Top 10 Things That Made Me Happy In 2015: Melissa Bratcher

By Melissa Bratcher

As it is every year, my Top 10 is a mix of things: music, TV, movies and one experience that rises above all others. While 2015 isn’t quite over, and awesome things might still happen, these are things I keep coming back to.

Jason Isbell, Something More Than Free
At this point, Jason Isbell could write songs about haunted dolls and angry pandas, and I’d still think he was doing better work than many artists. But he’s not writing those kind of songs, and this summer’s Something More Than Free is such an incredible album (and a worthy follow up to Southeastern). Just reading his lyrics is a moving experience. He has such an authenticity and honesty, it’s amazing that he even exists.

Galactic, Into The Deep
Why, hello there, my favorite band. Into The Deep has been the soundtrack to my summer, and we were lucky enough to catch them at the Slowdown in Omaha. Moves were busted. They are insanely great live, with a rotating lineup of singers (we caught Erica Falls fronting the band, who has more charisma than any human should and one hell of a voice) and incredible musicianship. There was a moment where drummer Stanton Moore and bassist Robert Mercurio set up a groove and just let it ride and it was mind blowing. Describing that makes me sound like I’ve had brain damage, but it was so good, it damaged my brain.

Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band, So Delicious
I didn’t know how much I needed the Reverend Peyton’s Big Damn Band until I heard their latest, So Delicious. They had escaped my notice until this year, and I’m the poorer for it (though I’ve made it up by getting their back catalogue and turning numerous friends onto them). Their music is raucous, the Rev is an astounding guitar player, and in fact, I thought there might be six people in the band (nope, just three). They are fun, they are rootsy, they are delightful.

Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, After
Lady Lamb makes music that is rooted in the earth, but flies above it. After, her latest, is richly textured, hypnotic, gorgeous. It’s indefinable, and it’s art, as sure as anything could be.

Husky, Rucker’s Hill
Bands like Husky make me excited about my job. Rucker’s Hill was eye opening; this band was making transcendent, immersive music that is infinitely replayable. I love every track on Rucker’s Hill and I go back to it frequently. I itch to hear it. I force people to listen to it (and they thank me later).

Fargo
Is it still the Golden Age of TV? There is nothing like Fargo on TV. Darkly hilarious with a stellar cast (is there anything Ted Danson can’t do?!), smartly plotted, Fargo makes me excited about Mondays. The music is amazing and, after they used the song “Reunion,” set me on a quest to learn all I can about Bobbie Gentry (and apparently it’s not just me; the delightful Something Cool podcast kicked off with an episode about the mysterious Ms. Gentry).

Broad City
I love Abbi and Ilana’s friendship, I love their frequent callbacks, and I love how often Broad City has made me laugh until I had tears in my eyes. I’ve rematched the episode “Hashtag FOMO” more times than is healthy (the episode with Val). Hysterical.

Mad Max: Fury Road
Dear god, this movie. It’s as close to perfect as anything could be.

Inside Out
But so is this one. In a different way. Sumptuous eye candy with incredible heart and honesty. Great voice over performances. Secretive crying in the theater.

O Comic Con
I volunteered for the inaugural O Comic Con in lovely Council Bluffs solely because I wanted to meet Mick Foley. And reader, I did. I got to while away some hours chatting with the charming Mr. Foley, where I was struck by his kindness, warmth, and intelligence. The man is a national treasure. Read his books! He’s a New York Times Bestselling Author! He’s an asset to humankind, volunteering for RAINN and being an unabashed feminist. And that would have been enough, but the whole experience of O Comic Con was wonderful. I made friends, I had delightful conversations with people, I broadened my circle in a way that I didn’t know I needed. Full disclosure: I now work for O Comic Con (I am seriously one hell of a volunteer, y’all) and now own a business wig. A business wig!

Honorable mentions of things I enjoyed enormously: Marnie The Dog, Crimson Peak, Mr. Robot, Jessica Jones, Gilmore Girls on Netflix, W/Bob and David, Better Call Saul, naps.