Tuesday, January 12, 2016

BEST MOVIES & TV: 2015

The Great, The Good, and The Interesting!

Rey, the new star of
S T A R
W A R S !

Shortcut links:
• BEST MOVIES: 2015
• BEST DOCUMENTARIES: 2015
• BEST TV: 2015

Note: This will often spotlight directors for special merit.
But Auteur Theory is a shoebox; films are a collaborative effort with everyone involved.

"And... Action!"

B E S T
M O V I E S :
2 0 1 5

T H I N K

✭✭✭✭✭
• SELMA ⇧
Ava DuVernay's timeless reminder of the Civil Rights struggle is universally invaluable.
David Oyelowo is in fine form as the human and humane Dr. King.

• MR. HOLMES ⇧
Ian McKellan as Sherlock Holmes.
That should be enough, but clever inversions and nimble drama round it out.

• LOVE AND MERCY ⇧
A moving biopic of Brian Wilson's musical triumphs and spiritual tragedies.
The period details are excellent, and the recording of Pet Sounds is worth the admission alone.

• SUFFRAGETTE ⇧
A strong docudrama of a young woman's rise from servant to rebel in the original Feminist revolution.
Carey Mulligan and Helena Bonham Carter.

• THE KEEPING ROOM ⇧
Brit Marling leads a trio of women trying to survive the end of the Civil War.

• A MOST VIOLENT YEAR
The best movie 1974 didn't make. An understated and perfect homage to New Hollywood crime dramas.
Oscar Isaac channels his best Pacino beside an iron Jessica Chastain.

• SPOTLIGHT
A true story of a terrible social crime exposed by actual journalism (remember that?).
Plays like a relentless thriller propelled by a crack ensemble cast.

• BROOKLYN
The best love story of the year.
Saoirse Ronan builds a bridge between old world Ireland and new world NYC in this thoughful and genuinely heartwarming dramedy.

• HIGH-RISE
J.G. Ballard's brutal satirical novel of classism descending into chaos, shot in full-on A CLOCKWORK ORANGE mode.

Most Valuable Player, Dept.:
Oscar Isaac
Like Jessica Chastain, Oscar Isaac is becoming ubiquitous as the go-to actor.

After breaking through in the Coen Brothers' INSIDE LLEWYN DAVIS (2013), with fine singing and guitar playing no less, Oscar's star is on the rise. This year he was the amiably conceited creator in EX MACHINA; the ethical man trying not to slip in A MOST VIOLENT YEAR; the accidental crusader in HBO's intense mini-series SHOW ME A HERO (from the creator of 'The Wire'); and he ended on a high note as the best rebel pilot in the galaxy in STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS.

S M I L E

• TANGERINE ⇧
Two untrained transexual actors shot by three iPhone cameras in the L.A. streets equals ludicrous magic.

• WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS (New Zealand) ⇧
Twisted slapstick in a vampire mockumentary full of laughs.

• PEOPLE PLACES THINGS ⇧
A smart antidote to rom-coms, with fresh angles and Jemaine Clement (Flight Of The Conchords).

D R E A M

Proper Star Wars art by Drew Struzan.

✭✭✭✭✭
• STAR WARS: The Force Awakens ⇧
A wonder and a blessing, perhaps the finest Star Wars film yet made.
Rey and Finn are terrific new leads for the future.

• EX MACHINA ⇧
A clockwork rose.
A smart character film with turns that reward multiple viewings.

• MAD MAX: FURY ROAD ⇧
THE ROAD WARRIOR was the best, and this is ten times better.
An epic completely grounded in empathy, swiped by true star Charlize Theron as Furiosa.

• TOMORROWLAND ⇧
Pessimism is passe, optimism takes real courage.
This smart, inspired film makes a fine case for the power of the positive.

• THE MARTIAN
Robinson Crusoe on Mars.
Ridley Scott brings us a gripping thriller with a sharp cast.

• SPECTRE ⇧
The Daniel Craig films are a perfect prequel arc of the origins of Bond.
And they've rebuilt him better for the future.

Underrated, Dept.:

• TERMINATOR: Genisys
The first hour's re-evocation of the first film is amazing.
A more proper substitute as the third film to a trilogy.

• SYNCHRONICITY
A solid time travel film, with enough turns to keep you alert or surprised.

N I G H T M A R E

• CRIMSON PEAK ⇧
Guillermo Del Toro's gorgeous gothic romance where craft is the star.
Like a Poe or James story filmed by Powell and Pressburger (à la BLACK NARCISSUS, THE RED SHOES).

• IT FOLLOWS
Like the best indie horror film John Carpenter didn't make in 1979.
Straightforward suspense with quietly layered subtext.

• FELT
A touching and disturbing indie film, and conceptual cousin to REPULSION (1965).

G R A P H I C
I M A G E S

I review and do original illustrations of
Comics-based films for the review site,
Four Color Films.

• AVENGERS 2: AGE OF ULTRON ⇧
More ambitous even than the first, and more richly rewarding to the attentive.
The leads do well, but the non-solo-film characters grow and shine here.
All hail Joss Whedon!

• ANT-MAN ⇧
A fun romp better than anyone expected.
A Wasp-centered sequel promises even better.

• THE DIARY OF A TEENAGE GIRL ⇧
> Four Color Films review
Phoebe Gloeckner's acclaimed graphic novels > become an inspired and poignant dramedy.

See Also:
> Four Color Films,
THE Comic Movies Review Site!

A R T F L I X

• INSIDE OUT ⇧
Pixar makes films for adults who remember the wonder of childhood.
This navigation of the emotions is a profound guide for all ages.

• THE GOOD DINOSAUR
Pixar.

• WHEN MARNIE WAS THERE (Japan, 2014; English dub, 2015) ⇧
From Studio Ghibli; Yonebayashi channels Miyazaki's pastoral nostalgia with Takahata's emotional edge.
A moving and surprising story beautifully rendered.

• ANAMOLISA ⇧
An innovative and game-changing stop animation film that plays as a fine indie character dramedy.

B E S T
D O C U M E N T A R I E S :
2 0 1 5

• MONTAGE OF HECK ⇧
The secret life and creations of Kurt Cobain.

• MR. DYNAMITE
A solid overview of James Brown and a nice companion piece to last year's biopic, GET ON UP.

• SONIC HIGHWAYS
Dave Grohl's profiles of key studios and music scenes is required learning.
The Washington DC episode covering Trouble Funk and Go-Go, and Punk and Dischord Records, is essential.

• THE WRECKING CREW
From the late '50s to mid-'70s, one session crew played on all of your favorite Pop songs.
Illuminating and heartfelt.

• DESPITE THE GODS
Jennifer Chambers Lynch fought the impossible to make a sabotaged film, and this behind-the-scenes documentary referees the struggle.

• SUFFRAGETTES FOREVER! The Story of Women and Power (UK)
Ever-timely and needed mini-series on the original Feminist empowerment struggles.

• THE BLACK PANTHERS: Vanguard of the Revolution
All Power To The People!

• HE NAMED ME MALALA
The betrayla and rise of Pakistani activist Malala Yousafzai.

• GOING CLEAR
An expose on the machinations of the Church Of Scientololgy.

B E S T
T V :
2 0 1 5

(The season number follows each title.)

D R A M A

✭✭✭✭✭
• RECTIFY 3 ⇧
Still television's best and most unknown drama.
As true a grasp of being human as can be found on the screen.

✭✭✭✭✭
• BETTER CALL SAUL 1 ⇧
With quiet, assured grace this prequel to Breaking Bad paves a new path and style.
The story of "Saul" is touching and surprising at every turn.

• FARGO 2
The ambitious second season is a stunner, at times breathtaking in its sharp skill.
This 1979 prequel arc homages much of the Coen canon, along with curveball surprises.

• MASTERS OF SEX 3
When Masters And Johnson's 1965 published findings liberated the mainstream.

• SHOW ME A HERO (HBO mini-series)
A true drama about civil rights struggles in late-'80s Yonkers.
Oscar Isaac shines in a project by Wire creator David Simon.

• MR. ROBOT ⇧
That time Palahnuik, Easton Ellis, Moore, and Dick wrote a jam session to destroy our corporate overlords.
Or as close to it as a gleefully seditious show can get.
(Or corporate-owned cable network will allow.)

W O N D E R

• THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE 1 ⇧
Philip K. Dick's celebrated novella about an alternate world where the Nazis won is adapted into a riveting series with finely-etched characters.

• GAME OF THRONES 5 ⇧
Serious tumult and turnover as the series hinges toward the endgame.

• SENSE8 1 ⇧
The Wachowskis drop the expensive FX of JUPITER ASCENDING for pure character and action.
A gestalt group of international players turn communion and boundaries inside out.

• 12 MONKEYS 1
In which more good mileage is twisted out of Gilliam's film scenario than one could expect.

• THE WIZ (live special)
A new staging for the 40th anniversary of the urban Wizard Of Oz musical.

• CHILDHOOD'S END (mini-series)

Good:
• DARK MATTER
• KILJOYS
Okay, they're not Firefly, but they're enjoyable fun.

H O R R O R

• FORTITUDE 1 ⇧
A strangely brave show set in an eerie arctic that's almost an alien world.
The first half is a brilliant mystery procedural... and the second half goes intrepidly bent.
Spellbinding and startling.

• HANNIBAL 3 ⇧
The prequel reaches its crescendo adapting "Red Dragon".
Like a surreal fever dream too entrancing and horrid to look away from.

• THE RETURNED (U.S.) 1
A solid remake of the French "Les Revenants", nearly obsessive in its exactness, before forking to a new path at the end. But it was cancelled.

• LES REVENANTS/ The Returned (France) 2
At last, the delayed second season of the French original rebounds and expands on the mystery and promise of the resurrected.

• ASH vs. EVIL DEAD 1
Hilarious fun that balances horror and slapstick.
Bruce Campbell is almost effortlessly great with crazy lines.

U K

• OUTLANDER 1.2 ⇧
The intimate GAME OF THRONES, more fleet and personal.
With one of the most exponentially hateable villains ever created.

• DOCTOR WHO 9 ⇧
An evenly paced season that builds to a brilliant send-off for Jenna Coleman.
And Peter Capaldi is more assured and fun than ever.

• HUMANS 1 ⇧
A terrific remake of the Swedish "Äkta människor/ Real Humans" that only improves it.
This series streamlines the strengths into a more unified, surprising whole.

• ORPHAN BLACK (Canada/BBC) 3 ⇧
Tatiana Maslaney. The chameleon actor schools us in how its done so well that the plots seem like loose frameworks for the fun.

• PENNY DREADFUL 2
Eva Green. The League Of Extraordinary Coincidence takes on black magic, and pays a heavy toll.

• JONATHAN STRANGE & MR. NORRELL (mini-series)
Excellent adaption of Susanna Clarke's book, bringing vivid life to an alternate 19th century London where magic exists.

Good:
• JEKYLL & HYDE 1
Crazed pulp fun with a crack cast clearly enjoying themselves.

• THE FRANKENSTEIN CHRONICLES 1
Sean Bean. An interesting take on fiction distorting 19th century reality in the wake of Shelley's book.

H E R O E S

We're in a golden era of superheroes onscreen. This is actually the screen catching up late to comics revolutions that already happened on the page.

Every decade had comics renaissances that improved the maturity, craft, range, and credibility of the genre. Networked by comic shop outlets, the '80s sparked indie revolts like American Flagg, Love And Rockets, The Rocketeer, and Starstruck.

DAREDEVIL (1981),
by Frank Miller and Klaus Janson.

The two majors noticed. Marvel rebuilt their cred in the early '80s on Frank Miller's brutally noir take on Daredevil (and DC partially with Miller's Batman: The Dark Knight Returns.); stripped, adult, harsh, hardboiled, haunted.

DAREDEVIL (2001),
by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.

In the 2000's, writer Brian Michael Bendis revamped Daredevil in Tarantino terms with cinematic art by Alex Maleev and David Mack, pooling a loose collective of Hell's Kitchen defenders who were decidedly human and R-rated: Jessica Jones, Luke Cage, etc.

ALIAS (2001),
the Jessica Jones series by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gayros.

If upbeat mainstream shows like Flash, Arrow, and Supergirl echo classic mainstream comics, then the Netflix adaptions of Daredevil and Jessica Jones directly reflect the hard R comics of Miller and Bendis, down to the story arcs, the dialogue, the visual style, the adult tone, the credits, and the ad art.

The revolution is televised because it was already won in print.

• DAREDEVIL 1
An exact blending of Miller's template with Bendis' expansions, this bonejarring noir is the best Batman show never made.
Just as Miller's comics matured the medium, this streetwise series (and Christopher Nolan) reset the bar for adult comics on the screen.

• JESSICA JONES 1
Just as Bendis leveraged the momentum of Miller, this series raises the gravity and power razed by the companion Daredevil series.
Based on Bendis and Gaydos' adult-oriented Alias comic, the character drama tackled anger, pain, and loss to universal acclaim.

• AGENT CARTER 1 ⇧
Hayley Atwell gets the star vehicle she deserves as '40s superspy Peggy Carter, mother of S.H.I.E.L.D.

• AGENTS OF S.H.I.E.L.D. 3.1
All the setups pay off in this turbocharged, twisty season.
With more to come.

• POWERS 1
A pretty good take on Oeming/Bendis' comics, that catches fire when Eddie Izzard and Michelle Forbes appear.

• THE FLASH 2.1
The Multiverse begins, bringing the DC mythos to mainstream success.

• ARROW 4.1
More magic, more fun, and a good group collective against a mercurial villain.

• SUPERGIRL 1.1 ⇧
The Kryptonian we need, all positive hope and ethics!

• CONSTANTINE 1
John Constantine, as he was intended, briefly invades normal airwaves for a season.
Generally sharp with some great highs.

• VIXEN
The online cartoon companion to The Flash and Arrow, starring African superhero Vixen.

D E T E C T I V E S

• AMERICAN CRIME 1 ⇧
Oscar-winner John Ripley (12 YEARS A SLAVE) crafts what could be The Wire for mainstream TV.
Amidst our reductive kneejerk era, this carefully nuanced anthology instead covers all angles, quietly exposing all the false divisions that suffocate empathy and humanity.

• FARGO 2
Ambitious, intricate, arresting.

• BROADCHURCH 2
The first season was great, but the second is better, wringing unexpected dramatic gold with the aftermath of the murderer's trial.

• ELEMENTARY 4.1
Enter Holmes' father, and an even stronger focus.
Sherlock gets all the attention, but this underprized series continues to shine on its own.

• TRUE DETECTIVE 2
The genre anthology moves from Southern Gothic to Neo-Noir, subtly tracing by oblique angles the secret cabal that runs things.
Less quotable and clear, sure, but much more complex and daring.
Rachel McAdams, playing against type, was especially terrific.

C O M E D Y

• ASH vs. EVIL DEAD 1 ⇧
Some of the funniest lines and most demented actions on the screen.

• BROAD CITY 2
Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson go more brazen crazin', and it's too late to stop them.

• MASTER OF NONE 1
Aziz Ansari.

• UNBREAKABLE KIMMY SCHMIDT 1
Ellie Kemper and Jane Krakowski, via Tina Fey.

• MAN SEEKING WOMAN 1
Absurdist.

© Tym Stevens

Friday, January 1, 2016

BEST MUSIC: 2015, with Music Players!

A L A B A M A
S H A K E S

ALL THE
REAL MUSIC!

Nevermind those suburban-angst
'Best Music' lists that taste like paste!

These tunes will divine your mind
and shake your goodness sakes!

Shortcut to Music Players:
• BEST ALBUMS: 2015
• COOL SONGS: 2015
• BEST RE-ISSUES: 2015

B E S T
N E W
A L B U M S :
2 0 1 5

BEST ALBUMS 2015
by Tym Stevens
This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.

This music player has songs from the following albums, in the same order.

• Jacco Gardner, "Hypnophobia"
Dreamy Psyche.
Mellotron swirls, hypnotic harmonies, and alternate consciousness.

(See also: Syd Barrett, Spitualized, Dungen, Morgan Delt)

• Liz Vice, "There's a Light"
Gospel Soul.
Everything forthright and moving about American spiritual musics.

(See also: Staple Singers, Aretha Franklin)

• Diane Coffee, "Everybody's a Good Dog"
Glamtastic.
Shaun Fleming (Foxygen's drummer) brings us ambitious Glam Rock with some serious Classic Rock kicks.

(See also: David Bowie, Foxygen, GUM, Uni)

• Alabama Shakes, "Sound And Color"
Blues Rock.
Brittany Howard and crew snap into sharp focus with this timeless, soulful Classic Rock.

(See also: Led Zeppelin, The Bellrays, The Black Keys)

• Bop English, "Constant Bop"
Pop Collage.
James Petralli's (White Denim) side-project harmonizes every great sound in one bracing collage.

(See also: Constant Bop, BC Camplight, Jim Noir)

• The Sonics, "This Is The Sonics"
Garage Rock.
The quinessential mid-'60s Garage band returns, as brutal and fierce as ever.

(See also: The Stooges, DMZ, The Gories, The Courettes)

• Anderson East, "The Muscle Shoals Sessions"
Southern Soul.
Unvarnished Soul, tapped right at the source.

(See also: Soloman Burke, Robert Palmer, Curtis Harding)

• La Luz, "Weirdo Shrine"
Girl Group Surf.
Wistful harmonies and whitecap guitars charm you on a dreamy coastline.

(See also: The Shangri-Las, The Aqua Velvets, The Neptunas, Khruangbin)

• J.D. McPherson, "Let The Good Times Roll"
Rockabilly and Soul.
Licks of fire, tongue of honey, stride of pride.

(See also: The Johnny Burnette Trio, James Hunter, Kyle Lacy)

• BC Camplight, "How To Die In the North"
Art Pop.
Brian Christinzio goes for Baroque with his complex arrangements and tuneful melodies.

(See also: Brian Wilson, Todd Rundgren, Jeff Lynne, White Denim)

• Peach Kelli Pop, "Peach Kelli Pop III"
Power Pop.
Allie Hanlon makes perfect sunshine guitar pop.

(See also: Nikki And The Corvettes, Colleen Green, La Sera)

• Django Django, "Born Under Saturn"
Electro Indie.
A perfect album. Surf guitars, Wilson harmonies, Gore synth textures, A.C. Newman versatility, and sonic curveballs from all bases.

(See also: The Ventures, Depeche Mode, The Beta Band)

• Barrence Whitfield And The Savages, "Under the Savage Sky"
Garage Soul.
Barrence is still beltin' it out like fire alarms, gruff and raw and vital.

(See also: Little Richard, The Sonics, The Dirtbombs)

• Pond, "Man It Feels Like Space Again"
Funky Psyche-Prog.
Aggressively eclectic Electrodelia from Australia, shaking preconecptions and asses.

(See also: Tame Impala, Guerlilla Toss, Unknown Mortal Orchestra)

• Leon Bridges, "Coming Home"
New Soul.
Grounded in classic mid-'60s Soul with sheenier production and radio overtures.

(See also: Sam Cooke, Anthony Hamilton, Myron And E)

• Thee Tsunamis, "Saturday Night Sweetheart"
Garage Grrrl.
A trio out to punch barflys and rip dance cards.

(See also: The Trashwomen, The Coathangers, Baby Shakes)

• Father John Misty, "I Love You, Honeybear"
Alt Folk.
On his honeymoon, J.Tillman goes surprisingly romantic while characteristically wary and contemplative.

(See also: Randy Newman, Glen Campbell, Fleet Foxes)

• Mahalia Barnes And The Soul Mates, "Ooh Yea!: The Betty Davis Songbook"
Soul Funk.
The songs of Funk Rock goddess, Betty Davis, roaring like Sly and the family brimstone.

(See also: Ann Peebles, Rufus + Chaka Khan, Joi)

• Destination Lonely, "No One Can Save Me"
Garagedelic.
Acidhead bikers scorching tarmac and flailing chains.

(See also: Link Wray, The Lime Spiders, The Go)

• The Arcs, "Yours, Dreamily,"
Dreamy Soul.
Dan Auerbach goes trippy and warmly ethereal.

(See also: The Delfonics, The Black Keys, El Michels Affair)

• Erase Errata, "Lost Weekend"
PostPunk.
The politics are as barbed as the guitars in this welcome reunion.

(See also: Wire, Gang Of Four, Deerhoof)

• The Pop Group, "Citizen Zombie"
Noize Funk.
The politics are as barbwired as the beats in this welcome reunion.

(See also: Tackhead, Public Enemy, Flying Lotus)

• Public Enemy, "Man Plans God Laughs"
Conscious Rap.
The politics are as ballistic as the funk in this ongoing union.

(See also: Beastie Boys, Consolidated, The Coup)

• Delaney Davidson, "Rough Diamond"
Moody Roots.
Like a New Zealand cousin of Tom Waits, Davidson lives in some haunted highlands of ghostly Rockabilly, Folk, and cinema scores.

(See also: Nick Cave, Rev. Beat-Man, Graham Lindsey)

• Devo, "Hardcore Live!"
Neo Wave.
Devo remakes their harder-edged, pre-label material like they are livewired.

(See also: Suicide, Polysics, Autoramas)

• Groovy Uncle, "Life's a Gift"
Baroque Pop.
Mid-'60s Beatlesque inspiration, gliding on the belting Soul voice of Suzi Chunk.

(See also: Fabienne DelSol, Pugwash, The Moons)

• Mbongwana Star, "From Kinshasa"
Afro Rock.
Combining traditional Congalese instruments with ones cobbled from the scrapyard, along with driving percussion and chorals.

(See also: Tinariwen, Kasai Allstars, Jupiter Bokondji)

• Holly Golightly, "Slowtown Now!"
Garage and Soul.
Holly is more expansive this time, with some soulful jaunt and lively arrangements.

(See also: Billy Childish, The Delmonas, Thee Headcoatees, Ludella Black)

• Paul Weller, "Saturns Pattern"
Souladelic.
Melodic soulfulness, blasts of guitar, and sonic trippiness.

(See also: Small Faces, The Jam, Blur)

• Ty Segall, "Mr. Face"
Psyche Pop.
Less brutal fuzz and more acoustic and melodious tunes on this 4-song EP.

(See also: The Zombies, Mikal Cronin)

• Le Butcherettes, "Cry Is For the Flies"
Garage Punk.
Teri Suarez Cosío is aflame with inspiration and indignation on this fistpuncher.

(See also: PJ Harvey, The Kills, Yeah Yeah Yeahs)

• Lianne La Havas, "Blood"
Alt Folk.
The acoustic songwriter blossoms outward in this lush and metropolitan suite.

(See also: Nina Simone, Corinne Bailey Rae, Marques Toliver)

• The London Souls, "Here Come The Girls"
Classic Rock.
The best late-'60s album that should have happened; timeless catchy tunes, carousing vocals, and organic swagger.

(See also: "Disraeli Gears", "The White Album", "Traffic", "Let It Bleed", "Let Love Rule")

• Dengue Fever, "The Deepest Lake"
Cambodian Rock.
Channeling early-'70s Cambodian Psychedelia into new vistas of Prog and Indie.

(See also: Ros Sereysothea, Cambodian Space Project, Khruangbin)

• Panda Bear, "Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper"
Electro Pop.
Noah Lennox (Animal Collective) zeros in with shining harmonies, upbeat electronica, and spacey textures.

(See also: Brian Wilson, Steward Copeland, Madlib)

• Silencio, "She's Bad"
Twin Peaks.
The collective's moody and mysterious second album gives us more alternative soundtracks to 'Twin Peaks'>, in the style of Angelo Badalamenti's scores.

(See also: Angelo Badalamenti, Bookhouse, Ghost Of Wood)

• Promised Land Sound, "For Use And Delight"
CountryRockSoftPsyche.
A more roots-savvy Psyche band brings us hickory-smoked highs.

(See also: The Band, Graham Parsons, The Black Keys)

• Toro y Moi, "What For?"
Classic '70s Pop.
Chaz Bundick, an experimental chameleon, ramps it up with hooky tunes, arena chords, and warm grooves.

(See also: Todd Rundgren, Beck, Cornelius)

• The Mighty Mocambos, "Showdown"
Funk.
Propulsive groove that moves and smooths and soothes.

(See also: Bacao Rhythm And Steel Band, Brownout, The Soul Rebels)

• The Bright Light Social Hour, "Space Is Still The Place"
Hard Rockadelic.
A positive and epic album that rocks and grooves on a communal party plateau.

(See also: Hawkwind, Dr. Dog, The Arcs)

C O O L
S O N G S :
2 0 1 5

All the REAL MUSIC
beyond the box!

Nevermind Gloss Pop, Stepford Idols, Karaoke Choruses ("woh-oo-oh"), Ego Brats, Emo Prats, Plinky Folk, Brittle Bombast, Vegas Country, Smug Thug, Mope Noodling, De-mixed Throb, and Robot-o-Tune schlock! >

Here's the
D R E A M
J U K E B O X !
Careen and cavort
with more leaps than an airport!

COOL SONGS 2015
by Tym Stevens
This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.

*(This Player is limited to the first 200 songs.
Hear the unlimited Playlist here.)

This jukebox is sequenced into groups of sound, instead of randomly.
All the songs elasticize their genres.
Get your groove on in this sonic order.:
Rockabilly! Surf! Beat! Garage!

Psyche! Classic Rock! Glam! Blues!

Alt-Roots! Soul! Funk! World!

Riot Grrrl! Alt-Rock! Electro!

Alt-Rap! Cinematic! RESIST!

Cover Songs! Happy Holidays!

Dengue Fever; Gary Clark, Jr;
Motobunny; Young Fathers

12 hours of unblind-mind, fasttrack-ass music, featuring the following fine folks in this exact order!:
• Rockabilly! • Horst With No Name, Los Mambo Jambo, The Hillmans, and Du Blonde

• Surf! • Shannon And The Clams, The Cavernarios, La Luz, and Marietta

• Beat / Garage! • Ringo Starr, Suzi Chunk, The Beatophonics, Baby Shakes, Dance Cleopatrat, Sonny Knight And The Lakers, noonday underground, The Most, Cola Jet Set, Ultimate Painting, Pugwash, Holly Golightly, Palmyra Delran, Barrence Whitfield And The Savages, King Automatic, That's a NO NO!, Le Butcherettes, Thee Tsunamis, MotoBunny, Sister Paul, and Heaters

• Beatlesque / Psyche! • Groovy Uncle, LOVEBYRD, The Smoking Trees, Jacco Gardner, Death and Vanilla, Bop English, Yorick van Norden, Tess Parks And Anton Newcombe, Wilco, Destination Lonely, Dungen, Deep Cotton, The Moonlandingz, Serpent Power, of Montreal, The London Souls, Electric Light Orchestra, Matthew E. White, and Tobias Jesso Jr

• Classic Rock / Glam! • Alabama Shakes, The Bright Light Social Hour, Paul Weller, Parlor Snakes, Sam Cohen, Wavves, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion, Mikal Cronin, Uncle Acid And The Deadbeats, Ty Segall, Fuzz, Coke Weed, Diane Coffee, Hanni El Khatib, Faux Ferocious, and Chris Spedding

• Blues! • Gary Clark Jr, The Future Shape Of Sound, Keith Richards, Sister Sparrow, The Delta Saints, Patty Griffin, and Fantastic Negrito

• Alt-Roots! • Anielle Reid, Dave Rawlings Machine, Lianne La Havas, Father John Misty, and Liz Vice

• Soul! • Dustbowl Revival, JD McPherson, Saun And Starr, The Soul Surfers, Son Little, Monophonics, Bettye LaVette, Speedometer feat. James Junior, Leon Bridges, BC Camplight, Lee Fields And The Expressions, Anderson East, Toro y Moi, Luca Sapio, JJ Grey And Mofro, Chicano Batman, The Arcs, and Nathaniel Rateliff And The Night Sweats

• Funk! • D'Angelo, ROXY ROCA, Lucky Brown, El Michels Affair, Bilderbuch, Pond, Caboose, Sonny Knight And The Lakers, Orgone, whysowhite, Mark Ronson feat. Kevin Parker), Dokkerman And The Turkeying Fellaz, The New Mastersounds, Allen Stone, and The Mutants

• World! •The Lions, Jr Thomas And The Volcanos, Mbongwana Star, Zun Zun Egui, Fantasma, The Mighty Mocambos with Afrika Bambaataa, Warsaw Afrobeat Orchestra, Kanaku y El Tigre, Calexico, Red Baraat, and Dengue Fever

• Riot Grrrl! • Becky Lee and Drunkfoot, Las Robertas, Colleen Green, Courtney Barnett, Death Valley Girls, Peach Kelli Pop, Speedy Ortiz, My Brightest Diamond, and Rose Windows

• Alt-Rock! • The Dead Weather, Low, Blur, Made Violent, Ezra Furman, Wire, Savages, PINS, and LoneLady

• Electro! • Django Django, V V Brown, Jamie xx, Moon Duo, Betty Black, EL VY, Panda Bear, and Shamir

• Alt-Rap! • Public Enemy, Kae Tempest, The Pop Group, Blackalicious, Beat Detectives, Young Fathers, and Ghostpoet

• Cinematic! • Cara Stacey, Satanique Samba Trio, Mary Halvorson, Deradoorian, Silencio, Florence Joelle, Tracy Bonham, The Chamanas, Lera Lynn, Ennio Morricone, Nadine Shah, Calibro 35, Delaney Davidson, The Arcs, Amason, Sam Smith, Thomas Newman, and John Williams

• RESIST! • Erase Errata, Childbirth, Bill Fay, Sleater-Kinney, Promised Land Sound, Public Enemy, The Sonics, and The Sheepdogs

• Cover Songs! • List = Original By / Cover Artist
Songs are sequenced in the chronological order of the Originals.
Frank Sinatra / Bob Dylan • Nina Simone / Lana Del Rey • Bob Dylan / Willie Nelson And Merle Haggard • Doris Troy / Akane And The Neatbeats • Aretha Franklin / Spooner Oldham • The Beatles / The Grip Weeds • The Beatles / Bernard Fowler • 100 Proof Aged In Soul / The Woggles • Nick Drake / Tim Amukele • Bill Withers / My Brothers And I • Stevie Wonder / Analog Son • Betty Davis / Mahalia Barnes and The Soul Mates • DEVO / DEVO • Donna Summer / Fingathing + Jesca Hoop • The Kinks / The Sonics • Yoko Ono / Yoko Ono + Death Cab for Cutie • New Order / Autoramas • Depeche Mode / Lotte Kestner • Prince / Chris Cornell • Nirvana / La Grima + Jimetta Lewis • Portishead / Skydive Trio • Yoko Ono / Yoko Ono + Portugal. The Man

• Happy Holidays! • Lez Zeppelin, and Sharon Jones And The Dap-Kings

B E S T
R E I S S U E S :
2 0 1 5

Quality is timeless.

BEST REISSUES 2015
by Tym Stevens This is a Spotify player. Join up for free here.

This music player has songs from the following albums, in the same order.

• 1930s and '40s •

• Lead Belly, "The Smithsonian Folkways Collection" ⇧
The essential Folk Blues musician and his repertoire.

• 1950s •

• The "5" Royales, "Think" ⇧
The former Gospel quintet swung some hard Rock'n'Roll, and forecast the coming of Soul.

• Various Artists, "Tam...Tam...Tam...!" (1958) (Brasiliana revue show)
A collection of forward-thinking Bossa Nova acts.

• 1960s •

• The Kinks, "The Anthology 1964-1971"
The core works of the British Invasion's> stealth champions.

• The Staple Singers, "Freedom Highway Complete" (1965)
The classic Gospel protest album, restored in its recorded entirety.

• Bob Dylan, "The Cutting Edge 1965-1966" ⇧
The Bootleg Series continues with unreleased rarities from Dylan's most celebrated period.

• Curtis Knight And The Squires (w/ Jimi Hendrix), "You Can't Use My Name" (1965, 1967)
In the mid-'60s, Jimi Hendrix was sideman to many touring R'n'B artists. The proto-Garage Soul of these rare and remastered sides hint at the maelstrom about to come.

• 1970s •

• Jimi Hendrix, "Freedom: Atlanta Pop Festival (Live)" (1970)
A full recorded concert (and coveted bootleg) finally released officially to the public.

• Fadoul, "Al Zman Saib" (Moroccan funk-rock, 1970)
A Morrocan funker who sounds like Free jamming with James Brown.

• The Rolling Stones, "Sticky Fingers (Deluxe)" (1971)
Arguably THE record that defines the band at its toughest, tightest best. Welcome, Mick Taylor.

• Gloria Ann Taylor, "Love Is a Hurtin' Thing" (1971-'77)
Gloria got a few singles and little love. This compilation of all her Soul works rectifies that.

• Led Zeppelin, "Physical Graffiti (Deluxe)" (1975) ⇧
The remastering campaign continues, with additional early versions and rough mixes.

• Alessandro Alessandroni, "Industrial" (1976)
Sandro was the guitarist, whistler, and choral leader on Spaghetti Western soundtracks>. And a fine composer, as this library album of urban-inspired instros attests.

• Led Zeppelin, "Presence (Deluxe)" (1976)
The remastering campaign continues, with additional early versions and rough mixes.

• Various Artists, "Ork Records: New York, New York" (late '70s Punk)
New York's first Punk label recorded valuable debuts by the Punk and New Wave underground.

• Fleetwood Mac, "Tusk (Deluxe)" (1979)
The contentious and experimental double-album, a clash of languid ballads and punky demos, grows more complex with copious alternate versions added.

• Lizzy Mercier Descloux, "Press Color (Deluxe)" (1979)
The most cosmopolitan and eclectic member of the New York underground, charting the musical future we now live in while no one was looking.

• 1980s •

• The Mothmen, "Pay Attention" (1981)
PostPunk, Dub, and politics, just as arresting as when it was first spat.

• Various Artists, "Sherwood At the Controls, Vol. 1: 1979-1984" (On-U Sound dub mixes)
The most radical Dub producer of the '80s was Adrian Sherwood (Tackhead, African Dub Charge), spinning the chaos into tracks by The Fall, Medium Medium, Shreikback, and Maximum Joy.

• Led Zeppelin, "Coda (Deluxe)" (1982)
The remastering campaign culminates, with additional early versions and rough mixes.

• Paul McCartney, "Tug Of War (Deluxe)" (1982)
The "Abby Road" of the '80s. Produced by George Martin, perfect in every way.

• Rodion G.A., "Behind the Curtain: The Lost Album" (c. 1980-83) ⇧
Additional rare tracks from the Romanian home auteur, electronic Prog with harsh bite.

• Various Artists, "Trevor Jackson Presents: Science Fiction Dancehall Classics" (mid-'80s dub mixes)
Extreme tracks curated from the Adrian Sherwood label, On-U Sound, favoring the industrial and experimental.

• 1990s •

• A Tribe Called Quest, "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" (1991)
The Native Tongues movement (Tribe, Jungle Brothers, De La Soul) was the Afrocentric pothead cousin to Public Enemy's agitprop, vibing good times while blissing heady rhymes.

• Kurt Cobain, "Montage of Heck" (early-'90s)
A solo overview of the Nirvana leader, culling home demos into a unique and intimate portrait.

• Pops Staples, "Don't Lose This" (unissued 1999 album) ⇧
The leader of the legendary Staple Singers, Pops' chiming guitar, sweet voice, and easy charm shine on this lovely unreleased album.

• 2010s •

"A splendid time is guaranteed for all!"

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

BEST MOVIES & TV: 2015

B E S T M O V I E S : 2 0 1 5

T H I N K

S M I L E

D R E A M

N I G H T M A R E

G R A P H I C I M A G E S

A R T F L I X

B E S T D O C U M E N T A R I E S : 2 0 1 5

B E S T T V : 2 0 1 5

D R A M A

W O N D E R

H O R R O R

U K

H E R O E S

D E T E C T I V E S

C O M E D Y

Friday, January 1, 2016

BEST MUSIC: 2015, with Music Players!

ALL THE REAL MUSIC!

B E S T N E W A L B U M S : 2 0 1 5

C O O L S O N G S : 2 0 1 5

All the REAL MUSIC beyond the box!

B E S T R E I S S U E S : 2 0 1 5

• 1930s and '40s •

• 1950s •

• 1960s •

• 1970s •

• 1980s •

• 1990s •

• 2010s •

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