Arcade Fire- Everything Now REVIEW

I'll never forget the first time I heard Arcade Fire. Hunkered in the library and listening to Pandora while studying for finals, the opening riff for "Wake Up" started playing and instantly blew me away. The hauntingly poetic lyrics and passionate instrumentation was unlike any indie rock band I had heard before. This inspired me to dig deeper into their catalog, and as a result I found a band that, with every single release, experiments with new sounds and genres, while still maintaining that Arcade Fire charm.

Perhaps the highlight of my journey with the Montreal-based group was listening to The Suburbs, their third full album and in my opinion their best. Having been an angst-ridden and bored suburbanite myself, I instantly related to lyrics delving into feelings of conformity and being stuck where you are. It was an album definitely worthy of winning Best Album of the Year at the Grammy's.

One of things I admire most about Arcade Fire is how robust their discography is. Their first three releases (Funeral, Neon Bible, and The Suburbs) were all stellar, and even their latest album Reflektor was a solid release, despite containing a few bumps here and there. So when the band announced that they releasing a new record in the summer of 2017, I had few worries that they would fail to create another stand-out album.

Then I heard the singles leading up to the release. Some, like "Everything Now", were pretty decent, while others, such as "Electric Blue", were a little more... interesting. However, I was certain that once I listened to the entire record that any reservations I had would be washed away as I experienced what would certainly be one of the best records of the year.

On the day it came out, like a kid on Christmas morning, I eagerly awoke, grabbed my phone, and immediately began listening to Everything Now, an album destined to be one the band's best. After making it halfway through the track listing, my enthralled smile turned into absolute befuddlement. This was definitely not their best record. In fact, it wasn't even good. Not only that, but it was also absolutely awful, the worst Arcade Fire album by a long shot. I felt betrayed. How could this be the band that made magical songs like "Rebellion (Lies)" and "We Used To Wait"? It didn't make any sense.

Having listened to Everything Now a handful of times, I have still yet to comprehend how it could be this bad. Even the singles I liked leading up to the release sound worse in context of the entire record. So I'm going to analyze the album track by track in an attempt to find out where it all went so horribly wrong. I usually don't write negative reviews, mostly because I would much rather talk about music I love. However, so great is my disappointment I find not discussing this album next to impossible. Therefore, I must vent.

#1: "Everything_Now (Continued)"

This is really just an extension of the title track. It's decent, but fails to really serve a purpose in the grand scheme of things. The last track on the record is basically the same exact song, because I guess Win Butler wanted to make the album one gigantic loop, for some reason I guess.

#2: "Everything Now"

Best song on the record. This is the track where Arcade Fire truly succeed at infusing a variety of disco-based sounds. It does a great job of incorporating these elements without sounding overtly nostalgic, which is incredibly easy to do when writing a disco song. Not an outstanding track, but very fun to dance to and very catchy. However, I think they made better dance music on Reflektor.

#3: "Signs of Life"

The biggest crime here are the painfully cliche lyrics. I feel like if I asked a random person to write a song about going to dance parties every night, any one of them could write these lyrics. Lines about cigarette smoke and getting lost in the crowd prove rather uninteresting, which for a poetic band like Arcade Fire, leaves me feeling kid of sad. It also gets really boring past the two minute mark.

#4: "Creature Comfort"

This single contains some of the most hard-hitting lyrics on the entire album. Pretty decent track, except when Win and Regine scream "on and on, I don't know what I want". That just gives me a headache. This track contains some great ideas, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired.

#5: "Peter Pan"

Up until this point, Everything Now has been decent, teetering on the edge of disaster but managing to keep it together. With this track, the band dives headfirst off the cliff into realms of mediocrity untouched by the band so far. Honestly, "Peter Pan" sounds like a terrible Miike Snow rip off. This sounds nothing like an Arcade Fire song. I know the band likes to experiment with different styles, but I never thought "boring cliche indie pop" would be their next musical adventure. Also, the lyrics are terrible. Seriously, this is some Jay Park level cringe. What a mess.

#6:"Chemistry"

This track is too goofy for its own good. I can't help but laugh at the opening verse, the instrumentation sounds like it was written for a joke song, not a serious piece of music. As well as being absolutely ridiculous, it's also one of the blandest and most uninteresting love songs I've heard in a while. Eventually the horns lose all humor and become absolutely mind-numbing. I find it hard to believe that anyone played this song, and in all seriousness said, "Wow, this track really rocks. Such a jam."

#7: "Infinite Content"

The fast-paced nature of the track feels very refreshing after the very tepid cuts preceding it. The incredibly simple lyrics talk about the consumerism that dominates modern society today. Not a bad topic, but there are other songs that do a much better job at discussing it (see "Content Nausea" by Parquet Courts). All in all a pretty solid song, especially the harmonious synths mixed with the guitars.

#8: "Infinite_Content"

Literally the exact same as the last song except instead of being fast-paced, it's slow and relaxed. Not really sure what the point of this move was. The first was honestly better, and putting a slower version of the same track after it takes away any excitement that had been built up. The record could have really benefited without this.

#9: "Electric Blue"

There's nothing exciting about this song, except maybe Regine's vocals, which are captivating for all the wrong reasons. I don't know what they did to her voice, but hearing her sing those tedious "na na na" lines like a goddamn squeaky toy is simply too much to bear. When my ears aren't being assaulted with what feels like a cheese grater, this song bores me to tears. I feel like my head is being slowly pushed underwater, and I can't fight back.

#10: "Good God Damn"

God damn, indeed. On this song, we see Arcade Fire try to write their own version of a Black Keys song, with little success. There's really not much to say about this song; I literally get sleepy every time I hear it. A throw away track if there ever was one.

#11: "Put Your Money On Me"

My personal favorite on the album. The haunting hook proves strangely seductive, a great dance track that leaves me with chills. The last chorus is a great ending to a track that slowly builds to the end. I only wish it came earlier in the track listing. After listening to so many awful tracks, I find it hard to enjoy this song as much if it had come after a song like "Everything Now". All the other songs have sucked all feelings of enjoyment out of my body. This album has rendered me an emotionless husk.

#12: "We Don't Deserve Love"

What can I say about this song that hasn't already been said about the album as a whole. Very smooth and effervescent, but so uninteresting in both its lyricism and instrumentation. The chorus is very saccharine, but the rest of this tepid song drags throughout its six minute run time. I find myself just wishing it would end because nothing happens worth mentioning, the most unexciting nightmare I have ever experienced.

#13: "Everything Now (Continued)"

See the review of Track #1. Like I said, they're basically the same for whatever reason.


I think the most frustrating part of the album is that both fans and critics have come up with lines like, "Arcade Fire have made it OK to like dance music again", as though groups like LCD Soundsystem, Daft Punk, and The Avalanches never existed. There's really only two or three actual dance songs on Everything Now, with the rest being sad attempts at recreating the works of other indie rock bands.

In the end, though, Arcade Fire's greatest crime on this record is how they seemingly just mailed it in. The songs don't seem to have received nearly the amount of attention we usually find on their albums. Instead, we're given a bunch of basic love songs that, in the end, don't feel like they're about anything, the lyrics feel that uninspired. I can only sit here and hope that the band's next release is better, and, honestly, that's a low threshold for excellence.








 

10 Albums That Changed My Life

In the lifespan of any music fan, there will no doubt be a number of albums that will help shape their future aspirations, identities, and perspectives on the world. Part of what makes music so powerful is its ability to leave an impact on our psyche that lasts for the rest of our lives. Whether it came after a breakup, during an existential crisis, or before your first day of high school, you'll always remember the music you listened to during that time, even if you hate it now.

The ten albums in this list are all here because they came into my life exactly when they needed to. I really believe that these bits of music were just waiting for the right time to unveil themselves to me, and assist me in whatever struggles I may be dealing with. Below are the albums listed in the order in which they came into my life. 

The Clash- London Calling:

This was one of the first albums I ever bought, way back when I was a 10-year old fetus. I had no idea when I got it that I now possessed one of rock's greatest albums; I just thought the title track was catchy. As I grew older and my musical tastes morphed with staggering rapidity,

London Calling remained the one constant. I soon began to appreciate the variety of influences (ska, rockabilly, etc.) that form the nineteen tracks on the record. It's also an album that grows up along with you. Younger me loved simple catchy tunes like "Hateful" and "Lost in the Supermarket", while my older and more emotional self was more attracted to fiery political anthems like "The Card Cheat" and "Revolution Rock". 

London Calling changed my life not in any direct way, but by being there to witness all the changes I did go through, never managing to lose my interest. It allowed me to feel any negative emotions I had, while allowing me to grow more mature. I can't think of many other records with such a versatile range of emotions. It is a mixed bag of anarchic anger and whimsical playfulness.

Favorite track on album: "The Card Cheat"


Fleet Foxes- Helplessness Blues:

I already discussed my journey with this band in my Crack-Up review, but they are definitely worth reiterating. Up to 2011, I had always been a big fan of music, but had no desire to expand my horizons beyond the familiar realm of 80's metal. To me, all modern music consisted of either meaningless pop trash or rap, which I could not stand at the time. This album truly opened my eyes to what modern music could be. Although, there have been scores of bands that have tried imitating their sound, I have to find a single indie rock band that could match the beauty and musical complexity of Fleet Foxes. It definitely is one of those records with not a single bad song. Even deep cuts like "Someone You'd Admire" leave me with chills every time I listen to it.

Without a doubt, this blog, along with my burning passion for music, would not exist had I not listened to Helplessness Blues. It gave me this desire to constantly seek new amazing music that could replicate its mystical effects. Of all the records on this list, this one has had the biggest impact on my life so far.

Favorite track on album: "Helplessness Blues"


Frightened Rabbit- The Midnight Organ Fight:

Adolescence is a turbulent time for everybody, and many times one will find themselves overcome with emotion, in need of a release. The Midnight Organ Fight, the seminal record of Scottish band Frightened Rabbit, was that release for me. In the maddeningly confusing state of growing up, this album was there to comfort me. Lead singer Scott Hutchison paints a picture of an insecure and lovesick man, unable to find the happiness in relationships he so desperately desires. His cracking Scottish accent permeates every song, adding a layer of vulnerability that highlights the emotion behind the record.


Middle school and my early years in high school were a difficult period, and this record made it possible to get through the worst moments. The lyrics are some of the best I've heard on any album, dealing with painful topics such as loneliness, faith, and heartbreak. One of my favorite lines is from "Head Rolls Off", a reflection on the point of death:

"When my blood stops

Someone else's will thaw

When my head rolls off

Someone else's will turn."

Like a good friend, this album was there when I needed it to be. Even today, I still find comfort in its folksy analyses on life and its various highs and lows. 

Favorite track on album: "Head Rolls Off"

Savages- Silence Yourself:

The first thing you'll notice about a Savages live show is their imposing lead singer, Jehnny Beth. She struts the stage with a certain kind of swagger that captures the audience's attention in the first minute, and never lets go. Even when the band dives into deeper and more vulnerable topics, they just ooze confidence. With songs consisting a dark and pummeling brand of post-punk, if you ever wondered what a noire film sounded like as an album, this is it.

This has been my hype album for many albums now. If I ever need to make a public presentation of any kind, I always spend a couple hours jamming out this record beforehand. It gives me the energy and the confidence to go headfirst into any presentation I have, which normally terrifies me. On tracks like "Shut Up" and "Hit Me", Savages show how much they truly don't give a fuck about what anyone else has to say.  They know their message, and are completely unafraid to scream it at the top of their lungs. In doing so, it gives others the confidence to express themselves in a carefree way. If my worries about someone's opinion gets in the way of what I'm creating, I play this album and realize that the only person your art should please is yourself. 

Favorite track on album: "Shut Up" 

Deafheaven- Sunbather:

I remember hearing this album for the first time, and absolutely hating it. It probably had something to do with George Clarke's screams, which were a bit too high-pitched for my tastes. However, seeing the massive hype that surrounded this LP, I figured there had to be something to it that I was missing. So I listened to it front to back multiple times to get a full picture of the record. I was stunned. The crescendos on this thing were unlike anything I had heard before. "Dream House" and "The Pecan Tree" were soon routinely belted out while I took a shower, each feeling an epic poem stuffed into one track. This record began my interest in a multitude of genres, including black metal and post-rock. This has led to me finding many more bands and albums that I adore. 

You ever get that feeling when you're so upset  you just want to punch a whole in the wall, hot tears streaming down your face? This emotion finds itself bubbling to surface on nearly every track, with angelic tremolo guitars playing alongside furious blast-beat drums. It's like the world's most depraved symphony. This album is an absolute vent for me. Life likes nothing more than to piss you off at random times, so it's good to have a piece of music that allows you to kick life's ass when need be. 

Favorite track on album: Jesus, this is hard. I guess "The Pecan Tree", if I had to pick one. 

Dead Kennedys- Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables: 

I think what separates good punk bands from greats ones comes down to wit. Anyone can write about pissed off they are at the system, but your statement has a better chance of sticking when combined with some charisma. Dead Kennedys, one of the all-time great punk band, has charisma in spades. On their 1980 debut album Fresh Fruit for Rotting Vegetables, the band uses their razor sharp wit to shed light on world issues like poverty, the use of chemical weapons, and governor Jerry Brown of California. 

Before listening to this record, I knew next to nothing about politics and the big issues facing our country. I won't say that I bought into every idea the group espoused, but it at least encouraged me to research into the topics deeper. Even though many of these discussions took place in the late 70's and early 80's, they still remain hot-button issues today. It exposed to me to a whole side of the political spectrum that I wasn't exposed to in the cloistered world of suburban America. Also, if you get a chance, listen to lead singer Jello Biafra's spoken word albums, especially Hellburbia. Recorded not long after the Columbine Shooting, it amazes me how relevant it still is.

Favorite track on album: "Let's Lynch the Landlord" 

Interpol- Turn on the Bright Lights:

While not the first record I heard by the band (that would be Antics), this is the one that made Interpol my favorite group of all-time, instead of just another post-punk band I admired. Of all the groups to come out of the New York's indie-rock scene in the early 2000's, no one else comes close to Interpol, who managed to create their opus on their debut album. Every track here is a classic, from the soothing "NYC" to the more punchy "PDA", which features one of my favorite verses ever: 

"But you're so cute when you're frustrated, dear

Yeah, you're so cute when you're sedated."

This line is so tender yet sinister at the same time, a feeling which I think defines the band. Their cryptic lyrics will often leave you unsure how to feel, as you try to wrap your mind around what the hell lead singer Paul Banks is talking about. However, I believe these lyrics mean whatever you think they do. Their beauty lies in their ability to coincide with the feelings of any human being. As far as my life is concerned, this album showed me a band that challenged me like nothing before, in the end rewarding me with some of the most eerie and contemplative songs I have ever heard. This record serves as my basis for what happens when a band gets everything right.

Favorite track on album: "Leif Erikson"

 

Godspeed You! Black Emperor- Lift Your Skinny Fists Like Antennas to Heaven:

This record, with about 90 minutes of music spread across four tracks, feels like one gigantic song. Probably one of the greatest records of all-time, Lift Your Skinny Fists manages to feel both inspiring and terrifying at the same time. The band are experts at building up a song, slowly turning a single note into a thundering orchestra. Listening to this album from start to finish is a lot like backpacking around the world; you've experienced so much that it becomes difficult to contemplate the entire journey. 

One of my greatest passions in life is writing, especially poetry. I re-read some of the first poems I wrote, and cringed as I realized they were just a bunch of miserable Ginsberg rip-offs. I had difficulty finding my own voice, as I endlessly just copied my favorite poets. Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and more specifically this album, inspired me to find my own voice, and write poems that were 100% mine. To this day, I still listen to this album regularly whenever I write any sort of fiction, as the instrumentals are so powerfully emotive that I never run out of inspiration. I wouldn't be nearly as good a writer were it not for this album, and the raw emotions that it creates.

Favorite track on album: It really is like one track, so the whole album is my favorite.
 

Sam Smith- In the Lonely Hour: 

Is this the most technically gifted album? No. Does it have wonderfully inventive lyrics? No. Is it all that original? Definitely not. And yet, In the Lonely Hour, like all of these records, came to me at a time when I needed it most. 

Senior year of high school, I finally began to accept my being gay. It was something that I had been repressing within myself for years, but I could no longer handle the stress that hiding such a vital part of my life brought. At the same time that I was going through this, Sam Smith was ruling the pop charts with hit singles like "I'm Not the Only One" and "Stay With Me" (which does rip off the tune of "I Won't Back Down"). These songs were unavoidable, and while I would usually find such pop tracks revolting, Smith's songs struck a chord with me. Even before I knew he was gay, I could tell he wasn't singing about women. Listening to this album let me know that living life as an openly gay man would still have the moments of love, heartbreak, and affection that straight couples have. Even now, as soon as I hear the beginning notes of "Money On My Mine", I get this bubbly feeling that swells up inside me. It's difficult to describe, but it's a feeling that gives me an overwhelming sense of freedom. Almost like nothing is standing in my way.

So yeah, this album may be a collection of sultry pop tunes consisting of crooning vocals and corny rhyming couplets. However, I can not deny how wonderful In the Lonely Hour makes me feel every time I hear it. Sam Smith and his music taught me that it was ok to be gay; therefore, I don't really care how corny it may be.

Favorite track on album: "Life Support"

Car Seat Headrest- Teens of Denial:

For me, college has consisted of a near monthly existential crisis, in which I lay on my bed asking over and over, "Where the fuck is my life going?" I continuously find the world of adulthood creeping up on me, and I feel totally unprepared at times to deal with it. That's ok, because Will Toledo, lead singer and mastermind of Car Seat Headrest, doesn't appear to be ready either.

This album landed #13 on my Best Albums of 2016 list, but in retrospect it should have been higher. Much higher. It has such a classic sound, and yet sounds so different from any other current rock band. It's incredibly ambitious in its length with over an hour of music, at least half an hour more than most commercially successful rock albums. But what keeps bringing me back to this album are the lyrics, which Toledo sings with the energy of a student who just took his last final. The track "Fill in the Blank" perfectly captures this post-college malaise:

"I've known for a long time

I'm not getting what I want out of people

It took me a long time

To figure out I don't know what I want." 

Whenever I go through these existential crises, I think I'm the only feeling this way, and that everyone else I know is going on to do grand things with their life. In reality, though, many of them, as this song illustrates, are going through the exact same thing. In fact, almost every song on the record deals with the life of a young person in their twenties, stuck at the crossroads of where they are and where they want to be. This record allows me to take a deep breath, and realize it'll be alright.

Favorite track on album: "Vincent"

My Top 50 Favorite Films of All-Time

Every person has that one movie that forever changed the way they saw the world and themselves. You may have seen it when you were five years old, a teenager, or maybe you saw it yesterday. Whenever that moment was, you know it is a moment you will never forget. The emotions you felt while watching that film for the first time will stick with you every time you watch it again. A person's favorite film really gives you an insight into who they are as a person. People love movies because they can take their own life and relate to the characters, conflicts, and action that is exhibited in film.

If you are a movie nerd, like myself, then you have many different movies that have provided such an experience. Whittling my favorite films down to 50 proved quite a challenge, but in doing so I learned a lot about my movie-watching habits. For one, I realized I need to work on watching movies made before 1970; there ended up being very few of those. Also, I may like George Clooney a little too much. Then again, why is that bad thing?

Trying to compile this list reminded me of movies that, while I adore, I have not seen in years. It also helped me reaffirm my love for certain films. Hopefully, some of your favorites are on this list as well. If not, at least you have fifty new films to add to your watch list.

#50: Mystic River (2003) 

Director- Clint Eastwood

Probably one of the greatest performed crime dramas ever. Kevin Bacon, Tim Robbins, and Laura Linney all do an excellent job slowly showing the all-too-human flaws their characters possess. And Sean Penn is at his absolute best, portraying a grief-stricken father hellbent on getting vengeance for the murder of his daughter. It is dark, disturbing, and an excellent story of what the horror of death does to otherwise good people.

Watch the trailer here:

#49: Gone Girl (2014)

Director- David Fincher

Perhaps there is no more polarizing character in film than Amy Dunne. In a landmark performance by Rosamund Pike, Amy is a character that you don't know if you want to root for her or kill her. More so than the wonderful screenplay and cast, I love the cinematography in this film, which perfectly captures the emotion behind every scene. Oh yeah, and then there's the bedroom scene. You won't be ready for it, I promise.

Watch the trailer here:

#48: You Can Count On Me (2000)

Director- Kenneth Lonergan

Laura Linney might just be my favorite actress ever. She is perfect in everything she does. In this heartwarming classic, her chemistry with a young Mark Ruffalo is something to behold. Together, they play a pair of polar-opposite siblings, with each having experienced their own mix of heartbreak and tragedy. Like any Lonergan film, the screenplay jumps out at you, with every line serving the purpose of illustrating the complex relationships within this rather simple story.

Watch the trailer here:

#47: Patema Inverted (2013)

Director- Yasuhiro Yoshiura

A severely underrated anime film, this drama shows the dangers that come with labeling and rejecting others for their physical appearance. The characters avoid typical anime cliches for the most part (although the main villain is a it campy), and the story is one of most complicated and well thought out of any anime I have seen. A perfect anime to rival any Miyazaki.

Watch the trailer here:

#46: The Dark Knight (2008)

Director- Christopher Nolan

This is the best superhero movie, ever. Period. There is no debating. What Christian Bale and Heath Ledger manage to do with these legendary characters is nothing short of extraordinary. What's amazing about Nolan's Batman trilogy is that, while obviously fiction, they feel so utterly tangible. He makes the stuff of science fiction appear realistic. In case you ever doubted the Ledger's acting prowess, just watch an interview of him, any will do, and then watch this film. It seems like two completely different people.

Watch the trailer here:

#45: The Cabin in the Woods (2012)

Director- Drew Goddard

In the world of horror, this film is revolutionary. Simultaneously celebrating and critiquing the various stereotypes that plague the genre (idiotic college kids, foreboding strangers that warn idiotic college kids, monsters that kill idiotic kids, etc.), Cabin in the Woods entertains from start to finish. Richard Jenkins and Bradley Whitford are hilarious as the bumbling idiots in charge of a disturbingly gruesome stage.

Watch the trailer here:

#44: Persona (1966)

Director- Ingmar Bergman

I never realized that movies this old could be so insanely messed up. The best film by Swedish auteur Ingmar Bergman, Persona is a rabbit hole of madness. From the very beginning, the film assaults the viewer with a barrage of disturbing images, ranging from the slaughtering of a lamb to a crucifixion. This seemingly random sequence (it's not, believe me) sets the tone for a tense and terrifying relationship between a neurotic actress and her nurse. I'm not exaggerating, this stuff is straight out of your worst nightmare.

Watch the trailer here:

#43: Spaceballs (1987)

Director- Mel Brooks

After watching it dozens of times, this film still makes laugh just as hard. Whether you love Star Wars, hate it, or have never even seen it, this parody contains enough humor to have you rolling on the floor. Rick Moranis and John Candy pull out some of their best performances. Being a Mel Brooks film, Spaceballs routinely borders on the absurd, often breaking the fourth wall in some very creative ways. It's always refreshing to see a movie that does not take itself to seriously. And it's so quotable, which is always a plus.

Watch the trailer here:

#42: The Prestige (2006)

Director- Christopher Nolan

During high school, this film was a movie night regular. We would always watch it every time someone new joined us, because watching their reactions always made it worth it. Based on the 1995 novel of the same name, the story centers around two incredibly ambitious magicians at the turn of the 19th century. Each one tries increasingly dangerous tricks, while also doing their best to sabotage their rival's work. This movie is classic Nolan, with the story stripped of any typical storyline. Plus, David Bowie is in this flick. That's right, David Freaking Bowie. That right there should be enough to convince you to see it.

Watch the trailer here:

#41: Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Director- Edgar Wright

The first in Edgar Wright's Three Flavours Cornetto Trilogy, fuses elements of horror, romantic-comedy, and action for a one of a kind spectacle. Simon Pegg stars as a man down on his luck, who tries desperately to get his sad life figured out right in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. The chemistry between Pegg and regular co-star Nick Frost is absolutely legendary. Of course, there is Wright's excellent camera skills, which adds to the hilarity of two nitwits fighting of hordes of the undead.

Watch the trailer here:

#40: Cinema Paradiso (1988)

Director- Giuseppe Tornatore

Winner of Best Foreign Language Film at the 62nd Academy Awards, this movie is 100% pure magic. This Italian drama focuses on the relationship between a little boy and an elderly movie theater manager. The ups and downs of their friendship are examined with such exquisite beauty. Added on top is an epic musical score by Ennio Morricone, honestly one of the best I have ever heard. The final scene always, always, always leaves me in tears.

Watch the trailer here:

#39: The Sunset Limited (2011)

Director- Tommy Lee Jones

I'll admit, the premise of this film doesn't sound to exciting on the surface. Two men, one a white college professor and the other a poor black janitor, sit in a tenement and talk. For the whole movie. However, the fact that these two men are played by Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel L. Jackson, and that the script is written by Cormac McCarthy, makes this film so engaging. The two men, complete polar opposites, talk about life, religion, love, and a myriad of other worldly topics. Even with a lack of physical action, the film hooks you in with its thought-provoking dialogue that might just tear down everything you thought you knew about the world.

Watch the trailer here:

#38: Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Directors- Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Meet the Hoovers, perhaps the unluckiest family in America, who just happen to live in New Mexico. Go Figure. This quirky movie shows the members of the family attempting to better their lives while driving to Los Angeles for youngest child Olive's beauty pageant competition. This film is as heartfelt as it is funny, with career best performances by the likes of Steve Carrell and Alan Arkin. Actually, it's not fair to name specific actors, because they all do amazing. Seriously, not a bad performance out of all of them.

Watch the trailer here:

#37: The Pianist (2002)

Director- Roman Polanski

It took a Holocaust survivor to make the best movie about the Holocaust ever. Polanski comes through on his greatest film, which depicts famed Polish pianist Wladyslaw Szpilman as he struggles to survive in the cruel and inhuman world of the Warsaw ghetto. Adrien Brody's depiction of Szpilman shows a man in a constant state of composed horror. When I watch this story, I feel a pit in my stomach, because even though I want the characters to make it out alright, I know it probably won't happen.This film provides a unique insight into the greatest tragedy the world has ever seen.

Watch the trailer here:

#36: Blame It on Fidel (2006)

Director- Julie Gavras

This entertaining French film centers on nine-year old Anna, whose life is upended when her upper-middle class parents decide to abandon their privileged lives to become radical Communists. Set in the early 1970's, we watch Anna, performed excellently by Nina Kervel-Bey, cope with her newly chaotic lifestyle, from having a personal nanny to a bunch of Fidel Castro look-alikes in her home. It is an honest account on how the passions that come from ideology can have unintended consequences on those around us.

Watch the trailer here:

#35: Taxi Driver (1976)

Director- Martin Scorsese

"You talkin' to me?" This psychological thriller by Scorsese highlights the nightmarish effects of PTSD, and the havoc it can wreak upon society. Robert DeNiro stars as Travis Bickle, a former marine and insomniac, who becomes a taxi driver to make it through the sleepless nights. He soon encounters an entire underworld of grungy New Yorkers with all kinds of depravities. He also begins to dangerously obsess over a woman named Betsy. A 13 year old Jodie Foster also makes a surprisingly mature performance. There is a reason this film is as iconic as it is.

Watch the trailer here:

#34: American Psycho (2000)

Director- Mary Harron

Oh, Christian Bale. Serial killers never looked so good. In this thriller, Bale plays Patrick Bateman, a New York businessman obsessed with fancy restaurants, business cards, and, well, killing people. This is arguably Bale's best performance ever, creating a characters so suave and psychotic at the same time. The film wonderfully satirizes corporate businessmen who care way too much about money and personal appearance. This movie is also educational, as well as exciting. You'll learn more about Huey Lewis and the News than you ever wanted to.

Watch the trailer here:

#33: Michael Clayton (2007)

Director- Tony Gilroy

I was really caught aback by how good this movie really is. George Clooney plays a lawyer who must handle the crisis of one of the firm's partners having a mental breakdown, due to a huge scandal involving corporate corruption in a civil lawsuit. Clooney plays opposite to Tilda Swinton, who took home a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role as a ruthless businesswoman. Watching Tom Wilkinson's portrayal of a man on the brink of insanity continues to leave me in absolute awe.

Watch the trailer here:

#32: The Incredibles (2004)

Director- Brad Bird

This is, without a doubt, Pixar's greatest movie. Not only does it feature the stellar animation that the company has become renowned for, but it also contains one its most complex and mature themes. Bob and Helen Parr, along with their children, possess super powers that once made them the greatest heroes on Earth. However, society rejects them, and forces them into hiding, unable to reveal their powers to anybody. I might me be reading into this too much, but I definitely think there are similarities between the superheroes in the movie, and homosexuals in the 1950's. Both were forced to hide their true identities and pretend to be like the rest of the population in order to escape legal prosecution. It is such an interesting take on the world of superheroes, and one of the more thought-provoking animated movies ever.

Watch the trailer here:

#31: Tangerine (2015)

Director- Sean Baker

A film shot entirely on iPhones, Tangerine is one of the most entertaining LGBT movies in recent years. It's based around two friends, Sin-Dee and Alexandra, who are both transgender sex workers. The story follows the two of them in their daily lives as they try to survive on the streets of Los Angeles, with Sin-Dee causing all kinds of trouble along the way. It is a hilarious film, but also contains a good amount of serious moments, showing the troubled life that all too many transgender people face on a daily basis.

Watch the trailer here:

#30: In Bruges (2008)

Director- Martin McDonagh

In the world of comedy, In Bruges is about as dark as moonless night. Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson play two assassins forced to hideout in a tourist-ridden village in Belgium following a botched hit. McDonagh's witty screenplay continuously exploits the pair's misery and boredom for comedic purposes. The best parts of this film, though, are in the more serious moments when Farrell's character must come to terms with the awful mistakes he has made.

Watch the trailer here:

#29: Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)

Director- James Foley

This star-studded flick contains profanity so rich and thick, you could drizzle it on a cake. Five miserable salesman (Al Pacino, Alan Arkin, Jack Lemmon, and Ed Harris) must compete to get the most sales or run the risk of getting fired. We watch as each of them continuously demean themselves in order to possibly sell pieces of land to people. The flick, of course, contains the iconic scene featuring Alec Baldwin, in which he yells, "Coffee's for closers only!" Watching these actors spar with carefully curated profane sentences reminds me of Roman gladiators in the Coliseum.

Watch the trailer here:

#28: In the Loop (2009)

Director- Armando Ianucci

Like the film that precedes it in this list, In the Loop is a film known mostly for its vulgar dialogue. A precursor to Veep, it shows that absurd and chaotic world known as politics, with the some of the most narcissistic and clueless characters every to grace the big screen. It leaves one wondering how anything gets done in politics. If you're looking for some dry political satire, with Dr. Who swearing like a senile grandfather, this movie is for you.

Watch the trailer here:

#27: Manchester by the Sea (2017)

Director- Kenneth Lonergan

This film haunts me. Watching the trailer, I thought I knew what to expect. And yet, it was so much more disturbing and magnificent then I every could have imagined. Casey Affleck shines, not through the words he says, but through the subtle mannerisms he works into his damaged character. It's one of the best movies on grief every made, mostly by taking the unusual moral that sometimes things just don't get better. Not an uplifting takeaway, but very much a real one.

Watch the trailer here:

#26: Up in the Air (2009)

Director- Jason Reitman

Ryan Bingham, played by George Clooney, makes a living firing people for bosses to scared to do so. He lives his life based on a philosophy of owning as little as possible and not setting up roots in order to live a freer life. The movie is an examination of one's personal philosophy, something many people have, and what that person does when that philosophy is stripped from them. This film includes excellent performances by Anna Kendrick and Vera Farmiga.

Watch the trailer here:

#25: Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Director- Ang Lee

Based on the 1997 Annie Proulx short story (which everyone should read), this is THE gay movie of the century, maybe in film history. And there's good reason for this. Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) defy conventional gay stereotypes, showing that even tougher-than-life cowboys can be gay as well. This movie is not just for gay people, though. Anybody who has ever loved someone they can't have can relate to it as well. Honestly, though, how did this lose to Crash? Does anybody even like Crash?

Watch the trailer here:

#24: Office Space (1999)

Director- Mike Judge

You ever have that one boss that just drives you crazy? The one that always asks you to do the most menial, tedious crap ever? You should watch this movie then. The comedy that perfectly encapsulates the monotonous hell that is a desk job, Office Space depicts what happens when employees, stuck in this never ending rat race, finally crack. I should warn you, though, that this movie will unleash work scars you didn't know you had. An absolutely spot on satire.

Watch the trailer here:

#23: Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975)

Directors- Terry Gilliam and Terry Jones

One of the greatest comedies of all time, British sketch geniuses Monty Python unleash some of their best material that pokes fun not only at history, but every authoritative institution known to man. For some reason, when I tell people about this film, they know what I'm talking about maybe 20% percent of the time. However, if they're a Boy Scout, they always know it. Seriously, every Boy Scout I have met knows about this movie. I have no idea why. All I know is that everyone should watch this film.

Watch the trailer here:

#22: Memento (2000)

Director- Christopher Nolan

When film critics talk about non-linear plot structures, they're probably referring to this movie. This unique film focuses on Leonard Shelby, a man unable to create new memories due to a tragic accident. Because he is only able to experience the world in snapshots lasting a couple minutes, this is how to movie is presented to the audience. However, what seems chaotic at first forms into an actual pattern, as we begin to figure out how Leonard's life is even sadder than we first imagined. It's neo-noir at its finest.

Watch the trailer here:

#21: American History X (1998)

Director- Tony Kaye

The first time I saw this movie, I was 13 years old flying home from DC on JetBlue. Right from the get go, I was stunned. Taking place in the highly racialized environment of 1990's Los Angeles, American History X contemplates why it is that angry and frustrated white males embrace radical neo-Nazi ideology. I love Edward Norton in this film, who plays a young leader of a white supremacist gang who finds himself disgusted at what he and his family have become as a result. One of the better films on racism in America, this film rips you out of your bubble and throws you headfirst into the darker side of American culture.

Watch the trailer here:

#20: The Shining (1980)

Director- Stanley Kubrick

Let's face it, if Kubrick directed it, it's probably a masterpiece. This rings true especially for his genre-defining classic The Shining, one of the most eerie and unsettling motion pictures ever created. Jack Nicholson's slow descent into madness as the keeper of the Overlook Hotel is one of the most captivating and startling acting performances in history. I love this film, because, while it is a horror, Kubrick utilizes the talents of his actors and a wonderfully written script to make it scary, instead of just using a bunch of rudimentary jump scares. You could spend hours debating the symbolism and meanings of the film. In fact, entire documentaries have been made about it. Whatever conclusions you draw from it, it is sure to have you gripping you chair by the end. Unless you're name is Stephen King; then you hate it for some reason.

Watch the trailer here:

#19: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest (1975)

Director- Milos Forman

Another Nicholson masterpiece, this classic critiques the regular psychological abuse inflicted upon those in mental hospitals. The movie consists of an ongoing battle between the extremely strict Nurse Ratched and rebellious inmate Randie McMurphy. McMurphy tries various ways to improve the lives of his fellow inmates, but is continuously blocked by Ratched who demands absolute obedience. It's a sobering revelation on the multiple injustices faced by the metally ill.

Watch the trailer here:

#18: The Imitation Game (2014)

Director- Morten Tyldum

I don't think I've cried harder over a movie than I have with this film. Based on a true story, it follows the journey of Alan Turing, who worked tirelessly in order to crack a Nazi coding device known simply as Enigma. Alan, played by Benedict Cumberbatch, clearly has some sort of autism and therefore finds it difficult to socialize anybody, including those on his team. Sometimes, you just find a cinematic character who relate way too much with. It's almost as though someone saw you and decided to put your life into film. That's how I feel with Alan Turing in this film. If I write anymore about it, I'm going to start crying again, so I'll leave it there.

 Watch the trailer here:

#17: Breathless (1960)

Director- Jean-Luc Godard

One of the best film to come out the French New Wave movement, Breathless was shot with a hand-held camera, and used almost no artificial light, something almost unthinkable in the black and white era. What this does, though, is make you feel right at the center of the action, as you follow the suave Michel Poiccard on the run from the police. Michel is your typical old-school film bad boy: he's handsome, charming, cares too much about his looks, sleeps with many women, and always has a knack for getting in trouble. My personal favorite performance in this film is Jean Seberg as Patricia, the main love interest. She speaks French with an unapologetic American accent, which adds to overall quirkiness of her character. She also seems to be the only one to tame Michel, and is one of the most captivating characters in French film. The final scene is especially wonderful, but you'll have to watch it to find out why.

Watch the trailer here:

#16: American Beauty (1999)

Director- Sam Mendes

This film has it all: a compelling story, talented actors, a beautiful score, and a theme that transcends the lives of nearly every human being. Kevin Spacey stars as Lester, a man who finds himself in the middle of a mid-life crisis, following an unhealthy infatuation with his daughter's best friend. He rejects the cozy the suburban life he has constructed for himself to live a more exciting and care-free life. I believe that this movie is relatable for any age group, from rebellious teenagers to adults who suddenly wake up to find themselves in their mid-40's. It's a film about the various restrictions we unknowingly impose on ourselves, and how we spend our lives struggling to break free of them.

Watch the trailer here:

#15: Goodnight, and Good Luck (2005)

Director- George Clooney

A reminder that the freedom of the press is a delicate thing, and it only takes a few powerful people to make it go away. David Strathairn plays famed television news anchor Edward R. Murrow, who was repeatedly accused of being a Communist for criticizing Senator Joseph McCarthy's campaign to kill communism in America. Director George Clooney does an excellent job in showing just how scary a time this was in American history, when those who critiqued the government found themselves lambasted by it. Sound familiar?

Read my full review here: http://uffdaculture.blogspot.com/2017/02/goodnight-and-good-luck-2005-review.html

Watch the trailer here:

#14: As Good As It Gets (1997)

Director- James L. Brooks

My favorite Nicholson film, good old Jack plays a profane and obsessive compulsive writer named Melvin who dislikes every single human being. Seriously, I don't know if you could be more pessimistic. But after meeting waitress and single mom Carol, played by the marvelous Helen Hunt, he begins to rethink his universal hatred of everyone, and tries opening up for the first time. Greg Kinnear also shines in this film, playing a gay artist who is also neighbors with Melvin, and therefore a frequent victim of his verbal insults. I love watching Melvin, because it's fascinating watching a man trying so hard to be likable, and still manage to put his foot in his mouth.

Watch the trailer here:

#13: Leon: The Professional (1994)

Director- Luc Besson

It's one of the more unique dynamics in film. Professional assassin Leon and 12-year old Mathilda, brought together by the murder of Mathilda's family at the hands of corrupt DEA agents. Mathilda insists that Leon teach her how to become an assassin so she can exact revenge on the agents, headed by the certifiably insane Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman). Natalie Portman, in her major motion picture debut, plays a kid far more mature than most her age, not deterred by the reluctance of Leon, who'd rather not have a little kid around at all times. It's incredibly exciting, with no shortage of thrills, but what excells this movie to greatness is Leon and Mathilda's relationship grow stronger as they become the family that neither of them have ever had.

Watch the trailer here:

#12: No Country for Old Men (2007)

Directors- Joel Coen and Ethan Coen

Based on the stirring novel by Cormac McCarthy, this Coen Brother's masterpiece turns the typical western narrative on its head, while rewriting the rule book on how to make movies. The plot centers around the actions of three men: Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), and Sherriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones). In a story involving a briefcase stuffed with thousands of dollars in drug money, each of these characters examine their own unique moral compasses and weigh it against the rest of the world. It really is an examination on morality, and how it differs among all kinds of people. This film is also unique in that there is no music whatsoever. But rather than ruin the mood, it adds to random chaos of the plot, to all of the people who die for no real significant reason. This film shatters any concept of a divine plan.

Watch the trailer here:

#11: The Salesman (2016)

Director- Asghar Farhadi

If I could some up this movie in one word, it would be tense. Unbelievably tense. One of the best directors in the world, Asghar Farhadi surpassed his masterful A Separation with a story showing a couple reeling after a terrible tragedy. In the aftermath of this event, Emad and Rana try desperately to normalize their life once more, but find this impossible due to the trauma both have received. Eventually, Emad decides to take matters into his own hands, by exacting revenge on those who wronged him and his wife. This film is a classic example of show-not-tell, when the awkward silences that fill conversations become absolutely deafening.

Read my full review here: http://uffdaculture.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-salesman-2016-review.html

Watch the trailer here:

#10: Moonlight (2016)

Director- Barry Jenkins

The surprise winner of this year's Academy Award for Best Picture, Moonlight is like no other film. Barry Jenkins delivers to the world a tender and soft-spoken tale about Chiron, a boy living in Liberty City, Miami, who must come to terms with his identity and his place in the world. I remember seeing this in theaters for the first time, and being unable to speak afterwards. I felt as though none of my words at that moment could do this movie justice; I'm still not sure if they can. What's most amazing is that Chiron is played by three different actors. These actors never worked together on set, and yet they all exhibit the same mannerisms that define the character, a black man who has put up a shield to block out the world that continuously hurts him. Also, Nicholas Britell creates one of the best musical scores I have ever heard, period.

Watch the trailer here:

#9: Fargo (1996)

Director- Joel Coen

This Coen Brother's flick contains some pretty heavy topics, with no shortage of scandals and senseless murders. Normally, this would make for a pretty heavy film, but just throw in some Minnesota "yah, you betcha" accents, and that edge will slide right off. This film is the perfect combination of the serious and the comical in a story that sees a pathetic man looking to get rich by having his own wife kidnapped. It can be downright absurd at times, which plays greatly with the cartoonish and ridiculous set of characters. Frances McDormand puts on a show stopping performance as Police Chief Marge Gunderson, who's probably the most polite police officer you'll ever meet. This movie is the hunky-dory murder mystery you didn't know you needed.

Watch the trailer here:

#8: Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Director- Wes Anderson

Featuring American auteur Wes Anderson's unique cinematic style, Moonrise Kingdom is the coming-of-age film of the decade. Set on the fictitious New England island of New Penzance, 12-year olds Sam and Suzy, both known for their short tempers, fall in love and decide to run away together to live apart from the oppressive adults in their life. They must outrun Suzy's overbearing parents (Bill Murray and Frances McDormand), Police Captain Sharp (Bruce Willis), and a social services agent (Tilda Swinton). There's also Sam's hell-raising Khaki Scout troop, who should be relatable for any Boy Scouts out there. This is just a really sweet film overall, about two kids who want nothing more than to be with one another. It's difficult to find a more simple and worthwhile goal than that.

Watch the trailer here:

#7: Spotlight (2015)

Director- Tom McCarthy

I don't know if it says more about me or the film that I've seen it at least ten times since it came out two years ago. To me, it speak what a captivating story it is, that I can watch it over and over again without tiring of it. It's based on the true story on how some reporters at the Boston Globe lifted the lid on the Catholic Church sex abuse scandal that rocked the world. Every actor gives a career-best performance, from the persistent Mark Ruffalo to determined, yet caring Rachel McAdams. Spotlight inspires me to be a journalist, to speak for those that have been wronged by society. It ought to be shown in every beginning journalism class for how to ethically pursue and write an article, and how just one article can change the world.

Watch the trailer here:

#6: The Usual Suspects (1995)

Director- Bryan Singer

This was my favorite film for the longest time. Even now, I am still floored by how gutsy of a movie it is. One moment, it will pull the rug from under you. You think that's it, but then it'll open the trap door underneath the rug. All I can really say about this movie is that you MUST pay close attention. If you don't you will be very confused. Key details are inserted so subtly that you might just miss them. After all, murders involving 27 dead men at one scene are rarely simple.

Watch the trailer:

#5: The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Director- Wes Anderson

What a fucking delight this movie is. I cannot comprehend that there are people in this world who do not like this movie, it's just impossible. The color schemes, the music, and all the camera angles are so meticulously thought out. It remains one of the most visually striking movies I have ever seen. We mostly follow around M. Gustave, concierge of the Grand Budapest Hotel, and his lobby boy Zero. Through the devious action of others, Gutave finds himself implicated in the murder of a former guest of the hotel. He and Zero are forced on the run while trying to clear his name. The characters thrive on Anderson's insanely witty dialogue, making for one his funniest films yet. This film warms my heart every time I see it, because the emotive world it exists in seems like something out of a dream. Also, Ralph Fiennes creates one of the most uniquely captivating characters when playing Gustave. How did he not win an Oscar?!

Watch the trailer here:

#4: Ida (2013)

Director- Pawel Pawlikowski

God, how do I even begin describing this film? For one, the emotions displayed are immense. Not that the characters are terribly emotive, but the pain they try so desperately to hide can be seen on their worn faces. In 1950's Poland, Anna prepares to become nun and officially join the convent, which she has lived in since infancy. However, she must first meet her last living relative, an aunt named Wanda. She learns that she her name is Ida, and she is Jewish. She now has to re-examine her own identity, as well as find out what happened to her original family. I get goosebumps just thinking about Ida; it's so utterly dark and tortured. Movies won't look the same after watching this.

Read my full review here: http://uffdaculture.blogspot.com/2017/03/ida-2013-review.html

Watch the trailer here:

#3: A Single Man (2009)

Director- Tom Ford

What happens when famed fashion designer Tom Ford tries his hand at film making? He creates a masterpiece, of course. The movie takes place over one day in the life of George Falconer (Colin Firth), an English professor slowly losing his will to live after the death of his lover, Jim. Based off the 1964 novel by Christopher Isherwood, A Single Man features a wonderful performance by Julianna Moore, who plays George's best friend. As he goes about his day, George reflects on his time with Jim, his death, and how his future looks. Being that Tom Ford is a fashion designer, of course the film would be absolutely visually stunning. Every shot looks so sleek, almost like it came out of a page in Vogue. Abel Korzeniowski writes a brilliant score, perfectly capturing George's despair, which seems to grow every minute. If you have ever struggle with the loss of a loved one, this film is as therapeutic as they come. It's like watching a painting being created stroke by stroke right in front of you.

Watch the trailer here:

#2: The Silence of the Lambs (1991)

Director- Jonathan Demme

This is the perfect film. No exaggeration. I have yet to find a singular flaw with this film, and even if one existed, I wouldn't change my mind. Every line holds significance. Every shot is chosen for a reason. There is no filler, because every single aspect of this film serves a purpose. Anthony Hopkins gives his character, the serial killer Hannibal Lecter, the ability to lock you into a trance. He's a truly terrifying character, one that makes your skin crawl every time you see him. Made the same year that Jeffrey Dahmer was caught. Silence of the Lambs introduces us to a terrifying serial killer by the name of Buffalo Bill, who becomes renowned for skinning his victims after killing them. Still in the FBI Academy, Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster) is determined to apprehend him. She seeks help from Hannibal Lecter in order to achieve this. Every time I watch it, I find new things I never noticed before. It scares me to death to know that there actually are people like that evil that exist in the world.

Watch the trailer here:

#1: Trainspotting (1996)

Director- Danny Boyle

Ever since I saw this film for the first time when I was 15, I knew it was my favorite. Now that I've seen close to thirty times, I can say that that hasn't changed. Not even slightly. It's my belief that truly exceptional films capture the time in which they are set perfectly. Trainspotting IS 1990's Great Britain. From the acid house clubs, the hundreds of unemployed drug addicts, and the AIDS crisis, Danny Boyle's greatest flick captures the spirit of a generation. The film focuses on five friends in Edinburgh, Scotland, many of whom are addicted to heroin. They commit an uncountable amount of crimes in order to fulfill this habit. There's plenty of good humor here, with the friends going to extreme lengths to embarrass/humiliate one another. However, the movie also reveals the extreme dark side that comes when living a drug fused lifestyle. The main character is Renton (Ewan McGregor) who repeatedly tries to get off of heroin and live a normal life. His friends, though, continuously drag him back into the dangerous habit. This film is grimy, disgusting, eye-opening, and downright shocking. It shows not only the deplorable conditions that many addicts live in, but also the institutions that cause it to happen while doing little to nothing to stop it. To me, this is such an important movie, especially now that the US is facing its own opioid epidemic. Besides its relevancy, though, it also provides some of the most entertaining bunch of characters in film, each with their own little intricacies that ultimately determine their fates. Also, the accents in the movie are pretty thick, so you're going to want to use subtitles. Just a warning.

Watch the trailer:

Best Albums of 2017 (so far...)

Though the year is only half over, 2017 has already gifted us with many amazing albums. From a new Kendrick Lamar project to the long-awaited return of Fleet Foxes, it is hard to believe that so much has happened in the music world in the span of just a few months. It'll be interesting to see what the rest of the year will have to offer. With that, here is a list of the ten standout records of the year so far, in no particular order.

Arca- Arca:

With the best electronic album of the year so far, Venezuelan producer Arca (a.k.a. Alejandro Ghersi) laments and croons over dark samples with even darker lyrics. While it is his third album, this is the first Arca album in which Arca himself sings on it. It is a wonder why he has not sung before, because his vocals chill the body so much it leaves you feeling numb. While quite high-pitched, they carry a weight of someone that has witnessed an insurmountable amount of pain. For example, on the opener "Piel", Arca bemoans in his native Spanish:

"Take off yesterday's skin

I don't know how to fall

The trees die standing up."

While the spacious instrumentals are vital to the record's atmosphere, it is Arca's tortured lyrics that allow us to dive deep inside his psyche. He struggles with identity, love, depression, and sex. For example, on the standout track "Desafío", Arca makes some of the most disturbing requests that I have ever heard uttered in a song: 

"Ámane y átame y dególlame 

(Love me, tie me, behead me)

Búscame y penétrame y devórame

(Find me, penetrate me, devour me)"

What I love most amount this record is its purely cinematic quality. Think of the most heart wrenching moments you've seen in film, and these songs could match up perfectly. I honestly do not feel the same while listening to this album, the experience is that intense. Definitely a record for those long and sleepless nights we all face at one point or another.

Listen to "Desafío":

Idles- Brutalism:

This is the punk album I have been waiting years for. It combines every facet of the genre that I love: brutal instrumentation, clever and witty lyrics, and catchy hooks that make it insanely difficult not to dance along. It also helps that the British five-piece also throw in elements of post-punk to add a darker vibe often missing from the scene. 

Some of my favorite punk groups, like Dead Kennedys and Reagan Youth, are known for their spot-on, touch in cheek lyricism. Being the sarcastic and cynical person I am, this makes the tracks more enjoyable than if they wrote cliche Viva La Revolution punk anthems (if I hear one more rip-off NOFX band, I'm gonna have an aneurysm). The band's wit is most evident on "Well Done", in which the band laments on society's unhealthy obsession with peer pressure: 

"Why don't you get a degree

Even Tarquin has a degree

Mary Berry's got a degree

So why don't you get a degree?"

This clever repetition is classic punk rock, and something that I think has been missing for a while. Idles tackle a series of different political and social topics, but do so without sounding preachy or like they are trying to sound super conscience. They just play the distorted, messy, chaotic music that they want to. Also, check out the song "Mother" and tell me it doesn't get stuck in your head. It's impossible.

Listen to "Mother":

Fleet Foxes- Crack-Up:

After an agonizing six-year wait, indie-rock giants Fleet Foxes made there triumphant comeback with the heavenly and effervescent Crack-Up. The group's most ambitious project so far, this album contains instrumentation so complex, it sounds like an entire orchestra was needed for recording. Even more simplistic songs like "If You Need To, Keep Time on Me" sound so vast, as though Pecknold's beautiful vocals could be heard the world over.

As with any Fleet Foxes release, the poetic lyrics take center stage. Dealing with topics of isolation, friendship, and even the Black Lives Matter movement, Pecknold approaches these ideas with incredible sincerity. You can really tell how much soul was poured into every single line and word. "Third of May/Odaigahara", for example, brilliantly uses the famous Goya painting to describe a loss of identity and loneliness. It's a wonder how such an idea is even conceived.


I keep debating whether or not Crack-Up surpasses the band's 2011 release, the seminal Helplessness Blues. I don't think it's that good (I mean, it's a perfect album, how could it?), but it does come awfully close, and in doing so puts itself in the running for the album of the entire year. It definitely makes me more excited to see them in September. 

Listen to "Third of May/Odaigahara":

Future Islands- The Far Field:

After their 2014 landmark album Singles, which included a gigantic single in "Seasons", synthpop trio Future Islands are back with the sensual The Far Field. Of all the albums on this list, this has perhaps the strongest singles of any of them. The track "Ran", for example, is the complete package: an irresistible bass line, saccharine synths, all mixed with Samuel T. Herring's uniquely versatile vocals, which can range from deep growls to as light as a feather. Lyrically speaking, we find Herring struggling to balance a love life amidst constant touring, a problem any successful musician faces at one point or another. The tenderness of this song is really striking, as he begins to the point of being a successful band without that one person by his side. 

Future Islands have established an uncanny ability to write an addictive hook. The one critique I have heard repeatedly of this album is its formulaic pattern where rolling bass lines always give way to Gerrit Welmer's synths before Herring continues on about love. I will concede that that is true to a certain extent. While the tracks do display a similar pattern, each contains its own unique hook that leave my head bobbing every time. Of all the records I have heard this year, I come back to this one the most. And if you haven't seen their performance on Letterman, what are you doing with your life?

Listen to "Ran":

King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard- Flying Microtonal Banana:

I very much like the fact that the cover of this record features a snake charmer, as this sound is replicated throughout Flying Microtonal Banana, the first of five proposed records to be released this year by these Australian psychedelic rockers. Whereas many rock bands use the acid rock genre for purely aesthetic reasons, King Gizzard makes it their identity on every single track. "Rattlesnake", for example, contains guitars that sound like they were concocted in the lab of some mad chemist. It fuses together elements of surf rock, punk, and psychedelia that give these long and winding tracks some wonderful hooks.

As expected, most of the album sounds like the freakiest acid trip you have ever been on. It exudes feelings of peace and relaxation, with a layer of crippling paranoia hidden beneath the surface. "Nuclear Fusion" has a much more darker vibe, with lead singer Stu Mackenzie humming along lethargically, leaving a slimy feeling oozing throughout your chest. Flying Microtonal Banana provides one of the more physical experiences I've had with music this year, and not in the form of dancing. I feel like these songs shift my chemical balance, leading to all kinds of weird feelings. Or maybe, I'm just losing it. Then again, that's probably the intention of the record.

Listen to "Rattlesnake":

Roger Waters- Is This the Life We Really Want?:

The best of his solo albums released so far, former Pink Floyd bassist Roger Waters came through on the conscience study of world affairs and love, Is This the Life We Really Want? He manages to comment on presidents, refugees, and war without sounding pretentious or preachy, a pitfall of many protest albums this year. Even though I have listened to it about a thousand times already, "Deja Vu" still leaves me shaking every time. He chooses a topic, the use of drones in warfare, mostly tied to the Obama administration and rips off the blindfold of the Western world, showing the civilians that bear the brunt of these attacks. The song paints a sobering reality, that world problems don't go away, they simply morph and change location. Whether in Vietnam or Syria, the suffering is still the same.

Of course, remnants of Waters' days in Pink Floyd are scattered throughout the track listing. Many songs implement soundbites of news broadcasts and other forms of television, a strategy used on hit Floyd songs like "Us and Them". However, the instrumentation isn't nearly as complex, possibly because Waters doesn't want a wall of guitars and synths to get in the way of his message, which is the most important part of the record. This album does require you to put on your thinking cap, but it does so as a plead, to pay attention to world outside of our borders for even a little bit.

Listen to "Deja Vu":

Perfume Genius- No Shape:

The career of Perfume Genius (a.k.a. Mike Hadreas) can best be pictured as the lifespan of a flower. With this first release in 2010, Learning, he was a seed just barely sprouting, only beginning to put his roots into a dark and scary world. Seven years later and with the release of his fourth record, No Shape, he has fully blossomed, standing above the rest. Listening to energetic and confident tracks like "Slip Away" makes me wonder where the Perfume Genius I found six years ago went. The instrumentals are infinitely more complicated, a virtual wall of glittery sound that he shatters and rebuilds repeatedly.

Many of his older songs dealt with a struggle to be oneself in the face of enormous insecurity. We now see a more self-aware Perfume Genius, one that possesses little interest in how others perceive him. The stellar "Wreath" sees him longing to exist outside his body, and exist beyond the limitations of a physical world.While the topic may seem depressive, Hadreas makes it a statement of power, because he knows exactly what he is capable of.
While his songs are pop, he is clearly not seeking to copy any trends. The songs contain a darker, more introspective side than we are used to seeing on this kind of record. It's pop music for real people.

Listen to "Slip Away":

Sampha- Process:

On his debut album, British musician Sampha comes through with one of the most unique R&B records in recent memory. A fusion of electronic, R&B, and soul, this album delves into a world of dizzying instrumentals juxtaposed with lyrics concerning the pains of the mind.

Sampha's vocals have a deafening quietness to them, their faintness coming to foreground of the track. On "(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano", his voice is at its strongest, pouring over tender piano notes in a very simple and heartfelt ballad. Without any complicated imagery or metaphors, Sampha explains the importance of music in his life, and how playing the piano allowed him a new kind of freedom he had never felt before.

"Blood On Me" enthralls me in one aspect and confuses me in another. I am not sure whether to go crazy to it or just cuddle in a pile of blankets and cry. It's got such a captivating beat to it, but Sampha sounds so pained that I almost feel bad about having fun while listening to it. The lyrics are like a journey into the deepest, darkest nightmare:

"They say there's somethin' bleedin' in me

Somethin' screamin' in me

Somethin' buried deep beneath." 

With Process, Sampha has officially established himself as a rising star in the world of alternative R&B, surpassing, in my opinion, other artists like The Weeknd.

Listen to "(No One Knows Me) Like The Piano":

Timber Timbre- Sincerely, Future Pollution: 

With an album that sounds like it just came out of Blade Runner, Timber Timbre, the wonderful experimental rock band from Toronto, returned to unleash their unique take on rock and roll. I would label their sound as "blues music for serial killers". Not that they are a gory band, but a certain feeling of uneasiness lingers throughout all of their songs, creating an atmosphere telling your instincts that something is very wrong beneath all of the quiet. If that sounds like a turn-off to you, no worries, because this probably the band's least disturbing album so far. Despite this, it still contains tracks like "Velvet Gloves & Spit", with lyrics that discuss very erotic themes in a creepy way, as though the narrator was telling the story through a peephole. 

Much like smog over a city skyline, Timber Timbre's music drifts back and forth, slowly becoming more and more suffocating. Many tracks on the record contain an ambient quality previously unheard on Timber Timbre songs, with bright and buzzing synths coming to the forefront instead of creepy guitar or piano leads. While not as good as their other records, Sincerely, Future Pollution still stands out as one of the more interesting albums of 2017, which speaks to the innovative nature of the band, who are always looking to do something different with each release. 

Listen to "Velvet Gloves & Spit":

Full of Hell- Trumpeting Ecstasy:

Ah, grindcore.With frantic and abrasive instrumentals, combined with often hellish vocals, it's probably one of the most exciting sub-genres of metal today. One of the leading bands of the scene, Full of Hell, dropped a face smashing new album this year that might just go down as the best of the year. Hailing from Maryland, Full of Hell have been releasing music since 2011, producing some of the most visceral grindcore of the decade. The secret to their success can be found in lead vocalist Dylan Walker, whose screams can vary from abyssal growls to glass shattering shrieks. The record makes various uses of layered vocals to showcase this ability, like on "Crawling Back to God", where Walker's voice adds to the feeling of frightening terror, especially at the end when all other instruments are removed.

For me, this album is a reminder of why I love metal in the first place. There is something beautiful in music that allows one to fully vent all of their anger and frustrations. The title track is proof of this, with the sugary sweet vocals of Nicole Dollanganger providing the same chilling effect as Walker in a completely different way. It's the most noise-influenced track on the record, and arguably the best, leaving me wanting the Full of Hell to continue in this slowly methodical, but still barbaric, direction. I understand the reservations people have when it comes to metal music, but if you are feeling skeptical about the genre, I implore you to give this band a shot. You might just be surprised by how much you enjoy it.

Listen to "Trumpeting Ecstasy":