May Recap!

Reads like a white woman's six page New Year family update letter my bad

Jun 08, 2024

In a wonderful turn of events, I finished my Junior year of University! After finishing my final papers and exams, I’ve returned to my hometown for the summer. I am missing St. Louis and school, but I’m thankful to have a nice period of rest before I begin what is sure to be a tumultuous fall semester.

From my last few days in St. Louis this month! An excellent charcuterie board I made and the "Moulin Rouge!" musical which I do not recommend

May has been wonderfully relaxing. I’ve spent most of my times watching movies, going to the gym, lazily lounging around, complaining to myself of my boredom, and solving said boredom by watching yet another movie. It’s been wonderful! My other “hobby” has been studying for the LSAT, which I’m happy to say I’m getting better at each day. I’ve slowly but surely been improving on practice exams, which has contributed to my happiness, but what I’m enjoying the most about studying is having a long-term goal, especially in a time when I’m inches away from stepping into a new and uncertain future. It’s been incredibly motivating, especially during a month when I could’ve easily pushed it aside in favor of having an stress-free vacation. It’s reaffirmed my love for Google Calendar, which is, admittedly, pretty empty right now, but has helped me develop a routine and schedule for my lazy month of May. That balance is likely to be interrupted as I begin the month of June and an internship, but, alas, I’m enjoying it while it lasts!

More than the splendor of a responsibility-less life has been spending time with my family and several of my childhood friends. With my family, I’ve been appreciating wonderful home cooked meals and quality time. My brother is teaching me the rules of pickle ball, a sport which I’m unsurprisingly mediocre at. Even playing the Challengers score couldn’t improve my form, but I’ve immensely enjoyed the chance to spend time with him doing something he loves. My parents and I have been spending a good amount of time chatting and watching TV shows together. I’ve introduced my mom to Hacks whose final season was an uber enjoyable watch for the both of us! It’s been nice to come home and fall into my old habits, and have a constant reminder of the incredible love and support that exists in my home!

In other promising news, everyone around me has been (rightfully) challengers pilled! Movie of the year, it’s true!! Now that it’s out on digital, I hope to indoctrinate my family and, frankly, anyone I see ever for the rest of my life.

Now, what I’m sure you’ve been patiently waiting for… my monthly media recap! Here are my ten favorite songs and albums released this month, along with my ten favorite movie first watches!

Music

Apple Music Playlist

Spotify Playlist

I’ve listened to a lot less new music than usual this month in favor of watching a ton of movies and indulging my most recent hyper obsession, retroactively determining the winner of the Surav Awards for music. I’ve essentially been looking through all music releases from October 1st, 2007 and September 15th, 2023 and determining what my favorite releases were from each year, following the same eligibility period as the Grammys do. It’s been a mostly mindless, pointless effort that has taken up quite a bit of my brain space but that’s what the summer is for! If you’re interested in what my picks were… here’s an in progress overview sheet.

Now into releases I enjoyed this month!

Albums

Hit Me Hard And Soft- Billie Eilish
1. So good. So good. So different than Happier Than Ever but not quite a return to form of When We All Fall Asleep, Where Do We Go?. Expansive, fun, sad. Eilish takes the best bits of both of her previous albums, most notably the progressive build of “Happier Than Ever”, and infuses them into every track on here. Not a singular filler or emotional low, just an incredibly enjoyable 43 minutes of music. My most played release of the month for a reason!!
2. Favorite Track: “L’AMOUR DE MA VIE”
What A Devastating Turn of Events- Rachel Chinouriri
1. Rachel Chinouriri’s debut is a fantastic return to fun indie pop-rock music that captures the angst and confusion of the early years of adulthood perfectly. She first came onto my radar in December of last year, when a single from the album “All I Ever Asked” went viral on TikTok, and I haven’t been disappointed by her since! Conceptually, the album plays out like anticipation in the calm before the storm, almost as if Chinouriri is preparing mentally for the inevitable doom she’s so sure she will face. Filled with incredibly dark and emotional songwriting over airy guitar riffs, the album is a perfect coming of age record.
2. Favorite Track: “Robbed”
Dark Times- Vince Staples
1. If there’s ever been proof that Vince Staples is a master of his craft, this is it. He’s spent the entirety of his career towing the fine line between epic rap bangers and provoking conscious hip-hop tracks. On Dark Times, he manages to perfectly balance between the two, with a carefully constructed blend of both styles on nearly every track. Maybe his best work since Big Fish and easily one of the strongest hip-hop projects of the year so far.
2. Favorite Track: “Étouffée”
The Year I Turned 21- Ayra Starr
1. Another artist I discovered through TikTok when her single “Rush” went viral last year, I’m incredibly impressed by the new directions Ayra Starr has moved towards in this album. Every song is danceable and fun while equally emotionally heavy. Though there are tracks on this album that I’m not a fan of, Starr easily makes up for it with some of the best tracks of the year, all of which chronicle the new emotional burden of the almost-20-somethings.
2. Favorite Track: “21”
Submarine- The Marías
1. I haven’t always been a fan of The Marías; though I loved their appearance on Un Verano Sin Ti, their previous album, CINEMA, never clicked for me. I’m happy to say after having mixed reactions towards the singles I am fully in love with this album! The jazz influences that Zardoya brings to her vocals and wonderful indie pop production that Josh Conway brings to the table finally merge together in an addictive psychedelic flow that feels perfect for summer. It’s a massive step up from their previous work, evolving their sound with new risks that ultimately pay off immensely.
2. Favorite Track: “Real Life”
Radical Optimism- Dua Lipa
1. Though it doesn’t quite live up to the incredible grandeur of “Houdini”, “Training Season” and “Illusion”, Radical Optimism is another incredible pop album from Dua Lipa, whose finger remains on the pulse! Not everything she goes for works and I wish the new choices she seemed to be making with Kevin Parker were more prominent in the album tracks (the only tracks I’m not 100% sold on are the ones not produced by him) , but it’s still an incredibly fun time, with Lipas knack for creating infectious earworms in tact!
2. Favorite Track: “Happy for You”
Almighty So 2- Chief Keef
1. I honestly haven’t kept up with Chief Keef over the past few years. His hardcore rapping style has deterred me in the past, and though I’ll always bump “Love Sosa” I’m not very familiar with the rest of his discography. This record completely changed my outlook on him and blew me away. Vibrant beats and lyrics that all flow together really cohesively. Every track is sharp and witty with a lot of drama attached to them, I’ve been having a lot of fun with this record!
2. Favorite Track: “Neph Nem”
Ten Fold- Yaya Bey
1. Yaya Bey’s smooth vocals are tantalizing on their own, but the added complexities of the beats she sings over take this album to another level. There is an intentional lack of consistency which is a testament to Bey’s artistic talent and integrity- she’s a jack of all trades and is proudly showcasing it on her most innovative album yet.
2. Favorite Track: “Eric Adams in the Club”
I Saw The TV Glow (Original Soundtrack)- Jane Schoenbrun & Various Artists
Phoebe Bridgers and Sloppy Jane in I Saw The TV Glow (2024) dir. Jane Schoenbrun
1. Director Jane Schoenbrun described this soundtrack as the “best 90’s mixtape never made,” and it lives up to the hype completely. Though part of my adoration for the music is related to the brilliant ways in which it’s incorporated into Schoenbruns superb directorial effort, they’re individually really interesting as well. Though there’s little sonic cohesion, it serves a showcase of an incredible set of indie stars operating at their highest levels of creativity. Plus, Phoebe Bridgers and Sloppy Jane made me cry very hard in the movie theater.
2. Favorite Track: “Claw Machine”

Beth Gibbons- Lives Outgrown
1. I haven’t listened to anything released by Portishead, but if their music is anywhere as interesting as the tracks on this album I’ve clearly been missing out. Of course, Gibbons is great on “Mother I Sober,” but with her own artistic control, she croons depressingly about loss with lyrics that are impossible to not have an emotional response to. The lyrical content is incredibly moving- Gibbons sings of the momentary nature of life and the unfortunately short amount of time we have without knowing what’s to come. Incredible work.
2. Favorite Track: “Floating on a Moment”

Honorable Mentions

#RichAaxxHaitian- Mach-Hommy
- Favorite Track: “POLITickle”
Britpop- A.G. Cook
- Favorite Track: “Lucifer”
Empathogen- Willow
- Favorite Track: “false self”
Here in the Pitch- Jessica Pratt
- Favorite Track: “The Last Year”
Please Don’t Cry- Rapsody
- Favorite Track: “3:AM”
The Doober- Sam Gendel/ Sam Wilkes
- Favorite Track: “GBTC”

Singles

Stand alone singles have been GREAT this month. Super fun, superb music that is dictating the summer very well! Kendrick & Drake beef totally paid off for ME personally! Yes I ranked “Family Matters” above “Not Like Us” but Kendrick FLAMED him I agree but I just really like “Family Matters” in the gym right now lol.

Tennessee- Kevin Abstract ft. Lil Nas X
Sexy to Someone- Clairo
Family Matters- Drake
Places to Be- Fred again.., Anderson .Paak & CHIKAA
No Like Us- Kendrick Lamar
Feast of Tongues- Los Campesinos!
Pluto- Raveena
Melting Mirror- Storefront Church
Here We Go (Uh Oh)- Coco Jones
Take a Bite- Beabadoobee

Movies

I hit another movie watching peak in the month of May with 40 first- watches. It was a glorious result of me having very little to do and a ton of time alone. I also worked through the May Criterion Challenge, attempting to watch at least one movie from each film from the Criterion Channels May additions (I did not succeed). The unfortunate consequence is that, as I’m writing this in June, I’ve been experiencing a movie watching fatigue and have had little interest in watching anything new. It’s come as a result of having less time, but also from not really being able to sit with and digest the forty films I saw. As I think back on them, details blur together from similar plot lines and I have trouble remembering anything other than the bare bones of some. Though this might be an indication that a few of the movies I watched were just bad (which some of them definitely were), moving into June I’m slowing down. That being said, since I watched so many in May, I’ll share my top twenty first watches from the month instead of just the usual ten!

The Manchurian Candidate- John Frankenheimer, 1962

(SLIGHT SPOILER ALERT IN THE VIDEO)

I love political thrillers, and The Manchurian Candidate is now my favorite ever of the genre. It’s been on my watchlist for about a year now, coming onto my radar after I watched Stanley Kubrik’s spectacular Dr. Strangelove. The only real similarity is the brilliant black and white cinematography in both and, of course, the Cold War setting. Frankenheimer’s use of already existing American paranoia surrounding Soviet communism is inspired- he pokes fun at McCarthyism in an ironic expose of the brainwashing tactics still used by politicians and external political actors. What brings this to the top of my list isn’t the magnificent use of the Cold War setting, but the brilliant performance of Angela Lansbury, who gives what has cemented itself in my mind as one of the best supporting showcases of all time. Frankenhiemer does incredible storytelling here, but it’s Lansbury and Harvey who sold me completely on the concept (something so whacky it’s scarily believable). Looking forwards to exploring more Cold War thrillers (Fail Safe is next on my watchlist) and Frankenheimers’ soon.

What a Way to Go!- J. Lee Thompson, 1964

Imagine my shock seeing that this has a tomato meter score of 17… people don’t have taste at all. This is one of the best comedy films I’ve every seen, it’s executed wonderfully. I genuinely had zero criticisms, it’s so undeniably fun while also being technically excellent. Shirley MacLaine is wonderful, as always, with Paul Newman also giving a standout performance! It’s got everything you need, incredibly funny performances and stories, singing and dancing from the marvelous Gene Kelly, and of course, wonderful usage of technicolor. Part of the Shirley MacLaine collection on Criterion, it’s an absolutely perfect film in my mind, with a full-circle conclusion that was well worth the journey!

Mad Max: Fury Road- George Miller, 2014

It shouldn’t have been much of a surprise to me that I would love Mad Max given how much I love anything Dune related. Though the similarities stop at the desert setting, the grandiose over-the-top nature of both films makes them spectacles that I cannot break my eyes away from. Fury Road is far campier in its editing style, a choice I greatly appreciated. It takes itself just seriously enough without leaning too far into the horrifying undertones of an Australian apocalypse that seems to be an even more realistic future now than in 2014.

Monsoon Wedding- Mira Nair, 2001

Earlier this year, I watched Nair’s Mississippi Masala starring Denzel Washington and the undeniable Sarita Choudhury. This feels like a natural extension and evolution from that film, with Monsoon Wedding centering Nair’s incredible ensemble in India. She weaves a perfect dramedy, creating not only two, but an entire ensemble filled with depth, showcasing the immense importance of family and familial love in beautifully tender ways. In a lot of ways, it mirrors Lila Avilés’ Totém (which I also watched this month), both of which do an incredible job of centering the lives of many individuals coming together around one cause. Of course, Nair is an incredible director who uses color and sound to her full advantage, handling delicate topics wonderfully. I felt such joy and warmth watching this, truly a fantastic film!

The American Friend (Der amerikanische Freund)- Wim Wenders, 1977

The Ripliad is my ultimate favorite collection of books. What Highsmith does with Tom Ripley, beyond the troubled young adult years popularized by The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) is incredibly compelling. Of the five books, Ripley’s Game is my second least favorite, so I was rather shocked that it turned out to be my favorite Ripley on screen adaptation so far! Much of that comes from the incredible work of Wenders, who is true to the original work of Highsmith in many respects, but adds his own flare to it. The cinematography here is easily some of my favorite ever. Wenders has a wonderful eye for capturing what otherwise might appear mundane, as he incredibly displays in Perfect Days (2023). Though it’s flawed, it took a story that bored me slightly on paper to new heights and completely changed the way I viewed this era of Tom Ripley. Perhaps a Ripliad re-read is in store for me this summer…

The Night of the Hunter- Charles Laughton, 1955

It’s a shame that this movie was so incredibly overlooked by audiences and critics upon its release. It’s a masterclass in filmmaking, and the performance of Robert Mitchum here is on another level. What’s most wonderful about it is how compelling it is from start to finish. It’s thrilling from start to finish, and though the story isn’t anything incredibly out of the box, the visuals make it impossible to lose interest in what’s going on. Centering around children and their secrets is a wonderful tactic, and the kids here are just as likable as Tatum O’Neal in Paper Moon. Satisfying and perfectly made.

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga- George Miller, 2024

Driving home from the theater after seeing this was the equivalent to getting on a plane for the first time after watching Top Gun: Maverick. A perfect predecessor to Fury Road, and although it does take away some of the imaginative elements that made Fury Road so mysteriously mesmerizing, it introduces incredible world building elements and worthwhile visuals that rival Dune Part 2 for their usage of orange sand. Anya Taylor-Joy transforms completely into Charlize Theron here, giving perhaps her best performance to date. Hemsworth is shockingly good, and brings the campiness that was missing from the rest of the story. While I wasn’t a huge fan of the story being split into chunks, I think the well thought out narrative elements compliment the visuals and visual effects, both of which lead well into the 2014 film. Thank you George Miller for those Fury Road clips in the end credits which made the movie hit even harder now knowing Furiosa’s backstory.

Down by Law- Jim Jaramusch, 1986

What I love most about Down By Law is quietly it moves. There’s nothing particularly exciting happening at any given moment, but the intensity in which the actors and Jaramusch move are enough to keep you captivated and glued to the screen. Benigni is hilarious and the cinematography is an incredibly potent reminder of the beauty of black and white. Though it’s not really deeply affecting, I’ve found myself thinking about many of the smaller, intimate moments that piece it together and make it so wonderful.

A Little Romance- George Roy Hill, 1979

I’m a sucker for a rom-com, so it’s no surprise that A Little Romance was right up my alley. I’ve never been able to bring myself to watch Moonrise Kingdom, which is conceptually similar, but something about the French landscape drew me to this one. It’s unsurprisingly adorable and funny, supported by a really great screenplay. Surprising, however, is how easily two child actors give performances miles better than the uncharacteristically dull Laurence Olivier. Maybe he’s letting them shine on purpose, and if so, props to him, because they take a deserved spotlight for the entirety of the film and give it the heart it needs to go from average to extraordinary.

All the President’s Men- Alan J. Pakula, 1976

Journalism based stories are another one of my favorite genres, and this happens to be one of the most interesting, stylistically, that I’ve ever seen. Revealing to me how shockingly little I knew about the Watergate scandal, Pakula makes the audience piece together fragments of an unfinished story alongside his reporters. Even though it’s completely biographical and contains nothing that a couldn’t be found on Wikipedia, I was left confused by every new piece of information, which kept me incredibly drawn in. It’s a great film with a great Redford performance and some of the most interesting office based film techniques I’ve ever seen.

Set It Off- F. Gary Gray, 1996
Death Becomes Her- Robert Zebecks, 1992
Totém- Lila Avilés, 2023
Ascenseur pour l’échafaund- Louis Malle, 1958
The Empire Strikes Back- Irvin Kershner, 1980
8 femmes- François Ozun, 2002
Blue Velvet- David Lynch, 1986
On the Waterfront- Elia Kazan, 1954
The Coward (কাপুরুষ)- Satyajit Ray, 1965
Ghost- Jerry Zucker, 1990

It’s now eight days into June. This has taken an excruciatingly long time to write… but I still am enjoying it. I like side project distractions! Anyways, now I’m watching Erin Brockovich and enjoying the lovely month of June which I am excited to update you on in (approximately) 30 days! I’ve now started working, which has been good so far and is exhausting, but more on that to come. Here’s some things I’m excited for!