Sinister Cinema: The 10's

I love Halloween. Jack-o-lanterns and falling leaves, candy and costumes. The way orange lights bubble up around the neighborhood, bathing houses in the ethereal glow of Autumn. And, of course, there are the horror movies. If you remember, last year I did a Sinister Cinema series in which I wrote about the 15 best horror flicks from the 60's, 70's, 80's, 90's, and the 00's. But what about the decade we're living in now? Well, with the 2010's drawing to a close, I think it's fitting to give Sinister Cinema one final spin. Truth be told, this might be my favorite decade of horror yet. Read and enjoy!

2010's

* Honorable Mentions: Evil Dead, Green Room, Insidious, A Quiet Place, The Witch

15.) IT: Chapters 1 & 2 (2017, 2019): I know this is basically cheating, but come on - this is one story, adapted from one book, with a shared cast of characters, concepts, and themes. IT is simply one movie - enough said. And you know what? It's a pretty good one. While the first half steals the show in the scare department, the second half is a fun, freaky thrill ride. Are there problems? Sure. But the heartfelt performances, beautiful cinematography, and iconic villain more than make up for them.

14.) I Saw the Devil (2011): Although there were plenty of fantastic foreign-language horror films in the 2010's (Desierto, A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night, Goodnight Mommy, etc.), not one of them matches the grotesque beauty of director Kim Jee-woon's I Saw the Devil. This thing is vicious - a tale of lost love, bloody revenge, and, of course, a little cannibalism thrown in just for kicks. And the gore? Over-the-top and awesome. This movie definitely isn't for everyone, but if you can stomach the blood and guts, I say give it a whirl.

13.) Black Swan (2010): Directed by Darren Aronofsky, this psychological horror film was the surprise hit of 2010. It was even nominated for 5 Academy Awards (including Best Picture) and winning Best Actress for Natalie Portman. Thankfully, unlike some of the other horror flicks to get Academy approval this decade, it actually deserves the accolades (I'm looking at you, Get Out). This movie is as stylish as it is spooky, with some of the most unsettling screen images the genre has ever given us. With powerhouse performances and visual complexity in spades, Black Swan soars.

12.) The Sacrament (2013): Not many filmmakers understand horror the way Ti West does. His films truly are nightmares, and with each one he explores new terrain in the genre. With The Sacrament, he uses the found footage subgenre to deliver what is essentially a fictionalized retelling of the Jonestown Massacre. It is...wow, it's brutal. Every scene is saturated with a deepening sense of foreboding, one that you can't easily shake. But the movie's best attribute is veteran character actor Gene Jones as "Father," the messianic figure running (ruining?) the community. Oh yeah - and the name of this hellish community is Eden Parish. It doesn't get better than that, does it?

11.) The Ritual (2018): I run into this problem a lot, so here it is again: the less I say about this, the better. Just know that The Ritual is a surreal, cutthroat horror flick from Netflix, completely overshadowed by the popularity of Birdbox and Bandersnatch. Trust me - watch this one, too. It's the best rare gem Netflix has to offer, and if you go in with an open mind, you will not be disappointed. In the lead is Rafe Spall, a British actor who I always knew as one of the Andy's from Hot Fuzz. His performance is absolutely incredible, and anchors you to the outlandish horror premise that gets weirder and weirder as the plot progresses.

10.) It Follows (2015): The concept is simple, the characters are relatable, the scenery (present-day Detroit) is shot beautifully, and the horror is vicious. The less I reveal about this one, the better. I suggest you go in with as little prior knowledge as possible. Just know that It can represent many things (mortality, intimacy, HIV/AIDS) and will scare the bejesus out of you. So turn off the lights, wait until the rest of the house is fast asleep, and enjoy. The tagline is, "It doesn't think, It doesn't feel, It doesn't give up." How great is that? 

9.) Don't Breathe (2016): This is what happens when you take a simple, no-frills concept, and ramp it up to eleven. The writing is concise, the acting is brilliant, and the direction - full of lethal energy, driven to a cunning conclusion - is immaculate. This isn't the best horror movie of the decade, but it just might be the most re-watchable, the one you put on during October to get you in the Halloween spirit. The third act, though borderline absurd, is a masterclass in cinematic suspense. Don't Breathe truly is what its title suggests - breathless.

8.) The Cabin in the Woods (2012): In all honesty, this movie should probably be higher on this list. But the fact that it's satire (ingenious satire, granted), means I can't bear putting it in my top five. Because, while The Cabin in the Woods is definitely a horror movie, it's also a tongue-in-cheek send-up of the entire genre. There are more laughs than scares here, and that relegates it to the number eight position. But that doesn't mean it's not a terrific movie, because it absolutely is. If you want something totally unexpected, something that will leave you scratching your head, then check it out.

7.) Bone Tomahawk (2015): If you needed a reminder that Westerns can be awesome, that they can be filled with realism and weight and unadulterated brutality, then Bone Tomahawk should definitely be in your queue. This is 3:10 to Yuma meets The Hills Have Eyes, and if you think that's a wacky juxtaposition in theory, just wait until you see it in practice. Populated by a terrific cast of characters portrayed by some of Hollywood's best (Kurt Russel, Patrick Wilson, Richard Jenkins, etc.), the magnetic charm of this throwback thriller is undeniable.

6.) The Conjuring (2013): Just when you thought the haunted house genre was dead and done, along comes a classic chiller like James Wan's The Conjuring. It's pretty standard fare, but the sense of dread imbued throughout is beyond unsettling, burrowing under your skin like a tick, almost impossible to get out. The picturesque cinematography sets this tone, and expert performances by a veteran cast really tether this thing to reality. It all builds to an exhilarating finale, one that will stay with you long after the credits have stopped rolling. While the endless spin-offs from this movie are pretty meh (Annabelle, The Nun, La Llarona), the direct sequel - The Conjuring 2 - is also exceptional entertainment. Check them both out!

5.) Annihilation (2018): Transcendentally surreal, shockingly emotional, and skillfully filmed - these are the phrases that perfectly encapsulate Annihilation. Alex Garland, known for directing Ex Machina and writing 28 Weeks Later, adapted Jeff VanderMeer's ponderous novel for the big screen exceptionally well. The entire cast is marvelous, perhaps none more so than Natalie Portman, whose character grapples with both herself and the unknown. It's difficult to find the right words to describe this trippy sci-fi experience, but if I had to boil it all down, I'd say watching it felt a lot like watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the very first time. It is strange, upsetting, mandatory viewing. And that bear scene? Impossibly haunting.

4.) Willow Creek (2014): Yeah - this is a horror movie about Bigfoot. So what? You may shake your head and cluck your tongue, but until you actually see this movie, you have no idea. Is it a good film? Absolutely. Is the acting believable? You betcha. Is the plot effective? Uh-huh. Is it scary? Oh, words can't quite do it justice. This is the very epitome of cinematic tension, and you'll be covering your eyes and holding your breath until those final screams and the bitter end. I'll put it to you like this: what Psycho did to showers, Willow Creek does to camping. Yeah.

3.) The Clovehitch Killer (2018): While I love a good horror romp, something with a larger-than-life villain and buckets of blood, I nonetheless have a soft spot for the quiet films, too. The Clovehitch Killer is so quiet and unassuming that you won't even notice as it creeps into your home and places the knife to your neck. This is the kind of movie that pierces the depths of human evil, examining the duality of American life and how violence hides in even the most tranquil places. Bolstered by a razor-sharp script and two career-defining performances (newcomer Charlie Plummer and a surprisingly sinister Dylan McDermott), this flick is overlooked, underrated gold.

2.) Train to Busan (2016): It's simply astonishing how good this movie is - the manic horror, the scrambling action, the heart and humor and, of course, the horror. Director Yeon Sang-ho takes the overwrought zombie subgenre and, with a lightning-quick pace and deeply honest performances, makes it new again. In my opinion, this is the best zombie movie ever made, besting contemporaries like 28 Days Later and even classics like Night of the Living Dead. Seriously. Bounce over to Netflix and give this thing a try. If you're a zombie-fanatic or a fan of Asian horror films, give this a watch. By the end, Train to Busan will have thundered down the tracks, off the screen, and into your heart.

1.) The Babadook (2014): Some horror movies provide momentary jolts, the kind you laugh off nervously and forget as soon as you leave the theater. And then there are the truly scary horror films, the ones that you can't leave behind quite so easily. The Babadook is certainly the latter. It keeps you up at night, makes you question that mysterious creaking down the hall, your eyes scanning wildly in the dark, building monsters out of shadows. This is director Jennifer Kent's directorial debut, and it is a definitely top-shelf stuff - emotionally effective and fantastically frightening. The Babadook might be a boogie man of unimaginable cruelty, but it's also the grief and turmoil of our protagonists, and the symbolism works surprisingly well. If you have nerves of steel and can stand the scares, then I urge you to dive into this jolting, jarring gem - easily the best horror movie of the 2010's.

The Top 30

Well, now that I'm practically 30 years old, I'll commemorate my 3 decades of existence by presenting my current top 30 favorite books, albums, and movies. Old mainstays are intermingled with new obsessions, and if you know me well enough, you've definitely heard me praise this stuff to death over the years. But why not check them out anyway? This list will give you plenty of insight into who I am as a person (probably more insight than you want, honestly). Enjoy!

Books

30.) A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry
29.) On Writing by Stephen King
28.) Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by JK Rowling
27.) Bone by Jeff Smith
26.) Looking for Alaska by John Green
25.) All the Truth is Out by Matt Bai
24.) The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon
23.) Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
22.) The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
21.) I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings by Maya Angelou
20.) Devil in the White City by Erik Larson
19.) Political Tribes by Amy Chua
18.) Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
17.) The Giver by Lois Lowry
16.) Feed by MT Anderson
15.) Detroit: An American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff
14.) The Prehistory of The Far Side by Gary Larson
13.) The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt
12.) Monster by Walter Dean Myers
11.) Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine
10.) The Dark Tower III: The Waste Lands by Stephen King
9.) Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee
8.) Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
7.) Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
6.) The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
5.) The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood
4.) In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
3.) To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee
2.) The Complete Calvin and Hobbes by Bill Watterson
1.) Lisey's Story by Stephen King

Albums 

30.) Amazing Grace - Aretha Franklin
29.) The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars - David Bowie
28.) Time Out - Dave Brubeck Quartet
27.) Sinatra at the Sands - Frank Sinatra and Count Basie
26.) Lemonade - Beyonce
25.) Affinity - Haken
24.) OK Computer - Radiohead
23.) Time in Place - Artifex Pereo
22.) Infinity - Journey 
21.) Higher Truth - Chris Cornell
20.) Elephant Eyelash - Why
19.) Somewhere in the Between - Streetlight Manifesto
18.) My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy - Kanye West
17.) Sonic Highways - Foo Fighters
16.) Deja vu - Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young
15.) ...In Shallow Seas We Sail - Emery
14.) Rubber Soul - The Beatles
13.) Act IV: Rebirth in Reprise - The Dear Hunter
12.) Evil Empire - Rage Against the Machine
11.) Let It Be - The Beatles
10.) Kind of Blue - Miles Davis
9.) Dave Grusin Presents: GRP All-Star Big Band Live! - GRP All-Star Big Band
8.) Led Zeppelin - Led Zeppelin
7.) The Question - Emery
6.) Act V: Hymns with the Devil in Confessional - The Dear Hunter
5.) The College Dropout - Kanye West
4.) Good Apollo, I'm Burning Star IV, Volume One: From Fear Through the Eyes of Madness - Coheed and Cambria
3.) Bill Evans Trio with Symphony Orchestra - Bill Evans Trio
2.) Abbey Road - The Beatles
1.) Stadium Arcadium - Red Hot Chili Peppers

Movies

30.) Unforgiven 
29.) No Country for Old Men 
28.) Ferris Bueller's Day Off
27.) Willow Creek 
26.) Inglourious Basterds
25.) The Man Who Shot Liberty Valence 
24.) Safety Last! 
23.) This is Spinal Tap 
22.) Psycho (1960)
21.) Avengers: Endgame    
20.) The Shining 
19.) Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back 
18.) The Godfather 
17.) The Big Lebowski 
16.) Jaws
15.) The Monster Squad
14.) The Thing (1982)
13.) The Silence of the Lambs 
12.) Halloween (1978)
11.) Hot Fuzz  
10.) Rear Window   
9.) The Fugitive 
8.) 12 Angry Men 
7.) The Dark Knight 
6.) The World's End 
5.) 2001: A Space Odyssey 
4.) The Departed 
3.) Jurassic Park 
2.) Michael Clayton
1.) Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope 

Another 25 Great Short Stories

As someone who reads and writes way too many short stories, I was somewhat disappointed when I noticed I hadn't done a sequel list to the one I wrote back in 2016, entitled "25 Great Short Stories." And although it's a post that has mostly gone unnoticed, it's one I very much enjoyed putting together. So, without further ado, here's my next installment in this series. Below you'll find 25 fantastic short stories, presented alphabetically. Most of these you can find online for free. I can't recommend each one enough. Enjoy! 

- "After Twenty Years" by O. Henry 
- "All That You Love Will Be Carried Away" by Stephen King 
- "Alma" by Junot Diaz
- "Aloft" by Joe Hill 
- "Answer" by Fredric Brown  
- "Araby" by James Joyce
- "Charles" by Shirley Jackson
- "The Dead Hand Loves You" by Margaret Atwood
- "Girl" by Jamaica Kincaid 
- "A Good Man is Hard to Find" by Flannery O'Connor
- "The Grownup" by Gillian Flynn
- "Hands" by Sherwood Anderson
- "Hills Like White Elephants" by Ernest Hemingway
- "Hook" by Danielle McLaughlin 
- "The Huntress" by Sofia Samatar 
- "Miss Brill" by Katherine Mansfield 
- "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce
- "A River Runs Through It" by Norman Maclean 
- "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner
- "Sticks" by George Saunders 
- "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allen Poe
- "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury
- "The Water That Falls on You from Nowhere" by John Chu
- "Years" by Matthew Roberson
- "Young Goodman Brown" by Nathaniel Hawthorne

...and I can't help but use this platform as a plug every now and then, so: feel free to also read my published short story collection Strawberry Hill. My 15 tales are a far cry from the brilliance of the ones presented above, but I think it's a fun little read. I'd be honored if you checked it out! Thanks!

10 Best Films of 2018

I know I'm late to the game on this one, but 2018 snowballed into an avalanche pretty quickly. Before I'd even realized it, June turned to October turned to December. Now here we are, in the year of our lord 2019, and there are still plenty of movies from last year I didn't get a chance to see. But oh well. I'm not sure many people check in on eyecatchingearcandy these days. Which is fine, I guess. It's become more of a scrapbook than anything else - the books I read, the albums I enjoy, the movies I see. Speaking of which, here are, in my opinion, the 10 best movies of 2018. If you're here reading this, thanks for stopping by. Feel free to poke around the site and check out my other stuff.

Honorable Mentions: Avengers: Infinity War, Black Panther, Deadpool 2, Halloween, Incredibles 2  

10.) Upgrade: Yeah, we've all seen our fair share of action movies. Yeah, we understand the tropes and archetypes and story beats. But no, you haven't seen an action movie like this one. Upgrade has some of the wackiest, most inventive fight choreography I've seen in a mainstream movie. It's also ripe with some of the most brutal screen moments of recent memory.

9.) Game Night: Bolstered by an amazing ensemble cast and a surprisingly sharp script, Game Night is easily the best comedy of 2018. You'll laugh, you'll cringe, and by the end you'll question the whole thing and want to watch it immediately all over again. I'm totally surprised that this movie wasn't a bigger hit with general audiences, but I'm happy I sought it out anyway.

8.) Mission: Impossible - Fallout: I've been a moderate fan of the Mission: Impossible franchise for some time - I think the 3rd and 4th installments are particularly great. But here, when the series should be jumping the shark, it's just as fresh and relevant as ever. With a terrific villain, a twisty plot, and peerless special effects, Fallout might be the best of the bunch. Can't wait to see where Ethan Hunt and the IMF go next.

7.) A Quiet Place: I've always been a fan of movies like this - ones that feel like an old episode of The Twilight Zone but beefed up and fleshed out to the length of a feature film. If you're one of the eight or nine people on the planet who didn't see this movie, do yourself a favor and remedy the situation. A Quiet Place is a gutpunch of pure catharsis, one of the most visceral and emotionally impactful horror films of the last decade.

6.) Widows: Written by Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl) and directed by Steve McQueen (12 Years A Slave), Widows is a barbed crime drama with arguably the best ensemble cast of the year (Viola Davis, Michelle Rodriguez, Elizabeth Debicki, Collin Ferrell, Cynthia Erivo, Brian Tyree Henry, Daniel Kaluuya, Carrie Coon, Jackie Weaver, Robert Duvall, Lukas Haas, Jon Bernthal, Liam Neeson). Somehow, the movie juggles all these incredible performers and manages to deliver a cracking narrative that piles on the intrigue, the mystery, and plenty of thrills.

5.) Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse: This very well could be the best Spider-Man movie yet, and is probably the best superhero flick since The Dark Knight. It's pure pop insanity brought to life with characters, moments, and storylines ripped straight from the pulpy pages of Marvel Comics. The visuals alone are stellar, with the most bombastic color palette I've ever seen on the big screen. Thankfully, the story and characters are just as colorful as the world they inhabit.

4.) The Ritual: I run into this problem a lot, but here it is anyway: the less I say about this, the better. Just know that The Ritual is a surreal, cutthroat horror flick from Netflix, completely overshadowed by the popularity of Birdbox and Bandersnatch. Trust me - watch this one, too. It's the best rare gem Netflix has to offer, and if you go in with an open mind, you will not be disappointed. In the lead is Rafe Spall, a British actor who I always knew as one of the Andy's from Hot Fuzz. His performance is absolutely incredible, and anchors you to the outlandish horror premise that gets weirder and weirder as the plot progresses.

3.) Roma: Alfonso Cuaron is one of the best filmmakers alive today, and while his movies are always somewhat fantastical, in Roma he delves into the beauties and tragedies of the real world. Drawn heavily upon his own childhood, the film swirls around housekeeper Cleo and her life in Mexico in 1970. It's a character study of the highest order, one that takes its protagonist and spins the plot, tone, and sometimes even cinematography out of her life and experiences. This is one of the most gorgeous movies of last year, with black and white photography that is simply exquisite.

2.) Searching: Wow. I just...wow. In an era of overblown filmmaking, it's surprisingly refreshing to watch a movie with such simple efficiency. Searching is the best thriller of 2018, and was damn near my #1 pick for this list. The premise might be cliche (missing daughter), and the storytelling device is a tad gimmicky (the whole thing plays out on computers, with Skype, FaceTime, and even local news channels framing the narrative), but it's all pulled off with such intensity and dedication that you can't help but be sucked in. The mystery is a real corker, and by the end you'll be gasping for air. John Cho absolutely carries the film, and his portrayal of anguished father David Kim is one of the most honest, soulful performances of the year. Check this one out. And soon.

1.) Annihilation: Transcendentally surreal, shockingly emotional, and expertly filmed - these are the phrases that perfectly encapsulate Annihilation, my pick for the best film of 2018. Alex Garland, known for directing Ex Machina and writing 28 Weeks Later, adapts Jeff VanderMeer's ponderous novel for the big screen. The entire cast is exceptional, perhaps none more so than Natalie Portman, whose character grapples with both herself and the unknown. It's difficult to find the right words to describe this trippy sci-fi experience, but if I had to boil it all down, I'd say watching it felt a lot like watching 2001: A Space Odyssey for the very first time. It is strange, sometimes upsetting, yet nonetheless mandatory viewing.

2018: A Year in Books

Here they are, folks - the 25 books I read in 2018. And while there's a myriad of genres, styles, and authors on display, I must admit that I mostly read for fun this time around. As opposed to 2017, I didn't go out of my way to read "challenging" texts, instead using literature to escape reality as opposed to expanding it. Yes, this was the year of literary lethargy, and it was wonderful. 2018 presented its share of frank challenges; I used the following books to ease the tension, to loosen life's perpetually tightening screws. Even the titles I didn't love offered escape - a primeval forest to explore, an ocean to sail, an abyss of stars yearning to be charted. I'm grateful for each and every one.

These books are presented in the order I read them, with a letter grade next to each expressing my overall impressions and enjoyment.

1.) Turtles All the Way Down by John Green ... A-
2.) The Grownup by Gillian Flynn ... C+
3.) Apart in the Dark by Ania Ahlborn ... B- 
4.) From A Buick 8 by Stephen King ... A
5.) Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine ... A+
6.) The Wave by Todd Strasser ... C- 
7.) The Complete Far Side, Volume 1 by Gary Larson ... B
8.) Strange Weather by Joe Hill ... B- 
9.) Roadwork by Richard Bachman ... B 
10.) The Complete Far Side, Volume 2 by Gary Larson ... B+
11.) Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood ... B 
12.) Full Dark, No Stars by Stephen King ... A
13.) Political Tribes by Amy Chua ... A+ 
14.) I'll Be Gone in the Dark by Michelle McNamara ... A- 
15.) The Mist by Stephen King ... B
16.) The Complete Far Side, Volume 3 by Gary Larson ... B+ 
17.) Survive the Night by Danielle Vega ... C
18.) The Coddling of the American Mind by Greg Lukianoff and Jonathan Haidt ... A
19.) Elevation by Stephen King ... B+
20.) Cardboard by Doug TenNapel ... C+ 
21.) Batman: The Court of Owls Saga by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo ... A
22.) Five Ghosts: Volume 1 - The Haunting of Fabian Gray by Frank L. Barbiere and Chris Mooneyham ... A- 
23.) Descender: Volume 1 - Tin Stars by Jeff Lemire and Dustin Nguyen ... B- 
24.) Deadly Class, 1987 - Reagan Youth by Rick Remender and Wes Craig ... B- 
25.) Death or Glory: Volume 1 - She's Got You by Rick Remender and Bengal ... B+

10 Best Albums of 2018

* Honorable Mentions: Chime by Dessa, Church of Scars by Bishop Briggs, Shiny and Oh So Bright, Vol. 1 / LP: No Past. No Future. No Sun by Smashing Pumpkins, Vector by Haken, Ye by Kanye West

10.) Eclipse by Joey Alexander: There isn't a better jazz pianist alive than 15-year-old Joey Alexander. His finesse, his style, and his technical ability all coalesce into a casual brilliance that is unbelievable. Eclipse might be his best album yet, mostly because Alexander himself wrote many of the songs. He wears his influences on his sleeve, particularly Chick Corea and Bill Evans, but by the record's end you really get a feel for the boy behind the keys. I can't wait to see where he goes next. Standout track: "Eclipse" is a versatile jazz epic, exploring contrasting genres and influences.

9.) Black Coffee by Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa: Two of our finest musicians teaming up to craft the gutsiest blues record of the decade, Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa make Black Coffee one hell of a collaboration. Epic in scale yet intimate in impact, the virtuoso performances remind us that the blues are still relevant and righteous. Hart's voice is furious fire; Bonamassa's guitar is cooler than midnight in winter. Together? They are just right. Standout track: "Damn Your Eyes" is what the album's title suggests - familiar, bitter, and a real wake-up call.

8.) Inscape by Alexandra Streliski: Classical piano albums might not have mass appeal, but they often echo in the warmest parts of our souls. Inscape is more an incantation than a record, a collection of melodies and performances that find the forgotten pieces of ourselves, reawakening them to the world. It's a sadly sweet work of art, one that is brave, beautiful, and brilliant. Standout track: there are few songs this year as painfully poetic as "Burnout Fugue."

7.) Sunhead by Plini: Plini is one of the best guitarists working today, and on Sunhead he's equal parts Steve Vai and Stanley Jordan. This album is a curious little thing - finding funk in metal and making fist-pumping anthems out of smooth jazz. It's weird, but a very good kind of weird. These songs scratch an itch I didn't even know I had. I love it. Here's hoping Plini continues to experiment in the future. Standout track: the yin-yang balance between jazz and metal is perfectly achieved on "Flaneur."

6.) Artificial Selection by Dance Gavin Dance: Hearkening back to high school summers of screamo and humble hardcore, Artificial Selection is a bright, bouncy testament to the genre's staying power. The melodies are effervescent, the instrumentation is electric, and Tilian Pearson's vocals are perfect - textured and elastic and emotive. This thing is auditory sunshine, blasting out from your speakers and filling you with light. Standout track: "Midnight Crusade" shows off the album's dynamic heart, with an unshakable hook, glittery guitar work, and my favorite bridge of 2018.

5.) Prequelle by Ghost: How can you not love an album like this? Sure, it's melodramatic hair-metal vibe is cheesy and more than a little dated. But you know what? It's an adrenaline shot of unadulterated, unpretentious rock & roll. Prequelle might not be Ghost's best outing, but it manages to keep you head-banging along with every track. In an age where most rock is either syrupy sweet or rawer than roadkill, this one finds the perfect middle ground. Standout track: "Faith" is, without question, my favorite rock song of the year. Boom.


4.) Schmaltz by Spanish Love Songs: I have to say this pretty much every year, so here it is again: Thanks, Austin. Schmaltz is the epitome of millennial disillusionment - a dejected, angsty ode to life in 2018. The instrumentation and arrangements are raw, delivered with a low-fi punkitude that borders on disheveled. The guitar hooks are fabulous, filling in the melodic gaps left by the gravelly, choked vocals. I'd have loved this album in high school, but I admire it now. It is perhaps the most emotionally honest album of the year, unafraid to stare into the abyss of modern times and rage against the dying of the light. Standout track: I really love them all, but the opening track ("Nuevo") sets the album's bleak tone perfectly. To say it's nihilistic is an understatement, but it's somehow enjoyable nonetheless.

3.) Kids See Ghosts by Kids See Ghosts: I don't care what he says, I don't care what he tweets; Kanye West is a genius. On Kids See Ghosts he teams up with Kid Cudi to continue his musical dynasty. There are echoes of My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, The Life of Pablo, and even The College Dropout - a multifaceted, exploratory sound. This is a short record, consisting of only 7 impeccable songs. In an era of overblown musical odysseys, this is a huge relief. But brevity isn't its only success. The psychedelic, disjointed nature of the album gives it a truly unique spot in the hip-hop world of 2018 - moving beyond the trappings of trap and the holdover excesses of bling. Standout track: "4th Dimension" is wacky, funky, and fully displays the idiosyncratic awesomeness of Kanye West and how Kid Cudi tempers his absurdities.

2.) Vaxis - Act 1: The Unheavenly Creatures by Coheed and Cambria: While it's musically and thematically overblown, Unheavenly Creatures nonetheless stands as a testament to the power of prog-metal. It's an album of exquisite diversity - of soaring guitar solos and fragile vocals, of interstellar synths and tribal percussion. Putting aside the ludicrous plot, built upon decades of space-opera mythology (which is something I've admittedly neglected from the beginning), the sheer musicianship on display is satiating enough. Epic metal visions like this don't get the airplay or the attention they deserve, yet I'm ecstatic to live in a world where it still gets produced. Help me evangelize the word, huh? Standout track: the anthemic yet sophisticated opener "The Dark Sentencer" is the band's best single since 2005.

1.) Dirty Computer by Janelle Monae: I came to this album later than most, but I gotta say, it was waiting for me with open arms. Janelle Monae is a straight-up legend, and on this record she cements her status as the new queen of pop. The blend of genres here, from funk to soul to trap to jazz, is astonishing. Each song reverberates with aesthetic resonance, with a shimmering, lustrous aura. The album plays out like some warm, eclectic daydream, with new voices and ideas expressing themselves at random. This is Stevie Wonder, Prince, Madonna, and Lauryn Hill all folded into one. Like most albums with a political edge, it's occasionally weighed down by trendy platitudes and ideological hubris, but...gosh, the music more than makes up for it. Dirty Computer is a fun, fully realized pop experience - probably the best record from the genre in years. It is, surely, the best record of 2018. Standout track: "Screwed" is an absolute stunner, with cutthroat lyrics and a middle-finger vibe.