The Fran Magazine Best of 2025 Extravaganza
Trust Fall screenings at the Davis Theater: Chicago’s Oscarbate film group puts on surprise screenings of real grindhouse shit: nunsploitation, Hong Kong action, softcore, giallo, oh my. Like finding a new favorite song from an excellent DJ, but for movies.
comedian Geoffrey Asmus: If you too were relieved to see Anthony Jeselnik mock “anti-cancel culture” hacks while promoting literacy, you will like Geoffrey Asmus. A great intellect used in service of gross and stupid jokes, always brings great openers too, one of the best comics around.
Saga of the Swamp Thing by Alan Moore: Every “graphic novel” I’ve read in my lifetime has pulled something from Moore’s blend of American Gothic horror, cosmic sci-fi, and post-hippie eco-sexuality, and I can’t believe it took me until this year to read it. Best experienced outside on a humid summer day.
Miles Beyond: The Electric Explorations of Miles Davis, 1967-1991 by Paul Tingen: Tingen’s 2001 book decodes the transmissions from Miles’ electric period, when the prince of darkness sought to capture the music of the entire planet and drag it into the future, and he basically succeeded. One of the best music books I’ve read in years.
Live music YouTube playlist: The best habit I developed this year: Whenever you come across a live concert (or clip or talk show performance or acoustic set or DJ set), save it to a playlist, and put this playlist on shuffle any time you feel tempted to scroll a short-form video feed.
Percepticide: The Death of Reality by Pixel Grip: Superhard industrial beats with aggressive sound design, dance rhythms influenced by house and techno, and vocals from Rita Lukea that sound like The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo fronting a punk band.
Juke rap: “Top of Cars” by Lil M.U., “Throw Dat Mfa” by Fendi DaRappa, “Fairy” by Myaap, “Move Pt. 2” by Mello Buckzz and Monaleo
Living your dreams: This year I released my first album, started a band with my friends, and played a bunch of shows in town. And you can too.