Christopher X. Shade Essays, Features

(1.) A Life with Lists: (1.a.) Dispatch from Mississippi

Photo: © Stefan Hengst. All rights reserved.

Before I could write or even speak in complete sentences, I made lists. My mother tells me, as a toddler, I would find her, drag her by the hand to my room, insist she sit, and then proceed to name all of my Thomas Tank toys (officially known as Thomas & Friends) for her in whatever particular, nonsensical order I had aligned them in that day. She tells me no train track, no matter how elaborate, would get me to play with trains the “normal” way. I could not have cared less about watching a train magically spin around on a track for hours. I just wanted to order them in strange ways, by color, by size, after which I would present them to whoever was home—always Mom. In preparation for this essay, I scourged through a large container oddly labeled TOYS…JORDAN and found figures of Thomas, Gordon, Edward, Henry, Duck, Toby, Percy, James, Mavis, Bertie, Trevor, Terence, and the Fat Controller.

I have an ongoing list in my phone of all the movies I need to see. This list is by far my most active, as I am constantly adding and removing titles. Just this weekend, I added Blindspotting and Mission: Impossible – Fallout, removed Sweet Country and Sorry to Bother You. To be added to the list, a movie must earn a score of at least seventy, a number which I arrive at by averaging the ratings of four specific publications: The A.V. Club, Los Angeles Times, Entertainment Weekly, and Rolling Stone. Two highbrow, two lowbrow. For example:

Blindspotting

Rolling Stone’s Peter Travers: 70
The A.V. Club’s Jesse Hassenger: 83
Entertainment Weekly’s Chris Nashawaty: 75
Los Angeles Times’ Justin Chang: 70
298 / 4 = 74.5

And so, the movie goes on the list.

My paternal grandmother, who goes by Mammie, once gathered her five grandchildren and ranked us in terms of who she liked best, right there to our faces. She was likely high. She’ll take six to eight Lortabs a day and about as much Oxy, as well as an assortment of other pills she’s long since forgot the names of. She keeps them in a green, top hat-shaped pillbox buried deep within her purse; she also hides prescription bottles around the house, just in case someone decides to take her little green hat away again.

On the day of our ranking, us grandkids were all there at her house for whatever reason, lounging about in whatever ways, when Mammie cleared her throat and dove right in. My sister Jessica and Micah, my cousin, were last, as if they needed to be told. They rarely visit her, but neither would I if she talked to me like she talks to them. Mason, the youngest, is an all-around inoffensive teenager and therefore lands in the genial middle ground. My cousin Marley—they’re all M’s, were all J’s; it’s a thing—spends the most time with Mammie. She stays the night with her, something the rest of us avoid. She’ll cook with Mammie, sweep her floor, watch Law & Order re-runs, gossip.

Then Mammie turned to me and named me favorite; which, again, was a surprise to no one. She loves me the most because I have my father’s face. My father, her only boy, who visits Mississippi once a year, is what Mammie loves most in this world; and I’m the closest thing to him she has most of the time. My cousins all have blonde hair and my sister has my mother’s light brown, but I have the thick, black hair of my father. When my hair grows long, as it does now, she pleads with me like a child to cut it. My shaggy hair blurs the face she most wants to see, which isn’t mine.

Back in 2011, I was browsing Rolling Stone’s website when I came across a raving, four-out-of-four-star movie review, written by the publication’s house critic Peter Travers, for Nicolas Winding Refn’s Drive. I didn’t care so much about movies prior to this point. I was really into Indiana Jones, Talladega Nights, Napoleon Dynamite, stuff like that—I can’t lie to you, I still own and love those movies. But at this time, I had never read anyone write so passionately about something as trivial, or so I thought, as a movie. Travers passionately wanted me to see this film, and his enthusiasm was infectious. I wanted to feel like this about something.

When I explain to folks how I fell in love with movies, I often cite Drive. Part of that explanation is true: it’s the first film I ever loved and appreciated as a work of art. I rented Bronson and Valhalla Rising, the director’s previous two films, the night after seeing Drive and watched them back-to-back. I had never seen movies like this before, ultra-violent and beautiful, haunted by something I couldn’t understand. Only God Forgives and The Neon Demon, Refn’s most recent work, have been disappointments, showing up on none of my lists.

If I’m being completely honest, though, it wasn’t Drive that made me fall in love with movies, despite the fact I still believe it to be one of the best of the decade. Peter Travers made me fall in love with movies; I crave them because he craved them. I’ve read contemporary critics give credit to Roger Ebert for bringing life to the art of film and the discourse that surrounds it. I felt this exact same electric charge when I first discovered Peter Travers. I have since found other critics that align more frequently with my own opinions, and I have long begun to notice the way Travers recycles a handful of phrases—“[actor] plays it with coiled intensity and raw emotional power” and “they make you laugh till it hurts” are two of his favorites. No matter. I will still read every word he writes as long as RS will publish them.

About seven or eight Christmases back, my father asked me and Jessica to compile a list of things we wanted. He’d never asked this of us before, as my mother usually paid attention to whatever our interests were and gifted accordingly. I’m guessing he just wanted to play more of a role in gift giving that year; I don’t know. I made the list, but begrudgingly. I’ve always been somewhat aware of how well off my parents were, how I had it better than most. I wasn’t blind to the fact my sister and I pretty much got whatever we wanted all year round, and that Christmas for us was more of tradition or show, as opposed to a truly exciting event.

I told him I didn’t need to make a list, to just not worry about getting me anything big, that the vacation to Chicago we took over the summer was more than enough. He kept on asking me, though, and I wasn’t about to make this is into some sort of conflict, so I made the list. I asked for some music related stuff: a VOX effects pedal, a new Bob Dylan biography, some medium gauge Elixir strings. He thanked me and slipped the folded paper into his welding shirt. For Christmas that year I got a Ruger SR9c, a 9mm handgun.

~

I love year-in-review lists. From mid-November to early-January, the first thing I do when I wake up is browse the internet to see what new lists are out there. I eagerly anticipate Rob Sheffield’s ranking of the year’s best TV and Peter Travers’ top ten list. The A.V. Club makes an event out of it, stretching their year-end accolades out over a whole week. I pour over them, sizing them up, comparing them to my own, rejoicing when a major publication tops their list with an obscure, under-watched favorite like Rectify, rolling my eyes when the final season of Mad Men (which, coming in at #8 on my own list, is incredible, sure) beats out more deserving shows like the second seasons of Fargo and The Leftovers. I have lists that stretch back to 2013 of my favorite and least favorite movies, shows, individual episodes, songs, albums. No list is ever finished; they’re constantly being updated, curated as I watch and re-watch, listen and re-listen. I love all this shit, the process of inspection and blatant subjectivity, sometimes more than the actual art itself. I’ve never said that before.

~

Random list facts:

  • World War Z is #44 on my Top Movies of 2013 list; #19 is Blue Caprice.
  • Dumb & Dumber To is #5 on my Worst Movies of 2014 list. This one especially hurts, as the original is a staple of my childhood.
  • My second favorite album of 2015 is Sufjan Steven’s Carrie & Lowell.
    • My favorite song of that year is “King Kunta” by Kendrick Lamar.
  • Better Call Saul’s second season was my #1 show of 2016; season two of Documentary Now! is #16.
  • My favorite episode of television of 2017 was “Part 8” of Twin Peaks: The Return, the one where a cackling Bob is born a ball of goo from the explosion of the atomic bomb. The one where a winged slug-frog crawls into that poor girl’s mouth. The one with The Nine Inch Nails. Yeah, that one.

~

The #1 book on my hypothetical Favorite Books of 1994-1996 list should come as no surprise. I would lay my head in my mother’s lap as she read from Watty Piper’s The Little Engine That Could, tilting my head up every so often to admire the colorful illustrations. The edition I owned, and still own, depicts a blue Little Engine, like Thomas, on its cover. I would chime in on the “I think I can, I think I can” chant until I began to drift. She’d read on and I’d ask her to trace my face, which she did with the tip of her finger until I fell asleep.

~

I’ve known for years Poppa, the head of the household, keeps a journal. Mammie told me practically as soon as she found out I was interested in writing, as if to show me how similar my grandfather and I really were. I never cared to know what Poppa writes about in his journal; there’s really no telling.

I didn’t find out my father also kept a journal until September 24, 2014. The only reason I can remember this date is because two days later I started my own. For whatever reason, perhaps I had made mention of Poppa’s journal, my mother told me Dad also keeps one. The next day, the 25th, I dug through his bedside table until I found a black notepad, worn down and bent, written upon. Inside were nothing but bullet points, pages and pages of them. Welded cattle shoot, hayed the cows and donkey, talked to Julie, cleaned fence row, talked to tool pusher about rig shutting down, etc., etc. Cold, menial tasks for pages and pages, nothing substantial I could sink my teeth into. Nothing I could use to bring us closer together. No way in.

~

2014

September 26:

  • The Equalizer (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • The Knick (TV)
  • American Horror Story Asylum (TV)
  • ‘This Is All Yours’ – alt-J (Album)
  • ‘A Game of Thrones’ (Book)

September 27:

  • The Boxtrolls (Movie)
  • Now & Then (Movie)
  • Calvary (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • ‘Mind Games’ – John Lennon (Album)

September 28:

  • Hellion (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • American Horror Story Asylum (TV)
  • ‘Hesitant Alien’ – Gerard Way (Album)
  • ‘Tomorrow’s Modern Boxes’ – Thom Yorke (Album)
  • ‘A Game of Thrones’ (Book): 3 chapters

September 29:

  • American Horror Story Asylum (TV): 3 episodes
  • Masters of Sex (TV)
  • Hell on Wheels (TV)
  • Boardwalk Empire (TV)
  • ‘Trouble Will Find Me’ – The National (Album)
  • ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ – U2 (Album)
  • ‘A Game of Thrones’ (Book): 3 chapters

September 30:

  • Hell on Wheel (TV)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • ‘PlectrumElectrum’ – Prince (Album)
  • ‘A Game of Thrones’ (Book): 3 chapters

October 1:

  • Life After Beth (Movie)
  • American Horror Story Asylum (TV)
  • The Knick (TV)
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • American Horror Story Coven (TV)
  • ‘Lily-O’ – Sam Amidon (Album)
  • ‘Art Official Age’ – Prince (Album)
  • ‘Black Moon Spell’ – King Tuff (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 2:

  • American Horror Story Coven (TV)
  • ‘Too Bright’ – Perfume Genius (Album)
  • ‘Art Official Age’ – Prince (Album)
  • ‘Black Moon Spell’ – King Tuff (Album)
  • ‘The Woods’ (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)
  • ‘Strategic Management in Action: 6th Edition’ (Book)

October 3:

  • Gone Girl (Movie)
  • White Bird in a Blizzard (Movie)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • ‘Hell Bent/Glory Bound’ (Album)
  • ‘Everything Will Be Alright in the End’ – Weezer (Album): 2 times
  • ‘You’re Dead!’ – Flying Lotus (Album)
  • ‘Too Bright’ – Perfume Genius (Album)

October 4:

  • The Social Network (Movie)
  • American Horror Story Coven (TV)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 5:

  • Horns (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • ‘Popular Problems’ – Leonard Cohen (Album)

October 6:

  • Boardwalk Empire (TV)
  • ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ – U2 (Album)
  • ‘Songs of Innocence’ – U2 (Album)
  • ‘Let It Be’ – The Beatles (Album)

October 7:

  • American Horror Story Coven (TV)
  • The Knick (TV)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • ‘Let It Be…Naked’ – The Beatles (Album)
  • ‘Born to Run’ – Bruce Springsteen (Album)

October 8:

  • Earth to Echo (Movie)
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • American Horror Story Coven (TV)
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • Bones (TV)
  • ’24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault’ – Stevie Nicks (Album)
  • ‘Playland’ –Johnny Marr (Album)
  • ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory’ – Oasis (Album)
  • ‘Morning Phase’ – Beck (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 9:

  • American Horror Story Coven (TV)
  • Boardwalk Empire (TV)
  • ‘Rips’ – Ex Hex (Album): 2 times
  • ‘Hozier’ – Hozier (Album): 2 times
  • ’24 Karat Gold: Songs From the Vault’ – Stevie Nicks (Album)
  • ‘Strategic Management in Action’ (Book)

October 10:

  • Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (Movie)
  • The Purge: Anarchy (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 2 episodes

October 11:

  • On the Waterfront (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 3 episodes
  • ‘Underneath the Rainbow’ – Black Lips (Album)

October 12:

  • Dracula Untold (Movie)
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

October 13:

  • Manhattan (TV)
  • American Horror Story Coven (TV): 3 episodes
  • ‘Unraveling’ – We Were Promised Jetpacks (Album)
  • ‘Phantom Radio’ – Mark Lanegan Band (Album)
  • ‘The Colour and the Shape’ – Foo Fighters (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 14:

  • Room 237 (Movie)
  • ‘Wasting Light’ – Foo Fighters (Album)
  • ‘Time Out of Mind’ – Bob Dylan (Album)

October 15:

  • The Knick (TV)
  • American Horror Story Coven (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Oh Mercy’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Time Out of Mind’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 16:

  • Parks & Recreation (TV)
  • ‘Love and Theft’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 17:

  • Fury (Movie)
  • Oculus (Movie)
  • Parks & Recreation (TV)
  • Boardwalk Empire (TV)
  • ‘Modern Times’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Hozier’ – Hozier (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 18:

  • Camp X-Ray (Movie)
  • American Horror Story Coven (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Standing in the Breach’ – Jackson Browne (Album)
  • ‘Anomaly’ – Lecrae (Album)

October 19:

  • The Book of Life (Movie)
  • Rudderless (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 2 episodes
  • Parks & Recreation (TV): 2 episodes
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • Manhattan (TV)

October 20:

  • Sonic Highways (TV)
  • The Knick (TV)
  • American Horror Story Freak Show (TV)
  • ‘Standing in the Breach’ – Jackson Browne (Album)
  • ‘The Best Day’ – Thurston Moore (Album)
  • ‘Soused’ – Scott Walker (Album)
  • ‘Way Out Weather’ – Steve Gunn (Album)

October 21:

  • Sex Tape (Movie)
  • Boardwalk Empire – (TV)
  • ‘Strategic Management in Action’ (Book)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 22:

  • Manhattan (TV)
  • Parks & Recreation (TV)
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • ‘Yeezus’ – Kanye West (Album)

October 23:

  • Young Ones (Movie)
  • The Affair (TV)
  • ‘Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt 1’ (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

October 24:

  • John Wick (Movie)
  • Parks & Recreation (TV)
  • American Horror Story Freak Show (TV)
  • ‘Melody Road’ – Neil Diamond (Album)
  • ‘Aretha Franklin Sings the Great Diva Classics’ – Aretha Franklin (Album)
  • ‘Queen of the Clouds’ – Tove Lo (Album)
  • ‘Tough Love’ – Jessie Ware (Album)
  • ‘Let It Be’ – The Beatles (Album)

October 25:

  • Reservoir Dogs (Movie)
  • Listen Up Philip (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘1989’ – Taylor Swift (Album)
  • ‘Hungry Ghosts’ – OK Go (Album)

October 26:

  • Vincent (Movie)
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • ‘Aquarius’ – Tinishe (Album)
  • ‘American Middle Class’ – Angaleena Presley (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

October 27:

  • Boardwalk Empire (TV)
  • ‘1989’ – Taylor Swift (Album)
  • ‘Rich Gang: Tha Tour Pt 1’ (Album)
  • ‘Tough Love’ – Jessie Ware (Album)

October 28:

  • The Affair (TV)
  • Bob Dylan shuffle
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

October 29:

  • The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (Movie)
  • Sonic Highways (TV)
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • Bob Dylan shuffle

October 30:

  • The Exorcist (Movie)
  • Halloween (Movie)
  • American Horror Story Freak Show (TV)
  • ‘Nobody Wants To Be Here and…’ – The Twilight Sad (Album): 2 times
  • ‘Under Pressure’ – Logic (Album): 2 times
  • ‘Pain Killer’ – Little Big Town (Album)
  • ‘Ruins’ – Grouper (Album)
  • ‘RTJ2’ – Run the Jewels (Album)

October 31:

  • Nightcrawler (Movie)
  • Land Ho! (Movie)
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • ‘RTJ2’ – Run the Jewels (Album)
  • Bob Dylan shuffle
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 1:

  • The Terminator: Judgment Day (Movie)
  • Super 8 (Movie): director’s commentary
  • Deadwood (TV)
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 3 episodes
  • ‘The Both’ – The Both (Album)
  • ‘Strut’ – Lenny Kravitz (Album)
  • ‘High Hopes’ – Bruce Springsteen (Album)
  • ‘Ryan Adams’ – Ryan Adams (Album)

November 2:

  • Annie Hall (Movie)
  • Argo (Movie): director’s commentary
  • American Horror Story Freak Show (TV)
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • ‘Ultraviolence’ – Lana Del Ray (Album)
  • ‘Storytone’ – Neil Young (Album)
  • ‘The Basement Tapes Complete…’ – Bob Dylan (Album)

November 3:

  • Brave (Movie): director’s commentary
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • Deadwood (TV)
  • ‘Storytone’ – Neil Young (Album): 2 times
  • ‘The Basement Tapes Complete’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 4:

  • Hercules (Movie)
  • Deliver Us From Evil (Movie)
  • Blended (Movie)
  • Slumdog Millionaire (Movie): director’s commentary
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • ‘RTJ2’ – Run the Jewels (Album)
  • ‘The Basement Tapes Complete’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Xen’ – Arca (Album)

November 5:

  • The Perks of Being a Wallflower (Movie): director’s commentary
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • 30 Rock (TV)
  • The Affair (TV)
  • ‘Yeezus’ – Kanye West (Album)
  • ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’ – Damien Rice (Album)

November 6:

  • Olive Kitteridge (TV)
  • Hell on Wheels (TV)
  • ‘The Basement Tapes Complete’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘My Favourite Faded Fantasy’ – Damien Rice (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 7:

  • Interstellar (Movie)
  • Big Hero 6 (Movie)
  • 30 Rock (TV)
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • ‘1989’ – Taylor Swift (Album)
  • ‘The Woods’ (Album)
  • ‘Hell Bent/Glory Bound’ (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 8:

  • Breaking Bad (TV): 4 episodes
  • Mad Men (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘The Basement Tapes Complete’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased)’ – Bob Dylan (Album)

November 9:

  • Pacific Rim (Movie): director’s commentary
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • 30 Rock (TV): 4 episodes
  • Breaking Bad (TV)
  • Sonic Highways (TV)
  • American Horror Story Freak Show (TV)
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • ‘Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased)’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Lost on the River’ – The New Basement Tapes (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 10:

  • Deadwood (TV)
  • Sonic Highways (TV)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • ‘Lost on the River’ – The New Basement Tapes (Album)
  • ‘Sonic Highways’ – Foo Fighters (Album): 2 times
  • ‘Wig Out at Jagbags’ – Stephen Malkmus & the Jicks (Album)

November 11:

  • Peabody & Sherman (Movie)
  • Monsters Inc. (Movie): director’s commentary
  • The Affair (TV)
  • Olive Kitteridge (TV)
  • ‘Man Against Machine’ – Garth Brooks (Music)
  • ‘Cadillactica’ – Big K.R.I.T. (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 12:

  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • 30 Rock (TV): 2 episodes
  • Justified (TV)
  • ‘Give My Love to London’ – Marianne Faithfull (Album)

November 13:

  • Game of Thrones (TV): 2 episodes
  • Justified (TV)
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • ‘Cadillactica’ – Big K.R.I.T. (Album)
  • ‘Volumes 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased)’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Live 1966: The Royal Albert Hall Concert’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 14:

  • Beyond the Lights (Movie)
  • 30 Rock (TV): 4 episodes
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Live 1966: The Royal Albert Hall Concert’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Live 1975: The Rolling Thunder Revue’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 15:

  • Rosewater (Movie)
  • Whiplash (Movie)
  • Birdman: or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (Movie)
  • Justified (TV)
  • American Horror Story Freak Show (TV)
  • Bob Dylan Shuffle
  • ‘RTJ2’ – Run the Jewels (Album)
  • ‘Lost on the River’ – The New Basement Tapes (Album)

November 16:

  • Breaking Bad (TV): 2 episodes
  • 30 Rock (TV): 2 episodes
  • House of Cards (TV)
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • Deadwood (TV)
  • ‘Seeds’ – TV on the Radio (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 17:

  • Justified (TV): 2 episodes
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • Olive Kitteridge (TV)
  • ‘Seeds’ – TV on the Radio (Album)
  • ‘Live 1964: Concert at Philharmonic Hall’ – Bob Dylan (Album)

November 18:

  • Dumb & Dumber To (Movie)
  • The Historian (Movie)
  • Game of Thrones (TV)
  • How I Met Your Mother (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘No Direction Home: The Soundtrack’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006’ (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 19:

  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • ‘Best of Bowie’ – David Bowie (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 20:

  • Mad Men (TV)
  • Justified (TV): 2 episodes
  • The Affair (TV)
  • ‘Best of Bowie’ – David Bowie (Album)
  • ‘Tell Tale Signs: Rare and Unreleased 1989-2006’ – Bob Dylan (Album)

November 21:

  • The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (Movie)
  • Deadwood (TV)

November 22:

  • Jessabelle (Movie)
  • Life Partners (Movie)
  • 20,000 Days on Earth (Movie)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • Justified (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Best of Bowie’ – David Bowie (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

November 23:

  • House of Cards (TV): 4 episodes
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 24:

  • Winter’s Bone (Movie): Director’s commentary
  • Game of Thrones (TV)
  • Hell on Wheels (TV): 3 episodes
  • Justified (TV): 2 episodes
  • Deadwood (TV)
  • ‘The Art of McCartney’ – Various Artists (Album)

November 25:

  • The Giver (Movie)
  • The Expendables 3 (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 3 episodes
  • Manhattan (TV)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • ‘The Art of McCartney’ – Various Artists (Album)

November 26:

  • Wish I Was Here (Movie)
  • Breaking Bad (TV): 5 episodes
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 episodes

November 27:

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (TV): 3 episodes
  • The Affair (TV)

November 28:

  • The Theory of Everything (Movie)
  • The Princess Bride (Movie)
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (TV): 4 episodes

November 29:

  • The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (TV): 2 episodes
  • House of Cards (TV)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • Justified (TV)
  • ‘Rock or Bust’ – AC/DC (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

November 30:

  • Housebound (Movie)
  • Sonic Highways (TV): 2 episodes
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • The Walking Dead (TV)
  • ‘Rock or Bust’ – AC/DC (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

December 1:

  • The Guest (Movie)
  • Deadwood (TV)
  • House of Cards (TV)
  • ‘Love’ – The Beatles (Album)
  • ‘Salad Days’ – Mac DeMarco (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

December 2:

  • Annie (Movie)
  • Game of Thrones (TV): 2 episodes
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • ‘RTJ2’ – Run the Jewels (Album)

December 3:

  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Songs of Innocence’ – U2 (Album)
  • ‘Beyoncé’ – Beyoncé (Album)
  • ‘Strange Desire’ – Bleachers (Album)

December 4:

  • The Skeleton Twins (Movie)
  • House of Cards (TV)
  • ‘The London Sessions’ – Mary J. Blige (Album)
  • ‘good kid, m.A.A.d city’ – Kendrick Lamar (Album)

December 5:

  • Ella Enchanted (Movie)
  • The Descendants (Movie)
  • Olive Kitteridge (TV)
  • Rectify (TV)

December 6:

  • The Babadook (TV)
  • Game of Thrones (TV): 2 episodes
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • Deadwood (TV)
  • ‘Morning Phase’ – Beck (Album)
  • Ryan Adams shuffle

December 7:

  • House of Cards (TV)
  • Ryan Adams shuffle
  • U2 shuffle
  • ’36 Seasons’ – Ghostface Killah (Album)
  • “The Nutcracker” (play)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

December 8:

  • The Homesman (TV)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • ‘Sukierae’ – Tweedy (Album): 2 times
  • ‘III’ – Take That (Album)
  • ’36 Seasons’ – Ghostface Killah (Album)

December 9:

  • Game of Thrones (TV)
  • The Affair (TV)
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • The Wallflowers shuffle
  • ‘Sucker’ – Charli XCX (Album): 2 times
  • ‘The Dream Walker’ – Angels & Airwaves (Album)
  • ‘2014 Forest Hills Drive’ – J. Cole (Album)

December 10:

  • House (TV)
  • Sons of Anarchy (TV)
  • ‘Pe’ahi’ – The Raveonettes (Album)
  • ‘Everything Will Be Alright in the End’ – Weezer (Album)

December 11:

  • ‘Exodus: Gods and Kings’ (Movie)
  • ‘Tough Love’ – Jessie Ware (Album)

December 12:

  • Top Five (Movie)
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV): 4 episodes
  • House of Cards (TV): 2 episodes
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • ‘Montevallo’ – Sam Hunt (Album)

December 13:

  • Still Alice (Movie)
  • Mad Men (TV)
  • House of Cards (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘The Prinkprint’ – Nicki Minaj (Album)
  • ‘Sucker’ – Charli XCX (Album)
  • ‘1989’ – Taylor Swift (Album)

December 14:

  • Tusk (Movie)
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV): 3 episodes
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 3 episodes
  • House of Cards (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Provoked’ – Sunny Sweeney (Album)

December 15:

  • House of Cards (TV): 2 episodes
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Montevallo’ – Sam Hunt (Album)
  • ‘The Pinkprint’ – Nicki Minaj (Album)

December 16:

  • Game of Thrones (TV)
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV): 5 episodes
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 3 episodes
  • ‘1989’ – Taylor Swift (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

December 17:

  • The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (Movie)
  • The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air (TV): 3 episodes
  • House of Cards (TV): 2 episodes

December 18:

  • House of Cards (TV): 2 episodes
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Black Messiah’ – D’Angelo and the Vanguard (Album)
  • ‘Noise vs Beauty’ – Bassnectar (Album)
  • ‘RTJ2’ – Run the Jewels (Album)
  • Kanye West shuffle

December 19&20:

  • Love is Strange (Movie)
  • House of Cards (TV): 5 episodes
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 4 episodes
  • Transparent (TV): 10 episodes
  • The Affair (TV)
  • Rectify (TV)

December 21:

  • Rectify (TV): 2 episodes

December 22:

  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 2 episodes
  • The Affair (TV)
  • Rectify (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

December 23:

  • Foxcatcher (Movie)
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 2 episodes
  • Rectify (TV)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

December 24:

  • The Trip to Italy (Movie)
  • Christmas With the Kranks (Movie)
  • Rectify (TV)
  • Orange is the New Black (TV)

December 25:

  • Jodorowsky’s Dune (Movie)
  • Orange is the New Black (TV)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

December 26:

  • Into the Woods (Movie)
  • Rectify (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

December 27:

  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 5 chapters

December 28:

  • Jimi: All is By My Side (Movie)
  • Shooter (Movie)
  • Rectify (TV): 2 episodes
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Hozier’ – Hozier (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

December 29:

  • Rectify (TV): 2 episodes
  • Orange is the New Black (TV): 2 episodes
  • ‘Wildewoman’ – Lucius (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

December 30:

  • Veep (TV): 8 episodes
  • Broad Church (TV): 10 episodes
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 3 chapters

December 31:

  • Pride (Movie)
  • The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Them (Movie)
  • The Interview (Movie)
  • Veep (TV): 7 episodes
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book): 2 chapters

2015 – 2017

…

2018

January 1:

  • The Florida Project (Movie)
  • The Disaster Artist (Movie)
  • Black Mirror (TV): 3
  • Dave Chappelle: Equanimity (TV)

January 2:

  • Film Stars Don’t Die in Liverpool (Movie)
  • Downsizing (Movie)
  • Black Mirror (TV): 2
  • ‘Nothing Was the Same’ – Drake (Album)
  • ‘A Blessing and a Curse’ – Drive-by Truckers (Album)
  • ‘Chief’ – Eric Church (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)

January 3:

  • Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (Movie)
  • ‘Perpetual Motion People’ – Ezra Furman (Album)
  • ‘Echoes, Silence, Patience & Grace’ – Foo Fighters (Album)
  • ‘Endless’ – Frank Ocean (Album)
  • ‘Dark Horse’ – George Harrison (Album)
  • ‘Demon Days’ – Gorillaz (Album)
  • ‘Grateful Dead from the Mars Hotel’ – Grateful Dead (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)

January 4:

  • Darkest Hour (Movie)
  • Speechless (TV)
  • ‘Art Angels’ – Grimes (Album)
  • ’40 Greatest Hits’ – Hank Williams (Album)
  • ‘The Highway’ – Holly Williams (Album)
  • ‘Hozier’ – Hozier (Album)
  • ‘Kiss Each Other Clean’ – Iron & Wine (Album)
  • ‘Brushfire Fairytales’ – Jack Johnson (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 5:

  • Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (Movie)
  • Lucky (Movie)
  • The Good Place (TV)
  • Speechless (TV)
  • ‘James Blake’ – James Blake (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)

January 6:

  • Paddington (Movie)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 2
  • ‘Complicated Game’ – James McMurtry (Album)
  • ‘The Guitar Song’ – Jamey Johnson (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 7:

  • Before I Wake (Movie)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 2
  • The End of the Fucking World (TV): 4
  • The Golden Globes (TV)
  • ‘Celebration Rock’ – Japandroids (Album)
  • ‘The Black Album’ – Jay-Z (Album)
  • ‘Are You Experienced’ – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 8:

  • The Greatest Showman (Movie)
  • The End of the Fucking World (TV): 2
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • The Leftovers (TV)
  • ‘Heavier Things’ – John Mayer (Album)
  • ‘King Tuff’ – King Tuff (Album)
  • ‘Because of the Times’ – Kings of Leon (Album)
  • ‘Smoke Ring For My Halo’ – Kurt Vile (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)

January 9:

  • The Last Man on Earth (TV)
  • The End of the Fucking World (TV): 2
  • The Leftovers (TV)
  • ‘POST-‘ – Jeff Rosenstock (Album)
  • ‘Just For Us’ – Frances and the Lights (Album)
  • ‘Honeymoon’ – Lana Del Rey (Album)
  • ‘LCD Soundsystem’ – LCD Soundsystem (Album)
  • ‘In Through the Out Door’ – Led Zeppelin (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)

January 10:

  • Wonderstruck (Movie)
  • The Leftovers (TV)
  • This is Us (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • The Chi (TV)
  • ‘The Future’ – Leonard Cohen (Album)
  • ‘Turtleneck & Chain’ – Lonely Island (Album)
  • ‘The Bird & the Rifle’ – Lori McKenna (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 11:

  • A Ghost Story (Movie)
  • ‘POST-‘ – Jeff Rosenstock (Album)
  • ‘Privateering’ – Mark Knopfler (Album)
  • ‘At Dawn’ – My Morning Jacket (Album)
  • ‘Straight Outta Compton’ – N.W.A. (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 12:

  • The Shape of Water (Movie)
  • Molly’s Game (Movie)
  • The Good Place (TV)
  • My Next Guest Needs No Introduction With David Letterman (TV)
  • ‘Camila’ – Camila Cabello (Album)
  • ‘Songs of Praise’ – Shame (Album)
  • ‘Cherry Tree’ – The National (Album)
  • ‘Chrome Dreams’ – Neil Young (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)

January 13:

  • The Post (Movie)
  • Speechless (TV)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 2
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • ‘Ragged Glory’ – Neil Young & Crazy Horse (Album)
  • ‘Lost on the River’ – The New Basement Tapes (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)

January 14:

  • The Commuter (Movie)
  • The Spirit of the Beehive (Movie)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 3
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • ‘In Utero’ – Nirvana (Album)
  • ‘Ready to Die’ – The Notorious B.I.G. (Album)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 15:

  • The Last Man on Earth (TV)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 2
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • The Chi (TV)
  • ‘Definitely Maybe’ – Oasis (Album)
  • ‘Garden of Delete’ – Oneohtrix Point Never (Album)
  • ‘Stankonia’ – Outcast (Album)
  • ‘Driving Rain’ – Paul McCartney (Album)
  • ‘Back to the Egg’ – Paul McCartney & Wings (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • Mississippi Review (Book)
  • Everything That Rises Must Converge (Book)

January 16:

  • Voldemort: Origins of the Heir (Movie)
  • The Big Sick (Movie)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • ‘Wave of Mutilation: Best of Pixies’ – Pixies (Album)
  • ‘Dirty Mind’ – Prince (Album)
  • ‘The Black Market’ – Rise Against (Album)
  • ‘Beggars Banquet’ – The Rolling Stones (Album)
  • A Day, A Night, Another Day, Summer (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)

January 17:

  • Paddington 2 (Movie)
  • A Scanner Darkly (Movie)
  • This is Us (TV)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 4
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • ‘American Epic: Country’ (Album)
  • ‘Standing Still’ – Ruby Amanfu (Album)

January 18:

  • Ellen (TV)
  • The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (TV)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 2
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • Black Lightning (TV)
  • ‘Ashes & Fire’ – Ryan Adams (Album)
  • ‘Friendly Fire’ – Sean Lennon (Album)
  • ‘Revival’ – Selena Gomez (Album)
  • ‘Songs of Praise’ – Shame (Album)
  • ‘One Beat’ – Sleater Kinney (Album)

January 19:

  • Mom and Dad (Movie)
  • The Good Place (TV)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • The Leftovers (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • ‘Meat is Murder’ – The Smiths (Album)
  • ‘Ruins’ – First Aid Kit (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)

January 20:

  • Hard Eight (Movie)
  • Ellen (TV)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 2
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • ‘Ga Ga Ga Ga Ga’ – Spoon (Album)
  • ‘I can feel you creep into my private life’ – tUnE-yArDs (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 21:

  • Ocean’s Eleven (Movie)
  • Saturday Night Live (TV)
  • The Leftovers (TV)
  • The SAG Awards (TV)
  • ‘Fulfillingness’ First Finale’ – Stevie Wonder (Album)
  • ‘Metamodern Sounds in Country Music’ – Sturgill Simpson (Album)

January 22:

  • Den of Thieves (Movie)
  • The Leftovers (TV): 2
  • ‘Dark Bird is Home’ – The Tallest Man on Earth (Album)
  • ‘The Official Body’ – Shopping (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)

January 23:

  • Ellen (TV)
  • This is Us (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • ‘Speak Now’ – Taylor Swift (Album)
  • ‘Local Business’ – Titus Andronicus (Album)
  • ‘How to Solve Our Human Problems, Pt. 2 – EP’ – Belle and Sebastian (Album)
  • ‘Really Nice Guys’ – Ron Gallo (Album)
  • ‘Earthtones’ – Bahamas (Album)
  • ‘This is Glue’ – Salad Boys (Album)
  • ‘Wildflowers’ – Tom Petty (Album)
  • As Close to Us as Breathing (Book)
  • Sir Thomas More (Play)

January 24:

  • Baskets (TV)
  • Mosaic (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • ‘Damn the Torpedoes’ – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Album)
  • ‘The Best of Morrissey’ – Morrissey (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • Sir Thomas More (Play)

January 25:

  • The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (TV)
  • The Good Place (TV)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • Black Lightning (TV)
  • ‘Bad as Me’ – Tom Waits (Album)
  • ‘Earthtones’ – Bahamas (Album)
  • ‘Achtung Baby’ – U2 (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • Sir Thomas More (Play)

January 26:

  • Phantom Thread (Movie)
  • Only the Brave (Movie)
  • Mosaic (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • One Day at a Time (TV): 2
  • ‘Culture II’ – Migos (Album)
  • Sir Thomas More (Play)

January 27:

  • The Lost City of Z (Movie)
  • Bladerunner 2049 (Movie)
  • The Chi (TV)
  • One Day at a Time (TV)
  • ‘Con Todo El Mundo’ – Khruangbin (Album)
  • ‘All Melody’ – Nils Frahm (Album)
  • ‘Knowing What You Know Now’ – Marmozets (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)

January 28:

  • Dunkirk (Movie)
  • One Day at a Time (TV)
  • The Grammy’s (TV)
  • Mosaic (TV)
  • ‘Freedom’s Goblin’ – Ty Segall (Album)
  • ‘The Thread that Keeps Us’ – Calexico (Album)

January 29:

  • One Day at a Time (TV): 6
  • Mosaic (TV)
  • Ellen (TV)
  • ‘Dream Wife’ – Dream Wife (Album)
  • ‘Could it Be Different?’ – The Spook School (Album)
  • ‘Snares Like a Haircut’ – No Age (Album)
  • ‘Follow Them True’ – Stick in the Wheel (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)

January 30:

  • One Day at a Time (TV): 2
  • The Chi (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • ‘Rifles and Rosary Beads’ – Mary Gauthier (Album)
  • ‘Culture II’ – Migos (Album)
  • ‘The Wallflowers’ – The Wallflowers (Album)
  • ‘Lost in the Dream’ – The War on Drugs (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)

January 31:

  • ‘Pneumonia’ – Whiskeytown (Album)
  • ‘De Stijl’ – The White Stripes (Album)
  • ‘A.M.’ – Wilco (Album)
  • ‘The Who by Numbers’ – The Who (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Play)

February 1:

  • Small Town Crime (Movie)
  • The Good Place (TV)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • ‘Man of the Woods’ – Justin Timberlake (Album)
  • ‘Blood’ – Rhye (Album)
  • ‘Earthtones’ – Bahamas (Album)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • The Life and Death of Jack Straw (Book)

February 2:

  • The Square (Movie)
  • The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • Ellen (TV)
  • ‘Microshift’ – Hookworms (Album)
  • ‘Full Circle Nightmare’ – Kyle Craft (Album)
  • ‘Open Here’ – Field Music (Album)
  • ‘Here Come the Runts’ – AWOLNATION (Album)
  • ‘Whatever it Takes’ – The James Hunter Six (Album)
  • ‘From Liverpool to Hamburg’ – The Beatles (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • We Were Eight Years in Power (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 3:

  • Boogie Nights (Movie)
  • High Maintenance (TV)
  • 2 Dope Queens (TV)
  • Catfish (TV)
  • ‘Halfway Towards a Healing’ – The Lost Brothers (Album)
  • ‘Broken Stay Open Sky’ – Red River Dialect (Album)
  • ‘Neon Bible’ – Arcade Fire (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 4:

  • The Lion King (Movie)
  • Super Bowl (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • ‘Friends’ – The Beach Boys’ (Album)
  • ‘The Information’ – Beck (Album)
  • ‘Beyoncé’ – Beyoncé (Album)
  • ‘Someone Out There’ – Rae Morris (Album)
  • The Largesse of the Sea Maiden (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 5:

  • This is Us (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • ‘Brothers’ – The Black Keys (Album)
  • ‘The Great Escape’ – Blur (Album)
  • ‘Someone Out There’ – Rae Morris (Album)
  • ‘The Basement Tapes’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Catch a Fire’ – Bob Marley & the Wailers (Album)
  • ‘Little Dark Age’ – MGMT (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 6:

  • David Bowie: The Last Five Years (Movie)
  • This is Us (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • ‘The Desired Effect’ – Brandon Flowers (Album)
  • ‘SMiLE’ – Brian Wilson (Album)
  • ‘SUCKER’ – Charli XCX (Album)
  • A Game of Thrones (Book)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)
  • The Largesse of the Sea Maiden (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 7:

  • Black Lightning (TV)
  • ‘Viva La Vida’ – Coldplay (Album)
  • ‘Hunky Dory’ – David Bowie (Album)
  • ‘Nothing is Wrong’ – Dawes (Album)
  • Annihilation (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 8:

  • Wonder (Movie)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • ‘Always Ascending’ – Franz Ferdinand (Album)
  • ‘Sleepwalkers’ – Brian Fallon (Album)
  • ‘Transangelic Exodus’ – Ezra Furman (Album)
  • ‘Damned Devotion’ – Joan As Police Woman (Album)
  • ‘The Best of Dire Straits’ – Dire Straits (Album)
  • Annihilation (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 9:

  • Olympics (TV)
  • Ellen (TV)
  • Baskets (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • ‘Black Panther: The Album’ (Album)
  • ‘Beautiful People Will Ruin Your Life’ – The Wombats (Album)
  • ‘Brighter Wounds’ – Son Lux (Album)
  • ‘All Melody’ – Nils Frahm (Album)
  • The Largesse of the Sea Maiden (Book)
  • Annihilation (Book)
  • Henry VI: Part 2 (Play)

February 10:

  • The Truman Show (Movie)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • Fixer Upper (TV)
  • High Maintenance (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • ‘Transangelic Exodus’ – Ezra Furman (Album)
  • ‘Cusp’ – Alela Diane (Album)
  • Annihilation (Book)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)

February 11:

  • Magnolia (Movie)
  • Jane the Virgin (TV)
  • ‘Damned Devotion’ – Joan as Police Woman (Album)
  • ‘Black Panther: The Album’ (Album)
  • The Largesse of the Sea Maiden (Book)

February 12:

  • Inside Out (Movie)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • ‘Brighter Wounds’ – Son Lux (Album)
  • ‘Compton’ – Dr. Dre (Album)
  • Annihilation (Book)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February: 13:

  • Ellen (TV): 2
  • Queer Eye (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 3
  • ‘Take Care’ – Drake (Album)
  • ‘Cusp’ – Alela Diane (Album)
  • ‘Brighter Than Creation’s Dark’ – Drive-By Truckers (Album)
  • Annihilation (Book)

February 14:

  • Black Lightning (TV)
  • ‘The Greatest Showman: OST’ (Album)
  • ‘Black Panther: The Album’ (Album)
  • ‘Clone of the Universe’ – Fu Manchu (Album)
  • ‘Heart Break Kodak’ – Kodak Black (Album)
  • Literary Publishing in the Twenty-First Century (Book)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 15:

  • Queer Eye (TV): 2
  • The Chi (TV)
  • Chris Rock: Tambourine (TV)
  • ‘What a Time to Be Alive’ – Superchunk (Album)
  • ‘By the Way, I Forgive You’ – Brandy Carlisle (Album)
  • ‘The Eminem Show’ – Eminem (Album)
  • ‘Black Panther: The Album’ (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Annihilation (Book)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 16:

  • Black Panther (Movie)
  • Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Movie)
  • Queer Eye (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • ‘Twin Fantasy’ – Car Seat Headrest (Album)
  • ‘See You Around’ – I’m With Her (Album)
  • ‘Loma’ – Loma (Album)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 17:

  • My Friend Dahmer (Movie)
  • Queer Eye (TV): 2
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • ‘Make Way for Love’ – Marlon Williams (Album)
  • ‘Room Inside the World’ – Ought (Album)
  • ‘In a Poem Unlimited’ – U.S. Girls (Album)
  • ‘Perpetual Motion People’ – Ezra Furman (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 18:

  • Oceans Twelve (Movie)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 3
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • ‘Earthtones’ – Bahamas (Album)
  • ‘I Love You, Honeybear’ – Father John Misty (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 19:

  • Early Man (Movie)
  • High Maintenance (TV)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace (TV)
  • ‘What A Great Time to Be Alive’ – Superchunk (Album)
  • ‘Twin Fantasy’ – Car Seat Headrest (Album)
  • ‘In Your Honor’ – Foo Fighters (Album)
  • ‘Nostalgia-Ultra’ – Frank Ocean (Album)
  • ‘Living in the Material World’ – George Harrison (Album)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 20:

  • Ellen (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV): 2
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • ‘In a Poem Unlimited’ – U.S. Girls (Album)
  • ‘Uncle, Duke, & the Chief’ – Born Ruffians (Album)
  • ‘Onion’ – Shannon and the Clams (Album)
  • ‘Plastic Beach’ – Gorillaz (Album)
  • ‘Terrapin Station’ – Grateful Dead (Album)
  • Annihilation (Book)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 21:

  • Atlanta (TV)
  • ‘American Idiot’ – Green Day (Album)
  • ‘On and On’ – Jack Johnson (Album)
  • ‘Blunderbuss’ – Jack White (Album)
  • ‘Seeing Things’ – Jakob Dylan (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Edward IV: Part 1 (Play)

February 22:

  • Annihilation (Movie)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • Parks and Recreation (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • ‘Overgrown’ – James Blake (Album)
  • ‘Watch the Throne’ – Jay-Z & Kanye West (Album)
  • ‘Transangelic Exodus’ – Ezra Furman (Album)
  • ‘The Salt Doll Went to Measure the Depth of the Sea’ – The Low Anthem (Album)
  • ‘Widdershins’ – Grant-Lee Phillips (Album)
  • Exit West (Book)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Literary Publishing in the Twenty-First Century (Book)

February 23:

  • Game Night (Movie)
  • Punch-Drunk Love (Movie)
  • Ocean’s Thirteen (Movie)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • The Chi (TV)
  • ‘Nation of Two’ – Vance Joy (Album)
  • ‘Insecure Men’ – Insecure Men (Album)
  • ‘All at Once’ – Screaming Females (Album)
  • ‘Chime’ – Dessa (Album)
  • ‘Depth of Field’ – Sarah Blasko (Album)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Edward II (Play)

February 24:

  • Call Me By Your Name (Movie)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 3
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • High Maintenance (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • ‘Olden Yolk’ – Olden Yolk (Album)
  • ‘Basic Behavior’ – FRIGS (Album)
  • ‘Street Safari’ – Public Access T.V. (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)
  • Edward II (Play)

February 25:

  • Novitiate (Movie)
  • Golden Exits (Movie)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • ‘Nation of Two’ – Vance Joy (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)
  • Exit West (Book)
  • Edward II (Play)

February 26:

  • Atlanta (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • ‘All at Once’ – Screaming Females (Album)
  • ‘Strange Trails’ – Lord Huron (Album)
  • ‘Isla’ – Kevin Gates (Album)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)
  • Edward II (Play)

February 27:

  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • This is Us (TV)
  • ‘Axis: Bold as Love’ – The Jimi Hendrix Experience (Album)
  • ‘Room for Squares’ – John Mayer (Album)
  • ‘Annihilation: OST’ (Album)
  • ‘American IV: Man Comes Around’ – Johnny Cash (Album)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)
  • Edward II (Play)

February 28:

  • Atlanta (TV)
  • ‘Come Around Sundown’ – Kings of Leon (Album)
  • ‘Ultraviolence’ – Lana Del Rey (Album)
  • ‘Sound of Silver’ – LCD Soundsystem (Album)
  • Edward II (Play)

March 1:

  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • Black Lightning (TV)
  • ‘Houses of the Holy’ – Led Zeppelin (Album)
  • ‘I’m Your Man’ – Leonard Cohen (Album)
  • ‘Dead Magic’ – Anna Von Hausswolff (Album)
  • ‘Record’ – Tracey Thorn (Album)
  • ‘Tracker’ – Mark Knopfler (Album)
  • ‘Rare Birds’ – Jonathan Wilson (Album)
  • ‘Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt’ – Moby (Album)
  • Edward II (Play)

March 2:

  • The Breadwinner (Movie)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • Ellen (TV)
  • American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace (TV)
  • ‘You’re Not Alone’ – Andrew W.K. (Album)
  • ‘Wildheart’ – Miguel (Album)
  • ‘Curcuital’ – My Morning Jacket (Album)
  • ‘All Nerve’ – The Breeders (Album)
  • ‘How to Socialize & Make Friends’ – Camp Cope (Album)
  • Richard II (Play)

March 3:

  • There Will Be Blood (Movie)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • ‘Le Kov’ – Gwenno (Album)
  • ‘Both Sides of the Sky’ – Jimi Hendrix (Album)
  • ‘Historian’ – Lucy Dacus (Album)
  • ‘Whistle Down the Wind’ – Joan Baez (Album)
  • ‘Clean’ – Soccer Mommy (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Richard II (Play)

March 4:

  • Sunrise (Movie)
  • Chopped (TV)
  • The 90th Oscars (TV)
  • ‘Everything Was Beautiful, And Nothing Hurt’ – Moby (Album)
  • ‘The National’ – The National (Album)
  • ‘Comes a Time’ – Neil Young (Album)
  • Exit West (Book)
  • Richard II (Play)

March 5:

  • The Passion of Joan of Arc (Movie)
  • Ash Vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Gettting Coffee (TV)
  • ‘Both Sides of the Sky’ – Jimi Hendrix (Album)
  • ‘You’re Not Alone’ – Andrew W.K. (Album)
  • ‘Historian’ – Lucy Dacus (Album)
  • ‘A Productive Cough’ – Titus Andronicus (Album)
  • ‘Zuma’ – Neil Young & Crazy Horse (Album)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)
  • Richard II (Play)

March 6:

  • The Chi (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • ‘(What’s the Story) Morning Glory’ – Oasis (Album)
  • ‘Flaming Pie’ – Paul McCartney (Album)
  • ‘London Town’ – Paul McCartney & Wings (Album)
  • ‘Prince’ – Prince (Album)
  • ‘Between the Buttons’ – The Rolling Stones (Album)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Richard II (Play)

March 7:

  • City Girl (Movie)
  • Speechless (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • ‘Run the Jewels’ – Run the Jewels (Album)
  • ‘Cardinology’ – Ryan Adams (Album)
  • Exit West (Book)
  • Richard II (Play)

March 8:

  • City Lights (Movie)
  • The Ritual (Movie)
  • American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace (TV)
  • This is Us (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 2
  • ‘A Black Mile to the Surface’ – Manchester Orchestra (Album)
  • ‘The Woods’ – Sleater Kinney (Album)

March 9:

  • Erin Brockovick (Movie)
  • Scarface (Movie)
  • Flint Town (TV)
  • My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman (TV)
  • ‘Tearing at the Seams’ – Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats (Album)
  • ‘Bobby Tarantino II’ – Logic (Album)
  • ‘Cocoa Sugar’ – Young Fathers (Album)
  • ‘I’m Bad Now’ – Nap Eyes (Album)

March 10:

  • The Strangers: Prey at Night (Movie)
  • The Death of Stalin (Movie)
  • King Kong (Movie)
  • Flint Town (TV)
  • High Maintenance (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • Catfish (TV)
  • ‘The Queen is Dead’ – The Smiths (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)

March 11:

  • The Thin Man (Movie)
  • Chopped (TV)
  • Flint Town (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • ‘Francis Trouble’ – Albert Hammond Jr. (Album)
  • ‘Gimme Fiction’ – Spoon (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)

March 12:

  • The Bride of Frankenstein (Movie)
  • The Chi (TV)
  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • Flint Town (TV)
  • ‘Hotter Than July’ – Stevie Wonder (Album)
  • ‘Shallow Grave’ – The Tallest Man on Earth (Album)
  • ‘Cocoa Sugar’ – Young Fathers (Album)
  • ‘1989’ – Taylor Swift (Album)
  • ‘Full Moon Fever’ – Tom Petty (Album)
  • ‘The Heart of Saturday Night’ – Tom Waits (Album)
  • ‘The Traveling Wilburys Vol. 3’ – Traveling Wilburys (Album)
  • ‘Nobody Wants to be Here and Nobody Wants to Leave’ – The Twilight Sad (Album)
  • Exit West (Book)

March 13:

  • A Wrinkle in Time (Movie)
  • Swing Time (Movie)
  • This is Us (TV)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • ‘All That You Can’t Leave Behind’ – U2 (Album)
  • ‘Van Halen’ – Van Halen (Album)
  • ‘Francis Trouble’ – Albert Hammond Jr (Album)
  • ‘Bob Dylan in the 80’s Volume One’ (Album)
  • ‘Summertime ‘06’ – Vince Staples (Album)
  • ‘Elephant’ – The White Stripes (Album)

March 14:

  • Make Way for Tomorrow (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • ‘Hard II Love’ – Usher (Album)

March 15:

  • Flint Town (TV): 2
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • ‘Being There’ – Wilco (Album)
  • ‘Sunflower’ – The Beach Days (Album)
  • ‘There’s a Riot Going On’ – Yo La Tengo (Album)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)

March 16:

  • Tomb Raider (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • ‘Now Only’ – Mount Eerie (Album)
  • ‘Jericho Sirens’ – Hot Snakes (Album)
  • ‘Mr. Dynamite’ – Creep Show (Album)
  • ‘The Magic Whip’ – Blur (Album)
  • ‘Blonde on Blonde’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)

March 17:

  • Speechless (TV)
  • High Maintenance (TV)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Exit West (Book)
  • The Subversive Copy Editor (Book)

March 18:

  • Stagecoach (Movie)
  • Love, Simon (Movie)
  • Speechless (TV)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • ‘Boarding House Reach’ – Jack White (Album)
  • ‘Exodus’ – Bob Marley & the Wailers (Album)
  • ‘Bon Iver’ – Bon Iver (Album)
  • ‘The Man Who Sold the World’ – David Bowie (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)

March 19:

  • 7 Days in Entebbe (Movie)
  • Flint Town (TV)
  • The Chi (TV)
  • ‘Stories Don’t End’ – Dawes (Album)
  • ‘Thank Me Later’ – Drake (Album)

March 20:

  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • Last Week Tonight (TV)
  • Flint Town (TV)
  • ‘Decoration Day’ – Drive-By Truckers (Album)
  • ‘The Marshall Mathers LP’ – Eminem (Album)
  • ‘Reidi’ – Black Foxxes (Album)
  • Authority (Book)

March 21:

  • The Lady Vanishes (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV): 2
  • ‘The Outsiders’ – Eric Church (Album)
  • ‘Now Only’ – Mount Eerie (Album)
  • ‘There is Nothing Left to Lose’ – Foo Fighters (Album)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)

March 22:

  • The Americans (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace (TV)
  • ‘Reidi’ – Black Foxxes (Album)
  • ‘Wake of the Flood’ – Grateful Dead (Album)
  • ‘Dookie’ – Green Day (Album)

March 23:

  • Sister Act (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • Portlandia (TV)
  • ‘Sleep Through the Static’ – Jack Johnson (Album)
  • ‘May Your Kindness Remain’ – Courtney Marie Andrews (Album)
  • ‘Twentytwo in Blue’ – Sunflower Bean (Album)
  • ‘137 Avenue Kaniama’ – Baloji (Album)
  • Julius Caesar (Play)

March 24:

  • The Americans (TV)
  • ‘Bringing it All Back Home’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Women and Country’ – Jakob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Gilded’ – Jade Jackson (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Julius Caesar (Play)

March 25:

  • Psycho (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • Chopped (TV)
  • Speechless (TV)
  • ‘Castles’ – Lissie (Album)
  • ‘The Bluebrint’ – Jay-Z (Album)
  • ‘American Recordings’ – Johnny Cash (Album)
  • ‘Mechanical Bull’ – Kings of Leon (Album)
  • ‘This is Happening’ – LCD Soundsystem (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Julius Caesar (Play)

March 26:

  • Unsane (Movie)
  • Silicon Valley (TV)
  • Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (TV): 3
  • The Americans (TV)
  • ‘Twentytwo in Blue’ – Sunflower Bean (Album)
  • ‘Led Zeppelin’ – Led Zeppelin (Album)
  • ‘New Skin for the Old Ceremony’ – Leonard Cohen (Album)
  • Julius Caesar (Play)

March 27:

  • Fixer-Upper (TV): 2
  • Barry (TV)
  • High Maintenance (TV)
  • Legion (TV)
  • Jane the Virgin (TV)
  • ‘Evil Urges’ – My Morning Jacket (Album)
  • ‘Sad Songs for Dirty Lovers’ – The National (Album)
  • ‘After the Gold Rush’ – Neil Young (Album)
  • The Oxford Book of American Short Stories (Book)
  • Julius Caesar (Play)

March 28:

  • Legion (TV)
  • Fixer Upper (TV)
  • Say Yes to the Dress (TV)
  • Property Brothers (TV)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • The Terror (TV)
  • ‘Radyo siwèl’ – Mélissa Laveaux (Album)
  • Authority (Book)
  • Julius Caesar (Play)

March 29:

  • The Shop Around the Corner (Movie)
  • The Greatest Showman (Movie)
  • Legion (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • ‘137 Avenue Kaniama’ – Baloji (Album)
  • ‘Radyo siwèl’ – Mélissa Laveaux (Album)
  • ‘Golden Hour’ – Kacey Musgraves (Album)
  • Authority (Book)

March 30:

  • The Master (Movie)
  • Legion (TV)
  • ‘Vessel’ – Frankie Cosmos (Album)
  • ‘Combat Sports’ – The Vaccines (Album)
  • ‘Freedom’ – Amen Dunes (Album)
  • ‘Things Have Changed’ – Bettye LaVette (Album)

March 31:

  • Ready Player One (Movie)
  • ‘Girl Going Nowhere’ – Ashley McBryde (Album)
  • ‘Golden Hour’ – Kacey Musgraves (Album)
  • ‘Combat Sports’ – The Vaccines (Album)
  • Authority (Book)
  • Coriolanus (Play)

April 1:

  • The Lady Eve (Movie)
  • Legion (TV): 2
  • Silicon Valley (TV)
  • ‘Freedom’ – Amen Dunes (Album)
  • ‘Things Have Changed’ – Bettye LaVette (Album)
  • Coriolanus (Play)

April 2:

  • Last Week Tonight (TV)
  • Legion (TV)
  • ‘Girl Going Nowhere’ – Ashley McBryde (Album)
  • ‘Golden Hour’ – Kacey Musgraves (Album)
  • Coriolanus (Play)

April 3:

  • Legion (TV)
  • The Terror (TV)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Coriolanus (Play)

April 4:

  • To Be or Not to Be (Movie)
  • ‘Liberty’ – Lindi Ortega (Album)
  • ‘Flowers in the Dirt’ – Paul McCartney (Album)
  • ‘Red Rose Speedway’ – Paul McCartney & Wings (Album)
  • ‘Purple Rain’ – Prince (Album)
  • ‘La La Land OST’ (Album)
  • ‘The Smiths’ – The Smiths (Album)
  • Coriolanus (Play)

April 5:

  • A Quiet Place (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • ‘Girls Can Tell’ – Spoon (Album)
  • ‘Innervisions’ – Stevie Wonder (Album)
  • ‘Into the Great Wide Open’ – Tom Petty (Album)
  • ‘Heartattack and Vine’ – Tom Waits (Album)
  • Coriolanus (Play)

April 6:

  • Blockers (Movie)
  • Shadow of a Doubt (Movie)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • Barry (TV)
  • ‘Revamp: The Songs of Elton John’ (Album)
  • ‘Isolation’ – Kali Uchis (Album)
  • ‘Years’ – Sarah Shook & the Disarmers (Album)
  • ‘Restoration: The Songs of Elton John’ (Album)
  • ‘Invasion of Privacy’ – Cardi B (Album)
  • ‘Bark Your Head Off, Dog’ – Hop Along (Album)
  • Coriolanus (Play)

April 7:

  • Chappaquiddick (Movie)
  • Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (Movie)
  • Meet Me in St. Louis (Movie)
  • ‘Revamp: The Songs of Elton John’ (Album)
  • ‘The Louder I Call, the Faster It Runs’ – Wye Oak (Album)
  • ‘Daphne and Celeste Save the World’ – Daphne & Celeste (Album)
  • ‘Goat Girl’ – Goat Girl (Album)
  • ‘Elvis Presley: The Searcher’ – Elvis Presley (Album)
  • ‘The Deconstruction’ – Eels (Album)
  • Catiline (Play)

April 8:

  • Pretty Woman (Movie)
  • Brief Encounter (Movie)
  • Legion (TV)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • My Next Guest Needs No Introduction (TV)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • ‘Elvis Presley: The Searcher’ – Elvis Presley (Album)
  • ‘Vacation in Hell’ – Flatbush Zombies (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Album)
  • Catiline (Play)

April 9:

  • Last Week Tonight (TV)
  • Silicon Valley (TV)
  • Barry (TV)
  • Ellen (TV)
  • The Terror (TV)
  • ‘I Don’t Run’ – Hinds (Album)
  • ‘Sister Cities’ – The Wonder Years (Album)
  • ‘Invasion of Privacy’ – Cardi B (Album)
  • ‘Sex & Food’ – Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Album)
  • ‘Care For Me’ – Saba (Album)
  • Catiline (Play)

April 10:

  • Saturday Night Live (TV)
  • ‘Restoration: The Songs of Elton John’ (Album)
  • ‘Vacation in Hell’ – Flatbush Zombies (Album)
  • ‘Year’ – Sarah Shook & the Disarmers (Album)
  • ‘Tumbleweed Connection’ – Elton John (Album)
  • Authority (Book)
  • The Visiting Privilege (Book)
  • Catiline (Play)

April 11:

  • The Americans (TV)
  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • ‘Cold Roses’ – Ryan Adams (Album)
  • The Visiting Privilege (Book)
  • Catiline (Play)

April 12:

  • Children of Paradise (Movie)
  • Howard’s End (TV): 2
  • The Expanse (TV)
  • ‘Sister Cities’ – The Wonder Years (Album)
  • ‘Boy’ – U2 (Album)
  • ‘Red Letter Days’ – The Wallflowers (Album)
  • ‘Joyride’ – Tinashe (Album)
  • ‘Evil Spirits’ – The Damned (Album)
  • Catiline (Play)

April 13:

  • Isle of Dogs (Movie)
  • Howard’s End (TV): 2
  • Westworld (TV): 2
  • ‘The Tree of Forgiveness’ – John Prine (Album)
  • ‘Resistance is Futile’ – Manic Street Preachers (Album)
  • ‘The Lookout’ – Laura Veirs (Album)
  • ‘Persona’ – Rival Consoles (Album)

April 14:

  • Out of the Past (Movie)
  • Pete’s Dragon (Movie)
  • Outside In (Movie)
  • Legion (TV)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • ‘The Other’ – King Tuff (Album)
  • ‘Confident Music for Confident People’ – Confidence People (Album)
  • ‘Novelist Guy’ – Novelist (Album)
  • Authority (Book)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Macbeth (Play)

April 15:

  • The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling (Movie)
  • Saturday Night Love (TV)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • ‘Get Behind Me Satan’ – The White Stripes (Album)
  • ‘The Tree of Forgiveness’ – John Prine (Album)
  • A Clash of Kings (Book)
  • Macbeth (Play)

April 16:

  • Elvis Presley: The Searcher (Movie)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • Legion (TV)
  • The Terror (TV)
  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • ‘Who’s Next’ – The Who (Album)
  • ‘A Ghost is Born’ – Wilco (Album)
  • Macbeth (Play)

April 17:

  • Westworld (TV)
  • Last Week Tonight (TV)
  • Silicon Valley (TV)
  • New Girl (TV)
  • Barry (TV)
  • ‘The Suburbs’ – Arcade Fire (Album)
  • ‘Surf’s Up’ – The Beach Boys (Album)
  • ‘Midnight Vultures’ – Beck (Album)
  • ‘Blood on the Tracks’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • Authority (Book)
  • Macbeth (Play)

April 18:

  • Legion (TV)
  • Bey-chella (TV)
  • The Expanse (TV)
  • ‘Where We Were Together’ – Say Sue Me (Album)
  • ‘The DAMN. Cronic’ – Kendrick Lamar (Album)
  • ‘Kaya’ – Bob Marley & the Wailers (Album)
  • ‘The Next Day’ – David Bowie (Album)
  • ‘We’re All Gonna Die’ – Dawes (Album)
  • ‘What a Time to be Alive’ – Drake & Future (Album)
  • Macbeth (Play)

April 19:

  • Day of Wrath (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • Suits (TV)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • ‘Where We Were Together’ – Say Sue Me (Album)
  • ‘The Dirty South’ – Drive-by Truckers (Album)
  • ‘God’s Favorite Customer’ – Father John Misty (Album)
  • ‘Eat the Elephant’ – A Perfect Circle (Album)
  • Macbeth (Play)

April 20:

  • Bicycle Thieves (Movie)
  • Vince Staples Coachella (TV)
  • ‘#1’s’ – Destiny’s Child (Album)
  • ‘KOD’ – J. Cole (Album)
  • ‘Vide Noir’ – Lord Huron (Album)
  • ‘Volunteer’ – Old Crow Medicine Show (Album)
  • ‘Sparrow’ – Ashley Monroe (Album)
  • ‘Mr. Jukebox’ – Joshua Hedley (Album)
  • ‘God of War OST’ (Album)

April 21:

  • The Third Man (Movie)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • ‘Women and Country’ – Jakob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Wasting Light’ – Foo Fighters (Albums)

April 22:

  • You Were Never Really Here (Movie)
  • Ellen (TV): 2
  • Westworld (TV)
  • Silicon Valley (TV)
  • ‘#1’s’ – Destiny’s Child (Album)
  • ‘KOD’ – J. Cole (Album)

April 23:

  • Barry (TV)
  • The Terror (TV)
  • Last Week Tonight (TV)
  • ‘Sparrow’ – Ashley Monroe (Album)
  • ‘Dos!’ – Green Day (Album)
  • ‘Led Zeppelin II’ – Led Zeppelin (Album)
  • ‘My Mistress’s Sparrow is Dead’ (Book)
  • Authority (Book)

April 24:

  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • The Handmaid’s Tale (TV)
  • New Girl (TV)
  • Chopped (TV)
  • ‘Old Ideas’ – Leonard Cohen (Album)
  • ‘Primal Heart’ – Kimbra (Album)
  • ‘McCartney’ – Paul McCartney (Album)
  • Authority (Book)

April 25:

  • The Handmaid’s Tale (TV)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • ‘Venus and Mars’ – Paul McCartney & Wings (Album)
  • ‘Sign ‘O’ the Times’ – Prince (Album)
  • ‘Exile on Main Street’ – The Rolling Stones (Album)
  • ‘A Clash of Kings’ (Book)

April 26:

  • Strangers on a Train (Movie)
  • Atlanta (TV)
  • The Expanse (TV)
  • ‘Primal Heart’ – Kimbra (Album)
  • ‘Dirty Computer’ – Janelle Monáe (Album)
  • ‘Desolation’ – Ryan Adams (Album)
  • ‘Strangeways, Here We Come’ – The Smiths (Album)

April 27:

  • Singin’ in the Rain (Movie)
  • ‘Twerp Verse’ – Speedy Ortiz (Album)
  • ‘Forth Wanderers’ – Forth Wanderers (Album)
  • ‘Last Man Standing’ – Willie Nelson (Album)
  • ‘Dirty Computer’ – Janelle Monáe (Album)
  • ‘Kill the Moonlight’ – Spoon (Album)
  • ‘Music of My Mind’ – Stevie Wonder (Album)

April 28:

  • Andre the Giant (Movie)
  • Tokyo Story (Movie)
  • Legion (TV)
  • The Handmaid’s Tale (TV)
  • ‘Lavender’ – Half Waif (Album)
  • ‘beerbongs & bentleys’ – Post Malone (Album)
  • ‘Dirty Computer’ – Janelle Monáe (Album)
  • Authority (Book)

April 29:

  • Avengers: Infinity War (Movie)
  • Seven Samurai (Movie)
  • Fixer-Upper (TV)
  • Westworld (TV)
  • Authority (Book)

April 30:

  • Ash vs Evil Dead (TV)
  • Barry (TV)
  • Dancing With the Stars (TV)
  • The Terror (TV)
  • ‘Last Man Standing’ – Willie Nelson (Album)
  • ‘beerbongs & Bentleys’ – Post Malone (Album)

May 1:

  • Silicon Valley (TV)
  • New Girl (TV)
  • ‘Long After Dark’ – Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers (Album)
  • ‘Rain Dogs’ – Tom Waits (Album)
  • ‘How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb’ – U2 (Album)
  • ‘Repave’ – Volcano Choir (Album)
  • ‘The Wallflowers’ – The Wallflowers (Album)

May 2:

  • The Florida Project (Movie)
  • The Americans (TV)
  • The Expanse (TV)
  • ‘Icky Thump’ – The White Stripes (Album)
  • ‘Surfer Girl’ – The Beach Boys (Album)
  • ‘Anthology, Vol.1’ – The Beatles (Album)
  • ‘Modern Guilt’ – Beck (Album)

May 3:

  • The Night of the Hunter (Movie)
  • John Mulaney: Kid Gorgeous at Radio City (TV)
  • The Handmaid’s Tale (TV)
  • Legion (TV)
  • ‘Desire’ – Bob Dylan (Album)
  • ‘Natty Dread’ – Bob Marley & the Wailers (Album)
  • ‘Singularity’ – Jon Hopkins (Album)
  • Authority (Book)

May 4:

  • The Searchers (Movie)
  • ‘Knock Knock’ – DJ Koze (Album)
  • ‘Good Thing’ – Leon Bridges (Album)
  • ‘Beyondless’ – Iceage (Album)
  • ‘Rebound’ – Eleanor Friedberger (Album)
  • ‘Hollow Ground’ – Cut Worms (Album)
  • ‘Be More Kind’ – Frank Turner (Album)
  • ‘SR3MM’ – Rae Sremmurd (Album)
  • ‘Swaecation’ – Swae Lee (Album)
  • ‘Jxmtro’ – Slim Jxmmi (Album)
  • ‘Worlds Strongest Man’ – Gaz Coombes (Album)
  • ‘Singularity’ – Jon Hopkins (Album)

~

A couple months back, Mammie underwent a knee replacement and had to stay in the recovery unit for weeks. My university is so close to the hospital, it was easy for me to swing over and keep her company. I’d tell her how our cat was not doing well and about all the negative feedback I received in workshop; she’d ask me to cut my hair. I’d refuse, and she’d tell me nobody would ever take me seriously with long hair. I told her I had grown not to care so much, that I had long since gotten used to not being taken seriously.

About a week after her surgery, she interrupted one of my stories to ask for her purse. I knew what she wanted it for, but I asked why. She explained to me the hospital’s medicine wasn’t helping her anymore and she couldn’t sleep at night for the pain. What she wasn’t interested in was my spiel about how a good bit of pain was expected after a knee replacement. She found her little green hat and removed a handful of whites and pastel blues, sorted through them in her palm until she identified the two or three she wanted. I was offered a few and had to remind her my back had not been hurting the past couple months, but thanks anyway.

I worry about her quite a lot. How deep into her addiction she is and how unlikely it is she’ll ever get any help. How Poppa thinks if he keeps paying for operations, they’ll eventually fix the right thing and she won’t hurt anymore. She had her other knee replaced last year, her hip this summer. I know her condition is likely to worsen. You know shit’s bad when the best-case scenario is that she has a nervous breakdown, which would hopefully force Poppa’s hand. Or someone might find her unconscious. I might find her unconscious. If I do, I’ll know I had a hand in it all. She asked for her purse that one day in recovery and I handed it to her. I did it because I knew she was hurting and the pills would make her feel better. And how could I not want her to feel better? I am her favorite, after all. Her #1.

Perhaps it’s all trains in the end. The way the ordering of the cars is mapped out, poured over, arranged just so. Some train cars are arranged in the order of stations on the route; others are arranged based on the ultimate destinations of the individual cars. On passenger trains, placement is determined by wealth—Snowpiercer is #7 on my Best Movies of 2014 list. I might have seen Thomas Tank in the toy store as a child and pointed, threw a fit until Mom relented and bought me the little blue locomotive, making an irrational decision at two years old that would shape the rest of my life. Or I was destined to love trains first in life, and nothing I could have done would have changed that. I could buy all these theories.

~

If I were to make a ranking of all Bob Dylan’s songs, “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” would be last, even after all that Under the Red Sky shit. Ranking Dylan’s albums alone is for amateurs; of course I’ve made this list.

Jordan James is currently earning his PhD in Creative Writing at the University of Southern Mississippi. His work, which typically concerns the people and places of the American South, has been published in Signature Magazine and the Robert Frost Review.

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Issue 7

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