THIS is a CLOSE-UP?

A few months back, I got this phrase stuck in my head: stuffed-up noses / Walmart roses In my head, this sounded like the germinal stage of a country song, perhaps something that Kacey Musgraves might have as a b-side to her third single. (Do people even make b-sides anymore? God, I'm a relic.) But as I'm neither a singer nor songwriter, it sat in my email. no divisions and development possible from that digital perch. Yesterday was a snow day at NCMC. ("Snow day" as an adult means "Stay at home and spend just under four hours grading 100+ writing assignments from six online sections," so it's a bit different from when I wuz a kiddo.) As I was grading and listening to '70s and '80s songs through the cable, a well-worn tune popped up that sparked me to shit out a sorta-kinda-actual song from the aforementioned words. And once I pictured singing it in the lugubrious baritone of John Grant, the lyric came pretty easy. You’re the new kid in t...

It's everywhere I need it to be. It's a Bluetooth speaker in the shower, it's the radio and an iPod (remember those?) in the car, it's iTunes and Groove Music in my office, and it's in my media players in the living room and the basement and in my hand (if it's an iPad). If I want to hear something, I can hear it in many different places in many different ways. Does ubiquity breed a weakening of desire? Not in my case. I had some good music experiences this year, from albums to songs to whatever we're calling an EP these days. And yes, I still bought a lot of CD's, because somebody has to. Spin After Spin: My Favorite Records John Grant – Love Is Magic  U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited  Cold Cave – You & Me & Infinity EP  The Soft Moon – Criminal  Tracey Thorn – Record  Jon Hopkins – Singularity  Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer  Mitski – Be The Cowboy  boygenius – boygenius EP  Spin Me 'Round: My Almost-Favorite Re...

Now and again, I ponder as to what this incessant listing is for. Is it a means to place order onto a chaotic world? Do I list to help relieve my sieve-like memory of the pressure of remembering shit? And what does it mean to have a "Best Of 2018!" list when there are a few films from this year that I haven't seen yet, films that will undoubtedly plop onto this list? Do I help reinforce the ideas that people have about me with my choices? So many questions. Here are some answers as to my favorite (and not-so-favorite) movies that I saw this year. I'd Buy That For A Dollar (the faves of the favorites) Mandy  Annihilation  Mission: Impossible – Fallout  Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse  Paddington 2  First Reformed  Upgrade  For those who know me even a little bit, you'll know why at least half these titles are the tip of the top, so I shouldn't have to keep banging on as to why these movies are just as awesome as can be. But while I'm here...