The CMD staff has put together our 2019 Top Ten Favorites List for Podcasts, TV/Streaming, Movies, and Music Albums. Even though we all here have strong opinions about what we like (and dislike), it was surprising to see how many of these we all agreed with. And the disagreements? Well...all we can say is that no one was injured in the making of this list.
Podcasts
Hamish & Andy: The two former DJs ventured out into the podcast world and brought the chucks. Highlights include the shame of Bitcoin investors, the first “learning-to-surf” song by James Bay, and Chicken Fest 2019.
Total Reboot: The funny boys are back with more reboots, remakes and rip-offs. Always a good listen for registered cinephiles.
Revisionist History: Malcolm Gladwell has recorded many episodes of his insightful and funny podcast right here at CMD.
Broken Record: Another great podcast from Malcolm Gladwell and the team at Pushkin Industries. With famed producer Rick Rubin, this podcast highlights various musicians and digs into their stories.
On Second Thought with Trevor Noah: Recorded right here at CMD, this podcast features the Daily Show Man himself talking about the news of today you won’t see covered on TV. Features great guests and *ahem* superb recording quality.
Were You Hot in High School?: Comedians Lauren and Bea interview their friends about the trials and tribulations of high school and puberty to find out if hotness is a trait you grow into.
Fresh Air: For decades, Terry Gross has been interviewing some of the best in entertainment and politics. Her daily show is always at the top of my subscription list.
Shock Waves: Always a great listen for horror fans. It’s the CNN of horror movies. Great interviews, great reviews and great coverage.
The Jump with Shirley Manson: The queen of Garbage herself interviews other musicians about their writing and recording process. An in-depth artist-to-artists conversation. Highly recommend Courtney Love and Big Boi’s episodes.
Finding Drago: The team from Total Reboot dives into investigative journalism in a fast-paced, exciting and surprisingly moving series. Cam and Alexei jump into the ring to find the truth about mysterious author Todd Noy who wrote Rocky IV spinoff Drago: On Mountains we stand. A tale of boxing, fan-fiction and unlikely friendship.
TV/Streaming
Succession: Brian Cox gives a masterful performance! We’ve been fortunate to work with Brian here at CMD recording voiceover for Virgin Media.
Marianne: For those who didn’t get enough spooks in Hill House, Marianne is a witchy series from the far left-field. This French Netflix show brings the dread, heart and action of all the best horror stories with fantastic performances all around. The best book Stephen King never wrote.
Russian Doll: We love this dark comedy, it’s really great how they shoot in Tompkins Square Park, AND supporting actor Jeremy Bobb is a CMD regular, providing narration for various Discovery Channel shows.
The Mandalorian: Who doesn’t love baby Yoda?! But seriously, Jon Favreau has done a great job creating these enjoyable Star Wars episodes for both long-time fans as well as new viewers.
Watchmen: An intricate and exciting HBO series based on the infamous graphic novel.
Unbelievable: Merrett Weaver and Toni Collette give amazing performances as detectives investigating a serial rapist in this engrossing mini-series.
The Toys That Made Us: The always-entertaining series returns with more fascinating toy history. A doc we all can enjoy.
Killing Eve: Season 2 of the sleeper hit delivers even more of Sandra Oh and Jodie Comer’s amazing chemistry, this time diving deeper into their individual characters and developing their relationship.
Mindhunter: After an explosive first season, Mindhunter somehow raises the stakes to dizzying heights, developing characters and introducing us to new serial killers. I personally loved how fluidly background characters from the 1st season are developed into plot shaking leads.
Sex Education: A super-lovable trip through puberty. The characters are diverse, fleshed-out and really, really funny. Like Big Mouth but even better.
Movies
Once Upon A Time...In Hollywood: Quentin Tarantino’s love-story to ‘69 Hollywood, with one of Brad Pitt’s great performances.
Us: A killer follow-up to my movie-of-the-decade Get Out, Us plays like an extended Twilight Zone with humor and horror. Jordan Peele makes great use of imagery and color, but what takes it to the next level is the dual performance of Lupita Nyong'o. It takes quite a performance to make us look at an actress that good and say, “I didn’t know she had that in her.”
The Irishman: Martin Scorcese directs some of the best actors we know and love - DeNiro, Pacino, Pesci & Keitel - maybe the movie is too long, and did they really need to spend so much on de-ageing?? But a great film nonetheless.
Braid: This movie blew my mind. A surreal mind-bender horror-show with themes of feminism, adulthood and imagination. Sure, it wears its artsy-ness on its sleeve, but in the end you feel like you just got off a rollercoaster... and you’ll be thinking about it for maybe a week. Recommended for fans of The Lighthouse.
Toy Story 4: This feels like the Toy Story movie that was made for me. It had Key & Peele, suspenseful horror homage sequences and my new favorite Pixar character Forky - a toy/utensil in the middle of an existential crisis. Think I’m joking? Watch the movie.
Girl On The Third Floor: CM Punk (yes, seriously) delivers a lovably campy performance with only two costars: a dog and a sentient house. All jokes aside, between Punk’s performance and the inventive story, it’s a must see for any horror movie fan.
Apollo 11: An amazing documentary of the Apollo moon landing voyage using newly discovered footage, with award-winning sound design and mixing by NYC local Eric Milano.
Rolling Thunder Revue- A Bob Dylan Story: Another Martin Scorcese music documentary (well...pseudo-documentary) covering Dylan’s 1975 Rolling Thunder Revue tour. Incredible music performances are on display, as well as some fictionalized bits that, once you know they are fiction, are just hilarious!
Dolemite Is My Name: Eddie Murphy makes his comeback in this throwback to blaxploitation filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore. An ambitious and very funny movie, you can’t help but love Eddie Murphy!
Music Albums/EPs
IGOR- Tyler, The Creator: Tyler brings the soul and R&B-flavored emotion to this crossover lofi hip-hop breakup album. As dark as it is epic, this concept album is such an ambitious and fully realized project that it is much more than the sum of its parts. In my opinion it’s a masterpiece.
When We All Fall Asleep Where Do We Go?- Billie Eilish: She may be the most hyped-up pop star in the world, but this album proves she earned it. The production from Finneas is simultaneously innovative and totally simple, the songs are personal and interesting and the overall package is a great pop record. Sinister, catchy and varied, WWAFAWDWG may be an award winner, but it’s also a winner.
Generasian- Lim Kim: Former Kpop underdog Lim Kim brings us an incredible EP that’s surprised music fans around the world. With strong influences ranging from Industrial, Noise, Trap Rap, and Korean Folk music, she delivers an empowering, explosive comeback project that’s a must listen.
Flamboyant- Dorian Electra: An exploration of synth-pop and gender identity, Flamboyant is a sweet suite of glossy hits that you can dance and protest to. These songs talk about queer issues in fun and succinct ways while coating it all in Kurstin-esque sheen. A dance record that is more than meets the ear.
Fancy You - TWICE: Heh heh I had to put this one up here, it slaps though (Rocco)
Hyperspace- Beck: Beck’s songwriting prowess is on full display here in this well-produced album that stands out with great vocal production.
Young Enough- Charly Bliss: Departing from the 90s bubblegum punk of 2017’s Guppy, Charly Bliss incorporates 80s synth-pop sounds to accommodate more mature and emotional tunes.
Magdelene- FKA Twigs: If you like cinematic-type electronic/pop production and want to hear a soulful and beautiful voice, be sure to listen to FKA Twigs.
Oasis - Bad Bunny and J Balvin: This one’s pretty cut and dry. It’s a great Pop/Reggaeton album with catchy tunes and solid instrumentals. Bad Bunny and J Balvin’s years of collaboration culminate with a project that shows their wonderful on mic chemistry.
Kirk - DaBaby: DaBaby’s first full length LP is full of charismatic lyrics and catchy hooks. This project solidifies him as one of the next big artists of the 20’s with serious staying power.
Cuz I Love You- Lizzo: Cuz I love her.
That’s our CMD 2019 favorite list. Let’s hope 2020 is just as great!
