Thursday, February 15, 2024

David Dinsmore, RIP





Upon hearing of the passing of one of the most-loved folks in Denver's music scene — trombonist/singer (and more) David Dinsmore (of Judge Roughneck, Lost Dog Ensemble, and more) — we reached out to a few close friends of his to see if they would be willing to comment on his impact in the scene, and fellow trombonist Dave Flomberg (of Reptiles and Samurai and Tivoli Club Brass Band, among many others) graciously allowed us to share his heartfelt post in honor of Dinsmore. Read on:







Please indulge me for a minute as I talk about my dear friend and trombrother, David Dinsmore, gone way too goddamned soon. I first met David Dinsmore back in 1997 when he was playing with Judge Roughneck. My roommate back then was my dear lifelong friend Zachary Pietlock. He was asked to join up as their drummer, and Zach introduced us.

The Denver 'bone scene is small enough that most of us who play professionally know each other. And for the most part, we all get along pretty well. (Not like those egomaniacal trumpet players... I kid. Mostly.)


David and I circled around each other in scene for years; I subbed in once or twice for him in Roughneck; then followed after him playing with FaceMan on occasion when they wanted a horn line. My old band Money Plays 8 and Judge Roughneck shared a few bills back in the late '90s. We had great chats when we'd run into each other. But finally, several years ago, Dean Hirschfield started the Tivoli Club Brass Band and invited me to play. Troy Thill joined up on sax, and he and David were already attached at the musical hip, so Troy convinced David to join up too. I was elated to be playing with him.

David was a helluva player. Better than me. I had no issue with that. No one ever hires more than one 'bone player (legit ensembles aside), so here I had the chance to pick up a few more tricks from someone I already considered a friend, and I was grateful for it. I have my own style; David had his. We both bring different things to the table, and I think we complemented each other pretty well. Although he thought he was funnier than me. And I knew I was funnier than him. As a result, we had each other laughing in rehearsals most nights.

Dean built us a family with Tivoli Club Brass Band. Rehearsal is every Sunday night, and Dean loves to cook, so we all show up around 6, eat, talk, hang out for an hour or so, then go play music in Dean's basement for another couple hours. It really is a family. I've been in a lot of bands over the years, and with TCBB, it's the unique kind of thing you really want in a band — that familial chemistry. We've played a lot of gigs together, toured together, drank too much together, yelled at each other, shoved each other into hotel pools, cried together. Sometimes all in the same weekend. All of the things you and your closest cousins or even siblings might do. Even when you're annoyed with each other, you still love each other. And we all really do.

David's love of music was probably the biggest inspiration to us as musicians. His musical vocabulary was encyclopedic in nature. He listened to everything and was constantly bringing in something new for the rest of us to hear. His tastes were truly across the spectrum. Like Duke said (maybe apocryphally, who knows), "there's only two kinds of music. Good, and the other kind." David listened to the good. And David lived it. He loved his family and you could see it when they were all together. His kids reflect the best of David, and that's the most any parent can hope for. David's sense of justice ran deep. He and I were very politically aligned in supporting and championing those who need it. Marginalized communities were something that David cared deeply about, and he very much believed in the righteous causes. He and I talked at length about my own lived experiences as a Jewish journalist covering antisemitism, and his sense of understanding and empathy really stood out in those talks. Especially lately.

The other thing that I always marveled at was David's support of the music scene in Denver as a whole. David was 6 years older than me — he used to get annoyed at me for calling him "The Elder Statesman of Trombone" (emphasis on elder, just to rub it in) — but he had far deeper reserves of energy to get to a show and support other musicians than me. Or anyone else for that matter. Bar none, really. I'm reasonably sure no one in Denver saw more other Denver bands play than David. And when the pie is so small here and everyone's hustling to get people to show up to a gig, that means a lot to folks. When I'm playing with one of my other bands and I look out in the audience and see David, it makes me smile. Especially since he didn't even hit me up for a guest pass. He lived the life and walked the walk for us all. He set the example of what it is to support local music.


David was also someone who enjoyed when other people were excited about something. When I got the bell of my horn powder-coated blue, he was first in line to talk about how cool it looked. Got new ink on your arm? David wanted to see it. See a great movie or read a new book that you liked? David wanted to hear about it. That's the kind of green flag you look for in a friendship. But an even bigger green flag is when your friend is willing to disagree with you on something or hold you accountable for something you said. David was willing to do that as well. Respectfully, most of the time. And if it got heated, David would also be the first to hug it out later.

When someone close to us dies, it's our default to often canonize them and only talk about their good qualities and paint a largely unrealistic picture of them. David wasn't perfect — just like every other human on Earth. But he was definitely better than a lot of them. David was tall, but he cast a much longer shadow than his 6'3" frame would suggest.

And that long, beautiful shadow wrapped its arms around us all — his family, his friends, his bandmates and this entire city of musicians and artists and weirdos and orphans — and embraced us all for our imperfections, too.

I'm going to miss him. My dearest trombrother.

There’s a go fund me link for the Dinsmore family to help cover the burial costs. You can make a contribution and see the full details HERE.

Thursday, November 30, 2023

Twist & Shout Staff Picks: the Best of 2023

Hello My Name is Patrick Brown and these are my top things of 2023.

New Music
1. Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World
2. Gina Birch - I Play My Bass Loud
3. billy woods & Kenny Segal - Maps
4. Adeem the Artist - White Trash Revelry (Dec. 2022 release)
5. Myra Melford’s Fire and Water Quintet - Hear the Light Singing
6. Mahlathini & the Mahotella Queens - Music Inferno
7. Acid Arab - Trois
8. Irreversible Entanglements - Protect Your Light
9. Tinariwen - Amatssou
10. Henry Threadgill Ensemble - The Other One
11. WITCH - Zango
12. Low Cut Connie - Art Dealers
13. London Brew - London Brew
14. Pere Ubu - Trouble on Big Beat Street
15. The Feelies - Some Kinda Love
16. Iris DeMent - Workin’ On A World
17. Rudy Royston / Flatbed Buggy - Day
18. PJ Harvey - I Inside the Old Year Dying
19. 100 Gecs - 10,000 Gecs
20. Armand Hammer - We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
21. Tyshawn Sorey Trio - Continuing
22. No-No Boy - Empire Electric
23. Pharoah Sanders - Pharoah

Blu-ray
Pasolini 101 (Criterion box set)
Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers (Criterion box set)
After Hours (Criterion)
EO (Janus Contemporaries)
The Watermelon Woman (Criterion)
The Novelist’s Film (Cinema Guild)
No Bears (Janus Contemporaries)
Barbie (Warner Home Video)
To Live and Die in L.A. (Kino)
Fist of Legend / Tai Chi Master (Ronin Flix)


Hello, my name is Abbey B and these are my favorite things of 2023.


CDs:
1. Kali Uchis – Red Moon In Venus
2. SZA – SOS
3. Maneskin – Rush
4. Miley Cyrus – Endless Summer
5. Renee Rapp – Snow Angel
6. Karol G. – Mañana será bonito
7. Elle King – Come Get Your Wife
8. Original Soundtrack – Spider-Man Into the Spider-verse
9. Megan Maroney – Lucky
10. Teddy Swims – I’ve Tried Everything But Therapy

Vinyl:
1. Janelle Monae – Age of Pleasure
2. Melanie Martinez – Portals
3. Olivia Rodrigo – Guts
4. Demi Lovato – Revamped
5. Original Soundtrack – Barbie
6. Gorillaz – Cracker Island
7. Fall Out Boy – So Much For Stardust
8. Yves Tumor – Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)

Movies:
1. Barbie
2. Spider Man Across the Spider-verse
3. Evil Dead Rise
4. Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3
5. John Wick 4
6. Haunted Mansion
7. Dungeons and Dragons
8. The Little Mermaid
9. Boogeyman
10. Renfield

Hello there, my name is Adam Reshotko and here's what I liked about 2023

Baroness - Stone
Black Market Brass - Hox
Boris & Uniform - Bright New Disease
Miles Davis - Turnaround: Rare Miles from the Complete On the Corner Sessions (RSD)
Bob Dylan - The Bootleg Series Vol. 17: Fragments - Time Out of Mind Sessions (1996-1997)
Bob Dylan - Shadow Kingdom
Follakzoid - V
Goat - Medicine
Grateful Dead - RFK Stadium, Washington, D.C. 6/10/73
Polibio Mayorga - Ecuatoriana
Say She She - Silver
Sonic Youth - Live in Brooklyn 2011
The Third Mind - The Third Mind 2
Various - Perú Selvático: Sonic Expedition Into the Peruvian Amazon 1972-1986
Various - Spiritual Jazz 14: Private
Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World
Neil Young - Chrome Dreams
Frank Zappa - Funky Nothingness

Hello, my name is Amy Goodall and these are 30 albums I thought were just OK this year.

1. Asleep Country – Fake Opulent
2. Tinashe – BB/Ang3l
3. Black Country, New Road – Live at Bush Hall
4. Sampha – Lahai
5. Colin Stetson – When We Were That What Wept For The Sea
6. Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
7. Aesop Rock – Integrated Tech Solutions
8. Lana del Rey – Did You Know There’s A Tunnel Under Ocean Blvd
9. Róisín Murphy – Hit Parade
10. George Clanton – Ooh Rap I Ya
11. Liv.e – Girl in the Half Pearl
12. Kali Uchis – Red Moon In Venus
13. Snow Strippers – April Mixtape 3
14. Sofia Kourtesis – Madres
15. billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
16. Squid – O Monolith
17. L’Rain – I Killed Your Dog
18. Parannoul – After the Magic
19. Unskilled Labor – The Meek Will Inherit Cherry Creek
20. Forest Swords – Bolted
21. Lia Kohl – The Ceiling Reposes
22. Arthur Russell – Picture of a Bunny Rabbit
23. Jlin – Perspective
24. Bianca Scout – The Heart of Anchoress
25. Kelela – Raven
26. Fever Ray – Radical Romantics
27. Model/Actriz – Dogsbody
28. Acid Arab – Trois
29. Mitski – This Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
30. Zach Bryan – Zach Bryan

Howdy, my name is Anna and these are my top albums of 2023, in no particular order but also kinda a little bit in a particular order 😊

Be Your Own Pet – Mommy
July Talk – Remember Never Before
St. Paul & the Broken Bones – Angels in Science Fiction
Daft Punk – Random Access Memories (10th Anniversary)
The Rapture – Echoes
Gregory Alan Isakov – Appaloosa Bones
The Unicorns – Who Will Cut Our Hair When We’re Gone? (20th Anniversary)
Durand Jones – Wait Till I Get Over
Jenny Lewis – Joy’All
Jason Isbell & the 400 Unit – Weathervanes
Taylor Swift – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
The National – First Two Pages of Frankenstein
WITCH - Zango
Mitski – The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
The Rolling Stones – Hackney Diamonds

Movies:
BARBIE

blake britton; 2023

1. anhoni and the johnsons - my back was a bridge for you to cross
2. el michel’s affair & black thought - glorious game
3. kali malone - does spring hide its joy
4. kali uchis - red moon in venus
5. billy woods & kenny segal - maps
6. mitski - the land is inhospitable and so are we
7. jpegmafia & danny brown - scaring the hoes
8. black market brass - hox
9. yo la tengo - this stupid world
10. meshell ndegeocello - the omnichord real book


Hello, my name is Brian Albright and these are my top things of 2022:

New Music:
1. Midnight Callers – Rattled Humming Heart
2. The Anderson Council – The Devil, The Tower, The Star, The Moon
3. Beach Fossils – Bunny
4. Rain Parade – Last Rays of a Dying Sun
5. The No Ones – My Best Evil Friend
6. Marty Stuart – Altitude
7. Cindy Wilson – Realms
8. Son Volt – Day of the Doug
9. The Long Ryders – September November
10. The Lemon Twigs – Everything Harmony


Reissues/Collections:
1. Various Artists – Looking For the Magic: American Power Pop in the 70s
2. Bobby Sutliff – Only Ghosts Remain
3. Various Artists – Lounge Psychedelique
4. The Chills – Kaleidoscope World
5. The Windbreakers – Run
6. Marshall Crenshaw – Field Day (40th Anniversary deluxe)
7. Barracudas – Drop Out With the Barracudas
8. Klark Kent – Klark Kent (deluxe)
9. The Spinners – Complete Atlantic Singles
10. Owsley – Owsley


DVD/Blu-ray:
1. The Elephant 6 Recording Co.

Hola muchachos – mi nombre es B-Y y aqui estan mis 30 cosas favoritos de 2023!! (alphabetized):

allah-las – zuma 85
brian jonestown massacre – future is your past
crocodiles – upside down in heaven
e-40 – revenue retrievin' day shift *1st release on vinyl
frankie & the witch fingers – data doom
goat – medicine
hives – death of randy fitzsimmons
holy wave – 5 cups
king gizzard & the lizard wizard – petrodragonic apocalypse
mondo drag – through the hourglass
murlocs – calm ya farm
natural child – be m' guest
night beats – rajan
baaba maal - being
nuggets – deluxe box
osees – intercepted message
ryuichi sakamoto – 12
adrian sherwood – reset in dub
sleaford mods – uk grim
slift – ilion
spectrum / silver apples – lake of teardrops
marty stuart & the fabulous superlatives - altitude
third mind – 2
tom waits – black rider / bone machine *first ever u.s. vinyl release fucking FINALLY!
witch – zango

go get you some fatherhood Extra Kool - and a Nuggets title while ya at it!!! Miss ya guy.
my great homie Frankie Rat and the Buzzin Buoy – well done squirrel!
thanks for chooglin' through wax mountain this year fellas: Blake, Scott, Eric, Ethan, James, The Hound and Paul from the confines! Awesome job.
thanks to those of you who sweat, work hard and make this a better place to be, and those of you who DON'T BRING ME NO DRAMA!!!! I thank you wholeheartedly.
Quinn – you're the fuckin' man. Love ya g.

Chad Boltz: This year I have 3.
The Shit I Liked This Year™

Gel - Only Constant
MSpaint - Post-American
Scowl - Psychic Dance Routine


Hello my name is Chris Bjork and these are my top 20 albums of the year in order :)

1.) Artist: Cory Hanson album: Western Cum
2.) Artist: Symphony Orchestra. Album: Radiant Music
3.) Artist: El Michels Affair and Black Thought Album: Glorious Game
4.) Artist: A. Savage. Album: Several Songs About Fire
5.) Artist: Osees. Album: Intercepted Message
6.) Artist: The Murlocs Album: Calm Ya Farm
7.) Artist: Triptides. Album: Starlight
8.) Artist: Holy Wave. Album: Five of Cups
9.) Artist: Night Beats. Album: Rajan
10.) Artist: People Taking Pictures album: For Meta or For Worse
11.) Artist: Geese. Album: 3D Country
12.) Artist: Deeper. Album: Careful!
13.) Artist: Oriens Belt. Album: Women
14.) Artist: Sonny and the Sunsets. Album: Self Awareness Through Macrame
15.) Artist: Frankie and the Witch Fingers. Album: Data Doom
16.) Artist: Beach Fossils. Album: unny
17.) Artist: Unknown Mortal Orchestra. Album: V
18.) Artist: Vinyl Williams. Album: Aeterna
19.) Artist: Population ii. Album: Electrons Libres Du Quebec
20.) Artist: King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard. Album: Petro Dragonic Apocalypse


Hello my name is Eric Curley and these are my top things of 2023.
1. ANNA: Intentions (5/19) 2. The Arcs: Electrophonic Chronic (1/27)
3. The Budos Band: Frontier's Edge (5/23)
4. Chemical Brothers: For That Beautiful Feeling (9/8)
5. DJ Shadow: Action Adventure (10/27)
6. El Michels & Black Thought: Glorious Game (4/14)
7. Robert Finley: Black Bayou (10/27)
8. Frankie & the Witch Fingers: Data Doom (9/1)
9. Goat: Medicine (10/13)
10. Helmet: Left (11/10)
11. Steve Gunn & David Moore: Let The Moon Be A Planet (3/31)
12. Hail The Sun: Divine Inner Tension (8/11)
13. Cory Hanson: Western Cum (6/23)
14. The Ironsides: Changing Light (5/19)
15. Dave Matthews Band: Walk Around The Moon (5/19)
16. Mitski: The Land Is Inhospitable And So Are We (9/15)
17. Pink Floyd: The Dark Side Of The Moon, Live At Wembley Empire Pool, London 1974 (3/24)
18. QOTSA: In Times New Roman (6/16)
19. Rose City Band: Garden Party (4/21)
20. Say She She: Silver (9/29)
21. Skrillex: Quest For Fire (2/17)

Vinyl-Only
22. The Feelies: Crazy Rhythms (reissue)
23. Frankie & The Witch Fingers: ZAM reissue (4/22)
24. Goat: World Music (10th Anniversary)
25. Jimi Hendrix Experience: Hollywood Bowl, August 18, 1967 (11/10)
26. King Gizz: PetroDragonic Apocalypse
27. King Gizz: The Silver Cord
28. Kx5 (9/22)
29. Dave Matthews Band: Before These Crowded Streets (25th Anniversary reissue) (11/3)
30. Phish: Farmhouse (reissue) (June 2023)

2023 (Ethan's Version)

New Albums (alphabetical by artist):
Animal Collective - Isn't it Now?
ANOHNI and the Johnsons - My Back Was A Bridge for You to Cross
Beach Fossils - Bunny
Grian Chatten - Chaos for the Fly
Geese - 3D Country
Cory Hanson - Western Cum
Lonnie Holley - Oh Me Oh My
King Krule - Space Heavy
Buck Meek - Haunted Mountain
MIKE - Burning Desire
Model/Actriz - Dogsbody
Caroline Polachek - Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
The Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds
shame - Food for Worms
Avey Tare - 7s
Kali Uchis - Red Moon in Venus
Unknown Mortal Orchestra - V
Yaeji - With a Hammer
Yo La Tengo - This Stupid World
Youth Lagoon - Heaven is a Junkyard

Honorable Mention:
Water from Your Eyes - Everyone's Crushed

Reissues/Remasters/Compilations/Things that aren't "new":
Animal Collective (Avey Tare & Panda Bear) - Spirit They're Gone, Spirit They've Vanished [20th Anniversary Edition] The Beatles - 1962-1966 [The Red Album] (Expanded Remixed Edition)/1966-1970 [The Blue Album] (Expanded Remixed Edition)
John Coltrane - Evenings at the Village Gate: John Coltrane with Eric Dolphy
Marshall Crenshaw - Marshall Crenshaw [40th Anniversary Expanded Edition]/Field Day [40th Anniversary Expanded Edition]
Drive-By Truckers - The Complete Dirty South
Pet Shop Boys - Smash: the Singles 1985 - 2020
The Replacements - Tim [Let it Bleed Edition]
The Rolling Stones - Through the Past, Darkly (Big Hits Vol. 2) [180 Gram Reissue w/ Original Octogonal Gatefold Sleeve]
Tame Impala - Lonerism [10th Anniversary Edition]


Listen up, my name is Harrison Mains and these are the albums that buttered my biscuit this year:
1. Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA – Scaring the Hoes
2. 100 gecs – 10,000 gecs
3. Armand Hammer – We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
4. billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
5. Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
6. Queef Jerky – Queef Undergruond
7. Mitski – The Land Is Inhospitable and So Are We
8. Aesop Rock – Integrated Tech Solutions
9. Screaming Females – Desire Pathway
10. Caroline Polachek – Desire, I Want to Turn Into You
11. Time & namebuddha – Still Everything Blessed
12. ANONHI & the Johnsons – My Back Was A Bridge For You To Cross
13. Unskilled Labor – The Meek Will Inherit Cherry Creek
14. Extra Kool – Giallo Argento
15. Boygenius – The Record
16. PinkPantheress – Heaven Knows
17. Fever Ray – Radical Romantics
18. El Michels Affair & Black Thought – Glorious Game
19. Olivia Rodrigo – Guts
20. Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist – Voir Dire
21. PJ Harvey – I Inside the Old Year Dying
22. Acid Arab – Trois
23. Paramore – This Is Why
24. Yaeji – With A Hammer
25. Danny Brown – Quaranta (it’s not out at the time of me writing this but it’s probably great)


Hello, my name is Jack Brown and these are my favorite things of 2023.
1. Raul Malo – Say Less
2. Godflesh – Purge
3. Kali Uchis – Red Moon In Venus
4. Various Artists – Latin Freestyle
5. Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21
6. African Head Charge – Trip to Bolgatanga
7. Creation Rebel – Hostile Environment
8. Dave Lombardo – Rites of Percussion
9. Swans – The Beggar
10. Earth – Earth 2.23 Lower Frequency Mix

Hello, my name is Jack Pumphret and these are my favorite things of 2023.

Music:
1. Sampha – Lahai
2. Animal Collective – Isn’t It Now?
3. George Clanton – Ooh I Rap Ya
4. Ana Frango Elétrico – Me Chama De Gato Que Eu Sou Sua
5. Mac DeMarco – Five Easy Hot Dogs
6. Chai – Chai
7. Yves Tumor – Praise a Lord Who Chews but Which Does Not Consume; (Or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)
8. 100 Gecs – 10,000 Gecs
9. King Krule – Space Heavy
10. Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
11. Wilco – Cousin
12. Róisín Murphy & DJ Koze – Hit Machine
13. Yaeji – With A Hammer
14. Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA – Scaring the Hoes
15. Model/Actriz – Dogsbody
16. Sextile – Push
17. Earl Sweatshirt & The Alchemist – Voir Dire
18. billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
19. Kara Jackson – Why Does the Earth Give Us People To Love?
20. Jessie Ware – That! Feels Good!

Hello, my name is James Grau and these are my top things of 2023.

Top 10 Vinyl / CD

• Blood Incantation - luminescent bridge (Century Media)
• Cult of Youth - with open arms (Hospital Records)
• Tanith - voyage (Metal Blade)
• Channing Wilson - Dead Man (Ol’ Dog Records)
• Moonlight Sorcery - horned lord of the thorned castle (Avantgarde Records)
• Godflesh - Purge (Avalanche)
• Rainforest spiritual enslavement - killer whale atmospheres (Hospital Records)
• Katatonia - Sky Void of Stars (Napalm Records)
• Majesties - vast reaches unclaimed (20 Buck Spin)
• Depressive Silence - “Twenty-Five Years” Complete Discography box set (Ancient Meadow Records)

Top BluRay / 4K UHD

Dr Caligari (USA, 1989) - UHD, Mondo Macabro
Special Silencers (Indonesia, 1982) - BluRay, Mondo Macabro
The Inferno (Japan, 1979) - BluRay, Mondo Macabro
To Live and Die in LA (USA,1985 ) - UHD, Kino Lorber
Motel Hell (USA, 1980) - UHD, Shout! Factory
Tod Browning’s Sideshow Shockers (USA, 1925-1932) - BluRay, Criterion
The Others (Spain, 2001) - UHD, Criterion
Yakuza Graveyard (Japan, 1976) - BluRay, Radiance
Infinity Pool Uncut (Canada, 2022) UHD, Decal
Bollywood Horror box set (India, 1984-2006) - BluRay, Mondo Macabro

Best Regards,
James

Hello, my name is Kolby Eisenmenger and these are my favorite LPs of 2023 (in no particular order).

New Albums
1. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – V
2. Prince – Diamonds & Pearls (reissue)
3. Japanese House – In the End It Always Does
4. Slowdive – Everything Is Alive
5. Wednesday – Rat Saw God
6. The 1975 – The 1975 (10 year anniversary bundle)

Best of 2023 (Maggie’s Version)

New Music:
1. 100 gecs – 10,000 gecs
2. Wednesday – Rat Saw God
3. SZA – SOS
4. PJ Harvey – I Inside the Old Year Dying
5. Kali Uchis – Red Moon In Venus
6. Depeche Mode – Memento Mori
7. Gracie Abrams – Good Riddance
8. Samia – Honey
9. Paramore – This Is Why
10. John Cale – Mercy

Reissues:
1. Talking Heads – Stop Making Sense
2. Taylor Swift – 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
3. Nirvana – In Utero
4. The Cranberries – To the Faithful Departed
5. New Order – Substance
6. Taylor Swift – Speak Now (Taylor’s Version)
7. Sinéad O'Connor – The Lion and the Cobra
8. The Breeders – Last Splash
9. Green Day – Dookie
10. HAIM – Days Are Gone


Hello, my name is Max and these are the top 5 albums that helped me navigate the intersection of my feelings, reality and the world around me, in no particular order.
-Billy Woods & Kenny Segal - Maps
-Militarie Gun - Life Under the Gun
-MSPaint - Post-American
-Ragana - Desolation Flower
-JPEGmafia & Danny Brown - Scaring the Hoes

Other albums that came out this year that made me feel, also in no particular order
-Fugitive - Maniac EP/Blast Furnace single
-Jeff Rosenstock - Hellmode
-Tomb Mold - The Enduring Spirit
-Armand Hammer - We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
-Kenny Beats – Louie (late '22 but the physical came out in '23)
-Open Mike Eagle - Another Triumph in Ghetto Engineering
-Destiny Bond - Be My Vengeance
-Snooper - Super Snooper
-100 gecs – 10000 gecs
-Wayfarer - American Gothic
-Yusef Dayes - Black Classical Music
-Yves Tumor - Praise A Lord Who Chews But Which Does Not Consume;(or Simply, Hot Between Worlds)
-Scowl - Psychic Dance Routine EP
-Black Country, New Road - live at bush hall

My favorite concerts that happened within the state that made life worth living this year
-Soul Glo & Zulu w/ Playtime @ the marquis
-Botch with Primitive Man @ Summit Music Hall
-Baroness with Wayfarer and Destiny Bong @ Summit Music Hall
-The Bronx @ Globe Hall
-LCD Soundsystem with MIA and Peaches @ Red Rocks
-Death Grips @ Mission Ballroom
-Lingua Ignota and Chat Pile @ The Stanley Hotel (this is the show this year I really wish Kevin was able to see with the rest of us, I still miss you everyday)

Quinn's Top 30
1. V/A - The Buzzin Buoy w/ Frankie Rat, Vol. 1
2. V/A - The Buzzin Buoy w/ Frankie Rat, Vol. 2: The Halloween Special
3. Souls of Mischief - 93 'til Infinity (30th Anniversary LP Reissue)
4. Sofia Kourtesis - Madres
5. Asleep Country - Fake Opulent
6. Matana Roberts - Coin Coin Chapter Five: In The Garden
7. Bully - Lucky For You
8. Guided by Voices - La La Land
9. Guided by Voices - Welshpool Frillies
10. Guided by Voices - Nowhere To Go But Up
11. Shonen Knife - Our Best Place
12. PJ Harvey - I Inside the Old Year Dying
13. Jlin - Perspective
14. Unskilled Labor - The Meek Will Inherit Cherry Creek
15. Half Japanese - Jump Into Love
16. Laurel Halo - Atlas
17. Taylor Swift - 1989 (Taylor’s Version)
18. Kool Keith - Black Elvis 2
19. Cherry Glazerr - I Don’t Want You Anymore
20. Nellie McKay - Hey Guys, Watch This
21. Colin Stetson - When We Were That Wept for the Sea
22. Sampha - Lahai
23. Black Country, New Road - Live at Bush Hall
24. Squid - O Monolith
25. Bill Orcutt - Jump On It
26. Screaming Females - Desire Pathway
27. Altin Gün - Aşk
28. Meshell Ndegeocello - The Omnichord Real Book
29. Sleaford Mods - UK Grim
30. Rickie Lee Jones - Pieces of Treasure

Reggie's Top Ten 2023
1. PVA - Blush 10/28/22
2. Debbie Friday - Good Luck 03/24/23
3. Mandy, Indiana - I've Seen A Way 05/19/23
4. Slayyyter - Starfucker 09/22/23
5. Ladytron - Time's Arrow 01/20/23
6. Sextile - Push 09/15/23
7. Fever Ray - Radical Romantics 03/10/23
8. Be Your Own Pet - Mommy 08/25/23
9. Model/Actriz - Dogsbody 02/24/23
10. Alison Goldfrapp - Love Invention 05/12/23

* The Kills - God Games 10/27/23
* Metric - Formentera II 10/13/23
* Yaeji - With A Hammer 04/07/23
* Drain - Living Proof 05/05/23
* Maneskin - Rush 01/20/23

hi! i’m robin and these are my picks from 2023 in no particular order!!
Reverend Kristin Michael Hayter – SAVED!
Slowdive – everything is alive
Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
Swans – The Beggar
Xiu Xiu – Ignore Grief
Agriculture - Agriculture
Wednesday – Rat Saw God
boygenius – the record
Sprain – The Lamb as Effigy
Mitski – The Land is Inhospitable and So Are We
The Church – The Hypnogogue
Aphex Twin – Blackbox Life Recorder 21f
Tim Hecker – No Highs
Lana Del Rey – Did you know that there’s a tunnel under Ocean Blvd
billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
Kali Uchis – Red Moon in Venus
Doja Cat – Scarlet

Hello, my name is Sam Seymour and these are my top listens of 2023!
Top 5:

1. Wednesday - Rat Saw God
2. Queens of the Stone Age - In Times New Roman
3. Heatmiser - The Music of Heatmiser
4. Royal Blood - Back to the Water Below
5. The Hives - The Death of Randy Fitzsimmons

Honorable Mentions (alphabetical):
Bahamas - Bootcut
Blur - The Ballad of Darren
Boygenius - The Record
Bully - Lucky for You
Claud - Supermodels
Del Water Gap - I Miss You Already
Duran Duran - Danse Macabre
Robert Finley - Black Bayou
Jimi Hendrix - Live at the Hollywood Bowl
Kara Jackson - Why Does the Earth Give Us People to Love
The Kills - God Games
Metallica - 72 Seasons
Mountain Goats - Jenny from Thebes
Roisin Murphy - Hit Parade
Palehound - Eye on the Bat
Rolling Stones - Hackney Diamonds
Slow Pulp - Cramps
Chris Stapleton - Higher
Wilco - Cousin
Youth Lagoon - Heaven is a Junkyard

Favorite Reissues:
Nirvana - In Utero
The Beatles - Red & Blue Albums
The Breeders - Last Splash

Have a good day!
- Sam

Hello, my name is Scott Campbell and these are my albums of the year for 2023.
1. billy woods & Kenny Segal – Maps
2. Danny Brown & Jpegmafia – Scaring the Hoes
3. Wednesday – Rat Saw God
4. Armand Hammer – We Buy Diabetic Test Strips
5. Bar Italia – Tracey Denim
6. Animal Collective – Isn’t It Now
7. George Clanton – Ooh Rap I Ya
8. Open Mike Eagle – Another Triumph of Ghetto Engineering
9. Yo La Tengo – This Stupid World
10. A. Savage – Several Songs About Fire
11. Jeff Rosenstock – Hellmode
12. Mountain Goats – Jenny From Thebes
13. Feeble Little Horse – Girl With Fish
14. Bar Italia – The Twits
15. AJJ – Disposable Everything
16. Timber Timbre – Lovage
17. 100 gecs – 10,000 gecs
18. Avey Tare – 7s
19. Ana Frango Elétrico – Me chama de gato que eu sou sua
20. Model/Actriz – Dogsbody
21. Andy Shauf – Norm
22. Jason Isbell – Weathervanes
23. Genesis Owusu – Struggler
24. Sufjan Stevens – Javelin
25. Slowdive – Everything Is Alive
26. Shame – Food For Worms
27. Medicine – Silences
28. Tim Hecker – No Highs
29. Flyying Colours – You Never Know
30. Cory Hanson – Western Cum

Hey, what’s up my name is Steph and this is my list of 2023.
Albums:
1. Blonde Redhead – Sit Down For Dinner
2. Slowdive – Everything Is Alive
3. Kaytramine – Kaytramine
4. Kari Faux – Real B*tches Don’t Die!
5. SZA – SOS
6. Yussef Dayes – Black Classical Music
7. Jalen Ngonda – Come Around and Love Me
8. Arlo Parks – My Soft Machine
9. Ice Spice – Like…?
10. Bully – Lucky For You

Some movies that I definitely enjoyed this year!
1. Reality Bites (1994)
2. Ginger Snaps (2000)
3. On the Count of Three (2021)
4. House of 1000 Corpses (2003)
5. Carrie (1976)
6. Clockwatchers (1997)
7. Drop Dead Gorgeous (1999)
8. Infinity Pool (2023)
9. Talk To Me (2023)
10. Garden State (2004)

Shows I’ve watched this year (and am still watching):
1. Reservation Dogs (2021)
2. Ted Lasso (2020)
3. The Bear (2022)
4. Yellowjackets (2021)
5. The Sopranos (1999)
6. The King of Queens (1998)

Hello, my name is Toni Elton and these are my favorite things of 2023.
1. Militarie Gun – Life Under the Gun
2. Blondeshell – Blondeshell
3. Bully – Lucky For You (vinyl & CD)
4. Deeper – Careful!
5. The Lemon Twigs – Everything Harmony
6. The Replacements – Tim (Let It Bleed edition) (vinyl & CD)
7. The Breeders – Last Splash (30th anniversary edition) (vinyl & CD)
8. Feeble Little Horse – Girl With Fish
9. Spiritual Cramp – Spiritual Cramp
10. Upchuck – Bite the Hand That Feeds
11. Shame – Food For Worms
12. Danny Brown & JPEGMAFIA – Scaring the Hoes
13. Nirvana – In Utero (30th anniversary edition)

Hi, my name is Travis Harris and I’m certain I’m missing a million things.
1. Fever Ray — Radical Romantics
2. PJ Harvey — I Inside the Old Year Dying
3. Tim Hecker — No Highs
4. Mary Lattimore — Goodbye, Hotel Arkada
5. Genesis Owusu — STRUGGLER
6. Ryuichi Sakamoto — 12
7. Sleaford Mods — UK GRIM
8. Timber Timbre — Lovage
9. Tinariwen — Amatssou
10. Kali Uchis — Red Moon In Venus
11. Nick Waterhouse — The Fooler
12. Yo La Tengo — This Stupid World

Reissues in alphabetical order.
1. Julee Cruise — Floating Into The Night
2. Nirvana — In Utero (30th Anniversary Super Deluxe)
3. Les Rallizes Dénudés — CITTA’ ‘93
4. Pharoah Sanders — Pharoah
5. Soul’d Out: The Complete Wattstax Collection
6. Tom Waits — The Black Rider/Bone Machine/Frank’s Wild Years/Rain Dogs
7. Hiroshi Yoshimura — Surround

Movies:
Because I haven’t gotten around to a lot of new things this year (yet!) I’m going to focus this list on physical releases. If you’re wondering though, of the dozen or so movies released in 2023 I have seen, John Wick: Chapter 4 and Dead Reckoning are the faves so far.
1. After Hours (1985) dir. Martin Scorsese [4K; Criterion Collection]
2. The Blob (1988) dir. Chuck Russell [4K; Scream Factory]
3. Enter the Video Store: Empire of Screams (1984-1989) dir. Various [Blu-Ray; Arrow Video]
4. Mean Streets (1973) dir. Martin Scorsese [4K; Criterion Collection]
5. Pasolini 101 (1961-1969) dir. Pier Paolo Pasolini [Blu-Ray; Criterion Collection]
6. Showgirls (1995) dir. Paul Verhoeven [4K; Vinegar Syndrome]
7. The Slumber Party Massacre/Slumber Party Massacre II (1982/1987) dir. Amy Holden Jones/Deborah Brock [4K; Scream Factory]
8. Targets (1968) dir. Peter Bogdanovich [4K; Criterion Collection]
9. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (1974) dir. Tobe Hooper [4K; Dark Sky Films]
10. To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) dir. William Friedkin (R.I.P.) [4K; Kino Lorber]

Thursday, December 22, 2022

The “Greatest Films of All Time”

Many of you know that I'm something of a cinephile. I studied film at NYU back about a million years ago and I'm always interested in the best of international and classic cinema. So it is with a strong interest that I check out the once—every—decade film critics' poll held by England's Sight & Sound magazine. They poll hundreds of critics from around the world, and the last two poll results have seen some interesting upsets. Sight & Sound has widely diversified the electorate, making a conscious effort to make a more international and gender—diverse poll, which in 2012 lead to the upset of Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo unseating the 50—year reigning champ Citizen Kane from the #1 spot. But this decade's poll — with an even more diverse electorate nearly double the size of the 2012 group — made a much more controversial choice, electing Belgian director Chantal Akerman's nearly 3½—hour, minimal, 1975 feminist masterwork Jeanne Dielman, 23 quai du Commerce, 1080 Bruxelles for the top spot, the first film by a female director ever to crack the top ten (an honor it shares in this poll with the Claire Denis film Beau Travail, which is in seventh place). Fans of Hitch and Welles need not fear, as they still hold the #2 and #3 spots respectively, with a personal fave, Yasujiro Ozu's Tokyo Story a strong fourth.

In all the furor in the film press about the “wokeness” of the top choice and inclusions of films like Get Out, Portrait of a Woman on Fire, and Moonlight, what doesn't seem to have been talked about is how much the same the poll is, how much it still adheres to the accepted canon of “great films.” Citizen Kane has been in the top three since the 1952 poll and is still third; Vertigo, widely misunderstood on its release, has slowly grown in stature since the 1972 poll until it unseated Kane and now moves to second place; Tokyo Story first popped up in the lower reaches of the 1962 poll, then fell back until it surged to third place in 1992, dropped to fifth in 2002, back to third in 2012 and currently holds at fourth. And with some notable exceptions (not just the #1 film, but also Beau Travail and two other more recent entries — Wong Kar—wai's exquisite In the Mood For Love and David Lynch's enigmatic Mulholland Drive), the rest of the top ten have been kicking around these charts for some time as well: Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey (which topped the concurrent poll of film directors this time out), Dziga Vertov's silent experimental work Man with a Movie Camera, and the Hollywood classic Singin' in the Rain are no strangers to the upper reaches of these lists; nor are the #11 choice Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans, Jean Renoir's #13 La règle du jeu (The Rules of the Game), John Ford's #15 The Searchers, or Ingmar Bergman's cryptic #18 entry Persona.

All of this is really to say that the more things change, the more they stay the same. In 1962's poll, it was the height of contemporary critical fashion to vote for Michelangelo Antonioni's then–new film L'Avventura, which was in a tight race with Citizen Kane and La règle du jeu right up until the end, ultimately placing second beneath Welles and above Renoir (the film is tied for #72 in this decade's poll), and the magazine's write–up of the poll refers to Welles and Antonioni (plus French director Jean Vigo, whose L'Atalante placed tenth) as the “experimentalists” of the day (in contrast to those referred by the writer to as “giants” — Chaplin, Eisenstein, etc.) — not necessarily the canonical directors they're thought of as today. In 1972, two films that had been released since the previous poll — Persona and Federico Fellini's — both made the top ten, with three more post–1962 films hitting from 11–20. In fact, 1982's poll is the first ever to NOT have something from the previous decade in its top 10, with still the most current film in the polling, a pattern repeated in 1992, where Kubrick's 2001, from 1968 and then 24 years old, was the most recent film in the upper reaches of the poll; 2002 continued the pattern, with Francis Ford Coppola's first two Godfather films — from 1972 and 1974 respectively, thus 30 and 28 years old respectively — the most recent titles in the front. 2012 shook things up with Vertigo claiming the top spot, but it was business as usual up top — the most recent film in the top 10 was again 2001, now not only 44 years old itself, but the futuristic year of its title eleven years past. And for what it's worth, Jeanne Dielman tied for 36th place in this poll, beneath the first appearances of both the more recent In The Mood For Love and Mulholland Drive.

Partly this is a simple function of time — as more movies are released and written about, the canon becomes more ossified, with articles repeating what previous articles have said about the greatness of certain films (and really, nobody worth taking seriously denies the greatness of Kane, Vertigo, La règle du jeu, The Passion of Joan of Arc, and so forth) and thus further ensconcing them into the upper parts of the poll. But time also allows us to do a couple other things — discover more that we haven't seen before, and to become sated with that which we have. I'd never argue with the idea that Citizen Kane is great, but I've also seen it so many times now that if I never see it again in my life it will live just fine as a fond memory; I'd rather spend time looking at just how Welles put together his late–career masterpiece assembled from bits and piece of Shakespeare, Chimes at Midnight (AKA Falstaff). Or… watching Jeanne Dielman.

I don't think I've ever had more friends and family asking me about a specific film they've never seen than when the news broke that Chantal Akerman's film had topped the new poll. And it is with some reticence that I recommend her work — writing for The New Yorker HERE, Jessica Winter notes that “I suspect that the Sight and Sound voters who truly love Jeanne Dielman, as opposed to merely admiring it… are those who can enter a meditative state when watching it.” I am definitely in the latter camp where she identifies in the former camp, but she nails what the article calls the “revelatory tedium” of the film — watching events unfold in real time from a static point of view forces us into different modes of viewing, and not everyone is game for what it asks of you. If we're not waiting for the next cut to advance the story (the average length of each shot is about a minute, with some running to several minutes where most Hollywood films are about 3–4 seconds per shot), then what do we look at? Where does our mind go while the title character makes a meatloaf, drinks coffee, washes dishes? If you let it, the film retrains your way of watching — it's not for nothing that it's considered one of the landmarks of film loosely grouped under the category of “slow cinema” — and there's nothing like it out there. Add to this that it forces us into identification with the lonely housewife portrayed so perfectly by Delphine Seyrig and the work she does daily as she slowly unravels over the course of three days.

And Akerman's other film in the poll this decade, 1977's News From Home, does something similar — over silent documentary footage Akerman and her brilliant cinematographer Babette Mangolte shot (you want to know where to put your eyes in these shots? Just scan around each frame and drink in Mangolte's fantastic lighting), the director reads letters written to her by her mother, sound is added in to emphasize a feel and effect of the city rather than its reality, and the total effect is a poignant, dreamlike reverie of family relationships, of being out on your own for the first time, and more. It ends with a ten–minute shot (not the only one in the film) taken from the Staten Island Ferry, a shot Jim Jarmusch would later copy for his debut feature Permanent Vacation. Both of them — and much more from Akerman's catalog — simply put you into a different way of experiencing film viewing, and both of them are masterpieces that deserve the accolades they are currently reaping (unfortunately too late for Akerman, who died by suicide in 2015, to have felt the honors).

Her films are not new — this has been simmering in the polls for over 45 years now — but plus ça change, I for one am invigorated that there are new, vital films that are included in the polls, whether they are my personal faves or not. I'm happy in addition to Akerman taking the top spot that Daughters of the Dust, Killer of Sheep, Daisies, Close–Up, Wanda, and others have made headway this decade, even if it means that my personal cinema hero Luis Buñuel got bumped from the top 100. Cinema should always be pushing at boundaries and canons should always be a living thing, subject to revision. I can't wait for the 2032 poll — maybe we'll see something by Cheryl Dunye or Guy Maddin or Pedro Costa or Cristian Mungiu or Lee Chang—dong or Radu Jude, or maybe more by Claire Denis (Beau Travail isn't even my favorite of hers) or Apitchatpong Weerasethakul. Or maybe my old pal Buñuel will be back in the electorate's good graces. Whatever happens, I'll be watching.

- Patrick Brown

Monday, December 12, 2022

Twist & Shout Staff Picks: the Best of 2022

Hello My Name is Patrick Brown and these are my top things of 2022.

Music
Diamanda Galás - Broken Gargoyles
Myra Melford’s Fire and Water Quintet - For the Love of Fire and Water
Alhaji Waziri Oshomah - World Spirituality Classics 3: The Muslim Highlife of Alhaji Waziri Oshomah (archival)
Amanda Shires - Take It Like A Man
Danger Mouse / Black Thought - Cheat Codes
Ezra Furman - “All of Us Flames”
Horsegirl - Versions of Modern Performance
Tanya Tagaq - Tongues
Sun Ra Arkestra - Living Sky
Iannis Xenakis - Electroacoustic Works (archival)
Oumou Sangaré - Timbuktu
Peter Brötzmann Chicago Tentet - Ultraman vs. Alien Metron (archival)
Tom Skinner - Voices of Bishara
Archers of Loaf - Reason in Decline
Gogol Bordello - Solidaritine
Spiritualized - Everything Was Beautiful
Tyshawn Sorey - Mesmerism
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Michael Hurley - The Time of the Foxgloves (Dec. 2021 release)
A Place to Bury Strangers - See Through You


New Blu-ray
Drive My Car
Beatles - Get Back
Neptune Frost
Memoria
Poly Styrene: I Am A Cliche
Crimes Of The Future
Sound Of Metal


New Blu-rays of Old Movies
Pink Flamingos (Criterion)
Malcolm X (Criterion)
Daisies (Criterion)
Shortbus (Oscilloscope)
The Criminal Life Of Archibaldo De La Cruz (VCI)
Electra Glide In Blue (Kino)
I Do Not Care If We Go Down In History As Barbarians (Big World Pictures)

Hello, my name is Adam Reshotko and these are things I listened to and liked in 2022.

Archers of Loaf - Reason in Decline
black midi - Hellfire
Boris - Heavy Rocks
The Comet Is Coming - Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam
The Cure - Wish (30th Anniversary)
Ghost Funk Orchestra - A New Kind of Love
Goat - Oh Death
Ibibio Sound Machine - Electricity
Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio - Cold as Weiss
Makaya McCraven - In These Times
The Movers - Vol. 1: 1970-1976
Pavement - Terror Twilight: Farewell Horizontal
Phish - Gorge '98 (12/9 release)
Rush - Moving Pictures (40th Anniversary)
The Smile - A Light for Attracting Attention
Sonic Youth - In/Out/In
Sons of Kemet - Black to the Future
Spiritualized - Everything Was Beautiful
Stereolab - Pulse of the Early Brain (Switched On Vol. 5)
Sudan Archives - Natural Brown Prom Queen
Various - Have You Lost Your Mind Yet
Frank Zappa - Hard Luck Stories 1972-1982
Trees - Trees: 50th Anniversary Edition
Various Artists - Saturno 2000: La rebajada de los sonideros 1962-1983
Frank Zappa - Waka/Wazoo

Hello, my name is Amy Goodall and these are the best albums of 2022.

1. Huerco S. - Plonk
2. Širom - The Liquified Throne of Simplicity
3. Billy Woods - Aethiopes
4. Pan Daijing - Tissues
5. FKA Twigs - Caprisongs
6. Current 93 - A New Kind of Love
7. Jack White - Fear of the Dawn
8. Daphni - Cherry
9. Gilla Band - Most Normal
10. Beyoncé - Renaissance
11. Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers
12. Jeshi - Universal Credit
13. Jockstrap - I Love You, Jennifer B.
14. Cult of Luna - The Long Road North
15. Mizmor & Thou - Myopia
16. Various Artists (Other People Records) - Weavings
17. Croation Amor - Remember Rainbow Bridge
18. black midi - Hellfire
19. Quelle Chris - Deathfame
20. Knxwledge - V1
21. Beach House - Once Twice Melody
22. Infinity Frequencies - Exit Simulation
23. Kelly Lee Owens - LP.8
24. Earl Sweatshirt - Sick!
25. Skirmishes - All love God it falls away untouchable
26. Vein.fm - This World Is Going to Ruin You
27. Park Zero - Proxy
28. Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems
29. DJ Spell - Kia Ora 10
30. Subaruu & Saves - S5

Howdy! These are Anna Lathem’s Top Albums of 2022 in no particular order but also kinda a little bit in a particular order…

Beyoncé - Renaissance
Spiritualized - Everything Was Beautiful
MUNA - MUNA
Reverend Baron - From Anywhere
Maggie Rogers - Surrender
Plains - I Walked With You A Ways
Maxim Mental - Fucking EP
Carly Rae Jepsen - Loneliest Time
John Doe - Fables in A Foreign Land
Leon Bridges & Khruangbin - Texas Moon
St. Paul & the Broken Bones - Alien Coast
Durand Jones & the Indications - Private Space
Curtis Harding - If Words Were Flowers
The Black Angels - Wilderness of Mirrors
The Beatles - Revolver (Reissue)
Makaya McCraven - In These Times
Joe Strummer - Strummer 002: The Mescaleros Years
Amanda Shires - Take It Like A Man
Arctic Monkeys - The Car

Hello! My Name is Ben Sumner and these are my favourite things of 2022:

Top 12 favourite new things of 2022:
Sessa - Estrela Acesa
Otoboke Beaver - Super Champon
Diamanda Galas - Broken Gargoyles
Taylor Swift - Midnights
Lady Blackbird - Black Acid Soul
Eels - Extreme Witchcraft
Avishai Cohen – Naked Truth
Naima Bock – Giant Palm
Nduduzo Makhathini – In The Spirit Of Ntu
Tinariwen – Kel Tinariwen
Sun Ra Arkestra – Living Sky
Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork


Top 12 favourite old things of 2022:
Beatles - Get Back Blu-Ray and Televisual event
David Bowie - Moonage Daydream film, which ought to be ought on VHS soon enough
Joni Mitchell - Asylum Years 1972-1975 LP/CD box set, plus her comeback at Newport
Elton John - Regimental Sgt. Zippo stereo LP issue, plus his gig at the Enormodome
Various Artists - Saturno 2000 - La Rebajada De Los Sonideros 1962-1983
Norma Tanega - I’m The Sky: Studio And Demo Recordings, 1964–1971
Nancy Sinatra & Lee Hazlewood – Nancy & Lee, first proper reissue ever, thank you
Summer of Soul – LP/DVD
Mandy Morton & Spriguns – After The Storm, complete recordings CD set, nice.
Brother Jack McDuff – Moon Rappin', LP reissue
Goldfrapp – Felt Mountain, LP reissue
Blondie – Against The Odds 1974- 1982, LP/CD box set

My name is Blake Britton and I am reluctantly capitalizing stuff for the sake of making sure my list is included on the blog this year. Here are some lessons I learned in 2022:

1. Black Country New Road - Ants From Up There (If Isaac can walk, then so can I.)
2. Black Midi - Hellfire (Idiots are infinite… Thinking men are numbered.)
3. Makaya McCraven - In These Times (The machine can't take the place of the soul and the sweat.)
4. Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale and the Big Steppers (I choose me, I’m sorry.)
5. Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork (...weird premise for a show, but I like it.)
6. Revelators Sound System - Revelators (________________)
7. Jockstrap - I Love You, Jennifer B. (He thinks you float, but you don’t.)
8. Ibibio Sound Machine - Electricity (Spiritual, invisible protection from evil.)
9. Kali Malone - Living Torch (Serves you right to suffer!)
10. FKA Twigs - Caprisongs ('Cause you care, I made it through today.)

Hello, my name is Brian Albright and these are my top things of 2022:

New Music:
1. The Reds, Pinks & Purples - Summer at Land’s End
2. Sloan - Steady
3. Alvvays - Blue Rev
4. Robyn Hitchcock - Shufflemania
5. The Sadies - Colder Streams
6. The Beths - Expert in a Dying Field
7. Uni Boys - Live in Stuttgart 1975
8. Superchunk - Wild Loneliness
9. Steve Earle - Jerry Jeff
10. Carla Olsen & Stephen McCarthy - Night Comes Falling


Reissues/Collections:
1. The Beatles - Revolver Special Edition
2. Redd Kross - Neurotica
3. Love Tractor - Themes From Venus
4. Various - C85
5. Tall Dwarfs - Unravelled 1981-2002
6. Phil Seymore - 2
7. Various Artists - Miles Out to Sea
8. R.E.M. - Chronic Town
9. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers - Live at the Fillmore 1997
10. The Georgia Satellites - Lightnin’ in a Bottle: The Official Live Album



Hello, my name is Brian Wyatt (and the secret, my friends, is in the green chili) and these are my favorite things of 2022 – but not in any particular order, just some good shit happening this year!

New Music:

#1: All the congrats & Luck to Paul & Jill in retirement and to Patrick to keep on chooglin’!
1. Sessa – Estrella Acesa
2. Joe Strummer & the Mescaleros – 002
3. Brian Jonestown Massacre – Fire Doesn’t Grow on Trees
4. E-40 – Tha Hall of Game
5. Black Angels – Wilderness of Mirrors
6. Kikagaku Moyo - Kumoyo Island
7. Reverend Baron - From Anywhere
8. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Omnium Gatherum
9. Spiritualized - Everything Was Beautiful
10. Lou Reed - Words & Music
11. Nils Frahm - Music For Animals
12. Goat - Oh Death
13. Murlocs - I Love You, Jennifer B.
14. Cult of Luna - Rapscallion
15. James Newton - Flute Music
16. Panda Bear/Sonic Boom - Reset
17. Surfrajettes - Roller Fink
18. Pink Mountaintops - Peacock Pools
19. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard - Ice Death Planets Lungs Mushrooms and Lava
20. Dungen - En Ar For Mycket Och Tuse
21. Say She She - Prism
22. Reverend Horton Heat - Smoke ‘Em, Full Custom, Liquor
23. Extra Kool - Not A Ghost… But Dead Inside


I don’t watch lost of movies lately but I watched:
Breathless – J.L. Godard one – Absolute spectacular
Inherent Vice – Absolute hilarity
Tokyo Drifter – Absolute fun gangster flick

Pickle Jars Eagle! Squatney rejects rule!
I miss ya on Saturdays Hound. Thanks for keeping the counter in check haha.
R.I.P. and all our love to Peter McNab. The next cup is for you Maxy.

Hello, my name is Chad Boltz and these are my favorite things of 2022
1. Diamanda Galás - Broken Gargoyles


Hello, my name is Chris Bjork and these are my favorite things of 2022

1. Michael Rault – Michael Rault
2. Daniel Rossen – You Belong There
3. Kikagaku Moyo – Kumoyo Island
4. No Frills – Downward Dog
5. Babe Rainbow – The Organic Album
6. Jerry Paper – Free Time
7. Vundabar – Devil For the Fire
8. Thee Oh Sees – A Foul Form
9. King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard – Omnium Gatherum
10. Ghost Funk Orchestra – A New Kind of Love
11. Sam Cohen – Slow Faun
12. Geese – Projector
13. Monophonics – Sage Motel
14. Drugdealer – Hiding in Plain Sight
15. Psychedelic Porn Crumpets – Night Gnomes
16. The Lazy Eyes – Songbook
17. Surprise Chef – Education and Recreation
18. Oog Bogo – Plastic
19. Alex G – God Save the Animals
20. Vinyl Williams – Cosmopolis


Hello, my name is Eric Curley and these are my favorite things of 2022

CD Only
1. Phish - Gorge '98

CD/Vinyl
1. Animals As Leaders – Parrhesia
2. The Black Keys – Dropout Boogie
3. Bonobo – Fragments
4. The Comet Is Coming – Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam
5. Earthless – Night Parade Of One Hundred Demons
6. Nils Frahm – Music For Animals
7. Ghost Funk Orchestra – Devil For the Fire
8. Ghost Funk Orchestra – A Foul Form
9. Goat – Oh Death
10. Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – Cold As Weiss
11. Monophonics – Sage Motel
12. The New Mastersounds – The Deplar Effect
13. Rammstein – Zeit
14. Russian Circles – Gnosis
15. Surprise Chef – Education & Recreation
16. Various Artists – Summer of Soul (Or, When The Revolution Could Not Be Televised)
17. Vieux Farka Touré & Khruangbin – Ali

Vinyl-Only
1. Beastie Boys – Check Your Head (20th Anniversary Box)
2. Various Artists – Colemine Records: Soul Slabs, Vol. 3
3. Various Artists – Jazz Dispensary: Super Skunk
4. King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard – Omnium Gatherum
5. Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – Live In Loveland!
6. Orgōne – Lost Knights
7. Phish – LP on LP 03 (Tweezer/Prince Caspian)
8. Shpongle – Catalog Remasters
9. Slift – Levitation Sessions
10. Tool – Fear Inoculum (3xLP Edition)
11. Various Artists – Wamono Groove: Shakuhachi & Koto Jazz Funk '76

Ethan’s Alphabetical Ascension Of Albums 2022

Charlotte Adigéry, BOLIS PUPIL - Topical Dancer
Alvvays – Blue Rev
Animal Collective – Time Skiffs
Big Thief – Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Cola – Deep In View
Christine And The Queens – Redcar les adorables étoiles
Dehd – Blue Skies
Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork
Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia
Alex G – Horsegirl
Horsegirl – Versions of Modern Performance
Kiwi Jr. – Chopper
Kendrick Lamar – Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Panda Bear & Sonic Boom – Reset
Plains – I Walked With You A Ways
Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever – Endless Rooms
The Smile – A Light For Attracting Attention
Kurt Vile – (watch my moves)
Nilüfer Yanya – PAINLESS

Honorable Mention: Wet Leg - Wet Leg

REMASTERED REISSUES/COMPILATIONS/STUFF THAT ISN’T “NEW”:
The Beatles – Revolver [Super Deluxe]
Blondie – Against The Odds - 1974 - 1982 [Deluxe Box Set]
R.E.M. – Chronic Town [40th Anniversary 12” EP Reissue]
The Rolling Stones – El Mocambo 1977 [Box Set]
Stereolab – Pulse of the Early Brain [Switched On, Vol. 5]
Norma Tanega – I’m The Sky: Studio And Demo Recordings, 1964-1971


MOVIES/TV (that were/look great and I’ve seen/need to see):
Elvis - Baz Lurman (really wasn’t that good AT ALL but it was worth seeing it in IMAX)
Licorice Pizza - Paul Thomas Anderson
Moonage Daydream - Brett Morgen
My Life As A Rolling Stone - epix TV mini-series; multiple directors
Tár - Todd Field



Hello, my name is Extra Kool and these are my favorite things of 2022

CD:
1. Mood – Doom (reissue)
2. Danger Mouse / Black Thought – Cheat Codes

Vinyl:
1. Atmosphere – Lucy Ford (reissue)
2. Extra Kool – Not A Ghost… But Dead Inside
3. Robert – Orange Is the New Black
4. Digable Planets – Blowout Comb (reissue) 5. Original Soundtrack – Candyman
6. Diamanda Galás – Diamanda Galás (reissue)
7. Original Soundtrack – Dark Glasses
8. Original Soundtrack – Halloween (40th Anniversary edition – Death Waltz/Mondo)

DVD/Blu-ray:
1. X
2. The Batman
3. Lux Aeterna
4. Faceless
5. The Black Phone
6. Nope
7. Kindred
8. Return of the Living Dead (4K – Scream Factory)
9. Pearl

Ayyyyy, my name is Harrison Mains and these are my most favoritest releases of 2022
1. Viagra Boys – Cave World
2. Otoboke Beaver – Super Champon
3. Backxwash – His Happiness Shall Come first Even Though We Are Suffering
4. Sasami – Squeeze
5. Danger Mouse / Black Thought – Cheat Codes
6. Rosalía – Motomami
7. Extra Kool – Not A Ghost… But Dead Inside
8. Dead Cross – II
9. Tim Heidecker – High School
10. Wormrot – Hiss
11. Eiron – Creepshow
12. Norma Tanega – I’m The Sky: Studio And Demo Recordings, 1964-1971
13. Lupe Fiasco – Drill Music in Zion
14. Beyoncé – Renaissance
15. Chat Pile – God’s Country
16. Boris – Heavy Rocks (2022)
17. Tanya Tagaq – Tongues
18. Osees – A Foul Form
19. Morris Day – Last Call
20. Primus – Conspiranoid
21. Björk – Fossora
22. Delvon Lamarr Organ Trio – Cold As Weiss
23. Ghost Funk Orchestra – A New Kind of Love
24. Charli XCX – Crash
25. Burial – Antidawn


Hello, my name is Jack Brown and these are my favorite things of 2022

1. Various Artists – Daptone Super Soul Revue
2. Orquesta Akokán – 16 Rayos
3. Broadcast – Maida Vale Sessions
4. Broadcast – Mother Is the Milky Way
5. Broadcast – Vol. 1&2 Microtronics
6. Burial – Antidawn
7. Pye Corner Audio – Let’s Emerge
8. King Garbage – Heavy Metal Greasy Love
9. Beyoncé – Renaissance
10. Lady Wray – Piece of Me

Hello, my name is James G. and these are my favorite things of 2022

Music:
1. Cherokee – Blood and Gold (Dying Victim Productions)
2. Mournful Congregation – The Exuviae of Gods, Part 1 (20 Buck Spin)
3. Gralefrit – Gralefrit (cassette) (Ancient Meadow)
4. Hoaxed – Two Shadows (Relapse)
5. Supernatural Darkness – Flying Fortress (cassette) (Ancient Meadow)
6. Sumerlands – Dreamkiller (Relapse)
7. Nortfalke – Moonjeie (cassette) (Dungeons Deep)
8. Lunar Wombs – The Sleeping Green (reissue) (Hospital Productions)
9. Witches Forest – The Beauty of Silence (Ancient Meadow)
10. Tove Lo – Dirt Femme (Pretty Swede)
11. MØ – Motordrome (Sony Music)
12. Dream Unending – Song of Salvation (20 Buck Spin)
13. Worm – Bluenothing (20 Buck Spin)
14. Secret Straiways – Turning Point (reissue) (Dungeons Deep)
15. Original Soundtrack – The Descent (David Julyan) (Burning Witches)
16. Satan – Court in the Act (reissue) (Roadrunner)
17. Cauldron Born – Born of the Cauldron (reissue)(Cult Metal Classics)
18. Original Soundtrack – Bubblegum Crisis 2: Born to Kill (reissue)(Cult Metal Classics)
19. Blade Runner – Warriors of Rock (reissue)(Cult Metal Classics)
20. Jääportit – Kauan Koskematon (remaster)(Out of Season)


DVD/Blu-ray:
1. Double Indemnity (Criterion)
2. Don’t Go in the House (Severin)
3. Dune (2021) 4K (Warner Brothers)
4. Voyage of the Rock Aliens (Vinegar Syndrome)
5. Ilya Muromets (Vinegar Syndrome)
6. Wall-E 4K (Criterion)
7. House of Terrors (Mondo Macabro)
8. Batman 4K (Warner Brothers)
9. Hard Rock Zombies (Vinegar Syndrome)
10. A Haunted Turkish Bathhouse (Mondo Macabro)

Hello, my name is James Mabry and these are my favorite things of 2022

CD:
1. Diamanda Galás – Broken Gargoyles
2. Julian Lage – View With A Room
3. Charley Crockett – The Man From Waco
4. Art Blakey – Just Coolin’
5. Adrian Quesada – Boleros Psicodelicos
6. She & Him – Melt Away – Tribute to Brian Wilson

Vinyl:
1. Extra Kool – Not A Ghost… But Dead Inside
2. First Aid Kit – Palomino
3. Lou Reed – Words & Music, May 1965
4. Dolly Parton – Run Rose Run
5. Nikki Lane – Denim & Diamonds

DVD/Blu-ray
1. Everything Everywhere All At Once
2. Cyrano
3. The Woman King

I’m Jonathan Eagle and here is a list of my favorite shit from 2022

New Albums
1. Urge Overkill – Oui
2. The Afghan Whigs – How Do You Burn?
3. The Replacements – Unsuitable for Airplay: The Lost KFAI Concert
4. Sharon Van Etten – We’ve Been Going About This All Wrong
5. Kikagaku Moyo – Kumoyo Island
6. Mary Halvorson – Amaryllis
7. KEN Mode – NULL
8. Loudness – Sunburst
9. Cheer-Accident – Here Comes the Sunset
10. Classless Act – Welcome to the Show
11. Jon Spencer & the HITmakers – Spencer Gets It Lit
12. Maggie Rogers – Surrender
13. Scorpions – Rock Believer
14. Max Richter – The New Four Seasons: Vivaldi Recomposed
15. Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork
16. Archers of Loaf – Reason in Decline
17. Wilco – Cruel Country
18. Chat Pile – God’s Country
19. Melvins – Bad Moon Rising
20. The Comet is Coming – Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam


New Films/Docs
1. Confess, Fletch (Greg Mottola)
2. Weird: The Al Yankovic Story (Eric Appel)
3. Nope (Jordan Peel)
4. Clerks III (Kevin Smith)
5. The Kids in the Hall: Comedy Punks (Reg Harkema)
6. Licorice Pizza (Paul Thomas Anderson)
7. The Outfit (Graham Moore)
8. To Leslie (Michael Morris)
9. George Carlin’s American Dream (Judd Apatow & Michael Bonfiglio)
10. Piggy (Carlota Pareda)

Hello, my name is Maggie and these are my top things of 2022.

Vinyl
1. Beyoncé – Renaissance
2. Björk – Fossora
3. The Clash – Combat Rock/People’s Hall (40th Anniv.)
4. Blondie – Against the Odds
5. Tears For Fears – The Tipping Point
6. Taylor Swift – Midnights
7. Alice In Chains – Dirt (30th Anniversary)
8. Maggie Rogers – Surrender
9. Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia
10. Wet Leg – Wet Leg

DVD/Blu-Ray:
1. Okja (Criterion release) – d. Bong Joon-Ho
2. Titane – d. Julia Ducournau
3. The Velvet Underground (Criterion release) – d. Todd Haynes
4. The Northman – d. Robert Eggers
5. Yellowjackets (season 1) – d. Karyn Kusama
6. Last Night in Soho – d. Edgar Wright
7. Crimes of the Future – d. David Cronenberg
8. Top Gun: Maverick – d. Joseph Kosinski
9. Nope – d. Jordan Peele
10. Where the Crawdads Sing – d. Olivia Newman


Hello, my name is Matt Cobos and these are my top albums of 2022 in a general-ish order:
1. Viagra Boys – Cave World
2. Gilla Band – Most Normal
3. Meat Wave – Malign Hex
4. Surfbort – Keep On Truckin'
5. Cloakroom – Dissolution Wave
6. Soul Glo – Diaspora Problems
7. Goat – Oh Death
8. Chat Pile – God's Country
9. Monophonics – Sage Motel
10. The Murlocs – Rapscallion
11. Fontaines D.C. – Skinty Fia
12. Say She She – Prism

Hello, my name is Max Kaufman and these are my top albums of 2022.

Top albums of 2022
Soul Glo - Diaspora Problems
Open Mike Eagle - A Tape Called Component System With The Auto-Reverse
Chat Pile - God's Country

Other Great Albums That Made Me Feel Things
The Mars Volta - The Mars Volta
Dishevelled Cuss - In The Couch
Charlotte Adigery & Boris Pupul - Topical Dancer
Cave In - Heavy Pendulum
Black Country, New Road - Ants From Up There
Blood Incantation - Timewave Zero
Guerilla Toss - Famously Alive
OFF! - Free LSD
Wormrot - Hiss
Dead Cross - II
Freddie Gibbs - $oul $old $eparately
Black Midi - Hellfire
Primitive Man - Insurmountable
Vermin Womb - Retaliation

Reissues i've been waiting for for a long time
El-p - Fantastic Damage
Lovage - Music to Make Love to Your Old Lady By
Norma Tanega - I'm The Sky: Studio and Demo recordings 1964-1971

MOVIES!
NOPE - Dir: Jordan Peele
I Am A Cliche: Poly Styrene - Dir: Celeste Belle
Everything, Everywhere, All At Once - Dir: The Daniels
The Northman - Dir: Robert Eggers

Quinn Theis 2022 top 30
Barbara - Escape Artist
The Dirty Snacks Ensemble - You Would Do Well
Off! - Free LSD
Dennis Bovell - The Dubmaster (The Essential Anthology)
Horace Andy - Midnight Rocker
Count Ossie & The Mystic Revelation of Rastafari - Grounation (Reissue)
Kendrick Lamar - Mr. Morale & The Big Steppers
Sessa - Astrela Acesa
Rosalía - Motomami
Big Thief - Dragon New Warm Mountain I Believe In You
Oumou Sangaré - Timbuktu
Pixies - Doggerel
Dry Cleaning - Stumpwork
Danger Mouse & Black Thought - Cheat Codes
Congotronics International - Where’s The One?
Makaya McCraven - In These Times
Bill Callahan - YTI⅃AƎЯ
Kikagaku Moyo - Kumoyo Island
black midi - Hellfire
Lou Reed - Words & Music
Meshuggah - Immutable
Moor Mother - Jazz Codes
Guided By Voices - Crystal Nuns Cathedral
Cass McCombs - Heartland
Vieux Farka Toure - Les Racines
Wilco - Cruel Country
Tanya Tagaq - Tongues
Mitski - Laurel Hell
Robyn Hitchcock - Shufflemania!
Mary Gauthier - Dark Enough To See the Stars

Reggie’s Top Ten 2022
1. Sofi Tukker – Wet Tennis 04/29/22
2. Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork 10/21/22
3. Metric – Formentera 07/08/22
4. Adult. – Becoming Undone 03/11/22
5. Charli XCX – Crash 03/18/22
6. Comet Is Coming – Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam 09/23/22
7. Uffie – Sunshine Factory 05/20/22
8. Yeah Yeah Yeahs – Cool It Down 09/30/22
9. Santigold – Spirituals 09/09/22
10. Guerilla Toss – Famously Alive 03/25/22

• Rina Sawayama – Hold the Girl 09/16/22
• VR Sex – Rough Dimension 03/25/22
• Ibibio Sound Machine – Electricity 03/25/22
• Zola Jesus – Arkhon 06/24/22
• Boy Harsher – The Runner (OST) 01/21/22

Hello, my name is Robin Pinks and these are my top things of of 2022.
1. Salvia Palth – Melanchole (remaster)
2. Black Massive Sun – The Great Between
3. Chat Pile – God’s Country
4. Foxtails – Fawn
5. Backxwash – His Happiness Shall Come First Even Though We Are Suffering
6. Wilco – Yankee Hotel Foxtrot (deluxe edition)
7. Boy Harsher – The Runner
8. Death Grips – The Money Store
9. Duster – Together
10. Isaur – One
11. Jockstrap – I Love You, Jennifer B.
12. Asian Glow and Weatherday – Weatherglow
13. Sign Crushes Motorist – I’ll Be Okay
14. Domi & JD Beck – Not Tight
15. black midi – Hellfire
16. Burial – Antidawn (LP)
17. The Smile – A Light For Attracting Attention
18. Black Country, New Road – Ants From Up There
19. Melvins – Bad Mood Rising
20. Black Dresses – Forget Your Own Face


Hello, my name is Scott Campbell and these are my top 30 albums of 2022.
1. black midi – Hellfire
2. Beach House – Once Twice Melody
3. MJ Lenderman – Boat Songs
4. Animal Collective – Time Skiffs
5. Denzel Curry – Melt My Eyez See Your Future
6. Cheekface – Too Much To Ask
7. Kiwi Jr. – Chopper
8. Panda Bear / Sonic Boom – Reset
9. Carly Rae Jepsen – The Loneliest Time
10. Disq – Desperately Imagining Someplace Quiet
11. Wet Leg – Wet Leg
12. Alvvays – Blue Rev
13. The Beths – Expert in a Dying Field
14. Let’s Eat Grandma – Two Ribbons
15. The Smile – A Light For Attracting Attention
16. Kurt Vile – Watch My Moves
17. Ghais Guevara – There Will Be No Super Slave
18. Silverbacks – Archive Material
19. Bill Callahan – YTI⅃AƎЯ
20. Viagra Boys – Cave World
21. Earl Sweatshirt – Sick!
22. Arctic Monkeys – The Car
23. Pusha T – It’s Almost Dry
24. Emperor X – The Lakes of Zones B and C
25. Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen
26. Horsegirl – Versions of Modern Performance
27. Cloakroom – Dissolution Wave
28. Black Country, New Road – Ants From Up There
29. Wilco – Cruel Country
30. Quelle Chris – Deathfame


Hey, what’s up my name is Steph and these are some albums that stood out to me this year
Sudan Archives – Natural Brown Prom Queen
FKA Twigs – Caprisongs
Steve Lacy – Gemini Rights
Action Bronson – Cocodrillo Turbo
Wet Leg – Wet Leg
Dry Cleaning – Stumpwork
Soccer Mommy – Sometimes, Forever
Westside Gunn – 10
Bad Bunny – Un Verano Sin Ti
Mitski – Laurel Hell

Some movies that I definitely enjoyed this year!
Nope (2022)
X (2022)
Bodies Bodies Bodies (2022)
Frankenstein (1931)
The Phantom of the Opera (2021)
But I’m A Cheerleader (1999)
Last Night in Soho (2021)
Barbarian (2022)