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The 2026 Remix Report Card, Vol. 3

Tuesday, September 08, 2026

Here's Vol. 1 and Vol. 2, and the Spotify playlist of every remix I've covered so far this year.

"Boundaries (Remix)" by TheRealmiss BabyDee featuring Saucy Santana and Diamond The Body

TheRealmiss BabyDee is from Alabama and Diamond The Body is from Florida and one of those Zeus network reality show quasi-celebrities. "Boundaries" is a pretty good song, weird beat with minimal drums and lots of chaotic voices layered over each other, Saucy Santana has fun with it but doesn't really add much to the song.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: C+

"Dat Sound (Remix)" by H3adband featuring Boosie Badazz

Baton Rouge rapper H3adband released "Dat Sound" last year, or at least did it on one of those YouTube performance channels where people rap into a microphone hanging from the sky, before "Boo" became his mainstream breakthrough a few months ago. But "Dat Sound" either never made it to streaming services, or was pulled for some reason, until he released the song in July alongside a remix with Boosie -- surprisingly neither version of "Dat Sound" is on the album H3adband released in August, go figure. I like hearing Boosie on this song, but his vocals are really poorly mixed/recorded.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: C+

"Freak (Remix)" by Yseult featuring JT

"Freak" is a pretty good new jack swing pastiche, maybe a notch below what did Bruno Mars did on "Finesse," and JT's verse on this even kind of reminds me of Cardi on the Bruno remix.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B

"Geeked Shit (Remix)" by Luh Nae featuring Pluto

I liked one of Pluto's albums, but she got a lot less feature work than YKNiece after they both broke through with "Whim Whamiee," and I kind of understand why listening to Pluto's verse on here, it's just not good at all. Luh Nae is another young female Atlanta rapper who's kind of throwing back to the snap music/swag era, "Geeked Shit" wasn't produced by Zaytoven but it sounds so Zaytoven, I like the beat more than the song.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: D

"Goose Coat (Remix)" by Surf7 featuring Meek Mill

Philadelphia rapper Surf7 released his debut single "Goose Coat" in June (or at least his first song on streaming services, he had another song on Soundcloud a few weeks before that), and then got the biggest rapper from his city on the remix in July, that's pretty cool, he's really hitting the ground running.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B-

"Gut Genug (Remix)" by Kitschkrieg featuring Skepta, Shirin David, and Blumengarten

"Gut Genug (Remix)" by Kitschkrieg featuring Omah Lay, 255, and Blumengarten

The original "Gut Genug" or "Du Bist Gut Genug" ("you are good enough" in German) was a massive #1 hit in Germany and Austria by three German artists: production trio Kitschkrieg, the singer/producer duo Blumengarten, and rapper Shirin David, who seems like the Iggy Azalea of Germany. Apparently this got big on TikTok in America and is the first German-language song on the U.S. charts in decades, there's more interesting background on the "Gut Genug" phenomenon here. Anyway, there are two remixes featuring British grime rapper Skepta and Nigerian Afrobeats star Omah Lay, both are pretty good.

Best Verse: Skepta

Overall Grade: B

"Here For The Party (Remix)" by Gretchen Wilson featuring Ella Langley

No female country singer was as big in 2004 as Ella Langley is in 2026, but Gretchen Wilson came pretty close with "Redneck Woman" -- she was even the target of the very first Kanye West awards show tantrum when she won Favorite Breakthrough Artist over him at the AMAs. Wilson's run at the top was pretty short-lived, though. She had a few more hits, including "Here For The Party," but she hasn't really had a successful single since 2005 or any album at all since 2017. So it was a bit of a coup for her to get the biggest current star to sing on a re-recorded version of a song that came out when Langley was five years old. Wilson was never a great vocalist, and at her current age, Langley really upstages her. Actually, it's actually nice to hear Langley sing something that's a little rowdier than her solo stuff usually is.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B-

"Hot Body (Remix)" by Ayra Starr featuring Danny Ocean

I didn't realize there's a Latin pop star from Venezuela who calls himself Danny Ocean, I saw the guest credit on this remix and my brain went "that's not...Billy Ocean? Frank Ocean? George Clooney?" I like his verse on this, though, his voice reminds me a little of J Balvin but more melodic.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B

"I Need Dat Remix" by 318dman featuring Nino Paid

Nino Paid is probably the biggest current rapper from Prince George's County, Maryland, where I live, and he sounds surprisingly natural on the breakout hit by Louisiana rapper 318dman.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B+

"In My Pockets (Remix)" by Diamond The Body featuring BossMan Dlow

The beat on "In My Pockets" already sounded like the kind of thing BossMan Dlow usually raps on, so he takes to the remix pretty naturally, almost sounds like his song now. Only the clean version is on Spotify, that's pretty annoying.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B

"Louisiana (Remix)" by PhattMouf featuring Fredo Bang

Fredo Bang is pretty low on the list of Louisiana rap stars that I think a new Louisiana rapper would want on a remix of a song called "Louisiana," I don't know if he'd even make the top 10, but he has a decent verse on here.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B-

"Mi Chico (Remix)" by DJ Goja featuring Jason DeRulo and Melody

I don't like Jason DeRulo as much as Pitbull, but I think DeRulo has a Pitbull-like ability to keep piggybacking onto different songs and trends and stay relevant. DJ Goja is a Romanian producer who made an Afrobeats-inspired track that went viral, and then DeRulo and Brazilian singer Melody jumped on it, and now that's the version that's on pop radio.

Best Verse: Melody

Overall Grade: C+

"Morning Dew (Donk) Remix" by Beyonce featuring Jay-Z

A cappella bars at his recent concerts notwithstanding, this remix has the first new Jay-Z verse on record in nearly 4 years (the last one was DJ Khaled's "God Did"). "Morning Dew (Donk)" was already kind of a odd little curio, a leaked 2013 outtake that got polished and officially released for the forthcoming reissue of Beyonce's 2006 album B'Day. And this remix is just really playful and weird, throwing Soulja Boy and Sheck Wes and Isley Brothers samples and Goodie Mob lyrics into the pot. The public response to the remix, as far as I've seen, has been overwhelmingly negative, but I think it's kind of an enjoyable minor thing.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B-

"Never Enough (Rod Lee Version)" by Turnstile featuring Rod Lee

You're here on my blog so you probably know that I wrote an entire book about Baltimore club music, and possibly also that I was pretty excited that Baltimore punk breakout band Turnstile's Grammy-winning album Never Enough featured an extended Baltimore club homage on the single "Look Out for Me." On Friday, Turnstile released Never Enough: Versions, which collects remixes and covers from a surreal spectrum of artists including Elton John, Slayyyter, Dying Fetus, and Alex G. For me, though, the big news is that Baltimore club legend Rod Lee turns the #1 rock radio hit "Never Enough" into a Paradox-era club banger with a Brendan Yates vocal loop. I especially love Rod Lee going "I'm about to break it down with my boy Brendan" and the second half of the track where he riffs on the title.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: A

"N*gga (Remix)" by Skrilla featuring 1900Rugrat

Skrilla is the Philly rapper whose song "Doot Doot (6 7)" birthed the whole "six seven" meme, and my theory is he didn't get very famous off that because his music is awful and almost unlistenable. Skrilla unsurprisingly says the n-word a lot on this song, and Florida rapper 1900Rugrat opens his verse saying "cracka cracka cracka cracka cracka cracka cracka," which is pretty hilarious.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B-

"Nobody (Remix)" by Trim featuring Monaleo and G. Herbo

I covered South Carolina rapper Trim for the first time in one of this year's earlier Remix Report Cards, and immediately clocked that she's influenced by Nicki Minaj, but with each track I hear the Nicki mimicry just seems more and more over-the-top. I kind of rolled my eyes when I heard the "Swag Surfin'" sample on the remix (with a producer tag from Hitmaka, king of lazy samples, no less). But there are also so few rap remixes where there's an actual different beat and it does sound pretty good. The "Nobody" remix initially came out in June with just Monaleo, and then the version with the G. Herbo verse added came out a month later. I would've been happier with the first one, Monaleo kills every feature these days and G. Herbo is overrated as hell.

Best Verse: Monaleo

Overall Grade: B+

"Nobody Speak Part 2" by DJ Shadow featuring Denzel Curry, TiaCorine, and Run the Jewels

At some point Run The Jewels became the default rap music you constantly hear it films, sitcoms, and cartoons, as if every Hollywood music supervisor was just happy to have something recent to put in a scene where they really wanted to use a Beastie Boys song from their adolescence. The 2016 DJ Shadow/Run the Jewels collaboration "Nobody Speak" might have more syncs than any other RTJ song, and I guess this new version is for its 10th anniversary. Denzel Curry and TiaCorine go bar for bar like Jada and Styles surprisingly well, I don't feel like it makes sense to say either has the "best verse" because they both just rap back-and-forth together, but they're good on it. I still don't like the beat, though, like, this is the guy who made Endtroducing.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B

"One Track Mind (Remix)" by Naika featuring Jessie Reyez

"One Track Mind - Part II" by Naika featuring Kalash

Naika is a singer from Miami with one French parent and one Haitian parent, her pretty good debut album Eclesia came out in February and the single "One Track Mind" was a major hit in France. Jessie Reyez's voice didn't annoy me on this as much as usual, but the version with French rap star Kalash is definitely better.

Best Verse: Kalash

Overall Grade: C+

"Rollin (Remix)" by BIA featuring Stunna Sandy, Bay Swag, and DJ Snake

I covered Stunna Sandy in this column last year before she broke through with her recent Drake collaboration, she's basically an Ice Spice knockoff who's even more attractive but makes even worse music. The original "Rollin'" featured Cash Cobain, his frequent collaborator Bay Swag is a natural fit for the remix but his verse isn't as good.

Best Verse: Bay Swag

Overall Grade: C+

"Shoulders (Remix)" by 42kbrook/Pookielean featuring H3adband

I thought at first that 42kbrook/Pookielean was a duo but it's just one guy -- from what I can tell, after Baton Rouge rapper 42kbrook blew up with the viral song/dance move "Pookie Lean" last year, he changed his artist handle on streaming services to 42kbrook/Pookielean to really lean into (no pun intended) his claim to fame. Maybe if "Shoulders" gets big enough he'll change his name to 42kbrook/Shoulders. Okay song, H3adband makes it slightly better I guess.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: C+

"Sinner, Pt. 2" by Tamera featuring Jessie Reyez

London singer Tamera Foster didn't win when she competed on "The X-Factor," but Simon Cowell still signed her to his label and called her 'the British Rihanna.' Tamera was the opening act on Jessie Reyez's tour last year, so it's a smart move to have her on a remix of her latest single, but "Sinner" is a really good song, and Reyez's voice is like nails on a chalkboard to me, here much more than on the Naika remix.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: D

"Spend Dat (Remix)" by Yung Miami featuring Lil Baby and Kodak Black

"Spend Dat (International Remix)" by Yung Miami featuring Davido, Shenseea, and Vybz Kartel

I think "Spend Dat" sucks, although I don't feel like it's bringing about the downfall of society like some people seem to. The song had already peaked in both streams and radio spins and started to decline before Yung Miami announced that a remix was coming, maybe she gain restore the song's momentum with these two remixes but I kind of hope not. I will always give credit to artists who record a new verse for their own remixes because that's rare these days, and Yung Miami actually did two new verses, one for each of these remixes, that impressed me. I don't think any of the guests really came with it, though, Kodak is straight up incoherent.

Best Verse: Davido

Overall Grade: C+

"Talk To Me, Zara" by Robyn featuring Zara Larsson

Despite so much modern American pop being written and produced by Swedes, there's a pretty small number of Swedish pop singers in my lifetime (post-ABBA) who have been commercially successful in America -- it's basically Robyn, Tove Lo, and Zara Larsson, and that's it. And I'm glad Robyn and Zara have been working together, Robyn appeared on the Midnight Sun: Girls Trip remix album earlier this year, and now Zara's on a good retitled version of Robyn's single "Talk To Me."

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B

"Used 2 (Extended Version)" by 38 Spesh featuring Rome Streetz

Everybody in the neoclassicist cratedigger street rap lane gets hailed as the second coming on the internet, including 38 Spesh and Rome Streetz. I'm not super into either but I like Rome Streetz a little more of the two, so I think he adds something to this song.

Best Verse: n/a

Overall Grade: B+

5:00 AM

Friday, September 04, 2026

My Deep Cut Friday column for Spin this week is about Matthew Sweet's "Lost My Mind." I also added There Near to my ranking of Dinosaur Jr. albums that ran in June.

10:40 AM

Thursday, September 03, 2026

I wrote a Baltimore Banner piece about Afro Plus Fest, which kicks off in Landover tomorrow.

9:35 AM

Wednesday, September 02, 2026

Zac Shipley · Total Ship Show Music Break 1 - End of Summer

The fourth episode of Total Ship Show, my podcast with my brother Zac, came out about a week ago. This week we've got the first installment of the Total Ship Show Music Break, a 30-minute audio-only episode on Soundcloud where Zac and I each play three songs and talk a bit about them, which we're going to try and do now and then going forward. Zac picked songs by Gold Steps, Bermuda Search Party, and Secret Menu. I went with kind of an 'end of summer' theme with my picks by Jonathan Richman, Death Cab For Cutie, and Zara Larsson.

9:33 AM

My Top 522 Singles of the 1980s

Tuesday, September 01, 2026

I have previously made lists of my 522 favorite singles of the 1990s, the 2000s, and the 2010s. My rationale is that there are roughly 522 weeks in a decade, and I love the idea that a great song, a great popular single on the charts that will stand the test of time, comes out at least once a week, all year every year, and has continuously throughout our lifetimes. A lot of people subscribe to the mentality that a great pop song comes out every once in a while and it's this shining exception to a lot of bullshit that nobody needs to hear, but I don't feel that way at all.

There are 520 songs in my mammoth 38-hour Spotify playlist. Salt-N-Pepa's "I'll Take Your Man" and Vanity 6's "Nasty Girl" are the two songs that aren't on Spotify. Salt-N-Pepa are in a legal battle for control of their master recordings and I wish them luck. Vanity 6 somehow slipped between the cracks when a lot of the albums by Prince's proteges went on streaming services after he died. I put the whole thing on shuffle yesterday and had such a ball dancing around my house, I highly recommend it.

I wrote in detail about many of these songs in my lists of the best pop, R&B, hip-hop, country, mainstream rock, alternative rock, and hard/rock metal singles of the 1980s.

1. Queen and David Bowie - "Under Pressure" (1981)

2. Frankie Beverly & Maze - "Before I Let Go" (1981)

3. Prince - "Little Red Corvette" (1983)

4. Grandmaster Flash and the Furious Five – “The Message” (1982)

5. Cyndi Lauper - "Time After Time" (1984)

6. AC/DC - "Back In Black" (1980)

7. Violent Femmes - "Blister In The Sun" (1983)

8. Katrina And The Waves - "Walking On Sunshine" (1985)

9. The Cure - "Just Like Heaven" (1987)

10. Madonna - "Like A Prayer" (1989)

11. George Jones - "He Stopped Loving Her Today" (1980)

12. Luther Vandross - "Never Too Much" (1981)

13. Talking Heads - "Once In A Lifetime" (1981)

14. Slick Rick – “Children’s Story” (1989)

15. Wham! - "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" (1984)

16. Iron Maiden - "Run To The Hills" (1982)

17. Van Halen - "Panama" (1984)

18. Tom Petty - "I Won't Back Down" (1989)

19. Public Enemy – “Rebel Without a Pause” (1987)

20. Guns N' Roses - "Welcome To The Jungle" (1988)

21. R.E.M. - "It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine)" (1987)

22. Kate Bush - "Running Up That Hill" (1985)

23. Michael McDonald - "I Keep Forgettin'" (1982)

24. Daryl Hall & John Oates - "You Make My Dreams" (1981)

25. The Isley Brothers - "Between The Sheets" (1983)

26. Debbie Gibson - "Only In My Dreams" (1987)

27. Tracy Chapman - "Fast Car" (1988)

28. Paul Simon - "You Can Call Me Al" (1986)

29. Michael Jackson - "Wanna Be Startin' Somethin'" (1983)

30. Whitney Houston - "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)" (1987)

31. Stevie Nicks - "Edge Of Seventeen" (1982)

32. Phil Collins - "In The Air Tonight" (1981)

33. Eric B. & Rakim – “Paid in Full” (1987)

34. New Edition - "If It Isn't Love" (1988)

35. Journey - "Any Way You Want It" (1980)

36. Randy Travis - "Forever And Ever, Amen" (1987)

37. Pat Benatar - "Heartbreaker" (1980)

38. Big Daddy Kane – “Ain’t No Half-Steppin'” (1988)

39. LL Cool J – “Rock the Bells” (1985)

40. Motorhead - "Ace Of Spades" (1980)

41. N.W.A. – “Straight Outta Compton” (1988)

42. Merle Haggard and Willie Nelson - "Pancho and Lefty" (1983)

43. Rush - "Tom Sawyer" (1981)

44. Marvin Gaye - "Sexual Healing" (1982)

45. Robbie Nevil - "C'est La Vie" (1986)

46. Jane's Addiction - "Mountain Song" (1988)

47. Run-DMC – “King of Rock” (1985)

48. Motley Crue - "Kickstart My Heart" (1989)

49. Devo - "Whip It" (1980)

50. The Human League - "Don't You Want Me" (1982)

51. Modern English - "I Melt With You" (1983)

52. Tom Browne - "Funkin' For Jamaica (N.Y.)" (1980)

53. Billy Joel - "The Longest Time" (1984)

54. Sade - "The Sweetest Taboo" (1985)

55. Soul II Soul - "Back To Life (However Do You Want Me)" (1989)

56. The Gap Band – “Outstanding” (1982)

57. Prince - "When Doves Cry" (1984)

58. Living Colour - "Cult Of Personality" (1988)

59. U2 - "New Year's Day" (1983)

60. Metallica - "One" (1989)

61. Neil Young - "Rockin' In The Free World" (1989)

62. Dwight Yoakam - "Guitars, Cadillacs" (1986)

63. They Might Be Giants – “Don’t Let’s Start” (1987)

64. Elton John - "I Guess That's Why They Call It The Blues" (1983)

65. Salt-N-Pepa – “I’ll Take Your Man” (1986)

66. Audio Two – “Top Billin'” (1987)

67. Bruce Springsteen - "I'm On Fire" (1985)

68. INXS - "Don't Change" (1982)

69. ZZ Top - "Gimme All Your Lovin'" (1983)

70. Soft Cell - "Tainted Love/Where Did Our Love Go?" (1981)

71. Madonna - "Borderline" (1984)

72. The B-52s - "Love Shack" (1989)

73. Ozzy Osbourne - "Crazy Train" (1980)

74. Tanya Tucker - "Love Me Like You Used To" (1987)

75. Pet Shop Boys - "West End Girls" (1986)

76. Sonic Youth - "Teen Age Riot" (1988)

77. Dio - "Rainbow In The Dark" (1983)

78. Tears For Fears - "Everybody Wants To Rule The World" (1985)

79. Starship - "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now" (1987)

80. Bon Jovi - "Wanted Dead Or Alive" (1987)

81. John Mellencamp - "Cherry Bomb" (1987)

82. George Strait - "Amarillo By Morning" (1983)

83. George Michael - "Faith" (1987)

84. Christopher Cross - "Ride Like The Wind" (1980)

85. Eurythmics - "Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This)" (1983)

86. The Clash - "Rock The Casbah" (1982)

87. Billy Idol - "Dancing With Myself" (1981)

88. Def Leppard - "Photograph" (1983)

89. The Who - "Eminence Front" (1982)

90. Dexys Midnight Runners - "Come On Eileen" (1983)

91. Judas Priest - "Breaking The Law" (1980)

92. Ice-T – “6 ‘N the Mornin’” (1986)

93. Schoolly D – “P.S.K. What Does It Mean?” (1985)

94. Suicidal Tendencies - "Institutionalized" (1984)

95. Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock – “It Takes Two” (1988)

96. The Pointer Sisters - "Neutron Dance" (1985)

97. Donna Summer - "She Works Hard For The Money" (1983)

98. Rick Springfield - "Jessie's Girl" (1981)

99. Rick Astley - "Never Gonna Give You Up" (1988)

100. Lipps Inc. - "Funkytown" (1980)

101. Cyndi Lauper - "Girls Just Want To Have Fun" (1983)

102. Janet Jackson - "When I Think Of You" (1986)

103. Afrika Bambaataa & the Soulsonic Force – “Planet Rock” (1982)

104. The Dead Milkmen - "Punk Rock Girl" (1989)

105. Funky 4 + 1 – “That’s the Joint” (1980)

106. Stevie Wonder - "Do I Do" (1982)

107. Daryl Hall & John Oates - "Private Eyes" (1981)

108. Boogie Down Productions – “South Bronx” (1986)

109. Teena Marie - "Square Biz" (1982)

110. Keith Whitley - "I'm No Stranger To The Rain" (1989)

111. The Cult - "She Sells Sanctuary" (1985)

112. Squeeze - "Pulling Mussels (From The Shell)" (1980)

113. Wang Chung - "Dance Hall Days" (1984)

114. Chaka Khan – “What 'Cha Gonna Do For Me” (1981)

115. Steve Winwood - "Roll With It" (1988)

116. Michael Jackson - "Rock With You" (1980)

117. Billy Squier - "Lonely Is The Night" (1981)

118. Dolly Parton, Linda Ronstadt, and Emmylou Harris - "Wildflowers" (1988)

119. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Refugee" (1980)

120. Genesis - "No Reply At All" (1981)

121. Bruce Hornsby and the Range - "The Way It Is" (1986)

122. Toto - "Rosanna" (1982)

123. Bonnie Tyler - "Total Eclipse of the Heart" (1983)

124. Tina Turner - "The Best" (1989)

125. Queen - "Crazy Little Thing Called Love" (1980)

126. Madonna - "Express Yourself" (1989)

127. Whitesnake - "Here I Go Again" (1987)

128. Heart - "Alone" (1987)

129. Van Halen - "Hot For Teacher" (1984)

130. Guns N' Roses - "Sweet Child O' Mine" (1988)

131. The Replacements - "Alex Chilton" (1987)

132. A-ha - "Take On Me" (1985)

133. The Romantics - "What I Like About You" (1980)

134. Eddie Money - "Shakin'" (1982)

135. MC Shan – “The Bridge” (1985)

136. The Police - "Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic" (1981)

137. Roxanne Shante – “Roxanne’s Revenge” (1984)

138. UTFO – “Roxanne, Roxanne” (1984)

139. Big Country - "In A Big Country" (1983)

140. Bruce Springsteen - "Hungry Heart" (1980)

141. The D.O.C. – “It’s Funky Enough” (1989)

142. The Pretenders - "Back On The Chain Gang" (1983)

143. Journey – “Stone In Love” (1982)

144. The Greg Kihn Band - "The Breakup Song (They Don't Write 'Em)" (1981)

145. Wall Of Voodoo - "Mexican Radio" (1983)

146. Pete Townshend - "Let My Love Open The Door" (1980)

147. Crowded House - "Don't Dream It's Over" (1987)

148. Don Henley - "The Boys Of Summer" (1984)

149. Depeche Mode – “People Are People” (1984)

150. General Public - "Tenderness" (1984)

151. Fleetwood Mac - "Gypsy" (1982)

152. De La Soul featuring the Jungle Brothers, A Tribe Called Quest, Monie Love, and Queen Latifah – “Buddy (Native Tongue Decision)” (1989)

153. Traveling Wilburys - "Handle With Care" (1988)

154. Fabulous Thunderbirds - "Tuff Enuff" (1986)

155. Anita Baker - "Same Ole Love (365 Days A Year)" (1987)

156. The Pixies - "Here Comes Your Man" (1989)

157. The Ramones - "We Want The Airwaves" (1981)

158. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - "Bad Reputation" (1981)

159. Cameo - "Word Up!" (1986)

160. Poison - "Talk Dirty To Me" (1987)

161. Beastie Boys – “Paul Revere” (1986)

162. Public Enemy – “Fight the Power” (1989)

163. E.U. - "Da Butt" (1988)

164. Melle Mel – “White Lines (Don’t Do It)” (1983)

165. The Smiths - "How Soon Is Now?" (1985)

166. Buster Poindexter And His Banshees of Blue - "Hot Hot Hot" (1987)

167. DeBarge - "I Like It" (1982)

168. Prince and the Revolution - "I Would Die 4 U" (1985)

169. Herbie Hancock – “Rockit” (1983)

170. Huey Lewis and the News - "If This Is It" (1984)

171. .38 Special - "Hold On Loosely" (1981)

172. Alabama - "Mountain Music" (1982)

173. Stetsasonic – “Talkin’ All That Jazz” (1988)

174. Bob Marley and the Wailers – “Could You Be Loved” (1980)

175. John Mellencamp - "Jack & Diane" (1982)

176. Cheryl Lynn - "Encore" (1984)

177. Oingo Boingo - "Dead Man's Party" (1986)

178. The Waterboys - "The Whole Of The Moon" (1986)

179. Doug E. Fresh & The Get Fresh Crew – “The Show” (1985)

180. Fine Young Cannibals - "Good Thing" (1989)

181. Kenny Loggins - "This Is It" (1980)

182. Janet Jackson - "The Pleasure Principle" (1987)

183. Teddy Pendergrass - "Love T.K.O." (1980)

184. Madness - "Our House" (1983)

185. Tom Tom Club - "Genius Of Love" (1982)

186. The Waitresses - "Christmas Wrapping" (1981)

187. Wham! - "Last Christmas" (1984)

188. Sinead O'Connor - "Mandinka" (1987)

189. David Bowie - "Ashes To Ashes" (1980)

190. Peter Gabriel - "Games Without Frontiers" (1980)

191. Genesis - "Tonight, Tonight, Tonight" (1987)

192. Gloria Estefan and Miami Sound Machine - "1-2-3" (1988)

193. Rod Stewart - "Young Turks" (1981)

194. Styx - "Too Much Time On My Hands" (1981)

195. The Hooters - "And We Danced" (1985)

196. The Outfield - "Your Love" (1986)

197. Murray Head - "One Night In Bangkok" (1985)

198. Nu Shooz - "I Can't Wait" (1986)

199. New Order - "Bizarre Love Triangle" (1986)

200. Michael Jackson - "Beat It" (1983)

201. Kim Carnes - "Bette Davis Eyes" (1981)

202. Donnie Iris - "Ah! Leah!" (1980)

203. The Dazz Band - "Let It Whip" (1982)

204. George Clinton - "Atomic Dog" (1983)

205. Bryan Adams - "Somebody" (1985)

206. Simple Minds - "Don't You (Forget About Me)" (1985)

207. Peter Gabriel - "In Your Eyes" (1986)

208. INXS - "New Sensation" (1988)

209. Queen - "Another One Bites The Dust" (1980)

210. David Bowie - "Let's Dance" (1983)

211. The Waterboys - "Fisherman's Blues" (1988)

212. Nena - "99 Luftballoons" (1984)

213. The Clash - "Train In Vain" (1980)

214. Indigo Girls - "Closer To Fine" (1989)

215. R.E.M. - "So. Central Rain (I'm Sorry)" (1984)

216. The Police - "Every Breath You Take" (1983)

217. U2 - "With Or Without You" (1987)

218. Stevie Nicks with Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Stop Draggin' My Heart Around" (1981)

219. The Cure - "Close To Me" (1985)

220. Patrice Rushen - "Forget Me Nots" (1982)

221. Frida - "I Know There's Something Going On" (1983)

222. Rick James - "Super Freak" (1981)

223. Prince - "Controversy" (1981)

224. Olivia Newton-John - "Physical" (1981)

225. INXS - "What You Need" (1985)

226. Squeeze - "Tempted" (1981)

227. Starpoint - "Object Of My Desire" (1985)

228. Lionel Richie - "All Night Long (All Night)" (1983)

229. Janet Jackson - "Rhythm Nation" (1989)

230. U2 - "All I Want Is You" (1989)

231. Madonna - "Material Girl" (1985)

232. Bonnie Raitt - "Thing Called Love" (1989)

233. Zapp - "Computer Love" (1985)

234. Little Feat - "Let It Roll" (1988)

235. Journey - "Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)" (1983)

236. Naked Eyes – “Always Something There To Remind Me" (1983)

237. Cowboy Junkies - "Sweet Jane" (1989)

238. Bananarama - "Cruel Summer" (1984)

239. Talking Heads - "This Must Be The Place (Naive Melody)" (1983)

240. Aretha Franklin f/ George Michael - "I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me)" (1987)

241. Blondie - "Rapture" (1981)

242. Daryl Hall & John Oates - "Kiss On My List" (1981)

243. Surface - "Happy" (1987)

244. Foreigner - "Juke Box Hero" (1981)

245. The Jacksons - "This Place Hotel" (1981)

246. Bobby Brown - "Don't Be Cruel" (1988)

247. Laurie Anderson - "O Superman" (1981)

248. George Thorogood & The Destroyers - "I Drink Alone" (1985)

249. Jennifer Holliday - "And I Am Telling You I'm Not Going" (1982)

250. Diana Ross - "Upside Down" (1980)

251. Lisa Lisa & Cult Jam with Full Force - "I Wonder If I Take You Home" (1985)

252. The Weather Girls - "It's Raining Men" (1982)

253. Milli Vanilli - "Girl You Know It's True" (1989)

254. The Time – “777-9311” (1982)

255. Robert Plant - "In The Mood" (1983)

256. Loverboy - "Working For the Weekend" (1982)

257. Pink Floyd - "Learning To Fly" (1987)

258. Keni Burke - "Risin' To The Top" (1982)

259. Prince and the Revolution - "Kiss" (1986)

260. Eddy Grant - "Electric Avenue" (1983)

261. Bobby Brown - "On Our Own" (1989)

262. Reba McEntire - "Little Rock" (1986)

263. Janet Jackson - "Miss You Much" (1989)

264. Pretenders - "Don't Get Me Wrong" (1986)

265. Taana Gardner – “Heartbeat” (1981)

266. Rufus & Chaka Khan - "Ain't Nobody" (1983)

267. Michael Jackson - "Billie Jean" (1983)

268. Tears For Fears - "Head Over Heels" (1985)

269. Rick James – “Give It To Me Baby” (1981)

270. Kool & The Gang – “Get Down On It” (1981)

271. Neneh Cherry - "Buffalo Stance" (1989)

272. Karla Bonoff - "Personally" (1982)

273. Prince - "I Could Never Take The Place Of Your Man" (1987)

274. Newcleus – “Jam on It” (1984)

275. Rosanne Cash - "Seven Year Ache" (1981)

276. Scorpions - "Rock You Like A Hurricane" (1984)

277. The Gap Band – “Yearning For Your Love” (1981)

278. Tone Loc – “Wild Thing” (1988)

279. George Jones - "Tennessee Whiskey" (1983)

280. George Michael - "Father Figure" (1988)

281. Lita Ford - "Kiss Me Deadly" (1988)

282. Tears For Fears f/ Oleta Adams - "Woman In Chains" (1989)

283. Kate Bush - "This Woman's Work" (1989)

284. The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - "Fishin' In The Dark" (1987)

285. Dead Or Alive - "You Spin Me Round (Like A Record)" (1985)

286. Autograph - "Turn Up The Radio" (1984)

287. Luther Vandross - "A House Is Not A Home" (1981)

288. Willie Nelson - "On The Road Again" (1980)

289. Jermaine Stewart - "We Don't Have To Take Our Clothes Off" (1986)

290. Cyndi Lauper - "Money Changes Everything" (1985)

291. Was (Not Was) - "Walk The Dinosaur" (1989)

292. Bobby McFerrin - "Don't Worry, Be Happy" (1988)

293. DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince – “Parents Just Don’t Understand” (1988)

294. Prince - "1999" (1982)

295. Michael Jackson - "Thriller" (1984)

296. Madonna - "Open Your Heart" (1987)

297. Motley Crue - "Home Sweet Home" (1985)

298. AC/DC - "You Shook Me All Night Long" (1980)

299. Jackson Browne - "In The Shape Of A Heart" (1986)

300. Bruce Springsteen - "Dancing In The Dark" (1984)

301. Metallica - "For Whom The Bell Tolls" (1985)

302. Slayer - "Reign In Blood" (1986)

303. Megadeth - "Peace Sells" (1986)

304. Kathy Mattea - "Eighteen Wheels and a Dozen Roses" (1988)

305. Prince - "Why You Wanna Treat Me So Bad?" (1980)

306. R.E.M. – “The One I Love” (1987)

307. Michael Jackson - "Smooth Criminal" (1988)

308. Change f/ Luther Vandross - "The Glow Of Love" (1980)

309. INXS - "Need You Tonight" (1987)

310. Frankie Beverly & Maze - "Joy And Pain" (1980)

311. The Rolling Stones - "Start Me Up" (1981)

312. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "Don't Come Around Here No More" (1985)

313. Peter Gabriel - "Sledgehammer" (1986)

314. Phil Collins - "Sussudio" (1985)

315. Duran Duran - "Hungry Like The Wolf" (1982)

316. The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl - "Fairytale Of New York" (1987)

317. Bryan Adams – “Cuts Like A Knife” (1983)

318. Pat Benatar - "Love Is A Battlefield" (1983)

319. Prince - "Uptown" (1980)

320. Queen Latifah – “Dance for Me” (1989)

321. Michael Jackson - "P.Y.T. (Pretty Young Thing)" (1983)

322. The Judds - "Had A Dream (For The Heart)" (1983)

323. Van Halen - "Everybody Wants Some!!" (1980)

324. New Kids On The Block - "You Got It (The Right Stuff)" (1989)

325. Harold Faltermeyer - "Axel F" (1985)

326. Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra - "Xanadu" (1980)

327. Steely Dan - "Hey Nineteen" (1980)

328. Ray Parker, Jr. - "Ghostbusters" (1984)

329. Shannon - "Let The Music Play" (1984)

330. U2 - "Where The Streets Have No Name" (1987)

331. Talking Heads - "And She Was" (1985)

332. R.E.M. - "Radio Free Europe" (1983)

333. Vanity 6 - "Nasty Girl" (1982)

334. Alicia Myers – “I Want To Thank You” (1982)

335. Shalamar – “A Night To Remember” (1982)

336. The Psychedelic Furs - "Pretty In Pink" (1986)

337. Michael Jackson - "The Way You Make Me Feel" (1987)

338. “Weird Al” Yankovic – “Eat It” (1984)

339. Bruce Springsteen - "Born In The U.S.A." (1984)

340. Phil Collins - "I Don't Care Anymore" (1983)

341. Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark - "If You Leave" (1986)

342. Spandau Ballet - "True" (1983)

343. Kix - "Blow My Fuse" (1988)

344. The Deele - "Two Occasions" (1988)

345. Tears For Fears - "Mad World" (1982)

346. Thomas Dolby - "She Blinded Me With Science" (1983)

347. The Ramones - "Do You Remember Rock 'n' Roll Radio?" (1980)

348. Paul McCartney and Michael Jackson - "Say Say Say" (1983)

349. David Bowie - "Modern Love" (1983)

350. MC Lyte – “Cha Cha Cha” (1989)

351. J.J. Fad – “Supersonic” (1988)

352. The Cure - "Lovesong" (1989)

353. Billy Squier - "The Stroke" (1981)

354. Marley Marl featuring Masta Ace, Craig G, Kool G Rap and Big Daddy Kane – “The Symphony” (1988)

355. Red Rider - "Lunatic Fringe" (1981)

356. 3rd Bass f/ Zev Love X – “The Gas Face” (1989)

357. Special Ed – “I Got It Made” (1989)

358. LL Cool J – “I’m Bad” (1987)

359. Michael Jackson - "Human Nature" (1983)

360. Aerosmith - "Love In An Elevator" (1989)

361. Prince and the Revolution - "Pop Life" (1985)

362. Bruce Springsteen - "Atlantic City" (1982)

363. Culture Club - "Karma Chameleon" (1984)

364. Poison - "Every Rose Has Its Thorn" (1988)

365. "Weird Al" Yankovic - "Dare To Be Stupid" (1986)

366. Bon Jovi - "Livin' On A Prayer" (1987)

367. Jody Watley - "Real Love" (1989)

368. Men At Work - "Overkill" (1982)

369. Tones On Tail - "Go!" (1984)

370. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts - "I Love Rock 'n' Roll" (1982)

371. Michael Jackson featuring Siedah Garrett - "I Just Can't Stop Loving You" (1987)

372. Face To Face - "10-9-8" (1984)

373. T La Rock & Jazzy Jay – “It’s Yours” (1984)

374. Def Leppard - "Animal" (1987)

375. The Treacherous Three – “Body Rock” (1980)

376. Rush - "Freewill" (1980)

377. Prince featuring Sheena Easton - "U Got The Look" (1987)

378. The English Beat - "Save It For Later" (1982)

379. The Sequence featuring Spoonie Gee – “Monster Jam” (1980)

380. Blue Oyster Cult - "Burnin' For You" (1981)

381. The Showboys – “Drag Rap” (1986)

382. 2 Live Crew – “Me So Horny” (1989)

383. Guns N' Roses - "Paradise City" (1989)

384. Sir Mix-A-Lot – “Posse on Broadway” (1988)

385. Van Halen - "Unchained" (1981)

386. Too $hort – “Life Is … Too Short” (1988)

387. Billy Idol – “Rebel Yell” (1984)

388. Journey – “Don’t Stop Believin’” (1981)

389. Pebbles - "Girlfriend" (1988)

390. Madonna – “Into The Groove” (1985)

391. Elvis Costello & The Attractions – “Everyday I Write The Book” (1983)

392. Twisted Sister - "We're Not Gonna Take It" (1984)

393. Biz Markie – “Nobody Beats the Biz” (1987)

394. Ozzy Osbourne - "Over The Mountain" (1981)

395. Eazy-E – “Boyz-n-the-hood” (1987)

396. Billy Joel - "It's Still Rock And Roll To Me" (1980)

397. Great White - "Once Bitten, Twice Shy" (1989)

398. Whodini – “Freaks Come Out at Night” (1984)

399. Quiet Riot - "Cum On Feel The Noize" (1983)

400. Run-DMC – “It’s Like That” (1983)

401. Dire Straits – “Walk of Life” (1985)

402. Ratt - "Round and Round" (1984)

403. Kurtis Blow – “The Breaks” (1980)

404. Bon Jovi - "Runaway" (1984)

405. The Sugarhill Gang – “Apache” (1981)

406. Kiss - "Lick It Up" (1983)

407. LL Cool J – “Going Back To Cali” (1988)

408. Bruce Springsteen - "Glory Days" (1985)

409. Madonna – “Cherish” (1989)

410. Def Leppard - "Foolin'" (1983)

411. Billy Joel – “Pressure” (1982)

412. Billy Idol – “White Wedding” (1982)

413. Survivor - "Eye of the Tiger" (1982)

414. Europe - "The Final Countdown" (1986)

415. Pat Benatar – “Hit Me With Your Best Shot” (1980)

416. Rush - "The Spirit Of Radio" (1980)

417. Bob Seger - "Her Strut" (1980)

416. EPMD - "You Gots To Chill" (1988)

418. Rakim - "Follow The Leader" (1988)

420. The Go-Go's - "Head Over Heels" (1984)

421. Howard Jones - "Things Can Only Get Better" (1985)

422. John Mellencamp - "Pink Houses" (1983)

423. Pink Floyd - "Comfortably Numb" (1980)

424. Run-DMC - "It's Tricky" (1987)

425. Tom Petty – “Runnin' Down A Dream” (1989)

426. Van Halen - "And The Cradle Will Rock..." (1980)

426. Genesis - "Misunderstanding" (1980)

427. The Replacements - "I Will Dare" (1984)

428. Frankie Goes To Hollywood - "Relax" (1985)

429. Billy Idol – “Eyes Without A Face” (1984)

430. The Vapors - "Turning Japanese" (1980)

431. LL Cool J – “I Can’t Live Without My Radio” (1985)

432. Diana Ross - "I'm Coming Out" (1980)

433. Paul McCartney - "Coming Up" (1980)

434. Def Leppard – “Hysteria” (1988)

435. ZZ Top - "I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide" (1980)

436. Billy Joel – “Uptown Girl” (1983)

437. Erasure - "A Little Respect" (1989)

438. Anita Baker - "Sweet Love" (1986)

439. Elvis Costello – “Veronica” (1989)

440. Bob Seger - "Against the Wind" (1986)

441. Run-DMC - "My Adidas" (1986)

442. The Fixx - "One Thing Leads To Another" (1983)

443. Madonna – “Like A Virgin” (1984)

444. The Dead Milkmen - "Bitchin' Camaro" (1985)

445. Aerosmith – “Rag Doll” (1988)

446. The Cars - "Drive" (1984)

447. Bruce Springsteen - "Brilliant Disguise" (1987)

448. R.E.M. - "Orange Crush" (1988)

449. Oran "Juice" Jones - "The Rain" (1986)

450. Cameo - "Candy" (1986)

451. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers – “Here Comes My Girl” (1980)

452. Judas Priest - "Living After Midnight" (1980)

453. The Police - "Wrapped Around Your Finger" (1984)

454. LL Cool J – “Big Ole Butt” (1989)

455. Camper Van Beethoven - "Take The Skinheads Bowling" (1985)

456. Talking Heads - "Wild Wild Life" (1986)

457. Culture Club - "Do You Really Want To Hurt Me?" (1983)

458. Eugene Wilde - "Gotta Get You Home Tonight" (1984)

459. The Cars – “You Might Think” (1984)

460. Def Leppard – “Pour Some Sugar On Me” (1988)

461. Madonna – “Holiday” (1983)

462. Dennis Edwards f/ Siedah Garrett – “Don’t Look Any Further” (1984)

463. Violent Femmes - "Gone Daddy Gone" (1983)

464. Aerosmith – “Janie’s Got A Gun” (1989)

465. U2 - "Bad (live)" (1985)

466. The Nails - "88 Lines About 44 Women" (1985)

467. R.E.M. - "Fall On Me" (1986)

468. Bob Seger – “Against The Wind” (1980)

469. Billy Joel - "You May Be Right" (1980)

470. The Police - "Don't Stand So Close To Me" (1980)

471. Don Dixon - "Praying Mantis" (1985)

472. Yello - "Oh Yeah" (1987)

473. Jocelyn Brown – “Somebody Else’s Guy” (1984)

474. The Go-Go's - "We Got The Beat" (1981)

475. Blondie - "Call Me" (1980)

476. U2 - "I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For" (1987)

477. Run-DMC and Aerosmith - "Walk This Way" (1986)

478. Janet Jackson - "Nasty" (1986)

479. R.E.M. - "Pop Song 89" (1989)

480. Madness - "It Must Be Love" (1981)

481. Depeche Mode - "Just Can't Get Enough" (1981)

482. Madonna – “Lucky Star” (1983)

483. Billy Joel – “A Matter of Trust” (1986)

484. Ashford & Simpson - "Solid" (1984)

485. Prince - "Purple Rain" (1984)

486. Duran Duran - "Notorious" (1986)

487. The The - "This Is The Day" (1983)

488. INXS - "Devil Inside" (1988)

489. Jane's Addiction - "Jane Says" (1988)

490. Talking Heads - "Burning Down The House" (1983)

491. U2 - "Pride (In The Name Of Love)" (1984)

492. R.E.M. - "(Don't Go Back To) Rockville" (1984)

493. Peter Gabriel and Kate Bush - "Don't Give Up" (1986)

494. Split Enz - "I Got You" (1980)

495. Information Society - "What's On Your Mind (Pure Energy)" (1988)

496. Squeeze - "Black Coffee In Bed" (1982)

497. Deniece Williams - "Let's Hear It For The Boy" (1984)

498. Madonna – “Dress You Up” (1985)

499. The Police - "Synchronicity II" (1983)

500. Fishbone - "Party At Ground Zero" (1985)

501. Joe Jackson - "Steppin' Out" (1982)

502. Janet Jackson - "What Have You Done For Me Lately" (1986)

503. The Replacements - "Bastards Of Young" (1985)

504. Prince and the Revolution - "Raspberry Beret" (1985)

505. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers - "The Waiting" (1981)

506. The B-52's - "Private Idaho" (1981)

507. Sade - "Smooth Operator" (1984)

508. New Order - "Blue Monday" (1983)

509. Talking Heads - "Road To Nowhere" (1985)

510. The Waitresses - "I Know What Boys Like" (1982)

511. Ronnie Milsap - "Smoky Mountain Rain" (1980)

512. The Cure - "In Between Days" (1985)

513. George Strait - "The Chair" (1985)

514. The Replacements - "I'll Be You" (1989)

515. U2 - "I Will Follow" (1981)

516. Hank Williams Jr. - "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight" (1984)

517. Jim Carroll Band - "People Who Died" (1980)

518. Dolly Parton - "9 To 5" (1980)

519. Peter Gabriel - "Shock The Monkey" (1982)

520. Emmylou Harris - "Born To Run" (1982)

521. Bruce Springsteen – “Tunnel of Love” (1987)

522. The B-52's - "Song For A Future Generation" (1983)

4:00 AM

Friday, August 28, 2026

I wrote about Dolly Parton's "Down From Dover" for my Spin column Deep Cut Friday. We love you, Dolly.

3:19 PM

Reading Diary

Thursday, August 27, 2026

a) Chronicles of DOOM: Unraveling Rap's Masked Iconoclast, by S.H. Fernando Jr.

I don't know Baltimore musician/music critic S.H. Fernando Jr. aka Skiz, but I did cite his 2005 Spin article about Baltimore club music in my own book, and lately I've been really enjoying his 2024 biography of MF DOOM. I remember in the early 2000s when MF DOOM was the talk of the underground rap world and my friend Josh mailed me like 4 burned CD's of different DOOM projects. But I didn't dig into the lore at the time and was surprised to learn that DOOM had been around a decade earlier, guesting on 3rd Bass's "Gas Face" under his previous rap name, Zev Love X of KMD. Chronicles of DOOM digs deep into that metamorphosis, how the tragedy of DOOM's brother and groupmate Subroc's death changed everything and led to his reinvention. This book has me really going back into DOOM's catalog more than even when DOOM died in 2020, really well researched and full of detail and emotion and context.

b) The Storyteller: Tales of Life and Music, by Dave Grohl

There's a used bookstore near our house that my wife has become a regular at, and the first time she took me to it, I of course scoured the shelf of music books, and found a very cheap copy of Dave Grohl's 2021 book and snapped it up. Grohl's always been so personable and passionate in interviews and seems to have a good memory, so I knew this would be a good read, although I was a little disappointed that I don't really get as much of his 'voice' or personality on the page as I hoped. It just feels like he (or an editor or co-writer or whoever) cleaned up the prose a little too much, to the point where it doesn't feel like you're just sitting there listening to Grohl sitting on a tour bus telling stories about the Scream and Nirvana days, which is what this book should be. Some of those stories are great, though, surprisingly quite a few that I hadn't heard before, and a bit of insight into how he thinks of himself as a drummer and what made him a better drummer and so determined to devote his life to music.

c) Brothers, by Alex Van Halen

There were actually two books by drummers the day I went into that bookstore, and I decided to take the Grohl book and leave Alex Van Halen's 2024 memoir. I'd already read a couple very entertaining accounts of the rise of Van Halen, in David Lee Roth's book and producer Ted Templeman's book, and didn't think I really needed another. Alex often sat next to Eddie in interviews, Eddie often sounding pissed off and bitter, and Alex just silent or agreeing, so I wasn't sure I needed his perspective. But Brothers was still there the next time I went to that store, and I'm glad I picked it up. It's a pretty compelling account of their entire lives together, being born in Holland and coming to America, playing different instruments with their musician father and eventually finding guitar and drums, building Van Halen brick by brick, it's really a very touching story of a sibling bond. And because so many other people have told this story already, Alex Van Halen gets to quote his brother's interviews and Dave and Ted's books and rebut them or expand on their insights.

3:18 PM

My Top 50 Movies of 2010

Tuesday, August 25, 2026

1. Inception (Christopher Nolan)

2. The Social Network (David Fincher)

3. Easy A (Will Gluck)

4. Black Swan (Darren Aronofsky)

5. Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll (Mat Whitecross)

6. True Grit (Ethan Coen and Joel Coen)

7. MacGruber (Jorma Taccone)

8. The Other Guys (Adam McKay)

9. Ceremony (Max Winkler)

10. Wrecked (Michael Greenspan)

11. 127 Hours (Danny Boyle)

12. Meek’s Cutoff (Kelly Reichardt)

13. Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World (Scott Pilgrim)

14. Rubber (Quentin Dupieux)

15. Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole (Zack Snyder)

16. Despicable Me (Pierre Coffin and Chris Renaud)

17. How To Train Your Dragon (Dean DeBlois and Chris Sanders)

18. The American (Anton Corbijn)

19. Devil (John Erick Dowdle)

20. The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko)

21. Rabbit Hole (John Cameron Mitchell)

22. The Disappearance of Alice Creed (J Blakeson)

23. Toy Story 3 (Lee Unkrich)

24. The Book of Eli (Albert Hughes and Allen Hughes)

25. Somewhere (Sofia Coppola)

26. Machete (Ethan Maniquis and Robert Rodriguez)

27. The Town (Ben Affleck)

28. Wild Target (Jonathan Lynn)

29. Paranormal Activity 2 (Tod Williams)

30. The King’s Speech (Tom Hooper)

31. Love & Other Drugs (Edward Zwick)

32. Hereafter (Clint Eastwood)

33. Legion (Scott Stewart)

34. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (Troy Nixey)

35. Secretariat (Randall Wallace)

36. Hot Tub Time Machine (Steve Pink)

37. Knight and Day (James Mangold)

38. The Fighter (David O. Russell)

39. Let Me In (Matt Reeves)

40. Please Give (Nicole Holofcener)

41. Iron Man 2 (Jon Favreau)

42. My Soul to Take (Wes Craven)

43. It’s Kind of a Funny Story (Anna Boden and Ryan Fleck)

44. How Do You Know (James L. Brooks)

45. Insidious (James Wan)

46. Red (Robert Schwentke)

47. The Expendables (Sylvester Stallone)

48. Death at a Funeral (Neil LaBute)

49. Unstoppable (Tony Scott)

50. Going the Distance (Nanette Burstein)

It might be that 15 years ago is right in that spot where things start to feel really dated but you don't quite feel nostalgic, but I genuinely think the early 2010s was a low point for film and I think I felt that way at the time too. Obviously some bangers in this list but these last couple posts were harder to come up with lists I can live with, even as I was watching and discovering some good stuff I hadn't seen before.

Previously:

My Top 50 Movies of 2011

My Top 50 Movies of 2012

My Top 50 Movies of 2013

My Top 50 Movies of 2014

My Top 50 Movies of 2015

My Top 50 Movies of 2016

My Top 50 Movies of 2017

My Top 50 Movies of 2018

My Top 50 Movies of 2019

My Top 50 Movies of 2020

My Top 50 Movies of 2021