The Joy of Listing

I just love making lists and ranking stuff.

  • My Top 10 favorite Manic Pixie Dream Girls

    I object to Manic Pixie Dream Girl hate and am a big fan and defender of them for the most part. I think most of them are just autistic coded and that’s why people find them annoying/irritating. Also people just love hating women.
    I often found them relatable, especially when I was a teen.
    I love a nice quirky girl with unique style and strong opinions about music. Sue me!

    1. Clementine from Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
    2. Sam from Garden State
    3. Susan from Bringing up Baby
    4. Faye from Chungking Express
    5. Tiffany from Silver Linings Playbook
    6. Maude from Harold and Maude
    7. Summer from (500) Days of Summer
    8. Marla Singer from Fight Club
    9. Penny Lane from Almost Famous
    10. Annie from Annie Hall

    Honorable Mentions:

    Fran from The Apartment, Ruby from Ruby Sparks, Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, Ana from Stranger than Fiction, Meg Ryan’s characters in Joe vs. the Volcano

    BONUS:
    Manic Panic Dream Girl exceptions that I actually DO find annoying and/or male gaze-y:

    Kirsten Dunst in Elizabethtown
    Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
    Penelope Cruz in Vanilla Sky
    Scarlett Johansson in Her
    Mila Kunis in Forgetting Sarah Marshall
    Natalie Portman in Closer

  • Archive of all the numbered Mix CDs/playlists I ever made (Part 8)

    Mix 36:
    (26 min, melancholic)

    Very good mix. I am pretty sure I made it around 2019.
    Drivin’ on 9 is one of the most perfect songs to ever exist.
    It’s one of the songs that make me really annoyed with myself and my stupid need to not repeat any songs on my mixes (for the most part). Because every mix would be better if Drivin’ on 9 were on it.

    The Loneliness of a Middle Distance Runner by Belle and Sebastian
    In the Waiting Line by Zero 7
    The Way Through by Deca
    Dieses Jahr by Tocotronic
    There’s Something Wrong by Brad Sucks
    Drivin’ on 9 by The Breeders
    Walkin’ on Eggshells by Courtney Barnett

    Mix 37:
    (34 min, mostly upbeat and optimistic)

    The first positive mix I made after a stretch of feeling dejected and hopeless and making only very depressing mixes full of songs about heartbreak. I remember feeling really good about finally getting out of that rut. I also felt quite proud because it’s full of bangers. Not a single mid song (imo)! Kim Smoltz is so perfect. Sadly it’s not available on streaming sites but you can still find it on YouTube.

    Just My Kind by Julie Ruin
    Honey by Moby
    The Story of Sampling by Pablo
    Frank Sinatra by CAKE
    Kim Smoltz by Ween
    In My Dreams by Eels
    Married With Children by Oasis
    Knock Yourself Out by Jon Brion
    Off You by The Breeders

    Mix 38:
    (35 min, starting off sad+dreamy but it’s less sad towards the end)

    Wow, amazing mix. I hadn’t listened to some of the songs in years and am really glad I rediscovered them now while writing this post.
    I stopped actively listening to Amanda Palmer and the Dresden Dolls because of her involvement with Neil Gaiman and the abuse allegations, which is really sad because many of her songs meant so much to me for such a long time. Drowning in the Sound is one of my favorites. It resonates deep inside of me and hits really hard.

    3 Minutes in the Brain of Bonaparte by Bonaparte
    Good News by Mac Miller
    Oh to be in Love by Kate Bush
    Drowning in the Sound by Amanda Palmer
    Breaking Down by The Only Ones
    The Long Grift from Hedwig and the Angry Inch
    I Fought in a War by Belle and Sebastian
    Hannah & Gabi by The Lemonheads
    Baby, let me follow you down (Eric Von Schmidt Cover) by Bob Dylan

    Mix 39:
    (36 min, starting off melancholic but getting happier at some point)

    Very good mix. Made in 2020 I think.

    You don’t have to be a Scientist to do Experiments on your own Heart by Jeffrey Lewis
    Happy Alone by Earlimart
    Out of it by Brad Sucks
    Wicked Little Town (Hedwig’s Version) covered by The Breeders (originally from Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
    Good Friend by Violent Femmes
    No Peace for the Wicked by The Only Ones
    Jackanory Stories by Television Personalities
    Reena by Sonic Youth
    Autumn Sweater by Yo La Tengo
    I Could Spend the Day by The Zombies

    Mix 40:
    (34 min, upbeat)

    Be Thankful For What You’ve Got (William DeVaughn Cover) by Yo La Tengo
    She’s Not There by The Zombies
    No Aloha by The Breeders
    Say Anything by Aimee Mann
    I Started Something I Couldn’t Finish by The Smiths
    Turn it on by Sleater-Kinney
    Happy House by Siouxsie and the Banshees
    Life on the Line by The Raincoats
    Sea Shanty by Quasi

  • Topics to ask me about if you never want me to shut up again

    • Elliott Smith
    • Jon Brion and how he is connected to everything I love
    • Saturday Night Live history
    • The OJ Simpson case
    • Ted Bundy
    • Binding of Isaac
    • listing my favorite Simpsons episodes
    • Pop culture references and musical guest stars in Gilmore Girls
    • Nathan Fielder
    • The H3 podcast (& scandal)
    • 2010s edgelord youtubers
    • 2010s/early 2020s Breadtube (I dislike half of them now)
    • listing my favorite Vines
    • how my DVD collection is sorted and why
    Fediverse reactions

  • Archive of all the numbered Mix CDs/playlists I ever made (Part 7)


    Mix 31:
    (28 min, a bit depressing)

    Made this one in 2018. I think I was still pretty heartbroken but I’m not even sure it really was because of a specific person but maybe just a general feeling of feeling rejected by the whole world. There are some of my all time favorite songs on this mix. Especially the Ween song has big importance to me. Pretty good mix!

    Mrs. O by The Dresden Dolls
    Outta me by Bikini Kill
    What Deaner was talkin’ about by Ween
    Had It All by Jeffrey Lewis
    You’re so great by Blur
    Stone On the Water by Badly Drawn Boy
    Valentine by Fiona Apple
    Good Day by The Dresden Dolls

    Mix 32:
    (32 min, hopeful mixed with some melancholy)

    I loooove this mix. It’s so good! I think it was at the beginning phase of a new crush. That always inspires the best mixes. You can almost hear all the lovely tender feelings seeping trough the music even though it’s also quite sad during some parts.

    Therapy by Loudon Wainwright III
    Weakest Shade of Blue by The Pernice Brothers
    My Descent into Madness by Eels
    Son of Sam by Elliott Smith
    The Way Things Are by Fiona Apple
    So Long by Rilo Kiley
    No Name No. 5 by Elliott Smith
    I Keep a Close Watch (John Cale Cover) by Courtney Barnett

    Mix 33:

    (47 min, deeply sad and heartbroken)

    Ok, I was kind of dreading listening to this one again. I made it for someone I broke up with, to explain all the feelings I had at that moment. Which is admittedly kind of an insane move especially considering I put basically ALL of my favorite heartbreak songs on it and also a lot of my favorite songs in general (like The Poisoned Well and Happiness) and some ended up being tainted with the association of being on this mix for some years after. Why would one do that?? Especially for someone who didn’t treat me well and who I wanted to break up with anyway? My only excuse is that I was a fragile little 20 year old baby, which didn’t seem that young at the time but seems insanely young now.

    The Poisoned Well by Quasi
    Paper Bag by Fiona Apple
    Anemone by The Brian Jonestown Massacre
    Outta Me by Bikini Kill
    In Love by The Raincoats
    Good Things by Sleater-Kinney
    Girl Anachronism by The Dresden Dolls
    Fast As You Can by Fiona Apple
    Tief Unten Nicht Ich by Fiva MC
    Sweet Sound of Ignorance by Soko
    Don’t Think Twice It’s Alright by Bob Dylan
    Happiness by Elliott Smith
    Goodbye Song by The Moldy Peaches

    Mix 34:
    (26 min, sad and heartbroken)

    The unofficial sequel to the last one. Not nearly as good though.
    Also sooo dramatic omg.
    Save it for later and Get me Away…are very solid heartbreak songs though. Would recommend!

    One by Aimee Mann
    Love is a Losing Game by Amy Winehouse
    Clouds (Quasi Cover) by Elliott Smith
    Feels Blind by Bikini Kill
    Miss World by Hole
    Save it for Later by Pete Townsend
    Hanging on a Star by Nick Drake
    Get Me Away From Here, I’m Dying by Belle and Sebastian

    Mix 35:
    (32 min, sad and heartbroken – but less than before)

    What can I say? It takes a while for me to move on.
    Really good mix though. Very beautiful music.

    Here We Go by Jon Brion
    Don’t Leave the Light On, Baby by Belle and Sebastian
    Fear is Like A Forrest by Courtney Barnett and Kurt Vile
    Rein Gar Nichts by Element of Crime
    Always See Your Face by Love
    Fixing My Brain by Brad Sucks
    Birthday Boy by Ween
    Electro-Shock Blues by Eels

    Fediverse reactions

  • My current ranking of all the Elliott Smith albums

    1. Either/Or (1997)
    2. XO (1998)
    3. Elliott Smith (1995)
    4. New Moon (2007)
    5. Roman Candle (1994)
    6. Figure 8 (2000)
    7. From a Basement on the Hill (2004)
    8. Live at Largo (2004)
    Fediverse reactions

  • My ratings of all the Treehouse of Horror episodes

    I rewatched/watched (I hadn’t seen a lot of the new ones) all of the Treehouse of Horror episodes from the Simpsons this month.
    It was very fun at first but I was over it fast because almost all of the newer ones are really terrible.
    My way of rating is quite generous.
    So 8 and above was good and enjoyable for me. Everything 7,5 and under was pretty bad.
    I would recommend Seasons 2 to 12 and surprisingly Season 21, which was a musical episode that I quite liked.

    Season 2 – 8/10

    Season 3 – 9/10
    Season 4 – 9,5

    Season 5 – 9,5

    Season 6 – 10
    Season 7 – 8,5
    
Season 8 – 10
    Season 9 – 9,5
    Season 10 – 8,5
    Season 11 – 9
    Season 12 – 9

    Season 13 – 6,5
    Season 14 – 7,5
    Season 15 – 7
    Season 16 – 7
    Season 17 – 6,5
    Season 18 – 7
    Season 19 – 6
    Season 20 – 7
    Season 21 – 8
    Season 22 – 7
    Season 23 – 6,5
    Season 24 – 6
    Season 25 – 6
    Season 26 – 6
    Season 27 – 5
    Season 28 – 5
    Season 29 – 6
    Season 30 – 6
    Season 31 – 6,5
    Season 32 – 5,5
    Season 33 – 6
    Season 34 – 6,5
    Season 35 – 7
    Season 36 – 7
    Season 37 – 6,5
    Season 38 – tbd (it’s gonna air this weekend)

    Fediverse reactions

  • Top 10 of my favorite Letterboxd lists (the ones I made)

    1. Autistic characters I find relatable
      – When I first got my diagnosis one of the first things I was researching was autistic movie lists on Letterboxd. A couple of the ones on my own list are from back then (May and Little Voice i.e.) but most are actually from movies I’ve known for a long time and only realized how autistic coded they are while rewatching. I think my list is a really good resource for trying to understand how it can feel to be autistic. At least for me.
    2. Ranking of the Vampire Movies I’ve Watched
      – This list took years and if you are into the vampire movie genre I can highly recommend it. So much of the genre is pure trash and I needed to watch a lot of obscure movies to get to a few gems. So if you wanna take a shortcut, go with the list.
    3. Movies to get to know me
      – I’ve always had a fantasy of how when I would meet someone new I would just give them a big list of movies, TV shows, books and music that I strongly identify with and they would work through it and then just get me as person without me having to explain a lot. This is the mini version of that list.
    4. Movies where I’m Team Edward
      – Just silly and funny. I love stupid pointless lists that just point out small things random movies have in common.
    5. Movies about mattresses and/or mattress salesmen
      – see above
    6. Movies where the guy is a douchebag and the girl is a weirdo who still likes him
      – A very infuriating bunch of movies if you had to deal with dating a lot of shitty men. Watchers beware!
    7. Movies that feel like an anxiety attack
      – If you feel really anxious and want to lean into it and feel worse – there you go!
    8. Good Movies having prominent Cat characters
      – You’re welcome.
    9. Best directorial debuts
      – Already on the blog, so probably not that interesting.
    10. Cinemas greatest Romances (according to me)
      – very subjective and I didn’t put that much effort into the list tbh. But still a good bunch of movies…


      Honorable Mentions:

      My Favorite Movies
      Nagetierfilme (rodent movies)
      Movies related to ants
    Fediverse reactions

  • Celebrity couples I am obsessed with for various reasons

    1. Reason: Because of the drama surrounding the relationship and because it bothers me how much I don’t know about it

      Examples:

      * Fiona Apple + Paul Thomas Anderson
      * Sofia Coppola + Spike Jonze
      * Lena Dunham + Jack Antonoff (+ Margaret Qualley)
      * Miranda July + Mike Mills
      * Anna Marie Tendler + John Mulaney (+ Olivia Munn)
      * Selena Gomez + Justin Bieber (+ Hailey Bieber)
      * 
Elliot Page + Celebrity Mystery Woman from his memoir
      * Jason Segel + Linda Cardellini
      * Fred Armisen + Elisabeth Moss
      * Phoebe Bridgers + Paul Mescal (+ Gracie Abrams)
      * Robert Pattinson + Kristen Stewart
      * Elon Musk + Grimes
      * Vanessa Hudgens + Austin Butler (+ Kaia Gerber)
      * Ben Affleck + Both Jennifers (separately)
      * Lily Allen + David Harbour
      * Ariana Grande + Ethan Slater

    2. Reason: Because I love/like both of them and think they’re very wholesome and perfect for each other

    Examples:

    * Kirsten Dunst + Jesse Plemons
    * Melanie Lynskey + Jason Ritter
    * Robbie Hoffman + Gabby Windey
    * Rachel Bloom + Dan Gregor
    * Phoebe Waller-Bridge + Martin McDonagh
    * Sarah Michelle Gellar + Freddie Prinze Jr.
    * Andy Samberg + Joanna Newsom
    * Kathleen Hanna + Ad-Rock
    * Tom Holland + Zendaya
    * Brenda Song + Macauley Culkin
    * Dan Howell + Phil Lester
    * Nick Offerman + Megan Mulally
    * Melissa McCarthy + Ben Falcone


    3. Reason: Because I love/like both of them and am just obsessed with the fact that they were once together (but didn’t work out)

    Examples:

    * Michael Cera + Aubrey Plaza
    * Zooey Deschanel + Jason Schwartzman
    * Alexis Bledel + Milo Ventimiglia
    * Bill Hader + Ali Wong
    * Kristen Stewart + Soko
    * Fiona Apple + Jonathan Ames
    * Emma Stone + Kieran Culkin
    * Peter Krause + Lauren Graham
    * Carrie Brownstein + Corin Tucker

  • My Top 10 Favorite Sad Songs

    No Elliott Smith on this one. He will get his own list some day. Otherwise half the spots would’ve been his songs.
    I also excluded all songs that are mainly about heartbreak. They are their own thing and also deserve a list.

    1. Soko – Sweet Sound of Ignorance (2017)
    2. Aimee Mann – Save Me (1999)
    3. Badly Drawn Boy – A Minor Incidence (2002)
    4. Cat Stevens – Trouble (1970)
    5. The Smiths – Asleep (1987)
    6. Alexander feat. RZA – Truth (2010)
    7. Eels – Not Ready Yet (1996)
    8. Mac Miller – Good News (2020)
    9. Jon Brion – Song for Caden (2008)
    10. Daniel Johnston – Like A Monkey In A Zoo (1980)

    Honorable Mentions:

    Jeffrey Lewis – Anxiety Attack (2005)
    Jon Brion – Little Person (2008)
    Soko – How are you (2012)
    Kimya Dawson – Walk like Thunder (2011)
    Kimya Dawson – 12/26 (2006)
    Sia – Breathe Me (2004)
    Joanna Sternberg – This is not who I want to be (2019)
    Kendrick Lamar (feat. Beth Gibbons) – Mother I sober (2022)
    Labrinth (feat. Zendaya) – I’m Tired (2022)

    Eels’ album “Electro Shock Blues” (1998)
    John Frusciante’s album “Curtains” (2005)
    Half of Nick Drake’s and Daniel Johnston’s catalogue of music
    Also a shit ton of The Smiths and Aimee Mann

  • My favorite songs by Daniel Johnston

    Daniel Johnston has been one of my favorite artists since I was a teenager and his music gave me a lot of comfort during some of the worst times in my life.
    Today is the anniversary of his death, so I’m gonna post this list to honor him and to share his music with others.

    His music often feels inaccessible to people who don’t know it I think because a lot of it is very lo-fi and raw and a bit much. But there are countless treasures in his discography that I think a lot of people could/would appreciate if they gave it a chance.

    In addition to his music I also would like to highly recommend checking out his art and maybe watching one or both of the movies that have been made about/with him. They are really really special and great.
    The first is feature length and called “The Devil and Daniel Johnston” and the second one is a short (about 15 min) called “Hi, How Are You, Daniel Johnston?”.

    And as another added bonus I put a list of my favorite covers of Daniel Johnston songs by other artists at the end.

    1. Lazy (from Songs of Pain, 1980)

    2. Like a Monkey in the Zoo (from Songs of Pain, 1980)

    3.True Love will find you in the End (from Retired Boxer, 1984)

    4. Why, Without you (from The What of Whom, 1982)

    5. Some Things last a long Time (from 1990, 1990)

    6. Ghost of our Love (from Continued Story, 1985)

    7. Loner (from Don’t Be Scared, 1982)

    8. The Sun shines down on me (from Don’t Be Scared, 1982)

    9. Come see me tonight (from 1992 originally I think, but I know it from the My so-called Life Soundtrack, 1995)

    10. I Live my Broken Dreams (live performance at Liberty Lunch in Austin, Texas, 1985)

    Honorable Mentions:

    Despair came knocking
, My Yoke is heavy, Grievances, The Story of an Artist, Museum of Love, Tears stupid Tears, A Walk in the Wind, I had lost my Mind, Don’t be Scared, Walking the Cow, Brainwash

    BONUS:

    List of my favorite covers of Daniel Johnston Songs:

    * Speeding Motorcycle by Yo la Tengo

    (Featured on their album Fakebook)
    * Some Things last a long Time by Lana del Rey
    (featured during the Credits of Hi, How are you, Daniel Johnston?)
    * Living Life by Kathy Mccarty

    (featured during the Credits of Before Sunrise)
    *True Love will find you in the End by Beck

    * Walking the Cow by Alicia Edelweiss

    (the last two I’ve only ever seen during live shows, I don’t know if good recordings exist of them)