Welcome back to another edition of the Monthly Haul, my look back at all that I enjoyed about the month that's just wrapped up. February lived up to its billing as the shortest month of the year, and I can't believe March is here. There was a lot packed into February, so let's see what we've got.
What I Read
Colson Whitehead - The Underground Railroad I tend to be a little apprehensive about things that seem to be universally liked, but I'm discovering that that isn't the case with books. Case in point: this gripping, twisting novel that seemed to be on every bestseller list I've seen. Telling the story of a runaway slave and her struggles as she navigates the slavery-riddled United States, this historical fiction novel will leave revolted by yet ingrained in its narrative. There were a few moments in this book that had me saying "NO WAY" out loud, and I can't say I've had that happen too often.
What I Listened To
Julien Baker - Little Oblivions Opting to give her songs the full-band treatment for the first time in her career, Julien Baker is stepping into unchartered territory for her aching, subdued brand of emo. The migration is an interesting one, but adding more elements to the repertoire of one of this generation's most open songwriters can never be a bad thing. I definitely still need some time to think on this record, but just in case you haven't listened yet, trust me: you should.
Teenage Wrist - Earth is a Black Hole Every year, there seems to be a record from a band I'd never gotten into that shocks me into being a huge fan. Last year, that honor was bestowed upon Spanish Love Songs, and this year, Epitaph records' next promising young band Teenage Wrist has been handed the torch. Despite what the album title will have you believe, Earth is a Black Hole spans a variety of emotions throughout it's tracklist, and Teenage Wrist prove themselves to be able to masterfully match melody with driving guitars for some of the best choruses you'll hear all year. "Taste of Gasoline" and "New Emotion" will stay stuck in your head for days, while "High Again" and "Stella" will have you in your feels before the end of the song. Along with Julien Baker, the standard by which the rest of the year's records have been set by Teenage Wrist.
What I Watched
Judas and the Black Messiah I tweeted this about a week before I saw it, and it was true: my excitement levels for this movie were up there with my anticipation for Avengers: Endgame. Pair two of the best actors around right now in Daniel Kaluuya and Lakeith Stanfield, and it's pretty much guaranteed to be good. Stanfield turns in a phenomenal performance, but Kaluuya is transcendent in this one. If he were to come out of the Oscars empty-handed, I'd throw him in that Leo DiCaprio category of "What the hell does this guy have to do to win one of these things?" Shaka King's movie tells a story that remains all too relevant in our racially divided country, as each side of the conflict is provided the same amount of care. It's rare a movie like this exceeds expectations, but that's exactly what this immaculate group of artists have pulled off. This is easily the best movie I've seen in the group of 2020 Awards Season contenders.
Nomadland Chloe Zhao's resume-building film could not have picked a better star than Frances McDormand, who gives yet another career-defining performance. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from this one, but the slow-burn revealing the depth of McDormand's character's motivations was quite rewarding as it unfolded. I wanted to write a more fleshed-out review of Nomadland, but I'm not sure there's much I can add to what's already been said. It's just a really good, good-looking movie.
Looking forward to March Lots to look forward to here! We'll finally get to put this awful Snyder Cut Saga in our rearview, and we'll see how Godzilla vs. Kong handles its landing after the mixed results of the last three movies in the series. I'm going to be doing a lot of catching up on movies this month (when I'm not binging college basketball), in hopes that my Oscars predictions are more informed. Early on, though, I'm pumped for this new Tigers Jaw album I Won't Care How You Remember Me, which releases on the first Friday of the month. We'll also get the new album from Citizen Life in Your Glass World, which has seen two very intriguing singles released already. See you in about a month to recap it all!
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