Things That Didn’t Suck: 2022 (#6-#1)

But Wait!

Before we get to our Top 5, here’s a few bonus Things That Didn’t Suck that we couldn’t find space for elsewhere:

• Lists
• Snow Plow Drivers
• Building Codes
• Pet Cameras
• Cher
• ShopGoodwill.com (a Cousin Danielle addition)

Things That Didn’t Suck: 2022 (#16-#7)

It’s a pretty common refrain these days: that the world is falling apart, that we’re staring down an apocalypse, that morality is dead, that we’re facing unprecedented challenges. And maybe it’s true to varying degrees. But one thing history tells us, again and again, is that it can be remarkably difficult to understand the times you’re living through while you’re in the midst of living through them. Like a stream understanding it is indeed, a stream, and contemplating its path as it carves through forest and canyon.

So how do we cope with the inequality of the world? How do we reconcile what seem like unprecedented challenges, but that maybe, upon further review, are the same challenges we’ve faced for far too long? What does it mean if this is the best things have ever been, and it feels like this?

The answer certainly does not lie at the bottom of this list. You wouldn’t believe how often people look to us, three brothers of modest accomplishment, for the answers to the great questions of existence. But alas, we reject the title of “prophet” or “soothsayer” or “looks like Harry Styles, but better”. With great power comes great responsibility, and we’re too anxious.

So what we present to you – as opposed life advice, stock tips, or moral reassurance – is sixteen things that didn’t suck, from January-December of 2022. If you’ve read our list in past years, you know that some of these will be non sequiturs (like 2019’s Potatoes), and some of these will be high-minded attempts at speaking truth to power through our obscure corner of the digital universe (like 2018’s All The Children That Were NOT Separated From Their Parents). We can’t help ourselves…

So strap in and enjoy a brief, non-exhaustive time capsule of the year you just lived. And cheers to a new one!

Best of 2022: Television

Best of 2022: Movies

Even in a down year there are great movies to be found. Even in a Covid-plagued year like 2020 we still got Nomadland and Tenet, among others. But 2022 was a return to full strength. There was the release of a number of movies filmed pre-pandemic and put on ice. And there were some big freaking swings from heavy hitters. For us, what stood out was the depth of quality. A deeper bullpen or middle class of movies. An incredible year for imaginative new horror films. And a year in which the big blockbusters that took risks came through with all time classics.

We had no trouble coming up with 25 four star movies for this list. We beg you to check out some of the titles you haven’t heard of. Competition was fierce, so please save your complaints for next year.

Best of 2022: Songs

Well….here it is….an analysis of every song released over a one-year period conducted by three brothers with the collective musical talent of a recorder rendition of Mary Had A Little Lamb.

The rules:

• One song per artist
• All factors are all rolled into one, big, ugly amorphous ball
• Individual lists are combined, reviewed, and massaged into one list
• Ties are decided through posturing, debate, and force when necessary

Please enjoy! And please reference our handy Spotify playlist to discover any tasty new jams you haven’t heard yet. And then send us your list, or send us your favorite songs, or yell at us about why we’re wrong (I’m looking at you, Swifties).

Best of 2022: Albums

Well….here it is….an analysis of every album released over a one-year period conducted by three brothers with the collective musical talent of a recorder rendition of Mary Had A Little Lamb.

Please enjoy! And please reference our handy Spotify playlist to discover any tasty new jams you haven’t heard yet. And then send us your list, or send us your favorite songs, or yell at us about why we’re wrong (I’m looking at you, Swifties).

Best of 2022: Books

As per tradition, this isn’t a “Best Books Published in 2022” list. This is a “Books We Read In 2022 That Changed Our Lives In Some Small Way” list. Major publications may be able to keep up with the onslaught of new material each year, but as a humble brotherhood of three, sadly, we cannot.

This year, collectively we read about 100 unique titles spanning the years 1836-2022. Of those 100 titles, we chose 20 urgently demanding of your attention.

Happy reading!

Things That Didn’t Suck – 2021 Edition

Jason’s take:

We skipped a year. Sorry. It’s not that you can’t find silver linings in even the darkest days. It’s that sometimes something just isn’t a good idea. And you can choose not to do things that are bad ideas. That’s fine.

But we’re back! Better than ever. Or…at least back at the level we were previously. We’re probably about the same as always. We certainly haven’t regressed, if that’s what you’re thinking.

Casey’s take:

Things That Didn’t Suck 2021 – The Back To Normal-ish Edition!

First off, we’re so sorry for last year. Truth is, some years are so bad, not even the Giltner Brothers can slap smiling face masks on and delude ourselves into thinking they’re salvageable. Last year was one of those years. But the year that must not be named is well behind us. We can look forward — by looking backward — at the glory and monstrosity that was 2021. Before you say, “but Casey, Brett, & Jason, 2021 still really sucked!” Don’t worry, we know. But it’s not our job to list all the reasons 2021 still sucked. You’ve got the Washington Post (Jeffrey Bezos!) for that. No, our only job is to mine the chasms of shit and bring forth the few diamonds that managed to transcend the poop-tastic year that was 2021. After all, Omicron is on the horizon, so let’s celebrate our brief foray back to normal-ish-ness, and with it, a few things that didn’t totally suck, from a year that otherwise, did in fact, still totally suck.

Best of 2021: Movies

I kept track. I watched 218 movies this year. Some old. Some new. Here are 21 of the best of 2021. With the obvious caveat that I still have more to see (Looking at you West Side Story).

~Casey

Jason & Brett’s Note: Movies are entirely Casey’s domain. We kind of just sit this one out. But look out for our Dune hot take!

Best of 2021: Albums

Welcome back!

Wow, what a year – in life, in music, in everything!

For this particular list, we abide by a complex, mathematical system, from which point we argue and debate until everyone is reasonably satisfied (this year, there was a blockbuster negotiation involving Wednesday, Lana Del Rey, St Vincent, and Casey’s desire to move Kanye West two slots back for what are justifiable personal reasons). 37 unique albums received votes.

This year, for all lists, we’ll be stealing the disclaimer of Uproxx writer (and fellow Fox Valley native) Steven Hyden in relation to the pastime of ranking music:

1. Ranking albums is dumb…we all know this. Art isn’t a competition. We can’t really distinguish between our 13^th favorite album and our 19^th favorite. This is all talk. None of it really matters.

2. …but it’s kind of fun…of course it is! Because it’s about sharing music recommendations. And we do mean share – make your own lists and show them to us, especially if you’re the sort inclined to complain about lists. Put yourself out there and let us complain about you too!

3. …because it’s really about discovering an album or two (or possibly more) that you might not have known about otherwise. Exactly! Now let’s rank!

And so with no further adieu, we present to you, the Giltner Bros’ Top 37 Albums of 2021:

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