The Best of Filtered Excellence 2020
2020 was a year that we would all like to forget, but some outstanding art emerged through all of the tragedy and chaos. Here’s the best of the best movies, TV shows, and music that make 2020 bearable:
Bob Geldof once asked us, “Where is the filtered excellence!?” It’s right here. Once a week we take a break from comedy to bring you this week’s picks of the best things to watch, the most interesting things to do, great things to try, the best picks to read, our favorite things to listen to and more.
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Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom. Director George C. Wolfe and producer Denzel Washington teamed up for the 2nd in a series of big screen adaptations of August Wilson’s plays – and delivered the best film of 2020. Viola Davis absolutely brings it as blues pioneer Ma Rainey, who with her band – trumpeter Levee (Chadwick Bosman), guitarist/trombonist Cutler (Coleman Domingo); bassist Slow Drag (Michael Potts), and pianist Toledo (Glynn Turman) – arrives in 1927 Chicago to record new songs for Paramount Records. Ma Rainey is running late, and while the rest of group prepares for the session, slow boiling tensions come to the surface. The band isn’t happy that Levee cut a side deal with studio owner Mel Sturdyvant (Jonny Coyne) to write new arrangements on the songs, with the hope that it will jumpstart his career as a bandleader. When Ma Rainey arrives, she immediately butts heads with her manager Irvin (Jeremy Shamos), Mel, and the band when she insists that her stuttering nephew Sylvester (Dusan Brown) does the spoken intro to one of the songs. She also has little patience for Levee, who quietly making a play for Rainey’s girlfriend Dussie Mae (Taylour Paige). Short tempers in a hot studio leads to implications that will have lasting effects on all involved. George C. Wolfe uses Ruben Santiago-Hudson’s killer screenplay to bring all of Wilson’s intricacies and subtleties to life, anchored by explosive performances, along with Ann Roth’s remarkable costume designs. Davis cements her status as the best working actor today as the fearless, take it or leave it blues iconoclast, doing more with an eye roll than most actors do with several lines of dialogue. Boseman’s turn as the ambitious, impatient Levee is in lock step with Davis, effortlessly moving from joy, pain, hopefulness and rage that will break your heart. He leaves it all out there, making his final performance one for the ages. Somewhere August Wilson is smiling. Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom is available now on Netflix.
Lovers Rock. Steve McQueen’s second installment of his Small Axe film anthology takes us to 1980, as Martha (Amarah-Jae St. Aubyn), a young Jamaican-British woman, goes with her friend Patty (Shaniqua Okwok) to a West London ‘blues party’ for a white nationalist-free night of fun. Martha slowly hits it off with Franklyn (Micheal Ward), and as the night progress, their relationship goes from cautious interactions to blossoming love. McQueen is the height of his powers, acutely capturing every aspect of how such parties came together: The unconscious flow and rhythm of the ladies preparing food; the moment of joy when the DJ and his crew have the sound system up and running; the intricate details the ladies use to get their hair ready for the night. It’s more fly on the wall than feature film. McQueen also adds just enough hints of tension that reminds them (and us) about what they are trying to escape that night: the group of white men ready to harass Martha as she goes out to look for Patty; the bouncer quickly closing the doors as a police car drives by; and the steps Martha takes to prevent birthday girl Cynthia from being sexually assaulted. McQueen’s use of classic reggae and disco – particularly Janet Kay’s ‘Silly Games’ and The Revolutionaries ‘Kunta Kinte Dub’ – elevates the party (and the film) into a near religious experience. But its love that fuels this story: The love of culture, the love for being in the moment and the new love between two people. It consumes them and everyone watching, reminding us of the power and joy of the communal experience. It was the perfect counter to the intensity of Mangrove, with McQueen turning in the love story of the year. Lovers Rock is available now on Amazon Prime.
Mangrove. Academy Award winner Steve McQueen’s teamed up with BBC Films for Small Axe, a film series that told the personal stories of how London’s West Indian/Caribbean and Jamaican community encountered – and overcame – rampant racism and discrimination from the late 60s through the mid 1980s. It’s opening salvo was Mangrove, which recounts the events leading up to, during and after the trial of the Mangrove 9. The film is shown through the eyes of Frank Crichlow (Shawn Parkes), the owner of a restaurant in the west London neighborhood of Notting Hill. It’s become a community rallying spot for the West Indian residents, much to the chagrin of Constable Pulley (Sam Spruell). Tired of the constant raids and overall harassment, Crichlow teams up with British Black Panther leader Altheia Jones (Leitia Wright) – organize a protest against the police. When the protest grows violent, its 9 organizers – including Crichlow – find themselves on trial for inciting a riot. But rather than buckle under and accept a plea deal, they become their own attorneys and effectively put a racist British criminal justice system on trial. McQueen, the son of Grenadian and Trinidadian parents, showed why he’s one of the best filmmakers working today, capturing the nuances of the West Indian community of the time, with such an accuracy that it feels more like a documentary than a feature film. Wright, best known for her performance in Black Panther, is outstanding as BBP leader Jones, bringing such a strong, confident presence, that she becomes the group’s moral center. But the film really belongs to Parkes. His portrayal the passionate, yet reluctant Crichlow, wrestling between his quest for justice and the stark realities of a rigged system, begs to recognized during awards season. With great direction, performances and a compelling story, it was the obvious choice to kick off the series. Mangrove is available now on Amazon Prime.
Da 5 Bloods. Spike Lee’s follow up to the Oscar-winning BlacKkKlansman explores the lingering effects of The Vietnam War through the eyes of Black soldiers. It tells the story of four veterans – Eddie (Norm Lewis), Melvin (Isiah Whitlock, Jr), Otis (Clark Peters) and Paul (Delroy Lindo) – who return to Vietnam to search for the remains of their squad leader, ‘Stormin’ Norman (Chadwick Boseman), and the cache of gold that they buried with him. Paul’s son, David (Jonathan Majors) tags along and together they embark on a journey that will test the limits of their friendship, confront old demons with current realities, and stay a step ahead of outside forces who become aware of the gold. Lee, once again teaming up with KkKlansman screenwriter Kevin Willmott, retooled Danny Bilson and Paul DeMeo’s initial 2013 script into a film that’s part action thriller, part war drama, and social commentary on the difficulties Black soldiers had to deal with in the field and stateside. Lee and cinematographer Newton Thomas Siegel made exceptional use of the Southeast Asian landscape, capturing both the horrors of war and the country’s stunning reversal into a capitalist driven nation. The addition of Marvin Gaye’s seminal What’s Goin’ On served as the film’s Greek chorus and its nothing short of amazing. Delroy Lindo delivers a career defining performance as the tightly wound, MAGA loving Paul. Fueled by rage, guilt, greed and PTSD, he consumes every frame he appears on screen. Clark Peters puts in another great turn as Otis, the level headed former medic whose journey back to Vietnam has even more deeper personal overtones than the others. Jonathan Majors – last seen in The Last Black Man In San Francisco – yet again shows why he’s one of our best young actors as David, the son who shoehorns his way into the mission with the hopes of finding the father he never quite knew or understood. It’s Spike Lee hitting a new creative gear that deserves to make a strong showing at the Oscars. Da 5 Bloods is available now on Netflix.
The 40 Year Old Version. Radha Blank wrote and directed this autobiographical looks at re-claiming one’s personal and professional voice. Radha plays a fictional version of herself, who’s life in stuck in neutral: Once a promising playwright, she’s ten years removed from getting her last play produced and now teaching a rowdy group of high schools to pay rent on her small Harlem apartment. She’s also still mourning the death of her mother, and dodging calls from her brother, who needs help sorting through items that were left behind. After a pitch meeting with an affluent producer ends badly, Radha decides to make the leap into hip hop and become a rapper. Working under the handle RadhamMUS Prime, she reaches out to D, a Brooklyn-based beat maker (Oswin Benjamin), to help her make a mixed tape. But when the chance arises to have one of her plays produced (albeit in a highly compromised form), she must choose whether to take one last shot at theater or chase her newfound passion. Doing double duty as writer/director, Blank touches upon a lot of topics: being a single, middle-aged Black woman in 21st Century America; the obstacles minority creatives have to overcome working in a predominantly white arts community and reinvention at the cusp of middle age. While the movie is about a woman looking to rediscover her artistic voice, it’s also an effective classroom drama, romantic comedy, buddy film (Blank and Peter Kim as her long time friend and agent Archie are fantastic together), a meditation on grief and love letter to New York City. Gloriously shot in black and white by cinematographer Eric Branco, Radha Blank has crafted a multi-dimensional look at the pursue of artistry in an ever shifting New York. The Forty Year Old Version is available now on Netflix.
Mank. Gary Oldman portrays screenwriter Herman J. Mankiewicz in this Netflix film by David Fincher. Written by his father, Jack Fincher, it weaves back and forth between 1940 and the early 1930s, with Mank, recovering from a broken leg, attempting to stay sober long enough to write Citizen Kane; and his days as a top flight screenwriter for MGM. It’s during his run at MGM where he befriends powerful media magnate William Randolph Hearst (Charles Dance), and his mistress Marion Davies (Amanda Seyfried). A frequent guest as Heart’s dinner parties, Mank plays court jester – and social critic – for studio heads Louis B. Mayer (Arliss Howard) and Irving Thalberg (Ferdinand Kingsley) and other members of California’s social elite. What Mank saw, and heard during these interactions became the basis of what many consider to be the greatest film ever made, Citizen Kane. The movie also covers Mank’s struggles to finish the screenplay, his battles with Orson Welles (Tom Burke) to receive proper credit for his work, and how it irreparably damaged his relationship with Welles, Davies and Hollywood. Fincher, working with cinematographer Erik Messerschmidt, honors his father’s memory and classic Hollywood filmmaking itself with stunning period pieces, costumes and a story that owes a great debt to Citizen Kane. Oldman is fantastic in the title track, capturing all of the boozy screenwriter’s sense of righteousness and self-destructive behavior. Lily Collins also turns a wonderful performance as Mank’s secretary/caretaker Rita Alexander, while Amanda Seyfried combines vulnerability and Brooklyn brassiness as Marion Davies. With stunning visuals and dynamic performances, Fincher has put together a film that will be well represented during awards season. Mank is available now on Netflix.
Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. After a 14 year absence, Sasha Baron Cohen’s most iconic character came back with a vengeance, making hit and run stops across a COVID-ravaged U.S. This time out, Kazakhstan’s 4th best journalist is sprung from jail and tasked to deliver the country’s Minister Of Culture, Johnny The Monkey, to the U.S as a symbol of re-establishing diplomatic relations. Arriving in Texas by cargo ship, Borat finds the monkey gone and his 15 year old daughter, Tutar (Maria Bakalova) as his traveling companion. Together, they pair go through the state and various parts of the country, horrifying doctors, dress makers, debutantes and various right wing factions, in their attempt to present Tutar to Vice President Pence. Hilarious from start to finish, Cohen shows a side of America that will crack you up and horrify at the same time. Bakalova steals the movie as the teenage Tutar, who goes from blissfully ignorant to willfully empowered – especially in the film’s now infamous confrontation with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. It’s social commentary, political satire and cringe humor at its best. Borat Subsequent Moviefilm is available now on Amazon Prime.
On The Rocks. Bill Murray and Sophia Coppola’s third collaboration tapped into many of their respective life experiences. It stars Rashida Jones as Laura, who’s struggling to maintain footing within her marriage to Dean (Marlon Wayans), raise two young daughters, and find her own voice as a writer. Her insecurities worsen when she notices that Dean is spending increasingly more time with his younger, attractive co-worker Fiona. She calls her wealthy, highly influential art dealer father Felix (Bill Murray) for advice, who quickly surmises that Dean’s having an affair. Armed with shaky intel, a classic car and caviar, Felix convinces Laura to follow her husband to confirm their suspicions. But Laura slowly comes to realize that she has to address long stemming issues with Felix before she can deal with the possibility of her husband’s infidelity. Growing up in the shadow of a famous father is at the center of Coppola’s script, and its complex emotions are wonderfully captured by Jones, who, like Coppola, grew up with a larger than life dad. Murray is also great form as the always flirtatious, every time is a great time Felix. He always turns it up a notch when working with Coppola and this performance is no different. Skillfully using a pre-COVID New York City as a backdrop, Coppola has added another strong film to an already impressive catalog. On The Rocks is available now on Apple TV.
Once We Were Brothers: Robbie Robertson & The Band. After making the rounds on the festival circuit, the eagerly awaited documentary on The Band was finally given a proper theatrical release. Directed by Daniel Rohar (and executive produced by Martin Scorsese), it tells The Band’s story through Robertson’s eyes – from his early years with his family on the Six Nations Reserve; traveling to the Deep South to work with Ronnie Hawkins; to meeting the group of musicians that would later become The Band. There’s also great stories about backing up Bob Dylan during his first electric tours, and how their subsequent relocation to Woodstock would change their lives forever. Robertson also tells how the trappings of fame ultimately led to drug and alcohol abuse, which nearly destroyed the musical dynamic. Then there’s, of course, how The Last Waltz – considered to be the greatest concert film of all-time – came together, providing a fitting farewell to one of rock’s most respected and revered groups. Despite having a lack of live footage of The Band at their peak, Rohar does an extraordinary job of telling The Band’s story, piecing together interview footage, the timeless Elliot Landy photographs, and, Robertson’s rich storytelling. With appearances by former road manager Jonathan Taplin, early producer John Simon, Eric Clapton, Bruce Springsteen, Van Morrison, Taj Mahal, Ronnie Hawkins and Robertson’s former wife Dominique, Rohar has put together a warm salute to one of rock’s most influential groups. Once We Were Brothers is streaming now on Amazon Prime.
What She Said: The Art Of Pauline Kael. For nearly 25 years, Pauline Kael was America’s most influential film critic. Her passionate championing of films by Martin Scorsese, Robert Altman, Arthur Penn and Sam Peckinpah, played a key role in the ‘New Hollywood’ movement that dominated the 1970s. Director Rob Garver looked back at Kael’s life career and influence in this dynamic documentary. Told on her own words, it looks back on how Kael, a single mother living in a bohemian lifestyle in Berkeley, became a film critic for a number of California-based publications and public radio in the early 1950s, before moving onto McCall’s and The New Republic in the 1960s. When The New Republic refused to publish her positive review of Bonnie & Clyde, it was picked up by The New Yorker. It was Kael’s praise of the controversial Arthur Penn classic that helped make the film a box office hit – and make her The New Yorker’s main film critic for the next 23 years. The film also shows Kael’s never ending defense of her work from filmmakers, actors, publicists, editors and fellow critics, who weren’t prepared for a woman (in a predominately male field) that could write with such wit, precision, insight and historical context. Garver has full access to Kael’s archives, including writings (which are read by Sarah Jessica Parker), TV and radio interviews, home movies and photos to completely round out Kael’s career and life outlook. With new interviews with Quentin Tarantino, Paul Schrader, David O. Russell, Alec Baldwin and Kael contemporaries/disciples Molly Haskell, Joe Morgenstern and David Edelstein, Garver crafted the ultimate salute to the greatest film critic of all time. What She Said: The Art Of Pauline Kael, is available now on Amazon and Itunes.
Perry Mason. For this new adaptation of the CBS series, HBO gave the iconic public defender a radical makeover. Set in Depression-era Los Angeles, Perry Mason (Matthew Rhys), isn’t a crusading attorney, but a down and out private investigator living in his family’s crumbling San Fernando Valley dairy farm. Reeling from a divorce and World War I PTSD, he’s hired by long time friend and attorney, E.B. Jonathan (John Lithgow) to help clear Emily Dodson (Gayle Rankin) of charges in a high profile case involving the kidnapping and murder of her infant son. Mason must also contend with Sister Alice (Tatiana Maslany), a celebrated evangelist of a powerful church with close ties to Dodson. As Mason digs deeper, he finds himself in a world of corruption, land grabs and political power plays that will alter the lives of all involved forever. Matthew Rhys puts an entirely different spin on Mason, dripping with cynicism to mask deep rooted hurts, but maintaining a burning desire to bring the truth to life no matter what the cost. Juliet Rylance is excellent as Della Street, an invaluable anchor for Jonathan, Mason, and Dodson in their quest to find the truth. John Lithgow adds a strong, formidable veteran presence to the role of the aging defense attorney, playing both mentor and driving force behind the case. Tatiana Maslany brings the fire and brimstone as the charismatic Sister Alice, whose desire to rescue Dodson from the gallows slowly reveals her own need for personal salvation. Shea Wingham provides biting, often humorous interplay as Mason’s PI wingman Pete Strickland and Chris Chalk completely flips the script as Officer Paul Drake, here being portrayed as a black cop facing as much racism in the squad room as he is on the beat. Then there’s the always wonderful Lili Taylor as Sister Alice’s mother Birdie, who’s nervous about how her daughter’s role will play out with her growing ministry. With great set pieces and wonderful direction by Tim Van Patton, this is a series stood out head and shoulders above the pack. Perry Mason is available now on HBO Max.
Lovecraft Country. Misha Green wrote and developed this adaptation of the Matt Ruff novel. Jonathan Majors stars as Atticus ‘Tic’ Freeman, a Korean war veteran who returns to his native Chicago to find his missing father (Michael K. Williams). Along with his uncle George (Courtney B. Vance) and childhood friend Letitia ‘Leti’ Lewis (Jurnee Smollett), they journey through the segregated United States and confront racism, secret orders, spirits and monsters straight out of a H.P Lovecraft novel. This show is simply fantastic, blending social commentary, spirituality, science fiction and horror mythology, into an allegory of America’s handling of race. Smollett is outstanding as Leti, whose restless street smarts and sensuality hides vulnerability along with a desire to plant roots and re-connect with her sister, Ruby (Wunmi Mosaku). Jonathan Majors pulls a star-making turn as Tic, putting his experiences in the war to confirm the supernatural forces at play and the real life monsters in Jim Crow America. Featuring a killer soundtrack covering 60 years of American music, it’s easy to see why it became a such a hit. Lovecraft Country is available now on HBO Max.
Harley Quinn. After earning rave reviews in Season 1, DC Universe’s adult series made the move over to HBO Max and crushed it. Kaley Cuoco voices the former Joker girlfriend/sidekick, who, after dumping The Clown Prince Of Crime, tries to become an A-list supervillain. She also puts together a crew that includes her best friend Poison Ivy (Lake Bell), the very unlikeable telekinetic Dr. Psycho (Tony Hale), lovable computer whiz King Shark (Ron Funches) and aspiring thespian Clayface (Alan Tudyk, who also does the voice of The Joker). But Harley’s leadership skills need work, there’s stiff competition from her ex ‘s team, The Legion Of Doom and, of course, Batman ready to foil their plans. The show remains faithful to the DC Universe, but it’s tongue is firmly in its cheek, and loaded with enough rapid fire profanity-laced jokes that would make Richard Pryor blush with glee. It’s a show that begs to be binge watched. Harley Quinn is available now on HBO Max.
Run. The creative team behind Fleabag put together this smart, sexy series for HBO. Merritt Wever stars as Ruby Richardson, who puts her uneventful life in the suburbs on hold after receiving a text from her former college boyfriend Billy Johnson (Domhnall Gleeson) that simply says ‘RUN’. Re-connecting at Grand Central Station, they embark on an emotional journey in which they rekindle their romance, secrets will be revealed and the realities of the lives they left behind quickly close in. The chemistry between Wever and Gleeson is undeniable and Vicky Jones and Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s crisp dialogue keeps the sexual tension – and unexpected suspense – moving at a brisk pace. A stunner from start to finish. Run is available now on HBO Max.
Ted Lasso. What started out as a character to promote NBC’s coverage of the Premier League has become a sleeper hit for Apple TV. Jason Sudeikis plays Ted Lasso, an American college football coach who, despite having zero experience running a soccer team, is hired to turn around Premier League soccer team, AFC Richmond. Their owner, Rebecca (Hannah Waddingham), got the team as part of a messy divorce and hopes that Lasso’s inexperience will destroy the one thing her cheating billionaire ex actually loved. But Ted’s down home positivity eventually rubs off on his players, the press and even Rebecca. Sudeikis is pitch perfect in the title role, putting a new spin on the fish of water story that never gets cliched or predictable. It also mines laughs based on the local culture that surrounding league culture without it being openly insulting. Apple picked up a new season after only three episodes and it’s easy to see why: It’s one of the best shows to come out this year.
Bad Education. The story behind the largest public school embezzlement scandal in American history became the subject of this HBO original film. Hugh Jackman stars as Roslyn school superintendent Frank Tassone, whose hands-on relationships with students, parents and faculty leads them to become the 4th best district in the nation. Allison Janney plays Pam Gluckin, the district business manager and Tassone’s closest ally and confidante. When sophomore Rachel Bhargava’s (Geraldine Biswanathan) fluff piece for the school newspaper unlocks a web of deceit and theft, it will forever alter the lives of all involved. Mike Makowsky – who was in Roslyn’s middle school when the scandal broke – put together a screenplay that skillfully peels away the deception and hypocrisy, but adds enough nuance to support behind their motivations. Jackman gives one of the best performances of his career as Tassone, who slowly moves from confident and assuring, to calculating and conniving with astonishing subtlety. Janney’s performance is the exact opposite: Rocking the Long Island accent, she’s is pitch perfect as Gluckin, who, unlike Tassone, is pretty open about the rationale behind her theft. With dynamic turns by Biswanathan (as the young reporter who uncovers the widespread theft), and Ray Romano (as school board president Bob Spicer), along with superb direction by Corey Finley, it’s one of the year’s best offerings. Bad Education is available now on HBO Max.
After Life. Ricky Gervais returned as the writer, director and star for Season 2 of the critically acclaimed Netflix series. He’s back as Tony Johnson, a writer for a local British newspaper who, despite making significant emotional breakthroughs, is still still grieving the death of his wife Lisa (Katy Godliman). But as he wrestles through his own personal trauma, Tony makes attempts to be more kind to those in his immediate circle. It includes helping his brother in a law and boss Matt (Tom Basden) work through a marital separation and the possible shutdown of the newspaper; setting up his mailman Pat (Joe Wilkinson) with sex worker Roxy (Roisin Conaty); advising ad exec Kath (Diane Morgan) as she has to deal with her unreturned affections for Matt; and help recent hire Sandy (Mandeep Dillon) work out a personal and career crisis. But the show’s best moments come when Tony opens up about his conflicted feelings about starting a new relationship with nursing home attendant Emma (Ashley Jensen), and his talks with Anne (Penelope Wilton), an older widow who frequently visits her late husband’s gravesite. This season has its fair share of laughs, but this is more of a extended meditation on grief, loss, and how the power of community can get help someone find the strength to carry on. It’s another strong offering from the mind of Ricky Gervais. Season 2 of After Life is available now on Netflix.
Moonbase 8. John C. Reilly, Fred Armisen and Tim Heidecker teamed up with director Jonathan Kristen teamed up for this hilarious Showtime series that looks at the humorous side of the path to space travel. They play Cap, Skip, and Rook, three aspiring astronauts living on a NASA Moon Base Simulator in the Arizona desert. Racked with loneliness, doubt and overall professional limitations, the three of them must learn to trust each other – and themselves – to make it to The Moon. You would think that putting together actors with decidedly distinctly styles wouldn’t work, but the three of them pull it off effortlessly, giving each other enough room to bring out the comedic gold. We’re really hoping that Showtime picks up the show for another season, because it’s highly entertaining, featuring three of our best comedic actors.
Moonbase 8 is available now on Showtime.
Betty. After the success of the film Skate Kitchen, writer-director Crystal Moselle was able to adapt several of its aesthetics into an HBO series. Set in pre-COVID New York City summer, it follows a diverse group of young women skaters trying to find their place in a male-dominated world. There’s the sharp, no-nonsense Janay (Dede Lovelace); fiercely loyal, but impulsive Kirt (Nina Moran); the stylish filmmaker Honeybear (Moonbear); the cool, weed vape pen dealing Indigo (Amani Russell) and Camille, a skilled skater who continuously tries to prove her worth to the boys within their circle. Using downtown New York as a backdrop, Moselle captures the vibrancy and energy of being a city kid hanging with friends, looking for love, a good time and, of course, acceptance. It’s was another strong showing from HBO that we hope will get picked up for Season 2. Betty is available now on HBO Max.
The Last Dance. Through the 1990s, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls ruled the NBA, wining 6 championships in 8 years, including two three peats. The Last Dance looked back at the 1997-1998 campaign with Jordan with looking to close out his Hall Of Fame career with yet another title. Featuring new interviews with Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Phil Jackson, Steve Kerr, opponents, sportswriters, broadcasters among many others, it shows the Bulls machine operating at full throttle, even as teams such as the Indiana Pacers and the Utah Jazz were looking end their dynasty. The never before seen footage of the team, on and off the court captured by NBA Entertainment is incredible, and the new interviews with all of the principles add new insight and texture. It was a candid look at life at the top of the sports mountain, lead by one of the best to ever grace the court. The Last Dance is available now on Netflix.
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Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple. Recorded at home over the past 8 years, Fiona Apple got together with her frequent collaborators Amy Aileen Wood, Sebastian Steinberg and David Garza to record her 5th album, and the results were simply stunning. Apple takes us on a musical travelogue that taps into her experiences with being bullied (‘Shameika’, ‘Relay’,), anxiety (‘Heavy Balloon’), and the many facets of her current state of mind (‘I Want You To Love Me’, ‘On I Go’). But the core of the album also deals with the ramifications of toxic relationships (‘Under The Table’, ‘Rack Of His’, ‘Cosmonauts’, ‘For Her’) and songs addressed to the new women in her ex’s lives (‘Newspaper’, ‘Ladies’). It’s Fiona Apple at her most incisive, biting, and introspective, anchored by complex musical arrangements, every day household sounds, bells, dogs and a killer band. This is what happens when an artist is giving the opportunity to be loose, uninhibited and completely free to express. Fetch The Bolt Cutters by Fiona Apple is available now through Amazon, Apple Music, and major streaming services.
Rough and Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan. Like a musical Moses coming down from the mountain, Dylan’s first album of new material in 8 years delivered the perfect soundtrack to a world gone mad. Anchored by his road band of rhythm killers (which includes guitarist Charlie Sexton and long time bassist Tony Gardiner) and guest appearances by Benmont Tench, Fiona Apple, Blake Mills, Alan Pasqua and Tommy Rhodes, Dylan put fractured hymns, lovelorn waltzes, down and dirty blues and dark noir through his highly imaginative filter, ripe with references and characters that run from the historical to the cultural. It’s a journey through every nook and crevice of an America that you read about in pulp novels or a see in Scorsese or Tarantino films. This isn’t an album as much as it is an experience. Another master work from a master artist. Rough And Rowdy Ways by Bob Dylan is available now though Amazon, Apple Music and all major streaming services.
Blackbirds by Bettye LaVette. For her follow-up to the Grammy-nominated album, Things Have Changed, Bettye LaVette put together a collection of songs made famous by legendary Black women singers. With Steve Jordan back as producer/drummer and a kickass band that includes guitarist Smokey Hormel, Tom Barney on bass, and keyboardist Leon Pendarvis, LaVette takes songs by Nina Simone (I Hold No Grudge), Dinah Washington (Drinking Again), Ruth Brown (Book Of Lies), Nancy Wilson (Save Your Love For Me), Della Reece (Blues For Weepers) and Lil Green (Romance In The Dark), in arrangements that fit her seasoned, mature vocals. Jordan doesn’t stay in one musical lane, arranging the songs that run the gamut from straight torch, funky jazz, Memphis soul and even a hint of 70s blaxploitation. LaVette turns Billie Holliday’s Strange Fruit into a haunting, hypnotic look at racism’s ugly after effects, emphasizing specific words to lyrics more bit. The only song outside of the concept is the closing song, ‘Blackbird’. Slowing down the tempo and subtly supported by a string section, LaVette turns The Beatles classic into an allegory about her 50 plus years in the business. For someone who has been making one killer album after another for the past 15 years, this one is the best of them of all. Blackbirds by Bettye LaVette is available now through Amazon, Apple Music and all major streaming services.
Apogee by Whitney Tai. For the follow up to her critically acclaimed debut Metamorphosis, singer-songwriter Whitney Tai emerged from a period of personal and professional growth with a set of astonishing and diverse songs. Working with long time collaborator Tim Janssens, the album has everything from soaring, dream-pop (‘Starfish’, ‘Electrified’); 80s influenced New Wave (‘Not Have Each Other’); defiant rockers (‘The Cure’ ‘Righteous, ‘Not Without Love’); Latin flavored pop (‘Meet Me On Melrose’); cinematic ballads (‘Surrender’, Scolded’) and majestic meditations (‘Incantation’). The musical leaps are incredible, effortlessly showcasing Tai’s vocal talents with songs about how to overcome grief, sadness, anxiety, pain into powerful anthems that celebrate the resiliency of the human spirit. Anchored by Janssens, crisp, spot on production, Whitney Tai made a strong case for being the next great voice in pop. Apogee by Whitney Tai is available now through Amazon, Apple Music, and all major streaming services
Shelby Lynne by Shelby Lynne. The latest album from the Grammy Award winning singer-songwriter was originally intended to be included in a film directed by Cynthia Mort. The film never materialized, but the songs (many of which were co-written with Mort) are incredible. Lynne plays all of the instruments (including sax) throughout, with being material that ranges from the sultry (‘I Got You’), defiant (‘Here I Am’), mournful (‘Weather’, Revolving Broken Heart’, ‘My Mind’s Riot) and restless (‘Strange Times’, ‘Off My Mind’, ‘Don’t Even Believe In Love’). The sparse, stripped down arrangements makes the songs more intimate, making it sound like you are dropping in a late night conversation than a recording session. Blurring the lines between soul, gospel, R&B, torch and rock, Lynne’s vocals are nothing short of sublime, sounding more like she’s lived these songs as much as she’s performing them. This is yet another highlight in a career that has been nothing short of legendary. Shelby Lynne by Shelby Lynne is available now through Amazon, Apple Music and all major streaming outlets.
Not 12 by Mark Lesseraux & The Citizens. Mark Lesseraux & The Citizens have been making amazingly diverse and musically enriched albums for nearly 20 years. Their latest album finds the singer-songwriter still at the top of his game, effortlessly shifting from Nilsson/Beatlesque power pop and ballads; falsetto laced Prince dance tracks, sweeping space rock; and mid tempo ballads that would make Billy Joel proud. It takes a special kind of talent to create songs referencing Danny Torrence from The Shining, Halliburton, drones and former sitcom star Valerie Harper, make it work, and have it look effortless at the same time. In short, the album is a dynamic, cerebral approach to rock and pop that demands repeat listens. Not 12 by Mark Lesseraux & The Citizens is available now through Bandcamp, Apple Music and all major streaming services.
Italian Ice by Nicole Atkins. For her follow up to 2017’s excellent Goodnight Rhonda Lee in 2017, Nicole Atkins went to the legendary Muscle Shoals Studios to continue to mine the deep well of American music. Teaming with members of The Swampers (Spooner Oldham and David Hood), Binky Griptite of The Dap-Kings, Jim Sclavunos & Dave Sherman (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds), John Paul White, Erin Rae, McKenzie Smith (St. Vincent), and Alabama Shakes producer Ben Sherman, Atkins has put together an Americana mix tape: There’s a slab of R&B/Soul (‘Am Gold’); bouncy electro-funk (‘Domino’); old school country (‘Never Going Home Again’); Beatles-que balladry (‘Captain’); grove-based alt-rock (‘Mind Eraser’); and Brill Building pop (‘St Dymphna’, ‘Forever’, ‘Road To Nowhere’, ‘These Old Roses’). Atkins handles all of the material wonderfully, one of the best versatile voices working today, backed by a killer band and no-frills, in the moment production. How do you follow up an amazing album? Make another one. Italian Ice by Nicole Atkins is available now through Amazon, Apple Music and all available streaming services.
El Dorado by Marcus King. He’s only 23, but Marcus King has been playing professionally for over a decade and has recorded three critically acclaimed albums under The Marcus King Band. But after gaining national attention with a show stopping set at Eric Clapton’s 2019 Crossroads Guitar Festival, King released his first official solo album. Produced by Dan Auerbach of The Black Keys, King fuses rock, soul, R&B, gospel and country that stands alongside the classic recordings that came out of Memphis in the late 60s and early 70s. His guitar work crushes, but what really stands out is King’s vocals, which convey a feel and experience well beyond his years. The ballads on the album – particularly ‘Wildflowers & Wine’ – will wreck you. Auerbach’s production work keeps it simple, presenting a live in the studio feel that gives King and the band – which includes American Sound Studio vets Gene Chrisman (drums), and keyboardist Bobby Wood – plenty of room to let the material come free and easy. 2020 marked the arrival of the next great singer-songwriter-guitarist. El Dorado by Marcus King is available now through Amazon, Apple Music and all major streaming outlets.
Good Souls, Better Angels by Lucinda Williams. Lucinda Williams wouldn’t have known that a global pandemic would happen, but her latest studio album sounded like it was written over the past few months. Her biting critique of the President, ‘Man Without A Soul, has been getting a lot of attention, but the rest of the album is loaded with stinging observations of a world gone wrong (‘Bad News Blues’, ‘Bone Of Contention’); abusive relationships (‘Wakin’ Up); and extended dark meditations that look for light at the end of a very dark tunnel (‘Big Black Train’, ‘Pray The Devil Back To Hell’, ‘Shadows & Doubts’, ‘When The Way Gets Dark’). 40 years after her debut, Williams is still at the top of her game, anchoring a band that effortlessly shifts from bar room rockers, back alley blues and moody, jazz-infused ballads – all with a defiant, punk rock edge bubbling underneath. It’s another winner from a singer-songwriter who never disappoints. Good Souls, Better Angels by Lucinda Williams is available now through Amazon, Apple Music and all major streaming outlets.
Nightbird Motel by Connor Bracken & The Mother Leeds Band. Fueled by the undying spirit of rock n roll, the sophomore album by Jersey’s own Connor Bracken & The Mother Leeds Band is the soundtrack for those nights when you were out with your friends, drinks are flowing, and the vibe you are picking up from that potential significant other is electric. This album is loaded with big riffs, thunderous drums and songs tailor made to transition into an arena. By combining Springsteen idealism with the swagger of Humble Pie, Bracken brings the same energy and passion back into rock n roll the way The Boss did back in the 70s. Whether its playing in your car, computer, phone or any other listening device, put it on, crank it to 10 and take the sonic ride. Nightbird Motel by Connor Bracken & The Mother Leeds Band is available now through all major streaming services.
DO THIS
Wear A Mask.
Wash Your Hands.
Practice Social Distancing.
Stay Safe.
Happy Holidays!
Latest posts by Earl Douglas (see all)
- Earl’s World: The Filtered Excellence: September 7, 2021 - September 7, 2021
- Remembering Fez Whatley - August 15, 2021
- Earl’s World: The Filtered Excellence: July 23, 2021 - July 25, 2021
