Jenny Lewis ON THE LINE (2019)

I always felt a little bit of incoherence in her previous music, and now that I hear her whole cloth, with no co-writers, I think that was the problem.  {This is what always keeps me from really admiring an Adele song--to me, it sounds like three songwriters pulling in different directions, with contradictory lyrics that don't support the soaring sentiments Adele projects.} Here, Ms. Lewis brings wisdom, grace and humor to the lyrics and delivery, and the music has all the verve to support her.  The album has at least 5 standout, year-enders:

5. Wasted Youth
4. On The Line
3. Hollywood Line
2. Heads Gonna Roll
1. Red Bull & Hennessy

Van Morrison VEEDON FLEECE (1974)

I prefer this to Astral Weeks and I think you will, too. Psalms for tsars in gypsy garb

Favorite Films of 2018

10. The Favourite
9. A Star is Born
8. The Death of Stalin
7. Leave No Trace
6. Blackkklansman
***edit Shoplifters***
5. You Were Never Really Here
4. Support The Girls
3. Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot
2. Annihilation
1. The Other Side of the Wind







Be sure to check out Scott's piece on his top ten and the podcast episode. We quibble only on the charms of Binoche!

Honorable Mentions:
20. The Polka King
19. Thoroughbreds
18. A Quiet Place
17. Eighth Grade
16. Private Life
15. Roma
14. Isle of Dogs
13. Mission: Impossible- Fallout
***edit First Man***
**edit Can You Ever Forgive Me?***
12. First Reformed
11. The Land Of Steady Habits


Shameful Omissions/Hopeful Ambitions:
The World Is Yours
Happy as Lazzaro
Burning
If Beale Street Could Talk
The Oath
The Sister Brothers
Cold War
Mandy

Takahiko Ishikawa THE FIRMAMENT (1993)

a soundtrack to forgiveness



it is eerie to listen to Tom Petty radio on Sirius, and hear him celebrate his 150th show.  His musical history knowledge was so deep, his soul was the Mississippi overflowing into Lake Pontchartrain. Early spring, pre-spring even, is prime Petty season. Tubers that disappeared and waited all winter suddenly appear, under ice and snow with that fucking raw plant strength, like, yes, heat death of the universe, but also, I'm here again.  Look at me and take heart.

Shigaeki Saegusa FANTASIA FALLS (1985)

the should be asleep YouTube account is doing as much good as can be done on the internet, spreading lost gospels. This is wild, movements reference Shostakovich, et al. then 70's soundtracks/theme songs à la The Mary Tyler Moore Show, then eco-ambient, all while presaging the video games yet to come, the interface and escape, a safe space where we all practiced death. Am I doing corpse pose right?