My Favorite Posts From 2024
These posts from last year best exemplify what I’m trying to achieve here on Opus.
It’s a bit of a misnomer to call this a “favorites” list, since that implies I think some of my posts are better than others. While that’s true in the sense that no writer is ever entirely “on” in all of their writing, what I really mean when I say these are my “favorites” is this: these posts best exemplified what I’m trying to achieve with Opus. Namely, thoughtful interactions with pop culture, and especially pop culture on the margins that might otherwise be overlooked and under-appreciated.
My Favorite Songs of 2023: The Declining Winter, Depeche Mode, Everything But the Girl, Slowdive
The year brought us beautifully pastoral post-rock, the triumphant return of some musical icons, synth-heavy shoegaze, and more.
Jerry Lewis’s Infamous The Day the Clown Cried Will Finally See the Light of Day
The controversial Holocaust film has remained locked away for over 50 years.
Dear Conservatives: Taylor Swift Is Not Going to Ruin Democracy… Or the Super Bowl
Regardless of what some right-wing and MAGA grifters are pushing on social media.
Bluesky Is Finally Open for Everyone. Here’s What You Should Know.
The decentralized social network will feel very familiar to X/Twitter users. That’s both good and bad.
Rest in Peace, Michael Knott
One of the most singular voices in indie/alternative Christian music leaves behind an unparalleled legacy.Welcome to Our New Post-Truth Society, Courtesy of AI
AI is making it more difficult to preserve cultural records for future generations.
Amazon’s Lackluster Road House Remake Undermines Its Own Story
We now live in an era where films can’t really be left as works of art, but rather, must be IP investments with franchise potential
Shōgun Had One of 2024’s Most Powerful and Romantic Scenes
Several weeks have passed since I finished Shōgun but I can’t stop thinking about this pivotal moment.
Like Unto Lambs by Luxury (Review)
The quintet return with yet another album of raucous, bracing, and poignant indie-rock.
World Theatre by World Theatre (Review)
A fascinating new wave curio from an era of Christian music that far too few know anything about.
Cannon Films’ 1986 Promo Reel Is a Time Capsule of Pure Movie Awesomeness
In another world, these were 1986’s hottest movies.
Perplexity’s Blunders Hint at AI’s Fundamental Problem
AI tools already make it more difficult to determine what’s real. But soon, that may not matter anymore.
Velvet Blue Music Enters the World of Zines with Small Sounds Press
It really is a treat to hold an actual zine in your hands and flip through its pages like it’s 1993 all over again.
Seven WordPress Alternatives That Make It Really Easy to Start Blogging
WordPress is far from the only option when it comes to blogging, and may no longer be the best one for many writers and publishers.
Lust for Gold by Starflyer 59 (Review)
Starflyer 59’s seventeenth(!) album contains throwbacks to their earliest releases, which are sure to please longtime fans.
Building Websites in 2024 Really Can Be This Simple
Not every website needs to run on a CMS, implement a build process, or use a framework.
The MAGA Mockery of Gus Walz
For certain dark corners of the MAGA world, Gus Walz’s love for his father is something to ridicule.
The Cure’s Albums, Ranked
The Cure has established one of the most iconic and influential catalogs of music in the annals of alternative, goth, and post-punk.
Donald Trump Paved the Way for Tony Hinchcliffe’s Racist Jokes
It’s hard to be shocked by Hinchcliffe’s jokes considering who they were in service to.
Songs of a Lost World by The Cure (Review)
The goth icons’ long-awaited fourteenth album is their best in decades, and a heartfelt rumination on death, loss, and mortality.
The Most Obscure Band I’ve Ever Written About
I’ve been fascinated by Lucid’s music for nearly 30 years now, but I’ll probably never get to hear their catalog in its entirety.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on your favorite Opus posts from 2024, as well as any other great writing that you came across in the last twelve months. And if you’d like to support my writing on Opus, then consider becoming a subscriber.
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