My 2018 in Consumption

21 min readJan 10, 2019

This year, I kept a running list on my phone of everything I “consumed.” It spans books, movies, television, music, places, foods, events, and much more. At first, it was just for fun, inspired by a friend.

But then, I realized it was actually super important. Because of my record-keeping, I could:

Realize how much media I consume, and compare by form, quantity, quality, etc. (and use this realization to consume more or less of certain types. For example, I listen to way more albums than I read books)
Keep track of the important takeaways from consumption. Media consumption in particular for some reason has a negative connotation — maybe because it’s associated with being addicted. But consumption makes a personality. Certain moments in albums, books, movies, etc. hit really hard. By keeping this list, I can easily recall those moments and remember what they taught me or the perspective they brought. It’s like a photo album of consumption, if that makes any sense.

The key question behind all this is:

If you spent time reading/watching/listening to something, and then you later forget you did, did you really fully absorb it?

To anyone reading, I’d recommend starting a list this year. But also, I want to share what I’ve kept track of from 2018.

I’ve sorted the list into chronologically ordered categories. Items that strongly affected me, gave me big moments of realization, or bring up specific memories are bolded, and I wrote a few notes explaining why. Some items I didn’t particularly enjoy, but I wrote a couple things anyway. I’d definitely recommend checking the bolded things out— and if you do or already have, let me know. I’d love to talk about it!

Books/Literature
Movies/TV
Concerts/Events
Video Games
Podcasts
Food
Music

1. Books/Literature

No One Belongs Here More Than You, Miranda July. This is the most bizarrely emotional book I’ve ever read. It’s a set of realistic fiction short stories. The concepts of each story aren’t relatable, and the narrator’s voice seems unreliable, but each one has lines that come out of nowhere and hit you like a sucker punch.
“Paper Menagerie,” (short story), Ken Liu. My friend Mike sent me this story at 3 a.m. once and I finished it in bed, sobbing. It was definitely relatable to my life, but I’m sure that anyone will still get a kick out of it, because it was the first work of fiction to sweep the Hugo, Nebula, and World Fantasy Awards in one year. It’s about a young Chinese-American boy whose mother makes him origami animals for toys instead of the fancy toys that other kids have, and I think it’s a great commentary on what it means to be Asian-American.
When Breath Becomes Air, Paul Kalanithi. This book made me think about life and purpose. It was written by a Stanford neurosurgeon dying of cancer. There are plenty of posthumously published books out there, but Paul Kalanithi was someone about to begin life at the top of one of the most difficult professions, and it’s crazy to have insight on what his life was like, even in the face of death. The way he describes his work as taxing, but motivating, is powerful. It’s a super easy read and only took a few hours, too.
The Remains of the Day, Kazuo Ishiguro
The Shell Collector, Anthony Doerr

2. Movies/TV

Fruitvale Station. This movie wasn’t particularly complex, but the events it’s based on are. Learning about an event that happened when I was a kid is strange to think about, because it makes me wonder, “Why didn’t I hear about this before?” Was it because I was too little, or because the people I grew up around just didn’t care?
Coco. In this movie, there’s a particular shot of the land of the dead, when Miguel is on the bridge of flowers. The animators said that each frame in that shot took 400 hours to render. There’s a lot more to say here about cultural significance as well, which you’ve likely heard already, but the movie also stands out because of how purely beautiful it is.
2017 Oscar-nominated documentary shorts: Traffic Stop, Heaven is a Traffic Jam on the 405, Knife Skills, Heroin(e), Edith + Eddie. I got to see these one night at a local movie theater, and I’m so glad I did. The 2nd one in particular stood out because the artist they featured suffers from very intense clinical depression. It’s frightening to learn about the treatments she’s had to try. At the time, I was struggling mental health-wise and scared that things would only get worse. But it was also assuring to see how she channels her emotions into her art as a form of therapy.
Casablanca. Honestly, I don’t get this movie. Probably because it’s so hard for me to understand the transatlantic accent.
Black Panther
Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King. This is a standup special you can find on Netflix. I found it awesome because sure, it’s funny — but in it, Hasan Minhaj also tells his complete life story and lessons he’s learned over the years. So there are moments of laughter, sadness, pride, and so on.
Call Me By Your Name. I watched this with my mom. The apricot scene was awkward.
Porco Rosso. Severely underrated Studio Ghibli movie.
Isle of Dogs
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. I watched with this with my mother after finding out he’d passed away. I think you could sum up the show by saying he had a gift for exploring. Episodes are based on location, but he doesn’t just go and eat at the fanciest place or even the famous foods. He goes where he wants to go, where he feels drawn to, and finds a way to make it interesting for you, too.
John Mulaney: Comeback Kid
John Mulaney: New in Town
Ali Wong: Hard Knock Wife
Incredibles 2
“Bao”. This was the Pixar short paired with Incredibles 2 in theaters. Every single Asian-American friend of mine has praised it. I started crying and then had to quickly wipe my tears away because Incredibles 2 started not even 10 seconds afterward. It’s a unique exploration of unconditional parental love, but also the strange, awkward gap between an immigrant parent and their child (a gap that widens with adolescence). How do you bridge that gap? How can it be made into a blessing?
Princess Mononoke
Eighth Grade. There’s a scene in which Kayla walks toward a pool wearing a swimsuit. To me, in that moment, Bo Burnham captured the awkwardness of being an eighth grader, when your body is changing and you feel beyond awkward. Using YouTube videos as a device for character development was also interesting. But overall, I just really needed this movie. It made me less ashamed about puberty.
One Punch Man. I guess you could say this is anime for people who don’t like anime. It’s self-aware anime that makes fun of anime. It’s just funny, and I had a fun time watching it. I generally prefer movies over TV, so this one is special.
Crazy Rich Asians. I have a lot to say about this movie that I can’t fit in a small paragraph. I’m glad it happened because it was great representation for Asians in American cinema, and it had some cool commentary on being an immigrant/immigrant’s child. Definitely not a perfect movie by any means — I’m more interested in Asian-Americans navigating their way through everyday American life, not just extravagant trips to Singapore. But what I’m more excited about are the movies that this paves the way for.
Kim’s Convenience seasons 1–2. Again, I don’t watch a lot of TV at all, but my friend Michael made me watch this. Thanks, Michael. This sitcom is about a Korean-Canadian family, but it’s not just about culture — it’s a family story, which is awesome. Representation of minority groups doesn’t have to only be about how they’re a minority. It can be about… living. Existing.
To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before. I appreciate this for similar reasons to Kim’s Convenience. It’s a story about a Canadian girl who just happens to be Korean, too. It’s not necessarily a commentary on what it means to be Korean-Canadian, and that has some beauty in itself.
Fear Pong and Truth or Drink series by Cut (YouTube)
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Howl’s Moving Castle
Flavors of Youth
The House of Small Cubes
Edge of Seventeen. The fact that “coming-of-age” is an entire genre really speaks to the act of aging and growing up (it’s a big thing with a lot of feelings). This movie made me appreciate the genre. Whenever I go home, I’m submerged in this feeling, the essence of “coming-of-age” that is captured by this movie and its immature but hilarious and growing characters. To be…on the cusp! Of becoming. Wow. So fun. Definitely can be cliche, but fun. Reminds me that I’m young, but still older than I used to be.
500 Days of Summer
The Post
Living the Game
Ramen Heads
Scott Pilgrim vs. The World
Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind (35 mm)
A Star is Born
First Man
Akira (35 mm)
Searching. See #20 and #21 for part of why this is good. But also, this movie just goes to show how far technology has come. 120 years ago, the first movie was made. Now, we have a movie where everything in the movie takes place in a computer screeen. A movie made by the thing that edits the movie. A movie in a movie? What?? Anyway. Lots of this movie was made with screen capture, using cursor movement, online images, and video calls to piece a story together. It’s innovative and also nicely paced.
Roma. This is in black and white. That usually puts me to sleep, but this movie was so beautifully shot that the lack of color actually pushed me to focus more on shapes, colors, and the way light reflects on surfaces. Something I also noticed in this was that you rarely get a close shot of anyone’s face (only 3–4 times in the entire thing). But for some reason, this doesn’t make it any less intimate. I love how the story juxtaposes 2 protagonists, both female, but in very different socioeconomic backgrounds. There’s one line that stuck out, simple and painful: “Us women, we are always alone.”
Gook. I love Justin Chon and David So together. This is a very direct story but a perspective that we don’t get a lot. I think we see media depictions of interracial friendships between black and white people, but not necessarily black and Asian. Watching this made me think more deeply about tension between black and Asian communities, which rose especially after the LA riots depicted in this movie (so I’m sure it’s a very intentional background choice for the story).
Shoplifters. Also got to watch this in my local movie theater. Director Kore-Eda Hirakazu wrote, directed, and edited this movie. It takes place in a house meant for one person but inhabited by six. As a viewer, you’re exposed to scenes of everyday interactions between family members that delicately construct their complex relationships — almost like a house of cards. It may seem disorganized or plain, but feels meticulous and full of emotions.

3. Concerts/Events

BROCKHAMPTON concert
Break the Silence: Asian-American mental health conference at UChicago
UChicago’s Smart Museum of Art Tang Chang exhibit
Lawrence concert
Young Chicago Authors open mic and workshop (a.k.a. Wordplay). YCA is something very special. They’ve helped artists like Chance the Rapper, Noname, and Saba grow their skills, and it was great to see so many people gathering to express and improve themselves.
National Poetry Slam, a group round
Luya (Filipinx spoken word open mic night). In Southeast Asia, luya (ginger) is for healing. What else heals? Proudly sharing poetry in front of a supportive crowd that comes from the same place. Never in my life have I seen so many Asian-Americans yelling about poetry. We gathered at Axis Lab, beneath the Chicago Argyle red line stop, and L trains would come every few minutes to rumble the walls, but it only seemed to make us louder. Everyone was cheering and clapping and snapping to the sounds of poetry. This event is monthly, so if you have time, check out their Facebook.
Open Mike Eagle concert
Raveena concert
Pitchfork Festival, Sunday (Ravyn Lenae, Japanese Breakfast, Smino, Ms. Lauryn Hill)
Unknown Mortal Orchestra concert
Snail Mail concert
Princess Nokia / JPEGMAFIA concert
Adler Planetarium Mars viewing. “Mars will be the brightest and closest it’s been to Earth since 2003 . . . the next time Mars will be this close is in 2035.” I waited in a line with Thomas and Heena that snaked around the entire planetarium. The view was honestly just a little red circle, but the idea that we won’t have that view for another 17 years was interesting. Does the fact that this view was limited make it more beautiful? Maybe. I think the better view was when we sat on the concrete and looked west, toward the skyline.
Car Seat Headrest concert. I screamed the lyrics. It was nice. I also saw a friend of mine from sophomore year of high school, and I showed her a Polaroid we took together that year that I still keep in my wallet. It was funny.
Hasan Minhaj live show
The Museum of Contemporary Art’s I Was Raised On the Internet exhibit. I went to this alone on the last day it was open because all of my friends said they thought I’d enjoy it (I did). Sadly, I had to skim through the whole thing in an hour, but it made me think about the Internet as a digital space where social interactions occur, just like gatherings in real life.
Manwolves house concert
Saba’s 2nd annual John Walt Day.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) concert. Even if you don’t listen to classical music, see the CSO if you can. Students get a huge discount, and the concert hall is one of the most beautiful rooms I’ve ever seen.
Omar Apollo concert
Big 10 Championship football game. I didn’t even know the rules of football until I went to the game, but I’m glad I went and hopefully I’ll go to more sports games in the future. The Lucas Oil Stadium is beautiful, too.
Carmel, IN Christkindlmarket
Naperville, IL Christkindlmarket

4. Video Games

Fortnite …
Smash Ultimate
FEZ. My friends Christoph and Will told me to play this (thank you) and I love how simple but huge the world is. The premise is also adorable yet nostalgic. I don’t know why it’s nostalgic to me, because I know what a cube is. Maybe because the world is so peaceful. I like that there aren’t really enemies to fight. It’s just puzzles. Also, nice soundtrack.
Breath of the Wild. A friend gave me his copy of this and it’s changed me! Changed! Me! The music is beautiful, the world is beautiful, the combat is fun (sometimes annoying), the puzzles are neat, what more can I say? You can go off and wander in whatever direction and the game will find some way to reward your curiosity. It is a little lonely, though. Super Mario Odyssey didn’t feel this lonely to me because the world was so colorful and silly, but this game is more serious.

note: I think I’ve finally quit League of Legends for good. I hardly played this year.

5. Podcasts

Note: podcasts are increasingly popular these days. If you don’t consider yourself a ‘podcast person,’ I’d guarantee that there’s something out there you’d be interested in. It’s a medium akin to video or music and there are thousands of different creators out there expressing themselves with podcasts.

Radiolab, WNYC
The Moth. I like listening to this when getting ready for bed. In particular, I love this episode. It’s funny, thoughtful, and incredibly simple. This podcast brings me a lot of joy because it’s just regular people spilling their pivotal moments, and everyone brings a unique voice to the table.
The Daily, The New York Times
Modern Love, The New York Times x NPR
Love Me, CBC
Last Seen, WBUR
99% Invisible. I have a few friends who are die-hard fans of this podcast and they’ve sent me a handful of episodes. This episode provides insight on the 3-pointer in basketball, which is awesome because it’s such an important cornerstone in sports and has an interesting origin.

6. Food

I only wrote down a handful of restaurants, so I won’t bother publishing those. But I do want to give a special shout-out to Jollibee.

Jollibee. I watched Anthony Bourdain’s Parts Unknown episode on L.A. In it, he went to Jollibee. After realizing there was one in Chicago, my heart was set on going. I definitely got the wrong food (should have gotten the spaghetti, not the Aloha Burger like they did in the episode) but the halo-halo still blew my mind. What a beautiful rainbow of ingredients. My friend and I ate it while sitting in the parking lot.

7. Music

Back to Black B-Sides, Amy Winehouse
1992 Deluxe, Princess Nokia
Neo Wax Bloom, Iglooghost
Unknown Pleasures, Joy Division
Summer Camp, theMIND
Arcade, Tomppabeats
Migrants, Joe Kye
Music for Nine Post Cards, Hiroshi Yoshimura. This is super peaceful ambient music (I think? I’m not very well-versed in genre terminology) and if you listen closely, you can hear that Yoshimura is playing the notes out by hand. There are certain imperfections with the way he presses the keys, and it feels really intimate/delicate.
Hall of Mirrors, gny
Metaphorical Music, Nujabes
Amen, Rich Brian
Absolution, Muse
Today and Tomorrow, McCoy Tyner
Colour It In, The Maccabees
HOW TO MEASURE THE DISTANCE BETWEEN LOVERS, Mija
ALL-AMERICAN TRASH, BROCKHAMPTON
Fragments of a Season, Alexis Georgopoulous. I wouldn’t say this is my favorite album, but I found it because my Uber driver was listening to it. It’s a bit slow, but perfect for a rainy day.
Twin Fantasy (both original and remake), Car Seat Headrest. Will Toledo gets a lot of flack because of his (rumored strange) personal life, but he’s got a great voice and a knack for communicating complex emotions and stories through song. The sound of this album and a lot of his other music is loud and sometimes dissonant, but it got me through a lot of highs and lows this year. Especially “Bodys” and “Famous Prophets.” Just makes me feel like my problems are small and I’m happy, or like I can just wallow and surround myself with it.
Discography Too, Rook1e. I didn’t like this album so much, but Rook1e is one of my favorite lo-fi hip-hop artists and you should check out his first album. Lo-fi is definitely a cliche genre and I won’t claim that his music is unique — he just executes the cliche very, very cleanly.
Teens of Style, Car Seat Headrest
Sprained Ankle, Julien Baker
Turn Out the Lights, Julien Baker
Take Care, Drake
Levels, Louie Zong
Water, Louie Zong
Sun, Louie Zong
Midnight Snack, HOMESHAKE
Harmless Melodies, Yellow Days
Is Everything Okay in Your World?, Yellow Days
Streetlight Lullabies, Toh Kay
Shanti, Raveena. She’s got the voice of an angel.
The Wall, Pink Floyd
Twenty-One Pilots, self-titled
The Miseducation of Ms. Lauryn Hill, Ms. Lauryn Hill. This album is historic. I don’t know how I didn’t hear it until this year. I guess I just never grew up with it, but it popped into my life when reading the Pitchfork festival lineup and has stuck with me ever since. The use of a classroom as a framework is perfect. It implies that we’re miseducated on love and what it means to be in love. And sometimes, you have to begin again from scratch.
Out to Lunch, Eric Dolphy
Shawcross, Good Morning
Glory, Good Morning
Depression Cherry, Beach House
Crown, Rapsody
Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Die, Those Who Tell the Truth Shall Live Forever, Explosions in the Sky
In Space, Saiko
Manchild, Phum Viphurit
Loving, self-titled
Bloom, Beach House
Light on the Lake, Whitney. This past year was full of new friendships. One of them had really different music taste from mine, but we still enthusiastically swapped (and still do swap) music recommendations. This was one of the albums on his list for me. A few months later, it just so happened that Whitney came to Northwestern to perform. The music is happy, uses trumpets, and Julien Erlich has a delicate but joyful voice. All pretty good components for a summer night.
The Rise of Hobo Johnson, Hobo Johnson
童話 (Tóng Huà), Michael Wong
Live from Austin, Johnny Cash
Acoustics EPs, Yvette Young
Summer classic, music for you to go to vacation spots. I was looking for a recording of Debussy’s 2nd arabesque on Spotify and found one on this collection of pieces. The title is very accurate. It’s all piano music, and piano has such clarity and precision that feels delightful for summer.
Crush, Ravyn Lenae
IV, Badbadnotgood
Summertime 06, Vince Staples
Phosphorescent Blues, Punch Brothers
Life After Death, the Notorious B.I.G.
Brick Body Kids Still Daydream, Open Mike Eagle
I don’t like shit, I don’t go outside, Earl Sweatshirt
The Age of Adz, Sufjan Stevens
Doris, Earl Sweatshirt
The Color and the Shape, Foo Fighters
The God Complex, Goldlink
Frontiers, Journey
Geography, Tom Misch
American Beauty/American Psycho, Fall Out Boy. Honestly, I don’t even like this album. But I listened to it because I went on a date and he told me he liked Fall Out Boy. Skeptical, I was studying in the library afterward and thought, “Well, I’ll give it a listen.” My friend caught me in the act. She then went on a 5-minute rant about how Fall Out Boy is ruining both pop AND rock at the same time. She’s a big Led Zeppelin fan. Anyway…clearly, Fall Out Boy is controversial, so give it a listen and see for yourself.
Sex & Food, Unknown Mortal Orchestra
Music for Airports, Brian Eno
Cardinal, Pinegrove
Prima Donna, Vince Staples
Some assorted Wes Montgomery songs
Care, Temporex
Melodrama, Lorde
I met you when I was 18., Lauv
James — EP, Phoebe Ryan
Mtv1987, Kevin Abstract
Homesick, Lawrence
Breakfast, Lawrence
Nonagon Infinity, King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard
Pop Food, Jack Stauber. This man is a visionary. His music is pretty lo-fi, but it’s also quirky, strange, and very catchy, with song titles such as “I Love You Verne Troyer”. He makes little animations as well to go along with some of the music (the one I linked is all about wanting a peppermint). But within the absurdity, there are moments of reality. “Candy Eyes,” the last track, is a love song that begins with him softly whispering: ‘Alright, I’m gonna do this real quiet because I think you’re sleeping,’ before leaning back in his creaky chair and beginning the song.
Little Dark Age, MGMT
Frank Ocean Channel Orange: Solo Rhodes, Solo Sounds
Violent Femmes, self-titled
CARE FOR ME, Saba. I got to see Saba at a Q&A, and it’s interesting because he’s very clearly an upbeat, laid-back person. But this album is him channeling his inner feelings. He takes his personal life and unapolegetically lays it out for you, clear as day, from his senior prom to the death of his best friend.
Passion & Confusion, Timmies
Isolation, Kali Uchis
A Seat at the Table, Solange
Oracular Spectacular, MGMT
Fashion Week, Death Grips
The Powers that B, Death Grips
Prize // Reward, Good Morning
Yankee Foxtrot Hotel, Wilco
ye, Kanye west
Kid A, Radiohead
We Cool?, Jeff Rosenstock
Birdie, Slaughter Beach, Dog
On Avery Island, Neutral Milk Hotel
Lush, Snail Mail. This year I developed a new love for a lot of female indie artists. Listening to Snail Mail in particular makes me feel rebellious in weird but good way, like the feeling of driving around your hometown very late at night after getting Steak ‘n Shake. Because you can.
All the Toppings, Panucci’s Pizza
beerbongs & bentleys, Post Malone. Listen. There is nothing outwardly wrong with Post Malone, but he gets a lot of hate. He’s not my favorite artist, but I genuinely found a lot of this album to be super catchy, albeit a bit too long. “Stay” is a calming guitar ballad and probably my favorite.
Thrill of the Arts, Vulfpeck
Mr. Finish Line, Vulfpeck
KIDS SEE GHOSTS, self titled
DAYTONA, Pusha T. Everything on this album is exactly where it should be. It’s calculated, precise.
Heaven and Earth, Kamasi Washington
OK Computer, Radiohead
Post Blue, Crayon
KTSE, Teyana Taylor. I’m really sad that this album is slightly unfinished, but Teyana Taylor has a beautiful voice. Although Kanye’s voice is usually paired with rapping, the two artists match up very well.
Be, Common
Since I Left You, The Avalanches
EVERYTHING IS LOVE, The Carters
Worlds, Porter Robinson
Live at the Gold Star, Stephanie Browning. Part of my job last summer was finding unique points of interests in Streeterville and making 2–3 minute audio stories on them. I found the venue of this album, the Gold Star Sardine Bar, by walking into an office building and seeing a poster. Turns out, they used to be the destination to go if you wanted to fall in love. It was a tiny, 50-person space. And they supposedly served White Castle burgers. The album isn’t particularly incredible, but if you hear it, maybe think about the possibility of being in a space as supposedly magical as that.
England Keep My Bones, Frank Turner
TESTING, A$AP ROCKY
Ladies & Gentlemen We Are Floating In Space, Spiritualized
The Glow Pt. 2, The Microphones
Fugue State, Vulfpeck
It Felt Like a Week, Jay Squared & Rook1e
Paradise, Knox Fortune
Raw Silk Uncut Wood, Laurel Halo
Head in the Clouds, 88rising
SALES — EP, SALES
Music from the Penguin Cafe, Penguin Cafe Orchestra. If anything, just listen to the song “The Sound of Someone You Love Who’s Going Away And It Doesn’t Matter”.
Shininryu, Primary
Miley Cyrus And Her Dead Petz, Miley Cyrus
Zephyr, NIKI. My friends constantly rag on me for always listening to sad music. Truthfully, it was because I had a super emotional year up until mid-summer. It was around this time that pop music started resonating with me and lifting me up. NIKI has a gentle, yet powerful voice. The production is simple, but provides a solid platform for her to show off her vocals. She’s also a bit naive with lyricism, saying things like, “I hope it’s you they put me in the ground by” despite being only 19 — but there are no regrets in her voice. I dig that. Embrace the naïveté and live, right?
Quit the Curse, Anna Burch
ASTROWORLD, Travis Scott
Swimming, Mac Miller. In the wake of Mac’s death, fans posted pictures of concert tickets from a tour that would never happen. Swimming was reflective on fame without being self-indulgent. It was confident in how far he’d come, yet also scared for whatever was coming next. Posthumously, it felt like a goodbye.
Random Access Memories, Daft Punk
Wack World, Tierra Whack
Dirty Computer, Janelle Monae
The ArchAndroid, Janelle Monae
A Collection of Fleeting Moments and Daydreams, Orion Sun
Honeybloom, Choker
Wide Awake!, Parquet Courts
Within and Without, Washed Out
Steel Mogu, Iglooghost
Negro Swan, Blood Orange
W H O K I L L, Tune-Yards
Hurry Up, We’re Dreaming, M83
Belladonna of Sadness, Alexandra Savior
Hello, Summer, Pat Van Dyke
The Gentleman Approach, Jeff Bernat
Nice Colors, khai dreams
130 Mood: TRBL, DEAN
Love Me / Love Me Not, HONNE
Drunk, Thundercat
An Open Letter, Nicotine’s Famous Honey
French Kiwi Juice, FKJ
Room 25, Noname
Be The Cowboy, Mitski
Kakashi, Yasuaki Shimizu
Sweetener, Ariana Grande. Pharrell’s production ensures that when listening to this, you are engulfed by sound. The two work well together to create a packed experience. At the same time, this album does just as much to find moments of reflection and peace. It shows a lot of introspection into Ariana’s life — for example, the moments of silence on the last track bring the total song length to 5:22, a tribute to the 500 injured and 22 killed during the Manchester shooting at her concert. For a mainstream pop artist to put this kind of detail into her work is great.
Crumbling, Mid-Air Thief. I was recommended this album by a few friends and heard it on a couple different occasions before it clicked. But when it clicked, it clicked. There’s a lot of fast guitar picking and overlapping synths that feel like the rapid moving of the ocean. It leads you in all sorts of directions and has constant twists and turns. Songs keep developing and changing in ways that you don’t expect but welcome all the same. I don’t know a lick of Korean, and a few runs of the lyrics through Google Translate didn’t do much. My Korean friend did say, though, that the title translates more like “breaking apart” than “crumbling,” which somehow feels more apt. The music feels like the universe ending, which I don’t think it would do by crumbling. Crumbling implies a lack of energy, a giving up. Breaking apart feels like things being forced in different directions, a more jagged edge which speaks to the way that this album feels, as if you’re moving through life. And you can’t hold onto everyone or everything. Sometimes, things just break apart, and you just keep moving.
Frank, Amy Winehouse
Vollmilch, Vulfpeck
Bambi, Hippo Campus
Avantdale Bowling Club, self-titled
Tha Carter V, Lil Wayne
Skylight, Pinegrove
JEFFERY, Young Thug
On the Rvn, Young Thug
Luv is Rage 2, Lil Uzi Vert
Soy Pablo, Boy Pablo
Lady Lady, Masego
Home, Like NoPlace Is There, the Hotelier
Pet Sounds, The Beach Boys
Being so Normal, Peach Pit
Ballads 1, Joji. Let me be sad. Let me be melodramatic. Let me listen to Joji. Kidding. Sort of. Joji has such a ‘sadboy’ culture attached to him. His lyrics have never struck me as particularly poetic, but I do think he made huge improvement from In Tongues, bringing more interesting melodies and production into the mix. On the last track, he returns to roots with ukulele strumming similar to his first YouTube songs. The whole thing feels simple but also has a ton of replayability in all sorts of situations. Perfect for late-night drives, talks, walks.
Shawn Mendes, self-titled
Bloom, Troye Sivan
How Many Times Have You Driven By, Hana Vu. I can’t believe this girl is only 17 and makes music that sounds so mature and developed. It makes me feel like I can change my life tomorrow, too, if I buckle down.
Pom Pom, Ariel Pink
Superorganism, self-titled
FM!, Vince Staples
Make My Bed, King Princess
Undun, The Roots
Portrait of a Man, Mick Jenkins
Forever & Ever, SALES
I Had a Dream That You Were Mine, Rostam + Hamilton Leithauser
The 1975, self-titled
Futuresex/LoveSounds, Justin Timberlake
Some Rap Songs, Earl Sweatshirt
A Brief Inquiry Into Online Relationships, The 1975
Yep Definitely, Wednesday
DiCaprio 2, JID
IDK & FRIENDS :), IDK
I Don’t Want: the Gold Fire Sessions, Santigold. I made a new friend this past fall and we got together at the year’s end to discuss our favorite albums. We shared unordered lists of 10, listened to each album individually, and then, when we met up, shared our rankings. This was his #1. It’s something I never would have found without him. Kinda like how our friendship wouldn’t have come about without us having three classes together. :)
For Emma, Forever Ago, Bon Iver
Something to Feel, Mac Ayres
Last Day of Summer, Summer Walker
Best Buds, Mom Jeans. My friend Jack showed this to me. We were great friends four years ago and kept up sporadically over text, but mid-December was our first time catching up in person in maybe three years. We listened to this when talking about how those three years have been, because somehow in those three years, our lives and perspectives have changed a lot (yet also stayed a bit the same). The album is some nice emo pop rock (?) with fun, but apt track names. “Death Cup” is my favorite. It compares the act of losing a (drinking) game to the feeling of losing a relationship. So. Here’s to friendships that last for however long they can.
Cranberry, Hovvdy