I Vaccinated My Ears and Eyes With This - Best of 2021
Welcome back to the Official #1 Best Of The Year List Voted On By Everyone In The World Don't Bother To Look It Up List! Well, it was a year full of the cosmic tug-of-war between hope and despair across the country. Below, you'll find more of both being used for entertainment purposes (and maybe for therapy when it comes to some of the songs/stand-ups) along with a whole lot more. Whether you need something fresh to cry, laugh, dance, or drink to, you'll find something in here I'm sure. Once again we'll be starting off with the OG best of list - Music!
MUSIC
The hits ran deep this year! We've got it all - upbeat and danceable, moody vibes, metal, groovy and funky, and some straight up rock. Some music may have been delayed due to the pandemic, but it definitely wasn't stopped and there's plenty to go around. I've got a full 1hr 30min for you on my mix, just slightly breaking my "whatever fits on one CD" rule. You're welcome.
BEST OF 2021 MIX
1. “1 Last Cigarette” – The Band Camino
2. “1999” – Settle Your Scores
3. “F*kn Around” – Darren Criss
4. “10 Years” – Dadi Freyr
5. “Medicine” – Gus Dapperton
6. “Don’t Back Down” – Mammoth WVH
7. “Seize the Power” – Yonaka
8. “Four Letter Words” – K. Flay
9. “Change For You” – Friday Pilots Club
10. “Vermisst” – Sokoninaru
11. “Alkaline” – Sleep Token
12. “Assault & Batteries” – Ice Nine Kills (***see note below)
13. “Loser” – Dude, My Dude
14. “Growing Up” – Cinders
15. “Jurassic Park” – Stand Atlantic
16. “New Low” – Nightlife
17. “I Can’t Get High” – Royal & the Serpent
18. “Saturday” – Twenty One Pilots
19. “A-O-K” – Tai Verdes
20. “Serotonin” – Girl in Red
21. “Doomsday” – Lizzy McAlpine
22. “Giants” – Walk the Moon
23. “What You Want to Hear” – Sub-Radio
24. “Start Again” – Vistas
25. “This is the Place” – Tom Grennan
26. “.CoDA.” – Dead Poet Society
27. “Cranium” – Slothrust
*** (In order to truly appreciate Ice Nine Kills, I feel there are a few things I must tell you about them before you listen to this track. 1. They’re a Metalcore band with clean and scream vocals. 2. Their 2021 and 2018 albums are concept albums where each song is based off of a classic Horror movie. “Assault & Batteries” is based off the “Child’s Play” films. 3. I beg of you to watch the music video for your first time listening. You can skip the 1min 30sec scene at the end if you want.)
Ok, I know your first question – “Jake, why isn’t the song from the Avengers musical that’s in the Hawkeye show on your mix?” And the answer is…..it’s just too good, it would’ve out-shined all the others so I had to pull it. But in all seriousness, as usual I tried to make a good flow for the mix, starting with one of my favorite songs. “1 Last Cigarette” was the first song to catch my ears this year and remained one of my top songs throughout. It may essentially be the same chord progression for the entire song, but if that doesn’t pump you up for a night out then I don’t know what will. You can feel the darker, heavier side of what I listened to this year somewhat early on. Those Dark/Pop vibes of K. Flay and Yonaka just hit so good. I did have a few Metalcore songs on the list at one point, but Ice Nine Kills was the only one who made the final cut. Things got quite groovy this year, and newcomers Nightlife immediately made the list with their Soul/Rock track “New Low” which, even though it’s 5min long, flies by because it’s so intoxicating. I ended with the Indie/Rock slow jam “Cranium” by Slothrust, which is actually the opening track on their album from this year. Intoxicating in a different way, you get lost in the humming pads/synths, the lead singer’s unique vocals, and her tasteful shredding on guitar for the last two minutes.
At one point I had over 60 songs vying for a spot on my mix, so I’m glad I could cut it down as much as I did. As always, if you like a song then just dive in and check out the rest of that artist’s stuff. Or if you want any more recommendations just ask! (or checkout my previous Best Of mixes)
ALBUMS
Despite having a plethora of individual songs to choose from for my mix, almost no albums spoke out to me as a whole this year. I think this might be due to being spoiled with bands writing 1 or 3 songs that are such bangers that the rest of their album just feels average or bland, even if it isn’t. Regardless, I do have a top album as well as some decent suggestions.
If you read my review last year then you know that Sokoninaru is my favorite discovery of the past 5yrs, maybe more. Considering they put out an album last year, I didn’t expect anything from them this year other than maybe a single song, but wouldn’t you know it, they made 7! Almost every song on this album had a chance of making my Mix, it was tough to choose. They continue their incomparable blend of Progressive/Post-Rock/Mathcore here, and dare I say have even made it more refined. They also got a new drummer who can provide some backing vocals here and there, I don’t know how any drummer could play this stuff and sing at all, but he does it. So now, armed with some occasional 3-part harmonies and slightly more refined, this trio is poised to take over Japan, and the world. I’d be surprised if they didn’t soon have a song on the opening of some famous anime, one of the major ways Japanese bands gain popularity. They’re not for everyone, I understand that, but if you’re looking for a little chaos to shake up your routine music listening, give ‘em a try!
Album Quick Picks
Come for the fun music videos and horror movie references, stay for the insanely catchy choruses, gut-punching breakdowns, and expertly crafted songs. As mentioned above, with the exception of the opening song, each one on this album and their 2018 release, “The Silver Scream,” is based around a classic horror flick. And for any snobs out there, on their 2015 release, “Every Trick in the Book,” each song is based around a classic work of literature. It may seem like a gimmick, but the end products speak for themselves – excellent. Having been around for almost 15yrs with their Metalcore sound, with the lead singer being the only remaining original member, they’ve been in the top 3 on “Best Of” lists of metalheads everywhere the past few years. With multiple members providing vocals, there’s cleans, screams, and harmonies everywhere, skillfully woven in among the crushing and technically proficient instrumentation. Not for the faint of heart, these guys might just be the gateway drug to a whole new dimension of music that you didn’t know you liked.
Are you one of those people who complain that Rock music just isn’t the same anymore and you miss the guitar? Well, this is for you. This is as classic as it gets nowadays, with thick distortion, solid drums, and powerful vocals, this is straight up Rock. And it makes sense too, as this comes from Wolfgang Van Halen, yes, the son of the legendary Eddie Van Halen, which I didn’t know when I first discovered this album. To make things even more impressive, he’s not just a good guitarist - he played all the instruments and sang all the parts on this album. Looking to rock out? Hop in your Camaro, toss this album on, and crank it to 11.
“The Band Camino” – The Band Camino
I’ve mentioned this before but when I first heard The Band Camino 4 or 5yrs ago, I dubbed them “the American version of The 1975,” and I think that still somewhat applies. Occasionally cheesy, if you’re looking for shiny, glossy, modern day Pop/Rock, you’ve found it. While guitar-driven, there’s so many layers of sweet synths/pads it’ll make your teeth rot too. So give it a listen, sing along with your tongue in your cheek, and oh, call your mother.
“Scaled and Icy” – Twenty One Pilots
While their last album sounded like a slog of them trying to recreate the dark but catchy sound of their huge 2015 album “Blurryface” and their 2016 worldwide smash hit “Heathens,” this new album finds the Hip-Hop infused Alt-Pop/Rock heroes on a much more upbeat note. It’s groovy, catchy, and something you’d genuinely strut down the street to on a sunny day. I’ll be honest, it’s no “Blurryface,” but always comparing a band to their biggest success can be a big downfall of the listener, not the band. So give it a listen the next time you see the sun peeking through the clouds, you might just like it.
“If I Could Make it Go Quiet” – Girl in Red
With her feet firmly planted in the guitar-driven Lo-Fi/Indie-Pop realm, on this album Girl in Red adds some new production tricks found in many of your favorite, popular Hip-Hop and Pop songs currently dominating the charts, but doesn’t overdo them. If you’re looking to be hip to today’s music but haven’t found yourself digging the likes of Billie Eilish or Olivia Rodrigo, give this Norwegian Gen-Z’er, and queer icon, a listen (songs are in English).
“What Were You Hoping to Find?” – Vistas
If you like their song “Start Again” on my mix then you’ll most likely enjoy 90%+ of Vistas music. Once again another band who put out a full album in 2020 and released another this year, totally unexpected. Consistently catchy and upbeat, this Scottish trio is pretty much the definition of modern day Indie-Pop. With bright guitars, driving drums, and choruses demanding group sing-a-longs, you probably won’t be able to get enough.
“Jubilee” – Japanese Breakfast
I didn’t listen to this album a ton, hence no songs from it on my mix, but you’ve undoubtedly heard her single “Be Sweet” somewhere this past year. This has been making the top 3 of many Indie-lovers’ 2021 lists, and I can see why. On my few listen-throughs I can tell you this is an album full of songs that would fit nicely on the latest buzzworthy Indie film, at a chill house party, or just driving along on a spring day. If you’re looking to dip your toes into the Indie waters, start with this little gem.
MOVIES
2021 saw the return of the movie theater.....and my monthly bill to AMC for their membership program. While a couple of my favorites were seen in the comfort of my own home, I did enjoy getting back to the theater, and I wouldn't have wanted to see some of these films for the first time any other way. Along with the theaters, tons of movies got released. So many, in fact, that there's still a good 20 or so on my "to watch" list. But, out of everything I did see, here's what I liked!
“The Trip”
(Netflix)
I placed this Norwegian Dark Comedy/Thriller on my watchlist shortly after it came out but didn’t get to it until December. I wish I’d watched it sooner, because it immediately became my favorite film of the year. Neither the comedy, nor the action, is for the faint of heart. The jokes can be almost too real for anyone in a rocky relationship, but I was laughing throughout the film. That dark humor is needed too, to help you forget about the amount of blood spilled in this film that puts a lot of “horror” movies to shame. I went into the film knowing nothing more than the short description it has on Netflix – I didn’t even watch the trailer – and I feel like it’s best enjoyed that way. So I’ll just leave you with a paraphrasing of the basic Netflix description: A married couple on the brink of divorce decides to go for a getaway at the family cabin, where they’ve each secretly decided to kill the other. However, things go awry quickly. Throw on the subtitles, put your phone away, and pay attention – it’s a great one.
“Tick, Tick...Boom!”
(Netflix)
Andrew Garfield had 3 starring roles this year and was excellent in each of them (the others being “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” and “Mainstream”), but this one takes the cake. It’s also possibly my 2nd favorite movie of the year. The film is an adaptation of a semi-autobiographical musical from 30yrs ago about a young, aspiring musical writer in NYC in 1990. This musical was created (and originally performed) by Jonathan Larson, who’s next musical was a little one you might’ve heard of – “Rent.” You can definitely see the style and inspiration that Rent was built off of in Tick, Tick...Boom! And while this one never achieved the overwhelming fame that Rent did, I’m sure there’s going to be quite the revival following this film’s release. Garfield’s performance is excellent, especially considering he hadn’t sang before this role. Luckily he had roughly 1.5yrs before filming started to learn, and then, after filming for only 8 days, had an extra 6 months to practice, as filming had been stopped due to the Pandemic taking over. It’s an inspiring film for any artist out there, regardless of field, as the bare bones of the story highlights the electrifying highs and soul-crushing lows of creating something. After watching this, you’ll want to get back to making whatever it is that you love, I know I did.
Edgar Wright can do no wrong. I didn’t know much about this film except for some posters, a couple cast members, and that it was from Edgar Wright, and that alone was enough for me to want to see it. The cinematography and aesthetics were amazing, and considering the film revolves around an aspiring fashion designer, they really had to be, otherwise it would’ve felt cheap or boring. The story is well put together and 100% original, not based on a book or anything other than the imagination of Wright and co-writer Krysty Wilson-Cairns (who lived and bartended in Soho for 5yrs), a rarity for theatrically released films nowadays it seems. This psychological thriller presents a slightly darker take on the “young artist moves to the big city” genre, jumping back and forth between modern day and smokey, 1960s Soho. The performances from the leads are excellent, but for myself, Matt Smith did a really amazing job with his character, just embodying him wholly from the first time we meet him – in particular when he first dances with Anya Taylor-Joy. If you’re interested in something engrossingly original, look no further.
(Rent/Buy)
It feels weird to call this the “feel-good movie of the year,” but that’s what it is to me. Ryan Reynolds plays “Guy,” a character in an online video game who becomes self-aware, causing a massive disruption to that game’s community – and the potential profits of the video game company’s owner (a huge douchebag played by Taika Waititi). A fun-filled action/comedy with a dash of rom-com, we follow Guy as he learns exactly what is going on, and how to save his digital world with the help of the game’s original creator. While he may be extremely naive, I think we could all use a little more of Guy’s optimism. While this definitely puts Ryan Reynolds front and center, this is also part of Jodi Comer’s breakout year, as 2021 sees her in this film, as well as “The Last Duel,” and the last season of her starring role on “Killing Eve” comes to an end. Be on the lookout for good things coming from her.
Spider-Man is on a pedestal for me, and the other Marvel films this year were extremely mediocre, but Shang-Chi was amazing. This might just be one of the Top 5 Marvel films overall, maybe even Top 3, and one of the best parts is that you don’t really need to know anything prior to this movie in order to enjoy it. Yes, there’s a character you might enjoy more if you saw a particular previous film, and there’s a post-credits scene that would make a little more sense if you were caught up, but 98% of the film is very enjoyable without any prior knowledge. The action is top-notch, the comedy is solid and not overwhelming, the hero’s story is classic and tugs at the heartstrings, and it is just an overall excellent movie. Take away the Marvel logo and this is still an action/comedy with a dramatic story that is definitely a must-see of 2021.
Movie Quick Picks
“Blue Bayou”
(Rent/Buy)
Bring
the tissues, this drama is one of the most moving of the year, as
Justin Chon (who also wrote and directed the film) gives a powerful
performance. Chon plays Antonio LeBlanc, a Korean-American who was
adopted from South Korea at 3yrs old, whose citizenship status is
made vulnerable in the wake of a small run-in with a cop, threatening
to take him away from his wife, daughter, and entire life in
Louisiana. No special effects, action, or absurdness needed, just an excellent film all-around.
“Red Notice”
(Netflix)
With Dwayne Johnson, Ryan Reynolds, and Gal Gadot, this movie is exactly what you think it is – an action/adventure comedy overflowing with charisma. In this Mission Impossible meets Indiana Jones flick the jokes, and bullets/punches/kicks, fly around consistently and constantly. You know what you’re in for with this cast, and you either love it or you hate it. I loved it.
“The Eyes of Tammy Faye”
(HBO Max)
A drama that’s based on the real-life documentary about the rise and fall of televangelists Tammy Faye and her husband Jim Bakker, who created the world’s largest religious broadcasting network in the ‘70s and ‘80s. With excellent performances from Jessica Chastain and Andrew Garfield, and Michael Showalter in the director’s chair (quite unexpected), this semi-fictional re-telling of the Christian power couple’s journey is quite intriguing.
“The Mitchells vs the Machines”
(Netflix)
Looking for your next animated comedy? It’s right here! From the creators of Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs and The LEGO Movie comes a fun, action filled film about an average family in the middle of a cross-country road trip when, all of a sudden, all of humanity becomes the targets of a diabolical plot of revenge. It has its flaws, and some of the humor is what I can only describe as “meme-like,” but I truly loved the movie overall and was laughing throughout the whole thing.
“The Sparks Brothers”
(Netflix)
Another film by Edgar Wright, this one’s a documentary about the duo who’s had many ups and downs over their past 40-something years in the industry and whose music has seemingly inspired many popular bands over that time. Whether you’re a music lover or you just can’t get enough of documentaries, this one about the peculiar band is a good watch.
“Werewolves Within”
(Rent/Buy)
While it may be based off a mediocre video game, Werewolves Within draws inspiration from the likes of Clue and others in the Comedy/Mystery/Thriller genre. A small group of people in a tiny mountainside town, cut off from civilization by snowed over roads and a power outage, start to go just a little bit crazy once people start dying…..and because a werewolf might be responsible becomes the prevalant idea. Check this one out the next time you’re looking for a scary fun night in.
MOVIES I DIDN’T GET TO BUT REALLY WANTED TO SEE:
“Breaking News in Yuba County”
“Barb and Star Go to Vista del Mar”
“Queenpins”
“John and the Hole”
Cage Match
A new category emerges! I’ve decided to make a new category about the hardest working man in show business, the one and only – Nicolas Cage! In 2016-2019 Mr. Cage released 6 movies…..per year! With that quantity I figured there has to be some gems, so I’ve decided that I’ll review each of the films he releases in the past year and give you what I think was the best. Luckily I’ve started on a relatively easy year, as he only did 3 films in 2021 due to the pandemic. Without further ado, here it is:
"Pig"
(Hulu)
Most of Nic Cage's movies every year are basic action films, but every now and then he'll do a non-action flick, and sometimes it'll actually be good. In Pig, Cage plays Rob, an old hermit living in the woods of Washington who gets his pig stolen from him, leading him to journey out to find it with the help of Amir, a young man who he occasionally does business with. While traversing the big city, Amir finds there's a lot more to his old, curt business partner than he initially thought. Given Cage's track record I assumed this would be a tale of revenge, with him slicing and dicing his way through bad guys to get his pig back, but, aside from one odd scene, was pleasantly surprised to find it was a straight drama. So if you're in the mood for a movie about a man searching for someone he loves, and having a somewhat peculiar adventure along the way, give it a go.
In regards to his other 2 movies this past year, I'll just say Willy's Wonderland was absurd but fun if you watch with friends. However, The Prisoners of the Ghostland was just unbelievably awful, don't even watch it to make fun of it, it's not worth it.
SHOWS
Disney+ came in hot this year with all its Marvel shows, and I ate it all up like the superhero geek I am. But there were many other excellent shows this year too, and similar to my movies section - so many shows, so little time. My list this year is pretty much split between short, ridiculous comedies, and "I must binge this all NOW" dramas. Enjoy.
“Arcane”
(Netflix)
The best thing about Arcane is that you don’t need to know the source material at all in order to enjoy it. I certainly didn’t, and I loved it. Arcane is set in a fantasy, steampunk-esque world, and while the overall story is about many characters in a city with the classic “rich part of town vs. poor part of town” plot, at the very center of it all is two orphaned sisters. If that plot point makes you think it’s just another basic tale, don’t worry, that’s just the tip-top of the iceberg, you won’t find many tropes here. While it’s extremely lowkey on romance, this show has everything else – blood-pumping fights, heartbreaking scenes, hopeful moments, slick and wonderful animation, and just an overall stellar story. Oh and despite being animated and having an exciting first episode centered on a rag-tag group of kids, this isn’t a funny, Pixar-style show for kids – you may even want some tissues and a stiff drink here and there while watching this, seriously. In fact, I’m gonna slap a PTSD warning on this one, due to the psychological trauma one character in particular deals with throughout the show. But if you can get through it, it really is an amazing show that might just be my favorite of the year.
“Wandavision" and "Loki”
(Disney+)
I combined these together because I don’t want “Superhero Stuff” to be the only things I talk about in film and tv. All of the Marvel shows that premiered on Disney+ this past year were good, but these two stood above the rest. While Wandavision’s marketing showed off the gimmick of having each episode air in a different decade’s style, that’s only a small part of the show. With it’s fair share of action and comedy, as is ever the Marvel style, this show has possibly the most dramatic and heartwrenching moments of the entire Marvel franchise. The entire universe may not be at stake like it is in the big Avengers films, but a very personal universe is, and that is something much more relatable and moving to an individual watching this great series. This is not “just another superhero show,” it is an excellent creation not to be missed (although, sadly, if you haven’t seen at least a few key Marvel films and watched Wanda and Vision’s relationship progress prior to the show, it probably won’t feel as good as it actually is).
Loki’s character progression up to this point has been a masterclass in taking someone who was a simple villain and making them into something more, and this show continues to expand on that in an exciting and enjoyable way. Owen Wilson’s performance in this show is great, as his classic nonchalant personality brings a fair amount of unexpected levity in a show based around time/multi-versal travel, ancient time gods, and a serial killer. So if an almost-anti-hero with a literal god-complex facing off against ancient time gods, and possibly destroying the universal timeline in the process, just to get himself out of time jail so he can go back to trying to take over his home kingdom, sounds like fun to you, then dive in! (Again, sadly, having some prior knowledge about Loki himself in previous movies would be very helpful to enjoying this show).
“The Sex Lives of College Girls”
(HBO Max)
A fun, relatable comedy about 4 young women from different walks of life attending college, that also touches on some old, and modern day, serious topics? I’d expect nothing less from co-creator Mindy Kaling. While the show does live up to its title with plenty of sex - some serious, some for comedic effect - the true name of it should be The Relationships of College Girls. Whether dealing with parents, romantic partners, other students, each other, and even themselves internally, there’s plenty of fodder for comedy and drama. With ~30min episodes, any tears you may shed will be fairly quickly removed with laughter, and the 10-episode season will fly by before you know it.
“The Wheel of Time”
(Amazon Prime)
If you love magic and swords and creatures, this is for you. Fantasy books have long been a source for films, and more recently shows, and Amazon looks to make The Wheel of Time the next in line to be among the super popular franchises such as Lord of the Rings and Game of Thrones. However, at 14 (very hefty) books long, this series puts all those others to shame, having more than enough material to probably make the show last well over a decade if they really wanted to. While there is the seemingly usual element of “the Chosen One vs. Big Bad Guy,” it’s not as straightforward as it is in other, similar stories, and this first season just scratches the surface of everything happening in its world. Aside from the core group, different factions/groups of people get introduced throughout the season, some are involved immediately and some I’m sure we’ll see come into play later. While the magic system is frustratingly somewhat vague, the story moves at a good pace, constantly revealing new mysteries to keep you intrigued, the action scenes are top notch, and the actors deliver decent performances all around. With its epic battles, myriad characters, unanswered questions, and a very interesting glimpse into the past during the season finale, The Wheel of Time hopes to keep you interested enough that you’ll keep coming back for more. I know I’m looking forward to the next season, so grab your sword, that glowing pendant in your attic, and brush up on the ancient language your parents taught you as a kid and come with me.
(Amazon Prime)
Animation has had one hell of a run the past 2yrs with many great shows (see Arcane above and my animated quick picks below + last year’s reviews as well) and Invincible is no exception. Based on the comic book of the same name, the show follows 17yr old Mark Grayson, son of the world’s most powerful hero Omni-man, who has Superman-like powers. As he starts to develop his own powers we watch as Mark tries to make a name for himself as a hero, is vetted by the Global Defense Agency (who has a testy relationship with his father), tries to have a somewhat normal life, and learns the dark side, secrets, and harsh truths of being a superhero, including some about his own dad. This cartoon is not for children, in case that wasn’t clear. With a solid story and voice cast (Steven Yeun, J.K. Simmons, Sandra Oh, Gillian Jacobs, Jason Mantzoukas, and more), this is an excellent watch for anyone who’s finished or is overwhelmed by all the Marvel content and/or is disappointed with DC’s efforts. Some may also be sick of the “realism” that a lot of superhero content has tried for this past decade or so, but I can assure you this is one of the good ones.
TV Quick Picks
“Schmigadoon!”
(Apple TV+)
This is a fun and short comedy at only 6 episodes long, 30min each. It features Cecily Strong and Keegan Michael Key, who I both love as actors, and if you do too, you’ll undoubtedly like this. The show is essentially a parody making fun of, while at the same time embracing, the absurdity of musicals. The show is about a couple whose relationship is hanging on by a thread when, on a hiking trip, they stumble into a small, old-timey town, and discover they are in a musical.
“Ten Year Old Tom”
(HBO Max)
When I saw this show was from “The Life and Times of Tim” creator Steve Dildarian, I had to check it out. It’s essentially more of the same style of comedy, except instead of being about a 30yr old loser who makes awful choices and everything goes wrong for him, the main character is a 10yr old…..who makes awful choices and has everything go wrong for him. For fans of: “The Life and Times of Tim,” “Flight of the Conchords,” Demetri Martin, or dry, slightly absurd humor in general.
“Inside Job”
(Netflix)
An easily digestible, animated workplace comedy, Inside Job asks the question “What if most conspiracy theories were actually true and the world was ran by a shadow government?” Centered around an eclectic cast of characters working at the shadow government (aka Cognito, Inc.) - including a human/dolphin hybrid and psychic mushroom/jellyfish-like organism from Hollow Earth – the show embraces absurd conspiracy theories and runs with them full force. You’ll be shocked (or maybe not) at which celebrities are actually Lizard People! For fans of: “Futurama,” “Final Space,” “Bojack Horseman.”
TV SHOWS I DIDN’T GET TO BUT WANTED TO SEE
“Resident Alien” – (I did see the pilot and I love Alan Tudyk. Excited to watch more since there’s 2 seasons out!)
“Sweet Tooth”
“Reservation Dogs”
“Only Murders in the Building” – (I will watch anything with Steve Martin and Martin Short.)
STAND-UP
I didn't get around to watching as many specials as I would've liked, but here's some things I did watch along with some suggestions of specials that are probably really good too. I'll start with my 2 favorites of the ones I saw this past year. Hope you like them as much as I did!
“Inside” – Bo Burnham
(Netflix)
It’s insane to me that this special was released a mere 7 months ago, it feels more like a lifetime. Many people in the stand-up community argued whether this was actually a stand-up special blah blah blah but to me it doesn’t matter, because it was amazing regardless of what category you label it. The songs from it overwhelmed Tiktok and social media in general in the months following its release, and a lot of them are upbeat and silly, but I can’t stress enough the need to actually WATCH the special itself in order for it to have its intended impact – which is much darker than a sing-a-long at a concert when some famous musician decides to cover one of these songs (which has happened). You’re essentially watching a creative genius have a breakdown over the course of a year, doing the thing he’s best at in order to try and escape the mental illness trying to consume him, all in 80min. Some have compared it to what has been dubbed “Ted Talk-style” specials that have been made by the likes of Hannah Gadsby, Mike Birbiglia, Hasan Minhaj, or Daniel Sloss, and in some ways it is, with its commentary on social injustice, mental health, and the whole system in general. But I feel comfortable saying that I don’t think there is, or ever will ever be, another thing like it, ever. A whole special (or whatever you want to call it), written, performed, and filmed by one man in one room over the course of a year, and the end result can simply be called nothing else other than a Masterpiece.
“Whisky Fists” – Rosebud Baker
(Free on Youtube)
Too many people (and bad “comedians”) think that dark comedy means just throwing in a slur or other taboo word, and calling that a punchline. Hitting on topics such as sex, her new marriage, healthcare workers, dead family members, rape whistles, and more, Rosebud Baker delivers actual dark comedy, all without complaining about not being able to say certain words. Watching this special will make you feel like you’ve stumbled into an underground comedy club and found a gem.
"Cold Lasagne Hate Myself 1999" - James Acaster
(Vimeo)
I reviewed this on my 2020 list last year because it did technically stream once during December 2020, but as I said back then, it wasn’t on a streaming service nor available for purchase anywhere. Well, halfway through 2021 that changed, as it’s now available on…..Vimeo? Yeah, apparently you can purchase it there. It’s only $12 and I guarantee it’ll be the best $12 spent in whatever month you buy it. If you want to know more about the special itself, go checkout my previous review of it. This quirky Brit quickly became one of my favorite stand-ups after first watching his 4 Netflix specials (“Repetoire”) back in 2018.
Sam didn't release a special this past year, but has become one of my favorites over the past 2yrs. He released a documentary in 2021 about stand-up in NYC during the pandemic, and had 2 specials released on Youtube in 2020 - one regular special right before the pandemic hit the US, and also a rooftop special during the pandemic (as comedians in cities across the country were doing shows on rooftops, among other random places, to try and be safe/comply with restrictions). In addition to the documentary, he went on tour for a good chunk of 2021 and has been posting numerous short clips from those shows on his Youtube channel (and I believe he'll continue to post short clips from live shows in general). I highly recommend checking those out to get some quick doses of in-the-moment stand-up.
Stand-Up Quick Picks
Here's a couple specials from comedians I like but didn't get around to watching.
"Overwhelmed" - Dustin Nickerson - (Free on Youtube)
"# (Hashtag)" - Josh Johnson - (Paramount+)
"Regular People" - Theo Von - (Netflix)
It's pretty crazy with all that's happened in the past year, but I can only hope it was a good one for you. Let me know some of your favorites this past year! And if you saw/heard any of the same things I put on my list, let me know your opinions on those too! There's never enough time to watch/listen to everything I want to each year, so I need all the help I can get. Hopefully I've introduced you to a new favorite thing/person, as is ever my goal with these lists.
Well there it is, the end. See you next year ya dingus!
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