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thesymphonyoflife · 4 years

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Favorite albums of the 2010s

This was an arduous and lengthy task to complete. Not because I don’t love talking about music, but because upon each subsequent album in this list, it became harder and harder to talk about. I mean, how do you truly do justice in words to describe how impactful an album was to you? Also, how do you compare things that are so different? How do you compare something released in 2019 to 2010? You can’t really do any of those things, so here I try to best present my thoughts as to why these 25 albums stood out the most to me in this past decade, and why they had such a personal connection to me.

Remember, these are just snapshots in time. The thoughts of this day, reflecting back on the past decade, and how I feel in this moment: My favorite albums of the 2010s...

25. Pusha T - Daytona

Short and sweet. Quality over quantity. This album comes out swinging, knows it’s pace, direction, and theme, and does it well over a quick 22 minutes. The beats are always fun to listen to when Pusha T raps, and these 7 are no different from before. There’s no beat quite like “Numbers On The Board,” but I can’t fault the album for that. I always like Pusha T’s flow, and appreciate how his flow and harshness inherently make him enunciate very well, making it just a little more immersive (and makes it easier to stank-face rap along to it in the car).

24. Kelela - Take Me Apart

This album is crafted so meticulously. The care taken to surround the messages in the songs with appropriate beats, and fusing genres together so seamlessly all in the process. Kelela’s vocals are so poetic and beautiful as the struggles and vulnerability come out immediately and never relent. It’s a personal but applicable and accessible album, because the concepts about love, loss, relationships, empowerment, are all relatable in some way to us. It’s hard to ever predict in the moment if an album is “ahead of its time,” but I submit this one as a candidate.

23. The Weeknd - House Of Balloons

I think we could see this type of R&B coming. The spacey, moody, sexual R&B that was like a bunch of styles mixed together, combined with the effects and mixing possible in this decade. And that might sound like a slight on Abel Tesfaye, aka The Weeknd, but it’s not. I could spit out a bunch of ingredients, in right proportions to you, to describe a perfect entree, but I still need to cook it. And that’s what the Weeknd provided. Even if a lot of the magic behind the sound was in the production, there still needed to be a suitable voice to go with it. And turns out, he has a pretty good voice (and one that would naturally transition to pop). I like this record, obviously, for it’s underground mentality and foundation it led to this type of R&B sound. And even though it’s duplicated like no other now, I always appreciate the ones that not only lay the groundwork but do it well too. And this is what it was: simply the foundational “2010′s alternative R&B album” (which happened to be a mixtape).

22. Oddisee - The Beauty In All

I have been making music (primarily hip hop beats) since I was in high school. I got inspired by my affinity towards hip hop, and the cool beats from Dr. Dre, Lil Jon, DJ Premier and DJ Shadow. When I got to college, I had less time, so I didn’t get to make music very often. When I was getting out of college though, and getting back in to the real world, I didn’t seem to have that spark. Then this album came to my attention. Coupled this with some new maschinery (pun intended if you get it), and I was on to my second phase of music making. I wouldn’t call the music in this album simple, but the thought of creating catchy, melodic, groovy beats seemed like a possibility when listening to this. Lots of bobbing head moments in car rides and airplanes were had.

21. The War On Drugs - Lost In The Dream

I’ve been trying, for the past several years, to craft a criteria list to what is needed to make a good “driving album.” I think I’m close, but for simplicities sake, I’ll just say it should have some elements that are in this one. The aesthetic, “the dream” is evident throughout this album, and one fitting of its title. The guitar tones and understated drums and basslines create an accessible foundation for all the tracks on the album, which make it easy to lose track of time and suddenly find yourself at your destination sooner than you anticipated. It can be easy to not truly pay attention to the lyrics upon first/second/third listens to this album as a result, but I urge you to try to decipher the messages that are outlined here. There’s a lot of poetic metaphors and interesting concepts presented here, fueling even more thought while listening.

20. Radiohead - A Moon Shaped Pool

I have been listening avidly to Radiohead for a much shorter time frame than most of the die hard fans, but I still have been a huge fan for about 10 years. Even so, it’s hard to really know what to expect off a band which has such a deep and replay-able discography in a new album. It almost needs to be a formula: Amount of plays you’ve had for all previous albums = number of plays needed for new album to completely digest it. The first 20 or so listens are really just to give your brain some time to place the sounds of the new album next to all the familiarity of the previous albums. And at the end of the day, it’s still Radiohead: beautiful instrumentation, poetic, frustratingly difficult to decipher lyrics, all wrapped up in exquisite mixing. It deserves it’s place along with their other albums, even if it’s difficult for me to go back to as much as their previous albums.

19. James Blake - James Blake

I previously wrote about influential albums from my childhood. This would definitely make the list for the past decade. It changed my perception about specific genres, made me change my listening habits, and made me yearn for things more like it. I think that pretty much fits the description of an influential album right? I remember first hearing Wilhelm Scream, and I was more puzzled than entranced. But for some reason, I wanted to listen to it again. And then I found more elements I could grasp on to, like James airy falsetto, the pronouncement of the vocals in the mix that I had not heard quite like before, and this minimal electronic instrumental that I couldn’t predict where it was really going. The new can be exciting, but it can be off-putting if not all the elements are there. And for some reason, i could tell that there was music here, even if it didn’t sound like it very much upon my first listens. Then I started getting attached to Lindesfarne I, this primarily vocal only song that had this beautiful melodic and glitchy quality to it that kept me entranced. “Beacon Don’t Fly Too High,” repeated over and over again, in this autotune but beautifully nuanced quality to it that I just got lost in so easily. This album was a gold mine for my college, introspective, night-owl nature. I will always remember my college experiences and personal growth with this album, because they happened hand in hand (or ear and mind).

18. Beach House - 7

Reverb is a powerful tool. In music you can use it in so many ways. Mostly, it’s used to create a sense of space and enveloping atmosphere that tries to not only transport you mentally but also physically into a different place (no, reverb is not marijuana. But I will be exploring the similarities in my thesis. Stay tuned). It’s basically the music equivalent of escapism in films. And dream pop/shoegaze are genres that do it hella well. I mean, the key word is in the genre: “dream.” It’s hard to just conjure feelings of a dream with a simple formula though, it takes intricate instrumentation, meticulous craft of the mixing and vocals, and appropriate frequencies occupying the final space. And those are all elements which Beach House have perfected over the past decade with their music. I could have picked any one of their 5 albums from this decade, really, but I will settle on the last one, mainly for my affinity towards the lushness and grand sonic texture they were able to craft throughout the track list. It may not encompass my favorite vocal performances, but I just love the layers and melodies and downright cool sounds mixed together for the instrumentals. It’s refreshing and it allows me to pick different things I didn’t catch before upon each subsequent listen. brb, gonna go drift off into space for a bit now...

17. Janelle Monae - The ArchAndroid

I discover a lot of music during the end of the year, when journalists write their “best of” lists. This album was on a lot of them, so I was seeing a lot of praise for it before actually listening to it. And sometimes, ingraining those expectations in your head can lead you in the wrong state of mind when trying to digest it (especially something as adventurous as this album). This is a concept album which is carefully crafted and expertly mixed/mastered to resemble music coming from the future. So it did take me a few listens to shake off my judgmental, hipster young college mind when I immediately heard an orchestral piece as the opening track of the album. “Hrumph, this is just pretentious,” my mind kept telling myself. But it only takes a few songs that you come back to before you just start playing from the beginning again. It was “Cold War” and “Tightrope” I kept coming back to first, maybe because it resembled previous R&B/hip-hop I had heard before. Then it turned to “Neon Valley Street,” which incorporated beautiful strings weaving through Janelle’s beautiful vocals. Then as I listened to “BaBopBye Ya” unbeknownst to me for the 8th time in one day, envisioning a play, where the main actress was singing her heart out in her shining soliloquy, that I finally appreciated the work she had crafted. Then I played the album again. “Once more, from the top!”

16. Kacey Musgraves - The Golden Hour

Remember what I said earlier about “driving” albums? Ho boy, this one is a doozy in that regard. And no, I’m not just stereotyping it because it is a country album (even though, to be fair, it is the genre that birthed the masterpiece known as “Dirt Road Anthem”), I am saying that because again, all the elements are here: melancholic instrumentals, easy to understand vocals, and a general tone that is just downright pleasant. It’s hard to describe what “easy on the ears” really is, but this is what I would showcase as an example. And that’s not to take away what Kacey accomplishes in this album. The songwriting is very poetic in my opinion, and while the concepts about love, relationships, purpose, and just life in general are not extremely groundbreaking, each track in the tracklisting is neatly wrapped up in a bow with a cherry on top. It’s the equivalent of a dog looking at you and smiling. You can’t help but feel a little good about yourself, no matter what circumstances you might be in at the time. And yes, I promise you, that’s the only time I will be comparing music to animals during this list. But this is a truly beautiful record that I keep coming back to, and each time, I get transported to the same feelings of peace, tranquility, and nostalgia (and a smiling dog).

15. Holy Other - Held

This was a huge decade for my affinity towards electronic music. There was a whole avalanche of factors which contributed, like the general rising output in general, the vast number of stylistic shifts and sub-genres crafted, and just my growing pallet for interesting and cool sounds. And this album checked all the boxes for what I was infatuated with in the genre. The immediate, overbearing, dark, almost too-in-your-face spacey atmosphere. The weird synths and percussion elements. The right vocal samples that complement the beats well and sit atop the mix perfectly. And the tempos which keep you guessing and keep you engaged. I hadn’t heard anything like it before. And when you hear something like that, it makes you want to find out, immediately after listening to it for the 85th time, “what else sounds like this???” It’s always disappointing when you keep searching and don’t find something exactly in the same vein, but then you start to realize the uniqueness of this music and appreciate it even more. (BUT STILL, WHERE IS THE NEW MUSIC BRO?? IT’S BEEN 8 YEARS!!!!) It’s albums like these that keep me excited for the genre in the future, the “new-ness” of it all, and the possibility that you might stumble upon another Holy Other.

14. The Roots - Undun

Hip Hop has been my favorite genre of music for quite some time now. You never really know what’s going on inside the mind of a pre-teen, even if it was my own, so it’s hard to recall what it exactly was about it that immediately made it stick out to me. I think the energy, and the aggressiveness fit my moods at the time, and maybe because I was into basketball a lot, that also swayed me to it instinctively? Either way, I mostly liked the uptempo beats from the stuff that was popular in the early 2000s (crunk, dirty south mostly). So in that regard, my exposure to hip-hop was not of a natural exposure, or one you would recommend to someone who wants to get into a specific genre. Once I had my fill of the hype stuff, I came back around to the earlier hip-hop staples, from Illmatic to Reasonable Doubt to Me Against The World to Ready To Die. But even then, all the while, I resorted back to my listening habits from when I first started listening to hip-hop. Paying more attention to the beats than the lyrics. Maybe it was my attention span. But whatever it was, I never made a concious effort to dive deeper into the messages behind the lyrics. Until I got to this album. Maybe it was the relaxed nature of the beginning of the album that eased me into it. Maybe it was the outstanding verse from Big K.R.I.T. on “Make My” that pulled me closer in. Or maybe it was just Black Thought’s outstanding flow and heartfelt emotion displayed. For whatever reason, this album, from the very first listen, played out like a book. Which is kind of what they were going for here. And since then, I’ve been able to pay attention to lyrics a lot more. Challenge myself to understand the subject matter, even if it might be completely foreign to me. I have The Roots to thank for that.

13. Tim Hecker - Virgins

What is music? Yes, the halfway point in the list is the perfect time to get all philosophical. No but really, what is music? Is it just tones and notes and melodies? Or can it be other things, like noise? Prior to this album, my brain would’ve just processed things differently and filed noise away in a separate box. Now it’s a little more complicated. Thanks to this album. Again a result of recommendations on a year end list, I took my first foray into drone music with this album. And I surprisingly loved it from the get-go. The ethereal textures, lush synths, and other-worldly noises were just the tip of the iceberg with this album. It made me redefine what I considered music altogether. I learned that it is possible to encompass as much of the frequency spectrum as possible and still have it contain clearly recognizable, distinguishable melodies and harmonies to keep coming back to. The dense-ness of it just kept you hurling through this atmosphere deeper and deeper until you found yourself lost in it and not wanting to escape. The crescendos, the moments of quiet are all spaced apart beautifully and organically. Yes, it is music. And some of the best damn music I have ever heard.

12. Frank Ocean - Blonde

I’ll have more to say about this artist later (nudge nudge wink wink), so I’ll stick to talking about the album specifically. And I can’t help but go back to the wait for it. Because who, in this day and age of instant gratification, could ever imagine an artist living their life, taking their time, and waiting until the right moment for them to release another album?? Ridiculous, right? I admit I was on that boat, like most others too. It was just hard not to be anxious. This genre doesn’t have the best track record for quick releases (cough cough D’Angelo cough cough) and after his previous music output, I was getting antsy. But I’m glad on how the album turned out, and I’m even more appreciative of how it captured the essence of that wait and what it said to us, in an understated, melancholic tone: patience. Sit back, soak it all in. Enjoy everything, experience as much as you can, and just watch, it won’t feel like another 4 years again next time. This album showcases the power of patience. Just relax, try not to be so stressed out, and you will get more out of the music. You will hear vocal harmonies you haven’t heard before. You will hear new basslines you didn’t know were in the song. And you will come to appreciate the quiet and empty spaces in the music, too. And, would you look at that, it’s already 2020!

11. Moses Sumney - Aromanticism

Like Blonde, to have production so minimal, you have to back it up with some serious vocal chops. And Moses Sumney does exactly that on his debut album. Not just the range, but the subtlety mixed with doses of harshness and scratchy-ness give the ambient backdrops so much more texture and life to them. The layering and the way he sometimes replaces conventional instruments with his voice is a unique thing to hear. But let me tell you, it is an even more unique and jaw-dropping sight to see. His live performance was a lesson in crafting a sound in the show, rather just putting the show on. And there are conventional ways to switch up live versions of songs, like lengthier or different solos, different tempos, etc. But what Moses does in his shows are unlike anything I’ve ever seen anyone else do. The looped vocals. The even more sparse instrumentation. The crescendos. The way he utilizes the acoustics of the space to properly fill every crevice with vital frequency content. The sheer GARGANTUAN natures he takes some of the songs. It makes you appreciate the artistry even more coming out of the show. And making you wish you could experience that side of the music with your own speakers or headphones, but you can never really do it justice, even playing back the live recordings. I’m excited for what’s next for Moses Sumney, but I’m even more excited for his next tour.

10. Kiasmos - Kiasmos

Humblebrag time: I’m really good at finding music I like, then adding it my library/collection very quickly. I started at a young age, like most people proficient in this kind of thing. It started in elementary and middle school, on cassette tape, where I would listen to radio at all hours of the night, and have a writeable tape inside a boom-box ready to record the audio of whatever was being played. Fantastic device. And I quickly got really good at starting and stopping with minimal time between songs, and crafting my own pseudo mixtapes, then playing them back on the bus rides back home from school. Then in high school and college it transitioned to iTunes, where I would find songs from artists I would like, then go down the rabbit hole, playing those 30 second clips (yes iTunes only had 30 second samples back in the day) of similar artists and similar artists of those artists and so on until I found music I like. I would then write them down on a huge list and download them all on limewire (I mean buy them. I totally didn’t do any illegal downloading). Now it’s a little too easy, in my opinion. I honestly could spend whole days and nights trying to find a new artist I liked. And I had a blast doing it. I still appreciate nowadays when I do discover a new artist through similar processes, but now the feeling of satisfaction has definitely waned. Nevertheless, when I find music like this album from Kiasmos, I can’t really complain.

This particular sound was exactly what I was looking for when searching similar artists to Jon Hopkins (again, spoiler for below). The atmospheric, textured micro house/minimal techno (don’t electronic sub-genres have the best names?) that was very easy on the ears but also beautifully crafted and addictively catchy. A true sonic collection put together in album form. Almost like one naturally flowing song, containing some small detours but for the most part maintaining the specific course it set out for. And for all those reasons, I keep coming back to it, wanting to take that journey back into the soundscape Kiasmos created. And also wanting to find more artists similar to them.

9. Tame Impala - Lonerism

Tame Impala’s rise has been pretty incredible this past decade. Not because Kevin Parker doesn’t deserve the praise (in fact I still believe he is underrated), but because I never would’ve thought the “masses” would be so quick to warm to this very nuanced and unique sound. I mean he played at Coachella in 2011 and was on the 5th line (see below).

Then in 2013 he rises to 3rd line, then 2015 he rises to 2nd line, then in 2019 he is headlining. Pretty linear trajectory. Just a couple of guesses as to the rise in popularity:

1. I don’t think you get more popular without performing some kick-ass shows

2. I think to become popular, you have to make some kick-ass albums

I know, those two points may be shockers. Write it down. I think I cracked the formula for music success.

This is my favorite album of his because, well, it just contains so many memories of mine. Our memories are much stronger when our emotions are at their capacity, and this music just fuels emotions with all the exploratory sounds and melodic detours and passages that are so different from one another, but fit so cohesively well together in an album. This album is different in that, when I go back to it, I don’t necessarily listen to it from start to finish. I pick songs that I want to go back to. Like “Endors Toi,” which takes me back to a time when I could hear the expansive synths echo into the atmosphere at a concert I was running late to (it’s a long story). Or “Why Won’t They Talk To Me,” which takes me back to biking back to my apartment from an informative, exciting, and sunny day at graduate school. Or “Elephant,” which brings back memories of hanging in the basement of a friends house, listening to music and trying to be productive and record something. Or “Nothing That Has Happened So Far Has Been Anything We Could Control,” which transports me back to sitting in a friends SUV at a cabin, on a rainy night, listening to the song and discussing the themes in the song. It’s music that is so powerful that I forget what sounds are going in my head and instead my mind just fills it with the memories it used to accompany.

Yeah, I think that would constitute as a pretty kick-ass album to me.

8. Frank Ocean - Nostalgia, Ultra

A lot of people, when making their lists for best albums/songs of the decade, stuck to one artist, to talk more about other artists and share a bigger variety of what they enjoyed. I get that. But another part of me also says, “fuck that.” Frank Ocean made 4 great projects this decade, so I’m gonna talk about why I loved each one so much! This one was a complete and utter replay bonanza from the first listen. It just contained so much substance and uniqueness to it that I couldn’t get enough of it. And one of the first instances where I immediately kept replaying it, without giving myself time to digest and listen to other things. And the first instance where it did not sway my opinion of it one bit. And a case, shamefully, that I immediately started singing and thinking of the Frank Ocean versions of all the covers on the album. The way he reinvigorated already existing instrumentals with his beautifully nuanced, light, but powerful voice, was an addictive thing for my brain to come across. And there was something about his voice that just made you want to blast your vocal chords trying to belt the vocals along with him. I don’t know if my singing got any better, but it certainly had not experienced the work out quite like it before I discovered this mixtape. And now if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got a concert I have to perform inside my car.

7. Darkside - Psychic

How do we typically describe music in writing? Usually words cannot truly replicate sounds, so we resort to comparisons of material that is well known, like the influences and recognizable sounds. But how about for albums that are truly one of a kind and explore new realms not previously charted? That’s the conundrum when describing the music on Darkside’s first (and sadly, probably, only) album, Psychic. But I think I’ve come up with one word that tries to do it justice: Movement. The play with movement, and all that word encompasses, is ever present in this 45 minute sonic adventure. From the opening track, where it starts with a slow jaunt through an unknown, desolate atmosphere, trying to gather your thoughts about where you are. It’s very dark, and you have to adjust your eyes. Then as more starts to come in focus, you start to walk a little faster, with a little more urgency, trying to discover more you can. You get a little tired, so you take a break. Then, when the sun comes back up, more and more starts to come into focus, and your heart starts to race faster and faster trying to uncover more about this strange new place. You start to run now. Everything is new, and exciting, but also strange and somewhat lonesome, as there are no recognizable faces anywhere. You slow down and start to recognize the time scale, and realize that you have time to discover more, and rest after an eventful first day. And that was just the first track!!

Darkside plays with movement more throughout the album, with the sharp panning present in “Sitra” to the marching style beat of “Heart,” to the circuitous and chaotic, wandering nature of “Freak, Go Home.” This movement is so visceral, so real when it happens with all the organic, fresh new sounds, along with some distinctive, comforting guitars and sparse but thunderous vocals. Music that makes you want to move your legs and feet, but also makes you want to move your environment around and experience it under new conditions to discover even more than you previously thought was present. And I implore you to do that last thing. Listen to this alone, in the dark, at night. Listen to it first thing in the morning. Listen to it in a new country. Listen to it on a train. Listen to it in a crowded room, full of people. And then, maybe, you will start to understand why I describe the music with that one word. Or maybe, you’ll find another way to describe it.

6. Bon Iver - Bon Iver

This is an introspective album. I don’t think there would be much argument about that. So as a result, when I think about it or I replay it, I always go back to the time that I discovered it and really started listening to it for the first time. That coincides nicely with a huge period of my own personal growth and introspection, right smack dab in the middle of college. I remember the apartment, the exact shade of brown in the desk I first listened to it. I remember the long philosophical discussions late into the night I had with my 3 outstanding, unique, and role-model worthy roommates. And this music was the the one accompanying these discussions in the back of my mind.

The album cover appropriately describes the landscape the music invokes. Not only because Justin Vernon famously crafted his previous album at a cabin deep in the woods. But because the music in this album so expertly capture the essence of the outdoors, of exploration, and of different weather patterns (mostly of spring and autumn in my mind). And as a result of all that introspection, I kept on yearning to learn more about not only myself but the world around me. To discover new distant, uncharted territory. And thanks to this album, the new didn’t seem all that frightening, because I had this to accompany me and remind me of all the enormous mental growth that I already had, along with all the important people who helped me discover more about life.

5. Kendrick Lamar - good kid, m.A.A.d city

Stories work extremely well in the album format. Personal anecdotes, conversations, thoughts, and showcasing events are a brilliant way to understand someone and follow along on their journey they describe. But after that, what gives an album replay value? There has to be a human element to it too, to draw the audience back in again and again. And this album is a masterclass in that art, not only taking us through a vivid journey of Kendrick’s upbringing, but also attaching a humanistic and empathetic element to it, all while talking about subject matter that not many people experience. “Sing About Me, I’m Dying Of Thirst” is just one (albeit grand) example of this. The track takes us through this incredibly vivid story and introspective moments, pulling back on the instrumentals and giving Kendrick the reigns to speak from experience, poetically, metaphorically, and directly all at the same time. And the album is littered with moments like this in each track. It’s digestible in different segments of each verse, in each song, each telling a different story but one that’s all the same in the same essence. And all the while, allowing us to get enveloped in the stories and make us feel genuine emotion about this stranger, and possibly, to an entire population that experiences similar things to this. I’m not sure if that’s ever what is the intention of the artist, but that’s the power of music. Release it and see what happens, and if it speaks to even one person then I’m sure it’s just as impactful to them as releasing all their emotions into making the music itself. Just one of the lasting impacts this album will always have. The power to connect. The power to escape. But, more importantly, the power to empathize.

4. Frank Ocean - Channel Orange

R&B went through an incredible journey this past decade (just look at this list for a small glimpse into some of the stylistic shifts). But at the end of the day, love, emotions, heartbreak, and relationships encompass the life-blood of this genre. Each artist has their own way of conveying these themes, under different instrumental backdrops, under different vocal rhythms, and under different metaphors and stories. As far as the 2010s are concerned, no one did it better than Frank Ocean. I said earlier that the most powerful music sticks with us because it elucidates such strong emotions out of us. And as far as love and relationships are concerned, Frank Ocean has been the soundtrack to that part of my life this past decade. The lows, the highs, and everything in between, has been thought about and experienced with a song or twelve from Frank Ocean. These emotions we have are extremely personal and hugely vital to our growth and shape who we are and who we want to become. Because relationships are inevitably experiences with someone else, and there’s no better way to learn and grow than to do it with someone, or learn from someone else’s experiences. So the subject matter must be dealt with care and contain some type of believable sense of vulnerability, otherwise we will discard it like other fleeting music. Frank makes a lasting impression for all of us because of this vulnerability and genuine emotion in every song, every verse, and every note he sings.

Just as Frank’s music allows us to hear another persons story, experiences, and emotions, it truly feels like it does more than that, and even lets us show our emotions back to it. It’s just as much the listener as it is the talker. And that’s what truly makes this relationship with his music much more powerful. Sometimes when I sing back the lyrics, I’m singing the same words as him but conveying an entirely different, personal emotion. And it’s a nice, cathartic feeling, to let loose and sing someone else’s song, all the while pulling back the curtain and displaying some of your own pent up emotions. And that’s what companionship is. So thanks for the companionship, Frank, for this decade and the decades to come.

3. The National - High Violet

A lot of this list I have described what has made me gravitate to an artist/album. A lot of the time, there’s a bunch or reasons: emotion, personal connection, and relatability are the majority of them. But for some, like this album, it comes down to something pretty simple: I just really like the music. It’s not that there’s none of the above elements here (the themes of hardships, sorrow, and frustration are readily apparent and relatable), but I’m merely stating how the dominant factor in why I keep playing it over and over again is because my brain just says “yes” to each and every one of these songs in this album. This is a band in a true sense of the word. And each of the 4/5 elements brings character and flavor to the songs. The drums of Bryan Devendorf give each track essential pacing and rhythm, laying a solid foundation for the rest of the instruments to weave in and out of. The basslines from Scott Devendorf are somewhat hidden but ever present in the mix, and round out the frequency spectrum nicely. The guitars and piano from Bryce and Aaron Dessner give the music catchy and notable melodies. And Matt Berninger’s vocals sit atop (or below, i guess) all of this and punches through the songs, providing much of the emotional weight of the tracks.

Sometimes, you just gotta sit back and let your brain figure out whether the music is good or not. Many times, it will enjoy things a lot for a short amount of time. But sometimes, there will be music that it enjoys every time it’s played. That’s High Violet for me.

2. Jon Hopkins - Immunity

When I first wrote about this album on my favorite albums of 2013 post (yes, I linked to my own writing, all pretentious journalists do it), it only landed in my honorable mentions, not even in the top 15. So what changed? I guess it grew on me. That led me to question what that really even means. Does every subsequent listen form one piece of a puzzle in your brain until enough listens makes you “get it”? Does each listen unlock something that you previously didn’t hear before, and make you appreciate it more? Does each listen have different circumstances and environments surrounding it, giving you a better frame of reference? I think it’s some combination of all three of those things, but it doesn’t happen in the first place unless you really like the music and find it unique to begin with. It can be tough to go back to something your brain seriously dislikes upon the first few listens. Sometimes, admittedly, I move on to other artists and albums quickly because I have this obsession with finding new music and new artists. It gives me joy because I truly believe variety is the spice of life (as cliche as it sounds). Expanding my pallet and tastes has always been a complete joy. So I guess I’m glad, in this case, that there wasn’t (and isn’t) anything quite like Jon Hopkins’ Immunity. Because once I realized there was nothing like it, I kept coming back. Again. And again. And like I said, it grew on me.

I’ve always laughed at the name for a particular sub-genre of electronic music: IDM. Because apparently it stands for Intelligent Dance Music. Now there’s nothing more pretentious than labeling a whole style of music as “intelligent,” but the artists don’t create the labels, the listeners do. And once you understand the meaning behind the label, then it somehow makes complete sense. Because the true meaning of IDM is that it is inherently “cerebral” and better suited for home listening than at a club. And that’s exactly the emotions that circle my head when I play this album. The chaotic rhythms and punchy highs of it are certainly fit for a nightclub. But the tranquil and introspective lows are fit for a dark, anechoic chamber devoid of any human interaction within 3000 miles. So combine the two, and I guess, you have some fine and dandy Intelligent music.

Like most emotions, you have to experience one extreme to truly understand the other. And it has to happen organically. You can’t force true sadness to experience true joy. The brain is smarter than that. And that’s exactly what happens in this album. The balance between the glitchy noise and chaotic synths and driving kick drums with the subdued pianos, distant atmosphere, and sheer voids are necessary to bring this all together and truly show the dichotomy between the two sides. But even so, all the while, when you leave the album remembering the extremes, you forget about all that happened in the middle. And so you go back and listen again, and this time, you try to remember the stuff in the middle too, because that’s part of life too and sometimes it’s just as impactful. And in essence, that’s what this album does. It is truly an out of body experience, by going through all those highs and lows, making it feel like you endured a life’s worth of emotions in 1 hour and 4 seconds. And then you want to go back and experience it again. Just to feel that euphoric state again. That state that could only be described as

Immunity.

1. Kendrick Lamar - To Pimp A Butterfly

I made a claim to a friend the other day, stating that this was not a great decade for hip-hop. And under several different metrics, like truly revolutionary artists, number of adventurous, stylistic shifts, and impactful albums, it may truly have been a weak one compared to other decades. But one big thing I was overlooking was my frame of reference, comparing all others in the genre, to Kendrick Lamar. And that might be unfair to do. Not only because comparisons are tedious and often an exercise in futility, but because one artist should not define a genre. Even in this braggadocious genre, I think Kendrick would agree that it is not his goal to distance himself from his contemporaries, but merely try to raise the bar higher. To really show the importance of not only this genre, but music as a whole. And for that reason, because of this album, I’d say it was a pretty good decade for hip-hop.

A lot of the music here in this album is not unlike that presented in good kid, m.A.A.d city, being very personal, very reflective of his own experiences and the experiences of the people he is close to. But he takes the messages and themes surrounding these tracks one step further here, developing them under the guise of heady topics such as racism, sexism, gentrification, politics, and ethics, among others. This allows more people in to relate to the themes, and also allows more fodder for discussion and self-reflection. Kendrick also presents these topics as a form of discussion, often presenting both sides of the argument, in order to spark conversation rather than dissonance. And as a result, it was easier to keep coming back and revisiting this album, because it didn’t feel preachy, but rather inviting, both thematically and musically (Not to mention just the sheer awesomeness of the music too).

The best type of empathy is one that actually enacts change. Empathy that is so strongly invoked that it makes you truly think about others and makes you actually change as a person. The kind that makes you a better talker and an even better listener. And that’s the feeling I get whenever I get through this album.

Music, for most people, at most times, is for entertainment, and for escapism, like any other art form. And that’s perfectly fine. But every now and then, there comes a time when I need someone to yell in my face and get me motivated. To have that friend to tell me to change. To shake me a little and implore me to try and make a difference in the world. To help get me inspired. And sometimes, the best way to do that is through the medium of art. Because only art can illuminate the emotions I have been describing throughout this list. Only art can present themes and messages in ways not possible otherwise. And only Kendrick could wrap up all of this into one cohesive, sonic masterpiece, full of intense passion, intricate, nuanced instrumentals, and witty, poetic lyricism.

Long Live King Kendrick.

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thesymphonyoflife · 5 years

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2018 Favorite Movies

It’s been a while since I’ve made one of these lists. This year was filled with great foreign films and documentaries, as (spoiler alert) you will see many of below. As always, I have not seen every movie of the year, but I think I have gotten better over the years at understanding what kinds of movies I would find interesting, and what directors I will always look out for, so in that regard, I think I have been as exhaustive as I can to make this list.

Honorable Mentions:

The Ballad of Buster Scruggs: I’ll watch anything the Coen’s do, and if history suggests anything, I’ll probably like it. This is one of the most unique formats I’ve seen a Coen film (anthology), but I’m glad I got to see their take on this film format, because I do enjoy films like this (Paris, Je’Taime, and Wild Tales are two of my favorites). This film did a good job of keeping with the overall western theme they were going for, even if some of the stories were more engaging than others. The timings were a little uneven as well, as some stories were (and felt) longer than others, which kind of threw off the pacing and rhythm of the film. If I know the Coen’s though, they might not be done exploring the genre of the Old Western.

Green Book: One of the more “meh” best picture winners of the past several years, maybe since The Artist. Viggo Mortenson did a great job and the chemistry between him and Mahershala Ali felt authentic, but I wish there wasn’t so much cheese spread across the film. I wish I could have a caution sign that pops up in front of a director’s eyes before they shoot a scene, reading: “Does this scene require this much drama (cheese) to effectively move the plot or build upon the character(s) in an appropriate manner? If it is not a resounding YES, please RECONSIDER altering the scene to be more authentic!!” I’m rambling and may be piling on this movie for the shortcomings of a lot of Oscar “bait,” but I (and many others) see it every year and every instance of it gets more and more frustrating.

They Shall Not Grow Old: War documentaries are nothing new, but I was thoroughly impressed by this take on the documentary format by Peter Jackson. I highly recommend sticking around to the very end of the film (after the credits) to see a mini-documentary on how they made the film and their thinking behind the structure, layout, and overall design of the film. The amount of work they put into the project is even more apparent after seeing that, and it just underscores the grand scale a world war was.

Minding The Gap: This documentary does a great job of utilizing time to its advantage. I’m not talking about run time or pace, but rather telling a fluid story about several people over a period of several years. It felt very natural and allowed you to take a journey with these people and understand their story even more. It’s a documentary that is easy to empathize with, not just for the struggles the characters deal with but more so the journey the film takes us through, and how we can relate to the themes of childhood, family, community, friends, dreams, escapes, our future, mortality, and many other heady themes.

Cold War: There’s a lot to unravel when watching this movie, from the shot compositions, to the juxtaposition of the music, to the journey of the relationship between Wiktor and Zula. I love the way music is used as a storytelling device, and the beauty of the minimalist style of music plays perfectly with the beautiful cinematography (black and white never looked so colorful). A lot was done well, but the pacing and the ending kept it from being an even better film.

10. Burning

I admit I needed to be aided in terms of figuring out what all happened in this film exactly. But once I started delving into what other people had to say about the film, I think that’s exactly what was supposed to happen. I love how even as slow prodding of a film this is, it still manages to simultaneously leave time for you to think and not at the same time. For as many times as I felt like I was going to fall asleep, I still feel like the pacing of this film was done as best as it could have been. This is a film where ambiguity is the end goal, and that’s perfectly ok, especially with how the film is laid out and shot.

9. Eighth Grade

The passage of time is never kind to us. Even with the most positive outlook on life, and a happy childhood or upbringing, there is just something about reflecting on a period of time in your life (i.e. nostalgia) that brings about an inherent sadness. Not because the memories may be sad or because you wish you could go back to that time in your life, but because there is this huge amount of pressure we give ourselves when assessing our impact through the lens of time. A time capsule is the perfect representation of this concept. I have done this many times now (it is ever so easy to do now in the age of the internet. Hey, even this blog is basically a time capsule!) and each time it makes me feel like I have not grown or accomplished as much as I (maybe unfairly) should have in that time period, however long that may have been. I think it is just incredibly difficult to gauge how much we will actually change or “accomplish” in a given amount of time, or at a specific age. There is this pressure that comes naturally with time that hits everyone, whether or not it is fair or not. It is that constant reminder of the competitiveness in the world, and the brutality of time that may be wasted, which is one of the scariest and worst feelings anyone can have.

Rambling aside, I thought this film did an excellent job of encapsulating this thought in the eyes of the main character. It felt odd being so disconnected but also connected at the same time with the tribulations of the main character, as the setting and environment was so different from my childhood, but the fundamental change we all go through during that time period was very much the same. It’s tough to capture a specific time frame in our lives (especially in our formative years), just because nothing is ever static during our lives, we are in constant dynamic shifts. But this film was brutally funny and sad at times, which, if anything, encapsulates so much of what life at that time (and all others too) is all about.

Oh and I thought the music was outstanding (content and timing).

8. Roma

Professional filmmaking. That is one thought I had after coming out of this movie. As much as the story felt heartfelt and authentic (because it was), the film really showcased a director (Alfonso Cuaron) who knows his style, how to compose shots, and how to invoke authentic emotions. I go back and forth debating whether I think going with black and white was truly needed, but one thing is for certain in that it helps give the film a “timeless” feel to it. One that I know he thought about when making it, in that I believe he did not want to simply capture a snippet in time, but rather focus on the story and characters at hand, one which generations to come would relate to in their own way.

7. Shoplifters

This was another foreign film that had a timeless feel to it. It’s always nice to watch foreign films, for a multitude of reasons, but in particular to be immersed in another culture for a brief period of time. That is certainly the case in this film, as the production design and sets do an outstanding job of putting you right into this world and help establish the atmosphere which helps understand the characters motivations and story a little more. The film had a unique plot and great acting, and the pacing felt very natural and thought out.

6. If Beale Street Could Talk

I love the way dialogue is shown in this film. The composition of the shots, the intensity of the delivery, everything is heightened when there is dialogue in this film. And it is imperative that this be the case, as this is what drives the fairly simplistic plot along. This is certainly a film that shows more than it says, but Barry Jenkins does that extremely well in this case as he does a good job of portraying the themes in subtle ways that give the audience just the right amount of room to interpret themselves. It is always a difficult balancing act, in dialogue heavy films, to spell things out too much or show too little leaving audiences lost. Another aspect this film does well is the music. The score is imperative in setting the mood in atmospheric, melancholic movies such as this one, and Nicholas Britell does a fantastic job creating a nuanced, rich, and evocative score, and implementing at opportune moments throughout the film. There are some directors that just “click” when watching their films. Barry Jenkins is starting to become one of them.

5. The Favourite

One of the best part of watching movies (or art in general) is when you see something truly unique that it changes your perspective on what you like or how it can be portrayed. For Yorgos Lanthimos, his films have changed my perspective on comedy and how I feel it can be portrayed. His films have the shell of a distinguished drama, but the core of a slapstick comedy. I never knew comedy could be so funny and portrayed so differently than how he does it, in particular here in The Favourite. The acting, writing, and plot all work seamlessly together to create genuinely hilarious moments all while advancing the story, developing strong characters, and establishing strong themes that lead to a wonderfully crafted ending, wrapping up the film in a beautiful way. I can’t say enough good things about this film, and am in awe at how someone can craft a style and execute it so brilliantly in such a short amount of time (just 3 films to date). He’s certainly made the list of “directors I will see films they release no matter what unless they make 3 bad movies in a row.”

4. Spider Man: Into The Spider Verse

I have admittedly been far behind on my superhero movies, but I got a recommendation to see this one and I am extremely glad I did. I hope, when we look back at this decade of films, this one is the example of how much animation has grown over the years. The colors, the creativity, and even the technicality of it are all showcased in this film, but what makes this film so great is that it does not rest on just this alone. The characters, even with the high amount of them, are all relatable in some way, contribute to the story in their own unique way, and help establish this film as one different than any other superhero movie. The film does an excellent job of crafting a story truly fit for anyone, and it is a great film to discuss with others because they will certainly have a different way to relate to the story/characters. So that is a not so subtle suggestion to not only watch this film but tell others about it and talk about it with them!

3. Isle Of Dogs

This list is just starting to sound like an expose on my favorite directors, but it is hard not to talk about the director for this film, because it is so inherently Wes Anderson-ian. I find it incredible that he can utilize his techniques and creativity in similar ways for such nuanced and unique stories. Characters are always at the root of his stories, and there are no shortage of good ones here. He has an uncanny ability to write and craft characters around the voice actors as well, as it is so seamless in the way the voice acting portrays the characters in this film. His writing style never ceases to garner guffaws throughout the film, and I am always impressed with the amounts of twists and turns the story takes. It is a craft he has certainly mastered and one that makes it easy to just sit back and enjoy everything that unfolds before your eyes. The film does a great job of being topical as well, with underlying satire that is tastefully done and never over the top. Wes Anderson’s movies are always so dense that it’s so easy to watch over and over again and find new things to fall in love with. It’s one of the reasons why he’s one of my favorite directors and also on the list that I mentioned above, although I’m starting to think it’s pretty unlikely he’ll make a movie I dislike.

2. Free Solo

After the initial shock you have when trying to comprehend the magnitude of the athletic feat Alex Honnold is trying to accomplish, you start to shift your attention to the filmmaking. And that is almost (ok, not really) as impressive. The shots need to do the scale justice, and I think they did an excellent job of not only crafting a well shot film but also immerse you in this world many of us cannot even comprehend. I think they also do a good job of outlining this as much of a character study than anything, because it really is imperative to showcase the reasoning behind his actions, just for us mere mortals to understand a little better. And it turns out, in my eyes, he is just a supremely motivated individual seeking perfection and solitude. And as a result it is easy to come out of the movie exhilarated, energized, and motivated to accomplish any goals you may have. It’s a mark only a true story could do. Even if everything he does is so hard to believe.

1. Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

“If you want to truly do a bio-pic justice, just make a documentary.”

I made that statement after watching Bohemian Rhapsody, but the juxtaposition between that film and this one even more so justifies that statement. I won’t get into my thoughts on Bohemian Rhapsody, but I will just say that the documentary medium is really the only way to do Fred Rogers’ story justice, just so that you can show audiences, in this day and age, someone like that really did exist.

I will preface by saying I did not watch Mr. Rogers very often as a kid growing up. I knew when it was on, but I was more into Arthur and Wishbone on PBS. I also think the timing was everything, as there was a limited window to watch TV (cough I mean do homework) after school before my parents came home. And that’s ok, for his story does not need to be fully appreciated by watching him as a kid. Sure, I would love to go back to my childhood and sit down and watch him through the eyes of my inquisitive, imaginative young self, but I think no matter how or when you digest his story or listen to his words, you will wholeheartedly appreciate who he was and what he stood for.

I really started to take a deeper dive on him in high school, when he had just passed away and there were news stories on him. I watched some youtube videos and gained an appreciation for what he did, but it was only when I was thrust into a situation where I had an impact on another kid did I feel like his story was more pertinent and important than ever. I mentored an elementary school kid through the national honor society for 2 years during high school, and as an introvert, that terrified me. What scared me more was that these kids were there for a specific reason, either hardship at home or just needing someone there in their lives. I did not know how to communicate to people older than me, let alone people younger than me. I didn’t know what to do. So I remembered what Mr. Rogers would do. He would talk to kids like his equals. And I did just that. I would play games, run around in the snow making snowmen, make arts and crafts (many of which his was better than mine), and just try to take his mind off of things. If I felt like it was appropriate, I would ask him how things were going. He wouldn’t always answer at first, which was fine, but once he got more and more comfortable with me around, he would open up a little bit at a time. And believe me, just that little bit was some of the most rewarding moments I have had in my life. It wasn’t a normal feeling of success or accomplishment either. It was a feeling of unparalleled joy by seeing someone else happy and growing as a human being.

Joey, if you’re reading this, just know that I miss you, hope you are doing well, and I hope you continue to instill the values that Mr. Rogers had on others around you as well.

That was the power of Mr. Rogers. The power of being an inherently good, kind individual was a weapon we could use in times of struggle or hardship. Being a decent, respectful individual has gotten me more than any textbook or class ever did (not to say those aren’t important). It’s just that life is made up of all the relationships you have with people. The memories you have. The friendships. The laughter. The fights. The adventures. All made better by people at your side, and all made better (and easier) by living it with kindness in your heart.

They say that a mark of success is to leave an impact on society. Well I would say that Mr. Rogers did that and much more, as he will hopefully force society to to teach the next generation to be better, which in turn will teach the generation after to be even better than the one before. It’s the best pyramid scheme ever invented.

Even as I grow older, I will always refer to him as Mr. Rogers. I will always look up to him, and I don’t know if I could ever duplicate what he did at that grand of a scale which his accomplishments were. But if I just impact a few people in my life, and live it with joy, imagination, kindness, and respect, I think even he would say that’s a job well done.

The word neighborhood has always had a positive connotation in my life. Growing up, that meant friends, sports, sleepovers, endless summer nights, and no worries. Now, I associate that word with childhood, friends, kindness, respect, and joy.

And Mr. Rogers.

Thanks, Mr. Rogers.

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thesymphonyoflife · 7 years

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Final Report Card

“If I could be a professional student, I would.”

I’ve said that many times over the years when conversing with friends. It’s true. I would love to be paid to learn. If you asked me why I would have given a different answer depending on when you asked me. In my early days, such as elementary and junior high, it would be because I found it was super easy, then I would run off and leave funny inside jokes on my friends desk like a note reading “suck butt,” only putting the note on the wrong desk and a goody-two-shoes girl freaking out and showing it to the teacher and the teacher giving a stern lecture in front of the class and resulting in the most difficult time holding back laughter ever and your friend asking to go to the bathroom and everybody hearing him immediately burst into laughter as he gets out the door. If you asked me in high school I would have said “because you think I can’t.” Then you would say “what?” and I would get angry and start yelling then storm out of the house and do drugs in a sketchy park. If you asked me in college I would say “the nature of humankind is to always be inquisitive and ever thinking about the possibilities of self-improvement, which involves pushing yourself to learn as much as you can about everything,” over a deep 2 hour long philosophical conversation with my roommates at 3 am. Now, if you asked me, I would probably say because it’s challenging, rewarding, memorable, and fun.

As I sit here finishing up what may be my last week of school forever, I can’t help but think that my school life has come full circle.

Which is precisely why I am announcing my retirement from school.

After almost 20 years of school, I think I have finally mastered it (pun intended). Mastered it in the sense that I know how to learn efficiently. I know how to absorb information from my peers and people way smarter than me. I know how to make meaningful friendships. I know how to approach professors. I know how to procrastinate the most efficiently. I know how to complain about bad professors and teach myself the subject matter. I know how to find really nice, really smart people in my classes that are willing to help and work on homework with them and be in the “smart group.” I know how to not be stressed out about school.

Most importantly, I know how to have fun in school again. And for that reason, there comes no better time to finish my schooling career (since a professional student does not seem to be a valid option).

So with the end of my school life coming up, I thought I’d give myself one final report card:

Homework: A-

I’ve always been good at homework. I can’t remember struggling really on anything homework related until the latter half of high school and in college. In those cases, I was lucky to have a good circle of friends who I could cheat off work with. I always used my homework to boost my grades up. As my schooling progressed, dare I say it, I enjoyed doing many of my homework assignments. There was something wonderful about figuring out a problem and seeing it’s applications in a real world setting (something that we had to work up to that point, obviously).

Lab Reports/Essays: A

This is where I really shined, if I can humblebrag a little bit. I don’t know what it was exactly about long lab reports or essays, but I always felt really good about them when turning them in and I always was rewarded with good grades. Maybe it was my patience in knowing to start early and divvy up my time wisely. Maybe it was my excitement for having something different than a homework assignment. Maybe it was my passion for writing. Who knows. Whatever it was, I always went above and beyond in terms of length when I could (80 plus pages for lab reports routinely, while other had a measly 40-50 pages). I am looking forward to having the opportunity to do a lot of writing in the form of reports for my job.

Exams: B-

I have never been a very good test taker, be it standardized tests or in class tests. In a time crunch, I tend to lock up and panic and forget simple things. I can’t tell you how many “dumb mistakes” I’ve made in tests all my life. I really regret not having a running count of them throughout my schooling. All can be attributed to the time factor, and maybe just the anxiety caused by a test, most of the time weighing heavily in your grade. I can’t blame dumb mistakes for all my misfortunes during tests, however. Sometimes they are just downright tricky. Teachers and professors enjoy writing exams because it lets them showcase their intelligence in a way not represented in lectures. Years of experience, seeing how other students think, and knowing what trips them up, all plays a major role in how tests are written. And I almost always have fallen into those traps as a student. Well played teachers, well played.

Lunch: Incomplete

Lots of sad, single leaves of lettuce thrown in the trash (sorry mom!).

Extracurricular Activities: C-

Honestly, the real driving factor to deciding what extracurricular activities to pursue were strictly based on their “resume building-ness.” I often prioritized hanging out with friends and playing sports after school over being in a student group. I never really contributed much either when I was in them. Again, I was mostly doing it just to put on my resume.

Sports: B

I always played like I was better than I actually was. Watching so much sports on TV during my life really led me to believe I knew everything and therefore I was better than everyone. In reality, I was a lanky, somewhat flat-footed, awkward guy who tried to look way too cool playing sports (just look at my sports apparel accessory drawer at home). I played everything though, so that bumps up my grade a bit. I was fairly consistent participant in soccer, basketball, and tennis (when available) throughout my schooling career.

Cooties: A+

I’m cooties free. Thank god.

School Bus Rides: A-

Only missed my stop once and only licked one window (It’s a long story. Actually it’s not, I was double dog dared to do it. So, you know, I HAD to do it). I also had a knack for picking the best seats without holes in the front and with windows that actually had the sliding thing working correctly (those need to be outlawed forever. Or not, I guess, since it teaches the kids character and perseverance).

Friends: A+

The real reason I went to school everyday. I don’t know how I was able to make such good friends in school, knowing my shy personality and my difficulty with warming up to people quickly. A lot of that work was done by others, admittedly. The more outgoing types which welcomed me into their friend group (which I will forever be grateful for). Looking back, it was amazing in how many different ways there were to make friends. The friendships which evolved from sports. The desk buddies. The recess buddies. The birthday party buddies. The “all the same classes” buddies. The roommate buddies. All incredible people, which I have school to thank for.

I’m now living by myself for the first time in my life and I already am seeing myself think about this wise quote, from the movie Stand By Me:

“I never had any friends later on like the ones I had when I was twelve in school. Jesus, does anyone?”

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thesymphonyoflife · 8 years

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Comparisons

I think 20-something is the most aptly titled age group. There is so much substance in that name. The main reason why they are named as such is because it is difficult to discern one’s age during this period of someone’s life. Personally, I know it is incredibly difficult to tell the difference between a 23 year old and a 26 year old, or a 25 year old and a 29 year old. But this label, 20-something, also works because this is an age group that has so much variability in it. At any point in your 20′s, you could be in college, grad school, working, have a promotion (or 2), start your own company, get married, have kids, own a house, or have travelled around the world. Or on the flip side, you could be working a dead-end job, struggling to find love, coping with loss of loved ones, or struggling with drug addictions (highest rate is among 20-year olds). That’s enough variability and volatility to last a lifetime, let alone a few years of someone’s life. Thankfully, I’ve seen mostly the positive kind of variability amongst my friends over the past few years. Nonetheless, this brings up an issue that many 20-somethings can attest to, and that is the issue of comparison. Comparing yourself to your peers is such a natural thing to do when there is so much variability around us, no matter what side of the coin we lay on. This is an issue I struggled with over the summer as I went back home after living outside my home state for the first time in my life.

Stepping back, it’s no wonder why it is second nature for us to have the desire to compare ourselves to others. I remember vividly playing basketball in my driveway and pretending to be Michael Jordan or Kevin Garnett, counting down the seconds before my buzzer beater won us the championship. We are a mimetic species. When we see success, we want nothing more than to recreate it for ourselves. In our early years this takes the form of idols, whether it be professional athletes or actors. It is easy to see these people as larger than life figures, and our dreams are ever changing and sometimes (unfortunately) unrealistic. As we get older we start to transition into this comparison to our peers and friends, as those are the people who we relate to most. I know personally many of my friends are people I want to compare myself to, because of their personality traits or because of what stage they are in their lives.

I haven’t even begun to talk about the societal pressures amongst 20-somethings either. There is a natural progression to life that has become the norm, dating back several generations. There is no real reason why the majority of humans go through these progressions in life this way, but some factors, such as the biological clocks of women, school patterns, and just general psyche of humans during this age lead to this natural cycle of constant change when we are in our 20′s. Obviously we know there is no set due date to accomplish these major milestones in life, but when we are surrounded by it from our friends, it’s hard not to start thinking about where we fit in this giant jigsaw puzzle called life.

This works both ways, also. I know many couples who are envious of their single friends, or people working at fortune 500 companies jealous of their friend making barely livable wages in graduate school. Heck, sometimes people tell you to compare yourselves to others in less than optimal situations to make you feel better about yourself. It is so easy to lose your sense of individuality with this mindset and everything that surrounds us. So what does this all mean? Comparisons can do no good right? Just google it for yourself and see all the results.

This is where I will take the opposite approach. I actually encourage you to compare yourself to others. In a good way though. Like everything in life, moderation is key here. Pick 3-4 people in your life that you are envious of, whether it be because of their status in life, their mindset, or their personality, and find out what they did to get where they are now. Try to get an understanding of what exactly it is you are envious of and what you can do to bring that into your life, whether it be as simple as what they did to learn an instrument well, or as complex as finding love. Honing in on specific attributes or traits about people will make it an easier problem to tackle, an not only helps you become a better person, but also raises the self-esteem of others knowing you are inspired by them. Some people don’t even realize a small part of their lives might be incredibly desirable to others, and giving advice to those in need is a very rewarding experience.

So in short, don’t be scared of comparison. Go back to the 2nd paragraph. It is in our nature to want to be successful and happy. Sometimes, the easiest way to do that is putting yourself in other peoples shoes and thinking about how many things in their lives are different than yours. Instead of having this mindset, try to think of it as a yearning to become the best human being possible. It is our brains twisted way of helping you in the long run. Use it as a tool for self-improvement. Sometimes the tangle might be hard to unravel, but once you figure out what it is you find so desirable and what needs to be done in order to achieve it, you will stop fretting over things like the need to own a house by a certain age. Instead, focusing on one issue at a time and talking to others will hopefully remove some of the ambiguity and woe-is-me mentality that plagues 20-somethings.

As I move into the later stages of my 20′s, I know there is a lot I want to accomplish. I know there are milestones I have yet to hit, some of which my friends already have. But that’s ok. Because I know they are still there willing to give advice. And I am willing to give my knowledge and advice about my situation right back. The more perspectives on life we come in contact to, the more possibilities of self-improvement we have. I want to be a combination of all the people I look up to, only then will I be the person I want to be.

I don’t know where I’ll be when I am out of my 20′s, but I know I’m working my hardest to do something with my life. Hey, that’s better than nothing, right?

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thesymphonyoflife · 9 years

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Exit Interviews

People know where I work. They know where I went to school. They know what my favorite sports teams are, and they know my favorite musicians and movies. So basically, they know me. Right?

It’s easy in this social-media frenzy age we live in to assume people know us and what is going on in our lives. That may be true to an extent, but it’s mostly superficial. What I really care about is when people know the “little things.” Like how I would react to a tough sporting loss. Or how I’m a notoriously slow eater. Or why I don’t drink alcohol. Or how I hate when people use “Indian” and “Native American” in the wrong connotation. I care about the people that know my low moments. My embarrassing moments. What makes me laugh. What makes me cry. My romantic interests. My fears. My ambitions. These are the things that truly make me who I am. And I cherish the few people who know these things about me. I love that in life, we can build relationships with people as strong or as weak as we want to. Obviously it is a two way street, and it requires effort on both parties. But I’ve always thought that it’s no secret we all strive to learn about topics/subjects that fascinate us to the best of our abilities. So why shouldn’t it be the same way with people? Life has so much more meaning and purpose when we have those types of people beside us.

I’ve been thinking a lot about these people in my life as I get closer to leaving them in a few weeks.

I don’t have any issues with meeting new people and making new friends. In fact, some of my happiest moments in life involve meeting new people, sharing new experiences and discovering new outlooks on life through their lenses. The hard part for me, though, as an introvert, is building those relationships as I alluded to above. It takes time for me to really open up to someone, and that is one of the things that scares me the most about moving away. I fear that these relationships I spent so much time working on are now hitting the reset button, and the dreaded “long distance” title is being added to them. Even in this connected world there is no digital replacement for a round of golf with my dad, a dinner with friends, playing tennis with my sister, or watching the Oscars with my family, among countless other activities I take for granted each and every day.

Change doesn’t have to be a bad thing though. It can simply just mean you have to adapt to new environments. And that’s exactly what I will have to do. I will be forced out of my comfort zone, and as a result, be asked to do even more to maintain these bonds between my family and friends. I definitely have to get better at that, and just seeing first-hand some friendships dissolve as they move to a different state makes me realize I need to get better at that. I don’t want to be the person that just pops in and out of people’s lives 2 or 3 times a year. I want to be the person that that they can talk to about anything. I don’t want to be just a friend, I want to be a best friend. I don’t want to be a good son or a good brother, I want to be a great son and a great brother. Because there’s no greater feeling in the world than feeling appreciated.

So to those friends and family members who have been with me all these years, this is not a goodbye. It is simply a sincere thank you. Thank you for giving me the courage to take this next step in my life. Thanks for letting me sit by you at the lunch table. Thanks for inviting me to that birthday party. Thanks for taking me to all those Timberwolves games. Thanks for cheering me on during those tennis matches. Thanks for making me all those pasta packets. Thanks for making cookies without nuts just for me. Thanks for making me laugh. Thanks for allowing me to be myself. And thanks for being there.

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thesymphonyoflife · 9 years

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2014 Favorite Movies

One of the frustrating things about thinking about the past is the distance we feel from the person we once were. Our thoughts, habits, and emotions are all ingrained in our memory, but it is only a small slice of our character and a slight bit of insight into what we were truly like. We cannot step inside our heads and react to situations now how we did back then. We cannot look at the world through the lens of our 12 year old selves. There is a cumulative effect in our lives, and everything shapes who we are and how we see the world. That's why I love writing. And blogging. Because for just a moment, you can get a glimpse of what it was like inside your head in the past. You can see how you reacted to certain events. And in this case, you can see what your mindset was coming out of certain movies. That's why I do this. Not for people to read or get recommendations (there's plenty of that out there), but for my own selfish reasons. So I can look back 10 years from now and smile at how Her made me feel. So I can compare myself to the person 2, 5, 10 years ago. So I can discover myself again.

Honorable mentions:

22 Jump Street: It's hard to make a sequel of a comedy movie and not re-hash things from the predecessor. That's why I appreciated the new humor in this movie mocking sequels and comedy movie tropes. The chemistry between Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum was great once again, and Ice Cube was great in his limited role. While it wasn't as good as the first, it was definitely worth a viewing.

Ida: Gorgeous cinematography. It is definitely the first thing you will notice watching this movie. Once you dig a little deeper though, you will start to pick up on an incredibly nuanced dynamic between Wanda and Anna/Ida. Both portray their struggles in their life magnificently, and their slow-moving relationship is wonderful to watch. The last shot of the movie is my favorite, as it summarizes the themes in the movie in a way words could not do it justice.

The Imitation Game/The Theory Of Everything: Both these movies have several things in common with each other, so I thought it would be better lumping the two together. Both are biopics of British geniuses who were pioneers in their field of work. Both have great lead actor performances (although I would say I like Eddie Redmayne's performance a tad better). Both have important love interests who play big roles in the movie. And both have terrific soundtracks. That's the good. The bad, however, is that both suffer from the generic biopic syndrome that has taken over hollywood the past few years. Factual inaccuracies added for unneeded drama, lead characters showcasing stereotypical personalities, and dialogue being relatively flat and uninspired. I wish both movies were a little longer and had more math/science in them, but that's not always what wins oscar votes (cough cough). All in all I enjoyed watching these movies, but they could have been so much better.

The Disappearance Of Eleanor Rigby:Him/Her: The gimmick from director Ned Benson in this tale of lost love is that there are 2 movies, one from the perspective of each person in the relationship. There is no definitive order to watch these in, so I watched Her first then Him second. I think I liked it better in that order, so I would recommend it that way. Her is the more ambiguous one, so ending with Him closes out the story nicely and gives both movies a more complete feel to them. It is definitely a case where you need to watch both movies to get more enjoyment out of the story. The acting from Jessica Chastain is impeccable (and is getting to be the norm lately) and the chemistry with James McAvoy is good as well. Jessica Chastain does such a great job that her character feels really distant to the audience, almost to the point where you can't relate to her at all because they are so closeted off from us. That's something I found to be fascinating and compelling to watch unfold on screen. The story falls into some stereotypical romance movie cliches, but the supporting characters in both films are great and help make you a little more invested in the outcome for both lead characters.

15. Life Itself

I spend a lot of time online. Most of that time is spent towards art/entertainment, reading articles and opinions from others on how they view certain things, like a movie or a sporting event (aka Reddit). I like reading what other people think because it gives me a new avenue on how to view that piece of work. And as far as movies go, it gives me a new way of looking at things and another perspective to gain an appreciation from. That's what makes movie critics so important, in my opinion. They give us another pair of eyes and another voice to share their thoughts and feelings. One of the greatest things about art is how it can be interpreted differently to everyone, and there is no right or wrong way to perceive it. I love when you read a review of a movie after watching it and gain even more appreciation for the film. And I also like those times when you read a review and wonder how you could have such a profoundly different reaction to the movie. There are certain critics that you just see eye to eye with, and one of those critics was Roger Ebert. His prose, sentimentality, and just overall passion for movies was exuded in each one of his thousands of movie reviews. I loved watching Ebert and Roeper because it was the only time I really heard people talking about movies (before the internet and podcast time). The great thing about this documentary is how I gained a newfound appreciation for Roger and all he did for the film industry. He will definitely be missed, and I look forward to reading his reviews to all the movies I have yet to see, and either shaking or nodding my head along with him.

14. Leviathan

One of the reasons I love watching foreign films is for the opportunity to see different cultures portrayed on screen. It is easy to get lost in everything Hollywood throws at us that we end up missing out on many of the great films being released outside of the U.S. It was fascinating to see Russian culture portrayed on screen for the first time, and even more heartbreaking when reading that most of what I saw is true. The greed and corruption in the political system is rampant in the country, and hopefully the tales shown here begin to be the anomaly moving forward. The acting was great in this movie (particularly Elena Lyadova) and the cinematography was beautiful. It felt like they chose the perfect weather and scenery to depict the mood at various points during the film. One of my only complaints was how bare the soundtrack was, there were many spots where I felt like there was room to add more of that haunting score to the background. But nonetheless, it was still a very well made movie and I look forward to watching more movies from this director in the future.

13. Under The Skin

My favorite movie poster of the year. If you watch this movie, you will know immediately why it is so great. This film is easy to criticize immediately but harder to dismiss long-term. It's a movie that sticks with you well after watching, and, for me, yearning to find new meanings and themes within this multi-layered story. Scarlett Johansson is wonderful in this movie, and this is one of the best acting performances of the year, bar none. I'll say it again, but this film is easy to criticize: the length and pace of this movie is definitely something that could have been handled better. But I like to give the filmmakers the benefit of the doubt when they do things well, such as creating an environment so ethereal, a character so mysterious, and making us ponder such thought provoking questions about life, death, and the human condition. I also can't forget about mentioning the score, which is one of my favorites of the year. Mica Levi marvelously blends drone and string music together to create a hauntingly beautiful aura around the film. It adds so much without being overly obstructive in the narrative of the story, and is one of the primary reasons why I would watch the movie again, just to try and take more note of all the cues marked by the musical selection in each scene.

12. The Babadook

Let me first preface this blurb by saying I haven't watched many horror movies in my life. The number is probably between 4-7. I can't remember how many exactly because they honestly haven't been very memorable. Which isn't to say good movies can't come from this genre, but just that I am not very well versed in this genre. I chose to watch this movie because of all the good reviews surrounding it, and I am very glad I did. This film opened my eyes to what the horror genre can offer, and how it can present subject matter in ways other genres just cannot. I won't give much of the plot away, but the acting was superb in this film, and it was another movie that stuck with me for days on end thinking about (not just because of the nightmares. And yes, I thought this movie was scary, unlike a lot of people. Maybe I'm a wimp, who knows). I look forward to opening my horizons regarding this genre and watching more movies that push the boundaries on what scary movies have to offer.

11. The Tale Of The Princess Kaguya

I was really bummed when I heard the news that Studio Ghibli was temporarily halting production on new movies. I know that they are not closing, but the fact that there might be delays in new Studio Ghibli movies makes me sad. I have yet to watch one of their movies that hasn't been incredibly moving. Their films have an inherent richness and uniqueness that no other film company can replicate. Partly from the incredible deftness and beauty of the animation and partly from the themes brought up from Japanese culture, Studio Ghibli movies are known to aim higher than just putting a story on screen. I can't pinpoint what it is exactly that makes these films seem so different from all other films released, but all I know is that I love their movies to death. This movie is no different. This take on the folktale The Tale Of The Bamboo Cutter showcases brilliance in animation and gives the "coming of age" genre some newfound spunk, showcasing the aging process in such a different way than portrayed in western cultures. The animation is not only unique and resplendent, but it does new things with it that no film has really done before. One of my favorite scenes of the year is when princess Kaguya runs through the forest. Just through animation we can see so much emotion emanating from the character. This is a Studio Ghibli movie, remind you, so be prepared for many emotional punches by the end of the film. But also be prepared to leave with many thoughts circling your head, reflecting on your childhood but also looking forward to the many wonders life has to offer.

10. Force Majeure

The dynamic in families is something we all can relate to. We put up with each others nuanced personalities and we can predict how each of us will react to certain situations. Most importantly, after growing up and maturing, we just get each other. This Swedish film takes that family dynamic and adds an interesting wrinkle where the main conflict in the story is generated by one event occurring on a vacation and how each character reacts to that event. The acting and the dialogue is incredibly realistic, adding an even more personable take on the film. Normally you take sides in arguments, but it's really hard to do that in this film with the characters being the way they are. So you are just left sitting back and watching the drama unfold, almost like people watching on a park bench. I liked the ending as well (some will disagree), as I felt it tied up the loose ends nicely and it left me satisfied with the resolution for each character.

9. Selma

There has been a lot of discussion regarding this movie. The Oscars controversy, the race issues, the handling of Lyndon Johnson, and all sorts of things that the media likes to overhype. I'll be pretty simplistic then. This movie was good. This movie was powerful. And most importantly, this movie was needed. There's no arguing that there hasn't been this much racial unrest in one calendar year in a long time. The film could have definitely stood on it's own if it wasn't released amongst all this chaos and news. But this movie stood tall because it showed amidst all the conflicts and challenges we face in life, courage and confidence are traits to be desired. Courage can help push you forward even when the world is pushing you back. Martin Luther King Jr. exuded those traits from himself every day, making him one of the most natural-born leaders of our time. The movie itself is done very well, as it has wonderful acting (most notably Oyelowo, who was really snubbed at the oscars), good directing, great sets, and a methodical pace to it. I'll conclude by making it simple again. Go see this movie.

8. Deux Jours, Une Nuit

This is the definition of a dynamic lead performance in a movie. Marion Cotillard was front and center for all of the films 95 minute runtime. And there's not a dull moment in any one of those minutes. The way she can showcase depression, sadness, anxiety, and fear all in one is unbelievable and truly compelling to watch. The film does a great job of keeping you engaged during a film which rehashes similar conversations throughout. It really is a study on the human condition and empathy towards others. The dialogue is super realistic and makes you think along with it to how you would react to the same situation (on both sides of the dialogue). The movie makes great use of diegetic sound as well, as the movie is pretty bare when it comes to background sound (a trait well suited for the film). It was a pleasure watching watching a second time and I feel like I would enjoy it just as much in subsequent viewings.

7. Coherence

I mentioned before that's I find it easy to cut filmmakers slack when they do something well. And in this film they do a fantastic job of crafting a well constructed story with a bunch of detailed twists and turns that has you wracking your brain well after the movie is over. Yes, the film is low-budgeted and yes the acting can be a little stiff at times. But the wonderful story more than makes up for all the shortcomings. I won't say a lot about the plot for obvious reasons so I'll just urge you to watch it. You (probably) won't regret it.

6. Gone Girl

Word to the wise. Do not watch a movie adaptation of a book immediately after reading that book. It will cloud your judgement immensely and your mind won't give the film a fair shot as it will be too fresh with all the plot points in the story. I unfortunately did exactly that here with Gone Girl. I watched the movie immediately after finishing the book (one of the best books I have ever read) and as a result the story was so fresh in my mind that I would play the next scene out in my head before it appeared on screen. Anytime I would see something I remembered from the book I would start to think about that exact scene and wonder why it is not exactly how I pictured it in my head when reading it. I wasn't able to just appreciate the acting, the sets, cinematography, or the little things in film that are unique to that medium, because my head was just too full of information. You need to let a story sink in a little before you jump to the film adaptation.

On the second viewing a couple months later I realized this fact, as I was able to really appreciate all the wonderful aspects of this film. The casting was done perfectly, every character felt true to the book (and in some cases added even more dynamic range to them). The sets and cinematography suited the film well, and the music was out-of-this-world good. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have a wonderful chemistry going with David Fincher, and it continues here as they took their Girl With The Dragon Tattoo sound and tweaked it to make it more menacing and even more chaotic. The use of obscure sounds mixed with strings, synths, and piano made this one of my favorite albums of the year, let alone scores in a movie. It pushes the boundary on what film music can be, as it is sometimes part sound effects and part musical in nature. I would say it's my favorite part of the film, as it adds so much and without it the film would fall flat on its face. I would recommend reading the book before watching the movie (with adequate time in between of course) as it really makes you appreciate all aspects of this wonderfully crafted story. This crazy, dark, weird, multi-faceted, thought-provoking story.

5. Birdman

Another year, another best picture winner at no. 5 on my list. I have only watched this movie once, but I feel like since it is so unique in scope I will have to watch it again to pick up certain things I may have missed. I also feel like I need to watch it again to immerse myself in the story better, as it was a little unsettling seeing so much motion in the camera at first. You wanted there to be a pause just to catch your breath but it never really happened until at the very end of the movie. Now I know why Emmanuel Lubezki shot the film like one long take (like a play), so I can concentrate on the motivations behind each character and how their roles shape the overarching themes of the movie. I was very surprised at how genuinely funny this movie was. Not by pushing humor to the forefront, but the small things like character mannerisms, arguments, and just witty dialogue. You really felt like you were watching madness unfold in front of your eyes. What makes this a great film is the way the themes are presented to you. You know what it's trying to convey, but it does it in a way that doesn't spell it out for you and allows you to have your own interpretation. It feels like a drama by pretending to be a drama. I did have one minor criticism which dropped it down in my list which was how the criticisms of the film industry and the over-saturation of superhero movies was handled. I felt it was a little too critical (yes, even for satire) without showcasing the positives of that artform and its contribution to society as a whole. It was a minor complaint but I still look forward to watching this movie again.

4. The Grand Budapest Hotel

I mentioned last year that it's easy for me to fall in love with certain filmmakers to the point where I will support (and most likely love) any project they put out. Wes Anderson is fully on that platform for me. It's not hard to "get" his films, but I am definitely in that camp and after every movie he releases it gets to be more and more evident how much joy I get watching his movies. This movie is adequately described as a "live action cartoon." The colors, sets, acting, cinematography, and dialogue are all signature Wes, but one thing he does differently in this movie is tell a story which leaves you guessing as to what is going to happen. The movie relies more on the plot development than the character development present in his previous films. That's not to say there isn't any emotional attachment to the characters, it's just that there is so much going on at times that it's easier to just sit back and enjoy the ride. Ralph Fiennes could not be more at home in this environment, as it feels like him and Wes have been working together for decades. I still think Moonrise Kingdom is my favorite Wes Anderson film, but I'm not here to rank his works. This was hands down one of my favorite films of the year and I would welcome any opportunity to watch it again.

3. Interstellar

It's rare that I really escape in movies these days. Everything seems so familiar and seems so relatable that I often find myself thinking throughout the movie rather than getting lost in the film. Sci-Fi and Fantasy, however, are two genres that, when done well, can immerse me in an environment so well that I get completely lost in it (in a good way). Interstellar was the definition of an escape movie, but I also got some satisfaction in the message and themes presented that made me want to see it again and made me think about long after finishing it.

The first thing you have to talk about when discussing the movie is the visual effects. I have never seen outer space portrayed more realistically in a sci-fi movie than seen here. It did justice to the sheer size of space and it showed things that we might not know the full scope of yet in realistic, beautiful fashion. The acting, in particular Matthew McConaughey and Jessica Chastain, was great and very much needed in order to convey the wide swing of emotions during this journey. The music was fantastic, as Hans Zimmer hit it out of the park once again with a beautiful score that always felt ready for the big moments (and sometimes even out-shined them). There were some sound mixing issues I had, but in IMAX I thought I could hear the dialogue better (even if everything was just louder). Those sound issues (and some of the issues with the story) didn't cloud my judgement or impact my rating of the movie, however. So even if this isn't the most replay-able movie in Christopher Nolan's filmography, I'm really glad I saw this in theaters several times because I cherish those escapes and I cherish those moments only theaters can do justice.

2. Whiplash

There are many analogies out there comparing this film to a sports film. And I don't disagree with that assessment. But just saying that alone would pigeonhole this movie to certain stereotypes and cliches which it definitely tries to avoid. This is a multi-faceted movie with many complex parts working together to create a cinematic masterpiece (yes I used the "m" word).

I always find it interesting to see how musicians are portrayed in movies. It seems like there's only 2 ends of the spectrum, one where they are struggling or searching for their break (ala Inside Llewyn Davis, 8 Mile, etc) or they are showcasing their sheer talent and uniqueness in their field (ala Amadeus, Ray, Walk The Line, etc). What I liked about this movie was how they bridged the gap between these 2 spectrums and focused on a central character whose flaws are mostly internal, based on confidence and his own definition of success. His troubles and misfortune were mostly self-inflicted, which made you frustratingly supportive in a way resembling a parent of a problem child. The protagonist complex was blurred also, by adding in a character that had just as much of a role to the overall story and themes presented, making this film much more than just about the journey behind one central character.

One of the ways I was able to relate to this story was the constant struggle Andrew had with defining success. Is it something defined by the book or is it an internal thing that you just have to figure out yourself? Meaning, in Andrews case, is it succeeding at a world famous music school and climbing up the ranks there? Or is it defined by your perception of creativity and striving to be unique on your own? The dynamic between Andrew and Fletcher was fantastic because it was only when both of them admitted to themselves that they needed each other were they truly satisfied with their lives. They needed someone just like them to figure out what it was they needed and yearned for in life.

All the aspects in a great movie are here: Great pacing, great acting, great dialogue, and great character development. J.K. Simmons gave a criminally underrated performance (ok, maybe not that underrated) and Miles Teller completely matched him stride for stride. The movie showcases what good editing can do for a movie (ironically by not noticing it). The climax was one of the best endings to a movie I have seen in a long time, and ending with a bang does wonders for how you remember a film. One of the great qualities of this movie is how it just sticks. You remember all those little moments. You remember the big finale. But most importantly, you remember how you felt watching it all unfold. And I can't wait to experience that feeling again.

1. Boyhood

What makes some of our memories so memorable? Why do we vividly remember certain events out of the countless possible events in our lives? Why do we remember that one encounter with a friend, a random day in school, or a single car ride from the numerous ones in our lives? I believe emotion plays a big role in our retention of memories. In each of those moments, some emotion was at its peak output. Whether it be joy, sadness, anger, or whatever, our minds don't so easily forget when our emotions are running at a high level. And I wouldn't have it any other way. It's nice to be able to get lost in your thoughts and remember moments when you were at your happiest, when you were really nervous, or when you were at your saddest. One of the great things in life is that we get to experience all those emotions, and we get to keep those memories tucked away in a neat and tidy corner of our brains. There is a certain beauty to things that make us feel strong emotion, whether it be good or bad.

Speaking of emotions, I'm not sure if I can pinpoint one emotion I felt while watching this movie. It's a movie that will invoke a different emotional response each time you watch it.

Like I said last year, I think our favorite movies can tell a lot about ourselves. And that's a good thing. Just the fact that a work of art can tell us so much about ourselves is a beautiful and wondrous thing, and no one should be ashamed of that. The world is a much more better place when people wear their heart on their sleeves. So I hope you know I miss my childhood. I hope you know I'm scared of the future. I hope you know that my 12 year old self is still beating strong. I hope you know I will always remember where I came from, and all those who helped me out along the way. I hope you know I don't know exactly where my life is headed. I hope you know I will work my hardest to figure it all out though. I hope you know I miss the living hell out of my childhood. And I hope you know that I love this movie.

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thesymphonyoflife · 9 years

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The Air Out There

Life is full of repetition. It's not always a bad thing, though. It is absolutely imperative in order to achieve any sort of self-improvement and success in life. Perseverance and dedication lead us to better lives and allows us to overcome life's greatest obstacles. But when that monotony starts to bear down on us one thing that we begin to appreciate more and more is the good ol' fashioned "escape."

Escapes can come in all shapes and sizes. They can be simple and quick, such as a fleeting daydream or a phone call. They can be visceral or emotive, such as art or hobbies. Or they can be psychological such as meditation or drugs. One thing that can encompass all these things though and is often overlooked is traveling.

The one thing different about traveling versus the other forms of escape is that it forces us to step out of our routine. Some of those escapes such as art, hobbies, or drugs can be seared into our lives so profoundly that it becomes habitual to us. Traveling can fully clean the slate and allow us to focus on just one thing: making memories.

Traveling is so unique because it offers something different to everyone. Some do it to escape their pressured lives. Some do it for the companionship of another. Some do it for the adventure. Some do it to understand themselves better. And some just do it for the hell of it. The great thing is there is no right or wrong way to experience the thrill of vacationing and travel. There is no right or wrong destination to go to. The only thing that matters is if it allows you to escape, even for just a moment.

For me, I have been privileged enough to be well travelled throughout my childhood. Family vacations were a yearly thing, whether it was small road trips or big international vacations. And it's funny, while I never took any of those moments for granted as a kid, I never fully appreciated what all I saw until just recently after traveling without my family for the first time. As a kid, every day is an escape. Each day is filled with new adventures and new experiences, so it's no surprise that I felt that the places I visited were just more new experiences.

I believe as we get older we become even more fearful of things in our everyday lives (even if many of us won't admit it). We get more fearful of death, more fearful of losing loved ones, more fearful of failure, more fearful of rejection, and countless other things. But with all these fears comes an appreciation for all that we have. It allows us to appreciate our place in the world and forces us to live in the moment. That's why escapes are so powerful, and what makes traveling euphoric. It allows us to turn those fears and doubts into happiness and appreciation. It allows us to step out of our bustling minds for a bit. And best of all it gives us the opportunity to find that moment. You know, that moment that you cling on to for the rest of your life. That moment that is so ingrained in your memory that you remember how each of your senses felt. That moment that time finally slows down for. That moment that makes you appreciate everything you have. That moment that makes you want to work even harder so you can achieve something just remotely close to it later in life. That moment of pure, unadulterated bliss.

For me, I had plenty of those moments on my last vacation to New Zealand and Australia. Taking a deep breath of the cool, gossamer air on top of Mount Eden in Auckland. The feel of the soft gravel sliding down Mount Tongariro. Talking to a hotel receptionist in Wellington. The first bite of a Krispy Kreme donut after more than a year long wait. Looking at the glistening lights of Sydney sitting beside the Opera House. And looking into the distance kayaking the serene waters of Milford Sound.

I urge everyone to find your escape. Step outside of your comfort zone. Cast those fears aside.

Find your moment.

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thesymphonyoflife · 10 years

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Childhood

I miss those Saturday morning cartoons. I miss the bus rides. I miss sleeping on those bus rides. I miss missing your stop because you slept through the bus ride. I miss the sleepovers. I miss those sleepovers where you pulled an all-nighter just talking about girls. I miss the birthday parties. I miss playing sports after school. I miss playing video games all weekend. I miss all those horrible but awesome fads. I miss pulling pranks on teachers and other students. I miss all the horrible school lunches. I miss those lovingly-made bag lunches from Mom. I miss all the field trips. I miss those seemingly endless summer vacations. I miss those culdesac baseball games. I miss knocking on neighborhood friends' doors to see if they can play. I miss playing outside until sunset then running back home to eat dinner. I miss the last days of school. Heck, I even miss those first days of school. I just really miss my childhood.

After watching Boyhood, maybe my favorite movie of all time now, a second time this weekend, I had such profound thoughts and recollections regarding my childhood and how I view my life now. So strong that I actually feel truly depressed.

I mean, how can you not miss something that gave you such jubilation and ebullience in your life? My childhood was all that I could ask for and more. It provided me with a solid foundation built on ethics, learning, empathy, and happiness, and it shaped who I am as a person today. There's not a moment I wouldn't change from my childhood (good or bad). What was so unsettling to me, however, coming out of that movie was how my mindset has changed as I have grown older. Before, I didn't know about the complexities of life and the responsibilities you obtain naturally as you age. I was in a constant state of "happy-go-lucky-ness," never worrying about the next test (always felt confident in school), never worrying about friends (always had a great circle of friends), and never really worrying about the next step. It wasn't until college where I truly started asking myself those questions and thinking about the future.

I'm just sad that I can't go back in time and delve into my mindset 10, 15 years ago. I remember all those memorable events so vividly, but the thing I cannot do is go back and remember exactly how I viewed the world. That person seems so distant to me now.

Now that I am out of college I am starting to see those other milestones and the other side of life. Girlfriends, engagements, weddings, new houses, kids (!!), etc. And here I am just typing in the same room I had since I was 4, staring at the same posters I had growing up, staring at all the same books I have had since I was a kid, looking at all the CDs I accumulated since I was a child, and sleeping in pretty much the same spot I have slept in since we moved into this house. But life couldn't be more different now than when I was a kid.

I wouldn't consider what I'm having as a mid-life crisis though. Because I do in fact like my job, I do have fun hanging out with friends, and I do enjoy life after school. I just miss that mindset I had as a kid. I hate how I always have this birdy in my head constantly reminding myself that I have something important to do and that I have to think about ways to make my life better. I hate how we are trained throughout life to constantly progress towards this better and better person. I'm starting to wonder what this self-actualized person is even like, or if he even exists. What if I'm never satisfied?

There's so much uncertainty in life. And yes, I know, worrying about the unknown will get you nowhere in life, and it will be one huge waste of time. But that's what's so scary about it. Every decision you make is your own now, and each can make such a profound impact on where your life is headed. For me, right now, I'm preparing for the GRE and applying to grad school in the fall. I don't know if that's the right choice. I don't know what my life will be like if I get into grad school. I just think it's the right move for me at this stage in my life. I think finally leaving my comfort zone will be good for me (I'll have to leave the state if I want to get into the program I want), as it may give me a much needed kick in the butt after all these years of pampering.

It's hard to change. It's even harder to want change. Ultimately, I want to thank Richard Linklater and everyone involved in Boyhood for provoking these thoughts and forcing me to assess my life like this. No movie has ever been this emotionally resonant with me. I just hope the next time I watch it I view it in a more positive light, not thinking about the nostalgia behind it but all the complex and wonderful messages it presents.

Because life doesn't always give you bumpers.

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thesymphonyoflife · 10 years

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Favorite Animated Movies

Everyones childhood contains a few things: cereal, bus rides, ice cream trucks, freezies, biking, jungle gyms, video games, and animated movies, to name a few. It's probably more likely someone my age has seen The Lion King than the original Star Wars trilogy (I would know because I'm one of those people). That's because animated movies introduce us to the world of art and all the possibilities it can achieve. They're watched by so many kids because they're tailored to fit our expansive imagination and uniquely creative minds (not to mention our ADD). As we get older, however, we start to realize that these films do more than just open our eyes to the wonders of imagination, and that some of them have deeply rooted themes and messages that go way beyond the scope of a children's tale. In a way it's a genre that keeps on giving, as we can learn new things from it with each passing viewing. I often say animated movies are somewhat devoid of any criticism, because they contain so much creativity, imagination, and beauty that it's hard to find faults with any of them. If I had to rank the ones I have seen, however...

Apologies to:

Chicken Run: Fun claymation movie with lots of great animation and non-stop action. Fantastic Mr. Fox (which we will see later on) definitely borrowed some elements from this movie

Lady and the Tramp: The first movie I can think of that produced a love story not featuring humans. The spaghetti scene is one of the more iconic scenes in the disney catalog

Antz: Good movie that suffered from being under A Bug's Life's shadow

Over The Hedge: Good soundtrack, good characters, and good plot

Polar Express: Creative winter-time movie.

Shark Tale: Good voice acting and animation.

Despicable Me 2: Didn't quite live up to the standard set by the first one

Ice Age: Fun movie but never really made a lasting impression on me

Now on to the top 64... But first, a distribution chart:

A few things before I get to the match-ups:

1) No, I haven't seen every animated movie in existence. If there are movies you are surprised not to see on the bracket, it's probably because I haven't seen it yet.

2) Movies were ranked based on IMDB rating.

3) Regions are arbitrary. I tried to name the regions based on the number 1 seeds, but it didn't really work out for the Dreamworks region.

4) Winners were picked based upon my opinion.

5) I might be wrong. Actually I probably am wrong.

I'll try my best to avoid any glaring spoilers. But if you haven't seen any of the movies above, what are you waiting for???

First Round:

Studio Ghibli Region:

Spirited Away (1) vs. Space Jam (16): This first matchup is a case of horrible seeding. I don't know why Space Jam is rated so low but alas, it has to go up against Spirited Away. Space Jam combined so many things I loved as a child (Michael Jordan, basketball, Looney Toons) and jam packed them into a concise, action packed 88 minutes. It had great dialogue, animation, and plot (not to mention the amazing soundtrack). There was not a bad moment in the movie, in my opinion, and it very well could be my most watched movie. But Spirited Away is a whole 'nother beast. If we made this bracket 10 years ago Space Jam would run away with this competition. But today, I like Spirited Away more. Sorry Space Jam, it's not you, it's me. Winner: Spirited Away

Wreck-It Ralph (8) vs. Fantastic Mr. Fox (9): Two vastly different movies which I both liked a lot. Wreck-It Ralph is one of the prettiest movies I've seen, as they make full use of the entire color pallet in that one. The character development is great in this movie, as you really start to understand Ralph and Vanellope's personalities by the end of the movie. It intertwines that with a great plot which keeps you engaged and gives a heartfelt emotional ending leaving you very satisfied. Nothing bad I can really say about that movie. It's just that I like Fantastic Mr. Fox a shmidge more. Wes Anderson invokes his signature style in beautiful claymation in this Roald Dahl adaptation. Combining his directorial style with a fun, adventurous storyline adds up to a movie I can see myself watching over and over again. Winner: Fantastic Mr. Fox

Monsters Inc. (5) vs. The Emperor's New Groove (12): A classic 5-12 matchup where an upset is very much possible. Monsters Inc. is such a creative tale of something we as kids so often believe: that there are monsters hiding in our closets when we go to bed. The characters in this movie are what make this movie on the top of Pixar's collection. Boo is one of the cutest characters ever put on film. Mike and Sully are two of the easiest protagonists to root for. And Randall is one of the easiest antagonists to root against. Throw in great voice acting and you have one solid film. But this is going up against one of the funniest movies ever, in my opinion. The characters in The Emperor's New Groove are just as good, if not better than Monsters Inc. They all have their quirkiness to them and they all have their faults. And they are all so love-able (yes, even Yzma) that you don't really root for anybody, instead you just soak up all that is going on and enjoy the ride. Winner: The Emperor's New Groove

Castle In The Sky (4) vs. Dumbo (13): Castle In The Sky is a creative adventure movie with non-stop pace. The beautiful animation from Hayao Miyazaki give it a strong backbone, and the amazing soundtrack give it its heart. The movie never feels long and moves from one plot point to another with just the right pace. Definitely one of my favorite Miyazaki films. Dumbo is a movie that shaped my childhood immensely though, so it can't beat that. Elephants have been my favorite animal since before I can remember (and this film might have to do with it) also so that just adds to the appeal for me. Winner: Dumbo

My Neighbor Totoro (3) vs. Hercules (14): I watched many of the Studio Ghibli movies in the past several months, but the one I most wished I would have seen earlier is My Neighbor Totoro. I want to see if I would've been as appreciative of it as I am now, because present day me loved this movie to death. Hercules features some great characters and great voice acting (James Woods and Danny Devito do an exceptionally good job). It also features some great fighting sequences and great monsters. Totoro wins here though because its cuteness factor is way over 9000. Winner: My Neighbor Totoro

The Iron Giant (6) vs. Pinocchio (11): The Iron Giant deviates from the typical animated movie mold in an unorthodox way, by sprinkling in elements from the coming-of-age genre, sci-fi, family values, and political messages. None of these elements are too overwhelming though, and the mix is a perfect blend of animated good-ness. Pinocchio is a tale that everyone knows, and I always have to give credit to films that break ground in a genre. I always do a double take when I see 1940 (!!) next to the title. The film has plenty of emotional rollercoasters, both enchanting and frightening (the donkey transformation scene always scared me as a kid). But that shows that not only was it ground-breaking in the animation department, but it was also ground-breaking as a kids movie to show themes not seen before. The Iron Giant wins because I just like it more (don't know what else to say). Winner: The Iron Giant

Toy Story 2 (7) vs. The Little Mermaid (10): Each Toy Story film is so great because it focuses on a different conflict and widely different plots in each. They feel like totally different movies because they are. The emotional connections in each of these movies are incredible also, each dealing with something different and something we all can relate to so well (friendships, being an outcast, growing up, etc). Each film also has a great way of blending this in with outstanding characters, great dialogue, and a fast moving plot. There's not a dull moment in any of them. The Little Mermaid is a classic Disney love story that been done time and time again (many by Disney themselves). But it manages to keep your attention with great songs and a good conflict. Toy Story 2 is just more memorable to me, however. Winner: Toy Story 2

Up (2) vs. Tarzan (15): Tarzan features some of the best songs in the disney catalog, with Phil Collins making his stamp on several songs. Minnie Driver and Rosie O'Donnell provide great voice acting for their roles of jane and terk, respectively. It sometimes suffers from pushing the emotion a little too much (there's just a few too many emotional songs/moments) but that's pretty much the only complaint. When the majority of the films on this bracket are near perfect, just one slip-up can doom you. Up is a film which is definitely near perfect, in my opinion. Everyone knows about the iconic Carl and Ellie scene but the movie has plenty of other good moments as well. Russell is one of the cutest pixar characters to date, and Carl is one of the best nuanced protagonists in their catalog. There is so much character development between the two, and it's great to see a movie with two characters so far apart in age. More on this movie later. But for now it moves on. Winner: Up

Disney Region:

The Lion King (1) vs. The Pokemon Movie (16): The Pokemon Movie (Mewtwo Strikes Back) was one of my first cases of anticipation for a movie. I was completely immersed in the Pokemon world as a kid, playing the video games, watching the show, and collecting the cards. The movie did not disappoint either (I don't think). I haven't seen it since but it still is important to me, mainly because of the huge nostalgia factor. The Lion King is just too good to lose this early though. Winner: The Lion King

Fantasia (8) vs. The South Park Movie (9): Both these movies are very unorthodox to the traditional animated movie. Fantasia provided beautiful visuals amidst an enchanting score with little to no dialogue. South Park provided mature themes and dialogue never seen before in animated movies. While the South Park movie was good, it definitely works better in tv show format, where they can showcase their ridiculousness in a more concise manner. Fantasia is just too creative and unique to lose this matchup. Winner: Fantasia

Beauty And The Beast (5) vs. Sleeping Beauty (12): Sleeping Beauty is the age-old trope of the prince saving the princess, but this was truly one of the first instances on screen. It loses some of its' replay-ability just by being overcrowded by Disney's other similar fairy tales. But it definitely has a great villian (Maleficient) and some great action sequences (Dragon!!). Beauty and the Beast was the first animated film to be nominated for best picture (and rightfully so). This film blended music in perfectly with each scene, resulting in one of the best film scores ever. The characters were lovable and the animation was splendid, with some great backdrops and scenery shown throughout. More on this film later, because it's on to the next round. Winner: Beauty And The Beast

Finding Nemo (4) vs. Cinderella (13): Pixar knows how to set up movies. Between just the opening scenes of this movie and Up you could fill up a bucket full of tears. But it's completely necessary and is vital to the character development throughout the film. Dory is one of the best sidekicks in any movie, and there are so many funny moments throughout. The animation is resplendent, producing the best underwater world ever seen on film. Seriously, I can't state this enough, just look at the detail in all the fish and coral in the movie, it's amazing. Cinderella is the classic fairy tale which, while predictable, does a great job of utilizing animation to portray this story. Nemo is just too creative and imaginative to lose this round. Winner: Finding Nemo

Howl's Moving Castle (3) vs. A Bug's Life (14): Howl's Moving Castle takes the prize of prettiest movie I've ever seen. The rich colors and smooth animation flawlessly blends Miyazaki's signature style with his creativity. This movie is more fairy-tale esque compared to his other films, but he Miyazaki still adapts this book in a way that makes it his own. A Bug's Life is the second Pixar film that often gets lost amidst all the other great films in their catalog. It has a good plot and good characters, but it doesn't have some of that replay value that other pixar movies has. Winner: Howl's Moving Castle

Aladdin (6) vs. Mulan (11): Robin Williams took voice acting to a whole new world (see what I did there) with his performance in this one. He blended his crazy voices perfectly with the powers of animation, creating one of the best characters in the Disney filmography. The plot was enjoyable, the conflict was excellent, and the animation was superb. Mulan has one of the best songs of any Disney film made. It also has a great protagonist and good character development throughout. Eddie Murphy does a great job as mushu adding much needed comic relief. Aladdin is just more memorable for me. Winner: Aladdin

Shrek (7) vs. Robin Hood (10): Shrek did a great job of adding a new flavor to animated movies, adding in songs from outside artists, crude jokes (that aren't that crude), and parodies of other disney fairy tales. Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy have great chemistry, and the film has just enough plot development to keep you engaged. Robin Hood is one of the funniest Disney movies ever, featuring some of the most idiotic villains ever (Prince John and Sir Hiss) that only add to the enjoyment of rooting for Robin Hood. This one moves on. Winner: Robin Hood

Toy Story (2) vs. Bolt (15): This seems like a lopsided matchup, and it is, but Bolt still was a good movie which deserved a spot on this bracket. This movie has a good plot mixed with fluid animation to produce an engaging film. Toy Story has so much more going for it, however. The outstanding creativity in the storyline, the first-of-it's-kind animation and story, and memorable characters put this film on the pantheon of animation. But will it win the next matchup? Tune in later to find out. Winner: Toy Story

Pixar Region:

Wall-E (1) vs. Pocahontas (16): I don't know why Pocahontas is rated so low (but then again that's coming from the guy who said animated movies should be devoid of criticism) but it's a good film which mixes in some Miyazaki-esque themes from nature and spirituality. Wall-E takes a unique stab at a social commentary sci-fi, with themes and messages sprawled throughout (but never in-your-face). It works without much dialogue, which is the true mark of good storytelling. It is acclaimed for good reason, and I feel will definitely stand the test of time. Winner: Wall-E

Kiki's Delivery Service (8) vs. Cars (9): Kiki is a fun, loving coming-of-age movie from Hayao Miyazaki. He adds to his collection of female protagonists, and this one adds in a new wrinkle (she's a witch!). It's a pleasant movie which showcases the good in people. Cars is a movie that suffers from its long runtime (close to 2 hours) and somewhat general lack of direction. It's probably my least favorite Pixar movie, but with a filmography that good, it's not saying much. Winner: Kiki's Delivery Service

Ratatouille (5) vs. Peter Pan (12): iTunes released a 10 minuted preview of Ratatouille a couple months before it was released, and that was easily my most watched video up until the release. I could not believe the detail in the animation, from each hair of Remy to the French backdrop in stunning detail. Peter Pan is the imaginative tale that was best suited for viewing as a child, but still holds up as a great film today. Captain Hook and Mr. Smee are another great idiotic villain duo which adds a bunch of comic relief. Ratatouille is too good to lose here though. Winner: Ratatouille

Nausicaa Of The Valley Of The Wind (4) vs. The Land Before Time (13):

Hayao Miyazaki definitely knows how to craft an epic story that involves vivid imagery and themes about nature. This one has those things front and center in this epic tale about a warrior trying to save their planet. The action sequences and the insects/monsters are great, but it sometimes labors over its long run time. The Land Before Time (and to be clear I'm talking about the very first one, not one of the 83 sequels they made) on the other hand is completely on the other side of the spectrum, with its short run time fit for an hour long tv episode. But a lot happens over the 69 min runtime, including some very emotional scenes and some great battles (both internal and external). The 5 dinosaurs you go on the journey with are all cute and lovable, and definitely added to my dinosaur passion as a kid. For that reason, it moves on. Winner: The Land Before Time

Mary And Max (3) vs. Brave (14): Mary And Max is a quirky claymation animated movie about two long distance pen pals. I had never heard of Adam Elliot before this film so now I will definitely be anticipating his future work, as this was as unique an animated movie I've seen. Brave had the classic "looks even better than you think it will" Pixar magic, as their animation continues to get better and better. That was the best part of the movie, however, as the characters never really developed as much as I would've liked and the plot was a bit of a mess (especially the ending). Winner: Mary And Max

The Incredibles (6) vs. Alice In Wonderland (11): Alice In Wonderland is one of the truly psychedelic films in the Disney Repertoire, with some scenes that could fit in a Studio Ghibli movie. It does this out of necessity, however, as it portrays the novel in true (it is known as a "literary nonsense" genre book) colorful fashion. The Incredibles takes an enjoyable stab at the superhero genre by adding their own flavor into an original tale (which is why it will hold up over time, in my opinion). This is an action movie in the truest sense, with scenes that could rival any blockbuster summer movie (ok maybe not any, but you get the idea). The sets and characters are excellent, and I'm eagerly anticipating the sequel. Winner: The Incredibles

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (7) vs. The Jungle Book (10): I saw The Girl Who Leapt Through Time on youtube, so I did not get the best sense of the visual quality in the 360p I watched it in. But the movie was not really about that, as this anime was more about the plot and the character development. I was engaged throughout, but the ending/twist seemed a little forced to me. I did like how it managed to keep a good sense on the time element, even if the premise was a little ridiculous. The Jungle Book is a tale which only adds to Disney's impressive collection and ability to create vastly new and different worlds. The characters in this film are also top notch, with Baloo being one of my favorite Disney characters. I haven't seen this movie in a while but it left enough of a lasting impression to know I liked it a lot, and for that it moves on. Winner: The Jungle Book

Toy Story 3 (2) vs. A Goofy Movie (15): I saw A Goofy Movie when I was around the same age as Max was in the movie, so it definitely resonated with me as the father-son dynamic played a big role in it. I'm sure I was nicer to my dad for the next couple of days. Also, no one can deny that they had a crush on Roxanne when watching this movie. There was surprisingly good character development and funny moments throughout, adding up to make a memorable film. Toy Story 3 is a juggernaut, however, and it will not lose this early. More on this film later. Winner: Toy Story 3

Dreamworks Region:

Grave Of The Fireflies (1) vs. The Hunchback Of Notre Dame (16): Frollo is one of the most evil villains in all the Disney movies, even if he often doesn't get that kind of recognition. He blends a perfect mix of stubbornness, greed, and religious motives together with that creepy drawl to produce some of the darkest scenes in the movie. It is definitely a dark film, but produces enough of a happy ending in the end to deserve multiple viewings. Grave Of The Fireflies is also a dark film, but not in the same sense. You can be prepared for the emotional gut punch and still be moved by this film. It is a wonderful piece of art that I will get to more in depth later, because I have a feeling it will stick around for a while. Winner: Grave Of The Fireflies

Frozen (8) vs. Despicable Me (9): Frozen is a movie that is a case of an overrated/underrated divide (particularly because it has gotten immensely popular). The truth is that it lies somewhere in the middle, a good film that deserves a viewing, but maybe not multiple ones. The music was great and the animation was incredible, making me wonder how good animation will get in just the next few years. Despicable me features some unique characters and an interesting premise. The minions add much needed comic relief, and while it sometimes borrows a lot of tropes from previous animated movies (the incredibles comes to mind first) it does a good job of executing it briskly and keeps the audience engaged throughout. This matchup was a pretty close call. Winner: Despicable Me

Snow White And The Seven Dwarves (5) vs. Bambi (12): I can never really fathom the fact that Snow White was made in 1937. To think what the world was like back then, let alone animation in general, makes this film a true achievement. I haven't seen the movie in a while but I remember the funny dwarves, the evil villain, and the menacing score. There is a reason why it has stood the test of time. Bambi is another old tale yet doesn't feel old. You can tell the animation has gotten much better in the five years between Snow White and this film. Never before has there been a coming-of-age film for an animal, but this was one of the first. The film goes through some definite emotional roller coasters that left a lasting impression on me as a child, but the payoff is well worth it and it does a lot even in its short run time. This one was also a close call, but in the end, Snow White pulls ahead because of its mark it made on animation. Winner: Snow White And The Seven Dwarves

The Lego Movie (4) vs. The Fox And The Hound (13): You can call me cynical, but I wasn't the biggest fan of The Lego Movie. First, the things it did well: Animation, action scenes, and pacing were great. Things I did not like: the constant need to push jokes in every line, the humor in general, and the forced emotional connections with the son and father. One thing I know is true: I would've liked it a lot more 5-10 years ago. Who knows, maybe I'll like it more the second time I watch it (if I give it another chance). The Fox And The Hound certainly left a lasting impression on me, even if it was mostly sadness. The movie showcased the wonders of friendship and the heartbreak of death in tasteful fashion. It isn't one of my favorite Disney movies, but this is a first time case of a win by default. Winner: The Fox And The Hound

How To Train Your Dragon (3) vs. 101 Dalmatians (14): There are hundreds of movies that feature dogs, but 101 Dalmatians was the first case that I can remember of animated dogs on screen. Cruella De Vil is certainly an easy villain to hate (because who abuses dogs??). I also gotta give props for her name too (the play on cruel and evil), it is so recognizable even now. How To Train Your Dragon is a recent film that finally featured characters I've wanted to see on screen for a long time: Vikings!! This movie blends in perfectly timed comedy, action sequences, and emotional connections with the best animated movies. The voice acting, sets, and soundtrack are all terrific as well. Winner: How To Train Your Dragon

Whisper Of The Heart (6) vs. The Simpsons Movie (11): Whisper Of The Heart is a great Ghibli film which combines a romance and coming-of-age film all in one. I guess coming of age can (and normally does) include romance but they do a good job of sort of separating the two and showcasing what we can do if we put our minds on something. The creativity in the story and superb character development make this movie a must watch. The Simpsons Movie is another movie that I was eagerly anticipating, as I've been a huge Simpsons fan since the mid 90's. This was a classic example of a movie you could tell they put a lot of time into, as the animation, storyline, and humor was all a step up from the episodes at the time (around season 19-20). The plot was fast paced, and the humor was classic Simpsons. Even though I think it is better suited for a 20 minute TV show (like South Park) this movie was definitely needed and just added to the incredible achievements Matt Groening has had. This was a close call, but I give the slight edge to The Simpsons, mainly because I love the show so much. Winner: The Simpsons Movie

Tangled (7) vs. The Secret World Of Arrietty (10): The first thing you notice about Tangled is the stunning animation. The colors are so rich and bold, that any other viewing than in 1080p does all the animators a disservice. The story is presented in an enjoyable fashion, even if there are common themes and messages throughout and callbacks to previous disney films. The Secret World Of Arrietty was the first Studio Ghibli I had seen, and I will ever be grateful for opening my eyes to the wonders of Hayao Miyazaki. This take on "The Borrowers" showcases his resplendent animation and creative story-telling abilities. Miyazaki does a great job of adding complexities to characters as the film progresses, and this is shown here with Arrietty. Winner: The Secret World Of Arrietty

Princess Mononoke (2) vs. James And The Giant Peach (15): J&tGP always fascinated me as a kid, because the animation style of Henry Selick was so distinct and unique that it completely engrossed you in the world he created. Roald Dahl also deserves some credit for the imaginative ideas he had and the unique adventures he created. This film also contributed to my fear of finding bugs in my fruit (which I still have to this day). Princess Mononoke is the epic tale of Ashitaka and his journey to find a cure to a curse which was set upon him. This film mixes in some of Miyazaki's signature traits, with common themes and messages in addition the the splendid animation. Easy win here. Winner: Princess Mononoke

After round 1...

Round 2:

Studio Ghibli Region:

Spirited Away (1) vs. Fantastic Mr. Fox (9): Its a shame these two have to meet so early, because these are two of my favorite films. Fantastic Mr. Fox features some great vocal performances, and the way they shot them voice acting was pretty unique. Wes Anderson worked his signature style flawlessly in the animated world, using many of the same actors he has worked with in the past. It's a little weird hearing those familiar voices in animated roles, but once you watch it a couple times it gets more normal (yes, you will be watching this movie many times). Spirited Away still wins this matchup though for its versatility. It has just a little more emotion, just a little better animation, and just a little extra magic about it that leaves me in wondrous spirits after each viewing. Winner: Spirited Away

The Emperor's New Groove (12) vs. Dumbo (13): Watching both of these movies recently, I realized two things: the humor from ENG and emotion from Dumbo still hold up after all these years. ENG started my obsession with movie quotes, from the "no touchie" to the "wrong lever!!" lines. It also is not a traditional adventure movie, in the sense that they go on a journey fighting obstacles to reach an end goal. That is somewhat true, but the obstacles they face are more internal than external. It's more Rat Race and less Lord of the Rings. But thats fine with me. Dumbo will always be a favorite of mine just because of the elephants, but there were some parts in this movie that dragged somewhat, and the songs were good, but not up to par to some of the other disney classics. That was just enough to give this to the ENG. Winner: The Emperor's New Groove

My Neighbor Totoro (3) vs. The Iron Giant (6): I always thought there was going to be a sequel to The Iron Giant, but watching it again I realize that the movie ended perfectly and did not warrant a sequel. This movie had significantly less action as you would expect from a movie titled "The Iron Giant," but that was substituted sufficiently enough with great character development and humor. The movie did a great job setting up the plot that focused in scope to the great climax. Totoro is a children's movie in the truest sense, yet I was surprised at how original it was. I really had not seen anything like it before. Each scene had me grinning from ear to ear with its cuteness and lovable nature. You want to be like mei sleeping on fluffy Totoro's belly. The lovability pushes it slightly over TIG. Winner: My Neighbor Totoro

Toy Story 2 (7) vs. Up (2): I always find it interesting what scenes I remember from movies after I haven't seen them in a while. For Toy Story 2 I remember the airport luggage scene and Jessie's flashback scene so vividly. I think that truly tells you the scope of the film. The intense action and the heartbreaking emotion. There were so many subtle things about Up that made it great. Whether it be the animation style of Russell and Carl conveying their personality (round vs. straight), the many times we see the characters looking "up" in awe of something, or the conversations between the two showcasing the theme of aging, the film never fails to impress. This was a close one, but I give it to Up for those subtleties. Winner: Up

Disney Region:

The Lion King (1) vs. Fantasia (8): What Fantasia has going for it is its beauty. But against The Lion King, it is no match. The entirety of the Lion King is cinematic beauty, ranging from the tremendous score by Hans Zimmer to the impeccable script and fast moving plot. Everything is so cohesive as a story and as a film in general. Sorry Fantasia, but it's no shame in losing to this movie. Winner: The Lion King

Beauty And The Beast (5) vs. Finding Nemo (4): If done right, songs can impact a scene in no way just dialogue or actions can. B&TB has several scenes which accomplish this. Finding Nemo uses an interesting technique to adding to a plot: by adding in a third character. In the beginning, we think that Marlin is just going to go on a journey to find his son. But by adding Dory, we not only get another plot point but we suddenly get another starring character, as the film is just as much about her as it is Marlin (and apparently enough material is still out there to warrant a sequel). This makes the film so much more memorable, and that's why it wins this matchup. Winner: Finding Nemo

Howl's Moving Castle (3) vs. Aladdin (6): Aladdin also has an eclectic mix of fantastic songs that add to the dynamic and shape of the movie. I love the world that they create, as Agrabah seems to be a rich and cultured place full of wonder and mystery. The scenery is great too, from the lush sand to the majestic palaces, it's definitely on the top of my list of fictional places I want to visit. Howl's Moving Castle is also a place I would love to visit, for the magic and beauty of it. I would also love to be friends with Calcifer, who is a character which adds some much needed witty banter and comic relief. Aladdin is just a better story in my opinion. Winner: Aladdin

Robin Hood (10): vs. Toy Story (2): Of the remaining films, Robin Hood and the Emperor's New Groove are by far the funniest ones left. Robin Hood has the dialogue and slapstick humor, but also adds some hilarious animation humor as well. Just look at how Sir Hiss is tied into a knot in this scene. The ridiculousness of the animation just adds to the hilarity that is the Sir Hiss and Prince John duo. Toy Story has humor, outstanding voice acting, and one of the more menacing 10 year old villains you will ever see. There is no weak point to this movie, but I just have a blast watching Robin Hood. For that reason, it moves on. Winner: Robin Hood

Pixar Region:

Wall-E (1) vs. Kiki's Delivery Service (8): Kiki's Delivery Service was a lot like Totoro in that it was a kids film but not like many others. It had all the wonders of a kids world, with all the character development of a coming-of-age film. It was nice to see that combo in an animated film, where they were able to showcase a beautiful world amidst the soaring heights Kiki flew to. Some of the best qualities about this movie are just the people in general, as they have such a genuine niceness about them that puts you in a better place mentally. Wall-E does this as well, with a story so charming and witty that it takes repeated viewings to truly catch everything it throws at you. After the third or fourth viewing you start to realize that this film would fit in wonderfully with the Studio Ghibli collection. The fantastic visuals, the environmentally charged themes and messages, and the general nuanced characters you meet. This is one of the reasons why it moves on to the sweet 16. Winner: Wall-E

Ratatouille (5) vs. Land Before Time (13): I really liked the layered antagonists Ratatouille had, between the Linguini/Anton Ego combo. Linguini handled the conflict at the front end and was more of a comic relief villain, while Ego handled the back end and was more of the final hurdle to the story. Both added another dimension to the film, which had so many to begin with. The cuteness of Land Before Time can only last so far. Winner: Ratatouille

Mary And Max (3) vs. The Incredibles (6): I love the family aspect of the Incredibles, as we get to see something ordinary (family values) done in an extraordinary way (superheroes). We see so many common family dynamics but thrown in different knots (even babysitting problems are just a little bit different for the Parr family). Mary And Max is great in a different way. I like how you know it's going to be an emotional film from the get-go, but you still are engrossed in the story and just want to find out more about these two unique characters. Its more about the discovery than the emotion (but its still a lot of emotion). This was close, but I give the slight nod to the Incredibles for its unique take on the superhero film. Winner: The Incredibles

Jungle Book (10) vs. Toy Story 3 (2): Disney is great at choosing what animals to play for different characters. The Jungle Book is a great example of this. Baloo plays the big lovable teddy bear character, Shere Khan plays the sinister Tiger, and King Louie plays the silly monkey. By using the preconceived notions we make towards certain animals in the casting itself, it shapes the characters brilliantly and allows the audience to be fully engaged. Still, the amazing characters in TJB are just slightly below all those magnificent characters in Toy Story 3. Winner: Toy Story 3

Dreamworks Region:

Grave Of The Fireflies (1) vs. Despicable Me (9): Grave of the Fireflies is such a powerful film because of all the angles they show to a war story. There is no country name given for the planes that attack, just that they are the "enemy." This allows us to step away from the war as the main plot point, and instead focus our attention towards Seita and Setsuko. This film is all about consequences and how events or our actions shape our lives. I watched the dubbed version, and the voice acting was perfect in that version. Despicable Me is on the opposite end of the mood genre, ranging from cute to lighthearted. It still executes what it sets out to do in a quick and concise way, allowing for repeated viewings and constant laughter. GOTF is just an emotional powerhouse though, and it goes through to the next round. Winner: Grave Of The Fireflies

Snow White (5) vs. The Fox And The Hound (13): The two oldest films remaining, but also two films which really stand the test of time. Even though I haven't seen either of these films in a while, I still remember them vividly and appreciate the impact they left on the animation world. Snow White wins again here for being the first of its kind, but also for telling a story in magical fashion. Winner: Snow White

How To Train Your Dragon (3) vs. The Simpsons Movie (11): HTTYD features the first of its kind, lovable dragon. Toothless seems more like Totoro when he is on the ground first getting introduced to Hiccup. I mean, this is hardly the look of danger. When he is in the air, however, you really get to see his raw power and ferocity in action. They blend the two perfectly in the film, adding up to make one truly dynamic character. The supporting roles are all excellent as well (Craig Ferguson needs to do more voice acting) and the dragons are beautifully animated. It is more of a traditional animated movie compared to The Simpsons Movie, but The Simpsons have impacted animation in so many different ways. It has changed our preconceived notions towards animation, by allowing pretty much anything to be animated. Whether it be satire, slapstick humor, or raw emotion. The Simpsons have shown all these and more on screen in the 25 years it has been on air. I know that isn't all indicative of the movie, but I have to give props for the show, because it is fantastic in so many ways. HTTYD is the better movie, however, so it moves on to the next round. Winner: How To Train Your Dragon

Princess Mononoke (2) vs. The Secret World Of Arrietty (10): This seems like a classic Miyazaki matchup, with an epic adventure/fantasy versus a magical, lighthearted tale. I will probably be chastised for this decision so I will say it right away. Arrietty wins this matchup for me. It has more to do with the fact that it got me into Miyazaki more than anything. Mononoke has some great multi-faceted characters and great dialogue, but it felt just a little long at times. Maybe I need another viewing, because that was the second film of Miyazaki I had seen and now that I've seen pretty much his whole filmography I'm willing to give any of his films a second chance. Arrietty was just a great experience. I went into the theater knowing nothing about the movie, only that it had gotten good reviews and we wanted something to watch as a family. I was so immersed in the beautiful world and the characters lives. I realize now the movie had a lot of influences, but it still doesn't take the magic away from it. Winner: The Secret World Of Arrietty

After round 2...

Sweet 16:

Studio Ghibli Region:

Spirited Away (1) vs. The Emperor's New Groove (12): If you combined these two movies you would have pretty much a perfect film. Hilarious characters, heartwarming scenes, incredible creativity, and wondrous adventures. Unfortunately I have to pick a winner out of these two, which was pretty difficult. Spirited Away has the magic and ENG has the humor. Both are needed in a movie, and both pull it off successfully. I give Spirited Away the edge because of the character development, however. The vast differences between Chihiro from the beginning of the film to the end of the film showcase the wonders of the human spirit (pun intended) and tell us a lot about our courage and resilience in general. For that it narrowly squeaks by Kuzco and Co. Winner: Spirited Away

My Neighbor Totoro (3) vs. Up (2): A great quote I heard from the Filmspotting guys describing some of the characters in Totoro was: "Creepy can be comforting." And it's totally true of some of the characters in Totoro. The cheshire cat grin on the catbus can probably construed as a creepy smile (same with Totoro's grin). But it never feels unsafe or disturbing. It's always a smile of discovery and hope, of friendship and comfort, of happiness and imagination. Even though there is no "conflict" in the movie per say, there is still so much discovery and changes these characters can go through. Up, while having some of that same discovery and character development, never captures the spirit of childhood quite like Totoro. Winner: My Neighbor Totoro

Disney Region:

The Lion King (1) vs. Finding Nemo (4): A good score can not only change our perception of a movie, but it can also take it to soaring new heights. That's exactly what Hans Zimmers score does for the Lion King. The first of its kind african epic, this score not only has the deservingly high paced songs but also deftly adds in some melancholy and emotional moments. Each scene is perfectly crafted around the music, not the other way around. Topped off by some perfectly added Elton John, the music in this movie feels more like an best of movie soundtracks compilation. It makes the movie that much more memorable, and that is where it rises above Finding Nemo. Winner: The Lion King

Aladdin (6) vs. Robin Hood (10): These films both feature charming protagonists but vastly different conflicts. Aladdin has the obvious conflicts (Jafar) but also some not-so-obvious ones (staying true to himself amidst this new power, social structure, etc). They put the Jafar conflict front and center because that is what makes the story churn, and that's where all the excitement and action comes from. That's great and all, but what I love is overanalyzing movies after repeated viewings. And the growth Aladdin (and Jasmine as well) go through are just as important in making this a classic movie in my opinion. Add in an iconic voice acting performance (I know I mentioned that before, but it always is worth mentioning) fun songs, and beautiful animation, and you have yourself one of the best animated films of all time. Winner: Aladdin

Pixar Region:

Wall-E (1) vs. Ratatouille (5): Both these movies showcase the different ways beginnings can draw you into the story. Ratatouille starts out by introducing the motto of the movie "anyone can cook," and introducing the main character (in a perfectly ridiculous way, jumping out of a window). The beginning sets up the story by giving you necessary background, and a good introduction to the main characters problem/conflict. Wall-E does it a bit differently, by setting up the scene and the setting first, flying through the earth shown in this dusty, brown color filter, covered in garbage. It sets the mood and conflict brilliantly, even if it is less as obvious in Ratatouille. But I based my decision on the endings of these movies, and Ratatouille has one of the best, if not the best, of any animated movie. Ego's monologue combined with the perfect resolution leaves a perfect "taste" in my mouth, and leaves me completely satisfied. The first #1 seed goes down! Winner: Ratatouille

Toy Story 3 (2) vs. The Incredibles (6): Another Pixar matchup which pits two heavyweights against each other. The Incredibles is a very consistent movie, and it's hard to say where the best parts occur, be it in the beginning, middle, or end. Toy Story 3, on the other hand, is more definitive, in that the ending is widely considered the greatest feature of the film. The constant building towards the climax is what I love about that movie, and that's why it moves on. Winner: Toy Story 3

Dreamworks Region:

Grave Of The Fireflies (1) vs. Snow White (5): Both these movies exhibit dark moments, and in vastly different ways. The darkness in GOTF is more looming, more imminent in the minds of the audience, while it is more in-your-face for Snow White. There's just too many incredible qualities about GOTF that's its hard not to put through. This movie is often considered a one-time deal, and I agree with that, but if I give myself enough time, I would enjoy watching it again just to pay closer attention to all the beauty surrounding the film. Winner: Grave Of The Fireflies

How To Train Your Dragon (3) vs. The Secret World Of Arrietty (10): This is where the magical run for Arrietty stops. HTTYD is just too consistently funny, too consistently amazing visually, and too consistently filled with great music. I can't wait to see the sequel soon. Winner: How To Train Your Dragon

After round 3...

Elite 8:

Studio Ghibli Region:

Spirited Away (1) vs. My Neighbor Totoro (3): I thought about this one for a loooong time. On one hand you have a movie that transports you to this magical world and on the other you have a movie that utilizes kid's imagination to create their own magical world. A movie that's comforting versus a movie that's uplifting. This pretty much gets down to a "which one do you like better" situation, only I can't really decide. I wouldn't really fault anyone for picking either of these films. I went with Spirited Away finally, because of all those fantastic characters and all those lessons learned from Chihiro. Don't worry Totoro, you'll always live on as the Studio Ghibli mascot. Winner: Spirited Away

Disney Region:

Lion King (1) vs. Aladdin (6): Just an outstanding matchup. Aladdin versus Simba. Jafar versus Scar. Genie versus Timon & Pumba. Jasmine versus Nala. Abu versus Rafiki. All these characters are wonderfully diversified in there values and beliefs, and the support they give to the main characters (except the villains of course). And the matchups don't stop there. The themes/messages, music, action/adventure, humor, etc. all showcase brilliance in different ways in the two films. I do admit that the themes/take home messages are stronger in The Lion King than Aladdin (mostly because they resonate deeper with me). But I can't overlook how exciting the action sequences are in Aladdin, especially in the cave of wonders and final battle scenes. The humor is always perfectly placed (even if it is all from the Genie and Iago), and the score from Alan Menken captures the Arabic flavor perfectly (although I agree Hans Zimmer's score is better). I haven't mentioned the love interests in each movie either. Nala is always someone you look at more as a friend than anything else, which was why it was a good inclusion in The Lion King because it correlated with the themes in the movie fittingly. Jasmine was always more of a dream girl, someone you could never see someone like Aladdin with. And that also is consistent with the themes portrayed in Aladdin. I could go on for seconds but at the end of the day, I just like Aladdin a shmidge more. And I base that purely on how many toys I have from each movie (I have a Simba and a Rafiki toy, versus an Aladdin, Abu, Genie, and magic lamp toy. Yeah you're jealous, don't deny.). Winner: Aladdin

Pixar Region:

Toy Story 3 (2) vs. Ratatouille (5): Anton Ego's speech at the end of Ratatouille is easily one of the best speeches in movie history, particularly because of all the metaphors and messages it conveys. "The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations, the new needs friends... Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere." These are my favorite two lines in his speech because it succinctly sums up what it's like to be an artist. It's inspiring yet self-reflecting. In that moment he realizes finally what he wanted to do with his life all along, and showcases it in poetic and beautiful fashion. In that moment he becomes a different person. Art can do that. Going even further, in a way the whole movie can be a metaphor for life values. It urges people to be more open minded and accepting towards new ideas, new places, or new people. It shows what can be achieved with these new ideas, and it showcases beauty on a side we never have seen before. The movie is perfect. Yes, I said the P-word. Winner: Toy Story 3

Wait, what? I thought you said Ratatouille was perfect? Well, it is, but so is Toy Story 3 in my opinion. I've got a lot of explaining to do, but it'll have to wait 'till next round.

Dreamworks Region:

Grave Of The Fireflies (1) vs. How To Train Your Dragon (3): Emotion is a powerful thing. Obviously. It encompasses so many feelings, so many moods, and so many memories. It is the root of who we are as humans. Each person has a different emotional response to a situation. Some let it consume their lives, some avoid it completely, some brush it off, and some learn from it. But really there is no "right" way to deal with it. We just have to hope that it shapes our lives for the better and we can learn from it. I say this because Grave of the Fireflies will certainly invoke an emotional response. We will all have different responses to it. Don't be upset if you don't respond how others respond. Just take a deeper look at what is behind that emotion, and you will see the true beauty that lies in this film. Winner: Grave Of The Fireflies

After round 4...

FINAL FOUR:

Spirited Away (1) vs. Grave Of The Fireflies (1): Hayao Miyazaki had an amazing knack of creating well rounded female protagonists. From Nausicaa to Chihiro, he filled these characters with so much life and so much realism that it was hard not to root for them. Characters which have realism often contain something very important: faults. Chihiro had many of these at the beginning of Spirited Away. As a girl moving out into the unknown, she was filled with fear over all these new experiences. Hence we get theme number one, which is the overarching theme of the movie: The unknown. By placing her in this vastly new world, Chihiro is separated from everything she knows and has to think on her own and make new decisions. This speaks so well about how we deal with change in our lives, in that sometimes we don't have the option to choose everything in life. If we are faced with unfortunate circumstances, we only have one choice, and that is to make it better.

Another theme we see in the movie is the general coming-of-age for Chihiro. By having her name "stolen," she has to create a new identity for herself before she can truly pass the test and save her parents. It forces her to think differently and act based on instinct and not based on past experiences. As a result, this shows her true character and proves what incredible courage she had all along.

There are themes that don't revolve around Chihiro as well. No-face is a great multi-faceted character, as he is often referred to as a mirror reflecting back on all the characters he encounters. When the characters exhibit a certain personality towards him, he puts on that same personality. He is constantly searching for a purpose in life, and in that way he kind of represents the "golden rule:" to treat others how you want to be treated. If you exhibit selflessness and affection, you are more likely to encounter a world that is nice to you back.

In Roger Ebert's review (which is one of my favorite film reviews) he mentions another important quality of the film: it has an intended audience. "Miyazaki says he made the film specifically for 10-year-old girls. That is why it plays so powerfully for adult viewers. Movies made for 'everybody' are actually made for nobody in particular. Movies about specific characters in a detailed world are spellbinding because they make no attempt to cater to us; they are defiantly, triumphantly, themselves." This speaks so true to almost all of Miyazaki's films. He places you in worlds you could never dream of. And that's perfectly all right with me, to absorb all the resplendent beauty around.

The score by Joe Hisaishi is the cherry on top. Immediately after hearing the first song in the movie, I had an overwhelming sense of nostalgia, even though I had never seen the movie before. It had an inherent colorful aesthetic to it. It was so rich, with the high studio keys and soft, light strings on top. Minimal, but always fitting to the scenery surrounding it. At the end of the movie, I had a rush of emotions encompassing me. I was sad the movie was over, happy about the resolution in the story, and incredibly nostalgic about my childhood. This is a film which I have no issues with calling perfect. I'm so happy I caught this film recently (albeit later than most people) and I can't wait to watch it many more times. Thanks Hayao. Winner: Spirited Away

Aladdin (6) vs. Toy Story 3 (2): Aladdin is my favorite Disney movie particularly because my childhood was greatly impacted by it. I haven't seen many of the Disney classics in several years now, so this one is purely based on my 12 year old self's perception of the movie. In a way that's a good thing. By taking only what I can remember from the movie and how it impacted me as a kid, I get an unbiased look at the movie and avoid breaking down every little nitty-gritty detail, which I'm afraid adult me does all the time now. I don't really search for any themes (although I highlighted several in the previous round) and I don't really care about any flaws it may have. 12 year old me loved this movie because of it's magical world, it's incredibly funny dialogue, lovable characters, a villain I despised, and a hero I could root for. I have no reason to question 12 year old me, since he does know a little about me. It doesn't really matter if I don't watch this film again for a while, because I'll always have those awesome memories of watching this movie, and feeling great every time. There's one caveat 12 year old me doesn't realize, however. It's that adult me gets the final decision on this bracket. And unfortunately, this is where the magic carpet ride ends for Aladdin. Winner: Toy Story 3

After round 5...

CHAMPIONSHIP:

Spirited Away (1) vs. Toy Story 3 (2):

Winner: Toy Story 3

Everyone's childhood contains one important thing: An imagination. No matter who you are or where you come from, children have an incredible ability to think creatively and use their imagination to make fun. Yes, they can manufacture "fun." By allowing our minds full range of freedom, we can paint these vivid pictures around us and transport ourselves into vast new worlds with no rules.

Toy Story is the essence of every kids imagination. As kids we gravitate towards toys because they offer something immediate and something tangible which we can attach to. Even if we do jump from toy to toy like a teenage boy at a buffet, they offer us an unprecedented amount of comfort, something even our parents/guardians can't give us. The Toy Story trilogy is monumental not only because it captures this childhood imagination, but also because it goes one step further and allows the toys to have a mind of their own. This role reversal is intriguing and creative, and sets up the premise for a movie series I never thought would be this good.

Toy Story 3 wraps this trilogy up in better-than-perfect fashion, giving the story closure and leaving us emotionally satisfied (don't know if "satisfied" is the right term, but you get the point). In Toy Story 1 and 2, the conflicts were more external (saving Buzz and saving Woody). In Toy Story 3, however, the conflict shifts to a more internal one, in that they have to work together to satisfy their needs and end up with a happy resolution. This internal conflict is more indicative of the themes surrounding this film, which also take a turn from the previous 2 films.

Two of the biggest themes in the movie are closure and change. This movie is often considered to be a lot darker than the predecessors, which is true, and can be construed as the fear of change. As kids, we go through the school-summer vacation cycle so many times it almost seems like a habit. But once we break that cycle we venture into uncharted territory and suddenly everything seems a little scarier. These new situations force us to adapt and think in new ways in order to move forward. This fear of change is portrayed in multiple ways during the film, from the ominous green color schemes to the general downright scary characters (The Monkey is terrifying). There is also this lingering fear throughout the movie that things are not going to end up they way they want it to (highlighted by the brilliant incinerator scene). Finally, the biggest "change" throughout the movie is obviously Andy's departure to college. This is often marked as the first foray into adulthood for many people, so that obviously means leaving part of our childhood behind. We don't leave a lot behind, but just those care-free moments such as playing with toys are moments we can't get back. We can only hope to take all that creativity and imagination with us as we continue on in our journey through life.

That leads me to the second theme, closure. We don't get many opportunities in life to truly put our minds at rest towards certain subjects. Whether it be relationships, school, or childhood, life doesn't wait for you to finish those things on your own terms. Death, graduation, and other unforeseen circumstances are just some of the obstacles standing in our way from living a smooth and blissful life. This movie finally gives us an opportunity to do some self reflection and give us the closure we need. For me, it was the same situation as Andy. I was the same age as him throughout the trilogy, so a part of me will never forget the feeling I had at the end of the movie. The film gave us the closure we needed, and the closure the characters deserved as well. We saw all the fantastic traits of the toys at their best during the prison escape, from Woody's leadership to Mr. Potato Head's resourcefulness (the funniest part of the movie in my opinion was when he used a tortilla as a placeholder for his body). A part of me rating this film so highly is due to the fact that it is indeed a trilogy, and that there is so much growth in all the characters over the course of the three films. The progression the toys and Andy go through is part of the reason why it is so relatable to me, and as we all know, relatable=emotional attachment.

Loyalty and friendship is such a big theme in all three movies that I couldn't leave that out either. The bonds between each toy and their owner is prevalent throughout the trilogy, and just emphasizes the attachment we have towards our childhood. All the memories, all the lessons, all the hopes and dreams we have stay with us for the rest of our lives and makes us better people. Toy Story 3 shows us that change can be alright. No matter what, our friends and family will always be there, helping us every step of the way. Our childhood will be there too, safely tucked away in the attic of our brains as memories, singing that famous tune: "You've got a friend in me."

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thesymphonyoflife · 10 years

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Favorite Movies 2013

Yes, I know it's already 2/12 of the way through 2014, but I wanted to make a 2013 movies list because I just finished watching most of the oscar contenders and last year was a great year for movies. I've spent a lot of time the past several months watching a bunch of movies, and in my opinion, has been time well spent. Movies are often considered the pinnacle of art (ok maybe that's just me), as it combines elements of all other art forms into one cohesive unit, and for an hour or 3, can transport you into a different world...

(And don't worry, I won't spoil the movies for you).

Honorable mentions:

Blackfish: This documentary is great for making you angry, so if you already have some pent up aggression, I would caution against seeing this movie. But it should be seen at some point, because everyone needs to be aware of things we might not realize. I don't know anyone who's opinion of SeaWorld wasn't changed immediately after watching this documentary, so definitely check it out. It's on Netflix instant too!

The Hunger Games - Catching Fire: This movie made a boat-load of money, so it really doesn't need too much praising. But it was a well done blockbuster that stayed true to the source material (so I hear). Special effects, acting, sets, and cinematography were all great, only adding to the anticipation of the final two films (which I fear is becoming a trend to split the last book of a series into two parts... it's obvious why ($$$$)).

Lone Survivor: This true story is a gripping war movie, as it takes the source material and displays it in realistic fashion. This was a scenario where the story was just too good not to put on the big screen. The acting is great, and I don't necessarily agree with some of the criticism that it is an overly-patriotic rekindling of the events that took place. It's a movie. Made in Hollywood. I was happy when it got nominated for best sound editing/sound mixing in the oscars, because they did an excellent job showcasing realistic sounds when the navy seals were in combat.

Frances Ha: Greta Gerwig does a fantastic job in this indie, melancholy, coming-of-age story about a 20- something living in New York. I liked the cinematography, the old-school feel to it, and the general "indie-looking" nature of the film (even if it was particularly obviously done). The dialogue, and most of all the messages the film gave left a lasting impression with me, something I always look for in films.

Captain Phillips: I never expected a Tom Hanks film to be this intense, especially right from the get-go. The furious pace was relentless in this film, part of the reason why it was so good. It was another case of a true story just too good not to adapt in to a movie. Tom Hanks did a pretty good job, not his best in my opinion, but maybe partly because he has a pretty high standard set upon himself. The last scene of him is fantastic, however, and that scene alone raises the film from good to great.

Blue Jasmine: Another great acting performance, this time from Cate Blanchett (and probable oscar winner). It was a great performance for many different reasons, from the complexity of the character to the situation she is in, and she was able to pull it off believably. Sally Hawkins also does a great job as Jasmine's sister Ginger, adding a great dynamic to the sister-sister drama. It's one of those true acting movies, where the performances suck you in, even if the plot and storyline is nothing too original.

The Way, Way Back: Even if the coming-of-age genre is getting diluted, this one should not be overlooked. Sam Rockwell made a new fan with his performance in this one, playing a character so likable it's hard not to like the film just for him. He wasn't the only who gave excellent performances also, as Steve Carell and Allison Janney personified their characters great, and even Liam James (who plays the lead character, Duncan) gives a good, minimalist performance, which is perfect for the role.

15. Philomena

This movie was a pleasant surprise, as I (for some reason) just didn't expect to like it. Featuring a sweet, lovable performance from Judi Dench as Philomena Lee, this movie tells the incredible, true story of a mother looking for her long lost son. I like the way the story presents her past, and how the pacing is great throughout, showcasing the entire story in enough detail and realism. Reading about the actual story afterwords makes me like the movie even more, as it stayed really true to the source material and didn't "over-fictionalize" too many things.

14. Mud

Another coming of age movie?? Yes, I tend to like those movies. This one takes an interesting approach to the genre, as it features more adult performances than usual (with the kids still taking the majority of the screen time). It's hard to really describe the movie, as it takes multiple twists and turns throughout. The acting is stellar throughout, as the kids (Tye Sheridan and Jacob Lofland) give a multi-faceted performance which make the movie so much better. Matthew Mcconaughey gives another great performance in a year chalk-full of great performances from him, conforming to the role in a way that elevates the movie from just another coming-of-age movie to one of the best movies of the year.

13. Prisoners

Prisoners locks you in from the start, and keeps the frantic pace going for another 2.5 hours (although it feels like 20 minutes). The brilliant cinematography is done by oscar snub Roger Deakins (snub meaning no wins yet, despite 11 nominations), and he does a great job capturing the essence of a classic thriller/mystery movie all while adding a sense of modernism to it as well. Hugh Jackman and Jake Gyllenhall are great, as expected, but it's really the writing and cinematography that carry this movie. A good comparison for this film I read was "Seven mixed with Zodiac", which are two excellent films on their own. This is one of those movies that is hard not to like. I highly recommend checking this one out.

12. Gravity

It seems like everyone has a different opinion on this movie. It just won 7 oscars, so naturally, it seems like the tables have turned and people are trying to pick holes at the movie. Which is understandable. But the reason it won was because it really is a modern masterpiece in cinematography and visual effects. You can't watch that opening long take and not have your jaw drop. It's like a documentary about space. Only it's ALL CGI. I think people have gotten used to the high standard visual effects have gotten to these days (and how it continues to improve vastly each year) that they dismiss things too quickly without really appreciating it. Yes, the plot wasn't the best, and yes, the writing/acting wasn't the greatest. But what this film was was a technical tour de force, one that is revolutionary for our time. This might be a scenario where we might not give two shits thoughts about it in 20 years. But what it is, right now, is a great film which does indeed deserve recognition.

11. Rush

I love me some good ol' sports movies. Actually I'm a sucker for all sports movies, even if most of them are cheesy (Space Jam is still the greatest sports movie ever, eff your opinion). This movie took sports films (and sports rivalries) to a whole new level, as it showcased an intriguing dynamic between two highly competitive formula one drivers. You always hear about these rivalries in sports (well I do, at least), so it's nice to actually see one behind the scenes, taking a look at something that's very hard to portray on screen, in a believable and realistic approach. I also have got to give mad props to the cinematographer Anthony Mantle, as he recreates some actual footage from races in the past from Nicki Lauda and James Hunt with stunning precision. This is a film which deserves repeated viewings, more so for the dynamic between the two racers than who won this race or that race. Daniel Bruhl gives an outstanding performance, and Chris Hemsworth isn't too shabby either. Go see it.

10. Fruitvale Station

If you don't know anything about this movie, don't watch any trailers or read any synopsis about it. I had no idea what this movie was about, but gave it a watch after hearing good things. And boy, that was a great decision. It's a true story, so you might have already heard what it's about. Michael B. Jordan does an outstanding job in this movie (one of the best acting performances this year, imo) as he personifies his character with great passion and dignity. I really can't say much more about it. Just go see it. It's only like 80 minutes long. You (probably) won't regret it.

9. Wolf Of Wall Street

This is a much needed change-of-pace film from the previous ones on this list, as it adds much needed flair: COMEDY. Some of the most memorable movie experiences happen when I find something funnier than I expected. This movie is a balls to the wall, crazy, epic story of a stockbroker (true story in fact). Word to the wise: do not see this movie with older family members. It is easy to criticize many things about this movie, but for me, with a story this crazy, it's just as easy to overlook those things and just take the movie for what it is: A retelling of some unbelievable life events from someone who was completely corrupt, greedy, and morally off-center. I take it more of a character study than a "message-sender" (meaning it's not necessarily a movie strictly about greed and power, yet just one persons' journey through those phases of his life). I laughed a lot in this movie. Not enough good things can be said about Leo in this film, as he totally envelopes himself in the role. The chemistry is great throughout the cast, as it adds in size as the film goes on. Jonah Hill is great also. Just go watch the film and try to ignore the criticism, it's all just fugazi anyway (you'll get that reference once you watch the film).

8. Dallas Buyers Club

Part 2 of the Mcconaissance. This is the performance that truly took Matthew McConaughey from one dimensional to multi-faceted actor. This is another true story (see a trend here?) of Ron Woodruff, AIDS victim, who is told he only has 30 days left to live. What does he do with his last remaining days? That is for you to see. While the performances are other-worldly (Jared Leto is fantastic), the writing/dialogue in this movie is fantastic, allowing you to step into these lives and really go through this experience with the characters hand in hand. It would be easy to over-act in these types of movies, yet I didn't find any. McConaughey stays true to his own persona, which is maybe why he fits the role so well. It's certainly no emotional cake walk, as it takes a serious look at a hard-hitting subject. You will be moved by this movie. You might cry. But you will be happy you saw it.

7. Nebraska

First of all, I gotta give props to that movie poster. If you watch this film, you'll understand why it's so great. I feel like it personifies so much about the film, in it's depiction of loneliness, old age, dreams, and the general melancholy nature of the film. Emotional connection to movies often trump all others for me as far as what I look for in movies, and this movie resonated with me in more ways than I could've imagined. No, I'm not 80 years old, and no I don't have an aging, booze filled father to look after. But I do know something about the dynamic in families, and the emotional attachment we have to one another. And to me, this film is more so a look into the bond between family members and how to appreciate what we have.

The film was beautifully shot in black and white, and a very appropriate film to do it in. Acting was stellar all around, even with limited words. Mark Orton did a wonderful job on the score, capturing the essence of the desolate midwest and adding a whole new dimension to the movie. It's a wonderful movie which I was happy to watch again.

6. Short Term 12

This is another emotional heavy hitter (I seem to like a lot of those). This is the story of a 20-something girl who works at a foster-care center for at-risk teenagers. That sentence alone should let you know what kind of emotion is expected. But it's a must watch for the brutal realism it portrays, and the messages the film leaves you with are second to none. It might not change your life, but it will certainly leave a lasting impression, something that is so key for me in movies. Brie Larson just leaped into my top actresses list with this performance, as it is truly awards-deserving in my opinion. Not enough people have seen this movie, which is a shame. I need more people to talk to about this movie!

5. 12 Years A Slave

Best picture winner, 2013. I can't complain too much with that accolade. This is a masterful take on a best selling autobiography by Solomon Northup. I was surprised to see another slavery movie so soon after Django Unchained came out last year, but this was totally different it often felt like a different subject matter all together. As soon as I came out of the movie, I made the comparison to Schindler's list. So yes, expect a brutal tale no short of hard-to-watch scenes. They had to do it that way, though, otherwise it would not be fair to the legacy of Solomon. Acting was stellar throughout, and the screenplay was one of a kind. The score was a little disappointing for a movie that needed a knock out one (I know you have more in your arsenal than just those inception themes played on violin, Hans Zimmer!!) but that alone cannot drop this from the pantheon of great dramas. I fully believe it will age well, and will continue to be just as great far into the future.

4. The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

This is where my list takes a drastic personal turn.

Have you ever fallen in love with an artist/filmmaker/actor so much that pretty much nothing they put out will disappoint you? Well I reached that stage with Peter Jackson and the world of Middle Earth a long time ago. One of the best characteristics of film is its' ability to take us to a place we could only dream of. The world Peter Jackson created in Lord Of The Rings stayed with me throughout most of my teenage years and I was just so excited to see The Hobbit be brought to film (and yes, I was even happy when it was split into 3 movies, because more is better in this case). And of course, the first one did not disappoint. And neither did this one.

Fantasy often brings the kid back in me, which is partly why it is one of my favorite genres. This second installment was an action-packed film filled with beautiful CGI and just endless entertainment. Smaug (the Dragon) was absolutely everything I hoped for, and I cannot say enough good things about the scenery (New Zealand is tops on my list of places to visit) that these films showcase consistently. It just feels like a dream. So criticize all you want. I'm not listening!

3. Before Midnight

I first heard about Before Sunrise last summer. I was very hesitant to watch it, just because it just felt like it was another romantic comedy/drama. But boy, was I wrong. I watched Before Sunrise on a Tuesday. I watched Before Sunset the next day, and then Before Midnight the night after that. And then I watched the entire trilogy again with my family that weekend. I watched a couple of them a few more times over the course of the next several weeks. To say those movies left a lasting impression on me would be an understatement. Sometimes movies just resonate with you. And boy, did this trilogy do that. It wasn't even the case of watching it at the perfect moment in your life. Because I believe every moment would be appropriate to appreciate these movies. And yes, I'm lumping all of these movies into one, because they just go so well together, they don't even feel like sequels.

The amount of messages this film conveys grows with each view. It's a movie that has so many open interpretations, as it asks so many philosophical questions on life I find myself pausing the movie at times just to gather my thoughts and think for a bit. It cannot be done without great acting and dialogue, and Julie Delpy and Ethan Hawke are the epitome of movie chemistry. This film can stand on its own, but it would be a huge disservice not to watch the two preceding films beforehand. I firmly believe this series deserves a place amongst the best trilogies of all time. I look forward to watching these films throughout my life, and taking new interpretations each time.

2. Inside Llewyn Davis

This is a character study film. Just a short warning for those expecting something else. The Coen Brothers do a great job of taking a story and turning into something more than just a one-week journey of someone's life. Their films are often rich full of themes and messages, and that's one reason I like them so much. This film is no different. It takes a brilliant spin on the typical music-centered drama, filled with outstanding characters (shout out to the best cat on screen), great acting, and absolutely wonderful dialogue. The Coen's are also the kings of endings, and I believe they knocked this one out of the park also. This was the first movie that made me so enriched in a music genre long after watching (folk). It's another movie that deserves multiple viewings (as all Coen Bros. films do) and only gets better each time. Au Revoir.

1. Her

I believe our favorite movies can tell a lot about ourselves. And they should. Nothing is more satisfying than nodding along with a character you relate to so well. Nothing is more satisfying than laughing along with someone you connect with. Nothing is more satisfying than crying along with someone who shares the same pain you do. Films' greatest quality is allowing us to escape, if only just for a moment. To step outside of our lives and into someone else's. To experience someone else's joy. Someone else's pain. Someone else's adventure. Someone else's growth. A good film should not only make you feel something, but to also make you want to feel something.

This emotional connection is exactly the reason why Her is one of my favorite movies of all time. For not only going through the journey with Theodore Twombly but also making me want to go through a similar journey of my own. To discover myself. It might raise more questions than answers, but that's ok with me, because thinking about more things in life and broadening your horizons never hurt anyone. Yeah, you might learn a lot about me after watching this movie. But more importantly, I hope you learn a lot about yourself after watching it. Because that's the beauty of this film.

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thesymphonyoflife · 10 years

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Favorite Albums 2013

I love the end of the year. For the holidays and family/friend reunions, yes, but also because it's a chance to catch up on all the music I've missed out on this year. I gobble the year-end best music lists up like breakfast (actually probably like dinner, I don't eat breakfast). Everyone loves a list. Especially if you make the list. Here are my top albums of the year, which turned out to be a great year in music. I have nowhere near scratched the surface of all the music put out this year, so keep that in mind.

Some honorable mentions first:

Bombino - Nomad: I don't even care if I can't understand one word he is saying, this is still groovy, unique, and refreshing to hear. You can definitely hear the Black Keys influence here on tracks like "Amidinine" and "Azamane Tiliade" (because of Dan Auerbach's production) but there are so many other Tuareg influences, from the drums to the vocal style. It's music that can't really be categorized, as it borrows from so many different genres, ranging from psychedelic rock to middle-eastern to blues. My sleeper hit of 2013.

Pusha T - My Name Is My Name: This album fell short only because of the few "poppy" songs he included (Sweet Serenade, Hold On, Let Me Love You). When the album is good, though, it's very good. The beats are so unique and minimalistic, which suit Pusha T's delivery and lyricism perfectly. Numbers on the boards and Nosetalgia are two of my favorite songs this year. There's a visual aesthetic about this album which makes it so appealing, with the unique way Pusha T allows us to picture exactly what he is rapping about.

Earl Sweatshirt - Doris: Another album which contains great, unique, minimal beats. I would have loved to hear Earl more on the album (not saying the features were bad, just more than I would have wanted), as his wordplay and flow are at his best. I love "Burgundy," where Earl describes his struggle with depression, expectations, and other life problems over a somewhat "triumphant" beat, almost in kind of irony.

Death Grips - Government Plates: I admit I was late to the Death Grips bandwagon, but this album helped me get on. After catching up with their discography, I can conclude that this album is not my favorite album of theirs. However, that is not to take anything away from this release, as the first half of the album is very enjoyable. The sounds here (and all Death Grips, in general) can't be found anywhere which is probably why they are one of the most unique artists out right now.

Jon Hopkins - Immunity: I got more into electronic music this year, and this album definitely helped achieve that. Immediately from the get-go on this record you have the song "We Disappear," which features some of the best "scratch" noises I've ever heard in a song. I never knew a song could be so discombobulated, harsh, and beautiful at the same time. The way Jon layers his songs with multiple parts but keeps the same baseline themes makes this album fly by. It's a groovy, atmospheric, textured, dense, not-enough-adjectives-to-describe-it kind of album.

The Shouting Matches - Grownass Man: I love Bon Iver, so when I heard Justin Vernon say the band is on indefinite hiatus, I was admittedly upset. Justin Vernon still put out a lot of music this year, however, just in different mediums (Volcano Choir, Kanye, Polica). This album of his showcases his talent on guitar, and showcases his passion for music. I liked this album more than I thought I would, as borrows a lot of elements from blues rock, soul, southern rock, and Americana, among others. It's a groovy album with great vocals, and it makes for a great driving album.

15. John Mayer - Paradise Valley

Lets first examine this album cover, because it contains some things that cannot be ignored. First, look at the fashion statement John is making, rocking the Kanye "double/triple shirts" style, the Marty McFly jackets/vests, the Kronk Poncho, and the Jason Aldean Cowboy hat. Then the scenery, an open field on a cloudy day, all while looking off in the distance, in stereotypical "Christian-pop-album-cover" fashion. Oh and the dog. Just brilliant.

The music is everything you would expect from an album cover like this. I guess. The 70's-California rock/blues sound is very prevalent on this album, as it showcases similarity to Born And Raised (but tweaks it a little, which is why I like Paradise Valley more). John Mayer has the inherent quality to create relatable, poetic lyrics in all his music. And it is in full force in this album, with love stories appearing in "Paper Doll," "Dear Marie," and "Who You Love" which convey the angst, sadness, troubles, and other emotions on relationships and love. "Wildfire" is a great groovy summer anthem to open the album, and the bluesy/jazzy "On The Way Home" is a good closer, as the typical "Mayer falsetto" sprinkles on top of the guitar and harmonica. His singing is still beautifully melodic (even after vocal cord surgery) and his songs are still full of cheesy lyrics, letting you know he is still the same person, even though his music has gone in multiple directions over the course of his career. It's still John.

14. J. Cole - Born Sinner

J. Cole is definitely one of the more polarizing rappers out there. Which is surprising, because I've always been a big fan of his work. Some of the criticism is fair, some not so much. I don't like this album more than Friday Night Lights, but I still enjoyed it more than his debut album.

"Villuminati" is a thumping, fast paced opener which introduces the theme on the album, which he stays pretty true to throughout. The braggadocios, angry bars on this song contrast his normal, reflective, laid-back style, which again, introduces the darker tone to the album. "Power Trip" is one of the catchiest songs of the year, and I enjoy it even if people complain it may have been "manufactured" as a pop song to get airplay. "Trouble," "She Knows," and "Forbidden Fruit" showcases J. Coles talent for making beats. His flow can get stale sometimes (he needs to use more vocal inflections and pitch changes to spice it up a bit) but his metaphors and storytelling ("Let Nas Down," "Runaway") show J. Cole at his best. I still believe he has a lot of room for improvement, but he is well on his way to becoming one of the best rappers out there.

13. Vampire Weekend - Modern Vampires of the City

There's always one band that you hear about a lot, always tell yourself that you will listen to, but just never do. Vampire Weekend was that band for me. I kept telling myself that I would listen to them. I kept that going for so long that it got to the point where I would join in on conversations about them like I had heard their music. Modern Vampires of the City was my first foray into Vampire Weekend, so I had a little different first impressions than most people listening to this album.

I went through many different opinions on this album throughout the year. I found myself indifferent to it at first. Then I listened to their debut album and liked that way more than MVOTC. Then I listened to Contra, and I started to like this album more. I finally listened to it again a few weeks ago and I think I am finally under the conclusion that I like it. I think. Ask me tomorrow.

"Obvious Bicycles" opens the album with a minimalistic approach, where Ezra Koenig's vocals are showcased front and center. He has a great voice, and it's a somewhat unorthodox way to open an album. Things start to pick up "Unbelievers," "Step," and "Diane Young," where the instrumentation gets more diverse and textured. "Hannah Hunt," my favorite song on the album, tells a beautifully sad, poetic tale of a failed relationship over soft piano chords and building instrumentation. The latter half of the album isn't as strong, but "Ya Hey" rekindles the flame with a poetic, religious song about god and the problems that can occur in the world. Vampire Weekend definitely put a stamp on their "sound" on this release, and assured the music world that they are here to stay, and will only continue to get better.

12. Volcano Choir - Repave

If The Shouting Matches showcased Justin Vernon's passion for music, Volcano Choir showcases his talent. This album is more "Bon Iver-ian" in tone, sound, and lyrical themes, but it does stand on its own ground and separates enough from the sound of Bon Iver to become a unique release.

"Tiderays" is a grower song, which climbs and climbs until the very satisfying climax. "Comrade" shows the vintage Justin Vernon falsetto over great instrumentation, starting with the light, plucked acoustic guitar strings then evolving to the synthesizer and keyboards. Justin Vernons' lyrical qualities are showcased in full force in the album, with head-scratching lines such as "You know that we are northern now/Cut there from filament lead" in Byegone, and "Let's people/make the pine/Smokin' outside a copytail" in Dancepack. The lyrics are in typical ambiguous, poetic, and beautiful fashion we have come to expect from Justin Vernon. While some songs borrow some obvious thematic elements from Bon Iver (Keel sounds like a b-side from that band), it was still refreshing to hear that sound again, because I was definitely starving for it. And no one does that better than Justin Vernon.

11. The Knife - Shaking The Habitual

I only truly appreciated this album after listening to Fever Ray's debut album, or Karin Andersson's solo project. For some reason, that's what it took for me to fully grasp the music behind this album. And boy, once I did, I found something that is one of the more unique sounding bands I have in my music library. Everything about them is unconventional, in a good way.

"Tooth For An Eye," one of my favorite songs on the album, doubles as "eye opener" and "album opener." Because on this song we hear the african inspired drum beat over some weird, haunting vocals, which begins to introduce the overarching musical qualities this album brings. The vocals on this whole album are something that I just can't get enough of. Everything about her singing is unconventional, again though, in a very good way. "Full Of Fire" starts with a great drum beat, just growing in complexity and adding layers until Karin's haunting vocals come in. The lyrics are very poetic in nature, even when it can be very haunting, even downright scary at times. Lines like "When you're full of fire/What's the object of your desire?" give off some sort of political undertone/message to the song, all while still being ambiguous in nature. "A Cherry On Top" starts off with an even more haunting instrumental track, fitting of a dark, lonely walk in the cold. Karin's vocals on this track are almost "opera-like," something she can definitely do as seen in Tomorrow, In A Year.

The layered, textured, dense beat in "Wrap Your Arms Around Me" give a beautiful atmosphere, which again is topped off by some great vocals by Karin (noticing a trend?). I love the way she switches up her vocal style in each song depending on the musical qualities and atmosphere, almost like adding another layer to a cake (or a "cherry on top"). I still have not listened to the full 19:02 of "Old Dreams Waiting To Be Realized" and "Fracking Fluid Injection" may be a little too abstract from me, but that doesn't take anything away from this album. I am looking forward to discovering their full discography now after getting introduced to this band with this album.

10. Chance The Rapper - Acid Rap

I definitely believe the internet does more good than harm for musicians, especially hip hop artists. Back in the day (I think I'm old enough to use that phrase) you couldn't just release a mixtape online and immediately get 500,000 downloads (which is what this mixtape did in one weekend). Sure, things might get leaked and music will get pirated, but that is all good as long as you bring in a fan. A fan will get excited about your music. A fan will talk to other people about your music. Without the internet, I wouldn't have a) discovered and b) gave Chance another shot.

I stumbled upon this release on a hip hop forum, where everyone seemed to be praising his music. I gave it a listen. Discarded it after a few listens. But every day, on that forum, people kept talking about it, saying how great it was. I started to wonder, "why am I not feeling the same way?" So I listened to it again, and it finally clicked. Not clicked like "greatest album of all time" but just enough to make me appreciate it and enjoy it. Without the internet, maybe none of that happens.

I haven't really described the music on this album. But it is rich of funky beats, good hooks, crisp production, great features, and one unorthodox voice. "Good Ass Intro" starts the album with great flair, with a bouncy drum beat layering rich piano chords, and Chance switching up his flow multiple times and showcasing his lyrical skills. This theme stays consistent throughout the mixtape, with the electric piano-infused, jazzy "Pusha Man," the mellow, flute-filled "Lost," and the head bobbing, old-school flavored "NaNa," all concluding with the nostalgic, introspective "Everything's Good." A fitting song to end the album (and start the replay of the album). Chance definitely announces his presence on this release, and I can't wait to hear his next project. Thanks, internet.

9. Kanye West - Yeezus

Yeezus is my word of 2013. Because you can't say that word/name without smiling. Because it makes you think about this album. And because you can't say that word without thinking about Kanye. Mr. West has never shied away from the headlines, be it in his music and his personal life. All of that seemed to come together this year for him, as you really had to make a conscious effort to not hear about his antics. Ranging from his weird relationship to KK, outbursts in concerts, weird behavior during interviews (YOU AIN'T GOT THE ANSWERS SWAY!!), and anonymity regarding his album release, I started to wonder if it was even possible for someone to act in this fashion.

This album got critical acclaim from pretty much every music publication soon after its release, and maybe that's why it took me so long to grow to like it. I have this tendency to judge things harder when they are critically acclaimed. Because of this, my initial reaction was: "What's so special about it?" I was unable to listen to this album with unbiased ears until about 3 months after it was released, and only then could I appreciate it. Now I find myself coming back to it frequently, because it has this inherent quality about it that draws you in and keeps you engaged even after many listens.

"On Sight" opens the album with a dizzying array of somewhat amateur sounding synths, that is sometimes too muddled to thoroughly enjoy. I often skip this song. The stretch from "Black Skinhead" to "Guilt Trip" is great, however, and is what makes this album so good. The panting and punchy beat on "Black Skinhead" acts more of an opener to this album as it introduces this dark, electronic, industrial sound to expect on the album. It is definitely one of my favorite beats of the year. Justin Vernon adds some great vocals on "Hold My Liquor" and "I'm In It" that complement the dense, textured synth-based beats. Every beat on this album has some element which makes it unique, be it the trap style beat and TNGHT horns in "Blood On The Leaves," the pulsating, building beat in "Hold My Liquor" or the video game style beat on "Guilt Trip." The production on this album is top notch. The lyrics are, well, kinda meh. But the production is that good to elevate the album on its own. He seems even angrier on this album, which results in some weird lines ("Hurry up with my damn croissants") and very sexual references ("Put my fist in her like a civil rights sign"), making this album one of his weaker releases in his discography (in my opinion). Nonetheless, Yeezus defined this year like no other. How else would we get the best music video of the year? How else would we get another South Park Kanye-inspired episode? Only Yeezus could do that.

8. Drake - Nothing Was The Same

Drake has pretty much found his niche. He did it on his first album, and he hasn't wavered much musically since. So it's ironic that this album is called Nothing Was The Same, when, he pretty much rehashes the same stylistic qualities and themes from his previous work. It suits him well though, as he has truly embraced his persona and found himself a huge following. But we need people like Drake. Artists that stay consistent and true to themselves. Save the music exploration for artists like Kanye and The Knife.

NWTS starts off with a trifecta of beats in "Tuscan Leather," a chest-popped-out, boasting anthem over several great beats. "Wu-Tang Forever" is a hard hitting song which Drake rolls out his patented "sing-rap" style. This song rolls nicely into the next song, "Own It," which sounds like a typical slowed down R&B Drake song. "Hold On, We're Going Home" is the radio hit on this album, which combines elements of dance, 80's pop, and synthpop. "Too Much" is the emotional center of the album, which borrows stylistically from Take Care. "Pound Cake" has one of my favorite beats of the year, a relaxing, ambient, atmospheric beat over a Wu-Tang sample and is one of my favorite songs on the album (even if Jay-Z says "cake" one too many times). Noah "40" Shebib is one of the more underrated producers out there. Drake certainly has a good ear for beats, as it always seems like he picks beats that perfectly suit his style. Sure, he may be cheesy, he may even be the Taylor Swift of rap, but he definitely knows how to make a good song, and even more important, a good album. That's the Drizzy way. Never change, man.

7. Run The Jewels - Run The Jewels

"Buddy rap" is a term that was popularized by Outkast. For good reasons. Andre 3000 and Big Boi shared a special bond with each other and had such good chemistry that it was hard to remember there were two people in the group sometimes. "Aquemini" is the ultimate "buddy" rap song, as the two trade bars describing something not often rapped about: Friendship. Any rappers trying to make a collaborative album, or start a group with two rappers, should always strive to achieve what OutKast achieved in that song.

Run the Jewels can take solace in the fact that they pulled off a "buddy rap" album marvelously. From the opening track "Run The Jewels" to the closer "A Christmas Fucking Miracle" you are hit with constant energy, constant hard hitting production, and constant chemistry between Killer Mike and El-P. In a world filled with moody music, often the most important emotion is often forgotten when making music: Happiness. This album is a different kind of happy though. A song that fills you with so much energy that you can't help but high five the person next to you.

The beats on this album suit both rappers perfectly, as it is mostly southern hip hop instrumentation, akin to the one and only OutKast. Big Boi makes an appearance on "Banana Clipper" that fits in so flawlessly that I find myself replaying the song just to find out when he actually raps in the song. The wordplay and flows Killer Mike and El-P display on this album show them at the top of their games, something only a collaborative album could do. This is just a great, hard hitting, head banging album that took me by surprise. I am happy.

6. Arcade Fire - Reflektor

I first listened to this album the way most people first heard the album, as one long lyric video set to the 1959 film Black Orpheus. It was the perfect way to hear an album for the first time. I didn't really understand why it was released to that particular movie, but I didn't really watch it as I listened and did other stuff online. By not knowing when the songs ended and started I was able to soak in the entire album as a whole instead of track by track. It gave the album an identity that greatly enhanced my perception of the release initially.

"Reflektor" was the title track and first single that was released a month prior to the release of the album. From that song I knew the band was going to take a different direction, along the lines of dance, electronic, synthpop, and indietronic music in addition to their indie rock sound. I liked that song initially and I still like it just as much as the opener on the album. The nocturnal baseline and drums that start off the track set up the track that continues to grow and grow into a pseudo disco track which has great mirroring vocals from Win Butler and Regine Chassagne. The album continues on these themes, as James Murphy, former LCD Soundsystem frontman showcases his production prominently throughout. "We Exist" features a great synth baseline and a very "spacey" atmosphere which gets even better at about the 3:30 mark where the synth gets heavier and more layers are added to reach a satisfying climax. "Here Comes The Night Time" is just a fun track that you can't help but dance to when those somewhat-childish piano keys play the little riff. "Joan Of Arc" features some very Tame Impala-esque drums (see: "Elephant") but they add their own spin to it with some great french background vocals by Regine.

The album flows very well from song to song, making it seem like a short 75 minutes. "Awful Sound" starts the second half of the album with a great tapping beat, over some big, airy synths and great vocals from Win detailing a story about unrequited love. "Porno" is a song that has grown on me a lot, as I initially didn't like it but now can't get enough of those cheesy synths. They totally missed out on a golden opportunity to call this song "A Porno," though. That way you could tell your friends/family that you were listening to "A Porno." "Afterlife" and "Supersymmetry" close the album perfectly, as "Afterlife" is a great song with some very philosophical lyrics (and a sad music video). "Supersymmetry" is like the wind down after a long dance and you are with your partner enjoying one last slow dance before the night is over. It's the kind of song perfect for long drives staring out the window, contemplating life and all it's complexities. Or staring out the window on a rainy day, recalling all those great moments from your childhood. I may be over-exaggerating, but that's how I feel when I listen to it. Emotion is what makes music so great. And this album is filled with a whole bunch of it.

5. James Blake - Overgrown

It's hard to follow up a debut album. Especially when the debut album is so critically acclaimed. That was the dilemma facing James Blake as he went into his second album Overgrown. He had to follow up a debut album that was not only new and inventive but also beautifully haunting.

It took a while for me to fully appreciate his debut album, but over time, it finally grew on me. It wasn't one specific moment where it clicked, either, rather there was this inherent quality of his music that continued to draw me in and keep me listening. And over time he started to become one of my favorite artists.

On Overgrown, James Blake definitely stays true to his music from the past, but adds more flavors and experiments with new sounds and vocals, giving this album more spice and freshness. "Overgrown" starts the album off with some beautiful cascading piano and a steady drum pattern. James immediately showcases his beautiful voice prominently in this song, which becomes a prevalent theme throughout the record. The song ends with swelling strings and a poetic, ambiguous lyric, "time passes in the constant state." "I Am Sold" is a song which would definitely fit in with James' debut album, as it combines his signature bouncy beat over intermittent, repeating vocals. "Life Round Here" has a super catchy beat, with loud, frequent hi-hats reminiscent of a dirty south hip-hop beat and stepping synth. James' vocals are again perfect on this song, as he shows his R&B side on this song. The song ends perfectly and flows well into the next song, "Take A Fall For Me," which has an appearance by RZA (from Wu-Tang Clan). He fits in seamlessly here, as he paints a picture of a sad story of lost love. His great delivery and artistic lines such as "Don't throw my soul over to the poltergeist" and "What will become of me/If I can't show my love to thee?" make this one of my favorite songs on the record. "Retrograde" is the pinnacle of the album, as it showcases the best James Blake has to offer. The elegant humming over soft piano chords starts the song, as it just continues to add layers and layers of instrumentation and drums before a big climax full of rich synths and powerful vocals. The song descends back down with the humming, like a mirror of the first part of the song. I love the way he arranges his songs, as there's an element of surprise in all of them the way they take different turns and stylistic shifts. The latter half of the album features some more electronic songs, with the fast-paced "Digital Lion" and the rattling "Voyeur." James Blake does everything right on this album in my opinion, and only further raises himself on my list of favorite artists right now.

4. Atoms For Peace - Amok

A lot of people have mixed feelings towards The King Of Limbs, the latest Radiohead release. I personally loved it, and although I don't listen to it as much as their other releases, I still appreciated the experimentation and new sound. If you didn't like that album, it would have to be a bummer to listen to this release from Atoms For Peace. Even though it's only Radiohead members are Thom Yorke and producer Nigel Godrich, there is a King Of Limbs-esque sound in this album that just oozes out of it.

"Before Your Very Eyes" has one of the best music videos of the year, as Thom Yorke just knows how to make creative and inventive music videos. It's also an enjoyable opener for the album, as Flea makes his presence felt right away with the groovy baseline atop a bouncy drum pattern and rich synths. "Default" sounds like a vintage video game at the start of the song, until it evolves with some funky bass effects and some reverb-heavy vocals from Thom. "Ingenue" is a beautiful track with very poetic lyrics (still trying to figure out its meaning, I think it's an introspective song about his fame and how it's caused him to be someone he's not). "Dropped" starts off with some heavy synths worthy of a "drop" on a dubstep track. "Stuck Together Pieces" and "Judge, Jury, And Executioner" are some funky tracks with overlapping harmonizing vocals and crazy instrumentation worthy of a place on a Radiohead album.

"Reverse Running" is a really smart, creative, and interesting song, in terms of both lyrical content and instrumentation. Thom is looking back at his life in this song, in a flash back travelling backwards in time, otherwise known as the "reverse running." Some very metaphorical and poetic lines are seen in this song, such as "Falling in the horses feet/All the feelings that you shouldn't see." This is all over some very cool synths which conclude in "spinning" fashion and transition nicely into the finale of the album, "Amok." This is my favorite song on the album, as it almost feels like a recap song, combining the best elements of all the previous songs into one huge triumph. "Amok" refers to an episode of "mass assault against people or objects by a single individual," known as a psychological condition and commonly known as "running amok." So it's definitely not a coincidence that the last track is titled "Reverse Running" and leads right into "Amok." This song starts off as a sort of disjointed, unstructured song with strange, hard-to-interpret lyrics and a crazy beat full of claps, clicks, and a constant bassline. I believe the song is about the narrator trying very hard to figure out what his love is thinking about (could be anything from wondering if she loves him or not to just general thoughts), because he keeps repeating the old proverb "A penny for your thoughts." This all culminates to the climax, which is also his anger, as he gets frustrated with the lack of clarity from her that he starts to "run amok." Thoms' falsetto sounds good as ever here over some building synths and crescendo-ing drums and bass. I love how he concludes the song with the same line as in the beginning of the song. I love every song on this album more with each listen, and makes me believe I'll like pretty much any project Thom Yorke is involved in. He is definitely one of my favorite musicians of all time, and I hope he continues to put out more music for many years to come.

3. Janelle Monae - The Electric Lady

I love R&B. I think it's an overlooked genre that rarely gets much exposure (and for the most part has been pretty sparse in the last decade in talent). So you can see why I was so excited to see the latest influx of new artists in R&B over the past few years, from Frank Ocean to The Weeknd to Miguel. And of course Janelle Monae. The ArchAndroid quickly became one of my favorite albums of all time, as it took the words "concept album" to a whole new stratosphere.

The Electric Lady continued with the same conceptual album, as it resumed with the story of android Cindi Mayweather in the city of Metropolis. The album starts off in typical Janelle Monae fashion, with a orchestral piece worthy of a place in a James Bond movie. I love how she does this in her albums, as it just adds to the aesthetic of the whole story and makes it truly feel like an experience rather than just music. "Givin Em What They Love" is a retro sounding R&B track full of organs, horns, guitar, and some great back and forth vocals with Prince. "The Electric Lady" is just a super groovy song which will make anyone want to dance (and if it doesn't, there's something wrong with you). "Primetime" is one of the best love songs and one of the best duets I've ever heard, as further explained in this fantastic article on Grantland. "Dance Apocalyptic" is another fast-paced dance song, with some great instrumentation combining elements of funk, jazz, and soul which concludes the first half of the record (and stays true to the theme of that half of the album).

The second half of The Electric Lady shows a more personal reflection of the life of Cindi Mayweather, as she tackles subjects like racism, corruption, sexism, poverty, depression, and even some love. "Ghetto Woman" is a fantastic tale about a black woman living in the ghetto, oppressed and ostracized by society. It has an uplifting message and shows her talent for songwriting. The album concludes fantastically with a series of great songs, just like The ArchAndroid. "What An Experience" ends the record with a 70's-sounding, Marvin Gaye-esque R&B song, full of rich synths and powerful yet calm vocals.

The album does a great job again combining so many elements from different genres, and does so without compromising the artistic vision for the album. Janelle definitely has the knack for theater, as she applies great visual aesthetics to her lyrics, making it seem as if we're watching a movie rather than listening to an album. It also shows in the production, as these could be great standalone tracks even without vocals. I love that she helps out on the production on these songs too, as it adds some cohesion to the songs the way she sings on top of them. I can't say enough good things about her, and those compliments only further increase if you get a chance to see her in concert, as she is very "electric." I will definitely be listening to this album for many years to come, and hopefully will be treated to the last remaining chapters of the Metropolis suite soon!

2. Darkside - Psychic

Expectations are a funny thing.

Why is it, amongst all the new in the world (new experiences, new tastes, new ideas, new art, new people, etc) that we are so captivated by new music? I notice whenever I discover a new artist with a brand new sound that I am completely encapsulated by it. It’s like it opens a whole new dimension on life and opens my ears to what music can achieve.

Expectations are a funny thing. Because I had no expectations going into this album. And maybe that’s why we appreciate things more. Because the element of surprise always grabs a hold of us like nothing else can. It shocks us, makes us adapt, and makes us look at our lives under a different lens.

"Golden Arrow" starts this album off with a haunting, slow moving piece with organs, crazy noises, strings, and some grainy synths. I don’t even know how to classify this as it strays from placement into any particular genre. The beat finally opens up and unleashes the song into more disco/dance territory, as layers upon layers of synths and creative sounds are added to produce one giant, epic opening track. The next song, "Sitra" acts as more of the comedown after the epic opener, adding some cool effects as the song is panned over to the left speaker for most of the song. "Heart" plays with a marching-style beat, some cool vocals from Nicolas Jaar, and great guitar riffs from Dave Harrington. "Paper Trails" showcases Nicolas’ deep voice, echoing through this soundscape of plucky guitars, tambourines, and intermittent claps. "The Only Shrine I’ve Seen" plays with some cool sounds (notice the theme here) making it sound like cascading glass, adding a very groovy dance drum pattern, which changes up multiple times over the length of the song, giving the song some added personality. "Freak, Go Home" has some really cool synths, with very cool added effects, to go on top of a glitchy, noisy beat. The song again has multiple parts that flow from one to another impeccably, bringing the song from beginning to end in thrilling fashion. "Greek Light" plays with some retro electric piano sounds, akin to Bon Ivers’ "Beth/Rest," which leads into the final track perfectly. "Metatron" concludes the album with a song that again utilizes soem electric pianos on top of some great guitars, atmospheric synths, and background choir vocals. I love how the song starts at a high level but concludes at an even higher level, producing an even bigger climax at the end of the song.

I love how this album has great pacing, where each song, even if they are long, are very meticulous on when they add instrumentation and when the song builds and concludes. Each song flows well from one to another, creating a nice cohesive piece of music that true replay value. In the case of Darkside, surprise was good.

"Our brightest blazes of gladness are commonly kindled by unexpected sparks." - Samuel Johnson

1. The National - Trouble Will Find Me

Expectations are a dangerous thing.

You've probably experienced this scenario a few times in your life: You discover a new band/artist after they have released a few albums before, they become one of your favorite artists, and you spend most of your time listening to their whole discography before their next release. And speaking of that next release, you are eagerly anticipating it as it's the first time you will experience a new record from the artist. And then the album finally comes out. And... And... you are a little disappointed.

Expectations are a dangerous thing. Because its always funny, when we anticipate something for so long, get our hopes up, and we aren't totally satisfied. What is it that we want out of the release? No one knows the answer to that question. Because it's art. We don't want to hear the same thing. But we don't want too much divergence. We just want... that feeling of discovery again. That emotional connection again. But the thing is, that can really only happen when you discover a new sound, or new artist for the first time. I think we easily get disappointed because we truly don't know what it is we want, and sometimes, what we want might not even be attainable.

That was the dilemma for me as soon as this album came out. I was so starved for new music from my favorite band that I couldn't help but listen to all the singles released before the album came out. That kind of took some of the listening experience away from the album. I also watched concert footage of new unreleased songs, which meant by the time the album came out I had heard about 7 out of the 13 songs already. Silly me.

But this story has a happy ending. Because the music won out in the end. The National have always been known as a "grower" band, in that it takes multiple listens to completely appreciate the music. And that was definitely the case for Trouble Will Find Me. I just didn't know it would take me, a seasoned National listener, to go through multiple listens to love it this much. But it really has become one of my favorite releases from them. Matt's vocals and lyrics have again taken another step forward, as we hear more of his higher register in voice and some new subject matter, such as parenthood, death, and all sorts of emotions. The instrumentation is great as usual, with Bryan rocking out great drum patterns, Aaron and Bryce producing catchy and beautiful piano/guitar melodies, and Scott mixing in some soothing and warm basslines.

I am always afraid when artists I like start to get old, as it can sometimes mean hanging up their hats (which is why I picked a good time to see them twice in concert this year). But for The National, if they do indeed go out on this record, they will go out on an ultimate high. Nothing can take away what this band has given me these past few years, and for that, I have to say thanks.

Thanks, The National.

0 notes

thesymphonyoflife · 11 years

Text

Letter

It's funny

How we yearn for something

That makes us wallow in sorrow

Makes us burn and our insides hollow

We don't know the who, how, what, when or why

This thing that grabs us by our legs and will not die

Or pass by

It just floats, in the sky

Like an everlasting cloud, always there

So always be prepared

For the strike, the bite, the punch

Be cautious

For the hit that might render you unconscious

Or nauseous

Embrace it

Don't race away from it

I know all you can think of is that last time

When you exploded like the scene of a horrible crime

I don't deny, I think about it too

Just follow me, we can go together

and destroy this thing once and forever

then, trust me, it will get better

Just know, I can't do it without you

Because oddly enough, you control me,

Without you there is no we

So I hope you take this message and realize the worst is behind

To: Your Heart

From: Your Mind

0 notes

thesymphonyoflife · 11 years

Text

Fine

Remember when we were fine?

No worries, no doubts, just the passing time?

A race that was yet to be won

A race that had just begun

For fun

Remember when we were fine?

No rules, no consequences, no cries?

Ok, maybe there were some cries

But not of despair, of hope

Not of silence, but of songs filled with joyous notes

Remember when we were fine?

I'm trying

To remember those days of imagination and curiosity

Exuberant thoughts and demonstrative philosophy

I'm lost, you see

Remember when we were fine?

Those days aren't just behind

All you have to do is look, line by line

And read all that is in your mind

And know how much left is to be designed

Remember that, and you will be

Fine

0 notes

thesymphonyoflife · 11 years

Text

8:47 p.m.

"I dunno, what’s your goal in life?" she asked.

"Hmm," I said, startled by her response to a relatively simple question and what seemed to be a very deep conversation starter to have at dinner.

"To be happy?" I said in the most unconvincing fashion that even I rolled my eyes at.

"Happy how?" She retorted.

"I dunno, happy in the sense that you are always looking forward to something." I said, getting more and more comfortable with my answer.

"Whether it be coming home to your wife, kids, a hobby, or an upcoming event, if you are always looking forward to something and excited about something then you are truly happy. I don’t even think you have to love your job to be truly happy, if there are other things that make you happy then that will be enough to make you content with your life. Obviously those who love their jobs probably love their lives more, so in essence I think the thing we desire most is to fill our lives with as much happiness as possible.”

"That was really cheesy, wasn’t it," I said, now regretting what I said.

"No that’s exactly what I would say!" She said, making me feel 1000 times better.

"I asked that question because I just always like thinking about that philosophical stuff, it makes me really wanna figure out what I should do with my life, because at times, I have no clue. I spend a lot of nights lying in bed trying to sleep and that's all I can think about. Life. You know?"

I nodded my head and smiled. I was liking her more and more by the second.

———————————————————————————————————————

It was a Wednesday in early July. July 4th, to be exact. I was pacing back and forth in my house, which could only mean one thing.

I was about to text her for the first time.

Everyone knows what it's like to text "her" for the first time. It has to be perfect. So naturally, I spent four hours of my life constructing the perfect text message. One that was detailed, not too long, funny, sweet, witty, concise, and thought-provoking at the same time. I probably made more edits and deletes than I did actually constructing text in the message. I hit enter and started biting my nails and was filled with nervous tension like a 7th grader the first time he tells someone he has a crush on them.

It felt different than a normal crush though, because I had just met this girl a few weeks ago. Online. Yes, I hadn't even met her face to face yet. But I was going to. Hopefully. On Saturday.

As I got the first (excited!) text back from her approximately 34 minutes later I started to believe this was actually gonna happen. My first date. Never mind it was gonna happen probably 6-10 years later than most guys, I was ecstatic. I spent the rest of the day reading and sending 4 more text messages. And throw in 30 minutes of fireworks-watching. Yes, I am proud to admit I spent an entire day of my life constructing, sending, and reading 6 text messages. 6. But I would relive that day over again in a heartbeat.

So I tried to go on with my week like normal. But that wasn’t happening. Every waking moment was spent on thinking about the “what if” and every date scenario you could possibly imagine. I daydreamed better than I ever have in my entire life that week. Then it got to Friday, the day usually designated for hanging out with my two good friends (it had become a tradition). I set up plans with them and was eating dinner when I got a text from her.

She had to work the next day so the only day she could do something was today, and was wondering if I was free. I had already made plans with my friends. But I ditched them faster than you could say “bad friend.” I made up some bullshit reason because I am a great liar (not a great attribute to have, but it’s true, nonetheless) and was racing back home to change (or decide what to wear for an hour).

I got a phone call from her. Oh man her voice! Angelic. Could not get it out of my head after (nor did I want to). Picked her up at 6:00 pm. When she came out of her door, saw me in my car, and smiled, I could not believe what was happening. So much time spent thinking about these situations and I was actually living it now.

I knew right away.

As she got in the car and we awkwardly shook hands, a gigantic wave of anxiety swept over me. I just realized I was about to spend an entire night just trying to make someone like me. My head filled with thoughts that were all over the place. Sifting through all the thoughts in my head was like trying to untangle headphones blind. I did a lot more listening than talking on the drive there. I was trying so hard to listen to every word she said and have a good comment back and drive all at the same time. Not a good combo. Lets just say that was not my finest hour driving. And it was literally an hour driving, because I made so many wrong turns. I wasn't off to a good start.

We finally made it to the restaurant she recommended. It was a quaint little mexican restaurant with extremely nice wait staff. As the waitress sat us at our table, she smiled at me in a way that said, "good luck!" I think she knew I was on my first date.

It was the best dinner i've ever had in my life. Not just the food, which was great, but the conversations. We were so deep in conversation that we forgot to eat our dinner and it became cold. Twice the waitress had to wave her hand in front of our faces to get our attention and ask if we needed anything else.

Learning about someone for the first time is one of the most exhilarating experiences there is. In a totally different way than most exciting things are. Everything was new. A new idea. A new perception. A new experience. A new story. It was like stepping into a candy store without ever knowing candy existed, and tasting everything you can lay your hands on. It got to the point where we probably weren't even finishing our thoughts completely. We just jumped from topic to topic in a free-flowing fashion that made it seem like we were best friends who hadn't seen each other in months and were catching up on everything going on in our lives.

I knew right away.

We finally decided we should leave and open a table up for other people who were waiting. I worked very hard to pay for both of our meals and finally did prevail. We got into my car and I was finally starting to relax and feel more like myself. Definitely still wasn't all the way there yet, but I was close. We didn't really make plans for after dinner, but I knew where to go after our lengthy dinner conversations.

"This is one of my favorite spots," I said as we pulled up to park.

"A parking lot?" She asked in a puzzled fashion.

"Yeah," I said and smiled.

We took the elevator up to the top floor and once we came out the door I knew she knew why this was one of my favorite spots.

"I like to come here and just think about stuff," I said as we stood on the ledge and stared deep into the distance. You could see the entire city, glowing in the low sunlight. It was the time of day where the sun was just about to set and you could tell it was going to be a great one.

"There's something just calming about being able to see so much in one spot," I said as I saw her nod in appreciation.

We then stood there for a good 2 minutes without saying a word. Yet it wasn't awkward at all. A moment that didn't need any talking.

She reached over and held my hand.

"I think I know what my goal in life is now," she said as she maintained a gaze deep into the distance and I turned to her, puzzled.

"To live every day like today," She smiled and turned to me.

At that moment I was engulfed by a happiness I had never experienced before in my life. A happiness not of self-confidence, either, just more of acceptance. Which was odd. I had been told similarly nice things by friends and family before, why was something one stranger said to me the happiest moment in my life? Was it because I was successful in my goal of getting to her to like me? Maybe, but I think it was much more than that. The feeling of being wanted is one of the greatest feelings in the world. The feeling that you made a difference in someone's life, even for just a moment, you just can't beat that.

I was probably grinning like an idiot for the rest of the night. I looked down at my cell phone to check the time.

8:47 pm.

We took a nice long walk along the river, still enthralled in conversations the whole time. We got back to the car and immediately as I closed my door, it started to downpour. "That definitely wasn't a coincidence," I thought to myself and smiled, beginning to believe in fate more than ever.

I drove around the city and pointed out more highlights. I tried to prolong the drive back to her place as long as possible. We hit the final stretch of the highway and she played a song she called her favorite song of the past few weeks.

It was one I was playing on repeat literally the day before.

I knew right away.

Another rush of emotions and thoughts raced through my head as I pulled up to her place. It still didn't feel like I was totally myself. Like I was a different person, and this whole night was taking place in someone else's shoes. Did she have that much of an impact that I was already a different person?

We made some small talk and I again tried to prolong the conversation to extend the night a little longer.

I tried to sneakily reach for my pocket and grab a small mint from a box. I had seen enough movies to know the "moment" was about to come, and I didn't want to eff it up.

The container broke and all the mints fell onto the car cushion. I felt so embarrassed. Did I mess up my chance to kiss her?

She let out a big laugh. And leaned over towards me.

Let me tell you, describing a kiss is very difficult. But i'll try. It felt like I was driving at 100 miles an hour in a brand new world, with cruise control on, not touching the wheel, and just gazing at all the beauty around me. The biggest adrenaline rush but the most relaxing moment ever at the same time. It felt like my head was racing with thoughts but completely empty at the same time.

I don't think I moved my lips at all for the first 15 seconds or so. I was just in so much awe. How had I not done this more? I finally realized I should do more and just did what I thought was natural. Which was difficult, because nothing felt very natural about it, yet I felt so comfortable doing it. I relaxed more and took a deep breath. It was incredibly difficult to gauge time at that moment. It felt incredibly long and short at the same time.

We finally unlocked lips and I couldn't contain my happiness. I gave her the biggest hug ever. She told me to call her soon multiple times and was off, running inside as I sat there and just listened to the tapping of the rain hitting the car. I was still in sort of a daze as I sent a text message to my friends to see if they were still hanging out. They were, as it was only midnight (early for us on the weekend) so I asked if I could join them. I needed to tell someone. I had too much energy not to just burst out and scream with joy.

That was one of the quickest drives I've ever had in my life. My mind was so full with thoughts that I completely lacked any sense on time. Everything seemed to just happen in the outside world and I was truly just living inside my head. It was an indescribable feeling.

I got to my friends house and immediately told them why I ditched them. They seemed excited for me. I tried to just have a normal night with them after, but it was incredibly difficult to concentrate. I wanted to just talk about my night but I also knew I didn't want the whole rest of the night revolve around me. In other words, I tried hard to maintain my "old" self.

I got a text back from her before I was about to go to bed. She thanked me for the night again and said she wanted to see me again soon. I knew right away the perfect text message to send back.

"You're so sweet :)" She texted back.

———————————————————————————————————————

You know that feeling when you wake up from a really, really vivid dream? The one that you just immediately woke up from and all you can do for the next 20 minutes is relive the dream and think about it? That's what the next morning felt like. It was like my body was going through some emotional hangover. All I remember of the morning was trying to convince myself it was real.

I waited probably too soon to text her again, but I didn't care. I set up another date next tuesday.

I got zero work done that week. Zippo. Zilch. Nada. Do I feel bad? Nope.

We went to a movie that night. I don't remember much about it though. Because I spent the entire movie debating whether or not to put my arm around her. I decided against it. My mind was still in "play it safe" mode. We decided to go get ice cream at a place nearby.

"How far is it?" She asked.

"2.3 miles," I said and laughed.

"Maybe we should drive there," I suggested.

"No let's walk," She said and smiled.

I again debated for the whole walk there whether or not to put my arm around her. I again decided against it.

I finally got the courage to do it about halfway back from our walk. Only I did it with my hand that still had some ice cream on it. When I was making my move I got some in her hair and on her shirt. We had to go to a gas station nearby for her to clean it off. I apologized profusely for the next 10 minutes.

As we were making the final stretch back I felt her warm hand around my shoulder.

I still count that as a win for me.

———————————————————————————————————————

I saw her again that friday. We were going to make pizzas at her place. We went grocery shopping first. Maybe it was just being in a public place, but I finally felt like I was acting like normal self. That is, the goofy, silly person I always was. I didn't care really. And it seemed like she was laughing along with it genuinely.

We went back to her place and started making the pizzas.

"Can you cut the vegetables?" She asked.

"Yeah, how do you do that?" I asked, in a serious tone.

"Seriously, I've never done it before," I responded after she looked at me in a skeptical look.

"You've got a lot to learn," She laughed and showed me how to cut vegetables.

It was in that moment which I felt completely human again. It felt like every moment prior to this was just living in my head. I finally realized that this is what life was all about. Learning. Teaching. Becoming better humans. Sharing life experiences you never knew could exist. The greatest thing a tomato has done for my life.

As we were finishing up eating her roommates came into the apartment. I wasn't expecting them to. I knew immediately it was just another test.

We all played games for the next few hours. I was on my A-game that night. Not at the games. But being funny. I was making everyone laugh. I was saying all the right things, at all the right times. I was surprising myself, even. It was like some higher power was controlling my brain and telling me exactly what to say. It was an incredible experience. I knew I nailed it. Once I had the best friends' approval, it was smooth sailing from then on.

I arranged to play tennis with them a few days later and then said goodbye as they went upstairs to go to bed.

I walked outside with her and said good night to her.

"This seems really early for me to be ending a night," I said, half-joking and half-sad.

"It's 12:30 (a.m)!" She shouted.

"Yeah but I won't be able to go to bed for another couple hours," I responded.

"Just go to bed!" She suggested.

"Yeah but then I'll just be lying in bed forever trying to fall asleep. My brain always decides that is the best time to start thinking about everything." I said.

"Thinking about what?" She asked.

"You know, like what you said before, just everything. Your concerns, worries, thoughts. That stuff. You said you do that too don't you?"

"I used to, yeah." She replied.

"But lately I fall straight asleep. I've got nothing to worry about. And neither should you." She said with a huge smile on her face.

I fell asleep in record time that night.

———————————————————————————————————————

I texted her a bunch that week trying to make plans to hang out again. She declined on the sporting event. Declined on biking/dinner. She had legitimate excuses for both, so I didn't think anything of it.

I should've known right away.

I kept texting her and she still kept responding in her normal, jovial self, but the replies got further and further apart from each other over time. Soon I would be waiting for a day to get a response from her. I was getting worried. I was now getting way too excited when I got a reply from her.

It had been a few days since I had heard from her last. I was walking out of a movie theater when I got a text from her.

I knew right away.

I read that huge block of text at once. It was like my brain was picking out all the key words and forming one cohesive, concise sentence for me to process. I didn't have to read it over and over again to understand the message. One time was more than enough.

———————————————————————————————————————

It's been over a year since that month-long span of my life. Yet I still remember every moment as clearly as the day it happened. I think we remember moments we really want to keep. As for me, I wanted to keep everything. If we keep replaying moments in our life, eventually they will be ingrained as memories forever. And the only way to get rid of those memories is if you really want to. Meaning there's something more important that you want to replace with.

I think we all need that "one" person that got away. It makes us appreciate those moments that much more. If that's even possible. You want nothing more than to have that experience again. Like winning the championship and aching for that title once more. The ultimate high.

In the meantime, I'm just waiting for that experience again. Now I'm just trying to live life to the fullest, filling myself with as much happiness as possible. Trying to take heed to all the lessons that month taught me and become a better person. Waiting for that first date. Waiting for that first dinner. Waiting for that first kiss.

Waiting for 8:47 p.m.

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thesymphonyoflife · 11 years

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So I’ve wanted to do this for a while now. NCAA march madness style, Radiohead 64 song bracket. I’ve seen this done for several artists before, so I just want to admit this is not my original idea. Shout out to Rembert Browne for the inspiration. And shout out to Kendrick Lamar- just ‘cuz. There are also other Radiohead brackets out there, but still no critical analysis about the selections. That’s where I come in. Without further adieu…

So here’s the rules:

Seeding: Seeds 1-8 were decided by popularity by youtube views (there has to be some justification for seeding, right?). Seeds 9-16 were picked by me (and I tried my best to make seeds as fair as possible, but believe me, that’s harder than it seems.

Songs: Only Radiohead studio recordings, if possible (there is only one exception in the case of the youtube selections). There are a ton of great live recordings but I had to make my job easier, so deal with it (insert deal with it gif here).

Winners: Decided by me (with great painstaking effort).

Regions: Yorke, Greenwood, Selway, and O’Brien. Final Four takes place at Nigel Godrich’s house and championship takes place in Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

So why am I qualified to do this and why should you keep reading? I honestly don’t have a good answer. This is just a fan wanting to write about their second favorite band (that title would belong to The National). I’ve done my homework on these songs for a while now so hopefully I don’t roll too many eyes. And before we get started, just a disclaimer: I MIGHT BE WRONG. Music all touches us in ways sometimes we can’t understand. Music is so unique in that it can have such a profound impact on someone but have little to no impact on someone else. We don’t choose to be influenced by music. That’s what makes it so great. And that’s one of the reasons why Radiohead is one of my favorite bands…

We’ll start with the omissions (because I have to say something about the songs that didn’t make the tournament):

Semi-sort of difficult to leave out: Most of Pablo Honey, sadly. I think many Radiohead fans can attest to the fact that this was not their best album. But thankfully, Creep took off and projected them into stardom. Because without that we might not have The Bends. And without that we might not have OK Computer (now THAT is the worst timeline).

Difficult to leave out: Most of the B-sides. Radiohead, in my opinion, has done a great job narrowing songs down and putting the right combination (and amount) of songs on their albums. It also speaks to their ability that a song like The Daily Mail or Talk Show Host or The Butcher can have me beating myself up for not including them in the top 64.

KILLS ME to leave out:

Life In A Glass House: The piano chord progression, trumpets, and jazzy feel to this song is unlike anything else seen in a radiohead song (besides maybe Dollars and Cents, which is in the main draw).

Sulk: The song hits you right away, with the line: “you bite through the big wall, the big wall bites back." And it keeps that momentum going with a song that truly showcases Thom Yorke’s vocal quality at an early age.

Myxomatosis: The gritty tone of the guitars just jump out right away, and the strings at the end are a great touch. But the song doesn’t climax to a point I was expecting (maybe I shouldn’t have been expecting it) so for that reason alone it misses the cut

Faust Arp: One of the more underrated songs on In Rainbows, and one of Radiohead’s better “short" songs. It is a great segue to Reckoner, but unfortunately that’s what it seems like more often than not, and does not stand out on it’s own to warrant a spot in the top 64.

A quick count of album representation in the field of 64 (and percentage of the album in parentheses):

Pablo Honey: 2 (17%)

The Bends: 7 (58%)

Ok Computer: 11 (92%)

Kid A: 7 (70%)

Amnesiac: 7 (63%)

Hail To The Thief: 10 (71%)

In Rainbows: 9 (90%)

The King Of Limbs: 5 (63%)

So now…

First Round:

Yorke Region:

Creep (1) vs. Morning Mr. Magpie (16): Creep is a very popular Radiohead song, but even hipsters can’t say they don’t like it. It’s got that feel to it that sucks you in from the beginning. You can’t help but have your mood changed when you listen to it, for the better or the worse. And that Thom Yorke vocal range! Morning Mr. Magpie has a groovy bassline (which TKOL is filled with) but it doesn’t have the quite the power Creep has. Winner: Creep.

Codex (8) vs. Nude (9): Codex is a very pretty song, with the immediate muffled piano chords you hear, and in some ways, shares some similarities to Nude. But Nude has such a more profound message and really takes you on a journey throughout the song. Thom Yorke’s vocals come out clear and resonate with you right from the beginning. Sorry Codex, you just can’t compete with everything Nude has to offer. Winner: Nude

How to Disappear Completely (5) vs. Down is the New Up (12): You get the sense of the mood on How to Disappear Completely right away. The tension filled song has a climax not reached by very many Radiohead songs. Thom Yorke sings this song great also, like in Creep, where he really embodies the spirit of the song and the message it carries. Down is the New Up is a rare B-side which made the cut, but it is a great song in my opinion. That transition at around 1:15 is just great, and showcases the push and pull that the song has (and which is indicated in the title of the song). You can’t beat HTDC this early though. Winner: How To Disappear Completely

True Love Waits (4) vs. Scatterbrain (13): True Love Waits is the one exception to the “no live songs" rule from above, but it had so many youtube views (enough to warrant a 4 seed) so it stays. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great song, and the lyrics are fantastic, but it kind of drags at the middle. Scatterbrain, you could say, also does this at points. But it also features some great drums which complement the guitars very nicely, something lacking in True Love waits. Scatterbrain with the upset. Winner: Scatterbrain

Reckoner (3) vs. Up On The Ladder (14): Another matchup of a heavyweight versus a B-side. It is so satisfying when the bass comes in on Up on the Ladder. It can’t match Thom’s vocals on Reckoner, though. Winner: Reckoner

Idioteque (6) vs. I Might Be Wrong (11): I thought Idioteque would have more views to give it a better seed, but alas, this is where it is. You can’t say enough about the beat in Idioteque, but the lyrics in this song and Thom’s vocals complement the beat unimaginably (don’t know if that’s a word but w/e). It makes for a great driving song, that’s for sure. I might be wrong also has a very groovy beat and bassline, and Yorke’s muffled vocals complement this song very well. But Idioteque is much more unique radiohead than I might be wrong. Winner: Idioteque

Weird Fishes (7) vs. In Limbo (10): Tough matchup. I love both these songs. Weird Fishes embodies the spirit of In Rainbows to the fullest. The last minute of Weird Fishes and In Limbo are both filled with so much sound. They both feature such contrasting styles too, with Wierd Fishes sounding so much more minimalistic compared to In Limbo. I wavered too many times on this one, but in the end, it’s Weird Fishes beautiful guitar that won the matchup. Winner: Weird Fishes

High and Dry (2) vs. Kid A (15): A little bit of a surprise to me that High and Dry has so many views. I think it’s placement in several movies helps. Nonetheless, it still is a great song, and definitely one of my favorites in The Bends. Kid A shows just what a change 5 years can make. This electronic song showcases the band’s ability to change musical direction. And when the strings come in at around 3:00, oh boy. But High and Dry wins for lyrical content. Winner: High and Dry

Greenwood Region:

Lotus Flower (1) vs. The Bends (16): Lotus flower is another somewhat surprise that is this can’t seeded, but the fact that is the most recent big single (and has an awesome video) doesn’t hurt. You can’t help but do the Thom Yorke dance while listening. It’s groovy baby. Something The Bends can’t compete with (even though it does have some classic Britpop influences that you can’t help but love). Winner: Lotus Flower

Lucky (8) vs. Separator (9): Lucky features one of my favorite ends to a chorus on a Radiohead song ("We are standing on the edge…") that provides so much great tension. The only fault on Separator (which is an underrated song in my opinion) is that it takes too long for that great guitar to come in, which really elevates the song. Winner: Lucky

Exit Music (For a Film) (5) vs. Morning Bell (Kid A version) (12): Exit Music truly showcases the band’s impeccable sense of dynamics. You almost lean a little closer and try to really catch on to Thom Yorke’s vocals in the beginning, before getting blown away by the ending. Morning Bell (the Kid A version) features fantastic drums to pretty vocals. You can’t beat Exit Music this early though. Winner: Exit Music

A Wolf At The Door (4) vs. Supercollider (13): Supercollider is a B-side from TKOL that really shows their musical sound for that album. It encompasses all the electronic, rhythmic sounds found in TKOL. But it doesn’t feature enough of Yorke’s vocals to advance. A Wolf at the Door does just that, even having him rap (CAN I HAZ A THOM YORKE RAP ALBUM PLZ?). Winner: A Wolf At The Door

Jigsaw Falling Into Place (3) vs. Go To Sleep (14): Jigsaw shows Thom’s great low vocals, along with his great range, and accompanies some great drumming and guitar. It also is a great story about love and heartbreak (something many people can relate to). Go to Sleep features almost “country-esque" guitar over a catchy drum pattern and great belting vocals by Thom. You can’t beat the story Jigsaw paints though. Winner: Jigsaw Falling Into Place

Thinking About You (6) vs. A Punch Up A Wedding (11): Thinking about you is the other Pablo Honey song on here (by youtube selection), but I do like this song. It’s a good song with a solemn feel to it, but it can’t beat the piano of A punch up at a wedding. Upset. Winner: A Punch Up At A Wedding

Climbing Up The Walls (7) vs. Knives Out (10): Another tough matchup. If you look up “climax" in the dictionary you might see Climbing Up the Walls (no not that climax, you’re looking at urbandictionary). Knives out also has great vocals and some great dual guitar work with strumming and tabbed notes at the same time. While Knives Out might be a more consistent song thoughout, that climax in Climbing Up the Walls elevates it to a greater degree. Winner: Climbing Up The Walls

Karma Police (2) vs. Bloom (15): Karma Police is about where I expected it to be seeded, near the top. This is also a song where even hipsters would have a hard time going against popular opinion on this song. A small thing I love about Karma Police: The kick drum! Sounds so good in this song for some reason. Bloom is another great opener to a Radiohead album, but the creative sounds are not enough to beat this goliath. Winner: Karma Police

O’Brien Region:

No Surprises (1) vs. Electioneering (16): The fact that Electioneering is a 16 seed really tells you how good Radiohead’s discography is. Electioneering has a type of sound not really explored in OK Computer. I could say the same about No Surprises, but then again, I could say that about every song on OK Computer. The guitars and bells on No Surprises are too warm and inviting to lose this early. Winner: No Surprises

You And Whose Army (8) vs. Subterranean Homesick Alien (9): I love both these songs for different reasons. The ending, on You and Whose Army and the beginning, on Subterranean. When those piano chords come in at about 2:00 on You and Whose Army you can’t help but belt those notes with Thom. Those electronic synths and sounds at the beginning of Subterranean Homesick Alien just sucks you in, and it was one of the first Radiohead songs that caught my attention and caused me to listen to them more. For that reason, it advances. Winner: Subterranean Homesick Alien

Everything In Its Right Place (5) vs. Motion Picture Soundtrack (12): The intro of Kid A versus the ending song. Both carry significant weight to the success of the album. EIIRP kind of takes you aback right away, but then you settle in and get lost in the warm synths and Thom’s voice. Motion Picture Soundtrack is just a beautiful song. Harps never sounded so good in a “rock" band. I put that in quotations because I can never really pinpoint these guys to one genre. If you close your eyes to Motion Picture Soundtrack you are bound to have some vivid daydreams. This was a tough matchup and had potential for the upset. But Everything does so much right that it’s hard to lose this early. Sorry Motion Picture Soundtrack, you’ll still get many plays by me. Winner: Everything In Its Right Place

15 Step (4) vs. Planet Telex (13): Another interesting matchup. The intro of In Rainbows versus the intro of The Bends. Radiohead knows how to make their intros, that’s for sure. 15 Step does a great job of isolating the drums first then bringing the guitars in. Adds an extra level of excitement when those guitars do come in. Planet Telex does a great job of introducing you to the feel of the album (which I still can’t really nail down yet, but you know what I mean). That drum beat is tough to beat on 15 Step though. Winner: 15 Step

All I Need (3) vs. Sit Down, Stand Up (14): Both these songs have great climaxes, but Sit Down, Stand Up’s seems to be more messy and disorganized compared to All I Need’s. That fullness of sound in All I Need is “all I need" to push it through to the next round (see what I did there?) Winner: All I Need

There, There (6) vs. Little By Little (11): Many people by now know the famous line “just because you feel it doesn’t mean it’s there." That, along with many other iconic lines in There, There, just makes it a great song. But then add in a great transition and climax? Boy, it’s tough to beat that. Little by Little is one of my favorites from TKOL, but it sometimes suffers from almost too much sound at times. I prefer the live In the Basement recording because you can hear more of the instruments clearly, but their recording process for this album was different so I can’t really fault them too much. There, There is just too good to lose this early. Winner: There, There

Let Down (7) vs. Optimistic (10): How do we live in a world where Let Down is a 7 seed and Optimistic is a 10 seed? Maybe I shouldn’t have gone with popularity for seeding after all… Oh well. This is BY FAR the toughest choice in the first round. I love Let Down. It echoes the feel of No Surprises (somewhat) and features one of my favorite Radiohead choruses ever. Optimistic, however, just carries some unknown significance to me. I think the sound and feel of the song pull me in and it’s so impossible to resist. I can’t skip any part of that song. I have to put it forward. Sorry Let Down, it seriously kills me to have to take you out this early. Just know people I cried for like 8 hours when it lost (who says this isn’t real? IT’S STILL REAL TO ME DAMMIT). Winner: Optimistic

2+2=5 (2) vs. Dollars and Cents (15): 2+2=5 is another great opener to an album, as the harmonizing vocals work great with the pulsating drums. Dollars and Cents sounds straight out of a Bjork album, but oddly enough, it works great for Radiohead, especially on Amnesiac. This also is another instance where Radiohead really strives for an end goal or sound they want for an album, and to me, Dollars and Cents is an integral part of that sound. But 2+2=5 is another song that is too good to lose this early. Winner: 2+2=5

Selway Region:

House of Cards (1) vs. Videotape (16): Another testament to their discography when Videotape is a 16. House of cards has so many good qualities. You also can’t help but think about the music video when listening to this song (it fits so well). Radiohead is also the king of lyrical uncertainty, as there are so many lines in this song which can be interpreted in different ways. This song really showcases their beautiful poetry too. “Infrastructure will collapse, from voltage spikes" is one of my favorite lines. I have no idea why, it just makes me ponder things other bands rarely do. Videotape is another In Rainbows song which fits the feel of the album so well without doing much. House of Cards wins this one though for a more complete résumé. Winner: House Of Cards

Sail To The Moon (8) vs. Airbag (9): I’m sure I can tell if Airbag is being played no more than a millisecond into the song. Those introductory guitars are so iconic now I can’t imagine OK Computer without that song. Sail to the Moon is one of the more pretty songs on Hail To The Thief (an album filled with more harsh tones) and does it fantastically. Airbag is too much of a juggernaut to lose in the first round though (and who would’ve thought it would be an 9 seed?) Winner: Airbag

Just (5) vs. Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box (12): Packt definitely takes the cake for most creative title (and english skills like Thom Yorke’s AMA on Reddit). It is also another iconic intro to me (if you’re scoring at home that makes all of Radiohead’s intro album songs on here, except Pablo Honey, of course). It showcases sound more than Thom’s vocals, which is a nice change of pace. Just is a good song from The Bends, but unfortunately, that’s all it is to me. Another 12-5 upset (just like March Madness! I must be doing something right, right?) Winner: Packt Like Sardines In A Crushd Tin Box

Paranoid Android (4) vs. (Nice Dream) (13): The thought of (Nice Dream) beating Paranoid Android in the first round is more of a (Bad Dream). Thank you, thank you, i’ll be here most of the week. That’s not to take anything away from (Nice Dream), though, it does contain some elements which I love. Thom’s voice is so high it almost floats above the guitars, and it does invoke some imagery if you close your eyes and get lost in the song. Paranoid Android, though, that is just another beast. More on this song later. Winner: Paranoid Android

Street Spirit (Fade Out) (3) vs. Like Spinning Plates (14): Like Spinning Plates is another song from Amnesiac which does a lot without featuring Thom’s vocals front and center. I the live version however, even though that is a much more dumbed down version of it (you can’t beat the prettiness of that piano!) Street Spirit is another song which you can’t help but belt at the top of your lungs while driving (or anywhere). It closes The Bends on a great note, with (relatively) simple guitar progressions and very l vocals. Winner: Street Spirit (Fade Out)

Pyramid Song (6) vs. The Tourist (11): Pyramid Song as you know features that funky time signature, but to me the highlight is just those relatively simple piano chords. It just shows how good a song can be with a simple chord progressions but great songwriting and vocals. The Tourist caps off Ok Computer in a great way, with the feel of the song echoing it’s title. The slow nature of the song almost seems to slow down time and makes you hope your vacation keeps going. Pyramid Song is too powerful to lose this early though. Winner: Pyramid Song

Where I End And You Begin (7) vs. Bodysnatchers (10): I’m surprised Bodysnatchers didn’t have more views on youtube, as it seems to me like one of their more catchy songs. The fact that it doesn’t have a music video might be the reason though. Bodysnatchers has great powerful vocals to top off some excellent guitars, bass, and drums. So basically, it has little to no weaknesses. Where I end starts out great but doesn’t really carry that momentum like Bodysnatchers does. Winner: Bodysnatchers

Fake Plastic Trees (2) vs. I Will (15): I Will is one of my favorite slow, short Radiohead songs. It transitions into A Punch Up great, but at times when listening to this repeatedly, it feels more of a segue, like Faust Arp. Those harmonizing high vocals though! Fake Plastic Trees carries more weight and features a more broad spectrum of sound, so it advances. Winner: Fake Plastic Trees

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