THE SONGS, SHOWS, AND GAMES THAT MADE MY YEAR
Now that we've all had time to assess 2017, I decided I wanted to sum the year up by listing the top 5 songs, top 5 TV shows, and and top 3 video games I enjoyed in 2017. Some of the shows I may have been a little late to the party, but everything here is, I think, worth your time.
TOP 5 SONGS
Attention - Charlie Puth
The funk is barely contained in this masterfully catchy pop song. Lush soundscapes, soaring vocals, punchy melodies, & deep groove basslines, Puth delivers it all.
Symphony - Zara Larsson & Clean Bandit
Clean Bandit consistently deliver quality, and with Zara Larsson, one of the most promising vocalists around, the result is jaw-dropping. Plus it's full of puns!
Sorry Not Sorry - Demi Lovato
Smart writing to jump on the phrase du jour, and doesn't hold back with other choice words either. Groovy, ballsy, belty, triumphant, and blisteringly savage.
Kiwi - Harry Styles
An irrepressible masterclass in rocking out and having fun. Cheekiest lyric of the year - "She's all over me, it's like I paid for it, I'm gonna pay for this".
New Rules - Dua Lipa
Not just rammed with helpful truths about modern dating, but exquisitely produced and delivered. The drum fill delay drop on the chorus fires me up every single time.
TOP 5 SHOWS
Black Sails
So much more than a prequel to Treasure Island, the writing, acting, and relationships between characters, especially Flint, Billy, & Silver, are unmissable.
Master of None
If you found Ansari annoying in Parks & Rec, this hilarious, smart, and truthful insight into the millennial zeitgeist is the perfect second impression.
Brooklyn 99
Undoubtedly one of the funniest shows around. Braugher's stoic Captain Holt is the perfect foil for Samberg's zany energy, and the supporting cast is on point.
Legion
Marvel's deep dive into mental illness is more disturbing than IT, but infinitely more rewarding, not least because of deft storytelling, direction, and cinematography
Dirk Gently
This is, without doubt, the best adaptation of Douglas Adams that's ever been put to screen. Mind-bending, laughter-demanding, required edge-of-your-seat viewing
TOP 3 GAMES
HORIZON ZERO DAWN
Contender for game of the decade, not just the year. Emotional, challenging, varied, expansive, and fun, plus let's not forget hunting robot dinosaurs.
FINAL FANTASY XV
Questionable voice acting aside (looking at you, Cindy), this is the best Final Fantasy game I've played. One of the best final boss battles and endings in years.
SOUTH PARK: THE FRACTURED BUT WHOLE
The Stick of Truth, but with superheroes instead of fantasy, improved combat, and an even wider cast of characters. Call Girl is the hero we don't deserve.