Best of 2017

The year is quickly winding down, and it's time to look back at the best of the year we're leaving behind. For me, these are some of the posts that I think the most about during the year, and some of the most fun.

First, a note about the process for these best of lists. There are a lot of different criteria you can use to create a Best of List. Some go strictly about metrics tied to quality. That is one valid method of creating a Best of List, going the objective route. I've tried that in year's past, and when selections are close, I'll often lean toward objective metrics as a tie-breaker.

But that's not how I craft these lists. For me, a Best of List is about what inspired, awed, and moved you during the year. To me, that's a very personal, subjective way to look at art, and that's the method I tend to lean toward when I'm working on these lists. So when you see my Best of 2017 posts as we roll toward the end of the year, know these are derived from selections that spoke to me and/or entertained me during the year.

As always, I tend to stick to what I know. I'm by no means a big music or book connoisseur, so I don't tend to do a full Best Of list for books and music. But I will drop a few of my favorite things from 2017 in the list below, so have fun with that!

But you can expect to see my full list of TV and Movie posts before the week is out, including my favorite movies of the year, favorite shows of the year, least favorite movies of the year, favorite TV episode of the years, and favorite performances on the big and small screen.

Until then, here's a few to chew on:

Favorite Podcasts — I actually listen to podcasts a ton during the week. It's one of the ways that I am able to tune the world out and focus at work, and keep myself focused on walks around the neighborhood. And there's plenty I love, including Bill Simmons, The Watch, and Fantasy Focus Football. But below are a pair I found in 2017 that I loved.

* Binge Mode — Coming from Mallory Rubin and Jason Concepcion from The Ringer came together to form "Binge Mode" in the summer in the run up to "Game of Thrones" season seven. They basically did a deep dive into each of the episodes, including the most recent season. "Binge Mode" returned weekly this fall for more deep dives, and will take on Harry Potter in 2018. But what makes it hum isn't the subject, it's the hosts and their incredible brand of humor.

* TV Avalance — Did you know there were 500 scripted shows in 2017? Alan Sepinwall and Brian Grubb did. The two TV writers teamed for a weekly podcast that took on the best and worst of TV in 2017, and it is a light, fun, and informative watch, one I look forward to each week!

Favorite Songs — As I said, I don't listen to tons of new music. And, in fact, I don't listen to music as much as I used to. But I still found a few gems that I enjoyed.

* Rag'n'Bone Man, "Human" — Like I said, I'm a big movie guy. And this song was the soundtrack to the trailer for "Thank You For Your Service," and fit that perfectly. I pulled it down and have enjoyed listening to it this fall. I love the lyrics, bridge and chorus.

Oh, some people got the real problems

Some people out of luck

Some people think I can solve them

Lord heavens above

I'm only human after all

I'm only human after all

Don't put the blame on me

Don't put the blame on me

I'm only human

I make mistakes

I'm only human 

That's all it takes

To put the blame on me

Don't put the blame on me

I'm no prophet or Messiah

Should go looking somewhere higher

I'm only human after all

I'm only human after all

Don't put the blame on me

Don't put the blame on me

I'm only human 

I do what I can

I'm just a man 

I do what I can

Don't put the blame on me

Don't put your blame on me

* Cold Play and The Chainsmokers, "Something Just Like This" — This is a song I played a ton the first part of the year, and was one that really got me thinking. There is something that grabbed me about the idea of us getting caught up in the heroes we see on the screen, and how we can struggle to match up.

I've been reading books of old

The legends and the myths

Achilles and his gold

Hercules and his gifts

Spiderman's control

And Batman with his fists

And clearly I don't see myself upon that list

But she said, "Where d'you wanna go?

How much you wanna risk?

I'm not looking for somebody

With some superhuman gifts.

Some superhero,

Some fairytale bliss.

Just something I can turn to.

Somebody I can kiss.

I want something just like this."