Sam’s Favorites

I have a deep love for music and pop culture. Some of my favorite things include indie rock, hip-hop, science fiction and superheroes. When I have time, I check out the latest in music, film, TV, video games, podcasts, books and comics. Found below is a consistently updated list of recommendations in each category. Click on the blue categories above to jump to my latest recommendation. Click here to visit my archive of previous recommendations.

I wish every album made me feel the way “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” does. It makes me feel alive. Full of kinetic energy. Furious, upset, joyous. In other words, “Fetch the Bolt Cutters” is an emotional rollercoaster, one that earns every emotional high and low. Apple’s songwriting is personal, funny and warm, even when it’s also glowing white hot with anger and righteous truth. The homemade percussion adds to the album’s aforementioned energy, and Apple’s jazzy instrumentation is still as exciting as ever. This is the album of the year, folks, and it’s going to be very hard to dethrone.

Palm Springs

The time loop structure of “Groundhog Day” has been replicated countless times by the film industry as if it’s in its own time loop. I keep telling myself that time loop movies will grow tired, but then new takes on the format like “Edge of Tomorrow” or “Happy Death Day” prove me wrong. “Palm Springs” is the latest time loop movie to subvert the format, and its charming romance, delightful leads and positive message make it an easy recommendation. Andy Samberg and Cristin Milioti have amazing on-screen chemistry, and the film’s central concept of being stuck in a loop with another person is a fresh take on the format. At only 90 minutes, it’s a breezy watch that I wish was longer, but it’s a super fun watch nonetheless.

With every season of “Better Call Saul,” I grow closer and closer to saying it’s a better show than “Breaking Bad.” (I know. Even I think that’s crazy. “Breaking Bad” is the best show I’ve ever watched.) The prequel series’ exploration of morality is gripping, and its set pieces and showdowns rival the most exciting moments of “Breaking Bad.” With an amazing cast and stellar writing, “BCS” is still the most Emmy-snubbed show on the air. Rhea Seehorn’s Kim and Michael Mando’s Nacho were particular standouts this season. The wait for the sixth and final season is going to be a long one.

“The Last of Us” is my favorite game of all time. When I first beat it years ago, I thought it and its DLC, “Left Behind,” told an amazing story that shouldn’t be continued. Seven years after the original’s release, “Part II” proves the story of “The Last of Us” was not done, and I’m very happy it continued. “Part II” is a vast improvement on the gameplay of the original, improving the mobility, level design and combat. The story is ambitious, packing in plenty of twists, set pieces and beautiful moments of humanity. It’s a riveting, perfectly-paced experience that I will be thinking about for a long time.

Have you ever wondered what goes into making a great song? That’s the concept behind “Song Exploder.” It’s a 15-20 minute podcast in which each episode is dedicated to breaking down a single song. Artists, producers, writers and band members are all eligible to appear, and they help explain the writing, inspirations, sound and recording of that episode’s song. The artists are often critical darlings, and the genres include pop, rap, R&B, rock and even movie scores. I also love how each episode ends with the full song, so the listener can then fully appreciate everything that went into making it.

Surprise, surprise, another book from my favorite series has made my recommendation list. Yes, “Dark Age” is the fifth book in Pierce Brown’s “Red Rising” saga, but I would never recommend it on the series’ basis alone. On the contrary, “Dark Age” reads unlike any book in the saga thus far. It’s brutally violent, brimming with haunting lore and showcases the horrors of war more so than any previous entry. But the brutality is not just for show, as it tests each main character’s limits and morality. The stakes for the sixth (and final?) book could not be higher, and I cannot wait for a release date.

“The Walking Dead” was my first independent comic. I started reading it in 2013 at the same time I started watching the show, and I fell in love with both forms of the story. Although I haven’t watched the show in three years, I’ve stuck with the comic, and after reading the final issue, I’m so glad I did. Looking back on 193 issues, Robert Kirkman’s blockbuster comic deserves all of its success. Its plot twists, memorable conflicts and attention to character make it a zombie story for the ages. Most importantly, it never lost what the characters were fighting so hard for: humanity. Long live Rick Grimes.