’t an exaggeration to say that no studio has ever been able to do what Marvel Studios did. The quality and quantity of their run of interconnected stories all serving a larger narrative arc is something no studio has ever been […]

11. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful- Florence + The Machine (2015)

Florence Welch has one of the best voices in all of music right now. It’s a transcendent instrument that can transport you to another world and since the band Florence + The Machine burst onto the scene with their debut album Lungs in 2009, she’s made great records. How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful is […]

12. The Hateful Eight (2015)

Quentin Tarantino simultaneously doesn’t give a fuck, and maybe also gives the absolute most fucks. Let me explain. With 2015’s The Hateful Eight Tarantino broke all of the rules and made a movie over 2 hours and 45 minutes western that by and large takes place within the confines of a small cabin, and furthermore […]

12. Changes-Charles Bradley (2016)

I think this record shows how Bradley could take any song and breathe a heart and soul in a way none of his peers could come close to doing.