Best Actor Without Even Talking: Andrew Scott
Retroactively awarded for everything All Of Us Strangers. Wow, what an excellent movie. And score. And cinematography. (A great non-Oscar-eligible but more complete example is his role in the music video for People Watching by Sam Fender. Which also requires tissues or at least the warning that you might want them.)
Crimson and Clover - Joan Jett
Did not know this was a cover for a VERY long time. And when I found out my reaction was like ‘huh. Can’t possibly be better.’ (Her version is now on my beloved playlist of covers where the singer didn’t switch the pronouns.) Runner up: I Want You To Want Me as sung by Letters to Cleo on the 10 Things I Hate About You soundtrack. Took me less long, but…still a while!
Go Home, covered by Circus Trees
As a huge fan of Julien Baker whose moment of ‘oh, wow, okay’ was Go Home, I was a little nervous about this cover when I discovered it poking around the Spotify DNA feature. Shouldn’t have worried. Somehow, the siblings behind Circus Trees have managed to not only successfully rework the usually stripped back piano into a full band arrangement with a shoegazy/grunge infused sound, but they change the time signature, giving it a slight swing — and it really works?? I’m impressed. It’s an entirely different take, but that’s never been a problem for me. I mean, I like JB’s covers too (check out her take on No Children for a good example of what I mean). And, it got me listening to the band’s original stuff: they’re pretty great. Win win all around.
Lost Boys by Phoebe Bridgers
Well apparently as of this week it's Lost Boys by Phoebe Bridgers. It's a very single single, which either bodes even better for the rest of the album because I often don't like singles (or at least don't like them best), OR it'll be a little too many cooks in the kitchen, based on the long list of cowriting/producing credits, But this one...catchy af and delivering on her usual paired-up culture references and slices of life/people/dynamics. With a really fun video, too.:
