My five fives of 2020

Previous lists for 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas or on streaming services in 2020, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. Parasite
2. Uncut Gems
3. Bacurau
4. Soul
5. 1917

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2020, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. Phoebe Bridgers – Punisher
2. Fiona Apple – Fetch The Bolt Cutters
3. Waxahatchee – Saint Cloud
4. Perfume Genius – Set My Heart On Fire Immediately
5. Run The Jewels – RTJ4

Top 5 TV series (non BBC)

(Released in the UK in 2020, that I watched. Links point to IMDb)

1. Better Call Saul S5
2. The Queen’s Gambit
3. Gangs Of London
4. I Hate Suzie
5. Dark S3

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2020. Links point to Amazon)

1. The Haunting Of Hill House
2. Why I’m No Longer Talking To White People About Race
3. Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine
4. Brit(ish)
5. Pachinko

Top 5 TV Series/Films released before 2020 (non BBC)

(That I watched for the first time in 2020. Thanks lockdown. Links point to IMDb)

1. BoJack Horseman
2. Money Heist
3. Shoplifters
4. Schitt’s Creek
5. Honeyland

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My ten fives of the 2010s

Annual lists for 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 and 2010.

Top 10 Films

(Released in UK cinemas or on streaming services in the 2010s, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. Boyhood
2. The Raid
3. Inception
4. The Florida Project
5. Mad Max: Fury Road
6. American Honey
7. The Wolf Of Wall Street
8. Moonlight
9. Marriage Story
10. Arrival

Top 10 Albums

(Released in the UK in the 2010s, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. Robyn – Body Talk
2. Kanye West – My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
3. Chvrches – The Bones Of What You Believe
4. The National – High Violet
5. Kendrick Lamar – To Pimp A Butterfly
6. Deafheaven – Sunbather
7. LCD Soudsystem – This Is Happening 
8. Beach House – Teen Dream
9. Japandroids – Celebration Rock
10. Idles – Joy As An Act Of Resistance

Top 10 TV series (non BBC)

(Majority of full series released in the UK in the 2010s, that I watched. Links point to IMDb)

1. Breaking Bad
2. The Americans
3. Parks And Recreation
4. Mad Men
5. The Leftovers
6. Succession
7. Mr Robot
8. Broad City
9. Halt and Catch Fire
10. The Good Place

Top 10 Books

(That I read in the 2010s. Links point to Amazon)

1. Margaret Atwood – Oryx and Crake
2. Jonathan Franzen – The Corrections 
3. Neal Stephenson – Snow Crash
4. Michael Chabon – The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
5. Donna Tartt – The Goldfinch
6. Haruki Murakami – 1Q84
7. Tom Wolfe – Bonfire of the Vanities
8. Mario Puzo – The Godfather
9. Alan Moore & Eddie Campbell – From Hell
10. Hillary Mantel – Wolf Hall

Top 10 Live performances

(That I attended in the 2010s. Links point to the act’s website)

1. LCD Soundsystem @ Primavera (2016)
2. Guns N’ Roses @ London Stadium (2017)
3. Robyn @ Pitchfork Festival, Parc de Villette (2012)
4. Fucked Up @ The Scala (2011)
5. M83 @ Somerset House (2012)
6. Sleater-Kinney @ Roundhouse (2015)
7. At The Drive-In @ Brixton Academy (2018)
8. Joanna Newsom @ Royal Festival Hall (2010)
9. Bright Eyes @ The Scala (2011)
10. The Postal Service @ Primavera Sound (2013)

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My five fives of 2019

Previous lists for 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas or on streaming services in 2019, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. Marriage Story
2. Eighth Grade
3. The Farewell
4. Little Women
5. The Favourite

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2019, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. Dave – Psychodrama
2. Lana Del Ray – Norman Fucking Rockwell!
3. Lizzo – Cuz I Love You
4. The National – I Am Easy To Find
5. Sharon Van Etten – Remind Me Tomorrow

Top 5 TV series (non BBC)

(Released in the UK in 2019, that I watched. Links point to IMDb)

1. Watchmen
2. Succession S2
3. Chernobyl
4. Russian Doll
5. When They See Us

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2019. Links point to Amazon)

1. Mario Puzo – The Godfather
2. Liu Cixin – The Three-Body Problem
3. John Steinback – The Grapes Of Wrath
4. Cormac McCarthy – No Country For Old Men
5. Donna Tartt – The Little Friend

Top 5 Live performances

(That I attended in 2019. Links point to the act’s website)

1. Chvrches @ O2 Victoria Warehouse
2. The Chemical Brothers @ All Points East
3. Converge @ The Electric Ballroom
4. Hot Water Music @ The Underworld
5. Bikini Kill @ Brixton Academy

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My five fives of 2018

Previous lists for 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas or on streaming services in 2018, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. Roma
2. BlacKkKlansman
3. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
4. Spider-Man: Into The Spider-verse
5. Lady Bird

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2018, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. Chvrches – Love Is Dead
2. Idles – Joy As An Act Of Resistance
3. Let’s Eat Grandma – I’m All Ears
4. Janelle Monae – Dirty Computer
5. Robyn – Honey

Top 5 TV series (non BBC)

(Released in the UK in 2018, that I watched. Links point to IMDb or Wikipedia)

1. The Americans S6
2. Succession
3. Save Me
4. Wild, Wild Country
5. Homecoming

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2018. Links point to Amazon)

1. Zadie Smith – White Teeth
2. Hanya Yanagihara – A Little Life
3. Emma Cline – The Girls
4. Nikesh Shukla – The Good Immigrant
5. Sally Rooney – Conversations With Friends

Top 5 Live performances

(That I attended in 2018. Links point to the act’s website)

1. At The Drive-In @ Brixton Academy
2. LCD Soundsystem @ All Points East
3. Chvrches @ Best Kept Secret
4. The National @ Best Kept Secret
5. Superorganism @ All Points East

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My five fives of 2017

Previous lists for 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas in 2017, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. Get Out
2. The Florida Project
3. Moonlight
4. Logan
5. Hidden Figures

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2017, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. The National – Sleep Well Beast
2. Kendrick Lamar – DAMN.
3. Lorde – Melodrama
4. LCD Soundsystem – american dream
5. Perfume Genius – No Shape

Top 5 TV series (non BBC)

(Released in the UK in 2017, that I watched. Links point to IMDb or Wikipedia)

1. Halt and Catch Fire S4
2. The Good Place S1/S2
3. The Leftovers S3
4. The Handmaid’s Tale
5. Crisis On Earth X

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2017. Links point to Amazon)

1. Neal Stephenson – Snow Crash
2. Jonathan Franzen – Purity
3. Colson Whitehead – The Underground Railroad
4. Bill Beverly – Dodgers
5. Stephen King – IT

Top 5 Live performances

(That I attended in 2017. Links point to the act’s website)

1. Guns N’ Roses @ London Stadium
2. Deftones @ Alexandra Palace
3. Mogwai @ Brixton Academy
4. Japandroids @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
5. Deafheaven @ Koko

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My five fives of 2016

Previous lists for 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas in 2016, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. American Honey
2. The Revenant
3. Arrival
4. Hell or High Water
5. I, Daniel Blake

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2016, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. Radiohead – A Moon Shaped Pool
2. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Skeleton Tree
3. Skepta – Konnichiwa
4. Savages – Adore Life
5. Bon Iver – 22, A Million

Top 5 TV series (non BBC)

(Released in the UK in 2016, that I watched. Links point to IMDb)

1. Atlanta
2. Better Call Saul S2
3. The Americans S4
4. Veep S5
5. The Night Of

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2016. Links point to Amazon)

1. The Humans
2. Before The Fall
3. The City & The City
4. The Glorious Heresies
5. You Could Do Something Amazing With Your Life (You Are Raoul Moat)

Top 5 Live performances

(That I attended in 2016. Links point to the act’s website)

1. LCD Soundsystem @ Primavera
2. Radiohead @ Primavera
3. Suede @ Primavera
4. M83 @ Brixton Academy
5. PJ Harvey @ Primavera

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My five fives of 2015

Previous lists for 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas in 2015, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. The Lobster
2. Amy
3. Spy
4. Carol
5. Whiplash

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2015, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. The Most Lamentable Tragedy by Titus Andronicus
2. To Pimp A Butterfly by Kendrick Lamar
3. No Cities to Love by Sleater-Kinney
4. Carrie & Lowell by Sufjan Stevens
5. I Love You, Honeybear by Father John Misty

Top 5 TV series (non BBC)

(That I watched in 2015. Links point to IMDb)

1. Fargo series 2
2. The Americans series 3
3. The Leftovers series 2
4. Broad City series 2
5. Hannibal series 3

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2015. Links point to Amazon)

1. Oryx and Crake by Margaret Atwood
2. Right Ho, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse
3. The Martian by Andy Weir
4. Mr Penumbra’s 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
5. Dark Eden by Chris Beckett

Top 5 Live performances

(That I attended in 2015. Links point to the act’s website)

1. Sleater-Kinney @ Roundhouse
2. Deafheaven @ The Scala
3. Titus Andronicus @ Village Underground
4. Russian Circles @ Assembly Hall
5. Fucked Up @ Shacklewell Arms

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My five fives of 2014

Previous lists for 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas in 2014, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. Boyhood
2. 12 Years A Slave
3. The Grand Budapest Hotel
4. Only Lovers Left Alive
5. The Guest

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2014, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. Transgender Dysphoria Blues by Against Me!
2. St Vincent by St Vincent
3. Here and Nowhere Else by Cloud Nothings
4. LP1 by FKA Twigs
5. Dangerous Days by Perturbator

Top 5 TV series (non BBC)

(That I watched in 2014. Links point to IMDb)

1. Hannibal series 2
2. Game of Thrones series 4
3. True Detective series 1
4. Orange Is The New Black series 2
5. The Americans series 2

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2014. Links point to Amazon)

1. The Corrections by Jonathan Franzen
2. The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt
3. Maus by Art Spiegelman
4. The Circle by Dave Eggers
5. We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler

Top 5 Live performances

(That I attended in 2013. Links point to the act’s website)

1. 65daysofstatic @ Koko
2. St Vincent @ Primavera Sound
3. The National @ Primavera Sound
4. Chvrches @ Somerset House
5. Arcade Fire @ Primavera Sound

And as a bonus, here is a Spotify playlist of my top 14 tracks of 2014.

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My five fives of 2013

Previous lists for 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas in 2013, which I have seen. Links point to IMDb)

1. Gravity
2. Blue Is The Warmest Colour (La Vie d’Adèle)
3. Before Midnight
4. Lincoln
5. You’re Next

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2013, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. Sunbather by Deafheaven
2. The Bones Of What You Believe by Chvrches
3. Reflektor by Arcade Fire
4. Yeezus by Kanye West
5. Days Are Gone by Haim

Top 5 TV series

(That I watched in 2013. Links point to IMDb)

1. Breaking Bad Series 5 Part 2
2. Game of Thrones Series 3
3. Broadchurch Series 1
4. The Returned (Les Revenants) Series 1
5. Orphan Black Series 1

Top 5 Books

(That I read in 2013. Links point to Amazon)

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe
3. The Sandman: Preludes and Nocturnes by Neil Gaiman
4. 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami
5. Cloud Atlas by David Mitchell

Top 5 Live performances

(That I attended in 2013. Links point to the act’s website)

1. The Postal Service @ Primavera Sound
2. The Book of Mormon @ Prince of Wales Theatre
3. My Bloody Valentine @ Hammersmith Apollo
4. Chvrches @ Shepherd’s Bush Empire
5. Blur @ Primavera Sound

And as a bonus, here is a Spotify playlist of my top 13 tracks of 2013.

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My five fives of 2012

Previous lists for 2011, 2010 and 2009.

Top 5 Films

(Released in UK cinemas in 2012, which I have seen)

1. The Artist
2. Amour
3. The Imposter
4. The Cabin In The Woods
5. Beasts of the Southern Wild

Top 5 Albums

(Released in the UK in 2012, which I have heard. Links point to Spotify)

1. channel ORANGE by Frank Ocean
2. Celebration Rock by Japandroids
3. The Idler Wheel… by Fiona Apple
4. Bloom by Beach House
5. Put Your Back N 2 It by Perfume Genius

Top 5 Gigs

(That I attended in 2012)

1. M83 @ Somerset House
2. At The Drive-In @ Brixton Academy
3. Robyn @ Pitchfork Festival, Parc de Villette
4. Explosions In The Sky @ Brixton Academy
5. 65daysofstatic @ Highbury Garage

Top 5 TV series

(That I watched in 2012. Links point to IMDB)

1. Breaking Bad Series 3
2. Sherlock Series 2
3. Game of Thrones Series 2
4. The Hour Series 2
5. Community Series 1

Top 5 books

(That I read in 2012. Links point to Amazon)

1. A Song of Fire and Ice by George R.R. Martin
2. From Hell by Alan Moore and Eddie Campbell
3. Wolf Hall by Hillary Mantel
4. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
5. Netherland by Joseph O’Neill

Bring on 2013.

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