The behind-the-scenes work on this year’s Annual Report was never-ending.
We voted, we came together, we voted again, we ate mounds of cashews. Eventually, our Albums, Songs, and Films of the Year lists surfaced to solidify our collective editorial voice. Still, Consequence of Sound is comprised of many unique individuals and strong opinions, so we felt there was no better way to honor these voices than to give each one the space to sum up their own 2015.
If our weeks dedicated to Star Wars and Tarantino weren’t enough, stay tuned next week for an assortment of supplemental reports and a number of articles that look into the future rather than the past. That’s where we’re headed anyhow.
In the meantime…
Alex Young, Publisher
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
02. Lady Lamb – After
03. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Surf
04. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
05. The Dead Weather – Dodge and Burn
06. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
07. Angel Haze – Back to the Woods
08. Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy
09. White Reaper – Does it Again
10. Foo Fighters – Saint Cecilia EP
Songs:
01. Kendrick Lamar – “The Blacker the Berry”
02. Vic Mensa feat. Kanye West – “U Mad”
03. Jamie xx feat. Young Thug & Popcaan – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
04. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
05. Justin Bieber – “What Do You Mean?”
06. Alessia Cara – “Here”
07. Drake – “Back to Back”
08. Drake & Future – “Big Rings”
09. The Dead Weather – “Three Dollar Hat”
10. Foo Fighters – “Saint Cecilia”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: A letter to Jack White: You can’t have it both ways
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Kanye, who else?
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Michael Roffman, Editor-in-Chief
Albums:
01. Grimes – Art Angels
02. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
03. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
04. Disasterpeace – It Follows
05. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities To Love
06. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
07. The Districts – A Flourish And A Spoil
08. Jamie xx – In Colour
09. Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon
10. New Order – Music Complete
Songs:
01. Grimes – “REALiTi”
02. Kurt Vile – “Pretty Pimpin”
03. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
04. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
05. Florence + The Machine – “Ship to Wreck”
06. Alabama Shakes – “Don’t Wanna Fight”
07. Disclosure feat. Sam Smith – “Omen”
08. The Districts – “Peaches”
09. John Carpenter – “Vortex”
10. Grimes – “Kill V. Maim”
Films:
01. The Revenant
02. Mad Max: Fury Road
03. Call Me Lucky
04. Sicario
05. Anomalisa
06. Blind
07. Inside Out
08. The Overnight
09. Tangerine
10. Creed
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: An Oral History of Dramarama’s Cinéma Vérité
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Whatever dreams M83 have up their sleeves. That album Sky Ferreira has been harboring.
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some. I know I do.
Matt Melis, Senior Editor
Albums:
1. The Districts – A Flourish and a Spoil
2. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
3. Tame Impala – Currents
4. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
5. Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy
6. Björk – Vulnicura
7. Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer
8. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
9. Unknown Mortal Orchestra – Multi-Love
10. White Reaper – Does It Again
Films:
1. The Look of Silence
2. Mad Max: Fury Road
3. Tangerine
4. Spotlight
5. Call Me Lucky
6. Inside Out
7. It Follows
8. Sicario
9. The Overnight
10. Entertainment
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Jim Henson: A Belated Farewell
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: PJ Harvey
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Adam Kivel, Managing Editor
Albums:
01. Circuit Des Yeux – In Plain Speech
02. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
03. Oneohtrix Point Never – Garden of Delete
04. Prurient – Frozen Niagara Falls
05. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
06. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
07. Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect
08. Matana Roberts – COIN COIN Chapter Three: river run thee
09. Bell Witch – Four Phantoms
10. Julia Holter – Have You in My Wilderness
Songs:
01. Circuit Des Yeux – “Fantasize the Scene”
02. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
03. Majical Cloudz – “Downtown”
04. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Run Away With Me”
05. Courtney Barnett – “Pedestrian at Best”
06. Vince Staples – “Senorita”
07. Drake – “Hotline Bling”
08. Protomartyr – “Ellen”
09. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment – “Sunday Candy”
10. Kurt Vile – “Pretty Pimpin”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: The Infinite Loop of Molting History: A Conversation with Oneohtrix Point Never
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Animal Collective – Painting With
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Hail, Caesar!
George “Sami” Jarroush, Video Director
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
02. The Districts – A Flourish And A Spoil
03. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities To Love
04. Torche – Restarter
05. Tame Impala – Currents
06. FIDLAR – Too
07. Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color
08. Jamie xx – In Colour
09. Bully – Feels Like
Songs:
01. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
02. The Districts – “4th and Roebling”
03. Kurt Vile – “Pretty Pimpin'”
04. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
05. Torche – “Minions”
06. Alabama Shakes – “Don’t Wanna Fight”
07. Jamie xx – “Good Times”
08. FIDLAR – “West Coast”
09. Sleater-Kinney – “A New Wave”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: The Motörhead Motörboat Cruise: A Documentary
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Whatever Radiohead is finally putting out
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice
Ben Kaye, News Editor
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
02. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
03. My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall
04. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
05. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – Surf
06. Lady Lamb – After
07. FIDLAR – Too
08. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
09. The Dear Hunter – Rebirth in Reprise
10. The Districts – A Flourish and a Spoil
Songs:
01. Tame Impala – “Cause I’m a Man”
02. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – “Slip Slide”
03. Ezra Furman – “Lousy Connection”
04. Bully – “Trying”
05. Leon Bridges – “River”
06. Ezra Furman – “Lousy Connection”
07. Gallant – “Weight in Gold”
08. Mas Ysa – “Margarita”
09. EL VY – “I’m the Man to Be”
10. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – “S.O.B.”
Films:
01. Honestly didn’t see enough of the year’s top films to say 🙁
02. I feel so useless
03. Why can’t all these be on Netflix already?
04. I DID just watch Inside Out — that was great
05. If I really did a list, it’d be all superhero movies
06. And Star Wars, obvi
07. No, I haven’t seen Mad Max: Fury Road yet
08. I know
09. I’m trying to see all the old ones first (again, I know)
10. Still need to see Thunderdome
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Festival of the Year: Newport Folk Festival
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Bon Iver
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Ghostbusters
Michelle Geslani, Assistant News Editor
Albums:
01. Jamie xx – In Colour
02. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
03. Tame Impala – Currents
04. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
05. Grimes – Art Angels
06. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
07. Deafheaven – New Bermuda
08. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
09. Beach House – Depression Cherry
10. Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color
Songs:
01. Jamie xx feat. Popcaan, Young Thug – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
02. Drake – “Hotline Bling”
03. Adele – “Hello”
04. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
05. Grimes – “Flesh Without Blood”
06. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
07. Jamie xx – Loud Places
08. Jack Ü feat. Justin Bieber – “Where Are Ü Now?”
09. Courtney Barnett – “Pedestrian at Best”
10. Alabama Shakes – “Future People”
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: FACES: Carrie Brownstein
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: The xx
Sasha Geffen, Associate Editor
Albums:
01. Oneohtrix Point Never – Garden of Delete
02. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
03. Torres – Sprinter
04. Nicole Dollanganger – Natural Born Losers
05. Grimes – Art Angels
06. Circuit Des Yeux – In Plain Speech
07. Holly Herndon – Platform
08. Alex G – Beach Music
09. Elvis Depressedly – New Alhambra
10. The Variable Why – Looking at the Triangles
Songs:
01. Nicolas Jaar – “No One Is Looking At U”
02. Beach House – “Somewhere Tonight”
03. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
04. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment – “Sunday Candy”
05. Autre Ne Veut – “Age of Transparency”
06. Jordaan Mason – “Of Hospitals”
07. Katie Dey – “Unkillable”
08. Shamir – “Vegas”
09. Arca – “Vanity”
10. Braids – “Sore Eyes”
Films:
01. Phoenix
02. Ex Machina
03. Room
04. Goodnight Mommy
05. Anomalisa
06. Love and Mercy
07. It Follows
08. Iris
09. Tangerine
10. The Assassin
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: CoSign: Nicole Dollanganger
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: ANOHNI – Hopelessness
Philip Cosores, Associate Editor
Albums:
01. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
02. Jamie xx – In Colour
03. Tame Impala – Currents
04. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
05. Torres – Sprinter
06. Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect
07. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
08. Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass
09. Majical Cloudz – Are You Alone?
10. Oneohtrix Point Never – Garden of Delete
Songs:
01. Jamie xx – “Gosh”
02. Hop Along – “Happy to See Me”
03. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
04. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
05. HEALTH – “Stonefist”
06. Natalie Prass – “My Baby Don’t Understand Me”
07. Sufjan Stevens – “Should Have Known Better”
08. Carly Rae Jepsen – “All That”
09. Alex Winston – “Down Low”
10. Autre Ne Veut – “Age of Transparency”
Films:
01. Inside Out
02. Spotlight
03. Sicario
04. It Follows
05. The End of the Tour
06. While We’re Young
07. Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation
08. The Gift
09. Ex Machina
10. Paddington
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Tame Impala – Imposter Complex
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Grandaddy
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: X-Men: Apocalypse
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Justin Gerber, Film Editor
Films:
01. Sicario
02. Call Me Lucky
03. Mad Max: Fury Road
04. The Look of Silence
05. Spotlight
06. Anomalisa
07. Heaven Knows What
08. It Follows
09. Entertainment
10. Creed
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Ranking: Every James Bond Film From Worst to Best
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Terrence Malick’s Knight of Cups
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Dominick Mayer, Film Editor
Songs:
01. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
02. Titus Andronicus – “Dimed Out”
03. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – “Sunday Candy”
04. The Mountain Goats – “Werewolf Gimmick”
05. D’Angelo and the Vanguard – “Ain’t It Easy”
06. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
07. A$AP Rocky – “Holy Ghost”
08. Earl Sweatshirt – “AM // Radio”
09. Vince Staples – “Lift Me Up”
10. Titus Andronicus – “I Lost My Mind (+@)”
Films:
01. The Look of Silence
02. The End of the Tour
03. Tangerine
04. Call Me Lucky
05. Mad Max: Fury Road
06. World of Tomorrow
07. Heaven Knows What
08. Youth
09. Eden
10. Son of Saul
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: The Movie Theater vs. The Couch: The War for Film
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Anytime Kanye’s eligible in this category, there you go.
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Richard Linklater’s Everybody Wants Some
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Cap Blackard, Art Director/Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. My Morning Jacket – The Waterfall
02. Polaris – Live at Lincoln Hall
03. The Protomen – The Cover Up
04. Twin Shadow – Eclipse
05. Chamber Band – Careers
06. Bleubird – Lauderdale
07. The Decemberists – What A Terrible World, What A Beautiful World
08. Hot Dad – TV
09. Björk – Vulnicura
10. YACHT – I Thought the Future Would Be Cooler
Songs:
01. David Bowie – “Blackstar”
02. My Morning Jacket – “Compound Fracture”
03. Chamber Band – “Victory Tour”
04. The Protomen – “Hold Back the Night”
05. Justin Roiland – “Get Schwifty” [Andromulus Remix]
06. Björk – “Stonemilker”
07. Hot Dad – “Family Matters”
08. The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face”
09. The Decemberists – “A Beginning Song”
10. Trevor Moore feat. Asmeret Ghebremichael – “Bullies”
Films:
01. Mad Max: Fury Road
02. The Man From U.N.C.L.E.
03. Crimson Peak
04. Turbo Kid
05. Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens
06. Advantageous
07. Kung Fury
08. Inside Out
09. Spectre
10. Ant-Man
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Miami Vice: It’s Time You Returned to Television
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: David Bowie – ★
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
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Dan Pfleegor, Director of Marketing/Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
2. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
3. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
4. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
5. Tame Impala – Currents
6. Grimes – Art Angels
7. Disasterpeace: It Follows
8. A$AP Rocky – At.Long.Last.A$AP
9. Ratatat – Magnifique
10. D’Angelo and the Vanguard – Black Messiah
Songs:
1. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
2. Future Islands – “The Chase”
3. Vince Staples – “Norf Norf”
4. Sufjan Stevens – “Should Have Known Better”
5. Viet Cong – “Continental Shelf”
6. Grimes – “Kill v. Maim”
7. A$AP Rocky (feat. Juicy J & UGK) – “Wavybone”
8. Kanye West (feat. Allan Kingdom, Theophilus London, Paul McCartney) – “All Day”
9. Colleen Green – “Deeper Than Love”
10.Janet Jackson – “No Sleeep”
Films:
01. Mad Max: Fury Road
02. It Follows
03. Call Me Lucky
04. Tangerine
05. Ex Machina
06. The Hateful Eight
07. Heaven Knows Best
08. Sicario
09. The Gift
10. Spotlight
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Goodnight, David Letterman
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Alice Glass
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: The Jungle Book
Steven Arroyo, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
02. Tame Impala – Currents
03. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
04. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
05. D’Angelo – Black Messiah
06. Jim O’Rourke – Simple Songs
07. Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color
08. Low – Ones and Sixes
09. Joanna Newsom – Divers
10. Deerhunter – Fading Frontier
Songs:
01. Tame Impala – “’Cause I’m a Man”
02. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
03. Panda Bear – “Tropic of Cancer”
04. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
05. Jamie xx feat. Young Thug & Popcaan – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
06. Ought – “Beautiful Blue Sky”
07. Grimes and Bleachers – “Entropy”
08. Torres – “Ferris Wheel”
09. Wilco – “Magnetized”
10. Car Seat Headrest – “Maud Gone”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Live Review: Grateful Dead at Chicago’s Soldier Field (7/3)
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Frank Ocean – Boys Don’t Cry
Ryan Bray, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. The Chemical Brothers – Born In The Echoes
02. Wilco – Star Wars
03. Leon Bridges – Coming Home
04. Ryan Adams – 1989
05. Sleater Kinney – No Cities To Love
06. Ceremony – The L-Shaped Man
07. Blur – The Magic Whip
08. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
09. Ought – Sun Coming Down
10. Fuzz – II
Songs:
01. Wilco – “You Satellite”
02. The Chemical Brothers – “I’ll See You There”
03. Ryan Adams – “Wildest Dreams”
04. Leon Bridges – “River”
05. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
06. Sleater Kinney – “A New Wave”
07. Blur – “Ohm Ohm”
08. Yo La Tengo – “Friday I’m In Love”
09. Bjork – “Black Lake”
10. Ceremony – “Your Life In France”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Rock Talk: Greg Kot and Jim DeRogatis Reflect on 500 Episodes of Sound Opinions
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Grandaddy
Jason Lytle’s two solo ventures were decent enough substitutes for Grandaddy’s sweetly dystopic brand of indie rock, but they were just that. The news that Lytle is penning and recording tracks for a new Grandaddy record couldn’t come at a more opportune time. With election season propelling American culture to a whole new level of crazy absurdism, Grandaddy’s sly but somber outlook on 21st century life has the potential to speak louder and with more force than any of their past efforts.
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Collin Brennan, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
02. Downtown Boys – Full Communism
03. Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy
04. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
05. Grimes – Art Angels
06. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
07. Oneohtrix Point Never – Garden of Delete
08. Eskimeaux – O.K.
09. Beach Slang – The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
10. Bully – Feels Like
Songs:
01. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
02. Rihanna, Kanye West, Paul McCartney – “FourFiveSeconds”
03. Jamie xx feat. Young Thug & Popcaan – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
04. Torres – “Ferris Wheel”
05. Titus Andronicus – “Dimed Out”
06. Eskimeaux – “I Admit I’m Scared”
07. Travi$ Scott – “Antidote”
08. Vince Staples – “Norf Norf”
09. Lupe Fiasco – “Deliver”
10. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
Films:
01. The Look of Silence
02. Mad Max: Fury Road
03. Queen of Earth
04. While We’re Young
05. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
06. Mommy
07. Dope
08. Amy
09. Brooklyn
10. Tangerine
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: The End of Expression: A Conversation with Rick Alverson and Gregg Turkington
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Savages – Adore Life
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
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Dan Caffrey, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
02. Grimes – Art Angels
03. Advance Base – Nephew In the Wild
04. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
05. Bully – Feels Like
06. Destroyer – Poison Season
07. Sun Kil Moon – Universal Themes
08. Natalie Prass – Natalie Prass
09. Robert Stillman – Rainbow
10. The Kickback – Sorry All Over the Place
Songs:
01. Destroyer – “Dream Lover”
02. Craig Finn – “Newmyer’s Roof”
03. Advance Base – “Kitty Wynn”
04. Titus Andronicus – “Fatal Flaw”
05. Bully – “Trying”
06. John Carpenter – “Vortex”
07. Tim Heidecker – “Our Values Are Under Attack”
08. Deerhunter – “Snakeskin”
09. Kurt Vile – “Pretty Pimpin'”
10. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – “Sunday Candy”
Films:
01. It Follows
02. Bone Tomahawk
03. Mad Max: Fury Road
04. Tangerine
05. The Hateful Eight
06. Creed
07. Entertainment
08. Hard To Be a God
09. White God
10. Lost Soul: The Doomed Journey of Richard Stanley’s Island of Dr. Moreau
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Tim Heidecker: A Man With a Country
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: M83
Film He’s Most Excited for in 2016: The Witch
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Randall Colburn, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
02. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
03. Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp
04. Majical Cloudz – Are You Alone?
05. Grimes – Art Angels
06. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Asunder, Sweet And Other Distress
07. Mountain Goats – Beat The Champ
08. Turnover – Peripheral Vision
09. Julien Baker – Sprained Ankle
10. Advance Base – Nephew In the Wild
Songs:
01. Mountain Goats – “Heel Turn 2”
02. Advance Base – “Christmas in Dearborn”
03. Majical Cloudz – “Silver Car Crash”
04. Modern Baseball – “The Waterboy Returns”
05. Turnover – “Humming”
06. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Let’s Get Lost”
07. Julien Baker – “Rejoice”
08. Ryan Adams – “Blank Space”
09. Iron Chic – “Subhumanoid Meltdown”
10. Hop Along – “Texas Funeral”
Films:
01. The Look of Silence
02. Entertainment
03. Furious 7
04. It Follows
05. Tangerine
06. While We’re Young
07. Spotlight
08. Mad Max: Fury Road
09. Montage of Heck
10. The Nightmare
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: How Parenthetical Girls Took Back Christmas
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Modern Baseball!
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: The Witch!
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Nina Corcoran, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
02. Jamie xx – In Colour
03. Joanna Newsom – Divers
04. Viet Cong – Viet Cong
05. Grimes – Art Angels
06. Krill – A Distant Fist Unclenching
07. Julia Holter – Have You In My Wilderness
08. Leapling – Vacant Page
09. Pile – You’re Better Than This
10. Keita Sano – Holding New Cards
Songs:
01. Ought – “Beautiful Blue Sky”
02. Chairlift – “Ch-Ching”
03. Krill – “Tiger”
04. Eugene Quell – “London Pollen”
05. Palehound – “Molly”
06. Rebel In The Morning – “Flickering Out”
07. Missy Elliott – “WTF (Where They From)” [ft. Pharrell]
08. Leapling – “Crooked”
09. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
10. Paul de Jong – “Age of the Sea”
Films:
01. Son of Saul
02. The End of the Tour
03. World of Tomorrow
04. The Tribe
05. The Lobster
06. A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence
07. The Wolfpack
08. White God
09. Anomalisa
10. Heart of a Dog
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: Needle In The Hay: Elliott Smith’s Self-Titled Album Turns 20
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: Radiohead
Film She’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Andrea Arnold’s American Honey
Katherine Flynn, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
02. Jamie xx – In Colour
03. Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION
04. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
05. Beach House – Depression Cherry
06. The Tallest Man On Earth – Dark Bird Is Home
07. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities To Love
08. Waxahatchee – Ivy Tripp
09. Speedy Ortiz – Foil Deer
10. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
Songs:
01. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Warm Blood”
02. Sufjan Stevens – “Should Have Known Better”
03. Jamie xx feat. Young Thug & Popcaan – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
04. Jeremih – “Planez”
05. Grimes – “California”
06. Modest Mouse – “Wicked Campaign”
07. Drake – “Now & Forever”
08. FKA twigs – “In Time”
09. Father John Misty – “Chateau Lobby #4 (in C for Two Virgins)”
10. The Tallest Man On Earth – “Beginners”
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: Shift Change: 15 Surprising Leaps By Musicians
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: Drake – Views From The 6
Film She’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Knight of Cups
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Blake Goble, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. D’Angelo & The Vanguard – Black Messiah
02. Tame Impala – Lonerism
03. AM & Shawn Lee – Outlines
04. Los Lobos – Gates of Gold
05. Thundercat – The Beyond / Where the Giants Roam
06. Wilco – Star Wars
07. Paul Weller – Saturns Pattern
08. Jamie XX – In Colour
09. Ennio Morricone – The Hateful Eight
10. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
Songs:
01. D’Angelo & The Vanguard – “The Charade”
02. AM & Shawn Lee – “Outlines”
03. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
04. Raury – “Demo 1: By The Sea”
05. Sam Dew – “Desperately”
06. Wilco – “Random Name Generator”
07. Thundercat – “Them Changes”
08. Ennio Morricone – “L’Ultima Diligenza di Red Rock”
09. Los Lobos – “When We Were Free”
10. Midnight – “Cool Kids (DFWU)”
Films:
01. Iris
02. Taxi
03. Inside Out
04. 45 Years
05. The Forbidden Room
06. The Treasure
07. A Pigeon Sat On A Branch Reflecting on Existence
08. Mad Max: Fury Road
09. Chi-Raq
10. The New Girlfriend
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: I feel slightly guilty about this, but Film Review: Paul Blart 2.
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: David Bowie – ★
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters (secretly Turtles 2)
Jon Hadusek, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Carly Rae Jepsen – Emotion
02. Windhand – Grief’s Infernal Flower
03. Elder – Lore
04. Bell Witch – Four Phantoms
05. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
06. Susanne Sundfor – Ten Love Songs
07. Marching Church – This World Is Not Enough
08. Prurient – Frozen Niagara Falls
09. Monolord – Vaenir
10. Kill West – Smoke Beach
Songs:
01. Elder – “Compendium”
02. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Run Away With Me”
03. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
04. Susanne Sundfor – “Fade Away”
05. Colleen Green – “Deeper Than Love”
06. Wand – “Melted Rope”
07. Dungen – “Franks Cactus”
08. Baroness – “Chlorine & Wine”
09. Holy Serpent – “Fools Gold”
10. Drake – “Hotline Bling”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Psycho California 2015 Review + Photos
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Deftones
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Brian Josephs, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Vince Staples – Summertime 06
02. Kamasi Washington – The Epic
03. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
04. Future – 56 Nights
05. Jamie xx – In Colour
06. Miguel – WILDHEART
07. Donnie Trumpet and The Social Experiment – Surf
08. DΔWN – Blackheart
09. Jazmine Sullivan – Reality Show
10. Jeremih – Late Nights: The Album
Songs:
01. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
02. Future – “March Madness”
03. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
04. Erykah Badu & Andre 3000 – “Hello”
05. Kamasi Washington – “Re Run Home”
06. WOKE – “The Lavishments of Light Looking”
07. Jamie xx – “Girl”
08. Vince Staples – “Get Paid”
09. Dr. Dre feat. Kendrick Lamar, Marsha Ambrosius, and Candice Pillay – “Genocide”
10. Drake – “Know Yourself”
Article He’s (Choose One) Most Proud of in 2015: Revisiting the Radical Black Fever Dream of Kanye West’s My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Radiohead
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Martin Scorsese’s Silence
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Pat Levy, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Future – DS2
02. Jamie xx – In Colour
03. Young Thug – Slime Season
04. Majical Cloudz – Are You Alone?
05. Carly Rae Jepsen – E-MO-TION
06. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
07. Migos – Yung Rich Nation
08. Destroyer – Poison Season
09. Milo – So The Flies Don’t Come
10. Shamir – Ratchet
Songs:
01. Post Malone – “White Iverson”
02. Future – “March Madness”
03. Chance the Rapper – “Angels”
04. The Internet – “Girl”
05. Lower Dens – “To Die In L.A.”
06. Action Bronson – “Falconry” feat. Mayhem Lauren and Big Body Bes
07. Young Thug – “Quarterback” feat. Quavo, Offset, and Peewee Longway
08. Girlpool – “Chinatown”
09. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Run Away With Me”
10. Ought – “Beautiful Blue Sky”
Films:
01. What We Do In the Shadows
02. Kingsman: The Secret Service
03. It Follows
04. Mad Max: Fury Road
05. Furious 7
06. The Overnight
07. Creed
08. Sicario
09. Entertainment
10. Spy
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Album Review: Migos – Yung Rich Nation
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Charles Bradley – Changes
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Jeremy Saulnier’s Green Room
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Sheldon Pearce, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
02. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
03. The Internet – Ego Death
04. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
05. Tame Impala – Currents
06. Young Thug – Barter 6
07. Beach House – Depression Cherry
08. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities To Love
09. Future – Dirty Sprite 2
10. Earl Sweatshirt – I Don’t Like Shit, I Don’t Go Outside
Songs:
01. Future – “March Madness”
02. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
03. Jack Ü feat. Justin Bieber – “Where Are Ü Now?”
04. Sleater-Kinney – “Price Tag”
05. Young Thug – “Pacifier”
06. Kacey Musgraves – “Die Fun”
07. Kelela – “Rewind”
08. FKA twigs – “In Time”
09. Drake – “10 Bands”
10. Fifth Harmony – “Worth It” (Feat. Kid Ink)
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Dan Deacon: Weird Transparency
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Lior Phillips, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. New Order – Music Complete
02. Nils Frahm – Solo
03. Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down
04. Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy
05. Circuit des Yeux – In Plain Speech
06. Majical Cloudz – Are You Alone?
07. Squarepusher – Damogen Furies
08. East India Youth – Culture of Volume
09. Hey Colossus – Radio Static High
10. Carter Tutti Void – f (x)
Songs:
01. Kurt Vile – “Pretty Pimpin”
02. Majical Cloudz – “Dowtown”
03. Anohni – “4 degrees”
04. Hot Chip – “Dark Night”
05. Titus Andronicus – “Dimed Out”
06. J Fernandez – “Between the channels”
07. Jenny Hval – “The Battle is Over”
08. David Bowie – “Blackstar”
09. Viet Cong – “March of Progress”
10. A-WA – “Habib Galbi”
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: Who the Hell Are Titus Andronicus?
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: Radiohead
Derek Staples, Senior Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Shamir – Ratchet
02. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
03. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
04. DJ Paypal – Sold Out
05. Jamie xx – In Colour
06. Arca – Mutant
07. Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer
08. Darkstar – Foam Island
09. Tame Impala – Currents
10. Ratatat – Magnifique
Songs:
01. Vince Staples – “Norf Norf”
02. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
03. Ecstatic Vision – “Astral Plane”
04. Majical Cloudz – “Are You Alone”
05. Shamir – “Make A Scene”
06. Father John Misty – “The Night Josh Tillman Came To Our Apartment”
07. Drake & Future – Jumpman
08. Jamie xx – I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)
09. Bassekou Kouyate & Ngoni Ba – “Siren Fen”
10. Denney – “Low Frequency”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Detroit’s Techno Epoch: An Interview with Movement’s Sam Fotias
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Death Grip’s Bottomless Pit and holding out hope for Jay Electronica’s debut studio full-length.
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Sean Barry, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Titus Andronicus – The Most Lamentable Tragedy
02. Bell Witch – Four Phantoms
03. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie and Lowell
04. Godspeed You! Black Emperor – Asunder, Sweet and Other Distress
05. Horrendous – Anareta
06. Deafheaven – New Bermuda
07. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
08. Panda Bear – Panda Bear Meets The Grim Reaper
09. Saintseneca – Such Things
10. Vattnet Viskar – Settler
Songs:
01. Death Grips – “On GP”
02. Panda Bear – “Boys Latin”
03. Deafzeaven – “Brought To The Water”
04. Django Django – “Found You”
05. Saintseneca – “Rare Form”
06. Horrendous – “Acolytes”
07. Bell Witch – “Suffocation, A Burial: I – Awoken (Broken Teeth)”
08. Sufjan Stevens – “Death With Dignity”
09. Yellow Eyes – “Ice in the Spring”
10. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Album Review: Deafheaven – New Bermuda
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Animal Collective – Painting With
David Buchanan, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Marilyn Manson – The Pale Emperor
02. Faith No More – Sol Invictus
03. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
04. Screaming Females – Rose Mountain
05. Action Bronson – Mr. Wonderful
06. Muse – Drones
07. Lindemann – Skills In Pills
08. Teenage Time Killers – Greatest Hits, Volume 1
09. Ghost – Meliora
10. Punch Brothers – The Phosphorescent Blues
Songs:
01. Faith No More – “Motherfucker”
02. Seether – “Words As Weapons”
03. Bruno Mars – “Uptown Funk”
04. The Weeknd – “Earned It”
05. Amorphis – “Death Of A King”
06. Muse – “Dead Inside”
07. Slayer – “When The Stillness Comes”
08. Drake – “Hotline Bling”
09. Michael C. Hall – “Blackstar”
10. Nero – “The Thrill”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Ranking: Every Faith No More Song From Worst to Best
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Suede’s Night Thoughts
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Karen Gwee, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
02. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
03. Braids – Deep In The Iris
04. Carly Rae Jepsen – EMOTION
05. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
06. Eskimeaux – O.K.
07. Protomartyr – The Agent Intellect
08. Tame Impala – Currents
09. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
10. Jamie xx – In Colour
Songs:
01. Protomartyr – “Why Does It Shake?”
02. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
03. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
04. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
05. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Run Away With Me”
06. Braids – “Taste”
07. Rihanna – “Bitch Better Have My Money”
08. Miguel – “Coffee”
09. Grimes – “Flesh Without Blood”
10. Eskimeaux – “Broken Necks”
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: Rock ‘n’ Roll Is for Everyone: The Fight for Safe and Inclusive Shows
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: The Last Shadow Puppets
Tony Hardy, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Bearpark – Wilderness End
02. Eyes For Gertrude – Residential Bliss
03. Secret Someones – Secret Someones
04. The Mynabirds – Lovers Know
05. Mercury Rev – The Light In You
06. Laura Marling – Short Movie
07. Morton Valence – Another Country
08. Owl & Mouse – Departures
09. Lady Lamb – After
10.Sweet Billy Pilgrim – Motorcade Amnesiacs
Songs:
01. Mercury Rev – “The Queen Of Swans”
02. Eyes For Gertrude – “Rag And Bone”
03. Bearpark – “Boxers”
04. Secret Someones – “I Won’t Follow”
05. Belle & Sebastian – “Nobody’s Empire”
06. Owl & Mouse – “Misfits”
07. Lady Lamb – “Penny Licks”
08. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
09. The Mynabirds – “Hanged Man”
10.Guy Garvey – “Courting the Squall”
Films:
01. The Lady in the Van
02. Amy
03. Far From The Madding Crowd
04. Ex Machina
05. Sicario
06. Carol
07. Still Alice
08. The Revenant
09. 45 Years
10. Spectre
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Live Review: “Weird Al” Yankovic at London’s Eventim Apollo (10/4)
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Daughter – Not To Disappear
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: My Cousin Rachel starring Rachel Weisz and Sam Claflin
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Lyndsey Havens, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Tame Impala – Currents
02. Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color
03. Catfish and the Bottlemen – The Balcony
04. The Weeknd – Beauty Behind the Madness
05. Sleater Kinney – No Cities To Love
06. Leon Bridges – Coming Home
07. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
08. Wilco – Star Wars
09. Tobias Jesso Jr. – Goon
10. The Dead Weather – Dodge and Burn
Songs:
01. Beck – “Dreams”
02. Tame Impala – “‘Cause I’m A Man”
03. Alabama Shakes – “Don’t Wanna Fight”
04. The Weeknd – “The Hills”
05. Sia – “Alive”
06. Florence and the Machine – “What Kind of Man”
07. Adele – “Hello”
08. Leon Bridges – “Smooth Sailin'”
09. Modest Mouse – “Lampshades on Fire”
10. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: Jacked: What’s Jack White’s Best Project?
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: Frank Ocean
Dusty Henry, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
02. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
03. All Dogs – Kicking Every Day
04. Jamie xx – In Colour
05. Car Seat Headrest – Teens Of Style
06. Chastity Belt – Time To Go Home
07. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
08. Freddie Gibbs – Shadow Of A Doubt
09. Ilyas Ahmed – I Am All Your Own
10. Aero Flynn – Aero Flynn
Songs:
01. Majical Cloudz – “Downtown”
02. All Dogs – “Black Hole”
03. Chastity Belt – “Drone”
04. Korallreven – “Here In Iowa”
05. Kurt Vile – “Pretty Pimpin”
06. Kendrick Lamar – “Wesley’s Theory”
07. Bully – “Trying”
08. Sufjan Stevens – “No Shade In The Shadow Of The Cross”
09. Colleen Green – “TV”
10. Jame xx feat. Young Thug & Popcaan – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: John Congleton’s Quest For The Truth in Five Records
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Radiohead
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: The Disaster Artist
Danielle Janota, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Jamie xx – In Colour
02. Grimes – Art Angels
03. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
04. Le1f – Riot Boi
05. Colleen Green – I Want To Grow Up
06. The Internet – Ego Death
07. Hudson Mohawke – Lantern
08. The Chemical Brothers – Born In The Echoes
09. Big Sean – Dark Sky Paradise
10. Sleater Kinney – No Cities To Love
Songs:
01. Jamie xx – “Gosh”
02. Kanye West ft. Allan Kingdom, Paul McCartney & Theophilus London – “All Day”
03. Grimes – “Kill V. Maim”
04. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
05.The Chemical Brothers – “Taste of Honey”
06. Shamir – “On The Regular”
07. Mas Ysa – “Margarita”
08. Battles – “The Yabba”
09. FKA twigs – “Figure 8”
10. Justin Bieber – “Sorry”
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: North Coast 2015 Festival Review: Top 10 Moments
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: Kanye West’s SWISH (or whatever dumb title he changes it to next)
Film She’s Most Anticipating for 2016: David Ayer’s Suicide Squad
Kevin McMahon, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
02. D’Angelo – Black Messiah
03. Death Grips – Jenny Death
04. Jamie xx – In Colour
05. Four Tet – Morning/Evening
06. Jeremiah Jae – The Night Took Us In Like Family
07. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
08. Tame Impala – Currents
09. The Chemical Brothers – Born in the Echoes
10. Julio Bashmore – Knockin’ Boots
Songs:
01. Sufjan Stevens – “Fourth of July”
02. Death Grips – “Pss Pss”
03. D’Angelo – “Really Love”
04. Floating Points “Silhouettes (I, II, & III)
05. Father John Misty – “True Affection”
06. Kendrick Lamar – “You Ain’t Gotta Lie”
07. DJ Koze – “I Haven’t Been Everywhere But It’s On My List”
08. Jamie xx – “Loud Places”
09. Nils Frahm – “Some”
10. Throwing Snow – “Xema”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Long Nights and Inalienable Rights: A Conversation with Mr Twin Sister
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: I’d be lying if I didn’t say Radiohead, but they may very well take until 2017 so I’m going to go with the Gorillaz.
Film He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Deadpool
Leah Pickett, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
02. Joanna Newsom – Divers
03. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit
04. Grimes – Art Angels
05. Chvrches – Every Open Eye
06. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
07. Björk – Vulnicura
08. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
09. Alabama Shakes – Sound & Color
10. Wilco – Star Wars
Songs:
01. Sufjan Stevens – “4th of July”
02. Courtney Barnett – “Pedestrian at Best”
03. Chvrches – “Leave a Trace”
04. Joanna Newsom – “Sapokanikan”
05. Grimes – “Flesh without Blood”
06. Wilco – “Random Name Generator”
07. Bully – “Trying”
08. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
09. Sleater-Kinney – “New Wave”
10. The Weeknd – “Can’t Feel My Face”
Films:
01. Spotlight
02. Ex Machina
03. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
04. Mad Max: Fury Road
05. Sicario
06. It Follows
07. Anomalisa
08. Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief
09. While We’re Young
10. Call Me Lucky
Honorable Mentions: Carol, Brooklyn, Tangerine, Amy, Inside Out, and The Big Short
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: Comedian of the Year: Aziz Ansari
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: Radiohead
Film She’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Tie: Captain America: Civil War and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Phillip Roffman, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Grimes – Art Angels
02. Tame Impala – Currents
03. Kendrick Lamar – How to Pimp A Butterfly
04. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit and Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
05. Jamie xx – In Colour
06. Silversun Pickups – Better Nature
07. Will Butler – Policy
08. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
09. Beach House – Depression Cherry
10. Big Grams – Big Grams
Songs:
01. Grimes – “Realiti Demo”
02. Future Islands – “The Chase”
03. Warpaint – “Ashes to Ashes”
04. Tame Impala – “Let it Happen”
05. Kendrick Lamar – “For Free?”
06. Silversun Pickups – “Nightlight”
07. Missy Elliott – “WTF (Where They From)”
08. Kendrick Lamar & J. Cole – “Blackfriday”
09. Jamie XX – “Gosh”
10. Vallis Alps – “Young”
Films:
01. Me Earl and the Dying Girl
02. Mad Max: Fury Road
03. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
04. It Follows
05. Love and Mercy
06. The End of the Tour
07. Ex Machina
08. Straight Outta Compton
09. Inside Out
10. Krampus
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: III Points Festival 2015 Festival Review: Worst to Best
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Future Islands
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story
Zack Ruskin, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
02. Lin-Manuel Miranda Hamilton OST
03. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
04. Kurt Vile – b’lieve i’m goin down
05. Beach Slang – The Things We Do To Find People Who Feel Like Us
06. Dan Deacon – Gliss Riffer
07. Atticus Ross – Music From Love and Mercy OST
08. Eugene Mirman – I’m Sorry (You’re Welcome)
09. Frank Turner – Positive Songs for Negative People
10. Joanna Newsom – Divers
Songs:
01. Kurt Vile – “Pretty Pimpin”
02. Sufjan Stevens – “All of Me Wants All of You”
03. Dan Deacon – “When I Was Done Dying”
04. Joanna Newsom – “Sapokanikan”
05. Sleater-Kinney – “A New Wave”
06. Lin-Manuel Miranda – “My Shot”
07. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
08. Adele – “Hello”
09. Jamie xx feat. Young Thug & Popcaan – “I Know There’s Gonna Be (Good Times)”
10. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
Films:
01. Love and Mercy
02. Spotlight
03. The Look of Silence
04. Jurassic World
05. Carol
06. Ex Machina
07. Trainwreck
08. Steve Jobs
09. Trumbo
10. Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: The Strange Return of Drive Like Jehu
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Radiohead’s ninth studio album
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Hail, Caesar!
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David Sackllah, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Sufjan Stevens – Carrie & Lowell
02. D’Angelo & The Vanguard – Black Messiah
03. Future – 56 Nights
04. Torres – Sprinter
05. Vince Staples – Summertime ’06
06. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
07. Grimes – Art Angels
08. Lower Dens – Escape From Evil
09. Carly Rae Jepsen – Emotion
10. Rae Sremmurd – Sremmlife
Songs:
01. Donnie Trumpet & The Social Experiment – “Sunday Candy”
02. Jamie XX (ft. Young Thug & Popcaan) – “I Know There’s Gonna Be Good Times”
03. Future – “March Madness”
04. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
05. Heems – “Flag Shopping”
06. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Warm Blood”
07. Sheer Mag – “Button Up”
08. Justin Beiber – “Sorry”
09. Jamie XX (ft. Romy) – “Loud Places”
10. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: The Uphill Battle of International Touring Bands
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Radiohead
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Janine Schaults, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Adele – 25
02. Glen Hansard – Didn’t He Ramble
03. Joan Shelley – Over and Even
04. Alabama Shakes – Sound and Color
05. Florence + The Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful,’ Florence and the Machine
06. Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats – Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats
07. Josh Ritter – Sermon on the Rocks
08. Leon Bridges – Coming Home
09. Torres – Sprinter
10. Dwight Yoakam – Second Hand Heart
Songs:
01. Little Big Town – Girl Crush
02. Adele – Water Under the Bridge
03. Glen Hansard – Winning Streak
04. Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats – S.O.B.
05. Protomartyr – Why Does It Shake?
06. Mark Ronson ft. Bruno Mars Uptown Funk
07. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment – Sunday Candy
08. Sia – Alive
09. Coldplay 0 Adventure of a Lifetime
10. Kurt Vile – Pretty Pimpin
Films:
01. Spotlight
02. Mad Max: Fury Road
03. It Follows
04. Steve Jobs
05. Brooklyn
06. Room
07. Star Wars: The Force Awakens
08. The End of the Tour
09. The Martian
10. Sicario
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: Album Review: Mumford and Songs – Wilder Mind
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: Sia
Film She’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters
Allison Shoemaker, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
02. Grimes – Art Angels
03. Sleater-Kinney – No Cities to Love
04. Carly Rae Jepsen – E•MO•TION
05. D’Angelo & the Vanguard – Black Messiah
06. Courtney Barnett – Sometimes I Sit And Think, And Sometimes I Just Sit
07. Joanna Newsome – Divers
08. Drake – If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late
09. The Mountain Goats – Beat the Champ
10. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Original Broadway Cast – Hamilton
Songs:
01. Wondaland Records – “Hell You Talmbout”
02. Kendrick Lamar – “Alright”
03. Grimes – “Realiti”
04. Carly Rae Jepsen – “Run Away With Me”
05. Courtney Barnett – “Depreston”
06. The Mountain Goats – “Heel Turn 2”
07. Kasey Musgraves – “Pageant Material”
08. Rachel Bloom – “I’m a Good Person”
09. Adele – “Hello”
10. Rihanna – “Bitch Better Have My Money”
Films:
01. Mad Max: Fury Road
02. Tangerine
03. Inside Out
04. Spotlight
05. While We’re Young
06. Sicario
07. Call Me Lucky
08. Ex Machina
09. Amy
10. Spy/Magic Mike XXL)
Article She’s Most Proud of in 2015: From Dog Day Afternoon to Dallas Buyers Club: The Danish Girl Predecessors
In thinking a lot about how trans* people are portrayed on film, I—surprise surprise—learned a lot about the representation of trans* and gender-nonconforming people in general. Not to sound all bleeding heart, but I feel like a better, more informed ally now than I was two months ago.
Album She’s Most Excited for in 2016: David Bowie – ★
Film She’s Most Anticipating for 2016: Paul Feig’s Ghostbusters
I don’t care that it’s not a new idea. I don’t care that it’s a little silly. I have zero fucks to give about any of that nonsense. Do you know how often people get all worked up, months—nay, years—in advance about a movie starring four women? I cannot fucking wait. I hate the term ‘haters,’ but hey, HATERS: who you gonna call? Those ladies, that’s who.
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Clint Worthington, Staff Writer
Films:
01. Mad Max: Fury Road
02. Spotlight
03. The Assassin
04. The Look of Silence
05. Tangerine
06. Creed
07. It Follows
08. The Big Short
09. Son of Saul
10. 99 Homes
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Film Review: The Ridiculous 6
As the new kid on the block, part of my journey through the last few months is just finding my footing as a critic: balancing personal taste with acknowledgement of craft, examining both the politics of a film and the filmmaking itself, and so on. One of the ways I did that was to dive headfirst into the job, which is why I actively volunteered to watch/review The Ridiculous 6 upon release. For better or worse, my complicated (and largely negative) feelings for that movie led to a review of which I’m particularly proud. I’m always looking to improve as a writer and critic, but that review was the one where I felt most comfortable. While I’ve gotten to do some cool interviews already in my first few months here (Alex Ross Perry, Jay Roach, Michael Shannon), it’s the reviews that bring me the most joy and cathartic anger – this was certainly no exception.
Film He’s Most Anticipating for 2016: The Purge: Anarchy
Though, like any red-blooded American white nerd, I’m looking forward to Captain America: Civil War, I’ll go for the deep cut and say The Purge 3. While the first Purge was a limp home-invasion flick with limp stabs at political commentary, last year’s The Purge: Anarchy somehow fixed most of the first film’s problems by leaning into the cartoonishness of the premise, making its politics even more bold and strident, and giving us an awesome protagonist in Frank Grillo’s Punisher-like lead. With Grillo and some of the other characters from Anarchy returning for the third one, here’s hoping director James DeMonaco has solidified the premise (and his directorial prowess) further.
Killian Young, Staff Writer
Albums:
01. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp a Butterfly
02. Tame Impala – Currents
03. Father John Misty – I Love You, Honeybear
04. CHVRCHES – Every Open Eye
05. Sorority Noise – Joy, Departed
06. Grimes – Art Angels
07. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment – Surf
08. Florence and the Machine – How Big, How Blue, How Beautiful
09. Young Jesus – Grow/Decompose
10. The Front Bottoms – Back on Top
Songs:
01. Kendrick Lamar – “King Kunta”
02. Tame Impala – “Let It Happen”
03. CHVRCHES – “Never Ending Circles”
04. Sorority Noise – “Nolsey”
05. Father John Misty – “The Night Josh Tillman Came to Our Apt.”
06. Kanye West – “All Day”
07. The Front Bottoms – “Plastic Flowers”
08. Speedy Ortiz – “Raising the Skate”
09. Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment – “Wanna Be Cool”
10. Grimes feat. Janelle Monáe – “Venus Fly”
Article He’s Most Proud of in 2015: Once Upon a Time in Minneapolis: 20 Years of Rhymesayers
Album He’s Most Excited for in 2016: Kanye West – SWISH
