Seven Things That Did Not Suck in 2016

Today is the last day of 2016, a year that most of us are more than glad to see close. I’m seeing a lot of memes and a lot of stray comments in social media involving erasing the year altogether or joking about how to explain it to our grandchildren. This is completely understandable and I share the sentiment—I’m thinking about lighting a fire in my fire pit and sending a few things related to this year up in flames.

Yet I don’t want to end this year on a note of anger. There’s been so much of it already and there will be plenty more of it in 2017. Nor do I want to erase it from existence (a dangerous concept, even in jest.) Maybe it’s just because I’m writing this on only a few hours of sleep—a rare kid-free night with your wife will do that—and the coffee has only just started to pry my bleary eyes open. Regardless, this edition of Seven Things will focus on things that did not suck in 2016.

1. A Great Year for Horror Movies

The revitalization of the genre continued this year. There was of course The Witch, most certainly the best the genre had to offer, but there were a number of offerings that range from solid to flawed but interesting. In particular I’d like to call out Don’t Breathe, the most suspenseful film I’ve seen in some time, a tightly wound exercise pure adrenaline. There’s nothing supernatural about it, and it finds those tender spots where the fear lives and pushes unapologetically. Catch it now before they ruin it with the rumored sequel.

2. Migration Fest

In August the inaugural (and perhaps only) edition of Migration Fest was held at the Capitol Theater in Olympia, Washington over three days. I saw many friends, had many late night interesting conversations over beer, and was reminded on how much of a community this corner of metaldom is. And that’s to say nothing of seeing so many bands in a small, cozy theater where it was easy to sit or stand and you could come and go as you pleased. Here’s what you missed.

3. Musicians Making Powerful Works Confronting Death Honestly Before Crossing Over

We lost both David Bowie and Leonard Cohen this year, but we got one last album from each that confronts death openly and beautifully. In a career of artistic transformations, Bowies’ Blackstar is arguably the most transformative work of them all; I still can’t even put into words the power of this record. Cohen made a career out of merging the sacred and profane (with a gift of language more beautiful than many of the greatest poets) but on You Want It Darker he accepts the end with grace and inevitability. Related, Nick Cave’s The Skeleton Tree nakedly confronts the unimaginable grief of losing a child; it’s a bleak record that still allows the tiniest sliver of light to crack through. These three records are not something you casually throw on the background but each are a testament to the power of human creativity. We are amazing creatures, you know.

4. I Read A Lot of Amazing Books

Here’s 5k+ words about them.

5. There Was A New Metallica Album, and It’s Great

To say I’m a hardcore Metallica fan is to put it mildly; the band has been arguably the most important in my life. But I’m not immune that some of their 90s—00s work is not always up to par. So it means the world to me that Hardwired…to Self-Destruct is probably their best album since the monumental Black album back in 1991. As 2016 completely crumbled in these last few months, I needed an anthem to get through…and they delivered:

6. Despite Challenging Circumstances, I Wrote A Great Deal

My confidence in my work has not been the best this year, but I did a hell of a lot of writing this year. It’s a journey, I’ve no idea where it is leading, and that’s ok.

7. I Am Alive and Surrounded by Beautiful People

My wife, my daughters, my handful of close friends and certain members of my extended family—I am a lucky, lucky man. I believe in quality, not quantity, and I’m grateful to share this life in all its beauty and challenges with these beautiful souls. If the measure of a person is the people they surround themselves with, I’m the richest man in the world.