#and people from sheffs <3< /div> Explore tagged Tumblr posts

[daftlads]

"you really don't want to do london alone." jo/nsam...

@worldneeds -- answered.

"i don't really want to do london at all, like." it falls out of him quicker than he'd meant it to - it's not that he doesn't want to live with jon. it's more that this is like moving to another planet. it's always hot down here, and the people are unkind, and even opening his mouth feels like a mistake, more so than usual. none of the street names mean anything to him, all of the shops are too posh, everyone moves too quickly.

he'd say he thought the same thing about sheffs when he moved there, but he'd be lying. sheffield isn't small by any means, and it's not as though the people magically get nicer once you pass birmingham, but it made sense to him. it's now he realises he's going to miss it. "you're very lucky, you know that? no man in the world could do this to me but you."

[wingsoverlagos]

Lewisohn vs. Sheff, revisited

David Sheff's 1980 interview of John and Yoko was the first source I thoroughly plumbed for comparison to Mark Lewisohn's Tune In. It was interesting, engaging, and, most importantly, available at my library, so I picked it as my not-quite-arbitrary starting point.

My source was All We Are Saying (2000), the book made of this interview transcript. At the time, I was asked if there was a chance the discrepencies I'd found were actually errors or changes on the part of Sheff. I didn't think it was likely. In two of his citations to this source, Lewisohn notes transcription errors in All We Are Saying, so surely he would've done that with any other errors he encountered.

Wrong! I came across a YouTube video with 3+ hours of audio from this interview, which allowed me to properly check several of these citations against the source. This is not the full interview audio--I believe it's a supercut of the clips from the Sheff interview that were used in Elliot Mintz's Lost Lennon Tapes radio series--but roughly half of the quotes Lewisohn used are included.

Most of the differences I found between the audio/All We Are Saying were minor, with one exception. I've taken down my original posts and compiled all my updated comparisons here. I've retained some of the images from All We Are Saying where I feel they are still useful in addition to my own transcripts/links to the available audio.

I'll lead with that "one exception", and put the other updates under a cut. This is the notorious "Hitting females" quote, and the audio has introduced quite the puzzle

Tune In 10-9 vs. Sheff (1980) 2:12:10

Lewisohn's version above, Sheff's (2000) version below. I initially assumed Lewisohn had made up the first line of his version of the quote (highlighted in pink), and stuck it onto an actual quote from the interview (yellow). Rather than bringing any clarity, the audio muddies the water further. Take a listen. Audio transcript [emphasis mine]:

JL: That’s Paul and me. His main lick, but lots of the words and parts and bits from me and possibly the others in the studio. All that [sings] “I used to be cruel to my woman and beat her…” That’s me because I used to be cruel to my woman physically. Any woman, y’know. I was a hitter. I couldn’t express myself, and I hit. I fought men, I hit women. I was violent. That’s why I’m always on about peace, you see, it’s the most violent people who go for love and peace, and I sincerely believe in love and peace, but I am absolutely a violent man who has learned not to be violent and regrets his violence. [Sheff interrupts] DS: …the chorus or just the idea for it? JL: Is this Getting Better? Getting Better is his chorus and then both together writing the sort of Chuck Berry-ish sounding, but I know that input about beating was from me and references to school and things like that.

This is the discussion of "Getting Better"--in All We Are Saying, this is where John says the line quoted by Lewisohn. But John Lennon does not say, "I will have to be a lot older before I can face in public how I treated women as a youngster." Not in this context, at least. There are condensed/other edits to some of the Lost Lennon Tape clips (see the discussion of Tune In 16-8, below), but there's no cut here. Sheff spends most of the clip trying to interrupt John, and at the place in the audio where we should hear the "youngsters" quote, John and Sheff have a brief exchange--if there was a cut here, I don't see how it wouldn't be obvious.

So wtf is happening here? I can see two possible scenarios: (a) John does say the "youngsters" line, possibly with Lewisohn's "Hitting females" line, elsewhere in the interview, and Sheff decided to wedge it into this part of the transcript; (b) John never said that, and Sheff, perhaps feeling a tinge of guilt for persistently trying to derail John's train of thought, made up a line that he thought nicely summed up John's remorse.

If scenario b is true, it's farcical--Lewisohn would be quoting a fabricated John Lennon quote, and then further fabricating his own addition. But who can say? If you have audio of this quote--or if you're David Sheff and would like to explain things to me--I would be indebted if you sent it my way.

The rest of the less-interesting audio comparisons are below the cut.

Tune In 3-6 was originally noted as having minor errors; Lewisohn's transcript was actually correct, so it's been removed from the original post.

Tune In 9-13 vs. Sheff 1980 (1:44:28)

The changes I originally noted are actually faithful to the audio source. There's one minor change made in Tune In vs. the audio: the sentence ending in "bitter" doesn't end, but continues, "and the underlying..." The audio segment cuts off before the final sentence/fragment, "It was very traumatic for me."

Tune In 16-8 vs. Sheff 1980 (1:47:26)

As it appears in Tune In:

This one took some puzzling. In the audio on YouTube, there are four different versions derived from two separate retellings of this story. Numbered in order of appearance, there's Version 1, Version 2, Version 3, and Version 4. Version 3 and 4 are two separate retellings of the same story. Version 1 is the same as Version 4, with a small omission early in the clip. Version 2 is cut together from parts of Versions 3 and 4. The quote that appears in Tune In is closest to Version 4, which I've transcribed here:

I would say to the others, when they were depressed, or we were all depressed, y’know, thinking the group was going nowhere and this is a shitty deal, and we’re in a shitty dressing room. I’d say, “Where are we going, fellas?” and they’d go, “ To the top, Johnny” in pseudo-American voices, and I’d say “Where’s that, fellas?” and they’d say, “To the toppermost of the poppermost,” and I’d say “Riiiight.” And then we’d all sort of cheer up.

There’s an unmarked omission after the first “When,” “are” is dropped between “Where” and “we,” “Johnny” is added at the end of the “poppermost” bit, and there are a few small omissions in the second to last sentence. I’ve underlined the last sentence in yellow because it’s still up in the air. It isn’t in any of the above clips, but that doesn’t mean much, since they all cut off where it would otherwise appear. It also isn’t in All We Are Saying, so I’m somewhat inclined to believe it’s a Lewisohn Original, but that's only a hunch.

Tune In 16-15 vs. Sheff 1980 (25:51)

Tune In above, All We Are Saying (p.23) below. My transcription [parts quoted in Tune In emphasized]:

There was a lot of drinking and carousing when we were in Germany, but the stories built out of all proportion. Over the years, they became like legends, you know. If you go to Hamburg now, you’ll hear stories you won’t believe, about me and the other guys and the other rock ‘n’ rollers from Liverpool that were ther

I've retained the original screenshot from All We Are Saying; as you can see, both Sheff and Lewisohn took some liberties there. In Tune In, much of this quote is omitted without indication; what Lewisohn does use is chopped and moved around. I really don't hear the emphasis he puts on "boy's fun," either.

Tune In 21-3 vs. Sheff 1980 (1:19:24)

I originally speculated that this quote was invented by Lewisohn, or at least very loosely based on a kinda similar section about New York. But John does actually wax poetic about France, though Lewisohn’s version still has some problems.

My transcription [parts quoted in Tune In emphasized]:

When I first went to Paris, I was about 21-or actually, I was 21 in Paris, but- The thing was all the kissing and the holding that was going on in Paris. It was so romantic just to be there and see them even though I was 21 and sort of not romantic. I really loved it, the way people would just stand under the tree kissing, and they weren’t mauling each other, they were just kissing.

There’s an unmarked omission after “was so romantic.” The audio clip cuts off after “they were just kissing,” so it’s possible John said the “I really loved it” line again, but it may just be cut-and-pasted from the middle of the quote.

Tune In 28-41 vs. Sheff 1980 (1:51:13)

My transcription:

That’s Paul’s song. He was trying to write a ‘Soldier Boy’ like the Shirelles track. He wrote that in Germany or when we were going to or from Hamburg and back. I don’t think-- I might have contributed something. I can’t remember anything in particular, it was mainly his song.

Sheff's transcript is mostly correct here.

The final sentence in Lewisohn’s quote is fine, but his “I think we helped him a bit” is of his own invention. John says “I don’t think—I might have contributed something,” which is substantially different in certainty, along with who might have helped Paul--"I" meaning John, or "we", meaning the rest of the Beatles.

Tune In 30-2 vs. Sheff 1980 (1:51:32)

Tune In above, All We Are Saying (p.168) below

My transcription:

in the other bedroom in my house at Menlove Avenue in Woolton which was my auntie’s place, the suburbs. I remember the day and the pink eiderdown on the bed…

Both Sheff and Lewisohn omit "in Woolton" as well as "the suburbs"--can't have John Lennon living in the 'burbs! Lewisohn also omits "my house", and brings "auntie's place" forward in the quote.

Tune In 33-18 vs. Sheff 1980 (1:48:15)

This quote appears in the endnote text itself:

My transcription [parts quoted in Tune In emphasized]:

Well, I can’t say I wrote it for George in that way. I was in the first apartment I’d ever had that wasn’t shared by fourteen other students, gals and guys at art school. I’d just married Cyn, and Brian Epstein gave us his secret little apartment that he kept in Liverpool for his sexual liaisons separately from his home life. And he let us- Cyn and I have that apartment. And my mother had always—she was a comedienne. And a singer, but not professional, but y’know, she used to get up in pubs and things like that. And she had a good voice, she could do Kay Starr and all the rest. She used to do this little gag called—that apparently she’d done to me when I was one year old and two year old, when she was still living with me, which was from a Disney movie, [singing] ‘Want to know a secret? Promise not to tell. You’re standing by a wishing well’ Okay? That’s from a Disney movie. So, I had this sort of thing in my head and I wrote it, and just gave it to George to sing. I thought it would be a good vehicle for him cause it only had three notes, and he wasn’t the best singer in the world, he’s improved a lot since then, but in those days, his singing ability was very poor because (a) he hadn’t had the opportunity and (b) he concentrated more on guitar playing than writing songs and singing. So I wrote that sort of--not for him as I was writing it, but as soon as I’d written it, I thought, “He could do this.”

This may seem like a whole lotta transcript for a one sentence quote at the very end, but it will be relevant soon. For now, the sentence itself--I don't consider it erroneous to omit false starts, so that in itself isn't a problem, but Lewisohn corrects John's false start by introducing phrasing he didn't use. He also omits "as I was writing it."

Standard Lewisohn Probs, nothing to write home about, but I paid closer attention to the body text that goes with this citation, and I noticed another issue. Here's the passage from Tune In:

Check out the highlighted passages. "Do You Want to Know a Secret" is "first-born" in the Lennon-McCartney songwriting partnership as codified by Brian Epstein. This is odd. How, exactly, does Lewisohn know this was the first song to come out of this period? John doesn't give a date in the Sheff interview--he places the creation of this song at some point while he lived in Brian Epstien's Falker Street flat, where (cmiiw) he and Cyn lived for a few months. Lewisohn says, "Rarely lacking motivation anyway, the agreement was spurring Lennon and McCartney to step it up as composers, to generate songs the Beatles could use in the studio." To me, "step[ping] it up as composers" implies the creation of multiple songs in this time period, and if that's the case, how can we say "Do You Want to Know a Secret" came first?

It seems a strange thing to say conclusively, another trumped-up tally in the "John" column of Lewisohn's pointless Lennon vs. McCartney dick-measuring contest.

Sources:

Lewisohn M. 2013. The Beatles: All These Years Vol. 1: Tune In. New York (NY): Crown Archetype. [ebook]

Sheff D. 1980. Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Partial audio available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRDfBGagFkU&t=1582s

Sheff D. 2000. All We Are Saying: The Last Major Interview with John Lennon and Yoko Ono. New York (NY): St. Martin’s Griffin. 229p.

[idontwanttospoiltheparty]

Well then… :)

Re: In My Life - I think it makes a lot of sense that the song is a parent talking to a child - recounting their memories and also “when I think of love as something new” (could be referencing parental love?). But while I think it’s possible that John would write a song for a child despite being a distant parent, I am also not sure if that reading of this particular song is not too gracious (as in I’m not sure John would put parental love above love for his soulmate coded companion - in reference to “in my life I love you more” [than anybody else]). But songwriting does not have to be that literal, I guess.

The songs I did not know about are:

- Remember (listening to it, I don’t feel strongly about it either way - it’s about some sort of a disillusionment and betrayal, interesting Guy Fawkes reference - could be about The Beatles given the context, ig).

- Who Can See It (yeah, no objection)

- I was aware of No Words and Denny Laine credit and... what an interesting coincidence, huh. 🤨

- Crippled Inside (hmmm, a good one. Just by looking at it - I think the first verse applies to Paul better than John, the second one has an interesting reference to Instant Karma, verse 3 seems generalized - but yeah, if it’s in some way about Paul or John, it’s pretty heavy)

- Some People Never Know I knew about, but I always felt like John might be only referenced (he’s “some people” lol, maybe “only fools” if we are willing to open our minds), but otherwise it’s addressed to Linda.

- Another Day how???

Could you tell me more about Day Tripper? Or post a link if you talked about it before? I can kind of see where your interpretation is coming from but I want to know!

Oh I hear you re: In My Life and John's take on the "levels" of love. I do think the song is interesting because, while it's placing the person on a pedestal it's specifcally not outright dismissing the past. And yeah, reading the song from the perspective of a parent does generate my probably favourite reading of "When I think of love as something new". I'll say, I think he may have only adopted that soulmate attitude after meeting Yoko. Like, clearly Yoko shifted how he approached relationships, so it's possible he had a less all-or-nothing attitude before he realized that was an option. I'd even say the way he described meeting Yoko as "teaching him" that someone could be everything to him would even indicate that.

WELCOME TO THE NO WORDS CIRCLE! lol

Nice catch with the Instant Karma! parallel. That's another song I forgot to mention actually. I feel I'd place it in the "I like to think it's about Paul but I'm not sure" category.

No yeah, that's what I meant with Some People Never Know. If John is anyone he's the person who "never knows" (which, if it IS about John is actually kind of harsh lol… though also apt for Mister Divorce Prediction)

Huh, did I mention Another Day?? (outside talking about the line in (Just Like) Starting Over?)

Re: Day Tripper

the source for the highlighted quote is David Sheff's book (so the full Playboy interview).

Basically, given the period when this song was written, I don't see how the fact Paul had recently outright refused to drop acid with him wouldn't be at the forefront of his mind when writing a song about this concept. Paul would have epitomized the subject matter at the time of writing. I sort of think of it as Paul up until now having been fine trying out drugs with John (prellies, weed) but suddenly backing out. That's how I read the "one way ticket" lines and "she took me half the way there".

Also, and I have no clue how much they discussed what this song was about, but the way they trade off the vocals is delicious lmao.

[ya-lit-odyssey]

Annotated Bibliography

Genre: Fiction

1. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Hemingway, E. (1994). The old man and the sea. Arrow Books.

Short Summary of the text:

The Old Man and the Sea is a novella about a man’s battle with a giant marlin. It is a fishing tale about the importance of perseverance through struggle. The main character, Santiago, takes his boat further out than he has ever before and eventually catches the giant marlin. He is an old man who has been taken care of by a young boy. When he brings the marlin carcass to the town, Santiago finds renewed confidence after he has lost faith in his life.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Perseverance, Resilience

Appropriate for Grade(s: 7-9

2. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Salinger, J. D. (1991). The catcher in the rye. Little, Brown and Company.

Short Summary of the text:

A teenage boy named Holden Caulfield leaves boarding school and explores New York City at night. The novel explores two days after being formally expelled from boarding school. The novel explores ideas of disillusionment and confusion. He grapples with emotional instability. The novel is told about the past while Holden may be at a mental health institution.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Identity, Perseverence

Appropriate for Grade(s): 8+

3.  Title of Text: (cite APA):

Thurber, J. (2016). The secret life of walter mitty. Penguin Books, part of the Penguin Random House Group of companies.

Short Summary of the text:

The short story details the story of a man who drives to Connecticut with his wife. Throughout his day he has several daydreams about becoming various heroic people. He becomes a pilot, a surgeon, and other fantasies inspired by his surroundings on his day. It is a story about how Walter Mitty manages boredom and his own identity on a mundane day in his life. The story has been adapted several times to film.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Identity

Appropriate for Grade(s): 9+

4. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Lowry, L. (2011). Number the Stars. Houghton Mifflin.

Short Summary of the text:

Number the Stars is historical fiction detailing escaping Jews from Copenhagen, Denmark during World War II. The main character, Annemarie, is a young girl who escapes to Sweden with the help of her family and close friend, Ellen. The story discusses the Danish Resistance against the Nazis. The story has challenging themes surrounding war and the Holocaust.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Perseverance, Resilience, Identity

Appropriate for Grade(s): 9-11

Genre: Nonfiction

1. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Dyson, M. E., & Favreau, M. (2023). Unequal: A story of america. Little, Brown and Company.

Short Summary of the text:

This nonfiction book is dedicated to telling the history of systemic racial inequality and segregation in the United States. The historical events are connected to the present day and highlight Black Americans’ fight for equality. It is an educational book for young readers that highlights the issues in the United States surrounding racial inequality.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Race, Identity, History

Appropriate for Grade(s: 8+

2. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Brown, D. (2024). In the shadow of the fallen towers: The seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, and years... after the 9/11 attacks. Clarion Books.

Short Summary of the text:

This is a graphic novel that details the immediate aftermath of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attack in New York City. The author creates an award-winning glance at the way these events transpired. Throughout the graphic novel, there are individual stories that come to light in a journalistic way. It is a moving graphic novel that can educate young readers about the issues that came out of the 2001 World Trade Center attacks and how they impacted the surrounding area.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: History, Identity, War

Appropriate for Grade(s): 8-9

3.  Title of Text: (cite APA):

Sheff, D. (2018). Beautiful boy: A father’s journey through his son’s addiction. Mariner Books, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

Short Summary of the text:

A memoir that explains a father’s struggle with his son’s addiction to methamphetamine. The author is a journalist who tells the story of the issues his son undergoes. From late night phone calls to erratic behavior, his son changes drastically after becoming addicted to crystal meth. It is a story about the struggle a family undergoes when experiencing addiction from a family member.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Addiction, Family, Identity

Appropriate for Grade(s): 9+

4. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Yousafzai, M. (2013). I am Malala: The Schoolgirl who stood up to the Taliban. Orion Publishing Group.

Short Summary of the text:

This book describes the essential story of a young woman who was shot by the Taliban while attempting to attend school. It discusses her point of view as a young woman desiring an education while so many people around her are trying to prevent her from doing so. It is a true story of a family damaged by international terrorism. It discusses gender issues and violence against women as well as religion.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Gender, Violence, War

Appropriate for Grade(s): 8+

Genre: Multicultural

1. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Woodson, J. (2016). Brown girl dreaming. Nancy Paulsen Books.

Short Summary of the text:

This award-winning story is expressed through a variety of poems that explain what it was like for an African American woman to grow up in the 1960s and 1970s. The story discusses the fact that elements of Jim Crow clash with the growing Civil Rights movement. It is also a story about the blossoming identity of the main character and her desire to find her place in the world by expressing herself through stories.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Race, Identity

Appropriate for Grade(s: 7+

2. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Tan, A. (2006). The Joy Luck Club: A Novel. Penguin Books.

Short Summary of the text:

A novel that explores the relationships between four mothers, four daughters and their families. In 1949, the four women meet to play mahjong and eat dim sum. During their meetings, they discuss the issues they have experienced in their immigrant experience. It is a story about relationships between mothers and daughters while also exploring racial identity in the United States at the time.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Identity, Race

Appropriate for Grade(s): 8+

3.  Title of Text: (cite APA):

Neruda, P. (2001). The Book of Questions. Copper Canyon Press.

Short Summary of the text:

This translation of Pablo Neruda’s book of poetry called El libro de las preguntas. The book is composed of 316 questions that explore questions about life from the perspective of a child. Neruda’s aim was to have the reader look past the typical areas of reason and logic. He wanted readers to see into intuition and imagination.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Imagination, Coming of Age, Identity

Appropriate for Grade(s): 7+

4. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Alvarez, J. (2007). Before we were free. Random House.

Short Summary of the text:

The main protagonist, Anita de la Torre, explains the issues she faces growing up in the Dominican Republic in the 1960s. Several of her relatives emigrate to the United States. The government of the Dominican Republic is causing issues because of a despotic leader, el Trujillo. It is a story about how young people need to find their place in the world and create a different future for themselves and their families.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Adversity, Identity, Race

Appropriate for Grade(s): 7-9

Genre: Social Issues

1. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Coles, M. (2021). Black was the ink. Lee & Low Books.

Short Summary of the text:

Sixteen-year-old Malcolm is sent on a journey to find a way into Black progress and social justice. Living in DC, Malcolm has been feeling down and despondent for a while. His mother sends him to his father’s family farm in Mississippi. There, he relates to his ancestor Cedric from 1866. He sees life through Cedric’s eyes and comes to understand his place and the future he wishes to build in America.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Race, Identity, Family

Appropriate for Grade(s: 9-12

2. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Gansworth, E. (2020). Apple. Levine Querido.

Short Summary of the text:

Riffing off a term that is a slur in Native communities, Apple is a book that discusses the author’s family and Native people everywhere. It discusses forced government boarding schools, and other horrors of the Native American experience in the past. Utilizing prose, imagery and verse, the book also discusses what it is like to be an artist who exists in multiple worlds.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Race, History, Identity

Appropriate for Grade(s): 9-12

3.  Title of Text: (cite APA):

Johnson, A. E., & Wilkinson, K. K. (2021). All we can save: Truth, courage, and solutions for the Climate Crisis. One World.

Short Summary of the text:

A collection of essays and poems from diverse women at the forefront of the climate change reform movement. It argues that women and girls are the agents for change on the planet and need their voices heard especially as the climate of the planet changes. The book intermixes poetry, art and essays to create a vibrant possibility for the future. The book is edited and curated by two climate leaders to offer a complete discussion of the material.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Climate Justice, Gender issues

Appropriate for Grade(s): 9-12

4. Title of Text: (cite APA)

Bauer, M. D. (2012). Am I blue?: Coming out from the silence. CNIB.

Short Summary of the text:

A collection of stories from notable young adult authors about the theme of growing up as gay or lesbian. There are 16 stories that explore diverse settings, characters, and styles. The stories are written in 1995 but can portray a distinct perspective to many other more contemporary stories. It gives newer students to the genre an idea that these issues have been around for a long time. It may just be recently that we can discuss them openly as a society.

YA Universal Theme(s) text is aligned with: Identity, LGBTQ+

Appropriate for Grade(s): 9-12

[shoeshineyboy]

HI BESTIE how are you. How was your day. What are your plans for this weekend? What's something you're looking forward to that's coming up soon? Something you're looking forward to a bit further in the future? Something you're looking forward to that's like. A year or more in the future? What's something you wish you were doing right now, three people you'd like to be sat in a pub with, 2 people you wish they'd announce for MCM, one celebrity you'd like to meet and one celebrity you would like to hunt for sport? What breed of dog do you think has the funniest face and what colour of cat do you think is the biggest prick?

KLJSADLLASJLS MY DARLING YOU ARE EVERYTHING AND MORE.

my day was great I worked on my zine, did some needlework, went for a LONG walk and then had some tea and wine at work!!!

this weekend I am working but TOMORROW I am taking Mama Krill for a posh lunch, then we're going for cocktails, THEN watching a movie!! then WE are watching Telstar <3

I am looking forward to FUCKING MCM, BABE!!! I AM SO HYPE FOR EVERYTHING ABOUT IT. we are gonna have So much fun. boat hotel. the panel I'm hosting. dinner. everything. ALL OF IT. I will be grabbing some beer from the service station but you'd better have something too!!!

a lil bit further? moving Sheff ways. I've had to put it back because I Cannot do a job that's standing that much. but it's fine. Sheff!! our flat!! our cat!!! it'll be Brilliant!!!

in a year??? darling in a year we will be sipping prosecco at my book launch. we WILL. it'll happen. and the air will smell like Chanel No 5 and wine and spice and leather and it will be glorious

RIGHT NOW I wish I was at the pub quiz with my friends from Winchester, I miss them dearly. I wish I was sat in said pub with @mtndeworpheus, you, and my friend Georgie. you'd all get along So well!!

they should announce Con O'Neill and Nathan Foad for MCM. please. and on that note I would LOVE to meet Con O'Neill and ask him what Willy Russell is like to work with and also maybe if I can kiss his cheek. I am hunting PewDiePie for sport because I'm still bitter that he paid less in council tax than me in 2016

French Bulldogs have the funniest faces they're just like. bug-eyed. they're so cute but they're just like !!!!????!!!!!! tuxedo cats are pricks. they just are. love them. but they are

[freakingoutthesquares]

1984 Wonder Stories Fanzine

PULP

Jarvis Cocker: vocals, guitar Russell Senior: guitar, vocals, violin Magnus Doyle: drummer, occassional keyboards Pete Mansell: bass Timothy Allcard: keyboards & vocals

We interviewed Pulp at the Hallamshire Hotel, Sheffield, amidst the flag-waving, noise making and beer swilling hordes of the NUM. Scargills Men. However this interview is not about the miners or what they called me comin into town.

Jarvis: Pulp were easy listening. For a while we were a bit fed up of playing loud, playing the garage band. Forty year old landlords started to like our sound. We haven't done any Peel Sessions for a while now. Don't like him as much.

Wonder Stories: Any Throbbing Gristle influence?

Jarvis/Pulp: Not much. Not much influence from anyone.

W.Stories: What do you write songs about?

Pulp: About people. it may seem a vague answer but it's the only one I can say.

+ + + +

audience

Pulp: We are told off for not talking enough on stage which is quite good. People don't get comfortable - they're used to armchairs, blankets and ovalitine.

Wonder Stories: What about the music business.

Pulp: We don't like to ignore it. It is a real world. We get fed up of the A&R men in their leather safari jackets saying 'yeah Real good sound - couple of synths here and there and OK!'

+ + + +

downhill

Pulp: Our greatest achievement were the Peel sessions from there we've gone downhill (not really).

Wonder stories: Are they're [sic] any Sheffield bands worth looking out for?

Pulp: Yeah. Dig Vis Drill (great name), who supported Carmel at the Crucible recently.

Wonder Stories: What about the Ya-Ya's (in Wonder Stories no.2 of which I have a cupboard left.)

Pulp: I don't think they exist any more. Their singer is in Denmark.

+ + + +

competition

Wonder Stories: Has Pulp ever entered any competitions?

Pulp/Jarvis: We once did a 'search for a star' thing, which was a bit of a laugh. People in the audience sing and you get grannies going. The judging is crap. 3 years ago we entered a YMCA competition. The bloke said 'like the attack, like the attack'. The judges were a panel of Sunday school teachers.

Sheffield

Wonder Stories: Whats the Sheffield scene like?

Jarvis: The Sheffield Scene is quite dead. The Hallamshire Hotel, for ages one of the few places to play, couldn't afford music license. To get round this, we sometimes do acoustic items. Elsewhere, the George IV is open, Sheff Poly, Attercliffe + pubs, working mens clubs put on bands and strippers. We like playing places like libraries and definitely not colleges. Colleges like to think they're doing you a favour, so they underpay you.

+ + + +

banana

Wonder Stories: Pulp has always seemed to be a laugh, put across as fun. D'yer still enjoy it.

Pulp: We still enjoy it. I don't walk around with a banana on my head. We don't mess about all the time. Pulp is not a joke. There are a lot of joke bands. A lot who don't mean to be jokes as well, who play.. the same songs for 2 hours, rehearsing every day of the week. Rehearsing doesn't help music that much, or perhaps I'm saying that coz of laziness.

Wonder Stories: What became of the record company (Red Rhino) on which you released 2 singles + a mini-album?

Pulp: We parted company with the record company because of MUSICAL DIFFERENCES!

+ + + +

Jarvis: The problem with fanzines is they tell you who does what and usually nothing more. It's like talking about cars, as they would a hobby. Whose got what kind of guitar etc... Fanzines ought to be more opiniated. It's the style of writing what counts. The trend now is for information, and a lot of things are more interesting.

+ + + +

press

Wonder Stories: Have you had any local press coverage? Pulp: we were in the Sheffield Star a while ago. Martin Lilleker (music editor) talked to us and then put a stupid headline. What happened was we played instead of Ivor Heftycock at the Brunel University in London, and the audience consisted of 1977 style drunks, one of whom showed us his backside. 'Pulps barefaced cheek' he called it. The reason we did the article was to get people to come and see us. It actually got them to come for the wrong reasons. He also made up the phrase 'more relaxed approach' about us. We never said that.

W/S: Any other grievances?

Pulp: We hate the term wacky. We are not wacky. We are definitely unwacky.

Source & transcription: PulpWiki

[sexyyounglatinoboy]

yay thx so much @answer2jeff :)

last song: Do You Want To Know a Secret — The Beatles

favorite color: Dark red? maroon?

last tv show: The Walking Dead

savory/spicy/sweet: Spicy forever I need my mouth to burn

last book: Tweak by Nic Sheff

last google search: Crinkly socks from the 80’s.

current obsession: Art? I’m currently doing a comp, so my brain’ll be fried for the next 3 weeks.

looking forward to: Fall in love and meet new people. (Secretly stalking this random girl that has 0 idea who I am)

tags: @ballinbitchlet @carlsgf4ever

Get to know me/People to know better

thank you so much for tagging me @cosmmicdancer :)

last song: bobby sox by green day, I think

favorite color: yellow or a yellowy orange

last movie/tv show: the OA

sweet/savoury/spicy: I need a perfect balance between sweet and savoury/spicy, because of the tism, but my wife would say its definitely sweet

last thing i googled: bahnstreik 2024 (hello fellow germans)

current obsession: moral panics and everything surrounding them

last book: currently reading stone butch blues

looking forward to: my wife getting their passport and moving in with me after almost 4 years of long distance <3

tags: @leaskisses444, @signforsign, @starsendlessly, and @amarettofemme and @sunkissedbutch, because we recently became mutuals and you seem like darlings :)

(absolutely no pressure to participate )

[greenlightpaperbacks]

the books i've read in 2021 so far bc i'm bored

worship me bitches

the diary of a young girl - anne frank (reread)

only dull people are brilliant at breakfast - oscar wilde

call me by your name - andre aciman (reread)

sense and sensibility - jane austen

the german girl - armando lucas correa

beautiful boy - david sheff

the book of longings - sue monk kidd

night lessons in little jerusalem - rick held

the wrong boy - suzy zail

the little friend - donna tartt

illness as metaphor and AIDS and its metaphors - susan sontag

a thousand mornings - mary oliver (reread)

how to be invisible - kate bush

the lightning thief - rick riordan

song of achilles - madeline miller (re-read)

the bluest eye - toni morrison

fairyland: a memoir of my father - alysia abbott

let me tell you what i mean - joan didion

the nightingale - kristin hannah

know my name - chanel miller

the paris library - janet skeslien charles

on earth we're briefly gorgeous - ocean vuong

i know why the caged bird sings - maya angelou

a court of thorn and roses - sarah j. maas

the history of love - nicole krauss

the penelopiad - margaret atwood

turtles all the way down - john green

harry potter and the half-blood prince - j.k. rowling (re-read)

my invented country: a memoir - isabel allende

stickeen - john muir

they both die at the end - adam silvera

shadow and bone - leigh bardugo

heartstopper vol. 1 - alice oseman

the soul of a woman - isabel allende

the song of achilles - madeline miller (yes i re-read it twice this year mind ur business)

how proust can change your life - alain de botton

heartstopper vol. 2 - alice oseman

negotiating with the dead - margaret atwood

six of crows - leigh bardugo

heartstopper vol. 3 - alice oseman

heartstopper vol. 4 - alice oseman

the librarian of auschwitz - antonio iturbe

poems of john keats - john keats

the complete maus - art spiegelman

persepolis vol. 1 - marjane satrapi

the house in the cerulean sea - t.j. klune

saga vol. 1 - brian k. vaughan

the secret history - donna tartt (re-read)

women & power: a manifesto - mary beard

weight: the myth of atlas and heracles - jeanette winterson

such a fun age - kiley reid

one last stop - casey mcquiston

the decameron project: 29 new stories from the pandemic - various

a thousand ships - natalie haynes

hag: forgotten folktales retold - various

sirius - jonathan crown

why she wrote - lauren burke

red, white & royal blue - casey mcquiston

i want you to know we're still here - esther safran foer

[ljblueteak]

The Lisa Robinson reference to Paul was a pretty obvious joke. A lot of that interview was trolly.

Anon is referring to the Hit Parader ‘75 John Lennon interview with Lisa Robinson, where we get the following exchange: 

JOHN: "Yes, all your best friends let you know what's going on. I was trying to put it 'round that I was gay, you know-- I thought that would throw them off... dancing at all the gay clubs in Los Angeles, flirting with the boys... but it never got off the ground."

Q: "I think I've only heard that lately about Paul."

JOHN: "Oh, I've had him, he's no good."

(laughter)

You know, this is one where I really wish I could find audio (if anyone has it, I’d love a link!). It does seem somewhat incredible that Robinson is discussing this rumor in a serious way in a major magazine. However, if she’s joking here, it looks like this is the only joking question in the interview (not that it’s impossible to have a mostly serious interview with one joke question). John jokes a few times (like in his response to this question), but the interview read as pretty serious on the whole, and, imo, nothing other than wondering “would they seriously print a non-joke about this?” marks it as possibly being a joke.

John’s discussion of his immigration status, relationship with George and Paul and Ringo, the price of fame, etc. seems pretty earnest for the most part with a few jokes sprinkled in. I hadn’t read the whole thing until recently, but it’s here and really interesting (I had no idea John had ever said this, for example: “I'm not really interested if I get knighted when I'm seventy. I'll deal with it when it comes. I want it now-- not the knighthood-- I'll take the green card, and a passport, and the cash I earn in the band in my own name. And I'll let my music, or my art, speak for me. If they give me knighthood at age 70 I'll deal with it then. Sir John...")

But! Back to the “rumors about Paul” material. @monkberries  suggests 3 compelling possibilities here: “1) there were actual rumors about men [Paul] had had sex with, 2) there were rumors but only because of his looks/mannerisms (standard homophobia) or 3) the interviewer made it up to have something for john to bounce off of”

There’s evidence for option 2 around (i.e. Tony Sheridan’s assumptions about Paul based on stuff like his eyebrows). 

And then there’s also Francie Schwartz’s (unreliable) Body Count, which came out in ‘72. In it, she says this about Paul’s marriage to Linda: “This was the third time. He had to make it work, or else he’d go raving queer and kill himself” (92). I think it’s possible some readers would have read “queer” there as referring to sexual orientation (whether Francie intended for it to be read that way in addition to the main intended meaning here idk), and there may have been rumors that sprung up based on that--especially since Francie also apparently suggested she’d found a love letter to Paul from Brian on rec.music.beatles when the internet became a thing. She may have shared this story before the internet age too (I’m not suggesting that Francie is a reliable source--her credibility is seriously questionable--but what she wrote and may have said back then could have served as a basis for rumors. I’d like to find out more about it, as well as the post she wrote--I’ll add it if I find it in the archives). And in terms of “Brian being in love with Paul,” we also have the ‘80 Sheff interview where he asks John about Brian’s having been in love with Paul. Apparently this was a claim that was circulating in “biographies” according to the clip (I’d really love to know where Sheff was getting this from since I didn’t see this in Body Count--though please let me know if I missed it!). It doesn’t look like anyone suggested that Paul had also been in love with or had had a sexual relationship with Brian, but it’s possible, especially given monkberries’ option 2, that people speculated about it.

Then there’s option 3, where Robinson may not have been aware of any rumors about Paul or Paul and Brian and just wanted to jokingly pit Paul against John to see what he’d say about Paul and/or himself. This is a very real possibility, though it’s also possible that Robinson had heard some rumors and used the cover of a joke to see what kind of response she’d get from John. If she was aware of it (and I don’t think there’s evidence she was--I’m very much speculating), she may also have been thinking it would be an interesting question to ask given John’s very jokey ‘74 self-interview where he asks himself about rumors about the nature of his relationship with Paul.

Just in terms of other rumors that were possibly out there that might have made *readers,* especially in the industry or who knew people at Apple, take the “I think I’ve only heard that about Paul” remark seriously (and this would have been something that involved John as well, so Robinson wouldn’t have been seriously saying she’d only heard it about Paul), McCabe and Schonfeld’s ‘72 Apple to the Core appears to include a reference to the “John’s Princess” nickname that Philip Norman (and Yoko Ono) claim had been used to refer to Paul. McCabe and Schonfeld write: “With Yoko present, Paul McCartney’s reign as Lennon’s princess was doomed” (thanks for finding it, @james-winston ) While they don’t explicitly say that this is a nickname or that it’s linked to the desire for a sexual relationship, it sounds, as monkberries says in this post, “like a specific enough turn of phrase that mccabe/schonfeld might have heard someone say it.” And Norman, in his John bio, does explicitly say “John’s Princess” was a nickname for Paul that was linked to what people saw as John’s sexual desire for Paul (though he and Yoko suggest that the desire was only on John’s part). So, if it is the case that people around Apple were characterizing Paul in relation to John as being his “princess” and linking it, at least in part, to the idea that John desired Paul sexually, then it’s possible that, even if McCabe and Schonfeld didn’t say so in print and those around Apple didn’t either, there were rumors/speculation based on their relationship in the industry and some might have taken what could have been a joke question in the Robinson question seriously.

That...got seriously long and there’s a lot we just don’t have answers to (and may never have answers to), but that question in Hit Parader is fascinating to think about in terms of not only what rumors Robinson may or may not have heard but how different readers might have taken it as well.

[pemdasblog]

PEMDAS - Special Year-End Edition - Albums

I love end of year lists because I like consensus, rankings and numbers. But consensus is all based on who gets to rank, and the people who get the most access to major publication rankings are white men, so the numbers are tainted by white supremacy, misogyny, and many other forms of bigotry.

Which makes it even more interesting to see what gets ranked where.

Here’s a Google Sheet I made of all the lists and I created a formula that basically measures how many times an album placed on a list as well as how high it placed on that list. I’m going to keep updating this list as it’s not done, but it’s fun to play around with right now!

According to my formula and the critics, the top 10 albums of 2020 (in order) are: 

#1: Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

#2: RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

#3: folklore •• Taylor Swift

#4: Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

#5: Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

#6: Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

#7: Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

#8: Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

#9: Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

#10: Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

I also have a fun, unranked albums list brewing. I’ll release that at the very end of the year.

Click below for all of the publication lists!

The 50 best albums of 2020 •• ABC | Double J

Dan Condon

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Crossover •• Emma Donovan & The Putbacks

The Slow Rush •• Tame Impala

UNTITLED (Rise) •• SAULT

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Song for Our Daughter •• Laura Marling

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

The Sharecropper’s Daughter •• Sa-Roc

Sideways to New Italy •• Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

Sixteen Oceans •• Four Tet

Chose Line •• Benny the Walker

South West •• L-FRESH the LION

Far Enough •• Cable Ties

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Nyaaringu •• Miiesha

You Be the Lightning •• Tracy McNeil & The GoodLife

Mordechai •• Khruangbin

Suddenly •• Caribou

Our Two Skins •• Gordi

Down In the Weeds, Where the World Once Was •• Bright Eyes

græ •• Moses Sumney

Distance •• Jess Cornelius

King’s Disease •• Nas

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Batflowers •• Washington

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

That’s How Rumors Get Started •• Margo Price

ENERGY •• Disclosure

The Ascension •• Sufjan Stevens

Reunions •• Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Paid Salvation •• A Swayze & The Ghosts

songs •• Adrianne Lenker

Ohms •• Deftones

Unity •• Gordon Koang

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

Child in Reverse •• Kate Miller-Heidke

K.G. •• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

Aloha •• Son Little

The Modern Medieval •• Something for Kate

II: The Next Wave •• Quakers

Rome •• Josh Pyke

Fallow •• Fanny Lumsden

Optimisme •• Songhoy Blues

Original Cast Recording •• Braille Face

Colour by Number •• Leah Flanagan

Ultra Mono •• IDLES

What You Gonna Do When the Grid Goes Down? •• Public Enemy

Feral •• RVG

Róisín Machine •• Róisín Murphy

The best albums and songs of 2020 •• BBC Culture

Nick Levine

  Best albums of 2020

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Róisín Machine •• Róisín Murphy

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Kitchen Sink •• Nadine Shah

folklore •• Taylor Swift

6 Music Recommends Albums of the Year 2020 •• BBC Radio - 6 Music

BBC Radio - 6 Music Staff

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Shortly After Takeoff •• BC Camplight

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Kitchen Sink •• Nadine Shah

England Is a Garden •• Cornershop

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

The Universal Want •• Doves

Deep Down Happy •• Sports Team

The 50 Best Albums of 2020: Staff Picks •• Billboard

Billboard Staff

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

After Hours •• The Weeknd

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

My Turn •• Lil Baby

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Gaslighter •• The Chicks

Meet the Woo 2 •• Pop Smoke

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Positions •• Ariana Grande

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Starting Over •• Chris Stapleton

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Circles •• Mac Miller

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

Manic •• Halsey

Tickets to My Downfall •• Machine Gun Kelly

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

Rare •• Selena Gomez

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Colores •• J Balvin

The Album •• BLACKPINK

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

The Slow Rush •• Tame Impala

Before Love Came To Kill Us •• Jessie Reyez

Notes on a Conditional Form •• The 1975

Reunions •• Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Fake It Flowers •• beabadoobee

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t •• Kehlani

Map of the Soul: 7 •• BTS

Letter to You •• Bruce Springsteen

Atrapado en un Sueño •• Junior H

The Album •• Teyana Taylor

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

Emmanuel •• Anuel AA

Love Goes •• Sam Smith

Suddenly •• Caribou

Petals for Armor •• Hayley Williams

B7 •• Brandy

Southside •• Sam Hunt

Mesa Para Dos •• Kany García

Savage Mode II •• 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

Good Souls Better Angels •• Lucinda Williams

Kid Krow •• Conan Gray

Hecho en Mexico •• Alejandro Fernández

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Blame It on Baby •• DaBaby

Top 10 Albums of the Year 2020 •• Bleep

KiCk i •• Arca

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never •• Oneohtrix Point Never

Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin •• Eartheater

Cape Cira •• K-LONE

Fountain •• Lyra Pramuk

Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry •• Speaker Music

Help •• Duval Timothy

Karma & Desire •• Actress

Shadow of Fear •• Cabaret Voltaire

Tara Clerkin Trio •• Tara Clerkin Trio

The Best Albums of 2020 •• Complex

Jessica McKinney, Andre Gee, Eric Skelton, Edwin Ortiz, Khal, Angel Diaz, Will Schube, Shawn Setaro, Lucas Wisenthel

After Hours •• The Weeknd

My Turn •• Lil Baby

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Burden of Proof •• Benny the Butcher

Savage Mode II •• 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

The Slow Rush •• Tame Impala

Circles •• Mac Miller

Pray for Paris •• Westside Gunn

Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon •• Pop Smoke

The GOAT •• Polo G

From King to a GOD •• Conway the Machine

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Wunna •• Gunna

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

A Muse In Her Feelings •• dvsn

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Meet the Woo 2 •• Pop Smoke

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

So Help Me God! •• 2 Chainz

Angelic Hoodrat •• Kenny Mason

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t •• Kehlani

The Price of Tea in China •• Boldy James

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Fuck the World •• Brent Faiyaz

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Dark Lane Demo Tapes •• Drake

Young & Turnt 2 •• 42 Dugg

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Top •• YoungBoy Never Broke Again

Mt. Marci •• Roc Marciano

Notes on a Conditional Form •• The 1975

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

One and Only •• Sheff G

Positions •• Ariana Grande

Limbo •• Aminé

UNLOCKED •• Denzel Curry & Kenny Beats

Anyways •• Young Nudy

Legends Never Die •• Juice WRLD

Industry Games •• CHIKA

Reasonable Drought •• Stove God Cooks

Spilligion •• Spillage Village

King’s Disease •• Nas

While the World Was Burning •• SAINt JHN

Only for Dolphins •• Action Bronson

Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 •• Lil Durk

Featuring Ty Dolla Sign •• Ty Dolla Sign

Detroit 2 •• Big Sean

Forever, Ya Girl •• KeiyaA

Top 50 Albums of 2020 •• Consequence of Sound

CoS Staff

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Ohms •• Deftones

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Gigaton •• Pearl Jam

Reunions •• Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit

Map of the Soul: 7 •• BTS

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

After Hours •• The Weeknd

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

The Ascension •• Sufjan Stevens

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Petals for Armor •• Hayley Williams

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Fake It Flowers •• beabadoobee

Likewise •• Frances Quinlan

Ultra Mono •• IDLES

Forgotten Days •• Pallbearer

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Suddenly •• Caribou

Everything Is Beautiful •• Princess Nokia

As Long as You Are •• Future Islands

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never •• Oneohtrix Point Never

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Letter to You •• Bruce Springsteen

The Price of Tea in China •• Boldy James & The Alchemist

That’s How Rumors Get Started •• Margo Price

Giver Taker •• Anjimile

Twice as Tall •• Burna Boy

Gaslighter •• The Chicks

Shamir •• Shamir

Lamb of God •• Lamb of God

Pray for Paris •• Westside Gunn

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

The Greatest Part •• Becca Mancari

Power Up •• AC/DC

The Liz •• Armani Caesar

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

American Head •• The Flaming Lips

The Neon Skyline •• Andy Shauf

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Honeymoon •• Beach Bunny

The Top 50 Albums of 2020 •• Crack Magazine

Help •• Duval Timothy

Indigo Dream •• E.M.M.A.

Mas Amable •• DJ Python

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Big Conspiracy •• J Hus

Duma •• Duma

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Metal Preyers •• Metal Preyers

From Avoca Hills to the World •• Citizen Boy & Mafia Boyz

Miss Colombia •• Lido Pimienta

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

To Feel Embraced •• Sparkle Division

Workaround •• Beatrice Dillon

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Man Alive! •• King Krule

Healing Is a Miracle •• Julianna Barwick

Snoopy •• CS + Kreme

Dark Matter •• Moses Boyd

Pain Olympics •• Crack Cloud

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

Cape Circa •• K-Lone

Róisín Machine •• Róisín Murphy

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

Modern Bliss •• Roza Terenzi

Ten Billion Angels •• Zora Jones

Pray 4 Love •• Rod Wave

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Modus Vivendi •• 070 Shake

Cenizas •• Nicolás Jaar

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Black Nationalist Sonic Weaponry •• Speaker Music

Pray for Paris •• Westside Gunn

Second Language •• Minor Science

Forever, Ya Girl •• KeiyaA

Crabs in a Bucket •• Nines

Deep Technik •• MoMA Ready

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Send Them to Coventry •• Pa Salieu

Pillowland •• Jam City

Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin •• Eartheater

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

The 15 best albums of 2020 •• Entertainment Weekly

Leah Greenblatt, Sarah Rodman & Alex Suskind

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

After Hours •• The Weeknd

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Gaslighter •• The Chicks

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

American Love Story •• Butch Walker

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Your Life Is a Record •• Brandy Clark

Petals for Armor •• Hayley Williams

Exclaim!’s 50 Best Albums of 2020 •• Exclaim!

Exclaim! Staff

God Has Nothing to Do with This Leave Him Out of It •• Backxwash

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Suddenly •• Caribou

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Miss Colombia •• Lido Pimienta

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Pantayo •• Pantayo

Heavy Light •• U.S. Girls

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

The Neon Skyline •• Andy Shauf

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

græ •• Moses Sumney

Have We Met •• Destroyer

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Ohms •• Deftones

The Ascension •• Sufjan Stevens

Legacy •• Aquakultre

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Devouring Ruin •• Wake

How Ill Thy World Is Ordered •• Daniel Romano’s Outfit

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

After Hours •• The Weeknd

Burden of Proof •• Benny the Butcher

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

DNA Activation •• Witch Prophet

Peaceful as Hell •• Black Dresses

Where Only Gods May Tread •• Ingested

Circles •• Mac Miller

2017-2019 •• Against All Logic

Lianne La Havas •• Lianne La Havas

Stygian •• Atramentus

ELEMENTS Vol. 1 •• TOBi

Reliever •• William Prince

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

Someone New •• Helena Deland

Pray 4 Love •• Rod Wave

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Sundry Rock Song Stock •• Yves Jarvis

Finds You Well •• Khotin

Underneath •• Code Orange

songs •• Adrianne Lenker

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Visions of Bodies Being Burned •• clipping.

Total Freedom •• Kathleen Edwards

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Free I.H.: This Is Not the One You’ve Been Waiting For •• Illuminati Hotties

The Best Albums of 2020 •• FLOOD

FLOOD Staff

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

græ •• Moses Sumney

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never •• Oneohtrix Point Never

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

After Hours •• The Weeknd

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

Women in Music Pt. III •• Haim

Visions of Bodies Being Burned •• clipping.

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

My Agenda •• Dorian Electra

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin •• Eartheater

Shrines •• Armand Hammer

That’s How Rumors Get Started •• Margo Price

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

American Head •• The Flaming Lips

Si Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ∞ •• Kali Uchis

Song Machine: Season 1 - Strange Timez •• Gorillaz

Moveys •• Slow Pulp

The Gigwise 51 Best Albums of 2020 •• Gigwise

Gigwise Staff

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

folklore •• Taylor Swift

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Ohms •• Deftones

Circles •• Mac Miller

The Night Chancers •• Baxter Dury

Sex, Death & The Infinite Void •• Creeper

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

The Archer •• Alexandra Savior

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Mordechai •• Khruangbin

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Night Network •• The Cribs

I Disagree •• Poppy

Introduction, Presence •• Nation of Language

Modern Dread •• Denai Moore

K.G. •• King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard

To Love Is to Live •• Jehnny Beth

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Working Men’s Club •• Working Men’s Club

We Live Here •• Bob Vylan

Song for Our Daughter •• Laura Marling

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep •• Ghostpoet

925 •• Sorry

Got To Be Tough •• Toots & The Maytals

græ •• Moses Sumney

Viscerals •• Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

Three Mile Ditch •• The Wytches

England Is a Garden •• Cornershop

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

In This House •• Lewsberg

Optimisme •• Songhoy Blues

songs •• Adrianne Lenker

Letter to You •• Bruce Springsteen

Big Conspiracy •• J Hus

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

Monument •• Keaton Henson

Seeking Thrills •• Georgia

Hyper Romance •• Jadu Heart

Container •• The Wants

The Prettiest Curse •• Hinds

In Waiting •• Pillow Queens

The Reson for Hardcore Vibes •• Joe & The Shitboys

Gorilla vs. Bear’s Albums of 2020 •• Gorilla vs. Bear

Chris

Someone New •• Helena Deland

Untitled (Black Is) •• SAULT || Untitled (Rise) •• SAULT

Send Them to Coventry •• Pa Salieu

Weaving a Basket •• Sea Oleena

Modus Vivendi •• 070 Shake

Fires in Heaven •• Salem

Galore •• Oklou

What’s Tonight to Eternity •• Cindy Lee || Cat O’Nine Tails •• Cindy Lee

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

Taken Away •• Moodymann

All the Time •• Jessy Lanza

Alletiders •• Alle

WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던 •• Yaeji

Because of a Flower •• Ana Roxanne

How Much Works •• Sweet Whirl

songs •• Adrianne Lenker || instrumentals •• Adrianne Lenker

The Don of Diamond Dreams •• Shabazz Palaces

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never •• Oneohtrix Point Never

Hunger for a Way Out •• Sweeping Promises

Your Hero Is Not Dead •• Westerman

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Remote Control •• Discovery Zone

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

Help •• Duval Timothy

Yes •• Shinichi Atobe

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

I Was Born Swimming •• Squirrel Flower

Healing Is a Miracle •• Julianna Barwick

Mia Gargaret •• Gia Margaret

I Feel Alive •• Tops

Karma & Desire •• Actress

Crooner qui coule sous les clous •• Oï Les Ox

Bobby Joe Hope •• Jon McKiel

Motherhood •• No Joy

Land of No Junction •• Aoife Nessa Frances

acts of rebellion •• Ela Minus

Cave Vaults on the Moon •• Tan Cologne

Sundry Rock Song Stock •• Yves Jarvis

A Mythology of Circles •• Faten Kanaan

Man Alive! •• King Krule

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

Good Songs for Bad People •• Drab City

Roped In •• North Americans

Sorceress •• Jess Williamson

Phoenix: Flames are Dew Upon My Skin •• Eartheater

Fantasy Chapel •• Riches

Ride Lonesome •• Young Ejecta

Shimmering Basset •• The Green Child

Silver Ladders •• Mary Lattimore

The 50 best albums of 2020 •• The Guardian

Ben Beaumont-Thomas & Laura Snapes

?

?

?

?

?

?

?

Big Conspiracy •• J Hus

folklore •• Taylor Swift

græ •• Moses Sumney

Róisín Machine •• Róisín Murphy

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Workaround •• Beatrice Dillon

Suddenly •• Caribou

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

UNTITLED (Rise) •• SAULT

Gold Record •• Bill Callahan

Song for Our Daughter •• Laura Marling

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

Circles •• Mac Miller

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Heavy Light •• U.S. Girls

Forever, Ya Girl •• KeiyaA

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Working Men’s Club •• Working Men’s Club

Notes on a Conditional Form •• The 1975

Savage Mode II •• 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

I Think I’m Good •• Kassa Overall

Suite for Max Brown •• Jeff Parker

Positions •• Ariana Grande

Karma & Desire •• Actress

DISCO •• Kylie Minogue

Made in Lagos •• Wizkid

All the Time •• Jessy Lanza

Rare •• Selena Gomez

Three •• The Necks

The Album •• Teyana Taylor

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Have We Met •• Destroyer

Visions of Bodies Being Burned •• clipping.

The Best Albums of 2020 Ranked •• The Line of Best Fit

The Line of Best Fit Staff

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

The Baby •• Samia

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

græ •• Moses Sumney

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

The Worst Generation •• Che Lingo

Healing Is a Miracle •• Julianna Barwick

Big Conspiracy •• J Hus

I’m Your Empress Of •• Empress Of

We’re New Again: A Reimagining •• Makaya McCraven

Visions of Bodies Being Burned •• clipping.

Anime, Trauma and Divorce •• Open Mike Eagle

Beginners •• Christian Lee Hutson

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Show Pony •• Orville Peck

The Angel You Don’t Know •• Amaarae

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

The Amanda Tape •• THEY.

songs •• Adrianne Lenker

JAGUAR •• Victoria Monét

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Someone New •• Helena Deland

Whatever, Man •• BLACKSTARKIDS

folklore •• Taylor Swift

SOURCE •• Nubya Garcia

Without People •• Donovan Woods

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

Petals for Armor •• Hayley Williams

Debris •• Keeley Forsyth

Warnings •• I Break Horses

So When You Gonna... •• Dream Wife

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Twice as Tall •• Burna Boy

Now or Never •• Giggs

SISTER •• Mina Tindle

Circles •• Mac Miller

Mordechai •• Khruangbin

The Prettiest Curse •• Hinds

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

EDNA •• Headie One

Dark Hearts •• Annie

Best Albums of 2020 •• The New York Times

Jon Pareles, Jon Caramanica, and Lindsay Zoladz

  Simmering Emotions, Louder Explosions   Jon Pareles

The Ascension •• Sufjan Stevens

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

græ •• Moses Sumney

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Lianne La Havas •• Lianne La Havas

Twice as Tall •• Burna Boy

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Mama, You Can Bet! •• Jyoti

SIGN •• Autechre

  The Art of Taking One’s Time   Jon Caramanica

Southside •• Sam Hunt

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Pray 4 Love •• Rod Wave

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Shoot for the Stars Aim for the Moon •• Pop Smoke

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

Poems of the Past •• Powfu

Changes •• Justin Bieber

Starting Over •• Chris Stapleton

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Honeymoon •• Beach Bunny

    and 27 more for a chaotic year...

Savage Mode II •• 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

Burden of Proof •• Benny the Butcher

Trap Tumbado •• Natanael Cano

Gaslighter •• The Chicks

City on Lock •• City Girls

Underneath •• Code Orange

From King to a GOD •• Conway the Machine

Dark Lane Demo Tapes •• Drake

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Positions •• Ariana Grande

A Rock •• Hardy

Violence in a Quiet Mind •• Haux

AUNTIE •• Ian Isiah

Atrapado en un Sueño •• Junior H

Levon James •• King Von

Just Cause Y’all Waited 2 •• Lil Durk

God Made a Woman •• Lauren Mascitti

LP5 •• John Moreland

Before Love Came to Kill Us •• Jessie Reyez

Rosetta •• Dua Saleh

Jesus Is Born •• Sunday Service Choir

Easy Money Baby •• Myke Towers

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

After Hours •• The Weeknd

The Dream •• Hailey Whitters

Top •• YoungBoy Never Broke Again

  Rebel Yells, of Passion and Fury   Lindsay Zoladz

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

No Dream •• Jeff Rosenstock

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

folklore •• Taylor Swift

The Best Music of 2020 •• The New Yorker

Amanda Petrusich

No. 1 •• Etran de l’Aïr

songs •• Adrianne Lenker || instrumentals •• Adrianne Lenker

Silver Ladders •• Mary Lattimore

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Mama, You Can Bet! •• Jyoti

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & the Alchemist

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

    Honorable Mentions:

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Un Canto por México Vol. 1 •• Natalia Lafourcade

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t •• Kehlani

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

The New Abnormal •• The Strokes

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Sheldon Pearce

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

græ •• Moses Sumney

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn) •• Jay Electronica

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Mama, You Can Bet! •• Jyoti

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

songs •• Adrianne Lenker || instrumentals •• Adrianne Lenker

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Thank You For Using GTL •• Drakeo the Ruler

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Anime, Trauma and Divorce •• Open Mike Eagle

WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던 •• Yaeji

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

Mutable Set •• Blake Mills

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

APOLLO •• Fireboy DML

Couldn’t Wait to Tell You... •• Liv.e

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

Descendants of Cain •• Ka

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Big Conspiracy •• J Hus

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Healing Is a Miracle •• Julianna Barwick

The 100 Best Albums of 2020 •• Noisey (Vice)

Noisey Staff

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT || UNTITLED (Rise) •• SAULT

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

EDNA •• Headie One

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Bartees Strange •• Live Forever

My Turn (Deluxe) •• Lil Baby

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

JAGUAR •• Victoria Monét

Meet the Woo 2 •• Pop Smoke

BRAT •• NNAMDÏ

Shame •• Uniform

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Send Them to Coventry •• Pa Salieu

Full Wack No Brakes •• Bad Boy Chiller Crew

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

Fuck the World •• Brent Faiyaz

Cruisin’ with Junior H •• Junior H

Twice as Tall •• Burna Boy

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Inlet •• Hum

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Forever, Ya Girl •• KeiyaA

Eternal Atake (Deluxe) •• Lil Uzi Vert

Lament •• Touché Amoré

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Rich Slave •• Young Dolph

Fires in Heaven •• SALEM

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

City On Lock •• City Girls

Big Conspiracy •• J Hus

The Great Dismal •• Nothing

Welcome to O’Block •• King Von

songs •• Adrianne Lenker

Thank You for Using GTL •• Drakeo the Ruler

Àdá Irin •• Navy Blue

Featuring Ty Dolla $ign •• Ty Dolla $ign

Scacco Matto •• Lorenzo Senni

Grime MC •• Jme

Viva el Perreo •• Jowell & Randy

Phoenix: Flames Are Dew Upon My Skin •• Eartheater

The Goat •• Polo G

Speed Kills •• Chubby and the Gang

Common Prayers •• Walter Martin

Petals for Armor •• Hayley Williams

Burden of Proof •• Benny the Butcher

Eternity of Shaog •• Esoctrilihum

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never •• Oneohtrix Point Never

Corridos Tumbados •• Natanael Cano

The Prince of Tea in China •• Boldy James & The Alchemist

A Muse in Her Feelings •• dvsn

KiCk i •• Arca

Circles •• Mac Miller

Rise Above Hate •• Unknown T

I Love You 2 •• Hook

WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던 •• Yaeji

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

From a King to a GOD •• Conway the Machine

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

Healing Is a Miracle •• Julianna Barwick

12th House Rock •• Narrow Head

Watch This Liquid Pour Itself •• Okay Kaya

Growth & Development •• 22Gz

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

Weight of the World •• MIKE

Auto-Pain •• Deeper

Bino Rideaux •• Outside

Tearless •• Amnesia Scanner

Made in Lagos •• Wizkid

U-Void Synthesizer •• Machine Girl

Take Time •• Giveon

Pure X •• Pure X

Last Year Was Weird, Vol. 2 •• Tkay Maidza

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Starmaker •• Honey Harper

So Help Me God! •• 2 Chainz

Crabs in a Bucket •• Nines

Descendants of Cain •• Ka

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me •• Waylon Payne

Have You Lost Your Mind Yet? •• Fantastic Negrito

Just Look at That Sky •• Ganser

7G •• A. G. Cook

Vibras de Noche •• Eslabon Armado

Immersion •• Primitive Man

Supergood •• Duckwrth

The Weather Up There •• Jeremy Cunningham

Underneath •• Code Orange

El Androide •• El Alfa

Lianne La Havas •• Lianne La Havas

SIGN •• Autechre

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Occupational Hazard •• Mozzy

The Freelancer’s Blues •• Dougie Poole

4 Da 304′s •• KentheMan

Best Music of 2020 •• NPR

NPR Music Staff

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Miss Colombia •• Lido Pimienta

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Spilligion •• Spillage Village

Adès Conducts Adès •• Thomas Adès

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Source •• Nubya Garcia

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me •• Waylon Payne

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Lianne La Havas •• Lianne La Havas

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Expectations •• Katie Pruitt

Data Lords •• Maria Schneider Orchestra

Underneath •• Code Orange

on the tender spot of every calloused moment •• Ambrose Akinmusire

JAGUAR •• Victoria Monét

Regresa •• Buscabulla

Dawson: Negro Folk Symphony •• ORF Vienna Radio Symphony Orchestra

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

The Slow Rush •• Tame Impala

A Small Death •• Samantha Crain

Pauline •• Ashley Ray

Mama, You Can Bet! •• Jyoti

Siti of Unguja (Romance Revolution on Zanzibar) •• Siti Muharam

songs •• Adrianne Lenker

My Turn •• Lil Baby

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Spider Tales •• Jake Blount

Silver Ladders •• Mary Lattimore

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Fuck the World •• Brent Faiyaz

Debussy • Rameau •• Víkingur Ólafsson

Muthaland •• Bbymutha

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

En Español •• The Mavericks

Thank You For Using GTL •• Drakeo the Ruler

The experience of repetition as death •• Clarice Jensen

Inside •• X Alfonso

Total Freedom •• Kathleen Edwards

Savage Mode II •• 21 Savage / Metro Boomin

some kind of peace •• Ólafur Arnalds

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Giver Taker •• Anjimile

Don’t Feed the Monster •• Homeboy Sandman

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

The 50 Best Albums of 2020 •• Paste

Paste Staff

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Untitled (Rise) •• SAULT

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

songs •• Adrianne Lenker

græ •• Moses Sumney

Suddenly •• Caribou

Reunions •• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

God Has Nothing to Do With This Leave Him Out of It •• Backxwash

Untitled (Black Is) •• SAULT

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

Heavy Light •• U.S. Girls

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

The Great Dismal •• Nothing

Welcome to Conceptual Beach •• Young Jesus

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Healing Is A Miracle •• Julianna Barwick

Youth Pastoral •• Ben Seretan

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Inlet •• Hum

KIND •• Thanya Iyer

Miss Colombia •• Lido Pimienta

acts of rebellion •• Ela Minus

Ultimate Success Today •• Protomartyr

Anime, Trauma and Divorce •• Open Mike Eagle

Bonny Light Horseman •• Bonny Light Horseman

Speed Kills •• Chubby and the Gang

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Shadow Talk •• Cafe Racer

Source •• Nubya Garcia

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

Introduction, Presence •• Nation of Language

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

The Baby •• Samia

Forever, Ya Girl •• KeiyaA

Free I.H.: This Is Not the One You’ve Been Waiting For •• Illuminati Hotties

Celebrated By Strangers •• Catholic Action

Lianne La Havas •• Lianne La Havas

Flower of Devotion •• Dehd

Just Look at That Sky •• Ganser

Somewhere •• Gum Country

The 50 Best Albums of 2020 •• Pitchfork

Pitchfork Staff

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

græ •• Moses Sumney

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

songs •• Adrianne Lenker || instrumentals •• Adrianne Lenker

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

Act II: The Patents of Nobility (The Turn) •• Jay Electronica

Heavy Light •• U.S. Girls

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Róisín Machine •• Róisín Murphy

Have We Met •• Destroyer

The Angel You Don’t Know •• Amaarae

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Forever, Ya Girl •• KeiyaA

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

SOURCE •• Nubya Garcia

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? •• The Soft Pink Truth

Thank You for Using GTL •• Drakeo the Ruler

Workaround •• Beatrice Dillon

Melee •• Dogleg

Descendants of Cain •• Ka

The Passion Of •• Special Interest

Hannah •• Lomelda

Help •• Duval Timohy

Flower of Devotion •• Dehd

KiCk i •• Arca

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Room for the Moon •• Kate NV

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Fountain •• Lyra Pramuk

Twice as Tall •• Burna Boy

My Turn (Deluxe) •• Lil Baby

how i’m feeilng now •• Charli XCX

WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던 •• Yaeji

Silver Ladders •• Mary Lattimore

The 60 Best Albums of 2020 •• Pop Matters

Pop Matters Staff

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Outland •• Ital Tek

UNTITLED (Black Is) •• SAULT

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

3.15.20 •• Childish Gambino

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

songs •• Adrianne Lenker || instrumentals •• Adrianne Lenker

Ohms •• Deftones

Gaslighter •• The Chicks

Workaround •• Beatrice Dillon

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Good Souls Better Angels •• Lucinda Williams

Reunions •• Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

Private Lives •• Low Cut Connie

Suddenly •• Caribou

Song Machine: Season 1 - Strange Timez •• Gorillaz

Keleketla! •• Keleketla!

Seeking Thrills •• Georgia

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

I’m Your Empress Of •• Empress Of

Before Love Come To Kill Us •• Jessie Reyez

Róisín Machine •• Róisín Murphy

The Cycle •• Mourning [A] BLKstar

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

Notes on a Conditional Form •• The 1975

The Universal Want •• Doves

We’ve Landed •• Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela

Mama, You Can Bet! •• Jyoti

Eno Axis •• HC McEntire

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Visions of Bodies Being Burned •• clipping.

Ultrasonic •• Field Works

Sixteen Oceans •• Four Tet

VOICES •• Max Richter

on the tender spot of every calloused moment •• Ambrose Akinmusire

Neon Cross •• Jaime Wyatt

Cenizas •• Nicolás Jaar

To Love Is to Live •• Jehnny Beth

Amazones Power •• Les Amazones d’Afrique

Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? •• The Soft Pink Truth

The Piano Equation •• Matthew Shipp

Making a Door Less Open •• Car Seat Headrest

Silver Tongue •• TORRES

BRAT •• NNAMDÏ

The Night Chancers •• Baxter Dury

Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me •• Waylon Payne

Wooden Cave •• Thin Lear

Quietus Albums Of The Year 2020 •• The Quietus

The Quietus Staff

Dances/Curses •• Hey Colossus

Shall We Go On Sinning So That Grace May Increase? •• The Soft Pink Truth

The Passion Of •• Special Interest

Fountain •• Lyra Pramuk

Energy Is Forever •• UKAEA

Help •• Duval Timothy

Be Up A Hello •• Squarepusher

Kitchen Sink •• Nadine Shah

Send Them to Coventry •• Pa Salieu

Guerilla •• Nazar

Only Darkness Now •• Alison Cotton

Alles in Allem •• Einstürzende Neubauten

SIGN •• Autechre

First Seance •• Land Trance

Duma •• Duma

These Charms May Be Sung Over a Wound •• Richard Skelton

Untitled (Rise) •• SAULT

Debris •• Keeley Forsyth

Type II •• Sex Swing

Dark Hearts •• Annie

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

The Common Task •• Horse Lords

Workaround •• Beatrice Dillon

7 Weapons Series •• Howie Lee

Zoom •• Upsammy

Free Humans •• Hen Ogledd

Suite for Max Brown •• Jeff Parker & The New Breed

Cumbia Siglo XXI •• Meridian Brothers

Serpent •• MXLX

Because Of A Flower •• Ana Roxanne

Forever Underground •• Phantom Posse

There Is No Year •• Algiers

Heart’s Ease •• Shirley Collins

Mestarin Kynsi •• Oranssi Pazuzu

Silver Ladders •• Mary Lattimore

DISCO •• Kylie Minogue

Edna •• Headie One

Mas Amable •• DJ Python

Have We Met •• Destroyer

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Glory Days •• Heather Leigh

Blues •• Lamin Fofana

Gold Record •• Bill Callahan

To Kiss Earth Goodbye •• Teleplasmiste

The Night Chancers •• Baxter Dury

Barbarians •• Young Knives

Fast Edit •• Still House Plants

Jp4 •• Junglepussy

Loom •• Katie Gately

Flower Violence •• Blóm

A Late Anthology Of Early Music Vol. 1: Ancient To Renaissance •• Jennifer Walshe

Cantus, Descant •• Sarah Davachi

Big Conspiracy •• J Hus

Endless Wound •• Black Curse

if i don't let myself be happy now then when? •• More Eaze & Claire Rousay

Seven Storey Mountain VI •• Nate Wooley

L’Inattingible •• Delphine Dora

Rock Sutra •• Sun Araw

Róisín Machine •• Róisín Murphy

Heaven To A Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

The Ascension •• Sufjan Stevens

Visions Of Bodies Being Burned •• clipping.

Returner •• Closed Circuits

Scacco Matto •• Lorenzo Senni

Lamunan •• Antonina Nowacka

Future Teenage Cave Artists •• Deerhoof

Não Fales Nela Que A Mentes •• Nídia

SKEEN •• Mariam Rezaei

Winterreise •• Jerskin Fendrix

May Our Chambers Be Full •• Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou

how i'm feeling now •• Charli XCX

Superstar •• Harry Pussy

The End Of Their World Is Coming •• Dead Meat

Viscerals •• Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

KiCK i •• Arca

World Serpent •• Memnon Sa

Pedernal •• Susan Alcorn

Cwm Gwagle •• Datblygu

Beyond The Floor •• Geld

Trinity •• Laylow

The Big Exercise •• The Homesick

Malibu Liquor Store •• Shit And Shine

Couldn't Wait To Tell You... •• Liv.e

No Era Sólida •• Lucrecia Dalt

Abscess Time •• Pyrrhon

Thug Ambient •• Dale Cornish

Pillowland •• Jam City

Crabs In A Bucket •• Nines

Hidden In This Is The Light That You Miss •• Regis

Prole Art Threat •• East Man

Evil Spirits Who Prowl About The World Seeking The Ruin Of Souls •• Haq123

Toutes Ces Horreurs •• Satan

Figures •• Aksak Maboul

Mind Hive •• Wire

2020 •• Magik Markers

Training Day 3 •• Potter Payper

Swirling •• Sun Ra Arkestra

Nah Nah Nah Yeh Yeh Yeh •• Luminous Bodies

Aux Pieds De La Nuit •• Nyx Nótt

6 •• Pharaoh Overlord

The 50 Best Albums of 2020 •• Rolling Stone

Jonathan Bernstein, Emily Blake, Jon Blistein, Jon Dolan, Patrick Doyle, Brenna Ehrlich, Jon Freeman, Kory Grow, Christian Hoard, Joseph Hudak, Elias Leight, Angie Martoccio, Claire Shaffer, Rob Sheffield, Hank Shteamer, Simon Vozick-Levinson

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

Letter to You •• Bruce Springsteen

City on Lock •• City Girls

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

Map of the Soul: 7 •• BTS

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

græ •• Moses Sumney

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

Never Will •• Ashley McBryde

Honeymoon •• Beach Bunny

Positions •• Ariana Grande

Plastic Hearts •• Miley Cyrus

Rare •• Selena Gomez

Manic •• Halsey

To Love Is to Live •• Jehnny Beth

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Reunions •• Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

Shamir •• Shamir

Sixteen Oceans •• Four Tet

Petals for Armor •• Hayley Williams

After Hours •• The Weeknd

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

Private Lives •• Low Cut Connie

Got to Be Tough •• Toots and the Maytals

Traditional Techniques •• Stephen Malkmus

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

Fake It Flowers •• beabadoobee

McCartney III •• Paul McCartney

Haunted Painting •• Sad13

Alphabetland •• X

Aftermath •• Elizabeth Cook

Starting Over •• Chris Stapleton

Power Up •• AC/DC

The Price of Tea in China •• Boldy James & The Alchemist

Good Souls Better Angels •• Lucinda Williams

Growth •• Kareem Ali

Love Is The King •• Jeff Tweedy

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Albums of the Year 2020 •• Rough Trade

Rough Trade Staff

Untitled (Black Is) •• SAULT

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Song For Our Daughter •• Laura Marling

Beyond the Pale •• Jarv Is

So When You Gonna •• Dream Wife

Viscerals •• Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

Bedroom •• bdrmm

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

Sideways to New Italy •• Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever

England Is A Garden •• Cornershop

Galore •• Oklou

Protean Threat •• Osees

Ultra Mono •• Idles

Suddenly •• Caribou

What Kinda Music •• Tom Misch + Yussef Dayes

By The Fire •• Thurston Moore

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Wu Hen •• Kamaal Williams

Wake Up! •• Hazel English

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Jump Rope Gazers •• Beths

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

Seeking Thrills •• Georgia

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

There Is No Other •• Isobel Campbell

Head Above Water •• Brigid Mae Power

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

Old Flowers •• Courtney Marie Andrews

Sixteen Oceans •• Four Tet

Loco •• A Certain Ratio

Ummon •• Slift

Coriky •• Coriky

Keleketla! •• Keleketla!

That’s How Rumours Get Started •• Margo Price

Introduction, Presence •• Nation Of Language

some kind of peace •• Olafur Arnalds

Walking Like We Do •• Big Moon

Bug On Yonkers •• Damaged Bug

WHAT WE DREW 우리가 그려왔던 •• Yaeji

Home •• Romare

Infinity of Now •• Heliocentrics

3D Routine •• Mush

All or Nothing •• Shopping

Fading •• Pole

Flower of Devotion •• Dehd

Heritage of the Invisible II •• Aqulies Navarro + Tcheser Holmes

Blue Hearts •• Bob Mould

All the Time •• Jessy Lanza

WILL THIS MAKE ME GOOD •• Nick Hakim

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

Myopia •• Agnes Obel

Anywhere But Here •• Habibi

Man Alive! •• King Krule

Invisible People •• Chicano Batman

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

I Grow Tired But Dare Not Fall Asleep •• Ghostpoet

Cenizás •• Nicolas Jaar

Straight Songs of Sorrow •• Mark Lanegan

Friday Forever •• Everything Is Recorded

Pleasure Line •• Video Age

Happy Birthday •• Sneaks

Shortly After Takeoff •• BC Camplight

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Voices •• Max Richter

Even in Exile •• James Dean Bradfield

The True Story Of •• Bananagun

Making a New World •• Field Music

Only for Dolphins •• Action Bronson

Midnight Manor •• The Nude Party

The Juice That’s Worth the Squeeze •• Cherry Pickles

The Long Goodbye •• Riz Ahmed

Colourfield •• Dan Michaelson

Stray •• Bambara

Collector •• Disq

Gentle Grip •• Public Practice

Miss Anthropocene •• Grimes

Reunions •• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit

Tender Epoch •• Rudy De Anda

Bonny Light Horseman •• Bonny Light Horseman

Moveys •• Slow Pulp

Alphabetland •• X

The Land that Time Forgot •• Chuck Prophet

Up in the Air •• Bent

Mind Hive •• Wire

UNLOCKED •• Denzel Curry x Kenny Beats

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

High Risk Behaviour •• Chats

songs •• Adrianne Lenker || instrumentals •• Adrianne Lenker

Have We Met •• Destroyer

The Ascension •• Sufjan Stevens

Visions of Bodies Being Burned •• clipping.

Articulation •• Rival Consoles

Mordechai •• Khruangbin

Marigold •• Pinegrove

It’s Only Us •• Monophonics

Debris •• Keeley Forsyth

Superstar •• Caroline Rose

Truth or Consequences •• Yumi Zouma

Mother Stone •• Caleb Landry Jones

The Best Albums of 2020 •• Slate

Carl Wilson

  ALBUMS

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Likewise •• Frances Quinlan

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Diet Cig, Bully, The Beths, beabadoobee, Beach Bunny, Mitski, Torres, Down Time, and Emily Brown

Beginners •• Christian Lee Huston

Down in the Weeds, Where the World Once Was •• Bright Eyes

Artlessly Falling •• Mary Halvorson’s Code Girl

Pedernal •• Susan Alcorn

Zurich Concert •• Jaimie Branch & The Dave Gisler Trio

Beverly Glenn-Copeland

Here It Comes Again [EP] •• Cate Le Bon & Group Listening

L’inattingible •• Delphine Dora

Solar Wind •• Joëlle Leandre, Robert Dick, and Miya Masaoka

Memory Game •• Meredith Monk & The Bang On a Can All-Stars

Fra Det Onde •• Fra Det Onde & Emil Nikolaisen

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

DISCO •• Kylie Minogue

Chromatica •• Lady Gaga

Positions •• Ariana Grande

The Album •• Teyana Taylor

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t •• Kehlani

After Hours •• The Weeknd

Modus Vivendi •• 070 Shake

Songs for Pierre Chuvin •• The Mountain Goats

Getting Into Knives •• The Mountain Goats

Day of the Tiles [EP] •• Human Hearts

Island •• Owen Pallett

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

Gold Record •• Bill Callahan

Home Time •• Darren Hayman

Alphabetland •• X

Untitled (Rise) •• SAULT || Untitled (Black Is) •• SAULT

We Are Sent Here by History •• Shabaka and the Ancestors

Dark Matter •• Moses Boyd

Source •• Nubya Garcia

Universal Beings E & F Sides •• Makaya McCraven

Swirling •• Sun Ra Arkestra

To Know Without Knowing •• Mulatu Astatke & Black Jesus Experience

Dutch from the 5th •• Dutchavelli

Send Them to Coventry •• Pa Salieu

Stormzy & Skepta

Crabs in a Bucket •• Nines

J Hus, Headie One, Tion Wayne, D Double E, Blanco, Young T & Bugsey, Kojey Radical, AJ Tracey, and Ghetts

on the tender spot of every calloused moment •• Ambrose Akinmusire

Suite for Max Brown •• Jeff Parker

America the Beautiful •• Kahil El’Zabar

Omega •• Immanuel Wilkins

Good Days •• Chicago Underground Quartet

8: Kindred Spirits •• Charles Lloyd

Your Life Is a Record •• Brandy Clark

Blue Eyes, The Harlot, The Queer, The Pusher & Me •• Waylon Payne

Gaslighter •• The Chicks

Southside •• Sam Hunt

Never Will •• Ashley McBryde

Starting Over •• Chris Stapleton

Reunions •• Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

The Way It Feels •• Maddie & Tae

But I’d Rather Be With You •• Molly Tuttle

Bridges [EP] •• Mickey Guyton

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

My Turn (Deluxe) •• Lil Baby

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Mt. Marci •• Roc Marciano

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

High Off Life •• Future

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

Meet the Woo 2 •• Pop Smoke || Shoot for the Stars, Aim for the Moon •• Pop Smoke

Savage Mode II •• 21 Savage & Metro Boomin

Descendants of Cain •• KA

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Heart’s Ease •• Shirley Collins

Fretted & Indebted •• Alasdair Roberts || The Songs of My Boyhood •• Alasdair Roberts

Mama, You Can Bet! •• Jyoti

Rejoice •• Tony Allen & Hugh Masekela

Forever, Ya Girl •• KeiyaA

I Think I’m Good •• Kassa Overall

Love-Lore •• Deerhoof

Future Teenage Cave Artists •• Deerhoof || To Be Surrounded by Beautiful, Curious, Breathing, Laughing Flesh Is Enough •• Deerhoof & Wadada Leo Smith || Surprise Symphonies •• Deerhoof

The 50 Best Albums of 2020 •• Stereogum

Stereogum Staff

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Manger on McNichols •• Boldy James & Sterling Toles

Magic Oneohtrix Point Never •• Oneohtrix Point Never

Lament •• Touché Amoré

Untitled (Rise) •• SAULT

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Inlet •• Hum

Hannah •• Lomelda

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Notes on a Conditional Form •• The 1975

Alfredo •• Freddie Gibbs & The Alchemist

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

925 •• Sorry

Inner Song •• Kelly Lee Owens

Rough and Rowdy Ways •• Bob Dylan

World House •• Mil-Spec

No Dream •• Jeff Rosenstock

Song for Our Daughter •• Laura Marling

What’s Your Pleasure? •• Jessie Ware

It Is What It Is •• Thundercat

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Viewing •• Stay Inside

Impenetrable Cerebral Fortress •• Gulch

Microphones in 2020 •• The Microphones

KiCk i •• Arca

2017-2019 •• Against All Logic

The Neon Skyline •• Andy Shauf

The Price of Tea in China •• Boldy James & The Alchemist

Suddenly •• Caribou

Reunions •• Jason Isbell & The 400 Unit

SIGN •• Autechre

Every Bad •• Porridge Radio

græ •• Moses Sumney

Southside •• Sam Hunt

Descendants of Cain •• Ka

Introduction, Presence •• Nation of Language

A Hero’s Death •• Fontaines D.C.

FREE I.H.: This Is Not the One You’ve Been Waiting For •• Illuminati Hotties

Take a Chance on Rock ‘n’ Roll •• Couch Slut

May Our Chambers Be Full •• Emma Ruth Rundle & Thou

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t •• Kehlani

As We Suffer from Memory and Imagination •• Nuvolascura

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Best Albums of 2020 •• TIME

Raisa Bruner & Andrew R. Chow

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Gaslighter •• The Chicks

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Set My Heart on Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Agüita •• Gabriel Garzón-Montano

We’re New Again - A Reimagining •• Makaya McCraven

Miss Anthropecene •• Grimes

Celia •• Tiwa Savage

The Best Albums of 2020 •• Uproxx

Uproxx Staff

folklore •• Taylor Swift

Fetch the Bolt Cutters •• Fiona Apple

Spilligion •• Spillage Village

Eternal Atake •• Lil Uzi Vert

Future Nostalgia •• Dua Lipa

Circles •• Mac Miller

Saint Cloud •• Waxahatchee

Women in Music Pt. III •• HAIM

Ungodly Hour •• Chloe x Halle

After Hours •• The Weeknd

Please Excuse Me For Being Antisocial •• Roddy Ricch

Shore •• Fleet Foxes

RTJ4 •• Run the Jewels

My Turn •• Lil Baby

Punisher •• Phoebe Bridgers

Ho, why is you here? •• Flo Milli

Heaven to a Tortured Mind •• Yves Tumor

Cuttin’ Grass - Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions) •• Sturgill Simpson

Fine Line •• Harry Styles

Positions •• Ariana Grande

Black Habits •• D Smoke

What We Drew 우리가 그려왔던 •• Yaeji

how i’m feeling now •• Charli XCX

color theory •• Soccer Mommy

Live Forever •• Bartees Strange

Set My Heart On Fire Immediately •• Perfume Genius

Limbo •• Aminé

YHLQMDLG •• Bad Bunny

The GOAT •• Polo G

Rare •• Selena Gomez

Talk About It •• Blimes and Gab

Everything •• Kota the Friend

Good News •• Megan Thee Stallion

Wunna •• Gunna

SAWAYAMA •• Rina Sawayama

Mordechai •• Khruangbin

It Was Good Until It Wasn’t •• Kehlani

Imploding the Mirage •• The Killers

songs •• Adrianne Lenker || instrumentals •• Adrianne Lenker

Pray for Paris •• Westside Gunn

The Album •• BLACKPINK

Better •• Deanté Hitchcock

Queen of Da Souf •• Mulatto

Twice as Tall •• Burna Boy

The Slow Rush •• Tame Impala

A Written Testimony •• Jay Electronica

Fake It Flowers •• beabadoobee

My Agenda •• Dorian Electra

Heaven or Hell •• Don Toliver

The New Abnormal •• The Strokes

Behind-the-Paywall Lists:

LA Times

The Economist

[cunningminx]

592 How do you like to bond?

Dr. Eli Sheff joins today to share her new project, The Bonding Project, in which she seeks to help people understand how they bond.

0:00 Introduction and host chat

If you’re under 18, visit scarleteen.com

Minx was down for a week with horrible symptoms of menopause, but feeling better now. Hoping to get Heather Corinna, author of What Fresh Hell Is This: Perimenopause, Menopause, Other Indignities, and You, soon!

3:45 Poly in the news

Chris Smith and Ben Schenker's have proposed legislation to the Washington, DC, City Council to expand domestic partnership and anti-discrimination laws to include multi-partnered relationships. More info from Chris on how to participate.

Amy Dickinson finally gives good poly advice! Ask Amy: Polyamory creates an extra family challenge. Alan’s blog post.

If you have questions, comments, or feedback call 802-505-POLY or email polyweekly@gmail.com and attach an MP3 file with your questions. To book us or anything that involves a calendar, email lustyguy@polyweekly.com.

6:15 Interview with Dr. Eli Sheff

Dr. Elisabeth “Eli” Sheff is a researcher, expert witness, coach, speaker, and educational consultant. With a PhD in Sociology (University of Colorado, Boulder, 2005) and certification as a Sexuality Educator from the AASECT (the American Association of Sexuality Educators, Counselors, and Therapists, 2012), Dr. Sheff specializes in gender and sexual minority families, consensual non-monogamy, and kink/BDSM. Sheff is the foremost academic expert on polyamorous families with children, and her 20+ year Polyamorous Family Study is the only longitudinal study of poly families with children to date.

Find her at https://elisabethsheff.com/, on Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. Check out https://www.bondingproject.com/ and her blog on Psychology Today.

26:45 Eli Sheff’s Ranty Pants

In this new segment, we provide space for guests to rant about anything they like, big or small. Today: why are anti-maskers so anti-abortion but also apparently anti-life?

29:30 Join the conversation

Join the community on Facebook at https://facebook.com/polyweekly  or Twitter at @polyweekly or @cunningminx, Instagram at cunning.minx or now on TikTok as @cunningminx.

30:00 Thank you!

Thanks to our Poly Weekly Playmates for your financial support! We also love when you review us on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcatcher (including Spotify!) and when you share us with your friends directly. Thanks also to Pacemaker Jane for letting us use their song Good Suspicions as our intro and outro music and to you for listening and sharing.

Check out this episode!

[brightbeautifulthings]

A - C | D - H | I - L | M - O | P - R | S - Z | Recent

Reviews are alphabetical by author and then by title.

Sachar, Louis - Holes - Small Steps

Sáenz, Benjamin Alire - Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe

Sager, Riley - Final Girls - The Last Time I Lied - Lock Every Door

Sakavic, Nora - Elysium - The Foxhole Court - The King's Men - The Raven King - The Sunshine Court

Sanders, Bernie - Our Revolution: A Future to Believe In

Sarrantonio, Al - Halloweenland

Satrapi, Marjane - Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood - Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return

Schaeffer, Rebecca - Not Even Bones - Only Ashes Remain - When Villains Rise

Schow, Betsy - Spelled

Schumacher, Ashley - Amelia Unabridged - Full Flight

Schwab, Victoria (V.E.) - Our Dark Duet - This Savage Song - Vengeful - Vicious

Schwartz, Alvin - More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark - Scary Stories 3: More Tales to Chill Your Bones

Schwartz, Alyssa - The Lost Causes

Scorza, Nick - People of the Lake

Scott, Victoria - We Told Six Lies

Sebastian, Laura - Ash Princess

Sedoti, Chelsea - As You Wish

Selznick, Brian - Wonderstruck

Sepetys, Ruta - Between Shades of Gray

Sergi, Zachary - Major Detours

Shaffer, Mary Ann - The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society

Shah, London - The Light at the Bottom of the World

Shallcross, Leife - The Beast’s Heart

Shapero, Rich - Balcony of Fog

Sheff, Nic - Tweak

Sheinmel, Alyssa - A Danger to Herself and Others

Showalter, Gena - A Mad Zombie Party

Shusterman, Neal - Challenger Deep - UnBound - UnDivided - UnSouled - UnWholly - Unwind

Silverman, Laura - You Asked For Perfect

Simmons, Kristen - Find Him Where You Left Him Dead

Simon, Shaun - The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Simone, Sierra - A Merry Little Meet Cute

Smythe, Rachel - Lore Olympus: Volume One - Lore Olympus: Volume Two - Lore Olympus: Volume Three

Snyder, C.W. - Child of Nod - Queen of Nod

Sparks, Kerrelyn - All I Want For Christmas Is A Vampire

Spinelli, Jerry - Love, Stargirl - Stargirl

Springer, Nancy - The Oddling Prince

St. Clair, Scarlett - A Touch of Darkness

Stanojevic, Ana - Fire Wave

Steinbeck, John - Of Mice & Men

Stiefvater, Maggie - All The Crooked Saints - Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Call Down the Hawk - The Dream Thieves - Forever - Greywaren - Linger - Mister Impossible - The Raven Boys - The Raven King - The Scorpio Races - Shiver - Sinner

Stine, R.L. - The Awakening Evil - Cheerleaders: The Evil Lives! - Cheerleaders: The First Evil - Cheerleaders: The New Evil - Cheerleaders: The Second Evil - Cheerleaders: The Third Evil - The Dead Boyfriend - The Haunted Mask - The Haunted Mask II - Say Cheese and Die! - Say Cheese and Die– Again!

Stoppard, Tom - Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead

Suma, Nova Ren - Imaginary Girls - 17 & Gone - A Room Away From the Wolves - The Walls Around Us

Sutherland, Krystal - House of Hollow - Our Chemical Hearts - A Semi-Definitive List of Worst Nightmares

Sutton, Kelsey (K.J.) - Fortuna Sworn - Smoke & Key

Suzuki, Kōji - Ring

Swyler, Erika - The Book of Speculation

Tahir, Sabaa - An Ember in the Ashes - A Reaper at the Gates - A Sky Beyond the Storm - A Torch Against the Night

Tartt, Donna - The Secret History

Taylor, Laini - Daughter of Smoke & Bone - Days of Blood & Starlight - Dreams of Gods & Monsters - Muse of Nightmares - Night of Cake & Puppets - Strange the Dreamer

Thiede, Emily - This Vicious Grace

Thomas, Aiden - Lost in the Never Woods

Thomas, Angie - The Hate U Give

Thomas, Kara - The Cheerleaders

Thomas, Scott - Violet

Thorne, Jack - Harry Potter & The Cursed Child

Thorne, Sally - The Hating Game

Tiffany, John - Harry Potter & The Cursed Child

Tremblay, Paul - Floating Boy & The Girl Who Couldn’t Fly

Tucholke, April Genevieve - Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea - Between the Spark & the Burn - Slasher Girls & Monster Boys

Urban, Diana - All Your Twisted Secrets

Valentine, Danielle - How to Survive Your Murder

Vega, Danielle - Survive The Night

Veste, Luca - The Bone Keeper

Wallace, David Foster - Infinite Jest - The Pale King - This Is Water: Some Thoughts … about Living a Compassionate Life

Wallace, Kali - Shallow Graves

Walters, Damien Angelica - The Dead Girls Club

Ward, Catriona - The Last House on Needless Street - Little Eve - Looking Glass Sound - Sundial

Ware, Ruth - In A Dark, Dark Wood

Warga, Jasmine - My Heart and Other Black Holes

Way, Gerard - The True Lives of the Fabulous Killjoys

Weingarten, Lynn - Suicide Notes from Beautiful Girls

Wells, H.G. - The War of the Worlds

Wexler, Jennie - Where It All Lands

Weyr, Garret - The Language of Spells

WhatAreFears - Not Easily Conquered

Whitcomb, Laura - A Certain Slant of Light - Under the Light

White, Kiersten - The Camelot Betrayal - The Dark Descent of Elizabeth Frankenstein - The Excalibur Curse - The Guinevere Deception - Hide

Wilkinson, Brian - Paramnesia

Williams, Kate - Never Coming Home

Wilson, Carter - Mister Tender’s Girl

Winfrey, Kerry - Not Like the Movies - Waiting for Tom Hanks

Winning, Joshua (Josh) - Burn the Negative - Camp Carnage - Heads Will Roll - The Shadow Glass

Wolff, Tracy - Crave

Woodson, Jacqueline - Brown Girl Dreaming

Wyndham, John - The Day of the Triffids

Yamashita, Karen Tei - Tropic of Orange

Yolen, Jane - The Emerald Circus

Yoon, Nicola - Everything, Everything - The Sun Is Also a Star

Young, Suzanne - Hotel for the Lost - The Program

Yovanoff, Brenna - The Replacement

Yuknavitch, Lidia - The Chronology of Water

Zappia, Francesca - Eliza and Her Monsters - Katzenjammer - Now Entering Addamsville

Zentner, Jeff - Rayne & Delilah’s Midnite Matinee

[lovinmullen]

rules : 10 fandoms, 10 characters, 10 tags. start a new post and list 10 characters from 10 different fandoms!”

thank you so so much for the tag @3milesup :D 🥺

1.) band of brothers - donald malarkey (would happily simp over him any day, like.... look at him he’s gorgeous, lil golden boy who is hot AND cute (how’s that fair btw? spare looks sir. not now tom. not now) i also want to protect him at all costs because he’s a sweetheart (not that he needs it though he’s so strong but everyone can use some lovin once in a while) basically he’s peak best boy🥺💞💗💝💘💖

1.5.) the pacific - andrew “ack ack” haldand (i’m doing him as a 0.5 because they both fall under hbo war so i feel like some people may see it as a cop out but he’s my baby and he is too good for this world he deserves the mention. literally i am so proud of him and so tremendously grateful for him MY GOD)

2.) 9-1-1 - evan “buck” buckley (‘wHaTs a bAssOoN’. enough said. he’s baby your honour)

3.) it’s always sunny in philadelphia - ronald “mac” mcdonald aka my emotional support character along with don (i’m giving you this screencap because even without the context it SENDS ME. i don’t have a lot to say about him other than stan the dumbass character)

4.) dead poets society - todd anderson (HE IS THE DEFINITION OF CHARACTER DEVELOPMENT OKAY I AM SO PROUD OF HIM HE IS SO STRONG AND SO LOVELY AND I JUST *wraps him in the tightest hug*)

5.) pride (2014) - joe “bromley” cooper (IF YOU TAKE ANYTHING AWAY FROM THIS LET IT BE PRIDE IT IS ONE OF MY FAVORITE FILMS ON EARTH AND IT IS SO PHENOMENAL. also this was a hard call between joe and gethin but i went with joe purely because of ‘you know what jason? YOU’RE A DICK’ and the fact it’s spat with his posho accent? chefs kiss)

6.) handsome devil - conor masters (my liking of him is just pure projection to be honest. his conversation with dan sherry lives in my mind rent free and it isn’t even a good tenant, making mess for days !!!!)

7.) beautiful boy - david sheff (you guys are probably reading this and are like what?? but i thought seeing steve carell portray such an intensely sensitive character. a parent. a struggling parent. inching to understand but not knowing where to start. to see vulnerability in someone who i’ve only really seen portrayed as a meme was so refreshing and i thought he did a phenomenal job.)

8.) peaky blinders - ada shelby / thorne (god is a women who stood in the middle of a shoot out and told you to shut up. also pretty sure she was eva smith in an inscpector calls GCSE ENGLISH LIT STUDENTS RISE. also also “oi i’m a shelby too y’know, put my fucking film back on” THAT SHIT WAS HOT)

9.) boy meets world - shawn hunter (pure projection also he’s pretty and a dumbass #justmytype😍🤪🥵have this BTS because it gives me life)

10.) jojo rabbit - captain klenzendorf (OKAY LOOK I LOVE ROSIE SHE IS BABY AND I LOVE JOJO OUR CEO OF KICKING FASCISTS OUT OF WINDOWS but i’ve never gotten over the ending okay. how easily he gave up himself because he knows how much potential and life jojo has ahead of him, and how little he has because from where he’s standing the russians taking over isn’t much of an improvement)

gif credit: petercapaldi !!!

i tag (i hope it’s okay that i’m tagging you i just think you’re neat !!! feel free to ignore this) : @malarkeys-beanie @shiftydpowers and @speirtons along with anyone else who wants to do it !!! (bold of you to assume i’m ballsey enough to tag 10 people)

[davidmalik99]

My short story of life

Hello anyone who reads this. I don't hide behind writer names or with names that i just came up on the spot, I'm David Malik who was born on 9th of May 1999. My life just started when I almost died because of choking on food and how my mom saved me by sliding her hand down my throat to prevent the dying. Or after a year or two when I overdoesed on pills because I thought it was candy but I never ate medicin because I just couldn't eat them. If she doesn't get home in time I would've died there again. I remember after I was discharged from hospital I felt the aftereffects on my body for about a week. I was high i can tell that. After a few years I sarted kindergarden and I was put in dormitory of the age 5-6. I was at home only on the weekends, holidays and when i was sick or pretended to be sick for the following 13 years, which means until I turned 19 years old. At the time while I was in kindergarden nothing really happened only when i was accidentaly kicked in the nose and it started bleeding but it was okay because i didn't feel it or just because it was my best friend in the time. After I started elementary school I never saw her again but she might have the best life of hers. So when I started school nothing extraordinary happened until we reached 4th grade when the bullying started. I don't know why but I appearantely can't have friends whom are only girls so I was labeled the gay guy. I didn't really care at the time because we were just kids, but how time passed and we reached 8th grade i just couldn't comperhand the pressure so I just snapped on the guy who couldn't stop to pick on me. Yeah the timid little guys pushes the bully on the locker room door by the throat. Right? crazy I had the strength. Anyways, after that they stopped and well I guess you found out I am not the straightest of them all. but a little back when I finished 3rd grade I was in hospital to get my heart surgery which sadly was succesfull. Now you know what went trough elementary school being bullied and depressed at the age of 10 and on top of that only being home at certain dates. And here we come, high school the dread I had when I was about to start my 2nd 'chance' to be bullied. Being closed up because of trust issues, anxiety, associated and just the fear of being judged. But everything was SO different there. No bullying not judging on a big scale and not only having girl friends. A big difference for me for that to have guy friends. But the homophobia for myself and being outed or just to out myself were the biggest fears. So yeah I started to have a different personality for school and dormitory and when I was home. Nobody knew that but me and it was nice until it wasn't just me. Still I had no courage to be myself to put myself first because I put everyone before me and be happy for them be the goofy friend be the friend that listens to you and don1t judge gives advices even if nobody listens to me not that I cared on that point anymore. I just kind of gave up being happy on the inside and put up a front in front of everybody so they don1t get suspicious. And it was maybe the first two years of high school for me. :D When we started junior year the guys, to be more specific 3 guys were the type of guys that were touching each other like bros but when it came to me it felt so wrong like they tried to get more they came in my personal space which became so uncomfortable that I could only react with laugh that they thought it was maybe funny or something but even when there were times i told them to just stop because it's not funny anymore. It was for them so they just continued. It might came off like I didn't resist but I COULDN'T I was weaker than them. I had no power I was no one but a a person they can goof around. I just put on a mask that was more stronger so nobody could see what I was going through and it showed. Nobody really cared about me. If you want to say my mom or siblings did no they didn't. What do I mean about that? Sure I can explain. My mum didn't let me go to school where I wanted to go because I couldn't go to a different city so I couldn't do arts. It's fine there were other options where I was planning to go. Like to be a sheff or be baker a waiter or to go to acting because I loved it. No you will go to a class where you will learn how to be a police officer what you don't want to be at all. You want to go to friends on the weekends when you want to maybe a few time in a year? No you won't. You want to go to skating with school? No you won't. But when you ask those questions in senior year I will ask why didn't you? Why did you studied it then? Why didn't you go? When did I say no? Why can1t you be like your siblings Why can't you be more outgoing? But after graduation you will have your summer to think what you want to do in your life. So I went to 1 more year to school so I can have time to think. It was worse. I got more depressed and came the many mental illnesses and their friends. How fun right? And after a year I don't know what I want to do with my life. I have no motivation. I have no goals to reach. No achievements I want to get. Nothing. All I wanted to be cared of to be found to be loved. Oh yeah Being loved what a funny phrase. I don’t let people to get close to me. Even the best friend sand friends I have I didn't really care about. like I know I'm just a burden, a dead eight that pulls them down like an anker. i just want them to let go off me. I'M no good for them or for anyone. I watch how people start to have families have relationships how they get more perfect how I'm just there in the starting lines and they are ahead of me with 100 laps and I couldn't even start. I'm a child locked up in an adult body. I can't express my emotions. I can't show them. I can1t speak my mind. I have nothing. My grandmother even tells me how I'm a dissappointment, how I'm worth nothing and how I will gain nothing. Like I knew she hated me because I'm not form the same father like the 2 others but damn you don1t have to go off like that. Like I'M just an eyesore that you don1t want in you life. Oh yeah and I'm only 21. a twenty-one years old boy-man-guy who is most definitely not straight and has problems for himself. someone who is always thinking about ending it. imagining it many ways like a knife in the stomach, pills, cutting, anything . I'M just so tired of putting up a fce to be someone who I'm not and i will never be. I can't even remember how  I was before everything. I just can't. But if I try to get something off my mind and tell it o my mom I get the same answer and it is 'You don't think like that because you're young, you can’t have thought like those, you didn’t even live yet.' and so many almost the same kind of answers. but yes I'm fine if someone asks.

[shoeshineyboy]

I am also suffering from 'suffocating in a small town with people who Mean Well but are Really Not Helping', here's to the Only Known Cure, 'As Soon As I Have Enough Money I am Leaving at a Moment's Notice and I Do NOT Owe You an Explanation!' 🖤

GOD come up sheff with me everyone I know there is a queer arts person. I've had enough I'm running off and starting afresh as someone my parents never wanted to raise <3

[intransigent-boy]

My Top Ten Films of The Decade.

10. Her

Okay, so whether you like it or not, this movie is about the present. This movie tells a very powerful story with an embarrasingly personal narrative. You feel sorry for the main character, it makes you so uncomfortable. And the reason is, because we are all in some sense are like this guy, Theodore. We have better relationships online, and with our advices, than with real people. It’s a really bizarre conception, but we should face it, and ask ourselves: Where is the limit?  The script is just brilliant, but also has very controversial scenes. Joaquin Phoenix is simply the perfect choice for a lonely man, like Theodore. Melancholy everywhere, and great visuals. Arcade Fire made the music for this, and it was pure melancholy. Very interesting film.

9. The Place Beyond The Pines

Derek Cianfrance is an exceptional director. He can wonderfully create an atmosphere with great lighting techiques, unique musics, and of course with talented actors. This movie has a linear, but quite unusual story-structure. The main theme haunts you after you watched this. Legacy! 

8. Nightcrawler

Louis Bloom is something of a loner who is unemployed and ekes out a living stealing and then reselling copper wire, fencing and most anything else he can get his hands on. When late one night he comes across an accident being filmed by independent news photographer Joe Loder, he thinks he may have found something he would be good at. He acquires an inexpensive video camera and a police scanner and is soon spending his nights racing to accidents, robberies and fire scenes. He develops a working relationship with Nina Romina, news director for a local LA TV station. As the quality of his video footage improves so does his remuneration and he hires Rick, young and unemployed, to work with him. The more successful he becomes however, the more apparent it becomes that Louis will do anything - anything - to get visuals from crime scenes. The conception is just brilliant, and screams to your face, what kind of society are we living in. I think Psychopathy is going to be one of the biggest issue in our generation asides with mental illneses. And this movie reflects perfectly. You understand the character, which is geniusly performed by Jake Gyllenhaal. 

7. Inside Llewyn Davis

The Coen brothers' exquisitely sad and funny new comedy is set in a world of music that somehow combines childlike innocence with an aged and exhausted acceptance of the world. It is a beguilingly studied period piece from America's early-60s Greenwich Village folk scene. Every frame looks like a classic album cover, or at the very least a great inner gatefold – these are screen images that look as if they should have lyrics and sleeve notes superimposed. This film was notably passed over for Oscar nominations. Perhaps there's something in its unfashionable melancholy that didn't hook the attention of Academy award voters. But it is as pungent and powerfully distinctive as a cup of hot black coffee. This movie is about sacrificing everything for your art, directionlessness  (is there such a word?) , and finding the right path. Existential theme, with surpisingly good acting from Oscar Isaac, Adam Driver, and Justin Timberlake. This is an Odyssey-story from the 1960′s America. What more you could ask for? 

6. Dunkirk

Reinventing a genre is quite exceptional. And Nolan did it. The best war movies of the last 20 years, including Saving Private Ryan and Hacksaw Ridge, have also placed viewers in the centre of battle. Nolan has not reinvented that immersive approach, but he comes close to perfecting it. The story structure is-again- brilliant. There’s no main character in the movie-just like in a war-but only  scared people. They want to go home. But they can’t. We’re with them with their struggle, and fears. We’re in the air, land, or water, it’s just a haunting terror.  And the soundtrack from Hans Zimmer is really remarkable. You hear it, and you recognize the movie. That’s what I call a score. Reflects perfectly, and holds the attention throughout the whole movie.

5. Hell or High Water

Another genre-twister masterpiece. This Neo-Western is just pure art. Hell or High Water is a film about a criminal  who commits the ultimate offence of putting his gorgeous and much nicer brother in a ski mask for several minutes of this film. Okay actually it’s about a career criminal brother and his he-wasn’t-but-he-is-now criminal brother who team up to commit a series of small-scale bank robberies across Texas, with the aim, finally – after several generations – of lifting the family out of seemingly inescapable grinding poverty. The part of Texas they live in is dying on its feet so career criminal is pretty much the only career left open that doesn’t involve serving in a diner or herding the few remaining cattle. It would’ve been easy for Hell or High Water to to turn out a cliche-ridden double bromance as there are quite a few movie tropes in this love story / revenge thriller, so it’s a tribute to director David Mackenzie that it’s actually a very touching, at times funny, at times quite brutal story. With a bit of grudge-bearing thrown in at the end to stop it being too redemptive. Memorable scenes, great acting, and a deromanticized western-feeling. After this film, you want to live in Texas, where everything’s slower, but sometimes you can chase criminals. It’s nice, isn’t it? 

4. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri

Martin McDonagh’s fiercely written, stabbingly pleasurable tragicomedy stars a magnificent Frances McDormand; watching it is like having your funny bone struck repeatedly, expertly and very much too hard by a karate super-black-belt capable of bringing a rhino to its knees with a single punch behind the ear. He’s a scriptwriter genius, it was shocking, how perfectly the dialouges and the actions were constructed. It is a film about vengeance, violence and the acceptance of death, combining subtlety and unsubtlety, and moreover wrongfooting you as to what and whom it is centrally about. The drama happens in a town with an insidiously pessimistic name – Ebbing, Missouri, a remote and fictional community in the southern United States, where the joy of life does seem to be receding. There is a recurrent keynote of elegiac sadness established by the Irish ballad The Last Rose of Summer and Townes Van Zandt’s country hit Buckskin Stallion Blues, a musical combination which bridges the Ireland which McDonagh has written about before and the America he conjures up here, an America which has something of the Coen Brothers. The resemblance is not simply down to McDormand, though she does give her best performance since her starring role as the pregnant Minnesota police chief in the Coens’ Fargo in 1996. It was brutal, controversial, and violent. 

3. Midnight in Paris

The definitive poem in English on the subject of cultural nostalgia may be a short verse by Robert Browning called “Memorabilia.” The past seems so much more vivid, more substantial, than the present, and then it evaporates with the cold touch of reality. The good old days are so alluring because we were not around, however much we wish we were. “Midnight in Paris,” Woody Allen’s charming film, imagines what would happen if that wish came true. It is marvelously romantic, even though — or precisely because — it acknowledges the disappointment that shadows every genuine expression of romanticism. The film has the inspired silliness of some of Mr. Allen’s classic comic sketches (most obviously, “A Twenties Memory,” in which the narrator’s nose is repeatedly broken by Ernest Hemingway), spiked with the rueful fatalism that has characterized so much of his later work. Nothing here is exactly new, but why would you expect otherwise in a film so pointedly suspicious of novelty? Very little is stale, either, and Mr. Allen has gracefully evaded the trap built by his grouchy admirers and unkind critics — I’m not alone in fitting both descriptions — who complain when he repeats himself and also when he experiments. Not for the first time, but for the first time in a while, he has found a credible blend of whimsy and wisdom.

2. Beautiful Boy 

This supersensitive and tasteful movie is all but insufferable, suppressing a sob at the tragedy of drug addiction afflicting someone so young and “beautiful”. It is based on what is effectively a matching set of memoirs: Beautiful Boy, by author and journalist David Sheff, his harrowing account of trying to help his son Nic battle crystal meth addiction, and Tweak – by Nic Sheff himself, about these same experiences, the author now, thankfully, eight years clean. Steve Carell does an honest, well-meaning job in the role of David and the egregiously beautiful Timothée Chalamet is earnest in the part of Nic, David’s son from his first marriage. This is like a modern-day Basketball Diaries. Honest, and Raw. Most underrated movie of the 2010′s, with an unquestionably important topic. 

1. The Social Network

Before Sorkin wrote the screenplay, Ben Mezrich wrote the book based on Mark Zuckerberg and the founding of Facebook titled: The Accidental Billionaires: The Founding of Facebook, A Tale of Sex, Money, Genius, and Betrayal. It was published in July 2009, and most of the information came from Facebook “co-founder” Eduardo Saverin, who in the film is played by Andrew Garfield. The screenplay that Sorkin wrote was blazing, he wrote the characters like they were in a William Shakespeare play, with a story full of lies, jealousy, and betrayal. I especially love how Sorkin balanced the story between 2003, 2004, and then 2010. It goes back and forth between the past when Facebook was just an idea for Mark, and in the current day when he is being sued by Cameron & Tyler Winklevoss for, in their minds, having stolen their original idea, and by his former best friend Eduardo for having him pushed out of the company. In fact, some of the very best dialogue (and the film is full of great quotes) happens during the deposition scenes. Well-recognizable, rapid-fire dialouges, wonderful directing, with Trent Reznor’s greatest soundtrack. The movie’s probably going to outlive the Facebook itself, and that’s just great.