July 19, 2024
jmunney
Cinema, Comedy, Entertainment To-Do List, Music, Television
=1, Bando Stone & the New World, Childish Gambino, Deep Purple, Glass Animals, Gods of Tennis, I Love You So F***ing Much, Oddity, Reggie Watts, Twisters
I’d hit that.
“That” being the ball.
(CREDIT: PBS)
Every week, I list all the upcoming (or recently released) movies, TV shows, albums, podcasts, etc. that I believe are worth checking out.
Movies
–Oddity (Theaters)
–Twisters (Theaters)
TV
–Gods of Tennis Docuseries Premiere (July 23 on PBS) – Jimmy, Chrissie, Arthur, Björn, Johnny Mac, Billie Jean, Martina.
Music
–Childish Gambino, Bando Stone & the New World – Apparently his last album, at least as CG.
-Deep Purple, =1
-Glass Animals, I Love You So F***ing Much
Comedy
-Reggie Watts: Never Mind (July 20 on VEEPS)
June 25, 2020
jmunney
Best of the 2010s, Best of the Decade, Music
Adele, Ariana Grande, Beck, Best of the 2010s, Best of the Decade, Beyoncé, Carly Rae Jepsen, Charli XCX, Childish Gambino, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Hans Zimmer, Janelle Monáe, Kanye West, Katy Perry, Kendrick Lamar, Kesha, Lady GaGa, Lana del Rey, Lizzo, Lorde, Major Lazer, Miguel, Miley Cyrus, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Sia, St. Vincent, Tame Impala, Taylor Swift, Tegan and Sara, The Black Keys, The Weeknd, Tove Lo, Vampire Weekend, Weird Al Yankovic
CREDIT: YouTube Screenshots
One more list! One more list!
My Best of the 2010s list-making journey has finally come to a close! (Or has it? … For now, it has at least. The future will come as it may, and it may just surprise you, and me.) All this week, I’ve been posting my rankings of a few categories that I was inspired to put together after submitting them to a Best of the 2010s polls that I’m participating in with some of my fellow cultural aficionados. To wrap it all up, I guide you along to the realm of music and lyrics, as I present the Best Musical Artists of the 2010s.
My criteria was similar to that of my choices for Best Film Directors. I considered a combination of how much I enjoyed their musical output as well as how much – and how well – they influenced the industry at large.
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April 16, 2020
jmunney
Best of the 2010s, Best of the Decade, Music
Adele, Ariana Grande, AWOLNATION, Best of the 2010s, Best of the Decade, Beyoncé, Carly Rae Jepsen, Childish Gambino, Daft Punk, Disclosure, DJ Snake, Justin Timberlake, Katy Perry, Kendrick Lamara, Kesha, Lana del Rey, Lil Jon, Lorde, Miguel, Miley Cyrus, Nile Rodgers, Pharrell Williams, Rihanna, Sia, Tame Impala, Taylor Swift, The Black Keys, The Chemical Brothers, Tove Lo
CREDIT: YouTube Screenshots
Of all the pieces of art and entertainment that I’m ranking for the decade, songs are probably the most personal. Yet somehow I feel compelled to consider how they affected the world at large moreso than all the other categories. The tunes that I value the most aren’t just the ones that make my own heart sing but also the ones that draw all of us closer together. So as I assembled this list, I asked myself both, “What has made me dance these past 10 years?” and “How would I like to dance with everyone else?” Here’s what that playlist looks like.
(I aimed to stick only to songs that were released as singles, as opening this to deep album cuts would’ve made things so overheated.)
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April 2, 2020
jmunney
Best of the 2010s, Best of the Decade, Music
A Seat at the Table, Audio Video Disco, Avicii, Awaken My Love!, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Best of the Decade, Beyoncé, Black Messiah, Blackstar, Brothers, Childish Gambino, Circuital, D'Angelo, D'Angelo & the Vanguard, Daft Punk, David Bowie, Disclosure, Duck Sauce, Justice, Kanye West, Lana del Rey, Lemonade, Lonerism, Lorde, Miguel, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, My Morning Jacket, No Geography, Norman Fucking Rockwell, Pure Heroine, Quack, Random Access Memories, Settle, Solange, St. Vincent, Strange Mercy, Tame Impala, The Black Keys, The Chemical Brothers, True, Wildheart
One of the big themes about entertainment in the past decade is the incomprehensible explosion of available content in every medium. While this may be a recent development in cinema and television, it’s been the case for music for centuries, or even millennia. Since humans have been banging on rocks and clapping their hands, really. Of course, it was a little more recent than that when recorded music became readily available.
This is all to say, I of course haven’t listened to every album of the past ten years that made its way onto SoundCloud or Spotify, or even all the Billboard chart-toppers. But I did listen to enough of them to be able to assemble a vibrant and varied soundtrack of my life in the 2010s. Here are the musical collections of the era that I just haven’t been able to stop pushing play on.
[4/2/20 2:00 PM UPDATE: This post originally mistakenly included Justice’s †, which came out in 2007.]
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February 15, 2019
jmunney
Best of 2018, Best of Music 2018, Music
All the Stars, Ariana Grande, Back Down, Beck, Bob Moses, Boo'd Up, Childish Gambino, Colors, Come on to Me, Dennis Lloyd, Ella Mai, Elle King, God is a Woman, Good Morning, I Feel Like I'm Drowning, Janelle Monáe, Kendrick Lamar, Love It If We Made It, Make Me Feel, Max Frost, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats, Nevermind, No Place, No Tears Left to Cry, Paul McCartney, Portugal. The Man, Pynk, Rüfüs Du Sol, Shame, SZA, The 1975, This Is America, Tidal Wave, Two Feet, Tyler the Creator, U.S. Girls, Velvet 4 Sale, You Worry Me, You're a Mean One
CREDIT: Ariana Grande/YouTube
These were the singles released in 2018 or that first became hits in 2018 that had the strongest impacts on me.
1. Ariana Grande – “No Tears Left to Cry” – Has any other singer besides Ariana Grande ever endured so many personal struggles so publicly and on such a massive scale? She still had a lot of heartbreak left to come after releasing “No Tears Left to Cry,” but luckily she was already equipped with and had gifted the world with a timeless anthem for how to insist on finding the joy amidst all life’s turmoil.
2. Dennis Lloyd – “Nevermind” – The ultimate kind of elastic groove to which you can chill out or dance ’til you drop.
3. Ella Mai – “Boo’d Up” – Ella Mai captured the language of infatuation in 2018, but the feelings are eternal.
4. Ariana Grande – “God is a Woman” – Oh, trust me, I believe. I was certain once I heard that first sexy guitar strum.
5. U.S. Girls – “Velvet 4 Sale” – This is the sort of rock music that makes me happy to currently be an adult human.
6. Beck – “Colors” – Is Beck the greatest dance artist of his era? “Colors” makes a strong case.
7. Janelle Monáe – “Pynk” – If we all had our own personal “Pynk” to announce to everyone who we are, the world would be a much better place.
8. Rüfüs Du Sol – “No Place” – I imagine that this is what it will sound like when I drift off this mortal coil.
9. Childish Gambino – “This Is America” – The musical equivalent of getting shot in the head and living to tell the tale.
10. Portugal. The Man – “Tidal Wave” – The force of extreme weather, but going down smooth and easy.
11. Janelle Monáe – “Make Me Feel” – Feeling good should sometimes feel like there’s a worm dancing in your brain.
12. Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats – “You Worry Me” – It’s good to know that some musicians are out here to make sure we’re safe and sound.
13. Elle King – “Shame” – It’s healthy to exorcise the lowdown dirtiest impulses of your humanity through song.
14. Paul McCartney – “Come on to Me” – I know I’d also like to remain this punny and lusty into my seventies.
15. Bob Moses – “Back Down” – An ideal soundtrack for making an unstable night feel just a little bit more stable.
16. Kendrick Lamar and SZA – “All the Stars” – The kind of song that assures you that all the spirits of your community are with you.
17. Max Frost – “Good Morning” – I’m happy to admit when I wake up in a day-conquering mood, and Max Frost has packaged that feeling.
18. Tyler, the Creator – “You’re a Mean One” – Maybe all kids movie theme songs should be crafted by pansexual oddballs.
19. Two Feet – “I Feel Like I’m Drowning” – When the sound cuts out right before the chorus, and then the guitar chimes in so nastily, I feel like I’m drowning, into the Sunken Place or something … and I like it.
20. The 1975 – “Love It If We Made It” – The desire to make it all the way through together really does often sound this urgent, doesn’t it?
February 14, 2019
jmunney
Best of 2018, Best of TV 2018, Television
#MurphyToo, A Boy and His Priest, A Random Killing, Atlanta, Barbershop, Barry, Best of 2018, Better Call Saul, Big Mouth, Bojack Horseman, Canada (1950–Present Day), Chapter Eight: Know Your Truth, Childish Gambino, Donald Glover, Donald Glover/Childish Gambino, Giving and Receiving, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Joe Pera Talks to You About the Rat Wars of Alberta, Joe Pera Talks with You, Mac and Me, Mac Finds His Pride, Milk, Mr. Peanutbutter's Boos, MST3K, Murphy Brown, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Pose, Saturday Night Live, Sharp Objects, SNL, South Park, Swipe Right, Teddy Perkins, Thanksgiving and Taking, The Assassination of Gianni Versace, The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem, The Last O.G., The Planned Parenthood Show, The Showstoppe, Winner, Woods
CREDIT: Guy D’Alema/FX/FX Networks
If you’re still catching up on the best TV of 2018, the following playlist would be a great way to go about it.
1. Atlanta, “Teddy Perkins”
2. Saturday Night Live, Donald Glover/Childish Gambino
3. Atlanta, “Barbershop”
4. Mystery Science Theater 3000, “Mac and Me”
5. Big Mouth, “The Planned Parenthood Show”
6. BoJack Horseman, “The Showstopper”
7. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, “The Gang Solves the Bathroom Problem”
8. The Assassination of Gianni Versace, “A Random Killing”
9. Barry, “Chapter Eight: Know Your Truth”
10. Pose, “Giving and Receiving”
11. Joe Pera Talks With You, “Joe Pera Talks to You About the Rat Wars of Alberta, Canada (1950–Present Day)”
12. BoJack Horseman, “Mr. Peanutbutter’s Boos”
13. Murphy Brown, “Thanksgiving and Taking”
14. Atlanta, “Woods”
15. Murphy Brown, “#MurphyToo”
16. Better Call Saul, “Winner”
17. The Last O.G., “Swipe Right”
18. It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, “Mac Finds His Pride”
19. South Park, “A Boy and a Priest”
20. Sharp Objects, “Milk”
May 6, 2018
jmunney
Saturday Night Live, SNL Weekly Recaps, Television
Childish Gambino, Donald Glover, Raz P. Berry, Saturday Night Live, Saturday Night Live Season 43, SNL, SNL Season 43
CREDIT: Will Heath/NBC
My letter grades for each sketch and segment is below. My in-depth review is on NewsCult: http://newscult.com/snl-love-itkeep-itleave-donald-gloverchildish-gambino/
Michael Cohen Wiretap – B
Donald Glover’s Monologue – B
Jurassic Park Courtroom – A-
Friendos – B+
Raz P. Berry – “The Night I Watched You” – A-
A Kanye Place – B
Dirty Talk – B+
Childish Gambino performs “Saturday” – A-
Weekend Update
The Jokes – B+
Pete Davidson – B+
Leslie Jones – B-
Galactic Summit for All Black Humans – B
Barbie Instagram (BEST OF THE NIGHT) – A
Childish Gambino performs “This Is America” – B+
Prison Customer Service – B
August 29, 2017
jmunney
Billboard Charts, Billboard Hot 100, Music
Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Childish Gambino, Redbone
Each week, I check out the Billboard Hot 100, and then I rearrange the top 20 based on my estimation of their quality. I used to rank all 20, now I just rank the cream of the crop.
Original Version
1. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
2. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
3. Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
4. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
5. Charlie Puth – “Attention”
6. French Montana ft. Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
7. Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”
8. Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”
9. Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
10. Yo Gotti ft. Nicki Minaj – “Rake It Up”
11. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – “Strip That Down”
12. 21 Savage – “Bank Account”
13. Sam Hunt – “Body Like a Back Road”
14. Niall Horan – “Slow Hands”
15. Post Malone ft. Quavo – “Congratulations”
16. DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne – “I’m the One”
17. Childish Gambino – “Redbone”
18. Demi Lovato – “Sorry Not Sorry”
19. Kendrick Lamar – “Humble.”
20. Justin Bieber + BloodPop – “Friends”
Jmunney’s Revision
1. Redbone
2. Unforgettable
3. Humble.
4. Wild Thoughts
5. Sorry Not Sorry
August 22, 2017
jmunney
Billboard Charts, Billboard Hot 100, Music
Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Calvin Harris, Childish Gambino, Feels, Redbone
Each week, I check out the Billboard Hot 100, and then I rearrange the top 20 based on my estimation of their quality. I used to rank all 20, now I just rank the cream of the crop.
Original Version
1. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
2. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
3. Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
4. French Montana ft. Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
5. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
6. Charlie Puth – “Attention”
7. Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”
8. Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”
9. Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
10. Sam Hunt – “Body Like a Back Road”
11. DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne – “I’m the One”
12. 21 Savage – “Bank Account”
13. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – “Strip That Down”
14. Post Malone ft. Quavo – “Congratulations”
15. Niall Horan – “Slow Hands”
16. Childish Gambino – “Redbone”
17. Kendrick Lamar – “Humble.”
18. Lil Uzi Vert – “XO Tour Llif3”
19. The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – “Something Just Like This”
20. Calvin Harris ft. Pharrell Williams, Katy Perry and Big Sean – “Feels”
Jmunney’s Revision
1. Redbone
2. Feels
3. Unforgettable
4. Humble.
5. Wild Thoughts
August 18, 2017
jmunney
Billboard Charts, Billboard Hot 100, Music
Billboard, Billboard Hot 100, Childish Gambino, Redbone
Each week, I check out the Billboard Hot 100, and then I rearrange the top 20 based on my estimation of their quality. I used to rank all 20, now I just rank the cream of the crop.
Original Version
1. Luis Fonsi and Daddy Yankee ft. Justin Bieber – “Despacito”
2. DJ Khaled ft. Rihanna and Bryson Tiller – “Wild Thoughts”
3. French Montana ft. Swae Lee – “Unforgettable”
4. Imagine Dragons – “Believer”
5. Charlie Puth – “Attention”
6. Shawn Mendes – “There’s Nothing Holdin’ Me Back”
7. Bruno Mars – “That’s What I Like”
8. Cardi B – “Bodak Yellow (Money Moves)”
9. Ed Sheeran – “Shape of You”
10. DJ Khaled ft. Justin Bieber, Quavo, Chance the Rapper, and Lil Wayne – “I’m the One”
11. Sam Hunt – “Body Like a Back Road”
12. 21 Savage – “Bank Account”
13. Childish Gambino – “Redbone”
14. Post Malone ft. Quavo – “Congratulations”
15. Liam Payne ft. Quavo – “Strip That Down”
16. Kendrick Lamar – “Humble.”
17. Niall Horan – “Slow Hands”
18. Lil Uzi Vert – “XO Tour Llif3”
19. The Chainsmokers and Coldplay – “Something Just Like This”
20. Zedd and Alessia Cara – “Stay”
Jmunney’s Revision
1. Redbone
2. Stay
3. Unforgettable
4. Humble.
5. Wild Thoughts
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