As usual, here is my list of the best films of 2013. I try to do this sometime before the Oscars since a lot of limited releases don't make their way to Chicago well after the New Year, so I just that extra time to get caught up so that I can provide as comprehensive a view of a year. Without further ado, here are the movies that stuck with me the most in 2013.
1. 12 Years A Slave
The cultural significance of this movie will probably cement its place in the canon for years to come based on its unflinching portrayal of slavery, which was unmatched in its brutality. Importance and quality do not always go hand in hand, so as much as I would like to state that this is a great film because it gave an unfathomable reality to those only familiar with the relatively sanitized versions of the era delivered by Hollywood, it worked much deeper on an emotional level. There have been few cinematic experiences like 12 Years A Slave, the true story of freeman Solomon Northup who was kidnapped and sold into captivity. The brutality of the film was a necessary truth that could not concern itself with what's palatable for audiences and every heartwrenching moment served as a reminder of America's dark history. Steve McQueen, whose previous films Hunger and Shame also didn't hold anything back, has once again proven adept at being an expert observer of a gritty world that holds little hope. His films resonate with you long after the credits have finished rolling, all without any significant flash and grounded in unforgiving realism. The trio of excellent, anguished performances from Chiwitel Ejiofor, Lupita Nyong'o and Michael Fassbender provided as close to a breathing historical document of the period as we've ever gotten and transcended it into art, conveying the torment and pain of past generations that no viewer will ever forget.
Showing posts with label best of 2013. Show all posts
Showing posts with label best of 2013. Show all posts
Sunday, March 02, 2014
Monday, December 30, 2013
Top 250 Singles of 2013
Since we're in the Cloud Age, where things are headed more and more towards streaming seemingly everyday, I have to expand the definition of what exactly qualifies as a single. For the purpose of this list, any song that was uploaded to Soundcloud by the artist or their record label automatically qualified, even if it wasn't for sale or didn't have a video. By far this was the most most intimidating year to put together a singles list because there always felt like there was something new right around the corner that I might have missed, which is thrilling for a music fan. I've included a Spotify playlist of the songs and for those that weren't on there, I've included an asterisk (*) to help you out. If it's not on there, it's likely on Soundcloud and if it's in the top 100, I'd especially recommend putting forth the effort to search for it. Make sure to check out my albums list as well.
1. Pharrell Williams - Happy
"It might seem crazy what I'm about to say." Hard to believe that we're at the point where we have to almost apologize for being in a good mood. Often times, I find songs dedicated to joy to be the most fearless in today's cynical world and there are fewer that blare the horn of happiness louder than this one. For the purpose of full disclosure, The Neptunes are among some of my favorite artists of all-time, so there's always something welcoming for me when one of them hits their stride. Regardless, I think anyone would have won me over with such a jubilant gospel shuffle. It's a solid foundation to start with, but then there's that chorus. That sunny, carefree, defiant, Nobel Peace Prize-worthy chorus. So pure in its mission to save the world and help you leave negativity behind that it even brought along hand claps to ease the transition. It's true power isn't revealed until towards the end of the song where its repetition is so forceful that it won't be satisfied until vessels burst in your cheeks from smiling too hard. Music is at its best when the artist can project their feelings onto you and you're able to empathize. "Happy" was the best such example this year for me.
1. Pharrell Williams - Happy
"It might seem crazy what I'm about to say." Hard to believe that we're at the point where we have to almost apologize for being in a good mood. Often times, I find songs dedicated to joy to be the most fearless in today's cynical world and there are fewer that blare the horn of happiness louder than this one. For the purpose of full disclosure, The Neptunes are among some of my favorite artists of all-time, so there's always something welcoming for me when one of them hits their stride. Regardless, I think anyone would have won me over with such a jubilant gospel shuffle. It's a solid foundation to start with, but then there's that chorus. That sunny, carefree, defiant, Nobel Peace Prize-worthy chorus. So pure in its mission to save the world and help you leave negativity behind that it even brought along hand claps to ease the transition. It's true power isn't revealed until towards the end of the song where its repetition is so forceful that it won't be satisfied until vessels burst in your cheeks from smiling too hard. Music is at its best when the artist can project their feelings onto you and you're able to empathize. "Happy" was the best such example this year for me.
Sunday, December 22, 2013
Best 50 Albums of 2013
Once again, here are my top 50 albums of the year. I've also included a Spotify playlist with selected tracks from as many as albums that were available on there. The amount of good music out there is so overwhelming that there are probably another 50 albums that had a shot at cracking the list that I didn't have time for. My head will likely explode one year when doing this post. Until then, enjoy!
My top 250 singles of 2013 list should be up within a few days.
1. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
Who isn't a fan of Loveless? To this day, it stands as one of rock's seminal albums and no matter what the moment, it's usually in my top 5 of all time. It was with that excitement, shared along with so many other music fans around the world, that I was looking forward to My Bloody Valentine's follow-up to that album, which was 22 years in the making. So yes, this is coming from the perspective of someone who was destined to enjoy m b v in one fashion or another, but the record is its own kind of monster. No matter if you've never heard one strain of their blurred melodies or the jagged crunch of their feedback, nothing can be taken away from moments as gorgeous as "Who Sees You" and "Only Tomorrow," which are indeed awash in a familiar sea of haze, beauty and chaos, but no less effective in the 2010s than it was in the '90s. Beauty is actually the one word that keeps popping up in my head whenever I revisit this album and it's the most fitting. My Bloody Valentine has never been about "beauty" in the traditional sense where we perceive it to be something that's symmetrical and pleasant, but by using elements that are more fitting for a mosh pit or a surrealist painting, our senses are challenged for the better. We're left with a piece of work that alters the colors we see, that soothes amidst the dissonance and ultimately gives us new respect for waiting patiently.
My top 250 singles of 2013 list should be up within a few days.
1. My Bloody Valentine - m b v
Who isn't a fan of Loveless? To this day, it stands as one of rock's seminal albums and no matter what the moment, it's usually in my top 5 of all time. It was with that excitement, shared along with so many other music fans around the world, that I was looking forward to My Bloody Valentine's follow-up to that album, which was 22 years in the making. So yes, this is coming from the perspective of someone who was destined to enjoy m b v in one fashion or another, but the record is its own kind of monster. No matter if you've never heard one strain of their blurred melodies or the jagged crunch of their feedback, nothing can be taken away from moments as gorgeous as "Who Sees You" and "Only Tomorrow," which are indeed awash in a familiar sea of haze, beauty and chaos, but no less effective in the 2010s than it was in the '90s. Beauty is actually the one word that keeps popping up in my head whenever I revisit this album and it's the most fitting. My Bloody Valentine has never been about "beauty" in the traditional sense where we perceive it to be something that's symmetrical and pleasant, but by using elements that are more fitting for a mosh pit or a surrealist painting, our senses are challenged for the better. We're left with a piece of work that alters the colors we see, that soothes amidst the dissonance and ultimately gives us new respect for waiting patiently.
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