Album Of The Year
Charli XCX, Sucker
With
Sucker, Charli XCX has created a new kind of pop music: it's got the punk attitude combined with some of the catchiest choruses you'll hear all year (and all of next year on the radio) with a few new wave nods. This is the album that will make Charli XCX a superstar. Favorite tracks? "London Queen" and "Breaking Up." Bonus info: purchase the Target version for a cover of "Money (That's What I Want)."
Runners-up: Bleachers'
Strange Desire, Sledding With Tigers'
A Necessary Bummer, Against Me!'s
Transgender Dysphoria Blues, Andrew Jackson Jihad's
Christmas Island
Song Of The Year
Taylor Swift, "Blank Space"
Prior to the release of
1989, Taylor Swift was a guilty pleasure of mine. But with the release of this album and, in particular, this single, I couldn't hide my love any longer. This is pop perfection with a side of crazy. Awesome.
Runners-up: Deers' "Bamboo", Bleachers' "I Wanna Get Better", Sleepy Kitty's "What Are You Gonna Do When You Find Bigfoot?," Becky G's "Shower" (the earworm that wouldn't quit)
Television Show Of The Year
Fargo
I was dead wrong. "There is no way
Fargo the TV show will be anywhere as good as
Fargo the movie." Hell, it ended up being the best television show of the year. But how could it not with smart, tight writing, a killer storyline, and actors like Billy Bob Thornton, Kate Walsh, Oliver Platt, Bob Odenkirk, and Martin Freeman involved? But it was Allison Tolman's amazing performance as Molly Solverson that drew us all in.
Runners-up: Key And Peele,
American Horror Story,
Broad City,
The Walking Dead
Movie Of The Year
Top Five
Top Five tackles relationships, the longing to become more than just a one-trick pony, race relations, fame, reality television, and more, but does so without veering to far from its comedic center.
Top Five is Chris Rock's defining moment as a writer, director, and actor.
Runners-up: Gone Girl,
Guardians Of The Galaxy,
Birdman
