Thursday, December 31, 2020

The Movies, Books, Theater, Concerts, CDs I Saw/Read/Heard In 2020

Updated as of December 31, 2020

KEY: star rating is on the four star scale
          meaning of "/" or "\"
          *** is three stars out of four
          ***/ is three stars leaning towards  3 1/2
          ***\ is three stars leaning towards 2 1/2


BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS BOOKS
(Increasingly, I am sampling books, reading 10%, 20% even 40 or 50% before deciding to move on. The books below are only the ones I've read completely. That also explains what looks like generous grading -- more and more, if I sense a book is not going to be among my favorites, I stop reading. Too many books; too little time!)


1. Girl, Woman, Other by Bernardine Evaristo *** 1/2
2. Thank You, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse *** 1/2 (despite the blackface)
3. Walt and Skeezix aka Gasoline Alley Volume Three 1925-1926 by Frank King *** 
4. Bubble In The Sun by Christopher Knowlton ** 1/2
5. A World Without Work by Daniel Susskind **
6. Tightrope by Nicholas Kristoff and Sheryl WuDunn ** 1/2
7. Arguing With Zombies by Paul Krugman ***
8. The Complete Terry and the Pirates Vol. 5 1943-1944 by Milton Caniff *** 1/2
9. The Complete Terry and the Pirates Vol. 6 1945-1946 by Milton Caniff *** 1/2
10. The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate ***
11. Darkness at Noon by Arthur Koestler ****
12. The Queen Of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner *** 1/2
13. The King Of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner *** 1/2
14. Harriet The Spy by Louise Fitzhugh *** 1/2
15. Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee by Dee Brown ***
16. Conspiracy of Kings by Megan Whalen Turner ** 1/2 
17. Apropos of Nothing by Woody Allen **
18. Thick As Thieves by Megan Whalen Turner ***
19. Why We're Polarized by Ezra Klein **
20. Gold Rush Girl by Avi ** 1/2
21. The Singapore Wink by Ross Thomas **
22. The Few by Alex Kershaw (nonfic on Battle Of Britain) *** 
23. The Splendid and the Vile by Erik Larson ** 1/2 (read too many books about Churchill and his wartime cabinet) 
24. The Warden by Anthony Trollope (1855) book one of Barsetshire Chronicles *** 1/2 
25. Trumpocalypse by David Frum * 
26. Rigged by David Shimer (history of covert election interference) *** 
27. Surviving Autocracy by Masha Gessen *** 
28. Barchester Towers by Anthony Trollope (1857) book two of Barsetshire Chronicles *** 1/2 
29. An Irish Country Village by Patrick Taylor (2008) ** 
30. An Irish Country Christmas (2008) ** 
31. Fingal O'Reilly, Irish Doctor (2013) ** 1/2 
32. An Irish Country Girl by Patrick Taylor (2010) ** 
33. Morality for Beautiful Girls by Alexander McCall Smith ** 
34. An Irish Country Courtship by Patrick Taylor * 1/2 
35. The Wind In The Willows by Kenneth Grahame, radio play by Alan Bennett *** 
36. The Mirror and The Light by Hilary Mantel *** 1/2 \ 
37. The Ox-Bow Incident by Walter Van Tilburg Clark ** 1/2 
38. Owls Of The Eastern Ice by Jonathan C. Slaght *** 
39. Shane by Jack Schaefer *** 
40. The Human Cosmos by Jo Marchant *** 1/2 \ 
41. The Searchers by Alan Le May *** 1/2 
42. Piranesi by Susanna Clarke **/ 
43. The Butterfly Effect: Insects and the Making Of The Modern World by Edward D. Melillo ** 1/2 
44. The End Of Everything by Katie Mack *** 
45. A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik ***
46.  The Ministry For The Future by Kim Stanley Robinson *** 1/2 
47. Warlock by Oakley Hall *** 1/2  
48. All Creatures Great And Small by James Herriot (read by Christopher Timothy) *** 1/2 
49. Subversive Orthodoxy by Robert Inchausti ** 
50. Wrecked by Joe Ide *** \ 
51. The Magic Pudding written and illustrated by Norman Lindsay *** 1/2 
52. Hi Five by Joe Ide ** 1/2 
53. 





CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS CDS (A strong emphasis on the ones I like, so don't think I love everything I listen to -- I just don't bother really listening to the ones I don't )


1. Neil Young -- Tonight's The Night (1975) *** 1/2 /
2. Neil Young -- Zuma (1975) *** 1/2
3. Neil Young -- After The Goldrush (1970) *** 1/2 /
4. Neil Young -- American Stars N Bars (1977) ** 1/2
5. Neil Young -- Comes A Time (1978) *** 1/2
6. Neil Young -- Rust Never Sleeps (1979) *** 1/2
7. Stan Getz and Joao Gilberto -- Getz/Gilberto #2 (1965) *** 1/2
8. John Luther Adams -- Become Ocean (2014) ****
9. Green Day -- Father Of All Motherfuckers *** 1/2
10. Teddy Thompson -- Heartbreaker Please *** 1/2
11. The Magnetic Fields -- Quickies *** 1/2
12. Drake Bell -- The Lost Album (2000) ***
13. Moses Sumney -- grae, Part 1 *** 1/2
14. Randy Travis -- Worship & Faith **
15. James Taylor -- American Standard **
16. Various Artists -- Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Collection (1995) *** 1/2
17. Various Artists -- Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar Masters Collection Vol. Two (1999) ***
18. Nancy Priddy -- You've Come This Way Before (1968) **
19. Brandy Clark -- Your Life Is A Record *** 1/2
20. Jose Feliciano -- Behind This Guitar **
21. Judy Collins -- Silver Blue Skies (w Ari Hest) (2016) ***
22. John Denver -- Greatest Hits (1973) **
23. Jose James -- No Beginning No End 2 **
24. Mike and the Moonpies -- Cheap Silver and Solid Country Gold ** 1/2
25. Minnie Ripperton -- Come To The Garden (1970) **
26. Nathaniel Rateliff -- And It's Still Alright **
27. Kate Bush -- Never For Ever (1980) ***/
28. The Lone Bellow -- Half Moon Light ** 1/2
29. Louis Armstrong -- The Standard Oil Sessions **
30. Michael Doucet -- Lacher Prise ** 1/2
31. Nazz -- Nazz (1968) ***
32. Nick Frater -- Full Fathom Freight-Train ***
33. Oh Wonder -- No One Else can Wear Your Crown ** 1/2
34. Parliament -- Mothership Connection (1975) ****
35. Paul Weller -- In Another Room ep **
36. Kate Bush -- The Dreaming (1981) ***/
37. Luke Haines and Peter Buck -- Beat Poetry For Survivalists **
38. Robert Cray -- That's What I Heard ***/
39. Old Crow Medicine Show -- Fifty Years Of "Blonde On Blonde" ** 1/2
40. Rumer -- B-Sides and Rarities ***
41. Judy Collins and Stephen Stills -- Everybody Knows (2017) ** 1/2
42. John Denver -- A Lime Creek Christmas ***
43. Jim Sullivan -- UFO (1969) ***
44. Kalapana -- Best of Black Sand: The Best Of Kalapana **
45. Kate Bush -- Hounds Of Love (1985) ****
46. The Kinks -- Face To Face (1966) ** 1/2
47. Matt Monroe -- Matt Sings and Nelson Swings (1967) *
48. Major Matt Mason USA -- Me Me Me (1998) **
49. William Prince -- Reliever **
50. Various Artists/Wynton Marsalis -- Motherless Brooklyn soundtrack ***
51. Beta Radio -- All Remains ep ***
52. R.E.M. -- Monster (1994) ** 1/2
53. Maria McKee -- La Vita Nuova *** 1/2
54. Gordon Lightfoot -- Solo **
55. Brian Eno and Roger Eno -- Mixing Colours ***/
56. Rod McKuen -- Greatest Hits Of (1969) *
57. Barry Manilow -- Night Songs II *** 1/2
58. Bill Fay -- Countless Branches ***
59. The Everly Brothers -- The Hit Sounds of the Everly Brothers (1967) ** 1/2
60. The Everly Brothers -- Sing (1967) **
61. Mister Rogers -- It's Such A Good Feeling: The Best of Mister Rogers ** 1/2
62. Cowboy Junkies -- Ghosts ***/
63.  Bill Withers -- Just As I Am ****
64. Bill Withers -- Still Bill ****
65. Bill Withers -- Live at Carnegie Hall *** 1/2
66. Bill Withers -- +Justments *** 1/2
67. Bill Withers -- Make Music ***
68. Bill Withers -- Naked and Warm ***
69. Bill Withers - Menagerie ** 1/2
70. Bill Withers -- 'Bout Love **
71. Bill Withers -- Watching You, Watching Me ** 1/2
72. John Prine -- John Prine (1971) ***
73. John Prine -- Diamonds in the Rough (1972) *** 1/2
74. Ron Sexsmith -- Hermitage ** 1/2
75. John Prine -- Sweet Revenge (1973) ** 1/2
76. John Prine -- Bruised Orange (1978) ** 1/2 
77. John Prine -- The Missing Years (1991) *** 1/2 
78. John Prine -- A John Prine Christmas (1994) ** 
79. Todd Rundgren -- Runt: The Ballad Of Todd Rundgren (1971) *** 1/2 
80. Todd Rundgren -- Something/Anything? (1972) *** 1/2 
81. Huey Lewis -- Weather ep ** 1/2 
82. Todd Rundgren -- A Wizard, A True Star (1973) *** 1/2 
83. A Girl Called Eddy -- Been Around ***/ 
84. Todd Rundgren -- Todd (1974) *** 
85. Todd Rundgren -- Faithful (1976) ** 1/2 
86. Boy George -- This Is What I Dub Vol. 1 ** 
87. Brian Fallon -- Local Honey ** 
88. Todd Rundgren -- Hermit Of Mink Hollow (1978) *** 
89. Judy Collins -- Silver Skies Blue (2016) *** 1/2 
90. Judy Collins -- Strangers Again (2015) ** 
91. iLe -- iLevitable *** 
92. Chatham County Line -- Strange Fascination ** 
93. Jeri Southern -- The Southern Style (1955) ** 
94. Kenny Rogers -- Gideon (1980) ** 
95. Kenny Rogers -- What About Me (1984) ** 
96. Kenny Rogers -- Water and Bridges (2006) *** 
97. Kraftwerk -- Trans Europe Express (1977) *** 1/2 
98. Various -- Funny People soundtrack ** 1/2 
99. Beau Jennings -- The Christmas Light ** (title song good)  
100. Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians -- Twas The Night Before Christmas * 
101. Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians -- Christmas Time *
102. George Benson -- Beyond The Blue Horizon (1971) * 1/2 
103. Jim Lauderdale -- When Carolina Comes Home Again ** 1/2 
104. David Archuleta -- Therapy Sessions ** 
105. Badly Drawn Boy -- Banana Skin Shoes ** 
106. Steve Earle -- Ghosts of West Virginia *** 1/2 
107. Coconut Records -- Nighttiming (2007) ** 
108. George Jones and Tammy Wynette -- Golden Ring (1976) *** 
109. Alec Benjamin -- These Two Windows *** 
110. Teddy Thompson -- Heartbreaker Please *** 1/2 
111. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton -- Porter Wayne and Dolly Rebecca (1970) *** 
112. The Magnetic Fields -- Quickies *** 1/2 
113. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton -- Two Of A Kind (1971) ** 1/2 
114. Kris Kristofferson -- Kris (1970) *** 
115. Philip Glass -- Music In Eight Parts *** 1/2 
116. Todd Rundgren -- Nearly Human (1989) *** 
117. Jimmy Buffett -- Life On The Flip Side ** 1/2 
118. Porter Wagoner and Dolly Parton -- The Right Combination (1972) ** 1/2 
119. Dion -- Blues With Friends ** 
120. Todd Rundgren -- Liars (2004) *** 
121. Todd Rundgren -- Arena (2008) ** 1/2 
122. Todd Rundgren -- Healing (1981) *** 
123. The Dwight Tilley Band -- Sincerely (1976) *** 
124. Dolly Parton -- Release Me ep * 1/2 
125. Emahoy Tsegu-Maryam Gubrou -- Ethiopiques Vol. 21: Ethiopia Song Piano Solo (1963) *** 1/2 
126. Janet Devlin -- Confessional ** 1/2 
127. Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever -- Sideways To New Italy ** 1/2 
128. The Kinks -- Something Else By The Kinks (1967) ** 1/2 
129. The Sylvers -- The Sylvers (1972) ** 1/2 
130. Norah Jones -- Pick Me Up Off The Floor ** 
131. Odetta -- Christmas Spirituals (1960) *** 1/2 
132. Niall Horan -- Heartbreak Weather ** 
133. Rush -- Permanent Waves (1980) ** 1/2 
134. Shelby Lynne -- Shelby Lynne ** 
135. M Ward -- Migration Stories *** 
136. Canyons -- Gone West ** 
137. Neil Young -- Homegrown (1975/2020) *** 1/2 
138. John Legend -- Bigger Love ** 
139. Phoebe Bridgers -- Punisher ***/ 
140. Perfume Genius -- Set My Heart On Fire Immediately ** 1/2 
141. The 1975 -- Notes on A Conditional Form *** 
142. Van Dyke Parks and Brian Wilson -- Orange Crate Art (1995) *** 
143. Bob Dylan -- Rough And Rowdy Ways *** 1/2 
144. Andi Rae Healy -- Last Time I Checked This Was A Free World and I Wasn't Anybody's Girl ** 
145. Run The Jewels -- RTJ4 ** 1/2 
146. Nicole Atkins -- Italian Ice ** 
147. Pet Shop Boys -- Hotspot ** 1/2 
148. Temporex -- Care ** 1/2 
149. Corb Lund -- Agricultural Tragic ** 1/2 
150. Johnny Cash -- Johnny Cash Is Coming To Town (1987) ** 1/2 
151. Johnny Cash -- Water From The Wells of Home (1988) ** 
152. Johnny Cash -- The Mystery Of Life (1991) ** 
153. Johnny Cash -- Out Among The Stars (2014) ** 
154. Distant Cousins -- Here & Now ** 
155. Supergrass -- The Strange Ones: 1994-2008 *** 1/2 
156. Ambrose Akinmuserie -- On The Tender Spot Of Every Calloused Moment ** 1/2 
157. Lady Gaga -- Chromatica ***\ 
158. Teyana Taylor -- The Album *** 1/2 
159. Richard Thompson -- Bloody Noses ep *** 
160. Willie Nelson -- First Rose Of Spring *** 1/2 \ 
161. Paul Weller -- On Sunset *** / 
162. Tom Petty -- Southern Accents (1985) ** 
163. Tom Petty -- Let Me Up, I've Had Enough (1987) ** 
164. The Jayhawks -- Xoxo *** / 
165. Margo Price -- That's How Rumors Get Started ** 
166. Ray Wylie Hubbard -- Co-Starring ** 
167. My Morning Jacket -- The Waterfall II *** 
168. Joe Ely -- Love In The Midst of Mayhem ** 
169. Rufus Wainwright -- Unfollow The Stars *** 
170. Lianne La Havas -- Lianne la Havas *** 
171. Emitt Rhodes -- Emitt Rhodes (1970) *** 1/2 
172. Logic -- No Pressure *** 
173. Caetano Veloso -- Transa (1972) *** 
174. Cinder Well -- No Summer ** 
175. Taylor Swift -- folklore ** 1/2 
176. Paul Kelly -- Please Leave Your Light On (w Paul Grabowsky) *** 
177. Seasick Steve -- Love & Peace ** 
178. Thomas Bartlett -- Shelter *** 
179. Tom Petty -- Full Moon Fever (1989) *** 1/2 
180. Tom Petty -- Into the Great Wide Open (1991) ** 1/2 
181. Tom Petty -- Wildflowers (1994) ** 
182. Mary Chapin Carpenter -- The Dirt and the Stars ** 
183. Holly Humberstone -- Falling Asleep At The Wheel ** 1/2 
184. Rumer -- Nashville Tears: The Songs Of Hugh Prestwood *** 1/2 
185. Trini Lopez -- Live At PJ's (1963) * 
186. Bruce Hornsby -- Non-secure Connection ** 
187. Kathleen Edwards -- Total Freedom ** 
188. Gloria Estefan -- Brazil305 ** 1/2 
189. Matt Rollings -- Mosaic ** 1/2 
190. Mandy Barnett -- A Nashville Songbook ** 
191. Beta Radio -- Way Of Love ep ** 1/2 
192. Ryland James -- Ryland James ** 
193. The Texicana Mamas -- The Texicana Mamas ** 
194. Troye Sivan -- In A Dream ep *** 
195. Michael Harrison w Roomful Of Teeth -- Just Constellations *** 
196. The Waterboys -- Good Luck, Seeker ** 
197. Bettye LaVette -- Blackbirds *** 
198. Toots & The Maytals -- Got To Be Tough ** 1/2 
199. Emitt Rhodes -- Mirror (1971) *** 
200. Linda Martell -- Color Me Country (1970) ** 1/2 
201. Hal Wilner/VA -- Angel-headed Hipster: The Songs Of Marc Bolan and T-Rex ** 1/2 
202. The Bangles -- All Over The Place (1984) *** 1/2 
203. Elliott Brood -- Keeper *** 
204. VA -- Bob Stanley Presents '76 In The Shade ** 1/2 
205. A Passing Fancy -- A Passing Fancy (1968) ** 
206. Frank Sinatra -- September Of My Years (1965) *** 1/2 
207. Suzanne Vega -- An Evening Of New York Songs and Stories *** 
208. Thelonius Monk -- Piano Solo (1954) **** 
209. Thelonius Monk -- Monk's Music (1957) **** 
210. Cat Stevens -- Tea For The Tillerman (1970) ** 
211. Toots and the Maytals -- Funky Kingston (1973) *** 
212. Paul McCartney -- Flaming Pie (deluxe) (1997) ** 1/2 
213. Fleet Foxes -- Shore 
214. Various Artists -- The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season Three Soundtrack *** 
215. Diana Krall -- This Dream Of You ** 1/2 
216. Carrie Underwood -- My Gift * 1/2 
217. Dolly Parton -- A Holly Dolly Christmas * 
218. Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton: Once Upon A Christmas (1984) * 1/2 
219. John Michael Talbot -- Songs From Solitude * 1/2 
220. Lateral Blue -- This Christmas (2019) * 1/2 
221. Bob Mould -- Blue Hearts *** 1/2 
222. Dawn Landes -- ROW ** 
223. Loudon Wainwright -- I'd Rather Lead A Band ** 1/2 
224. The Budos Band -- Long In The Tooth *** 
225. John Lennon -- Gimme Some Truth boxed set ** 1/2 
226. Sturgill Simpson -- Cuttin' Grass Vol. 1 (Butcher Shoppe Sessions) *** / 
227. The Struts -- Strange Days *** 1/2 
228. The Jaded Hearts Club -- You've Always Been Here *** 
229. Ella Fitzgerald -- Ella: The Lost Berlin Tapes (Live) *** 1/2 
230. Sam Amidon -- Sam Amidon ** 
231. Ryland James -- A Little Christmas ep * 1/2 
232. Tears For Fears -- Sowing The Seeds Of Love (1989) ** 
233. Ruel -- Bright Lights Red Eyes ep ** 
234. Sharon Jones -- Just Dropped In (To See What Condition My Rendition Is In) ** 1/2 
235. The Doors -- Morrison Hotel (1970) ** 
236. Chuck Prophet -- The Land That Time Forgot *** 1/2 
237. Bran Van 3000 -- The Garden (2010) *** 
238. Bruce Springsteen -- Letter To You ** 1/2 
239. For King and Country -- A Drummer Boy Christmas * 
240. Drake Bell -- Sesiones En Casa *** 
241. Gillian Welch and David Rawlings -- All The Good Times ** 
242. The Goo Goo Dolls -- It's Christmas All Over * 1/2 (but "Ain't Getting Nothing" a keeper) 
243. Leslie Odom Jr. -- The Christmas Album * 1/2 
244. Straight No Chaser -- Social Christmasing * 1/2 
245. Joni Mitchell -- Archives Vol. 1: The Early Years (1963-1967) *** 
246. Shirley Bassey -- I Owe It All To You * 1/2 
247. Sara Bareilles -- More Love: Songs From Little Voice, Season One ** 
248. Hello Forever -- Whatever It Is ** 
249. Common -- A Beautiful Revolution (Pt 1) ** 1/2 
250. Kim Wilde -- Wilde Winter Songbook * 
251. Grant-Lee Philips -- Yuletide ep ** 1/2 
252. Pentatonix -- We Need A Little Christmas * 
253. Professor Longhair -- Crawfish Fiesta (1980) *** 1/2 
254. Shenandoah -- Every Road ** (but I'll Take Another One Of Those a keeper) 
255. Frank Turner and Jon Snodgrass -- Buddies II: Still Buddies ** (but amusing) 
256. Chris Stapleton -- Starting Over ** 1/2 
257. Dua Lipa -- Future Nostalgia *** 
258. Ellie Goulding -- Songbook For Christmas * 
259. Anne Murray -- The Ultimate Christmas Collection * 1/2 
260. Black Violin -- Give Thanks * 1/2 
261. Engelbert Humperdink -- Sentiments ep * 
262. Jamie Cullum -- The Pianoman At Christmas *** (fun vibe) 
263. VA -- If The Fates Allow (A Hadestown Holiday Album) * 1/2 
264. Grace Jones -- Nightclubbing *** 
265. Jeff Tweedy -- Love Is The King ** 1/2 
266. Ernie Haase & Signature Sound -- A Jazzy Little Christmas * 
267. Courtney Marie Andrews -- Old Flowers ** 
268. Meghan Trainor -- A Very Trainor Christmas * 1/2 
269. The Best Of The Girl Groups Vol 1 **** Vol, 2 *** 1/2 
270. Haim -- Women In Music III *** 
271. Nick Cave -- Idiot Prayer (Nick Cave Alone At Alexandra Palace) *** 
272. Fiona Apple -- Fetch The Bolt Cutters *** 1/2 
273. Tori Amos -- Christmastide * 1/2 
274. Nellie McKay -- Bagatelles *** 
275. Ike Quebec -- Blue and Sentimental (1963) ***/ 
276. Count Basie Orchestra -- A Very Swingin' Basie Christmas ** 
277. Kamasi Washington -- Becoming soundtrack ** 1/2 
278. M Ward -- Think Of Spring ** 1/2 
279. Hailey Whitters -- The Dream ** 
280. Brett Eldredge -- Sunday Drive ** 1/2 
281. Joshua Ray Walker -- Glad You Made It ** 
282. Katie Pruitt -- Expectations ** 1/2 
283. Ashley McBryde -- Never Will *** 
284. Charley Pride -- Christmas In My Hometown * 
285. Colter Wall -- Western Swing & Waltzes and Other Punchy Songs ** 1/2 
286. Fred Hersch -- Songs From Home ** 1/2 
287. Hothouse Flowers -- Let's Do This Thing ** 
288. Michael Buble -- Christmas (Deluxe) ** 
289. The Explorers Club -- The Explorers Club *** 
290. A Girl Called Eddy -- Been Around *** 1/2 / 
291. Kali Uchis -- Sin Miedo (del Amor y Otros Demonios) ** 1/2 
292. Lido Pimienta -- Miss Colombia ** 
293. Bonny Light Horseman -- Bonny Light Horseman *** 
294. Tame Impala -- The Slow Rush *** 
295. Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie -- Another Flower *** 1/2 
296. Shirley Collins -- Heart's Ease ** 1/2 
297. The Sparks -- A Steady Drip, Drip, Drip *** / 
298. Taylor Swift -- Evermore ** 
299. Ron Miles -- Rainbow Sign ** 
300. The Psychedelic Furs -- Made Of Rain ** 
301. Sufjan Stevens -- The Ascension *** 
302. Jessie Ware -- What's Your Pleasure? *** 
303. Chilly Gonzales -- A Very Chilly Christmas ** 1/2 
304. Sturgill Simpson -- Cuttin' Grass Vol. 2 (Cowboy Arms Session) *** 
305. Tony Allen and Hugh Masekala -- Rejoice! *** 1/2 
306. Jyoti -- Mama, You Can Bet! *** 
307. Tim Heidecker -- Fear Of Death ** 1/2 
308. Michael Harrison w Roomful Of Teeth -- Just Constellations *** 1/2 
309. Olafur Arnalds -- Some Kind Of Peace *** 1/2 
310. Chouk Bwa -- Vodou Ale ** 1/2 
311. Groupe RTD -- The Dancing Devils of Djibouti *** 1/2 
312. Songhoy Blues -- Optimisme *** 
313. Sharhabil Ahmed -- The King Of Sudanese Jazz *** 1/2 
314. A Girl Called Eddy -- A Girl Called Eddy (2004) *** 1/2 
315. Bad Bunny -- El Ultimo Tour Del Mundo *** 1/2 
316. Immanuel Wilkins -- Omega *** 1/2 
317. Lina Rodriguez -- Lina_Raul Refree *** 1/2 
318. Duma -- Duma ** 
319. Tami Neilson -- Chickaboom! ***/ 
320. Wynton Marsalis and JLCO -- A Swingin' Sesame Street Celebration ** 
321. Emilio Solla Tango Jazz Orchestra -- Puertos: Music from International Waters *** 
322. American Aquarium -- Lamentations *** 
323. Wynton Marsalis and JLCO -- The Ever Fonky Lowdown ** 
324. Gabriel Garzon-Montana -- Aquita ** 
325. S.G. Goodman -- Old Time Feeling ** 
326. Lilly Hiatt -- Walking Proof ** 
327. Kurt Rosenwinkel -- Searching The Continuum ** 
328. Kandace Springs -- The Women Who Raised Me ** 1/2 
329. Carla Bley -- Life Goes On *** 1/2 
330. Grimes -- Miss Anthropocene ** 1/2 
331. Christian Scott aTunde Adjuah -- Axiom ** 
332. Los Mocosos -- All Grown Up ** 
333. X Alfonso -- Inside ** 
334. Bill Frisell -- Valentine ** 
335. Guillermo Klein -- Los Gauchos Cristal ** 
336. John Beasley -- MONK'estra Plays John Beasley *** 1/2 
337. Jason Isbell -- Reunions *** 
338. Jake Blount -- Spider Tales *** 1/2 
339. Watkins Family Hour -- Brother Sister ** 1/2 
340. Chloe x Halle -- Ungodly Hour ** 1/2 
341. Bones -- Damaged Goods ** 1/2 
342. Blake Mills -- Marble Set ** 
343. William Tyler -- New Vanitas ** 1/2 
344. Alejandro Fernandez -- Hecho En Mexico ** 1/2 
345. Ben Watt -- Storm Damage ** 1/2 
346. Burt Bacharach and Daniel Tashian -- Blue Umbrella  ep ** 
347. Flo Mill -- Ho, Why Is You Here? ** 
348. Don Bryant -- You Make Me Feel ** 1/2 
349. Frank Bey -- All My Dues Are Paid ** 1/2 
350. Bobby Rush -- Rawer Than Raw ** 1/2 
351. The Chicks -- Gaslighter *** 
352. Daniela Cotton -- A Different War ep ** 
353. The Flat Five -- Another World ** 1/2 
354. Jim Andralis -- My Beautiful Enemy ** 
355. Danny Barnes -- Man On Fire ** 
356. Conan Gray -- Kid Krow ** 
357. Jessica Reyez -- Before Love Came To Kill Us ** 1/2 
358. Jhene Aiko -- Cholombo ** 
359. Debi Nova -- 3:33 ** 1/2 
360. Jeff Parker -- Suite For Max Brown ** 
361. Harold Lopez-Nussa -- Te Lo Dije *** 1/2 
362. James Elkington -- Ever-Roving Eye *** 
363. Beastie Boys -- Music **** 
364. Gregory Porter -- All Rise ** 
365. Plants and Animals -- The Jungle ** 
366. Bright Eyes -- Down In The Weeds, Where The World Once Was *** 
367. Sarah Jarosz -- World On The Ground *** 
368. Clarice Jensen -- The Experience Of Repetition As Death *** 1/2 
369. Sarah Jarosz -- World On The Ground *** 
370. Gorillaz -- Song Machine Season One Strange Times ** 1/2 
371. Melody Gardot -- Sunset In The Blue *** 
372. Afro-Peruvian Jazz Orchestra -- Tradiciones ** 1/2 
373. Brad Mehldau -- Suite April 2020 *** 
374. Miley Cyrus -- Plastic Hearts ***\ 
375. Kenny Washington -- What's The Hurry *** 
376. Kidd G -- Teenage Dreams: 1000 Miles From Georgia ** 1/2 
377. The Killers -- Imploding The Mirage ** 1/2 
378. Mighty Oaks -- All Things Go ** 1/2 
379. Matthew Sweet -- Catspaw ** 1/2 
380. Katrina Leskanich -- Hearts, Loves & Baby's ** 1/2 
381. Jimmy Heath -- Love Letter *** 1/2 
382. Andrew Bird -- Hark! ** 1/2 
383. Sault -- Untitled (Black Is) *** 1/2 
384. Bones -- Remains *** 
385. Jimmy Buffett -- Songs You Don't Know By Heart *** 
386. Harold Budd -- Another Flower *** 1/2 
387. Sault -- Untitled (Rise) *** 1/2 
388. William Tyler -- First Cow soundtrack *** 1/2 
389. Neil Young -- Archives Volume II *** 1/2 



MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES TV MOVIES 

(Not TV movies, of course, but movies and TV -- and TV movies if it comes to that. Mostly I only list TV shows when I've tackled an entire season at once or reappraising an entire series after it's over This doesn't really capture my ongoing watching of current TV.)


1. Local Hero (1983) ***
2. Where Is The Friend's House? (1987) *** 1/2
3. Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) **
4. Local Hero (1983) ***\
5. Where Is The Friend's House? (1987) *** 1/2
6. L'Argent (1983) ** 1/2
7. Sans Soleil (1983) ** 1/2
8. High Hopes (1988) ***
9. Atlantic City (1981) ***
10. The Day Of Rest (1939) Robert Benchley short *
11. The Mandalorian S1 ** 1/2
12. Pacific Liner (1939) **
13. Tiger King (Netflix doc) ** 1/2
14. An Hour For Lunch (1939 Robert Benchley short) *
15. The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) ** 1/2
16. Derry Girls S1 ***
17. Derry Girls S2 *** 
18. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance S1 *** 
19. The End of the F---ing World S2 **** 
20. The River (short film by Pare Lorentz) (1938) ** 
21. The Plow That Broke The Plains (1936) music by Virgil Thomson, Didactic, confusing and haphazard. barely gets across the idea that ending grasslands doomed the plains to drying up. Much mention of the war driving up wheat prices. 
22. Poetry of Nature: A Pete Smith Specialty (1939) "humorous" short about wildlife in California redwoods * 
23. The Sea Around Us (1953) ** 
24. Star Trek: Picard S1 ** 1/2 
25. A Small Town Idol (1921/1939) no stars 
26. Old Hickory (1939 short) * 
27. Seeing Red (1939 short w Red Skelton) * 
28.  Word Is Out (1977) *** 1/2 
29. Better Call Saul S1 *** 1/2 
30. Rough Riders' Round-up (1939) Roy Rogers * 
31. Welcome To Chechnya (doc) *** 
32. Unsettled: Seeking Refuge In America (doc) ** 1/2 
33. Sexual Exiles (1999 short; 30min) *** 
34. The Fighting Gringo (1939) * 1/2 
35. Family Romance LLC *** (Werner Herzog film) 
36. Beanpole *** 1/2 (plus acting, prod design) 
37. A Russian Youth ** 1/2 
38. Star In The Night (1945) Don Siegel dir short about hotel/diner in middle of nowhere on Christmas Eve * 1/2 
39. Three Smart Girls Grow Up (1939) ** 
40. One Hundred Men and a Girl (1937) * 1/2 
41. It Started With Eve (1941) ** 
42. I Know Where I'm Going! (1945) *** 1/2 
43. Brief Encounter (1945) *** 1/2 
44. Smashing The Money Ring (1939) * 1/2 
45. Big Wednesday (1978) * 1/2 
46. Rewind ** 1/2 
47. Death On The Nile (1978) * 1/2 
48. Another Thin Man (1939) *** \ 
49. The Mirror Crack'd (1980) * 1/2 
50. Evil Under The Sun (1981) *** \ 
51. The Personal History Of David Copperfield * 1/2  
52. Bill & Ted Face The Music ** (but sweet) 
53. Tenet ** 
54. The City (1939) doc ** 
55. James A FitzPatrick's TravelTalks: Rural Hungary (1939) ** 
56. James A FitzPatrick's TravelTalks: Land Of Alaska Nellie (1939) ** 
57. The Vast Of Night *** 1/2 (score, cinematography, supporting actress, etc) 
58. Ammonite *** 1/2 
59. Martin Eden ** 
60. Boys State ***/ 
61. Wolf Walkers *** 
62. Matthias & Maxime *** 1/2 
63. Fireball: Visitors From Darker Worlds (Herzog doc) *** 1/2 
64. Nomad: In The Footsteps Of Bruce Chatwin ** 1/2 
65. Nomadland *** 1/2 
66. The Painter and The Thief *** 
67. Palm Springs ** 1/2 
68. The Whistlers ** 1/2 
69. My Octopus Teacher ** 1/2 
70.  The Kid Detective *** 1/2 
71. Dick Johnson Is Dead *** 1/2 
72. Another Round *** 1/2 
73. Small Axe: Mangrove ** 1/2 
74. Small Axe: Lovers Rock *** / 
75. Small Axe: Red, White And Blue 
76. Small Axe: Alex Wheatle 
77. Small Axe: Education 
78. Time (Amazon doc) ***/ 
79. Weathering With You *** 
80. Collective *** 1/2 
81. Minari *** 1/2 
82. Sound Of Metal *** 1/2 
83. Never Rarely Sometimes Always *** 1/2 
84. First Cow *** 
85. Jasper Mall *** 
86. Crip Camp *** 1/2 
87. Judas And The Black Messiah ** 1/2 
88. 


THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS THEATER CONCERTS
(The names after the shows are the people who joined me at the performance.)


1. Dana H *** 1/2 (Lucas Hnath play; saw solo)
2. A Christmas Carol (w Jefferson Mays, streaming only) *** 
3. Nellie McKay at Joe's Pub Live on Demand (streaming only) *** 


Updated as of December 31, 2020