Best Of 2013: Less Lee Moore

My goal for 2013 was to see 100 new (to me) movies, listen to 100 new albums, and read 100 books. I had to find time to eat, sleep, and bathe, so some of these goals were not accomplished. (Hint: the latter two.) I also watched quite a bit of TV, but not all the shows that I loved so fiercely in 2012. Part of this was availability; part of it was time. Without cable or a DVR, I’m reliant upon Canadian network websites for new shows. I did, however, get into Mad Men and get back into Supernatural, thanks to Netflix Canada, which is the second best pop culture item on my 2013. The first is the TV show that dominated everything else in 2013: Hannibal.

Hannibal was this year’s Lisbeth Salander. I haven’t been this excited about or obsessed with a TV show since I first discovered Mystery Science Theater 3000 in 1991; nothing on TV has thoroughly captivated me like this since The X-Files. Of course, a show with poor ratings and a rabid cult following always risks early cancellation, but Hannibal’s second season starts on February 28. I’m also impressed with how wholeheartedly NBC has embraced the fandom. They really get the Fannibals, which calls part of the otherwise sound premise of that recent NPR article about fandom vs. mainstream popularity into question.

There were many other reasons to rejoice in the pop culture of 2013. Three unbelievably good comeback albums (if you will) from three rather different musical entities who are also somewhat connected: Suede, David Bowie, and Iggy and the Stooges. All three are more wonderful than I could have anticipated. Speaking of Bowie, the David Bowie Is exhibit at the AGO Toronto was outstanding. I could have spent hours just memorizing the outfits from the “D.J.” and “Ashes to Ashes” video. Lest anyone think Bowie is taking himself too seriously by creating a touring museum show, he even included an old silver coke spoon in the display.

More legendary musical entities who impacted me this year were Redd Kross, who I saw live for the eighth time and Sparks, who I saw live for the first time and who overwhelmed me to the point of tears. Of course, there’s also Electric Six, who continue to be hilarious and inspiring, in the way that only Electric Six can be. My biggest regret of the year was not getting a chance to listen to the new Foetus album, Soak, in time for inclusion on my Best Of list.

Other highlights of 2013 include Archive Of Our Own, Tom Hiddleston and Tom Hardy, the fine folks at Rue Morgue and everything they do, The Black Museum, TIFF Vanguard 2013 and all the bloggers, Tumblr (once you follow the right people, it’s so much better), Astron 6, Doc Hammer & Jackson Publick, The Cybertronic Spree, The Soup (always), The Hairpin, Aziz Ansari, Parenthetical Girls, Maple Leafs Bro, The “he’s blown it” squirrel, The Twentieth Century Fox theme played on a flute, Mystery Science Theater 3000 Turkey Day Marathon redux, Mutazione, Hall & Oates, and the fashion from Peaky Blinders.

Bill Bartell, I’ll still miss you forever.

Best Movies Of 2013:

1. Hellaware (review)
2. Pacific Rim (review)
3. Only Lovers Left Alive
4. Byzantium (review)
5. Computer Chess (review)
6. Gravity
7. R100
8. Prisoners
9. The Rambler (review)
10. The Strange Colour of Your Body’s Tears

More Movies I Loved This Year:

1. Lockout (2012)
2. Absentia (2011)
3. Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011)
4. Life of Pi (2012) (review)
5. You’re Next (2011)
6. Manborg (2012) (review)
7. Berberian Sound Studio (2012) (review)
8. Broken (2012) (review)
9. The Imposter (2012)
10. The Battery (2012) (review)

Best Albums Of 2013

1. Suede, Bloodsports (review)
2. Big Black Delta, Big Black Delta (review)
3. White Lies, Big TV (review)
4. Holograms, Forever (review)
5. Iceage, You’re Nothing (review)
6. David Bowie, The Next Day
7. Iggy and the Stooges, Ready To Die (review)
8. IO Echo, Ministry Of Love (review)
9. Electric Six, Mustang (review)
10. Daft Punk, Random Access Memories