2020 Top 5 Lists

Let’s face it- 2020 was brutal.  So much so that it defies a witty, pithy or God forbid snarky summation.  What can be said is that never has quality viewing, listening or reading material been as essential as it was in 2020.  Just getting out of your own head and into someone else’s- doesn’t matter if that other “head” is prospecting for gems on a distant planet, hunting bail jumpers in suburban Atlanta or making the best selling fictional album of the 70’s- gave us a much needed break from the politics, pandemic, wildfires, etc. that sucked all the fun out of our lives in 2020.  That said, The Loves are all okay, crossing our fingers for the return of Sonoma Arts Live theatrical productions and All Kindsa Girls to the KSVY airwaves in 2021.  I know I say this every year, but in 2020 I was especially thankful for the movies, TV shows, records and books I saw, listened to and read.  In what is now a 22 year tradition, I humbly submit my 2020 Top 5's:

TOP 5 MOVIES (+5 DVD/streaming because 2020 killed theaters) 

Never Rarely Sometimes Always (Thank God for Cousins) 

Slut In A Good Way (Make way for Charlotte!)

Prospect (The best Pedro Pascal space epic)

The Handmaiden (Park does it again)

The Lovers (middle-age marriage story)

Banana Split / Never Goin’ Back (WWBFFD?)

Freaks (sci-fi genius)

Queen + Slim (this has got to stop)

The Assistant (this also has got to stop)

The Invisible Man / Emma (the last movies I saw in a theater-sigh-)

 

TOP 5 ALBUMS

Cheap Trick- Out To Get You!  Live 1977 (hear the masters at work)

The Zulus- Cockfight In A Bullring (a shoulda been huge Boston band)

Kurt Baker- After Party (Maine/Spain Man!)

Nick Piunti & The Complicated Men- Downtime (it’s “pyoon-tee”)

The Yum Yums- For Those About To Pop! (Norway’s finest)

 

TOP 5 BOOKS

The Nix- Nathan Hill (the past isn’t)

Saint X- Alexis Schaitkin (family vacation)

City of Girls- Elizabeth Gilbert (NYC theater survives)

Dopefiend- Donald Goines (heroine not-chic)

Daisy Jones & The Six- Taylor Jenkins Reid (sex&drugs&rock’n’roll)

 

TOP 5 TV SHOWS

Mr. Inbetween S1&2 (The Ray Way)

Teenage Bounty Hunters (Twin Powers, Activate!)

The Great (Catherine>Peter)

Brockmire S3&4 (The Redemption & The Future)

Normal People (beautiful heartbreak)

 

Not all of the above came out in 2020, but that’s when I caught up with them.  Sadly, Covid-19 killed the “Theatrical Performance” category in 2020, though I’m sure the stellar Berkeley Playhouse production of Memphis we saw in February would have made the list. During the early months of the pandemic I was watching a movie every night (check here for an ongoing rundown of those I liked).  Podcasts will likely have their own category next year- this year’s favorite being The Ballad of Billy Balls, an NYC rock & roll/love/murder story.  Please respond with your own 2020 favorites- I'm always on the lookout for quality viewing/listening/reading material and your selections may end up on next year's list.  Here's wishing you a happy, healthy and safe 2021!